The Return of the Tourist

[Garuga]

Jedi leaving or taking extended breaks from the Order was not as rare as some people might believe. Some leave after disageements and conflicts in ideals, and others simply lose their sense of purpose or interest with the Order. Bacilla came into this second category once she found herself drifting through the motions both before her promotion and after her swift dismissal. She couldn't pinpoint one clear reason, but she understoods its effects more than well enough. It was not that she became self-centered or uncaring about the Order's role in the galaxy, but a shade of apathy certainly made it's presence felt. Bacilla tried, tried harder and harder to move beyond this mental low. She could not speak openly to many of her peers, given that the members of the Council poised to replace her had other concerns. Her general position in the order had been shaky at best, only slightly better than being shunned. Even Jedi loved winners apparently. Finally, Bacilla shifted to the Sage Halls, where she sought meaning from the core roots of Jedi culture. That proved to be the tipping point, as Bacilla encountered countless texts and recordings that had made plenty more sense earlier in her Jedi career.

Bacilla made her leave before doubt and confusion grew into their more sinister older sibling, resentment. Knowing that a single drop of resentment's potential to become even more when left unchecked, Bacilla chose to leave on her terms. She relinquished her status as a Jedi as well as her two treasured sabers back to the Order, who for the most part had made the process easier and smoother. With that, she left for soul searching with a way that she deemed appropriate.

Her thoughts ended there as she came to the first stop of her path back into this Order. Self reflection only came so far, and there was plenty more to tell. What she terribly needed now was a breathing soul to talk to, and that is the precise reason for her return. Now she stood outside the chamber doors, not much having changed other than the fairly surprising increase in security measures. Bacilla had been escorted to these doors, checked for weapons thoroughly and having generally suspicious glances shot towards her such as what the two Jedi guards were doing now. Perhaps they remembered her face, though theirs were definitely new to her. Or maybe her attire, which was an affordable but neat black business suit, not commonly found on the bodies of Jedi who either favour robes or casual and practical clothing.

Bacilla heard herself take a deep breath before determinedly taking her first step through the doors which opened with a swoosh. As much as Bacilla wished, the man she was about to meet was not one who she was well familiar with. This Order for all of it's modern adaptability and open mindedness compared to the Jedi of Old had been something Bacilla walked away from. This time, she was set to find out whether she could return and call it home.

 

[GABA]

It was a surprising call, but it wouldn’t have been the first. The return of members to the Order, the return of councilors lost after being forced to step down or forced down by their own self doubts. Master Kane was quite unfortunate in her position. Only have sat on the council for a few short days before a petition brought forth, signed by multiple members of the order, in short demanding for the Council to do their jobs or to step down.

The Grandmaster and the Battlemaster stepped down, as did the Prime Envoy: Bacilla Kane.

Sigur had never met with the woman, nor was her face recognizable until after she sat upon the council for her short time. Nevertheless, she was more than recognizable, and her return, he hoped her return, was permanent. He had his suspicions to why she left the Order and the rumors he had heard seemed too farfetched, but he was sure an honest answer would reveal itself when he spoke with him today.

The Grandmaster stood in the council chambers waiting for the Jedi’s arrival; too beeps on his comm link only moments earlier gave him a heads up she was here and being thoroughly checked by security. Eventually he could sense an unfamiliar, but powerful presence at the door to the council chamber’s door before she entered. Sigur remained standing; he was never one who liked to sit around. He gave a small grin as she walked inside, the Jedi taking her place in front of him.

“Master Kane.” He greeted, “We see too many Jedi leave without word and not return; and for your return, it is a welcoming sight indeed.”

 

[Garuga]

Bacilla responded with a curt smile and nod of her own. Such were the ways of the Order she remembered well, always prepared and never surprised. Having seen the Grandmaster's face previously only through the media, Bacilla noted the man's smile which broke his otherwise slightly stern features. The man's somewhat weathered appearance did not succeed in concealing the unmistakable presence of one humbly powerful and fully aware of it.

