A Familiar Face

[Mercury Aurum]

Mercury Aurum had decided that she needed to take a swift, but necessary break. The Great Jedi Library was quiet as usual. This time it was almost unsettling; the lack of Jedi. The ominous silence reminded the young Jedi what tragedies had recently taken place in the galaxy. Aurum’s brain was usually buzzing with a million things. Today it was silent, and she focused ahead.


The immense Library held a few memories. She saw a few familiar faces of the Consulars who resided in the landmark. She passed by old rooms where she had studied before, or held a friendly debate among her peers. Mercury shook her head as if trying to scare away the nostalgia. Her dark hair was pulled into a low ponytail. Her hairstyle was frayed by the constant shifting of the goggles that she had forgotten to tighten that morning. Mercury had insisted on looking more maintained, but it never lasts. She donned a tan robe that covered a white tunic. The robe was belted at her waist, where the belt matched the simple boots that caused the only sound in that part of the library.


Mercury would start and stop at different shelves, sometimes doubling back if she thought a document interesting. Often, she would hope she was the only one in one section, so she didn’t have an audience as she paced back and forth. She settled on a few texts about various cultures of the galaxy. Mercury sat cross-legged in the corner of the room, flitting through the pages and taking mental notes. She heard occasional footsteps and looked up to see who was approaching her.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Evalyn Dan’ela]

Evalyn Dan’ela was surrounded by stacks of book, flimsi, and datapads. She was deeply out of her element. She was far more comfortable with a Lightsaber in her hand. Pouring through moldy books, and outdated flimsi was not her forte. She was drowning in a sea of information. Evalyn had no idea how to sort through everything. She had pulled every reference she could on the Darkside, but there were limits to what the Order made available. Limits to what she could get her hands on. The fall of the Exiles had made the Masters cautious. Knowledge of the Darkness was more restricted than ever.

She pulled what she could anyways. It was not for her. Evalyn was deeply concerned by what she had seen from Alais on Alderaan. There had been such raw and powerful emotion. It was unlike anything she had felt from a Jedi. The Darkness had not taken root in young Alais, there was no taint clinging to her. Evalyn was still worried. She had not professed her concerns to her young student. Instead, she had come to Ossus seeking any information she could. She dared not ask for help, least she draw unwanted eyes. Evalyn slammed a dusty tome in frustration. Another dead end. The Force fluttered from her hand, sending a stack of books to the floor. She leaned back in exasperation.

This was getting her nowhere. She stood and stalked from the room she had taken over. She needed better books. There was only one place in the Grand Library should could get them. Evalyn was stalking through the rows of forgotten knowledge. The Library was a ghost town at this hour. She turned a corner and spotted someone sitting in the corner of the room. Her eyes widened. Were those goggles? She took a deep breath and projected icy confidence. She needed this to work. “Excuse me, young one.” That seemed liked a master thing to say. “Can you point me in the direction of the restricted section?” She kept her eyes locked on the Pantoran. @Iridescence

 

[Mercury Aurum]

She didn’t exactly expect to be addressed, especially not like that. Mercury glanced up. The woman who spoke to her didn’t seem much older; Mercury didn't take to being called young one. It was another Jedi, but why would they need any restricted texts? Mercury was curious, and she intended to find out. Maybe she could help. Merc vaulted herself up from her sitting position, and the document on her lap cluttered to the floor. It was quickly kicked aside. She looked at the other Jedi. “I might be able to,” Mercury responded cheekily. “I’m kidding. I may ask some questions though.”

The library was vast and in its space held knowledge not found anywhere else in the galaxy. Any generic discipline could be found on any shelf. The restricted section held the most in-depth texts. Something was obviously wrong. Mercury casually reached out in the Force, trying to pick up any hints. The faint aura of trouble was the only thing she could detect. She didn’t want to give up. A million questions gathered in the young Jedi’s brain and whispered potential scenarios. “I’ve never really looked for it,” which was a blatant lie, “but, have you never been?” The Pantoran started to walk, looking back at the woman. Merc was anticipating what the other would say, whether any lies would be told. She also noticed the stigma about her goggles when Evalyn first approached, so she retightened the strap and tucked her dark hair behind them.


