Resolution

[Fennex Zeerda]

"My apologies Master Zeerda! I didn't recognize you right away."

The Temple Guards posted at the corridor to Silas quarters quickly stepped aside with an apologetic bow. The Jedi Master waved off the apology and shuffled through the gap, unconcerned by such incredibly minor inconveniences nowadays, but the guardians words got him thinking- had he really changed that much? True, he was going a bit gray in the fur lately. What had started as a few stray hairs here and there had slowly turned into a patchwork of mottled grey and yellowish fur all over, and the once pitch black tips of his ears were starting to go fade the same way. Fennex certainly wasn't vain about his appearance- he'd been wearing the same patched and ratty grey coat over the same worn blue tunic for decades. He kept it all clean and serviceable, but nobody could ever say the Amaran was a fashion icon.

He doubted that was what the sentry had meant though. In fact, he doubted practically anyone took much note of his slowly aging appearance, except those who'd know him well the longest. He wondered if it might be his entire presence and demeanor. He could remember, years ago, younger Knights and initiates jumping at his very move, trying not to catch his attention, knowing that it could result in an impromptu (and potentially painful) lesson. He stomped about the temples irritably, nose held high and ears perked as if he was trying to sniff out trouble wherever he could find it... Fen realized he wasn't that Fox anymore, and he wondered what it meant and when it had happened. Hmm, he mused, something to meditate on...

The door to Silas quarters whisked open as he approached, revealing the man and his "apprentice", sitting under the watchful eye of another Guardian perched in the corner. Fennex would be happy to finally get this whole situation resolved, and in a totally peaceful manner to boot. He'd been concerned at every turn that there might be some display of power, a poor choice made by one of his Knights (who had both performed quite admirably in their tasks), the exile, or even himself. Even still though, this had been mentally and emotionally draining, and having to tune into the Conclave in the middle of their trip home hadn't helped things either. He needed a nap and a good long sit, preferably somewhere quiet and remote.

"I'm sure you're both tired of being cooped up here, so for your sakes I'll abbreviate the pleasantries and get straight to the point," The Jedi Master addressed Silas as he shuffled into the room, eying them both closely, "The short version of it all is that my work is concluded, and you're both free to go."

Fennex plopped onto a low sitting meditation stool near the door and folded his paws into his lap with a tired huff. There sure were a lot more stairs in this place than he remembered...

@GABA @Raydo

 

[Isola Rin]

Hot...

Cold...

Hot...

Cold...

Loa subtly played with the temperature of Silas' seat as she focused, careful not to light it on fire, and at the same time careful not to give him frost bite. It was the one thing she could do at the moment, or at least she thought was enjoyable compared to what Master Silas had suggested: meditating. The guards weren't letting them out today and Loa desperately needed to stretch her legs; her dreams had gotten worse and she wanted to move about, but they were told to stay put but not why until the door opened. The fox that she had seen when they first were on Tython had returned, he seemed distraught but Loa was happy to see he had returned.

The girl jumped to her feet in anticipation and it took nearly all her willpower not to let out a yelp of excitement, but that was it and nothing else. Questions stirred as it felt incomplete and Silas would recognize the demeanor in his student as she opened her mouth to speak before he could stop her.

"Wait that's it?" she shook her head with confuse, "What about Master Ralaa?" she asked looking at the fox Jedi and then to Silas, "Did you find her? Is she ok?" she placed her fists on her hips, "Or isn't that a Jedi Business response and I...we are going to be kept in the dark about what's going on?"

@Raydo @Loco

 

[Silas Rin]

Silas sat quietly meditating. He noted that was what Loa should have been doing as well, but she was..distracted. He ignored her attempts to do...whatever she was trying to do. He could hardly blame her for growing antsy as he was growing quite restless himself. He was used to being busy, too busy probably and was ready to get back to it, ready to get back home.

He had known that the Jedi had returned some time ago, sensing Ralaa's presence in the Force. The normally comforting feeling now turned his stomach. He had a sinking feeling of what had happened and her presence here was somewhat telling. He opened his eyes standing a second before the door opened and the miniature Jedi stepped into the room.

And just like that. It was over just as quick as it had begun. A pointless exercise in turning would be allies into possible enemies. He would not be so trusting of the Jedi in the future. "She's fine." he said squeezing the young woman's shoulder as she mouthed off to the Jedi. "You will mind your words." he reminded. He wasn't overly stern but the message was clear enough. "I would see her before I leave, to ensure she is safe, if she will agrees to it of course." he said looking towards the Jedi. "Surely you have found no ill intention in my actions during your investigation. I have cooperated fully and this will ensure there is closure to our gathering here." They had taken him prisoner and it was entirely possible they had done the same to her. Both he and Ralaa had ties to the nobility of Andara who in turn had deep ties to the Republic. It would not end well if they had seized her, but he had a feeling that was not the case, he still needed to be sure.

He would not be surprised if she had chosen her life with the Jedi. It was not an easy thing to let go. Silas and his children would survive. They always had.

"I will wait in the training grounds. Your guards are welcome to accompany this meeting. I have to admit I have grown fond of them" he said jokingly patting one of them on the shoulder as he passed. They were an enigmatic lot with their stoic mask and quiet demeanor, but they had shown him kindness during his time here.

 

[Fennex Zeerda]

Fennex grimaced, crinkling his whiskers. He had been afraid this might happen, and had prepared for it as best he could, but he was still sure it wouldn't be taken well. He raised a paw to stop Silas before he made his way through the door. He wished he'd had a moment to dismiss Isola and send her running along to their ship, but he supposed she had a right to hear this too.

