Mid Rim Investigations

[Rev]

Kalarba City
Kalarba, Kalarba System
Hevvrol Sector, Mid Rim

---------------------------------------------

What a beautiful planet.

Andrei stepped out from the hanger which held the Jedi Starfighter which got him there, and into the busy 'traffic' of the starport. Sucking in a slow but deep breath of the Kalarba spaceport air he couldn't help but smile at the familiarity to the so many others. Kalarba may have been an almost Ghost world, but the lone city he found himself in, it surely felt like all the rest. Making his way towards the exit, his eyes constantly scanned while his other senses reached out. For the moment things felt... safe.

Coming out of the port's front entrance his eyes immediately shot upward to the sky. It was nearly nightfall as the sun reached out its final beams of light on the glowing stars. Above both of the planets moons came to life, Andrei's own voice whispering the first as he pointed at it.

"Hosk..."

He looked to the other moon just as a cloud covered it up, and could do nothing but laugh. Moments passed and he was finally allowed his peak at the glowing orb.

"Indobok."

Looking down from his interest, Andrei was met with a sculpture which laid out before him the map of the city. It was exotic in every way he could imagine, the entire construct being made of stone. It all somehow came to one piece which had him puzzled at the craftsmanship. Finding where he was his eyes traced along a path to a nearby courtyard. Nodding in approval with his find the though was forced into his mind regardless of what was going on.

Thats the meeting spot.
---------------------------
@Nova Elgrin

 

[Lyanna Vahlaar]

Her fingers found the rough bark of the old maple. Kalabra had managed to succed in what so many civilisations had failed. Preseving the very base of what had nurtured them long before they had been able to leave the surface of their homeworld. The park localized in the northern area of Kalbra city was clearly a hommage to nature. A colourful mixture of diverse trees, bushes and flowers pleased the eye wherever it wandered. None of the shades was loud, rather were they well arranged in to match each other in soft pastell colours. Pine trees filled the air with their balsamic odeur, and from afar the wind carried the sweet scent of Millaflowers closer, serving as the heart note of the sensual parfume this park. It turned every very breath into a pleasure. Lyanna could feel the life of the tree she touched, it's flowing engery. Plants granted her so much people couldn't. Most of all, silence, and a certain kind of calmness that was hard to archive within the company of sentient beings.

Her fingers parted from the maple and Lyanna found her way back to the path that would lead her to the meeting point. She waas wearing an ensemble of linen and velvet, dark nuances of green contrasted by the dark brown of Sullust leather. Her two lightsabers carried in leather holsters on her belt.
Her hair was neatly tied back into an artistic braid. Her eyes found the meeting point, an impressive sturcture made out of material unkown by her. Veines of gold and black penertraed the stone-like monument. But as worthy of admiration the statue might have been, Lyanna focused on something else. The presence in the force, belonging to a stranger. Yet there was no threat, the calming light radiating from the person gave away that this was an ally.
Lyanna approached her partner in this mission. She thoughtfully regarded. He was tall, his clear-cut features allowing latitue about a potential dominant nature, however the soft expression of his blue eyes taking away from that hope. Lyanna would have prefered being accompanied by one of her family members. Outsiders tend to ask questions. And the last couple of times she found herself being forced to work with rather...liberal brothers and sisters of the Order. They had been monks, not warriors. Weakness and lack of determination was indead a disease which spread all to easy within the ranks of the Order. And she knew quite well whom she blamed for it....

Her face however gave nothing away from her thoughts, it stayed a perfect and controled mask of courtesy.
"Knight Berrak" it was a simple greeting, but it served its purpose. She was on time, however her first words were a polite apology and the expression of how she wished she had not make him wait. Their eyes met, but hers didn't remain focused on his face for too long. Her gaze rather went wandering around the rich greens as long as they were still to enjoy. Dawn was upon them."No wonder he chose this world..." she said.
Their mission was to find an deserted Captain of the Republic army named Shalen Drukhar. He was suspected of treason, at least that was the information the Jedi had gotten from ther newly ally. There was some serious indication that he had contacts within the Sith brotherhood and had the intention of seeling off confidential information. Lyanna and her mission partner had to make sure said information didn't pass on to it's client.
"Do we have any clues of his whereabouts?"

