Haar is Dead (Jedi and allies)

[Ols]

Raphael had felt the disturbance long before Taecelle had arrived. In fact, he had first been alerted to it during his meeting with the grandmaster as she had drawn his gaze to the events far from their seclusion in the snowy mountains. It saddened Raphael that he had not seen Haar since before he had left, longer than a year before was the last time he had laid eyes upon his fellow councillor. And now, his body barely covered by a shoddy, blood stained sheet...the guerney in sight from where Raphael stood, he grimaced slightly at the sight.

Dressed far more like a Jedi than he tended to, in dark grey robes, he bowed his head in acknowledgement as he arrived at the group. He said nothing to the grandmaster or Taecelle, he had heard the orders of the former, and had not seen the latter in over two decades, when he was but a padawan and she would have taken little notice of him. Besides, proper introductions would take place at the inevitable, imminent. convening of the council.

He said nothing to Huang either. He had little to say to any of those gathered. He wanted to scold padawan Nofo, he wanted to welcome Taecelle, he wanted to reminisce with Huang about the great experiences they had had with the fallen master, he wanted to respond and give instructions for what should be done with Haar's body. But he felt it improper to do any of these things, at the very least at that time, except perhaps the last. There was a corpse on a guerney that would need taking to the morgue before funeral arrangements were made with the attendants. An attendant would be out surely, or if not one of the younger Jedi could go and fetch one.

"The grandmaster has much to take care of at the moment, Zolotoy," Raphael replied, "Would you and Mofo mind hurrying along down to the morgue and fetching an attendant who can take the body to be safely stored until an autopsy can be conducted? Thank you," he smiled weakly, in a friendly way at the younger man who had asked the question.

He was about to turn to the discussion with the councillors before he noticed Siri Firestorm. He had met the girl a number of times before, particularly as she had been Haar's padawan. Raphael noticed, though her words were strong, tears stained her cheeks. Emotions were something everybody felt, even Jedi, after all. He leaned towards her and gently put his hand on her shoulder, while the councillors had begun their discussion.

"Haar was a great Jedi, don't feel sorrow for this," he said, softly, comfortingly, "Death is a natural path in life, a step we all must take. So don't regret that he is no longer here, instead celebrate his fine deeds. Don't shed tears for his death, smile for his life."

 

[Rev]

To say there had been a ripple through the Force would be an understatement. It had felt as if he had been hit with a wave of unfortunate energy and Haar's body being relocated to his very location had only intensified that feeling. Haar had been one of few "friends" the Ultor's had ever had, and in Rev's absence, Caed would pay the respects.

He'd followed in a party of collecting Padawans, some with fresh tears in their eyes. The feeling was grim as he paced behind the many who had collected. Thoughts of his own filled his mind and it wouldn't be long before he found himself next to the stretcher that carried the former Jedi Master's body. Caed's face would look down at the aged man, a small smile still held true to the Jedi Master, one that Caed would share for only a brief moment.

"Seems you have met your end at last, old friend.."

He bent close to the dead man's ear, whispering it inward for only his corpse to hear. It was one of few moments Caed had wished his father was present, the man had missed much since leaving the Order. Perhaps he had even missed some of the most grueling of events to come, Haar was a close friend, and a great ally. Perhaps the loss of life would empower the former Grandmaster to finally act out against the Bogan instead of run in fear. The younger Ultor would push the thought from mind as he took a step back.

He was emotionless, as the Tenants and Code stood for. Somehow the Knight managed to follow the Jedi ways even when others found it impossible, and at other times he broke that Code when others stood true; a weakness he had long carried. It was an eruption to his right that drew his attention to the small green Jedi, one who was losing his composure it would seem. Caed's eyes would follow the target that the green man lashed out at, Huang Karasu.

There was something different about the Jedi Swordmaster that Caed had never quite felt before. An awkward familiarity that he hadn't felt in his presence before. The Knight would look at the man from head to toe, his eyes finally stopping on the pointed ears of the Sephi. That is what caught his attention most.

"What is it..? What is it about those ears.."

His mind raced at the weird feeling that pulled at his gut. Taking his gaze off the Jedi Master and council member to not draw any unwanted attention his golden, almost darkside like eyes would fall onto Mofo yet again. The stunted growth of the green reptile became more apparent if only for a second as his thoughts tried to pull away from that feeling his gut wrenched at. It was at that moment the puzzle began to piece together slowly but surely, and the annoyance that was Mofo Nofo's voice began to tear at the back of his mind. A mixture of a final conclusion and irritability finally coming over him as his patience was tested with each passing second...

 

[Dmitri]

"As you wish," said Zolotoy.
Zolotoy ran off to find the morgue attendant and send her back to retrieve the body. He guessed that it would take him five minutes to run to the morgue.

