Ask Onderon A civilization that took a very peculiar form

Fiach Dubh

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Knight

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Corbeau
Joined
Jan 8, 2020
Messages
1,040
Reaction score
403
“Onderon? Nothing on that rock but monsters and beast riders.”
― Tallo



The Japrael system, also called the Onderon system, was home to the planet Onderon along with seven other planets. It centred around the star Prael. It was where the ship was currently heading as it travelled through hyperspace. It was a route Fiach had travelled before, when she’d visited one of its four moons – Dxun – to secure a Forge for the Jedi Order.

She knew little of the planet, however, other than the terrain was rugged and it was home to so many predatory beasts that most of the civilisation lived behind walls, to protect them. She was also aware of a general xenophobia – although humans, she understood, were less prejudiced against.

To date, she had kept herself to herself through the trip and allowed her travelling companion to do so too. It was not the largest ship, but it was big enough for the two of them to travel comfortably without being in each other’s pockets.

Right now, she sat in the pilot’s seat and checked the nav-comp, which indicated they would be exiting hyperspace soon. Getting here she could manage all by herself, but where on Onderon they needed to travel to – well that needed Aska’s input.

Fiach had spent much of the journey meditating. It was common practice for her, but right now it felt even more relevant. Why she was here was still a mystery – but not one she railed against. And nor would she walk away from the challenge just because she had no clear answer – but some clarity, she believed, would be better than none. So, she’d spent time emptying her mind and allowing her unconscious awareness to seek enlightenment from the Force.

None came, which did not surprise her. Maybe, just maybe, that was the problem. The Force – at least from Fiach’s perspective – seemed to operate on belief. You did rather than try. Your success depended on an expectancy of success. Doubt invariably led to failure. Perhaps her lack of expectation was driving her inability to see why the Force had led her to Aska (assuming it had) and what her purpose was in all of this?

Not that it mattered, for she was here – as far as she could tell – at the Force’s bidding and she would see it through to whatever conclusion unfolded. She had the Force and the Jedi Code to guide her, so what could go wrong?

Sighing audibly as she considered the myriad of potential problems, she then took a deep breath, centred herself and focused on the task in hand.

“OK,” she called to Aska, “we’re almost there. And by there I mean Onderon. Now you’ll have to guide us as to where precisely we’re heading on the planet’s surface. And we should probably agree some ground-rules. Like only kill as a last resort and who will do the talking and how should we introduce ourselves…things like that. Plus, it would e good to know as much about the contract as you can share.”

@Tulos
 

Aska Ryun

Character
Independent
Rank
Legend

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Tulos
Joined
Mar 24, 2020
Messages
459
Reaction score
203
Flipping a credit in her fingers, Aska laid silently in her bunk listening to the whir of the hyperdrive as they sped towards Onderon. There was something about being in hyperspace that always soothed the young clone, whether it be the restless feelings she had developed over the past weeks or simply the fact that she hasn't found where she truly felt at home was still a mystery to her. Regardless, she felt at peace as she closed her eyes and began to imagine the upcoming events. Kiriana Buli. She would soon know what it was to lose her freedom, much as Aska had known for most of her life.

Fiach's words echoed from the cockpit and jostled Aska from her train of thought. It had been a mostly silent trip and had caught her off guard. While the young Jedi had proven to be a valuable ally and her heart was definitely in the right place, there was little to no similarities between her and Aska, this much she was certain of. Standing from her cot, Aska slowly made her way to see what Fiach had to say.

"No killing? Where's the fun in that?" Aska joked as she plucked a cigarra from her jacket. Fiach had made it quite clear that she was no fan of the bad habit but Aska had no intention on obliging her. Lighting the tabacc, she let off a soft sigh as she blew the smoke outwards. "Well, her name is Kiriena Buli. Mirialan. Probably closer to my age than your's. From what I had dug up on her during the trip, she worked in one of the small markets in Iziz peddling... Well, that I couldn't figure out. I do have a few names of her co-workers and her employer so we can start there," Moving to take a seat in the co-pilot's chair but being careful not to touch anything, she turned back to Fiach. "I had given our cover some thought. You and I are going to be sisters. I'm Miefa Kotoma. You're Leina. They were friends of Kiriena's on Nar Shaddaa. We can start poking around, and if anyone asks we are just passing through and heard she had made her way to Onderon and wanted to catch up," Aska waited for Fiach's response. While she hardly knew anything about the young Jedi, she had no doubt that she would have questions.