 

[Rev]

The Knight found himself kneeling in front of a rather tall singular pillar within the center of the courtyard. The high walls around them were minimal in comparison to the lone statues height. What had drawn the elder Jedi to it he was unsure, only that it had. It was there he was caught in a light meditation when the voice of a stranger called out to him. There was something familiar about it, but what he was unsure he. Opening his eyes to take in the woman something seemed different about her. Ignoring the gut feeling he stood to offer her a bow.

"Knight Vahlaar."

His eyes followed her own to a collection of rich looking blooms mixed in a patch of tall grass. Making a stride in the groupings direction he gestured for her to follow while listening to her speak. He couldn't help but nod at the comment, Drukhar was no fool he had long been a navigation and intelligence specialist within the Republic fleet. Andrei had managed to gather some further intelligence on the Captain; he had one helluva story. Something didn't seem quite right about the whole thing, but they would soon find out.

"There's a small encampment outside of the city that a lot of refugees go. If they're lucky they can hitch a ride out of the sector. Might be a good place to start. He isn't going to be traveling in his dress uniform."

The Knight let out a short laugh hoping to lighten the mood somewhat. They could be on a wild goose chase, but he didn't want to dishearten Lyanna. It wouldn't be the first one he found himself on, the Jedi didn't always have the correct information.

 

[Lyanna Vahlaar]

Lyanna smiled when she witnessed the courtious approach of her fellow comrade-at-arms. In return she dropped a curtsey in the graceful manner her mother had taught her.
She listenend to his statements and agreed with a simple nod. When laugther escaped his lips, she couldn't help but to reward him with an amused smile, that however didn't quite reach her eyes.
They started walking along side of each other, their footsteps declaring no hurry, yet they weren't strolling either.
"This mission has me worried to be honest with you. Our alliance with the republic is quite young, and given the fact that they rule over the largest part of this galaxy we would do well to strengthen our bond. I don't see them cooperating with the Sith even if we would return to our neutral relationship, but we can hardly afford losing such a powerfull ally..." her gaze trailed off "That we can not protect our own temple, our holy place, from traitors within our very own ranks will keep them cautious if they are smart...." the bitterness that drowned her voice made clear she had lost someone during the bombing on Tyhton. Someone she had loved. Someone she had held dear. "We don't know the excat content of the information that was stolen. And how critcal it really is" Lyanna sighed "If said thief just sells the information on the black market it's an iccident to worry about, what I truely fear though is that it gets up ending in the hands of our true enemies..."

 

[Rev]

"Trust in yourself... Trust in the Force."

He let a smile grow upon he face before elaborating on his answer to her inner struggle.

"We can only do what we are capable of, Lyanna. We must take our action today and react to that action tomorrow. We cannot forever sit and wonder... contemplate... imagine the future."

Her story hit home in regards to the temple sacking. Even in her words he could feel the pain and struggle that lingered on. Trying to offer some sort of guidance he knew nothing could be done or said at that moment, but soon. But even he knew that the younger Knight's mind wasn't entirely focused upon the task at hand. Turning to face her his right hand reached out and took hold of her own right forearm as he anchored in place.

"Knight Vahlaar..."

As his grip loosened on her a wave of emotions ran over Andrei. He could feel the loss inside her, the aching pain that wouldn't let go, and a creeping desire for revenge. Andrei found himself sucking in a deep breath of fresh but still Kalarban air before exhaling it all deeply.

"..you cannot cast blame on yourself for what occurred there. It was the action of the Sith.. of the Dark Side that committed those atrocities."

He paused for only a moment to finally release his grip and take a step back.

"They will answer for what was done. Just as Shalen Drukhar will for his."