 

[Malon]

"Haar was a great Jedi, don't feel sorrow for this," he said, softly, comfortingly, "Death is a natural path in life, a step we all must take. So don't regret that he is no longer here, instead celebrate his fine deeds. Don't shed tears for his death, smile for his life."

Siri returned the man's warm smile with her own and dried her eyes. She recognized the Jedi who spoke to her as Master Raphael, another member of the Jedi Council. His words touched her and she realized that he was right. Haar was an exceptional Jedi Master and a good teacher; this much she already knew, but it warmed her heart to know that others, even the higher ups of the Jedi Order, thought so too. She was happy to have been Haar's Padawan all those years ago, and was grateful to him for his sacrifice.

She shifted her gaze again to the woman who had brought Haar to Ossus. She had seen the way the other Jedi had looked at her; like they had recognized her from the past. Curiosity was burning in her chest, but she again restrained herself. She would pull the woman aside and speak to her when the time was right.

Returning her gaze to Master Raphael, she smiled again, "Thank you." she managed, her voice still shaken from her earlier sobbing. "I'm glad to know that my Master will be honored."

She then flicked her eyes in the direction of the Grandmaster, Talzea, and quietly walked beside her. Siri had one question burning in her stomach, but she couldn't bring herself to ask it. Finally she mustered the courage to say something she thought she never would.

"Master, my humblest thanks for you coming her to see my master, Haar, to his final resting place. I know that I am not a sitting member of the Council..." she paused, searching for the right words. "However, with your and the Council's approval, I would like to sit in on the Council meeting and find out how my master died. It would bring me a great deal of peace."

She exhaled, glad that she had gotten that request off her chest. And now she gazed at the Grandmaster and awaited a response.

 

[Will]

Huang looked down at the shrieking runt of a padawan. His decorum was hardly correct for the situation. His hand was on the pommel of his blade, resting. Why did they never shut up? His yellow eyes bored into the diminutive not-quite-Jedi.

He lowered himself, squatting, still towering over the errant midget. He had been about to discipline him, to send him away. But another had gotten to it first.

''Run along on your errand, little padawan.'' Huang said, making a dismissive wave with his hand. He rose again, realising more Jedi had joined them. He nodded to Master Raphael, and noted Knight Ultor. Ultor was staring oddly. Huang would have to have words with him. But here was most certainly not the place.

''For once, I would not mind a non-council member sitting in, considering your circumstances.'' Huang said, a rare show of a break of rules and traditions.

 

[Dmitri]

Ten minutes later, Zolotoy returned with the morgue attendant. The attendant went straight to work, carrying off the body, allowing Taecelle to accompany her if the girl wanted to.
Zolotoy noticed that the rest of the group was still around.
"Is this the beginning of something terrible?" muttered Zolotoy aloud, more to himself than the people around him.

 

[Zen]

Mofo looked at Haung and spoke."GO **** yourself."He yelled, he did it with meaning to show disrespect, to the foolish Swordsmaster. He got up and stormed his way, to Meet someone that understands him His Master, Someone from The Old High Council. To ask, him why this was happening, why did the Jedi become emotionless, little rats.

 

[Will]

Huang turned as it shrieked again, face impassive. ''Are you done?''

Every modicum of restraint was used not to publicly chastise the padawan there and then for disrespect. That the Jedi had fallen so low, as to be venting their emotions so wantonly. Huang was glad Haar did not see this face of the future of the order.

He let the padawan leave. He would be dealt with later, when the minds of the order had turned from such a matter.

 

[Malon]

Siri cleared her mind, and turned away from the Padawan who had thrown the fit. She had business to do. She could tell that Master Huang was getting impatient with the outbursts of Mofu Nofu, if not from his expression, from the very vibe flowing off of him in the Force. Huang was famous for keeping his emotions completely in check, something that Siri greatly admired.

She realized that any further discussions would most likely take place between the masters, but she bowed to Huang respectfully, "Thank you, Master Huang." she replied.

With that, she took her place once more beside her master on the stretcher, looking down on him once more.

I promise, Master. I promise to carry on what you taught me. To follow the Jedi Code and become a great Jedi, just like you were, so that the future of the Order is always a bright one, she resolved in her mind.

 

[Lavi]

Taecelle allowed Haar's body to be taken to the morgue, watching as the attendant took the body away. There was no reason to watch over him: he was in good hands.

"So... inconsiderate," Taecelle commented out loud, in reference to the student's outburst.

Her last word held great disdain, from the accusations of the offensive student claiming that there were no emotions that arose from Haar's death. He is too blind to see how much Haar's death affected the Order, she concluded. Taecelle could tell from the gathered crowd that many respected Haar, remorseful that the Jedi master had died.

It was then that Taecelle noticed a young woman close by. The other's cheeks were stained with tears. She was asking to attend the council meeting, to which an exception was made. Probably one of Haar's own students, Taecelle deduced.