@Corbeau
 

Fiach Dubh

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Knight

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Corbeau
Joined
Jan 8, 2020
Messages
1,040
Reaction score
403
Fiach enjoyed her own company. Not that she was necessarily anti-social, she simply wasn’t bothered to be social. But being an introvert, she needed some time to herself on a regular basis – to recharge her batteries. Back at the Order, she could achieve this through her daily runs. Here on a relatively small ship, with a travelling companion, she found it far more…claustrophobic. So she’d taken to meditating as a way of shutting out the world around her, and it worked to a degree. ‘Me’ time was best when she was free to think her own thoughts and do what she pleased. Sitting cross-legged and her mind devoid of thought was not the same. But it would have to do.

So, she was no doubt not firing on all cylinders as Aska joined her in the cockpit – and she knew it. She felt slightly weary and a little irritable. But she was a Padawan aspiring to become a Jedi, so she did what she always did – the right thing.

She listened to Aska reveal her plans and decided to pass on the killing reference – hoping it was a joke, but not entirely sure. Humour was never going to be one of Fiach’s strong suits.

And she was stoic in the face of smoke being blown around the cockpit, not wishing to start an argument at this stage. Whatever she was here for was surely more important than a little short-term discomfort.

“Mirialan,” Fiach echoed. “If nothing else, she should be easy to identify. It’s harder to hide in any population when you stand out, even a little. And given she has experience in working in a market, that might be a good place to start asking. People invariably revert to type, especially under stress. Although your leads may prove the most useful – depending on how they thought of her of course. If she knew she had a bounty on her head, she may have warned them not to share anything with anyone. And I have no guarantee I can encourage anyone to share data against their will. I would, however do so if required.”

“So, what did we do on Nar Shaddaa? And where do we usually call home?”


@Tulos
 

Aska Ryun

Character
Independent
Rank
Legend

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Tulos
Joined
Mar 24, 2020
Messages
459
Reaction score
203
Aska heard the question but remained silent as she gazed out the glass barrier of the cockpit. Onderon rotated below and just passed the clouds that swirled the atmosphere of the planet, the landscape was covered in a rich and lush green with specks of yellow though much of it’s surface was dominated by vast oceans. She had never been to world quite like this. Lothal was about the closest comparison that could be made as both worlds’ landscapes were more wild than they were civilized, though many more cities could be seen glowing on the landmasses of the world.

”Well,” Aska began as she returned her focus to Fiach’s inquiry. ”The sister’s had left Nar Shaddaa over a decade ago. Likely working on a freighter as a crew. So if anyone asks, you and I purchased our own ship and have embarked on our own trade venture,” As she spoke, Aska never took her eyes off Onderon. She wanted to see this world up close. ”Take us in, kid. Oh, by the way…” Aska pointed to the lightsaber hilt tucked into Fiach’s belt. ”Let’s keep that hidden, shall we? A Jedi asking questions about a civilian would be a bit suspicious,”
 

Fiach Dubh

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Knight

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Corbeau
Joined
Jan 8, 2020
Messages
1,040
Reaction score
403
Fiach waited for Aska to begin speaking and then listened intently. “The time elapsed is good. Few memories will be so fresh as to have the potential to trip us up. And people change over a decade, so we could be forgiven for being vague about her.”

“And this ship will pass for a pair of low-level traders. Big enough to carry cargo and I chose it because it looks innocuous.” Many Jedi travelled in state-of-the-art shiny ships. This one looked past its sell-by date, but under the hood it was pristine, with top spec features.