"Master Vainikainen, thank you for agreeing to meet me such short notice." Bacilla responded. Years of hard training and careful honing had meant that she could damn well adopt whatever accent she wanted, but her natural speech was nevertheless conducted in her native distinctive Imperial basic.

"I thank you for your welcome, and I do hope that my return is for the best." She chose her words carefully, for though she had clearly stated her intentions of rejoining the Order, rushed promises were never ideal. Though most of her internal considerations have already been made, meeting the leader of the Order in person was more important and meaningful than her incomplete knowledge of various structural changes the Order had made in recent times.

"My following of the Orders' events have been sparse as best while I was away unfortunately, too many sources which seemed doubtful of best though I remember various reports of engagements," She continued. "The news of destruction of the Coruscant Temple reached many if not all ears however, including mine." She had been more than shocked to learn of it and there were details which she would prefer to learn from the man who headed the Order, as opposed to the spastic and uncontrolled gibberish that the media spewed forth following the days of the event.

"How fares the Jedi recently?"

Of course, she expected some questions to be asked of her in turn, and she was willing to answer clearly whether it be of her activities after her leaving or her current intentions.

 

[GABA]

“Troubled.” Replied Sigur, he knew it was not the ideal answer to give, however, it was better than lying and responding with a ‘everything’s fine’. The Jedi seemed to be at a loss of what to do ever since the war started, he contributed it inexperience, the lack of knowledge, as well as a lack of proper leadership.

“We’ve had so many perish at the hands of the Sith, or succumb to their doubts and fall. Jedi leave for missions, and do not return.” He furrowed his brow with a sigh, but continued, “And Coruscant, yes, rumors you have heard do not lie; we believe the Sith were behind the attack, we lost everyone, including three council members as well as civilians in the city around the temple. The Jedi proved their resilience, and the temple was rebuilt, it just opened recently, however, the Sith came again, their target Empress Teta. I’m sure you saw the reports on that story.” Sigur informed Master Kane, indeed the Sith did come to the Empress Teta Temple, but it was different this round, though the Jedi suffered causalities, they came out, defeating the Sith and pushed them back.

“Though, I’m curious to know, how fares Bacillia Kane?”

 

[Garuga]

Bacilla nodded. Something in similar fashion to guilt dug at her side. If she had stayed, would anything have gone any differently? She dismissed the thought with a hurry, entertaining scenarios of 'what could have been' were hardly ever healthy. Her choice to leave had been made long before any such attack was implemented, and even if she had remained Bacilla thought it unlikely her clouded thoughts could have done anyone any good.

"By all means I guess I've done quite well, given that I'd regained enough of my mental fortitude to return." Bacilla chuckled, uncharacteristically sheepishly. "I guess whether for official records or not I do owe the Order some reasons and explanations for my actions." Biting her lower lip lightly, Bacilla took a glance behind Sigur, where the council seats stood as they always are.

"Even before my promotion, I think, I was somewhat 'losing it'." Bacilla said somewhat apologetically for the uncreative choice of words. "I just couldn't stop thinking about what I could have done, how my life would have proceeded if I wasn't involved with the Order. A mid life crisis, if you will." So, nothing new there, disillusionment or a lack of purpose was probably the most common reason for a Jedi's leaving, other than intense fits of rage or grief resulting in brushes with the Dark Side.

"So, essentially, I went ahead and tried a life which didn't particularly have anything to do with the Order, namely it's ideal." Bacilla continued, quickly adding on before her sentence suggested she took up bounty hunting or the like. "I spent a bit of time before deciding on Thyferra, where working from way down, I eventually became a consultant for one of the major Bacta firms operating in the galaxy."

Jedi Councillor to cross-system businesswoman, the difference was remarkably little. "And I have to admit, after having spent the second half of my life till this day with the Order, behaviourally it was certainly a challenge to behave any differently. Skills that I had learnt I continued to apply, whether it be analysing and identifying motives or simply how well I carry myself. These are admittedly things I already had a fair grasp on before my training."

Bacilla smiled. "The majority of the companies, I'm happy to report, treat the local Vratix fairly well. Could be better, certainly, and that was one of the things I had consciously decided upon to work towards."