 

[Lyanna Vahlaar]

"I agree" she replied regarding his first statement "Imagination is for children and dreamers. I rather let deeds speak for me" the smile he granted her was comforting, and in her heart there grew the hope that she would serve with another warrior for once. The birthday of her great-grandfather and what kind of Jedi she had encountered there had still left a bitter taste in her mouth. Their minds had lacked determination as their arms most likely lacked the strength to wield a saber with the power it needed to defeat the enemy. The thought of what had become of the army ever since her Lord Zo had died and the usurper took over was a sad one. She would have given anything to kneel one last time before him. He had been a beacon of hope, and seeing him replaced by a man that granted traitors refuge put the Jedi to shame.

When warm fingers reached out for her and touched her arm, her eyes pierced his. Standing closer now she could see the tiny silver flecks ithat were embedded in his blue robs.. Like a very early morning sky adorned with pure starlight.

His hand sank back to his flank and when he spoke, her expression became as motionless as the ones of the statues near-by.
"I don't blame myself." she said and in the very same moment she spoke, one of her brows formed a puzzled bow as if he was talking complete nonsense "I blame the ones who are to blame. I blame the ones who set the bombs, I do blame the ones who murdered their own brothers and sisters. And I do blame the one who grants them shelter. And none of them is a Sith, you are aware of this, are you not?"

She had never been able to understand how people were either informed that poorly, or if the just didn't care.
"Have you lost someone that day on Tython?" she asked, yet the cool shade of her voice made clear it was half accusation, half question.

 

[Rev]

"...and you shouldn't."

His response came back just as cold as her own had rang out. His stance held tall yet relaxed against her piercing gaze. As she spoke he could feel the passion within her grow, each bit of emotion swirling to a point deep within before being put under control. He did not so much listen to his partners words in that moment, but instead felt her true intentions, searched those passionate emotions. What he got was exactly what her words were expressing, something that allowed the smile on his face to linger.

"Yet your passion in this blame misguides you, Lyanna."

His smile quickly faded as he looked away and continued on pace towards the refuge they were seeking out. Looking back over his shoulder he continued the debate.

"The Force. The Force is to blame for this, my friend. It has and always shall. There must always be balance in it; both light and dark. There is nothing we can do or say to change that day. The ebbs... the flow of the Force is always changing... always manipulating itself. I have seen Jedi change overnight from the allure of it."

Her final question held him in place as he came to a stop and looked out at the planets natural beauty for a long moment. He was taking in the memory of the day as his eyes fell shut.

"I was in meditation... it was a cool morning and I was finally settling into my focus when it hit me. The strong connection I had to Tython.. to that Temple was erased in an instant. I knew several of the Masters... but none personal to me. But I felt it Vahlaar. Just as you did."

 

[Lyanna Vahlaar]

"The force?" her voice was a sharp hiss. Was he serious about this? Lyanna was guarded in general but now she rose her barriers even higher and hid her mind and heart behind an inpenetrable wall. "The force is a mere tool, and it was abused by those individuals. The force didn't make them setting the bombs. It was their very own decision and they acted accordingly. I don't see any reason for you to whitewash this fact." She followed up. Had the space between them just grown? Did the light breeze carry a whiff of coldness suddenly? She condemned him for condoning the traitors, that much he was most likely able to read, if not from her mind as she had hidden it from him, but from the way she seeked distance.

"I have not just felt it. I've been there." Her hand rose and touched the burned and scared right cheek of hers, that made her look like a bizarre mixture of human and reptile. She wondered if he was able to tell by this gesture that she had suffered this burn in the temple. "Then you are very lucky." she replied regarding his statement the he had not lost anyone personal "I have lost family that day. Two aunts and their spouses. And my little cousin.." now her gaze trailed off to the stars. Sadness wove itself into the timbre of her voice as she continued "She was only ten years old....a quite one, but she had a quick mind and a tender heart. Books were more for her liking than her saber.." A short and quite laugh rang from Lyannas lips, yet it didn't sound amused but was rather drowning in grief "But she will never finish her books..."

