Consideration.

Will

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((DO NOT POST UNTIL OLS HAS POSTED HERE))


Coruscant, the shining beacon at the centre of the Republic, the centre of all power.

It was here that Huang Karasu found himself. He rarely travelled to the capital, preferring Ossus to the bustle of the world clad in the skin of cities. He paced a grand square, reflecting as he passed statues of figures of note.

Though not in battle, Huang still wore parts of his armour, protecting his chest, stomach, neck, thighs and forearms from harm. His weapons were belted at his hip, over his black robe. The towering Sephi Sword master cut a striking figure among the others, rising almost over a head taller than most.

He had been here for hours, his mind turning constantly. He had come to this seat of power for a reason. To summon the council.

They were not going to like what he would bring to them. It had the potential to rend the council asunder. But he could not stop what he had begun. No. His feelings had become too strong.

His feelings. Such an irony, something so grounded in emotion, coming from the haughty councillor. It would not go well unless perfectly presented.

And thus, he strolled around the square, organising his thoughts, preparing himself.
 

Ols

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"Does pacing up and down ease your thoughts? I would have thought I'd find you sparring an army of knights." The voice of Raphael Caelestis was soft, but it still seemed to echo slightly in the empty loneliness of the square. He had entered silently, in the direction opposite from where Master Karasu was facing. Despite all the time that had passed, the elder master looked much the same as he had when they sat only a short space away from one another in the council chambers of the Jedi temple.

Unlike the swordmaster, Raphael was not dressed for battle. He was wearing relatively casual clothes, his liberal take on standard Jedi dress not seeming to have deserted him. He wore scuffed, but not dirty, dark brown hobnail boots, laced up, with narrow legged, faded and worn blue jeans, held up with a brown leather belt, upon which hung his lightsaber, battered and dented from his travels. Upon his top he wore a black hooded sweatshirt, zipped halfway up, revealing a white vest underneath. Lightsaber aside, he would be unrecognisable as the Jedi master he was, although his opting to dress so had made him instantly recognisable as Master Caelestis to all Jedi who met him.

He bore a strange smile upon his face as he took in his old friend for the first time since his return.
 

Will

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Huang Karasu stopped, turning at the familiar voice. His face registered nothing, his voice, as ever, intoning rather than engaging in true speech.

''Council member Caelestis. It's been a long time. I'd been told you had returned. It seems your travels away from us have treated you well. To be honest, I'm astounded you still have your seat. They did a large clear out of the council when Grandmaster Talzea came into stewardship of the order.''

He looked over the shorter man, dressed so casually. ''As unconventional as ever, I see.'' A slight twist upward in his lips ghosting across his face, a glimmer of mirth flashing momentarily in his yellow eyes.

''There aren't enough knights here for a worthy spar. Not enough to organise my thoughts, anyway.''
He responded to the jibe. Deadpan as ever, it was always truly difficult to tell when the Sword Master was serious.

''What is it you wish of me, Master Raphael?''
His odd quirk of always saying one's rank showing through as ever. He turned, scrutinising the statue he had stopped at, ready to listen.
 

Ols

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"So am I," Raphael replied to the comment about his standing on the council, though it seemed to get lost in the air as a speeder flew by a little nearer than it should have done. He shook his head and sighed. If he was honest, it seemed Talzea was glad to have anybody who wasn't giving her outright opposition on the war in principle to sit alongside her, even if he had only recently returned from his sabbatical.

"Normality is dull, Huang," he replied, making no mention of the sword master's varied tattoos and his plethora of piercings, both of which were relatively unconventional for a Jedi Councillor. He added, "and I'm sure we could find something appropriately challenging to help you collect your thoughts." He almost said 'where's Banik Kelrada when you need a good fight," but in lieu of recent events, and indeed of the secrecy of said events, he held his tongue.

"Er...mainly to catch up with an old friend," he said rather off-handedly. Essentially that was the truth, although there were some specifics, certain rumours he was curious about and details of Ando Prime and the Bogan that the sword master was sure to know. And it was always handy to get the head's up any time a convening of the council was called, having more time to process the information and present whichever argument you wished. He added, facetiously, "and of course to disrupt your peace and quiet..."
 