“I’m Mercury Aurum, by the way.”

@Valen Pelora

 

[Evalyn Dan’ela]

What a strange little creature. Evalyn arced an eyebrow as the bookworm jumped up, dumped documents on the floor, and hastily kicked them aside. Being locked up in the library did strange things to people. It was unnatural. Evalyn followed the oddball as she chattered away. She took a careful breath of the Force. Light rushed into her lithe form. Her emotions rode away on the tide of the Force. Whitewashed by the Light. She would not take any chances with a stray thought or emotion betraying her clever plan.

What she was doing was dangerous. Forbidden and horribly stupid. She had to keep the rouse going for as long as possible. “Ask as many questions as you like. I am oh so full of clever answers.” She smiled, trying to disarm the younger Jedi. “I am a Guardian dear.” If she used old Jedi words, maybe the librarian would think she was old. “We don’t spend much time in the dark halls of the libraries. I haven’t been to Ossus in years, a mistake I am trying to rectify.” That certainly sounded believable.

She got horribly bored reading. “A pleasure to meet you Mercury.” Evalyn tried to think of a fake name. She blanked and failed. Kriff. “Evalyn Dan’ela.” She flashed her pearly whites again. She hoped this little night stroll would end soon. She needed to bust her way into the restricted section. “What exactly were you reading back there.” She motioned towards the mess they had left behind. Distract the girl and maybe she wouldn’t look too closely. @Iridescence

 

[Mercury Aurum]

The Library was surprisingly still quiet. Usually, in the later hours, it would awaken, and a few Jedi would crawl amongst the aisles of books. It actually felt good to stretch her legs, Mercury noted. She took a deep breath and the comforting smell of ancient literature filled her nostrils. The Sentinel felt a pull to the Light but didn't comment.

"I would hope so, reading can only do so much," Mercury replied almost immediately to the clever comment. Annoyance was in her throat and it was swallowed quickly. Tolerance is key to a better Galaxy, she reminded herself with a wash of the Lightside. However, Mercury didn't have to help this woman. That livened the thought of leading her in the wrong direction then ditching her. She chewed on her lip as she contemplated it. Her hands flicked over her sabers absentmindedly.

Mercury tried desperately not to roll her eyes at the Guardian. Any pet names refused to go far for her. "I'm a Sentinel, servant and student of the Lightside. I come here to reinstate my Jedi mindset, for lack of better words, after blending in with the different populations." She thought about adding how obviously some halls were well lit, or how with the Light things could never be dark. The previous sentence was quirky enough. For whatever reason, the young Knight felt a reason to try and impress the older Jedi. It was probably because of her agitating attitude. Mercury heard the name, and if it sounded familiar she didn't express it. She sensed the hesitation. Her hunch was slowly becoming a reason to investigate further.

"Just a few journals about different cultures and how they appreciate the ways of the Force. Something a Guardian doesn't have to worry about," Mercury's eyes never left her verbal opponent. She was known for her sharp tongue which became a razor when provoked. But, it was often said in a friendly manner.

"And, what were you looking for? Specifically?"

@Evalyn Dan’ela

 

[Evalyn Dan’ela]

Evalyn shook her head in disbelief. Why did every Jedi she meet give her such an attitude? Maybe it was her? No, it couldn’t be. She was a delight. Mercury was a Sentinel which was a small step above Counselor. The Sentinels were a little less bookworm-ish but still notoriously slow to act. They were the hollowed protectors of the Light. A bunch of passive mumbo jumbo. That is all the Sentinel’s spouted. Evalyn kept her snide comments to herself. She didn’t want to offend the young Jedi more than she already had. The attitude was a clear indication she had touched a nerve. Oh, well. She’d likely never see this odd little goggle wearing Sentinel again. She could handle a little sass. Evalyn had dealt with worse.