Fiach nodded at Aska’s final comment. “There’s a reason we wear a cloak so much of the time. It allows us to hide our saber effectively. And, I have no intention of using it unless in self-defence. And based upon what you told me, I don’t see the woman you’re seeking as being a particularly dangerous foe.”

The world below began to loom large. Firstly, the planet filled their view and then land masses became more distinct and finally details began to emerge – mountains, jungles, forests, civilisation.

Fiach punched in some new coordinates. “This will take us close to where we want to be, we can walk the rest.” And minutes later, they were landing in what must have passed for a space-port, but could easily have been mistaken for a large field – dust blowing up in voluminous clouds as they touched down.

@Tulos
 

Aska Ryun

Character
Independent
Rank
Legend

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Tulos
Joined
Mar 24, 2020
Messages
459
Reaction score
203
And finally the time had come. As Aska descended the loading ramp of Fiach’s ship, her senses were bombarded by the environment around her. The young Jedi had set the ship down on one of the outlying landing pads of the capital city, Iziz, and immediately Aska began to evaluate her surroundings. It seemed the landing pad had fallen into disrepair and was hardly even recognizable as such. Cracked concrete and small up-shoots of flora covered the pad with very few citizens or droids operating in the area. ’Perfect,’ she thought to herself as she recognized that the choice Fiach had made should allow for a much easier escape with Kiriena in tow than if they had landed at one of the primary shuttle ports.

As the dust finally began to settle, the architecture and skyline of Onderon became visible and Aska was left in awe. The sun dominated the sky and caused the tan structures, built of some sort of local sandstone, to seemingly glow in a dull amber. The humidity of the world immediately caused Aska’s hair to begin to frizz outwards and small amounts of sweat began to form at her hairline before cascading down her forehead. She didn’t notice right away, however, as she stood in disbelief at the scene before her.

”It’s… beautiful,” Aska muttered quietly to herself. The immediate area reminded her so much of Lothal, though the air was far more temperate on the farming world. Yet on that world, she was still ignorant to so much of the galaxy. Literally all of it, in fact. The time that had passed since Lothal had given Aska the false assumption that she recognized now what most world’s would be like and she now recognized just how wrong she was. Excited to see more of the city, she had to remind herself that she was not here as a tourist and that she had a job to do. ”Leina,” Aska said clearly as she turned her focus back to Fiach. ”Did you speak to anyone about landing costs?” But before Fiach could reply, an old rusty protocol droid had advanced on the pair.

”Greetings, travelers. I am TR-15 and I am the Overseer of this landing platform. We received your transmission hail and have made preparations for refueling as well as any minor maintenance your vessel may require,” The droid introduced itself following it up with a curt bow. ”Will you be paying for the platform now or at the end of your stay?”

”I’m not sure how long we will be staying. A day at least, though it could go beyond that,” Aska replied.

”I would like to suggest, then, that you allow us to place your vessel in lockdown until you’re prepared to leave and we can charge you for the collective time. It will save you some credits in the long run and guarantees that we shall receive payment,” Aska didn’t want to take the liberty of making that decision. It was Fiach’s ship, and therefore it was her decision to make.

”My sister will decide that and then I’ll be responsible for the debt, droid. We have some merchandise from Lothal that we would like to bring to market here on Onderon. Could you direct us to the nearest square?”

”Do any of these goods fall outside of Onderonian legislation, spacer?” Aska smiled at the droid.

”Food and medical supplies from the farmer collective. Nothing worth worrying about, I assure you,”

@Corbeau
 

Fiach Dubh

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Knight

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Corbeau
Joined
Jan 8, 2020
Messages
1,040
Reaction score
403
As someone who was raised on a desert planet, the heat was nothing new to Fiach. And, fortunately, since the Jedi Order had taken up residence on a jungle moon, she was relatively accustomed to the humidity. But the cloak and the Jedi robes? Ideally she would have removed the former, but that would have presented a problem for hiding her saber. So, a single bead of sweat dripping down her forehead, she remained stoic.