Geeva

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((hope you dont mind me jumping in :3 ))

The young girl stood quietly in the corner of the square, making sure to stick to the shadows. It was times like this she cursed her breathing apparatus for the small noise it made, each breath a chance to give her away to her target before she was ready. She was carefully watching the two people in the middle of the square talk, not really paying attention to what they were saying in the slightest. Instead she was checking to see if they might have anything valuable she might be able to liberate from them without their notice. Her eyes stopped on the hilt of the lightsaber on one of the gentleman's belt and she frowned. She had heard stories of the jedi from her adopted mother, and none of them were good, though she didn't think stealing from them would be any more difficult then stealing from anyone else.

Staring at the lightsaber she wondered if she could manage to take that treasure. She needed enough money to pay for a new battery for her breathing apparatus and still get some food afterwards, and she bet that thing would fetch a nice hefty pile of credits on the black market, if that is she was able to acquire it. She watched them for a few more moments before moving in to make her move. She started off by running gleefully threw the square, as a child her age might do as she was playing, but when she was near the man with the saber she did a well practices 'slip', crashing right into Raphael's side that the saber was on. During the impact she attempted to unclip the weapon and slide it into her clothing, at the same time she looked up at the man, eye's filled with tears. "I-I-Im so sorry m-mister! I-I didn't mean ta run into you. I-I just slipped, p-please forgive me!" she said, this being the only time she liked her stutter, as it added to the effect pretty well.

She needed to make her retreat as quickly as possible and vanish into the lower levels of Coruscant to relative safety, whether she got the prize or not. The police on this planet were a lot better at their jobs then the thugs that she was used to dealing with on her home planet of Tatooine, and she did not want to get caught by them and taken away.
 
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Ols

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"...although I may not be needed for the latter," Raphael muttered more to himself. He had noticed the teenage girl in the square when he had first arrived. Nothing particularly out of the ordinary, they were in a public square after all, although the strange device she was breathing through would make her conspicuous in a crowd.

Then he had heard fast footfalls, heavy running, and made his comment seconds before the girl crashed into him. It seemed rather odd to him that quite out of the blue she would simply sprint across the quiet square, from her seemingly relaxed position. Perhaps she was running from something. Quite a solid man, Raphael did not fall when she clattered into him, but as he was far from braced he did stagger back and out of the corner of his eye he caught her hand whipping outwards a second before he felt his belt tug slightly. Simultaneously she started babbling apologies.

Off balance, as though grabbing onto her to keep balance Rapael's arm shot out and caught her wrist in a vice like grip that did not match his demeanour or tone. In her hand was his battered and dented lightsaber, dull sliver and faded black.

"Ah, I see you managed to catch my lightsaber before it fell to the ground," he said, seemingly unaware that she had tried to pickpocket him, but still holding tightly to the wrist that was attached to the hand that held his weapon, "thank you."
 

Will

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''Your reflexes haven't dulled, I see. That's something the Jedi can use, at least.'' Huang said. The small girl had been a fool. She had tried to pickpocket a pair of council members, one of them the Sword Master of the order.

''That's your blade?'' Huang asked, shock entering his voice for a rare moment. The noble hilt had become marred, twisted, deformed. The lightsabre was often a reflection of the user. To see it in such a way...

It sickened him.

Huang ignored the girl, a fly buzzing in the ear of a giant.


''To catch up? Well. I'm sure Grandmaster Talzea informed you of the organisational changes, councillor. Personal? I'm the go-to member of the order for force-forged arms and armour. I've had time to become quite the artisan, apparently.''
 

Geeva

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Geeva thought her plan was going perfectly, until she felt the very tight grip of the jedi's hand on her wrist, caught red handed with the saber in her hand. Her eye's went wide in panic. A split second later she had a rather confused look plastered on her face as the jedi seemed to not have realized she was trying to steal the weapon, not catch it before it fell to the ground. Her mouth just hung open, unsure of what to say or what to do. With a slight turn of her head she glanced at the other fellow there, now that she was closer to him, and rather defenseless at that, she was rather intimidated by him with his tattoo's and piercings.

The young woman was about to reply to the man she had tried to steal from when she heard the second man call him by the title councilor. Once again she was dumbfounded. If she would have known that little bit of information she would definitely not have tried to steal from them. She had to think of some way to get out of this, taking a few deep breaths to calm herself down when they were talking she decided her best (in her mind) coarse of action. The fingers gripping the saber hilt let of the there prize and her leg pulled back, swinging forward as hard as it could towards her captors shin.