She regarded her companion from the corner of her eye "And you hold the opinion that the traitors shouldn't answer for their crimes, hm? That they shouldn't even face trial? Isn't that what we do with murderes, especially mass murderers? Making them face trial for their crimes?"

 

[Rev]

Her comment brought his cold stare and serious face soft as a smirk grew at the corner of his lips. She wouldn't admit to it, hell he wouldn't have at her age but there was much more to the Force than it being a tool. As she applied the story to apply her blame to the traitors of the Jedi he looked her over, feeling the wall she put up and accepting it for what it was.

"Some are bent by that tool, some can control it. Some cannot. The Force is no simple too you can use as you wish, Vahlaar."

Andrei made sure to spit her name out with an almost disgust she was sharing towards him. Her way of describing the Force was just as he'd imagine a darksider. Bending it to their will, to serve their person purpose. Yes it may help another, but at what cost? As she distanced herself he made it a physical statement to hold his ground. His stance was neutral but he did not move any further nor closer away.

"Some are dr-..."

He would be cut off by his companions further questions about the traitors. Something that in a way stopped him in his tracks as he contemplated his next move. Huffing in a deep breath he shook his head as he answered her questions.

"They should no doubt answer for their crimes. You misinterpret the flow... Only that balance always occurs. No matter the cost."

The final words of his comment were truth to him as best he could see it. His eyes remained locked with Lyanna's own to express the magnitude of his belief.

"The ones who took the lives of those Jedi.. of your family... and of the Temple must answer for what they've done. May it be quick."

 

[Lyanna Vahlaar]

Lyanna's gaze dropped from his eyes to his lips when a smirk curled the corner of his mouth upwards. This time she let the older one finish and when the echo of his final statement floated in the air like a ghost of the past, Lyanna lowered her lids and chin for the first time since the met up. It had something almost apologetic, yet on the other hand Lyanna was a guarded person and not easy to read, neither in expression nor the force.

When her lashes finally lifted again a warm smile had blossomed on her lips. Even her eyes radiated some warmth now, betraying the cool shade of her orbs.
Her smile was announcement itself regarding his last words, but she needed to address something else of course "Forgive me..." she started off very carefully "I didn't express myself well. You are right, the force is no simple tool of course, as a faithful believer in the spirit the force is so much more to me and to everyone that shares my blood. I was rather talking about the traitors. They abused the force as their tool. They were and are still autonomous individuals and they themselves and only themselves carry responsibility for their actions. You made it sound like they were mere innocent puppets on strings and if that is what you believe, we will have a hard time to drag the force itself as the puppeteer to court"

She wondered if he would understand..

 

[Rev]

"Emotions can have the best of us, my friend."

He paused to think about what he had just said, nodding in satisfaction with it as she continued on. As she further explained herself he found himself wondering if his own explanation for the events was the description he had meant to give. Holding the thought at the front of his mind he at that moment realized they were outside of the city's main wall and beginning the path to their expected encampment. Casting his gaze out over the horizon he was sure to note they had a few hours before the sun would be below it and they'd need to find shelter.

"The Force... it is a powerful tool and just as much a strong weapon if in the wrong hands. I did not mean that it is the Puppet Master, but that it is in constant balance. I have seen the greatest of Jedi fall to its temptations just as I've seen weak ones break the chains of darkness."

He paused to let this explanation settle for a moment.

"...for some this temptation is too great. Even the best of teachings cannot defeat that allure of the Force's power. Of its potential. But to not be guided by the Force, but to control it as if you are the master.. the owner of it, is a greater risk than a reward to take. Like nature.... like the water running over rocks within the sea. At first the stone will break the wave, but nature is potent to temptation, it is not broken, it is relentless... it has all the control. The Force is no different."

He smiled at her comment of bringing it in for trial, if only it could be so easy.

"Those that abuse it... those that are tempted by its dark intent are not always to blame. The decision itself is on them, but without guidance.. without help, the darkside... The Force, it can be a powerful enemy to take on."