“Oh, we are all students and servants of the Lightside. We simply serve it in different ways. No one way is better or worse. You spread the teachings of the Light throughout the galaxy, I kick Exiles in the teeth. There is no right way to serve.” She hoped she had not offended Mercury. Evalyn did have real biases towards the other sects, but they were all Jedi. At some point, they needed to work together. Then the dreaded question came. There was little chance she could lie. On Ossus the Lightside pulse strongly. It was easy to sense anothers intent. Even with the Force washing away her emotions, the lie would be sensed.

Her rouse would end in a moment. “I can read. Thank you.” A little attitude of her own. “There are things the Council and Masters keep safe.” No, that didn’t sound right. “That really isn’t the right word. The fall of the Exiles created great concern that we would be betrayed by our brothers and sisters again. Knowledge of the Darkside has been deeply limited, but some is still kept locked away. There are times that knowledge needs to be unlocked. I have a peculiar task before me and the typical texts are not enough.” That was mostly true. “Are we close?” It felt like that had been walking for days. @Iridescence

 

[Mercury Aurum]

"I never said any were better or worse, but thank you for the lesson," Mercury replied, in an indignant tone. Did she? Did she come off like that? Shaking her head, she made a sharp right. They were getting close, but curiosity struck a priority. As she was thinking, Mercury took her goggles off and tried to rearrange her midnight hair. She had forgotten to brush it that morning and it was sticking up in places, but it felt good to let her hair down. The goggles swayed in her hand.

Of course, Mercury knew what was in the restricted section. She had barely listened to what the older Jedi had said. She felt as if she'd given her companion enough mouth. The books on the shelves were being scanned by her eyes as they walked past them. The Light tingled at her fingertips, and she felt for any presence around the section. Some librarian was there. With a quick flick of her index finger, a book or two or five fell some distance away. The clutter in the quiet sanctuary sounded like an avalanche. The librarian quickly hurried off.

"I asked specifically, mind you," Mercury turned back to smile at Evalyn as they approached the restricted texts. The fire inside of her dwindled. "Maybe I can help you find it. I know this library quite well, even the restricted section." Her voice went quietly towards the end of the sentence as if someone else was listening. It was obvious the Guardian didn't want any help finding it, but Mercury would stick around anyways.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Evalyn Dan’ela]

Evalyn got another earful of sass. She smirked. It was oddly endearing. She was surrounded by mouthy young Jedi. Maybe, Mercury had been spending too much time in the library. The intriguing Sentinel finally removed her goofy goggles. Evalyn couldn’t help but wonder why the girl wore them. Were they glasses? Was she performing some hidden chemistry experiment? Were there more dangers in the library than she knew? Or, was Mercury just a little different. Evalyn liked different. There were too many cookie cutter Jedi, they were terribly boring.

Her brow furrowed as she sensed Mercury working the Force. Odd. Evalyn hadn’t noticed the librarians but certainly heard the loud boom. In the near silence of the library it sounded like an entire row had fallen. She heard the rushed footsteps of librarians hustling towards the mess. Evalyn arched an eyebrow at Mercury. Perhaps the young Jedi understood more than Evalyn gave her credit for. She was at the girl’s mercy. Nearly a Master and she had no idea where anything in the Grand Library was located. She needed Mercury to show her the way, but she hesitant to reveal her intentions. Troubling, terribly troubling. Evalyn sighed. She had no choice but to trust her new-found guide. Sometimes the Force required leaps of faith.