"Let go of me! Help!" She then let out one of those piercing screams only a young girl could make, hopefully this would make the jedi look like they were in the wrong to any bystanders instead of her. Though she forgot one crucial part of her plan, she did not check to see if anyone else had yet wondered into the square.
 

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Nero, who'd been wandering the square, heard loud screams a short distance from where he stood.

"Let go of me! Help!" the voice had screamed. It belonged to a young girl no doubt. He decided to check things out for himself, maybe find something to do.

The seventeen-year-old, making his way through the groups of people, followed the sound, and discovered a strange scene.

"What the..." he said, squinting his eyes to block out the sun's glare on a piece of shining metal that looked like body armor. Upon further inspection, Nero saw a girl, just as he'd thought, kicking at the Jedi's shin.

"Councilor?" he called, jogging to the man as he did.
 

Ols

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"A rancor's digestive tract, not to mention it's teeth, can do some damage..." Raphael muttered in response to Huang's disgust at his forlorn lightsaber. Before adding, "Artisan...that sounds most unlike you Huang. You're getting soft on me," he paused for breath, "actually there was something el- oww!"

He was broken off by the girl, who's wrist he still had in his hand, kicking him in the shin, before starting to scream bloody murder. He sighed, sadly, he was going to give her a chance as well. Despite almost being robbed by the girl, Raphael harboured little personal ill feeling to such thieves, often they were victims of their situations, and if he could help then he would. But there were many who's preconceived views of the world and of the Jedi, made them difficult to aid. Particularly when they started fighting and screaming.

"Shush," he said, sternly, his facade of ignorance draining in an instant, "stop screaming and I'll consider letting you walk away from here, rather than being marched off in handcuffs."

Another voice caught his attention. A padawan, one Raphael did not recognise, jogged over. His word seemed to be quite questioning of the Jedi master, although he did not specify whether he was calling out to Huang or Raphael. His hands full, Raphael decided against responding for the moment. He was sure Huang would reprimand the boy for perceived rudeness, or at least the fact he had not addressed either of them as 'master'.
 
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Will

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''I see the art in war. If that makes me soft, I'll step down as Sword Master of the Order.'' Huang replied. He was stopped as a padawan huffed and puffed his way over.

''Address the council member and Sword Master appropriately, padawan. Take this... girl to the nearest constabulary. I have much to discuss with the Councillor here.''

As he turned brusquely, he shot an aside over his shoulder.

''I shall be keeping an eye on your training closely, padawan Anclicus.''

He walked off, indicating Raphael to follow.

''I need somewhere more private, closer to the council chambers.''
 

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Nero was silent for a moment. He hadn't thought about addressing them properly. He took the girl by the elbow and walked in the opposite direction.

"Right... guess I didn't handle that very well." he muttered to himself, a little embarrassed as he glanced back at the men. "Well little girl, you heard him, let's go." he said, watching her.


[Should I take this to a new post?]
 

Zen

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Sho'Flo, was here on the planet, he was here to discuss plans, and Aids That the Shade Order is willing to offer help towards the Jedi without anything in return, but a good old thanks. The Grandmaster of The Shade Order was off, So, It was Sho'Flo job to discuss this, but he should have told Grandmaster Quen he was coming here, yet he could not find time. Which was sad, the Neti Made his way towards the temple, A bit Nervous which was strange even for him. He never been in a Jedi Temple. Once he entered, He had asked, a Knight where the Council Chambers were or some room, that may have there, so he offered and him, and stated why, Neti simply Replied Business. Upon reaching the chambers, there were doors, he simply waited outside, not cloaking or anything, this discuss was important, The Bogan had done enough and they Have to be stopped, so If they Would at least Take the Shade's Order's Help, Maybe the world may have a future, But even soon, he leaned on the wall. Waiting to be called to go inside by someone.As he waited outside the doors.
 

Ols

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((@ Zen: We're not in the Jedi temple. It is also not possible to simply waltz into the Jedi temple on Coruscant and stand outside the Council chamber, there's security. And as we explained in the other thread, you don't just walk into a thread and demand an audience. You'd need to talk to the faction leader, we can't speak on her behalf, and organise whatever meeting you need with her.

@cmonwimp: Up to you, PM Geeva and see what he wants to do.))

"I see art in galleries...so I guess that makes me softer than you," Raphael replied, before Huang cut across the padawan. One sentence from the elder master could make even the proudest knight feel an inch tall, it was a skill that certain masters had, that biting tongue. It had almost been a prerequisite for Councillors as long as Raphael could remember.