Beauty was, as she’d read somewhere, all about the beholder. Fiach had seen many sights that could be considered aesthetically pleasing – but didn’t quite understand the concept. She’d appreciated the differences of planets – greenery was somewhat an eyeopener, and urban sprawls boasted a multiplicity of architecture. So, she nodded her assent – if Aska found it pleasing, then it was.

Before they could speak properly, a droid interrupted them and Fiach listened before taking over the matter of payment. She fished a small leather pouch from her pocket and counted out credits. “There’s enough for three days and the cost of fuel. If we are likely to extend beyond, I shall return and make the appropriate payment. Thank you.”

Once the droid left, Fiach turned to Aska. “First rule of any mission, be ready for a quick getaway. It’s more than worth any overspend on parking. The last thing we need, if we’re in need of a swift exit is for them to have to get the ship out of safe storage.”

“Oh, and I always carry supplies, medicines and spare parts mostly. Often credits mean nothing to people and bartering is the only option. So, we can use a couple of the crates on the ship if you’d like.”

@Tulos
 

Aska Ryun

Character
Independent
Rank
Legend

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Tulos
Joined
Mar 24, 2020
Messages
459
Reaction score
203
Aska slowly scratched the back of her head as Fiach paid for the docking fees and as she educated her on the need for a quick get away. Embarrassed, she smirked slightly.

”Yeaaa, I suppose that would make sense,” Regaining her composure, Aska stood tall. ”That’s not a bad idea. Tell you what, if you can get an anti-grav cart and bring a crate or two to the market ahead, I’ll head out now and scope the area quickly,” Shooting the young Jedi a slight grin, Aska began to turn away but as she walked she kept her eyes on her companion. ”And Leina,” she said warmly. ”Do try to hurry,”

Much of the market was reminiscent of the one Aska had experienced on Lothal despite the architectural differences. One other large difference she was easily able to pick out was that a vast majority of the people doing their business in the square were human. Sure, the odd alien species could be spotted from time to time but it was clear to the young woman that Onderon was a bit more ‘secluded’

“Oh such a pretty young woman,”

The voice caught Aska by surprise but as she turned to see who it had belonged too, she saw no one at eye level.

“Down here, dear,”

An old woman sat peacefully in an anti grav chair and Aska immediately noticed that both her legs were missing. Quickly averting her gaze, she locked eyes with the elder.

”Uh, thanks?”

“What’s your name, dear?” Aska was about to reply but caught herself before she had revealed her true name. Coughing slightly, she extended her hand downwards to the woman who in turn took it in her own.

”My name is Miefa. Can I ask you yours?” The old woman chuckled slightly while refusing to release Aska’s hand. Not wanting to be rude, she allowed the wrinkled hand to stay intertwined with her own.

“Oh, the people of the neighborhood just call me Gram, dear. I’m afraid that’s what happens when you live somewhere all your life,” Finally, Gram released her grip and proceeded to fold her hands in what little of a lap she had. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you before, dear. Are you new to Iziz?”

”In a sense,” Aska began. ”My sister and I are just passing through on our way to the Core. Thought maybe we could stop here and sell some of our merchandise to buy ourselves some fuel for the rest of our trip,” Gram eyed Aska carefully before a small smile broke across her face once more.

“You don’t look like a merchant, dear. Perhaps you’re searching for more than simple fuel,”
 

Fiach Dubh

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Knight

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Corbeau
Joined
Jan 8, 2020
Messages
1,040
Reaction score
403
Fiach paid no heed to Aska’s reaction to her thoughts on the fast getaway and she nodded positively to the request to pick up an anti-grav cart.

Finding one quickly, she paid to hire it and quickly located two likely crates. One contained low-grade medicines. Always needed but not necessarily of great value. The second was a crate of electronic parts and again was low-value. But it meant they would pass scrutiny if anyone demanded to see what was contained in the crates.

Loading them on the cart, she hastened to catch her ‘sister’ up.