“Our lessons on the Force are limited. We are taught enough to understand the Light is good, the Dark is bad, and to stay balanced. Pieces are missing from those lessons. We see only half the picture.” She struggled to explain without sounding like an Exile sympathizer. “I have an incredibly talented student. Strong in the Force and strong willed. She’s different. She’s curious.” She continued to follow Mercury about. “All I know about the Darkside is what I have seen on the battlefield. It’s not enough. I need to help her, and to do that I need to understand the other side. I can’t do that with the books out here. I’m concerned I won’t be able to do it with the book in there either.” Evalyn was uncovering a troubling trend throughout the Order. History was being changed or erased. Knowledge scrubbed away out of fear.
@Iridescence

 

[Mercury Aurum]

"I know what you're getting at," Mercury replied softly. Her eyes were peeled and her reach in the Force would let her know if anyone was coming, but they should keep their voices down nonetheless. She had her own issues with the Jedi Order, but only disagreements. "I do have a little bit of a specialty on the Light Side, and when I didn't get caught I tried my best to learn more about the Darkside. I was thinking around the terms of 'if we don't know what we're teaching against, we're not really good teachers, are we?'. Word of advice, don't say that to a Jedi Master whose sole duty is to teach you the ways of the Light," Mercury continued in the same hush tone, realizing she sidetracked.

"Unfortunately, what you're after is in the absolutely-restricted section. It's in the absolute middle, and we don't have much time." Her footsteps quickened, but she managed to keep her feet light. She craned her neck in every direction to completely make sure there was no one around. They were now in the restricted section, but it was a few more aisles until --

Kriff. A librarian was standing there, but facing away from the duo. Mercury closed her eyes and thud, a single and rather an ancient box of old clay tablets fell. "Whoops," The young Jedi Knight hissed under her breath before absentmindedly yanking her companion with her as she made an immediate left into a corner aisle. She always gets nervous around this section. It was almost instinct by now.

She returned the goggles to her head and glanced back at Evalyn. "Sorry!" Mercury wasn't very, actually. "It starts here, subjects on the Darkside." Mercury actually remembered something she had scanned through. "You start here. I'll be right back." She bounced off down the aisle.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Evalyn Dan’ela]

Evalyn was pleasantly surprised to avoid the typical diatribe on the virtues of the Light, evils of the Dark. She always expected Sentinels to preach. They were the nomads of the Order. The true believers spreading the word of the Lightside to the peoples of the galaxy. Evalyn couldn’t remember a Sentinel who didn’t love to lecture. Perhaps she had misjudged Mercury. There was more beneath the surfaced of the goggled Jedi. Evalyn agreed with her wholeheartedly. How could they teach what they did not understand?

She kept her emotions in check, she had no desire to touch the Darkness, but she wanted to understand it. She needed to understand it. Mercury seemed to share that ideal. Evalyn knew all too well how dangerous it would be to speak that truth to the Masters. They would not receive that opinion well. The war had made the Masters overly cautious, dangerously so. Oddly, the Guardian and Sentinel were becoming fast friends. Evalyn found the young Jedi strangely endearing. Quirky, but endearing. Her eyes widened in surprise as Mercury yanked her forward through the stacks. Evalyn was just along for the ride as she was pulled this way and that, Mercury knocking books off the shelf and avoiding stern librarians.

She was eventually deposited in a section related to the Darkside. She watched as Mercury bounced off through the aisle. “Um, okay.” Where the kriff was the girl going? Evalyn wasn’t going to waste the opportunity she was given. This was a real chance to finally understand what she had been searching for. Evalyn immediately began going through books. With each passing page her frustration grew. This was much the same as she had already found. Hints of the truth but the real facts removed. Pages ripped out, sections erased. The books had been sanitized. Evalyn frowned. Even the Masters, the supposed wisest of them all, were not permitted the truth. Evalyn’s faith in the Order shaking. Why did the hide the truth? What were they afraid of being found? @Iridescence

 

[Mercury Aurum]

Mercury returned only a few moments later, slightly exasperated. Whatever she had found was a little too hard to find at first. She flashed Evalyn a tired smile. The Jedi was a contemptuous snit beforehand, but her confession touched the Sentinel. The Guardian was not usually who Mercury had befriended; to be fair, her quirks never allowed her to have too many friends. A collection of documents was in her blue hands. The very top one read "Contrast of the Students..." the rest was barely visible, only rough patches of ink and raw paper remained.