He was sad to hear the Sword master's next words, though. The constabulary was not where she would find an end to whatever made her so desparate as to try and steal a lightsaber from a Jedi. As the others busied themselves, he let go of her arm, handing her over to the padawan, nodding to him and saying, with a slight smile, "Thank you, Padawan Anclicus." As he and Huang turned away he took his PDA from his pocket. He quickly sent a text message to the constabulary, letting them know that they were expecting a young girl with a Jedi padawan and not to transfer her, or let her leave until Raphael arrived there himself, later on in the day.

"Huang," his voice lowered in tone so there was no chance of being overheard as they walked away, "I have concerns for a friend of mine in the order...perhaps you could lend me some advice. What are your thoughts on family within the order?" Raphael asked. His question was genuine, he asked for Valena's sake, as she had told him what she termed 'everything', but in actuality was only half the story. Although he had hunches, she had not told him who Raziel's father was, nor had she mentioned if they were still toghether.
 

Will

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''You are indeed too soft.'' Huang said, his head inclining to the padawan and his charge.

An odd question, about family. Could he know? A hypothetical friend. Interesting. He could be steering Huang into admitting Raziel's paternity. Only the supreme control of emotion Huang exuded kept all this from the probing minds of other Jedi.

''The tenents speak against marriage. But not of affection and love, the ultimate expression of which could be seen as a child. So, in my view, no. The way of the Jedi does not teach against having children. I in fact know of Jedi who have had whole families here.''

Speaking this way solidified the ideas in Huang's mind. How he would present to them. What he would present.
 

Ols

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"The tenets are stagnant rules in an evolving galaxy, adhering to them mindlessly does no good for any Jedi," Raphael replied, talking far more generally than their conversation required, "but there are still things that being a Jedi cannot involve."

"I myself think that the rule involving marriage is ridiculous, as it is impossible without love and attachment...or at least pointless without them (unless you're marrying for, say a visa). A Jedi has a role as an arbiter in this galaxy, to put the needs of the 'greater good' - and I deign to use that phrase - above their own, fairly and impartially. The bond of parent and child is stronger even than that between lovers, married or not. How can we be the guardians of justice if we are beholden to such personal attachments that our loved ones come first?" He was not for a moment suggesting that putting those one loves first was wrong, just that it was impossible to act in both that capacity and as a Jedi.

He paused a second before continuing, "and having children is one thing, but raising them within the order is a completely different question. Jedi are not raised knowing their parents. We are designed for lives of solitude, as much as we build friendships and fall in love. We would be unfit to serve the galaxy as Jedi Knights were we not to keep to these basics."

"Unless she either leaves the order to raise the baby, the only option I can see for her that would see her remain as a Jedi would be for her to give the baby up for adoption," Raphael left the statement hanging. He would not say to Huang that although in theory the mother would never see her son again, there was nothing to stop the boy being found in a year or so and being bough to the temple to be trained as a Jedi...although she would never be able to tell him of his parentage.

He was speaking very candidly to Huang, and he felt that his friend would understand what he said, not quite being aware of it's gravity given who he was talking to.

"And I fear that the council would pressure her to a course of action they perceive as correct, rather than the one that is best for her and the baby," he paused, "I would advise her to make her decision in secret, without seeking the council's opinion on this matter - she could always inform them of the events after they have occurred should she feel obliged to."
 
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Will

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Huang stopped.

''No. I would not allow that. The child must be raised here. They will know the force. They need to hone their skills, study the arts. Forcing a mother to give up her child... It's just wrong.''

He thought about Val. Giving up Raziel. They were things he could not do.

''The bond would strengthen the mother's conviction to defend the galaxy. Defend her child. It would not impede, it would strengthen. She shouldn't give hi-''

Huang paused, clearing his throat.

''Shouldn't give the baby up.''
 

Ols

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Raphael noticed Huang slip, but made no comment. For all he knew, he was simply aware of the situation, nothing more. But what was strange to Raphael were Huang's comments. He was almost unsure who the man was trying to convince. These were not the opinions of the great sword master he had known before his return. Something had changed.

"I never used the word 'forced'," he replied, "it would be her choice. Remain a Jedi and give up the child, or leave the order and raise the baby."

