Leon’s eyes were red rimmed as he sat on the cold stone. Sheets of never ending rain fell just outside of the natural overhang located at the top of his bachelor pad on Felwinter Peak. In the past seventy-two hours he’d been through every emotion known to man, plus a couple he’d thought only Monkey Lizard’s experienced. He was drained. Drained of everything. He felt like a frayed wire. He was about to get up and grab another drink when he looked down.
An empty glass cup was tipped over, only the melting ice cubes spilled onto the floor. The dim light outside glittered on the shards of glass scattered on the floor from the start of this breakdown. He prodded his molars with his tongue as the shame of the scene washed over him. His body hurt and his heart felt like the glass he’d flung against the wall.
He breathed in feeling the force fill his lungs, but there was no comfort in it.
The cryptic words of The Father had been playing on repeat since he’d gotten here and even now they refused to relent in their onslaught. Everything just felt so big, and he felt microscopic, insignificant, just like the kid he’d been the night his parents were killed…
He spun back toward the storm as lightning flashed and thunder boomed. He stumbled on unstable legs as his fury, and inebriation collided with agony.
“What do you want from me?!” he screamed at no one.
The sound of distant thunder was the only response he received.
The click and whir of a holo projector made him jump and he whipped around embarrassed to see Peetwo standing behind him in the center of the room. The iridescent beam of light produced a pale blue glow that matched the color of the cloud covered sky.
“Wha—” he started, but was cut off when a figure dressed in armor covered by familiar looking robes stepped into the beam.
Leon’s mouth hung open, his eyes darted back and forth between the image and Peetwo. The figure pulled back his hood to reveal a young Echani male with long white hair pulled back in a messy bun. A kind smile belied a hardened gaze and at a second glance he realized the guy was much older than he appeared.
The Echani cleared his throat and said, “Greetings,”
Leon’s brow furrowed in confusion, “Who the hell?”
His question was answered a moment later, “I am known throughout the galaxy as the Grandmaster of the Jedi Order,” he held up a lightsaber and Baudelaire’s eyes went wide with recognition.
“Of course, I do have other names,” his smile widened and some of the humor finally made it to his eyes, “I am the one that illuminates the dark. The first carrier of the eternal fire,” the lightsaber in his hand ignited and a blade the color of pale sunlight spilled into the frame.
Leon was sitting now, legs crossed, and mouth hanging open. His expression undulated between interest, horror, and awe as he listened to every word spoken by the Order’s very first Grandmaster.
“I am the shepherd of hope and chief disciple of the light—” His features softened a bit, “—But between you and I, I prefer to be called by my name, Tolan Kor."
Tolan's expression softened almost looking apologetic, "I'm afraid the little droid you've been travelling with has deemed you worthy of a great task—” Baudelaire’s expression landed on disbelief as he pointed at himself, “—One that in the end... appears to have exceeded even my ability.”
A bark of laughter ripped from Leon’s throat.
“Wait, Peetwo, are you serious?!”
The little droid warbled a confirmation and Baudelaire’s mouth went dry.
“The torch I pass to you is not an easy one to carry,” Baudelaire’s shoulders sagged, of course there was a catch. He couldn’t just get a cool holo of the mysterious Grandmaster of the Order, it had to come with strings attached.
“Before I can say anything more,” The image flickered and a star map popped up, “You must travel to the coordinates located here and retrieve the items I have left there,” Tolan’s smile flashed empathetically, “Once you've completed your task, our mutual friend will join us once more from beyond time and space," A pang of sadness flashed across the Echani man's features, "I'm sorry this must fall to you. You stand in the wake of a Grandmaster's greatest failure, but take heart for The Force and I are with you."
The image winked out and the room darkened.
Leon wrapped his arms around his leg...
...buried his head in his knees...
...and began to sob.
An empty glass cup was tipped over, only the melting ice cubes spilled onto the floor. The dim light outside glittered on the shards of glass scattered on the floor from the start of this breakdown. He prodded his molars with his tongue as the shame of the scene washed over him. His body hurt and his heart felt like the glass he’d flung against the wall.
He breathed in feeling the force fill his lungs, but there was no comfort in it.
The cryptic words of The Father had been playing on repeat since he’d gotten here and even now they refused to relent in their onslaught. Everything just felt so big, and he felt microscopic, insignificant, just like the kid he’d been the night his parents were killed…
He spun back toward the storm as lightning flashed and thunder boomed. He stumbled on unstable legs as his fury, and inebriation collided with agony.
“What do you want from me?!” he screamed at no one.
The sound of distant thunder was the only response he received.
The click and whir of a holo projector made him jump and he whipped around embarrassed to see Peetwo standing behind him in the center of the room. The iridescent beam of light produced a pale blue glow that matched the color of the cloud covered sky.
“Wha—” he started, but was cut off when a figure dressed in armor covered by familiar looking robes stepped into the beam.
Leon’s mouth hung open, his eyes darted back and forth between the image and Peetwo. The figure pulled back his hood to reveal a young Echani male with long white hair pulled back in a messy bun. A kind smile belied a hardened gaze and at a second glance he realized the guy was much older than he appeared.
The Echani cleared his throat and said, “Greetings,”
Leon’s brow furrowed in confusion, “Who the hell?”
His question was answered a moment later, “I am known throughout the galaxy as the Grandmaster of the Jedi Order,” he held up a lightsaber and Baudelaire’s eyes went wide with recognition.
“Of course, I do have other names,” his smile widened and some of the humor finally made it to his eyes, “I am the one that illuminates the dark. The first carrier of the eternal fire,” the lightsaber in his hand ignited and a blade the color of pale sunlight spilled into the frame.
Leon was sitting now, legs crossed, and mouth hanging open. His expression undulated between interest, horror, and awe as he listened to every word spoken by the Order’s very first Grandmaster.
“I am the shepherd of hope and chief disciple of the light—” His features softened a bit, “—But between you and I, I prefer to be called by my name, Tolan Kor."
Tolan's expression softened almost looking apologetic, "I'm afraid the little droid you've been travelling with has deemed you worthy of a great task—” Baudelaire’s expression landed on disbelief as he pointed at himself, “—One that in the end... appears to have exceeded even my ability.”
A bark of laughter ripped from Leon’s throat.
“Wait, Peetwo, are you serious?!”
The little droid warbled a confirmation and Baudelaire’s mouth went dry.
“The torch I pass to you is not an easy one to carry,” Baudelaire’s shoulders sagged, of course there was a catch. He couldn’t just get a cool holo of the mysterious Grandmaster of the Order, it had to come with strings attached.
“Before I can say anything more,” The image flickered and a star map popped up, “You must travel to the coordinates located here and retrieve the items I have left there,” Tolan’s smile flashed empathetically, “Once you've completed your task, our mutual friend will join us once more from beyond time and space," A pang of sadness flashed across the Echani man's features, "I'm sorry this must fall to you. You stand in the wake of a Grandmaster's greatest failure, but take heart for The Force and I are with you."
The image winked out and the room darkened.
Leon wrapped his arms around his leg...
...buried his head in his knees...
...and began to sob.