Some markets stood out in how they were arranged or the quality of produce on offer. But they were, in Fiach’s opinion, essentially the same. People needed to make a living and buying and selling was almost as old as bartering. Yes, local customs varied – some insisted on haggling whilst other cultures saw it as extremely rude – but deep down it was about the same thing. Buy as cheaply as possible and sell for a profit. If you understood that, you were in business. And a market stall was lower overheads than a shop.

Aware that even a few minutes of separation had made catching up a challenge, Fiach closed her eyes momentarily and connected with the Force, reaching out to find ‘Miefa.’ Having done so, she made as quick progress as she could – considering she was towing a cart behind her.

Fortunately, Aska had stopped and Fiach was able to catch her up and slowed as she realised the would-be bounty hunter was deep in conversation with someone. So, she wandered up slowly behind Aska and waited patiently. She had no idea what the conversation was about, or if introducing herself might have a negative impact on the conversation.

@Tulos
 

Aska Ryun

Character
Independent
Rank
Legend

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Tulos
Joined
Mar 24, 2020
Messages
459
Reaction score
203
"And why would you think that, old woman?" Aska said with slight laughter. It was only an attempt to seem calm but in truth, the young woman could tell that there was something unique about this elder before her. "Is there anything on this world worth finding?" Gram continued to smile as Aska spoke before folding her hands and leaning forward in the anti-grav seat.

"Many things on Onderon are worth finding, dear," As she finished speaking, the old woman looked past Aska and saw Fiach standing there attentively waiting for them to finish speaking. "This is your sister?"

Looking back over her shoulder, Aska noticed the young Jedi and nodded in response. "Yea, that's the brat," Motioning for Fiach to come over, Aska focused again on Gram. "Leina. She's been a thorn in my side since the day she was born," Smirking slightly, Aska pointed over her shoulder blindly at the cart. "You wouldn't happen to know where we could sell some spare parts and medical supplies, would you?" But Gram wasn't listening. Gone was the playful demeanor the woman had exhibited and was instead replaced by a joyful seriousness as she stared intently at Fiach.

"My, you're a special child, aren't you love?" Gram said softly. Aska watched quietly but was bewildered by the approach Gram had with Fiach. The old woman quickly scanned the area as though she had expected someone to be listening and once she was satisfied that they were not being spied on, she leaned forward in her chair toward's Fiach. "I was wondering when one of you would come,"
 

Fiach Dubh

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Knight

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Corbeau
Joined
Jan 8, 2020
Messages
1,040
Reaction score
403
Fiach purposefully hung back. It was not that Aska was not street-smart, but oftentimes you were so drawn into a conversation that you were unaware of things happening around you. They were outsiders and would be considered with either a sense of mistrust or an easy mark – or possibly both. So Fiach kept a watchful eye as her ‘sister’ spoke to the elderly woman.

Aware she was now being talked about, Fiach smiled and only just stopped her ubiquitous bow – which was a polite greeting but also seen as something traditionally associated with Jedi.

Noting that Aska summoned her, she nodded and stepped forward, one hand firmly on the handle of the ant-grav cart she was towing.

Fiach did everything she could not to react to the woman’s words, but her eyebrows raised and her mind raced. Of course, it would be easy to jump in with a response and totally get the wrong end of the proverbial stick. Glancing at Aska, she continued to smile. “I’m always telling my sister that I’m the special one, perhaps she’ll listen now,” she offered by way of defusing the comment.

But the woman’s follow-up comment had Fiach open and close her mouth like a fish out of water. Recovering quickly, she decided to continue to play in straight.

“One of…whom to be precise?” she asked – as innocently as she could.

@Tulos
 

Aska Ryun

Character
Independent
Rank
Legend

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Tulos
Joined
Mar 24, 2020
Messages
459
Reaction score
203
”Ah, this old bat is crazy. Let’s just get movin’, kid. We’re wasting our time,” Aska interjected though she knew that she didn’t believe her words. Her freedom from the depths of Coruscant had been short but had already brought her into direct contact with members of two warring magician clans and she had already seen things most people would consider impossible. Hell, she even had a lightsaber of her own in her jacket as a reminder of the Sith she met on Lothal as well as being in the company of a young Jedi Padawan now. Perhaps this elderly woman could recognize these powers? Old age did seem to bring an insight that most younger generations had not yet developed.