She did not speak with her, turning her attention elsewhere. Taecelle knew that Haar's students would be very interested in knowing how their master died; and there was a time and place for the truth to be made known.

"I'll present the story to the council in an hour," she finally said. "I want to be alone for a while."

With those words, Taecelle turned away and headed towards one of the courtyards within the temple. It was one of the places that Taecelle meditated in when she was a padawan, and later as a knight. It was also where many Jedi left in a schism, later gathering to form the Ospion Guardians: the site of Edo Tesu's death.

In the courtyard, Taecelle looked around, taking in the familiarity of the setting. Little changed since she last stood here. The tree was still there, the benches were where Taecelle remembered them to be. Even the flowers were familiar.

She laid a hand on the trunk of the large tree. Over twenty years ago, the bark was stained with the blood of Edo Tesu. Memories flowed through her mind as Taecelle took in the scenery. It was this event that eventually brought her into finding Haar, taking him up as her pupil, and then...

Does the Order know why she sent Haar to the Jedi Order to train as a padawan, despite being an Ospion? There was no harm in telling them now, since the original purpose in doing so is meaningless now.

 

[Malon]

Siri had seen the woman slip away from the group and head for the grove. Feeling that this was the appropriate time to confront her about who she was and how she knew her master, Siri also slipped away and headed for the grove. She found the woman touching the bark of a large tree that sat at the grove's center, and silently approached her. At first she said nothing, unable to find the words to say. Finally, however, she mustered the courage and made her presence known.

"My master was important to you, wasn't he?" Siri said, stepping out of the shadows of the temple.

 

[Lavi]

Taecelle turned her head slightly in response, her back still facing the padawan. At first, she did not say anything, contemplating how to phrase her words. A light gust of wind displaced her long hair, but Taecelle corrected it before finally speaking.

"As you were his student, Haar was mine," she finally said, indirectly answering Siri's question.

For a while, Taecelle was silent. She turned around to gaze upon the young woman who says that she was Haar's student.

"Do you know what happened in this courtyard twenty years ago?" she asked.

 

[Malon]

Siri's eyes temporarily bulged at the revelation. This woman...this woman was Haar's Master?! She couldn't believe it. Haar had not spoken of her during their time together.

The woman then asked another question, snapping Siri back into the here and now.

"No, I'm afraid I don't know what happened here twenty years ago. I am only twenty years old myself." she replied honestly, hoping the woman would delve further.

 

[Lavi]

"Historians say that the Ospion Guardians were formed on a Republic battleship called the Clouded Dawn. I say that they were formed here, under this tree," Taecelle said.

"I was among those who left, going my separate way. I traveled to a number of planets. Corulag, Metellos, Bessimir... Telos, in particular. I was looking at wares in one of the markets on Telos, and caught a young thief who was attempting to slip away with some bread. That young thief was Haar."

 

[Malon]

Siri hid a chuckle. The thought of her old master being a thief when he was young didn't fit with the man she'd come to know as her teacher. Then a thought arose.

"So you found Haar after you joined the Ospion Guardians? So then...why did you train him as a Jedi?" she asked.

She had always been told that the Ospion were the precursors of the current Dark Jedi Order, but this woman seemed more a Jedi than a Dark Jedi.

 

[Lavi]

"I didn't train him as an Ospion or a Jedi," Taecelle answered, running her hand through her hair. "I trained him the ways of the Force and instructed him to travel to Ossus and learn what I have taught him from the Jedi's point of view."

"In truth, the Ospions were no worse than Jedi. Our beliefs contrasted that of the Order, but we wanted to achieve very similar goals. It was our faith in Kelrada that determined our differences," she explained.

 

[Malon]

Siri absorbed the information, frowning as she took in and examined the implications.

"I see." she finally said. "As a member of an Order that had clashing views with the Jedi, why not train Haar in the ways of the Ospion? I guess what I'm trying to say is; What made you send him here, to Ossus to learn the Jedi views when your views conflicted with the Jedi's?"

 

[Lavi]

Taecelle gave a somber laugh. "The Ospions and Jedi were not so different. Training was not why I sent him here. In truth, it was more along the lines of espionage."

The truth was out there. At last.

 

[Malon]

Siri recoiled as if she'd had a brick thrown in her face. Haar...her master and a respected member of the Jedi Order had been originally sent to them as a spy for the Ospion Guardians. Siri didn't want to believe it, but the Force whispered to her...and she knew it to be true. Another question came to her mind; how long had Haar carried out this espionage mission?

"How...how long did my master do espionage for you? Did he ever quit?" she asked bluntly, not knowing how else to word her question.

 

[Lavi]

"He never told me anything," Taecelle answered. "The Alsakan Crisis ended long before I could establish contact with him, and the Ospion Guardians were forced to flee afterwards."