The Rendition of Dhar-kor Jord

[Sreeya]

"Ah, Ando Prime. I regret and yet am glad I missed out on that battle."

When Jord spoke of annoyance, Val thought of her high level of patience after having two children. Of course, she withheld this information. Val simply grinned.

"I don't get to rest much, I'm afraid. Being a hero can be a bit taxing at times."

She pondered over the rest of his words.

"I have, indeed, thought about what we talked about. It definitely offers more insight on how the other side operates and thinks on a psychological level. But more importantly...have you thought about what I mentioned?"

 

[Jaqen H'ghar]

"Indeed I have." He said simply, without giving away much information. "What is it like, being a hero?" He asked curiously, though he tried to hide the honest curiosity from his voice. Of all the things Jord had been, a hero was not one of them. Feared, loathed, praised, a villain for certain, but never a hero. "And what news on my cybernet hand?" he added to seem a bit less focused on the topic of morality.

 

[Sreeya]

Val ignored his first question for a moment, jumping to the second.

"It's coming, it's coming. Be patient."

She thought over his first question now.

"It's...amazing. Being a hero, or that feeling of accomplishment. It takes so much to build something, yet only a second to destroy it. There's so much more joy in preservation than there is in destruction. It's as simple as saving a civilian from certain death..they're going to smile at you, thank you and live on to see another day. You will be in their thoughts, your story will be told through them and you will have made an impression, however small or large, on them for life. It's almost daunting, yet it's something that reminds you that there is something worth fighting for. There is a galaxy to save, people to protect and to know that you have the power to make a difference, to defend against all threats..it's a very humbling experience, but one that allows you to become a better person, someone truly a part of this universe..with purpose."

Val chuckled softly afterwards.

"I think I'm a romantic.."

 

[Jaqen H'ghar]

He chuckled. "Quite possibly, yes." He said, again being reminded of himself so long ago. "The Ospion sought to be Hero's." He spoke the words quietly. "Though what they found on conscio was different than that. It was the power they needed, but at great cost. When the time came, to go to the dark side, for lack of a better term, not all were wanting to venture down that road. They were killed. Some took no part in the killing but at the time, the most powerful of us were...warped, as you said."

"We saught to change the jedi, and thus better the galaxy originally...You know, I can't actually remember what we wanted to change it to. Something stronger, better I suppose, yes...Those of us who remembered that goal after were few in number. The only reason for my rise to power was Banik, I mean certainly, individually I was powerful, but the emphasis on destroying the galaxy was forgotten by the fact we originally planned to rebuild it once it was broken down." He shook his head. "I have always thought there were many fools in my order, but Banik brought Order to the cult. He saw what the original Ospion were looking for I think. Though I don't even know how he found us originally. He just appeared one day, and stayed, slowly gathering followers such as myself and eventually killing the old Bogan." He realized he was rambling now, thinking aloud to himself.

"Forgive me, I lost myself in thought for a moment."

 

[Sreeya]

"That may be, but there is still corruption within your Order. The empire is corrupt and it exists like a cancer within the galaxy, slowly moving to expand out and spread. Though you claim to have left behind the ideas of destruction, it remains a part of the way the Bogan expand and grow. It's taking over, destroying, manipulating and forcing."

Val took a deep breath, closing her eyes to gather her thoughts.

"The Jedi have become what they should have been a long time ago. We will not wait to be attacked. We are prepared to take the offense, as you saw on the battlefield. Our Grandmaster is one that has abandoned the old ways of the Jedi, the stagnant and slow ways that always left us in the dust. We can become this new Order, yet maintain purity and remain free of corruption. What you sought to do..it has happened. Finally, at last. The voices that spoke out back then that were always drowned out and overwhelmed, they are the mass now, they are center stage. We are not what we used to be."

 

[Jaqen H'ghar]

He looked at her, quietly for a long time. "Can you prove that?" He asked curiously. "I've seen four of your order, which is far from the masses. Can you prove it?" He asked it a second time, adding emphasis to it. His head spun with possibilities, over two decades had passed and it seemed the cycle the Ospion started had finally come full circle, but he had to be certain, there could be no room for doubt in this. It was, after all, his lifes work.

 

[Sreeya]

"We can prove it if we have the chance to take on the offense, Jord."