“Well, that was quite rude, child,” Gram scoffed as she gently slapped the arm of her anti-grav chair. “I may be old, but I am not crazy. This young girl…” Turning her attention back to Fiach, Gram reached her hand out ahead of her, palm open with her fingers extended upwards. Closing her eyes, the elder began to make small circular motions with her open hand.

”What the hell is she doing, kid?” Aska whispered harshly to Fiach. ”I think she’s casting a spell on you,” she finished with subtle laughter.

“This young girl is far more than you both claim… And perhaps you as well…” Gram said finally as her eyes opened once again. “Come, come with me. I will pour you both a cool drink and we shall discuss what I have seen,” With that, Gram spun her chair and began to float back into the building behind her. Shrugging, Aska followed suit.

”Screw it, why not? Have any rum?”
 

Fiach Dubh

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Knight

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Corbeau
Joined
Jan 8, 2020
Messages
1,040
Reaction score
403
Fiach listened to Aska but her eyes did not leave the old woman. There was something about her. Unsure if she should use the Force, in case she was in some way detected, she was reticent to see what she could about the woman actively. So, instead, she simply relaxed and allowed life – and the Force – to wash over her.

No warning bells sounded. No sense of danger nudged her consciousness. In fact, she was strangely compelled to trust the old woman, which in and of itself made her a little cautious.

Then she felt it. Not a disturbance in the Force per se but something…alongside it. As the old woman performed whatever it was she was performing, Fiach sensed a change. She’d heard once of people who could access some magical ichor that existed inside some planets. She’d never witnessed it before and wondered if she could be doing so now. As the woman traced the shape with her open hand, Fiach saw a very feint white mist emanating from her fingers.

Deciding that, at very least, she needed to find out more, she nodded as Aska suggested they take up the offer of a drink. Maybe this was why the Force had brought her to Aska’s side?

“We should like that very much,” Fiach said politely, “I am sure we all have lots to discuss.”

The journey to the woman’s home was short, which was merciful in the humidity. Sadly the woman’s modest apartment was not furnished with fancy air-conditioning – but there was a large fan suspended from the ceiling of what was clearly the largest room. It was furnished sparsely and off it was a kitchen area and two doors. Fiach suspected they led to a bedroom and a bathroom.

The woman went into the kitchen area and fiddled around in one of the cupboards.

“I can’t offer you rum, but I have water, Jogan juice or blue milk – take your pick.”

@Tulos
 

Aska Ryun

Character
Independent
Rank
Legend

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Tulos
Joined
Mar 24, 2020
Messages
459
Reaction score
203
With a scowl, Aska slumped down into one of the few chairs in the main room and wiped the sweat from her forehead.

”Blue milk? That sounds… vile. I’ll just take a water,” Aska groaned before scanning the room. It vaguely reminded her of her dormitories on Coruscant in that very little existed within it’s four walls, though at least in the lab she didn’t feel like her body was creating an ocean at her feet. As Gram returned to the room with a tray settled cautiously on what remained of her lap, Aska stood and removed it from her before setting it down on the small table in the center and taking the glass of water, chugging the whole thing in what felt like a second and almost wishing it never ended.

“You’re here for more than peddling merchandise, my dear women,” Gram said softly with a smile as she motioned for them both to sit, of which Aska obliged.

”Is there anything on Onderon worth finding?” Aska interjected with a smirk of her own.

“If there is anything I’ve learned in my life, child, it is that what you are looking for has a way of finding you before you find it,” Gram continued. “You’re looking for someone. Or something, perhaps, as indicated by the young Padawan here,”

Aska’s eyes opened wide though she was able to keep her jaw from dropping.

”How did you…. Are you a Jedi?” she queried but Gram simply chuckled and dismissed the question with a wave of her hand.