"No." he said simply, sighing. Ralaa was already going to struggle with her decision for a time, although Fen had high hopes that Master Guleya would know what to say to her- she didn't need any painful distractions right now. It was the Council themselves that determined that a clean break may be the most painful in the short term, but would be the safest for all involved in the end, and it was a requirement she had agreed to. "Ralaa is not to see you, or have any further contact with you as long as she is a member of this Order. It was a condition of her return."

Fennex shook his head, knowing that, essentially, this was the second time this had happened to Silas. The man himself probably thought it was something that the Order did to him, but the reality was he had done it to himself. It was a sad and unfortunate situation all around, but that didn't relieve Master Zeerda, Knight Talus, or any other Jedi of their duties and obligations. It wasn't all lazer swords and heroics here- it was a lot of sacrifice for the ultimate good of the Galaxy, and it was rarely easy.

"I don't expect you to like it or to understand it, but this is hard enough for her right now. There's no sense in making it worse." Fennex fished around in his coat pocket, and brought out a little silver disc of a holo-recorder. Holding it in an open paw, he reached out and offered the device to Silas. "She gave me this to give to you. You can keep it- watch it now or later... It's your choice- just like she's made her choice."

@Raydo @GABA

 

[Silas Rin]

He turned towards the fox, a hard expression on his face. He took the disk from him and turned away. He had no interest in seeing what was on it. No interest in hearing a shame coerced confession. Ralaa had seen the Jedi for what they were, but seeing the truth and being brave enough to accept it were two different things.

"These are your heroes, Loa. See their heroic use of shaming those who think differently. All you would be is another body to throw at the onslaught to them." he said as he made his way down the hall. Silas had never spoken ill of the Jedi to Loa, always leaving it up to her to form her own opinion even though he hoped she would see the way they had been treated, the way Ralaa had surely been treated. "

He had never done anything except help any Jedi he had come across. It was obvious that they could view him as nothing more than a decade old title. If the Jedi wanted enemies, they would have them. Though he doubted any of them would live long. This war would be different. The Jedi were strong before the hundred years of darkness, but now they fought with one foot already in the grave.

The Jedi would be a better place once the Amaran's head was on a Sith spike somewhere. The old ways would have to die before the Jedi could be anything more than a pathetic mockery of the Order it once was.

Loa was free to do as she wished. He had taught her to think for herself, follow the Force. There was little else he could do for the girl. Now he faced the struggle of any parent, letting your children make their own choices, be their own people.

As for Silas, he would return home. Continue his work and survive as he always had.

/exit

 

[Fennex Zeerda]

Fennex let him go, ears drooping as the man all but stormed off in a whirlwind of anger and hatred. He wouldn't rise to the bait of the insults, and nothing he could say would serve any purpose but to further antagonize the wayward former Jedi. Perhaps once his emotions settled he would see this entire episode for what it was, but Fennex wasn't counting on it. Silas was beyond his ability to teach, and even if he wasn't the Jedi Master doubted that his words would be heard anyway. Silas had just provided a perfect demonstration of why he had been outcast in the first place, and why the Council handled this incident the way they had. Love was a perfectly normal emotion to experience, but Silas had become so attached to the idea of having Ralaa that losing her filled him with dark rage, just as it had with his last love. He refused to see it, but despite all his benevolent intentions and good deeds, he was only a short hyperspace hop from falling to the Darkside.

This was an unfortunate resolution to this mess, but it was not an entirely unexpected one. Silas had chosen his path long ago. Fennex took a deep breath, and resolved himself to deliver his final report to the Council on the matter, closing this chapter in all of their lives for good, before he retired for some much needed meditation time. The Master noticed the girl was still there in the room, and turned his attention to her, wondering how much damage Silas had done. She was strong in the Force- he could feel it- but not everyone was suited for the often painful life of a Jedi.

"Well," Fennex started calmly, his relaxed demeanor returning after he'd processed the sudden wave of emotions radiating from the exile, "I hope your stay here wasn't too miserable. You're returning to Andara with him?"

@GABA

 

[Isola Rin]

The squeeze of her shoulder quickly reminded the girl that she was out of line and certainly made her quiet and calmer as she practiced more self control on her verbal outburst. Her arms relaxed at her side as she let Silas speak, her eyes floating to the faceless guards as Silas expressed becoming fond of them, Loa tried to understand how being followed by something or someone that doesn't even converse was enjoyable. However, Master Silas' attitude begun to change when the Jedi Master denied him to see Master Ralaa. Loa was surprised by the Jedi Master's reply as she watched him take the holo-disk and holding it out for Silas, though she was even more surprised by her Master's reply.

Her cheeks turned bright red, uncertain she was bashful of her ideals being revealed to someone of such high rank, or if she was embarassed and shocked by Master Silas' response to the fox Jedi. Her brow furrowed as she watched him leave, uncertain if she said anything if she would deal with the consequences back at the orphanage. Standing quietly, trying to process, the Jedi Master spoke again, inquiring about her stay.

"Yeahhh...I guess it wasn't bad..." she mumbled in defeat of her protest for being detained, certainly she did have it worse; she remembered sleeping in dirty displacement camps before her parents abandoned her and not to mention her time on Chalacta taught her how uncomfortable straw mats and cold soil can become. She looked back at the path Silas took down the hall and then back to Fennex and knelt down so she was eye level with the fox master, her thoughts were spinning, quickly trying to decide the path that seemed right. She bowed her head in thought and looked at Fennex, "The galaxy needs the Jedi."

Loa stood up and quickly followed after Silas, glancing one more time at the Jedi Master before making her departure from Tython.

/exit thread

@Loco