Val was suddenly more lively than she had been.

"That's why...that's why we need to make this happen. We need to stop the Bogan and Hutts from cutting a swath through the galaxy. We need the chance to be able to kick down their doors and truly show them how far we've come along. We are no longer sitting and deliberating, no. We are no longer on the defensive. We will find the threat where it festers and eliminate it."

There was passion in her words.

"We need to end this. Once and for all."

Val looked at him for a long moment, into his eyes.

"In order to stop them...we need to know where they are. We need to understand them, know what we're up against and build the attack. Yes, this is a Jedi talking."

Though she was passionate about this, it wasn't the crazed desire of a bloodthirsty killer, but of one that had been beaten down far too many times. It was time to make a stand.

 

[Jaqen H'ghar]

He nodded to her, thinking again. "I can admire your passion." He said still deliberating. "Will I be left to rot in a cell then, should I give up all?" he asked, more to by himself more time to consider, more time to think. "Because, you see, at the end of the day if I am, I should hope more for the Bogan to win for personal reasons. If I'm going to be killed of course..." He'd rather not think of that. "What are my options, again, a trade of even worth I think. Much like that for my hand."

 

[Sreeya]

Val smiled at him.

"Once again, a trade is different than how I want to approach this. I want you to understand our side of it, to learn about it, to see the changes. If you can see that, you are not beyond hope."

This was a tough situation, Val knew it.

"Are you set in your ways? You back the Bogan despite how ruthlessly they force others to servitude? They're..poisoning this galaxy. Surely you see that.."

 

[Kit]

Hector wasn't surprised to see the Grandmaster arrive, when Huang had sent a padawan to help move Jord, it was inevitable that she arrive. Moving Jord was a signal, and an obvious one at that; that they couldn't deal with Jord alone any longer.

Anyone else would be embarrassed, replaced by a girl little over half his age, but Hector was too preoccupied with curiosity. Whatever it was on the data-pad would be important.

He had dismissed the notion of repercussions over his mutilation of the prisoner, the Grandmaster would not involve Huang in that. Apparently, the consequences would come later. Instead, it appeared that there was another task to be undertaken. Why else single out Huang and Hector?

For now then, he would follow silently, allowing himself to relax and rest as best he could. Sleep, it appeared, would have to wait.

 

[Sreeya]

Talzea bore a serious expression as she led the two Masters away from the Jord's cell. She took them to a secluded room within the temple, completely out of earshot and surveillance. Talzea told them to sit down across from her, choosing her words carefully.

"I've brought you both here because I was recently informed of this. You're no doubt wondering why I had Knight Karasu take this case."

She looked at Hector for a moment, her gaze lingering slightly. There was no anger there, her expression unreadable, but it was definitely enough to convey that she was aware of what had happened. Talzea brought up the datapad.

"This is because she has an extensive history in dealing with Bogan, on perhaps a different level than we do. But that's not why this is urgent. I want you both to look into what she has acquired for us thus far. As you are both high ranked and, Hector, you were a part of the battle, I am revealing this to you."

With a gentle flick of the Force, she slid the datapad over to Hector and Huang. Talzea patiently waited, gazing at them both to see their reactions.

 

[Jaqen H'ghar]

Val smiled at him.

"Once again, a trade is different than how I want to approach this. I want you to understand our side of it, to learn about it, to see the changes. If you can see that, you are not beyond hope."

This was a tough situation, Val knew it.

"Are you set in your ways? You back the Bogan despite how ruthlessly they force others to servitude? They're..poisoning this galaxy. Surely you see that.."

"Do I seem like a man set in his ways, more than any other? I have always merely done what I felt correct, and some of those things are set, certainly but no more than any other persons." He said noncommittally. "And I've already told you though in different words, I've only backed what the Bogan can accomplish, while weeding out that which I've deemed undesirable."

"The Jedi keep holovids still, for security purposes and what not I would imagine. I'm still waiting for proof other than your word, no offense meant of course."

 

[Sreeya]

"Building a corrupt empire like that seems highly undesirable.."

Val nodded at his words.

"Understandable. Give me a moment."