"It's a...a journal of sorts." She was talking fast. Her eyes darted to the books that her companion was glancing through. "I managed to find this under a shelf. I guess no one really went looking for it, and no one ever knew it was there. It's old though. It's about a study a--and I think it h-has a list of methods, I'm not quite sure about what. I just remember flipping through it and throwing it back under the shelf." For a bookworm, she wasn't all that friendly to books. "It contrasts learning of the balance, and I think results. It's a wonder this book hasn't been burned or shredded or whatever." Her eyes were wide and she swallowed some air. Mercury had no galactical clue if this could be of help, but she didn't wait for her friend to respond. "Should we get out of here? I don't know if many more of these books could be of help." She had already taken an absentminded step towards the exit. The book was tightly clutched to her chest.

"I don't know why all of these had pages ripped out. You would think constant paranoia would be a something more with the Darkside."


@Valen Pelora

 

[Evalyn Dan’ela]

Book after book was worthless. Another dead end in a long line of dead ends. The greatest library the Order had left was devoid of real knowledge on the Darkside. Evalyn had seen the same bland references a hundred times. There was one last hope, but it was stupidly risky. The Temple on Jedha had an equally well protected restricted section. She would need Alais to weasel their way into that one. Her time on Ossus was likely done.

Thankfully, young Mercury appeared just as Evalyn was giving up hope. It seemed the interesting little Jedi had something. She smiled. “Thank you.” She meant it. “I wouldn’t have found any of this without you.” She looked around as Mercury suggested they hightail it out of the restriction section. “We should leave. It would be unfortunate if our research party was discovered.” The Masters didn’t like Jedi poking around in the restricted section. They really didn’t like investigation in the Darkside. There was a great deal of suspicion surrounding the Darkness. If you didn’t accept the Order’s preaching, you were considered dangerous.

Evalyn joined Mercury as they walked towards the exit. Yes, the younger Jedi was odd but being normal boring. Evalyn would take odd. “There are things the Masters would prefer we not know.” That was becoming more and more apparent. “They seem to have come to the conclusion that if we know anything more than that the Darkside is spooky and evil, that we will fall.” The hidden knowledge only made her more curious. “I can only assume the Masters will share their wisdom on the Darkness when they deem us wise enough.” Evalyn was nearing that mark. There were whispers in the Order she would be elevated soon. “We can only hope that is the truth.” Evalyn could not image anything else. She stepped through the exit. She couldn’t believe they escaped unscathed. @Iridescence

 

[Mercury Aurum]

Mercury, paranoid as ever, barely heard a word coming out of the older Jedi's mouth. All she did was dip her head and respond, "you're welcome." It was almost in a cheeky tone, but she flashed a mischievous smile. "I really hope so too, and I wish you the best." Merc wasn't really expecting to see her again. Ever since she went on her path of a Sentinel (a hermit, really), it was rare to see a familiar face. For whatever reason, the young Jedi Knight almost hoped to see the budding, and prickly, Jedi Master again.

She had her own agenda, and this day taught her that friends may not be such a bad idea after all. Really, Mercury just blended in with populations and served as their protector. Maybe it was time to actually reach out. She was still skeptical, and not the greatest at talking to others. The time will come.

A few meters after the exit, they were in safety. Mercury felt a presence and immediately grimaced. She turned seeing a rather grumpy librarian. "Mercury Aurum!" It called out defiantly. With a glance at Evalyn, the young Jedi smiled. "I'll handle it. You go, I'll see you later," she told her. Once she knew she was out of the way, Mercury strode to the librarian who began to scold her for not putting her literature back where it came from. Mercury Aurum wasn't listening, but for the first time in a long time, she had a friend.

@Valen Pelora

(OOC: End of thread.)