A Family Matter

[Lucian Volante]

Lucian said nothing before watching the recording and he said nothing as the recording played out.

He didn't know anyone in the recording personally so it didn't really matter to him when they died. He felt nothing, watching them all die until it came to the last person. When the last person died, he found himself caring a little bit more. Still not because the Jedi died - because all life ended and the passing of a person to become one with the Force was not a sad occasion - but because of how it resonated with both Aliyah and Kathry.

While he didn't know anyone in the recording, he knew them both at least a little bit and he was here now to feel their pain in the force. He reached out and gently took one hand of each of them and gave it a gentle squeeze before releasing them. Instead, he turned off the holoprojector before it could replay.

Leaving the room in silence.

"Venatus Phoenix died at the hands of multiple Sith warriors." he declared at length, picking up the holoprojector before putting it away on his belt again, "He died with blade in hand but he died none the less."

There he paused for a moment before speaking again.

"I don't know any of the people who died in the clip. I didn't know them before and I don't know them now." he continued before ending his thoughts, "But I know that all of them... are now part of me, you and everyone else. Because the ones we care about never truly leave us. They live on in the memories and the emotions they stir within the two of you... and they exist in the Force that flows through you every second of every day."

@Autumn's Firefly @TheMorrigan

 

[Kathry Van Alasdaire]

-Theme-​

"Yes. And I can name more than a few in these graphics alone. I know you. I see you. They will know justice for this crime."

Somewhat of the Sith, perhaps. But Kathry did not bother to mention that, for in all technicality the four in this recording where or had been extremely useful to the Empire. For that reason alone, the Vahla could not act to kill in good standing. The actions of the Empire could be severe and unnecessary at times, but while she served under their banner Kathry was bound to obey, regardless of their actions. The Sorceress, who was also a warrior by right, owed servitude to at least one major power. The power of Vahl had proven to be nothing more than the machinations of a sick and twisted mind, and therefor the power of the Empress drew her allegiance in it's place. But here, for the first time in what seemed like years, she felt an odd sense of peace. As though one day the Vahla may come to actually miss the room they paraded as a jail cell. Though Kathry always gazed over her shoulder in anticipation and vigilance of what may come - the girl found no need to do so at present. Lucian's words sounded hollow, and he felt just as numb through the Force, but what was spoken rung with her mind. It was true, her father was felled by four Sith Warriors with a blade in hand, attempting to fend off inevitable death. There was no more an honorable end, than to die for what one believes in. What was it that caused a man she knew to be utterly devout to be driven to service in the Order?

"The Force would will such a waste of life? Who am I fooling, of course it did - Nothing deserves to be slain like that. From a distance, overwhelmed by numbers - I do not preach honor regularly, but here Alekto's words ring true. Distasteful. It's good to feel something off of you, girl, you seem much more alive this way. You are still cold as a stone, sprite, though I don't wonder why. My father died with his honor intact, in battle, for his cause. No-one could ask for less. I will mourn his passing in my own way."

Perhaps it was not the sudden change of heart that Aliyah desired, but Kathry now possessed a deep curiosity towards this Order. Towards this strange ideal of the Force as some all encompassing power, as opposed to a current of one's own will. Her own training in the Force had been limited to combat practicality and the uses of Magicks, the fundamental nature of the powers she possessed was still beyond her. And in her currently distressed, saddened and bored state, conversation would be a certain and welcome addition. Aliyah was doubtlessly in pain, it reverberated through the Force towards Kathry as Arhena's own once had. A pang of guilt shot through Kathry and she was almost driven to gently gasp. Such a sudden sensation, it caused her eyes to dim and return to their birth color of lavender. The Vahla made a promise to herself that she would learn of this philosophy behind the Force, if not simply for an educational purpose. But the present moment required the girl to dour the mood even further. Bound to inform the Jedi of her captives and their transfer to Darth Kravos' care. As Kathry's prisoners of war, she upheld the standards of her people in treating hostages fairly, unless otherwise forced. If given time she could have gained the information without death, but her craven Sith rivals seemed eager to horde that glory. Fools, knowledge of the Jedi required no price, instead further wasted talent drifted into the abyss. Was this true guilt? Regardless, she would repay the Order's kindness by delivering a warning, though the Sorceress would make sure to inform them of the gravity her decision would create.