She left the cell again, heading into the archives within the temple. She grabbed the audio recording of the first meeting the Grandmaster had held in the council chambers, and the resounding echoes of agreement. This kept their identities hidden. Val copied the tape, editing out any vital information regarding plans for the Order. However, there was more than enough there to show that the Jedi collectively welcomed this new way of order. Val returned to the cell and played the recording back to him. It began with Talzea's speech, followed by the passionate voices of the council all agreeing with the change. Val smiled as she heard it.

"Makes me proud of the changes.."

 

[Jaqen H'ghar]

"The empire itself is not corrupt, no more so than your republic. People within it perhaps..." he said as she left, then watched quietly as she played the holovid. Indeed the Jedi had changed it seems, even the council was quick to act. "Such passion...I like this new leader the Jedi have." he said nodding.

"Perhaps things have changed..." He sighed wearily.

 

[Sreeya]

Val looked down after the holovid was switched off.

"We have changed..yet the threat continues to grow. We are ready to fight, ready to go into battle and make the galaxy a safe place once again."

She observed him.

"What are you thinking, Jord?"

 

[Kit]

Hector followed, and sat, and listened. He noted, with some interest, the nature of the room that the Grandmaster led them to; one utterly off the grid. Secret.

When she shot him a look, Hector stared right back; resolute. He had acted rashly, but not incorrectly. He had followed the will of the force, no more. He only moved his gaze when the datapad was presented to him and Huang.

Casting his eyes over it, even a cursory glance at the data it was showing was, well... enlightening. Apparently Valena had extracted... well, everything. Or very well crafted lies. It would be interesting to cross reference it with what Jord said. Or...

"To go and scout them out?"

Hector smiled. He hadn't been there, but he remembered the build up to the attack on Ando Prime. Near enough identical, right down to a Bogan informant.

"How can we be sure this isn't a trap? Ah, but I suppose that's why you want to send us, then... isn't it?"

Hector nodded slowly. This was the sort of thing he could do; no impossible decisions, just a simple intelligence mission, even if it was into the heart of the dark side. This he could handle with ease.

"When do you want it done, Grandmaster?"

 

[Jaqen H'ghar]

"I am thinking that perhaps my goal was achieved. The Jedi no longer need the Bogan to strengthen them. That much is obvious." He said looking her over curiously. "I also think I may simply die here in this room, which I don't look forward to at all, but I have no guarantees of my safety once I give you what you wish to know. As Hector said, he would be all to happy to end my life."

 

[Sreeya]

Val smiled.

"Ah, some in our Order are more triggerhappy than others."

She had earlier notified the Grandmaster of what she was going to do. Val rose from her seat and walked over to the door of the cell, opening it. She glanced back at Jord.

"Come with me. We're getting you that hand."

She was surrounded by Jedi guards. Being a Master level Jedi meant she could hold her own if Jord tried anything, more than enough for Talzea to arrive. However, Val did not believe he was that twisted. It all had to come down to her Jedi faith. She guided him to the med bay, where his new hand waited. Val stepped back to observe as the doctors prepped to work on the hand.

 

[Jaqen H'ghar]

He looked at her cautiously at first, then stood up and walked to the threshhold of the door. He looked cautiously as if expecting to be impaled the moment he exited, then realized that if she was going to kill him, a blaster would've done it in that room with him unarmed.

"You are full of surprises..." he said as he took a step out of the cell, the force came flooding back into him and he smiled, despite himself. It was something he had never been without, and those few days alone had been maddening in certain respects. "What is your name?" He asked now truly curious as to who he was talking to. "And..." he paused and took a breath again feeling the force around him, it was familiar and yet new, not the repressive, dark side feelings on the ships of the Bogan or in their temples. "And bring a star map as well. I'll need something to do over the hour or two that it takes to fine tune this limb, as I understand the process..."

As the group walked Jord fell in step, making no quick movements at all, lest someone interpret him incorrectly.

 

[Sreeya]

Val smiled at him as he asked her name. He had made a mention of it before, but he appeared truly curious this time.

"Valena."

She withheld from mentioning her last name. It would only remind him of his previous interrogators. As Jord was taken to the bay, Val retrieved a holographic map of the galaxy, handing it to him. Within moments, the medical droids began to work on the stump on his arm. Val had to watch the procedure, never having seen anything like it before. A powerful local anesthesia allowed Jord to remain conscious during the re-attachment. She grimaced at the sight.

"That..makes me queasy.."