It was Worth all the While

[Jaz]

Time: A few days after the Battle of Onderon.
(No PVP -- Kill/Capture/Maim disabled)

Jenton was back in his ship. It was the one place he truly knew like the back of his hand. Now, though, even this was different. Everything was. Instead of being casual, the silence was penetrating. It only served as a heavy reminder of the events of the previous days. Jenton looked over to the copilot seat. It was empty, and he hadn't been expecting anything different. The sight still hurt, even if it wasn't a surprise. Waves of emotional fatigue rolled over him. He ran his hands down his face and went back to piloting the ship.

Now that he was physically rested up and in decent condition, Jenton had some loose ends to tie up. His first stop was Kashyyk, a mainly woodland planet that was inhabited primarily by wookies. It was were he had left Zawann. He could still sense that his former master was alive, but his confidence was failing. As he landed, all he could do was hope his instincts were right. He had written to his mentor several times, updating him on his life, so Zawann knew about Eris.

Jenton knocked on a door at the trunk of a tree. He heard footsteps scuttling inside, and the door opened. The woman looked at him, perplexed, before she seemed to recognize him. "Oh, it's you," She said.

"May I see Zawann?" He requested.

"Of course, come in, come in."

The lady led him in, and he ducked under the doorframe. Zawann, the aged Nautolan was sitting in a wheelchair. He turned around to face Jenton. Jenton looked down and sighed before taking a seat across from him. After a moment of silence and staring, he finally spoke.

"Kids are supposed to outlive their elders," He said, "That's how it's supposed to work--"

Zawann held up a hand to cut him off. "What happened, Son?"

Jenton looked up and met his superior's eyes. "They killed Eris," He said, his voice even, but cracking.

Zawann closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Jenton," He said.

Jenton didn't say anything for another moment. "I figured you'd be better at advising me in person," He said.

"What do you mean? Advise you on what,"

"I can't let the Sith go on...Any of them."

"Jenton...that's not the Jedi way...You know this."

"Neither is letting them kill indiscriminately," Jenton replied.

Zawann sighed. "What do you need from me?"

"Names, Locations, anything," Jenton told him.

Zawann looked around. "I'll send you everything I know in a hologram," He said.

Jenton nodded, thanked his former master, and turned around to leave. He wished them farewell as he left the cottage and returned to his ship.


Naboo -- Two hours later

The next stop was Naboo. A funeral was being held for Eris, and, since Jenton was Eris's only living relative--or as close as they came--he was expected to be at the preparations. He landed on the planet and met with the director.

"Jenton?" The man asked.

"Yes, sir," Jenton responded.

"Good, good," He said, "I need a favor, if you could,"

"Name it,"

"Tell me about your daughter,"

So, that's what Jenton did. He told the man about her personality and weird little mannerisms. He shared every memory he had of her, good and bad. It reached a point where he was just reminiscing out loud, but the funeral director didn't seem to notice or care. After Jenton was done, the man thanked him and let him walk away.

The funeral started a few hours later. Jenton searched for a familiar face in the crowd. There was no coffin, since they had found the body in such a mangled state they just buried it on Onderon, but the funeral was still here. It was only fitting, as she had been born on Naboo. All there was was a wall of flowers and pictures. Jenton stood next to it, watching the people. He couldn't bring himself to meet anyone's eyes, and when that was about to happen, he looked down immediately.

Spoiler: Picture Wall

 

[SirNoodles]

Mark was sat in the sad and quiet crowd. He thinks it is right as he was there whilst she was murdered and was with her and her master on her last few days. Many people must be here to pay respects for such a harsh happening - the Sith had killed a young girl. What wasn't there to pay respects to?
Mark had just about managed to make it as his father has/had a lot to do based on the invasion of Onderon. Many had lost their lives in the hands of the merciless Sith. As painful as this may be to some, including Jenton, Eris was just one of the thousands of lives who were being mourned and to the Sith was nothing but one of their many victims.
Mark spots Jenton right next to the pictures and flowers and his head is now facing the ground. He hadn't known him for long but Jenton, he could tell, is a nice man who really doesn't deserve this.

The crowds start going in single file lines of people towards the pictures and flowers to pay their respects. Many place down flowers, some bow and some just mutter a prayer. Once it is Mark's turn to do so he just looks down at them and nods respectfully.
After having done that, he passes Jenton who is right next to the pictures and mutters, "I'm sorry, Jenton. She didn't deserve this."

 

[Jaz]

A young twi'lek, about thirteen or fourteen years, came running up to the wall. She stopped, stared up at it, then looked down and tossed a single flower before looking at Jenton and darting off. Jenton guessed she must've known Eris before. He looked at Mark, who had just spoken to him, and nodded. He was relieved to see the familiar face.

"...thank you, Mark," He said. He paused before continuing, "She was a good kid...a really good kid. I could tell she liked you."

 

[Jade the Protector]

Erin Trask looked about nervously. Naboo was the last place she wanted to be, but she had been separated from a group of Jedi she was with and was stranded. She had found the Jedi, dead in the sand, it looked like a Sith might have done it, but she wasn't sure.

"Hey, Girl, I know you! Get back here!" A gruff voice said. One of her old masters! Erin ran as fast as she could, but an electro whip struck her. Shaking off the pain, she ran faster. Turning away from an alley, she saw a group of Jedi. It was the funeral.
Sloping down, she his behind the Jedi.

 

[Jaz]

Jenton heard yelling from somewhere nearby, but that didn't surprise him as much as the tiny girl who ducked behind him. He turned his head to look at her. She was tiny and seemed afraid.

"Hey," He said, gently, "What's wrong?"

 

[Jade the Protector]

Erin flinched instinctively at his touch. "Old...Master....of.....mine......wants....me.....back...." She panted, pointing the way she had came. "I...am....Jedi....Knight......Erin....Trask. I came.....here.....with a small group of Jedi, but they are...dead. I....am....stranded here." She swayed a bit from the wound the electro whip , which felt like it went deep.

 

[Jaz]

Furrowing his eyebrows, Jenton looked where the girl was pointing. "Well, you can stay here for a while. They can't give you any trouble with this many people around," He reassured her, helping her stand steadily.

(ooc: it's okay that erin happened to stumble upon the funeral while she was running, but please try not to detract too much from the original point of this thread.)

 

[Jade the Protector]

(Sorry, I kind of skimmed read the posts)
"Thanks. Sorry for what happened to Eris. I met her only once briefly, but she was a good young lady." Erin gave her fellow Jedi a respectful nod.

 

[Jaz]

Jenton reciprocated the nod, looking down at the ground. "She was," He said. He pointed to one of the pictures, "That's the earliest photograph ever taken of her. It was about a year ago."

 

[Jade the Protector]

She nodded. "Firey look about her." Erin exhaled a shuddering breath, not sure what to say.

The man paced on the edge of the funeral, waiting for his prize to jump out.