"I'm sorry, Aliyah, to bring this upon you now. But if I tell you this, no matter what vengeance you would seek upon me, you must not inform the Empire you are aware. If you allow me to live and they are aware it was I who informed you, my fate could presumably be worse than death.

Agreed?

My first Makeb bounty was waylaid by two Jedi Knights. Arhena Espaa and a Pantoran named Thrash. A Judge, Zazai, and myself where fired upon and engaged in self defense. We promptly defeated the girl. Arhena surrendered to us, and we took them in to custody at his behest. They where transferred to High Command directly. I had no way to prevent it, neither of them left the chamber alive."

@Autumn's Firefly @Nefieslab

 

[Aliyah Phoenix]

What Lucian said was true. But still, it hurt slightly watching him die like that. She knew that Kathry was probably writhing with anger right now, but surprisingly she didn't feel much from the Sith right now. Each and every person that had died was one with the Force now, and Aliyah knew they always guided her forwards in life. She never stopped feeling them around her, even though they'd been physically lost. She'd been grieving for way too long, and it seemed like she'd forgotten quite a few lessons she'd been taught. Lessons she was trying to pass on, and maybe it was working. "Don't go out of your way to seek justice. Alekto. So that was your Master." Her eyes became softer. That woman, when they'd fought, was nothing short of a nutcase and a half. She shuddered when thinking about how Kathry must have been raised, to see the world like this. Kathry was right, it was distasteful. "The Force works in ways that we can't understand. But if you look at it, if our father hadn't died we would never have met, in one way or another." She was really offput by the comment about feeling emotions making her feel more alive. Every Jedi felt emotion, they just didn't give them as much weight as other people did.

Aliyah's eyebrow raised as Kathry sat in silence for about a minute, looking strange and distant. Her eyes stopped sparking crimson and started to look almost purple. A deep purple. Her eyes seemed to spark with a wonder, but when she turned back to Aliyah and Lucian something was wrong. She could've sworn Kathry looked worried. When she started talking, Aliyah leaned in closer, nodding. "Agreed." And then Kathry continued on about how she was the one who had captured Arhena and Thrash. She already had her suspicions, but what Kathry said next only confirmed them. She supposed she should be angry, but she didn't feel anything at all right now. Arhena was dead, Kathry obviously didn't intend for it to happen if the grief she was feeling was real. It wouldn't help her case in front of the Council though, if she actually considered learning the ways of the Jedi. "I won't tell the Empire who informed us. But we should probably get to telling the Council or something, unless they already know, I'm not sure. Thank you. I hope you didn't mean to get Arhena hurt, but considering you kept his lightsaber I'm going to believe you tried to do the right thing." Aliyah got up from the table for a second. She'd mention it to Vollen when she had the chance, or Master Guleya. She didn't sense any lies, so, maybe it was. She'd wait for Lucian's opinion before jumping to any conclusion.

@Nefieslab @TheMorrigan

 

[Lucian Volante]

Death was not something that Lucian had confronted many times, it had to be said. Despite being trained as a military officer, Lucian had managed to avoid having to confront the death of loved and cherished ones. It was something he knew would likely not last much longer all things considered. They were, after all, in the middle of a war with the Sith and sometimes people died in battle and there was nothing that could be done to prevent that.

No matter how much you prepared - something could always go wrong.

"The Force is something that cannot be question - not because it shouldn't be questioned from time to time - but because it can't answer you back." he added with a small shrug, "And if it does? One of us could interpret it's message one way and the others in entirely different ways."