"Do not forget that we put that very choice upon every mother of every child we accept into our order," he added, "to raise their baby themselves, or to give it up for the Order. And when each of those children becomes a Jedi, they are not assigned to parents, we do not grow up in family units, with mothers and fathers, but in a scholarly hierarchy, with masters and students."

"We cannot have ties to both family and order. Romantic love is one thing...and don't for one minute think I am being naive enough to assume that every Jedi has not experienced that in one way or another, but this is more. Her child changes everything. It may well give her more drive to ensure the galaxy is a safe place, but in much the same way, her love for the child would warp her impartiality."

"And what about from the child's perspective? Being raised as the only Jedi in the order by its own mother...the child would not be able to function as the other Jedi do. Its own senses will be stayed by a mother's loving hand."

He paused for a second, before adding, less passionately and more seriously, "A Jedi's life is one of self-sacrifice. Our parents made this choice for each of us when we were given to the order, and we accept that choice by remaining Jedi Knights. We cannot live a life of sacrifice if we are beholden to another being, even if that being is one's own child. I know it sounds harsh hearing it, but this is how we choose to live. Every single Jedi has this same choice, family or the order, and every single one of us, whether we choose to remain a Jedi or walk away from this path, we each make our definitive choice."
 

Will

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''The Taung system seems to work fine. They are raised as families. They do not let blood ties obscure their purpose. You only need to read of the supposed 'exiles'. If such a barbaric people can do it, then I am sure your friend can as well.'' Huang replied, pacing.

''And indeed our life is one of sacrifice. There are many things we are denied, we must give up, for the good of the order.''
Huang thought of the marriage that would have to be secret, this very conversation cementing it in his mind.

''But she has apparently already given up much in having this child. We are still people, Raphael. I am sure your friend is strong enough to shoulder this burden, knowing the kind of people you garner relationships with.'' Huang using the first name of his friend in this rare instance, a smile whispering across his face briefly.
 

Ols

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"The Taung are raised to be the perfect warriors, and I'm sure their methods work well for that end. Indeed there are tales of ancient warrior civilisations encouraging love affairs between their front line soldiers with the thinking that loving the soldier next to you would make you fight harder. Our mandate is not so simple or limited. We are not just warriors, we are not the barbaric and we are not Taung."

He paused a second, "And we are not denied anything. We are not forced to remain Jedi our entire lives, we choose this life of sacrifice so we can be Jedi. If we choose another path then we may no longer be fit to be Jedi. The choice is entirely our own, there is no sorrow or sympathy in this, if we are unhappy or unwilling to do what is required of a Jedi there is no obligation to be one. We are still people and that is why we have a choice."

"Long term commitment does not fit with our lives," he said, "you know this. Romantic involvement, that's one thing, but plenty of Jedi have fine relationships without length involved, without marrying or raising families. And plenty that do have children are brought before the council to make this choice, although by the time the council finds out it is less a choice, they are simply instructed that they must leave the order. Why should this be so different?"

The sword-master had gotten soft on him.

"She is strong, and I want to be there to help her. But encouraging her to try and raise this child in secret, or as secret as it still is, it will not lead to a happy ending. I am far from the most talented of the far-sighted Jedi, but even I can feel the path this is on is not easy or happy. There is a war on and we are expected to shoulder the responsibilities and duties we swear to the Republic, rightly or wrongly as many a Jedi will argue in the temple halls I'm sure. And in fighting this war we cannot be so clouded in our judgement as she would be, or indeed the father."

It was the first time he had mentioned the father of the child. Raphael was not stupid, he had is instincts and they were usually correct. He had met young Raziel earlier, though Valena had not mentioned the father and respectfully he had not asked.

"I met the baby, Huang," Raphael said, his tone changing. It was in meeting the baby that Raphael had become so sure that Valena should listen to him, though he not tried to tell her what to do just yet. He had wanted to discuss the issue with a friend and contemporary first. Yet it was the innocence in the child's face that had set the Jedi Master's views. Raising a child in secret just for Valena to remain a Jedi, it was unfair. The child deserved a life away from lies and deceit if Valena was to do that, and he deserved the same chance as any other Jedi if he were to be accepted into the order. It seemed strange to Raphael that the swordmaster would disagree.

"You know he has to most amazing eyes," Raphael said, an odd expression creeping across his face, not quite a smile but halfway there. Indeed, the Jedi councillor had only met one person with such a unique eye colour before. And with those eyes, the swordmaster was looking right at him.
 
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