"I worked with the Vratix in the fields, and from the first day, I was always surprised by them. No appreciation for aesthetics such as art and music, shame as it is, but so extremely efficient and methodical in their analysis. I learned quickly from conversing with them and appreciating their thinking that many of the practices that companies conducted on Thyferra weren't terribly effective, but the pride that the humans held was far too much for them to swallow. It probably doesn't take that much imagination to see that what I ended up accomplishing was to successfully persuade the corporation I worked with of the Vratixs' methods, and once the rewards became evident, the corporation did express their gratitude in the form of better treatments for the workers."

Business practices aside, it was seeing this that had really prompted Bacilla into thinking of returning to the Order. What good was she doing by deliberately leaving the life she had been having? She knew that whether it'd be on Tython, Coruscant or Thyferra there would be no difference. Trying to get away from the Orders' ideals when they had already been incorporated into her as a person was fruitless, Bacilla had realised. "I just couldn't turn my back on what I was and am, a member of the Order. Maybe I always held some form of bitterness over how I came to join these ranks, but I always knew in my heart what we did was for the best of everyone. The Alliance might not always be the smoothest operating machine, but The Order is here to guide it."

"Still, it did take me a long while to accept this, stubbornness takes a lifetime to master I guess." Bacilla chuckled, shaking her head. "I helped the corporation through one final quarter, nice returns as usual, and then I knew I was needed to be back here."

Bowing and then locking her eyes onto Sigurs' own, Bacilla took another deep breathe before finishing her final statement determinedly. "I made up my mind, Master Vainkainen, I will continue to be an arm of the Order, if you will accept me."

 

[GABA]

The Grandmaster listened attentively to what the woman explained. As he suspected it was self doubt that had lead her to break away from the order, however it didn’t surprise him the road to getting that point started before her appointment on the Council. Bacilla had continued on, leading to how she arrived to Thyferra and her working with the Vratix.

It was a curious story to him, he wondered how much of the Force played in its part to direct her to Thyferra in the first place. Many Jedi have been known to just up and leave without question, without good-byes all due in part to a will that pulled them to. It was something always that interested Sigur, having some instances himself with such a matter. But that would be for another story for another time. Master Kane had finished, a good outcome to her experience, something he wouldn’t want any other ways. He returned a smile to the woman and bowed to him before locking eyes to his.

He beckoned his fingers quickly, allowing her to rise.

“There is a reason for everything that happens.” He begun, “Sometimes to learn those reasons takes us to places or people we wouldn’t believe would help us in this discovery. For reasons good or bad, there is a lesson learned. There was a purpose why you went to Thyferra, purpose to why you worked with the Vratix, whether you were aware or not at the time.” Sigur explained to Bacilla, “We will always battle ourselves, question, fall into doubts, forgetting that we are only mortal and though yet Jedi, we still have flaws.

“The Order will welcome you back Master Bacilla Kane, this will always be your home as long as you wish it to be.”

 

[Garuga]

"In that case, I will gladly accept." Bacilla replied in relief. "I understand now there will never be a guarantee of not questioning yourself, but I will do my best to always hold onto what it means to be a member of the Order."

This was it then, returning to the life of familiarities. Home.

She had relinquished her lightsabers to the Order prior to her leaving, but it was probably most likely that they are beyond recovery given the destruction of the Temple on Coruscant. Though she was sorry to lose them, Bacilla would construct new ones. A fresh start.

There was one more thing.

"Master Vainikainen, I'll be out of your way shortly." Bacilla said before bidding her farewells. "I think I might travel to the new Jedi flagship, where perhaps I would be more of use."

 

[GABA]

A simple nod of the Grandmaster’s head signified his pleasure in hearing she decided to once more to return with the Jedi. He could feel a wash of relief come over the woman who stood before him and proceeded to conclude the meeting, but she had one more request.

“The Light of the Force?” he said, “Of course, if you feel if that be the case, you can take a transport when supplies are shipped.” The Grandmaster instructed, “If there is not anything else, then I would suggest taking some time for yourself while here and may the Force be with you.”