The Force's will was seldom cut and dry.

If it was then people would all be Jedi Masters at the least and the Sith wouldn't exist... but instead of that more perfect Galaxy, they had the Galaxy as it was. He sighed a little bit before shrugging,

"We cannot know the final fate of our allies - we can assume the worst but the best we can hope for is that they are at peace, no matter what actually occurred."

@Autumn's Firefly @TheMorrigan

 

[Kathry Van Alasdaire]

-Music-
​

"...My. You took that well. I half expected to be throat-slammed to death, or something along that vernacular."

There was a void inside Kathreveris. A pool of black and empty that had only recently discovered a portion of light to fill it, as though an ancient candle burning a weak flame was finally lit. This talk of the afterlife was not indulged in her childhood, this form of interaction was a rare thing, but here she felt a connection of sorts. Faint. Distant. But it was nonetheless present in her mind. The most distant of them all, Lucian, whom had no reason to be here in the Vahla's mind, remained calm. He delivered what could be considered sage advice by some and common wisdom by others, of which Kathry belonged in the middle. Philosophy was not a subject that many broached upon, but in some form or another these deaths could be construed as a positive thing. What a strange idea. Kathry had lost many over the years, some were taken by her forced hand, the pain dulled over time. But it never truly left her, each loss binding her further into misery, until the little girl snapped. The Vahla's eyes had blazed crimson from that moment forth, until but a few days ago, when the child that she had been reawakened within her - the spark of life reignited, the return of a sense of self. A sense of purpose, not a forced path upon which to be marched.

That should liven things up. Nothing like a quip to break grim situations...

The Sorceress leaned forwards slightly, resting both of her wrists on the table with hands interlocked. Instinctively, her left leg went to raise and cross over her right - before Kathry realized nothing would happen. It didn't cause sadness or frustration, just a strange sense of loss, as though the limbs where still there. Looking both Jedi over calmly, the Vahla's mind began to imagine a course even Kathry could not have foreseen. For what would be lost if she attempted to follow in her father's footsteps? Kathry might never truly become a Jedi Knight, Guardian of Peace and Justice. If Kathry achieved such a thing she herself would be beyond amazed. Though even failing in truly breaking the grasp of the Darkness that held her for so long, Kathry would be free to finally make her own choice. Or, risk the consequences of what the Jedi Council saw fit as an acceptable punishment for a crime she hardly thought within their jurisdiction - using the Darkness.

If they where to try her for murder on the laws of the Vahla - of whom the deceased was a member - the Sorceress would receive no penalty on the grounds of being a Priestess. If they intended to try her by the laws of that moon, Kathry would not be imprisoned here. Therefor it left her little choice; adapt and accept the change and guidance offered - or suffer the rumored loss of the Force. Each Vahla was born with a connection to the Force innately drawn to the Dark Side - only those with the strongest of will and purest of intent could ever achieve inner peace. Her father had been one such Vahla - therefor it was within Kathry to become whatever she was meant to be, as fate decreed. Without the Force, the girl would lose a vital part of her identity, sent into the Galaxy as though a newborn stripped of their parents. Crippling, maddening, and in her current state her dignity would simply request death. If that occurred, the woman had little doubt that Aliyah would be overwhelmed by the loss, if her current state was any indication. For whatever reason Kathry no longer desired to see her sister change into anything close to her, Aliyah's purity was at heart. Much was at stake, and though they had both failed in aiding their fallen relatives, perhaps Kathry could forgive herself by giving an honest attempt.

"When you do speak to your Council, do ask on my behalf as to whether they might speak to me - or deliver me to this Trial. Unless you intend to kill me, I would rather not be held against my will overlong. If you intend to charge me for murder, bring me before a court on Dxun - if you intend to hound and chastise, as all but you two have sought to do, be rid of me. If you intend to save my soul, then do so, but nothing changes while I remain in here, content to loathe you."

@Nefieslab @Autumn's Firefly