“No, my dear. I am no Jedi. Though I have met many in my life. The most magnificent young woman was the first. Skywalker, I believe she called herself. Such fire burned in her soul,” Gram spent a moment as she relived the memory behind closed eyes. “She’s long gone now, of course. I was just a little girl back then and she was already growing weary of this life. Still, I learned a bit of the Order from her and followed my own path from her inspiration. Which leads me to you,” Gram spun her holochair to face Fiach now and motioned for the Jedi to come forward. “You’re here looking for the holocron, aren’t you?”
 

Fiach Dubh

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Knight

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Corbeau
Joined
Jan 8, 2020
Messages
1,040
Reaction score
403
Fiach gladly accepted a water and sipped it. Back on Klatooine, water was a precious commodity and even now, she never took the liquid for granted. She took a deep breath and focused on remaining calm, which in turn would help her regulate her temperature.

She kept her best poker face on display when the woman intimated they were not telling the truth for their visit and took a seat as offered. Fiach had to supress her own smirk as Aska suggested the planet had anything worth finding. It was the sort of thing the young Padawan often thought but had learned not to vocalise.

Fiach mused that the woman spoke a lot of sense – in the inscrutable way a Jedi Master might impart wisdom. Deep and often unfathomable.

Her effort to keep her face non-committal failed when the woman referred to her directly as a Padawan. Her eyebrows shot up alarmingly, before returning to their rightful place. She was aware that, through the Force, you can identify those who are sensitive to it and when trained you can sense if someone is Light or Dark side affiliated – as well as relative control of the Force. She glanced down to ensure her saber was not on view before accepting this as the most logical explanation.

Fiach nodded at the exchange. “Not a Jedi,” she repeated, “but you are in tune with the Force with some way.” It was a statement as opposed to a question.

But before she could reflect on her thoughts, they were abruptly stopped by the woman’s question.

“Holocron?” she echoed. “A holocron…here?” Such a find would be remarkable, but she was also acutely aware of theories and myths around such artifacts and as such, was wary to give the rumour any credence. Except this woman did seem to have a connection with the Force.
 

Aska Ryun

Character
Independent
Rank
Legend

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Tulos
Joined
Mar 24, 2020
Messages
459
Reaction score
203
"Yes, child. A holocron here on Onderon," Gram responded softly though with a slight air of disappointment to her voice. It was clear to Aska that the elder had indeed believed that what brought Fiach and herself here was for this 'holocron', but as she had no knowledge on what such a thing was, she decided to remain quiet for the moment. "Such things are not unbelievable, I'm afraid. In ancient times, Sith once had a presence on both Onderon and it's moons. Multiple times, in fact. It was found a few weeks ago deep in the jungle by a small hunting party," Gram's voice trailed off slightly as she gazed to the ground before bringing her stare back to Fiach. "The hunters we beaten terribly and the holocron disappeared. Last I had heard, those hunters passed away a couple nights ago. Such devices... They spill vile energy and corrupt even the good natured and just of us,"

Aska furrowed her brow as she listened to the old woman. Kiriena Buli was wanted for theft and assault and the attack had taken place only recently. "Do the authorities have a suspect on who it was that stole the... holocron?" Aska requested of Gram, who spun her chair to face the hunter directly, a stern expression across her face.

"They do. A young Mirialan woman who was working with an old friend of mine, Div,"

That was enough for Aska. Pulling the bounty puck from her pocket, she laid it on the table ahead of Gram. The hologram of Kiriena spun slowly as the list of associates.

"Div Sedonias? We're here to track this woman down," Aska said cooly. It was then that Gram's smile slowly began to grow once more as she glanced back to Fiach.

"Your Order didn't send you, child. But the Force did,"
 

Fiach Dubh

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Knight

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Corbeau
Joined
Jan 8, 2020
Messages
1,040
Reaction score
403
The Force was, as Fiach knew from both research and practical experience, inscrutable – but in her mind it had really gone to town this time. Yes, she understood that it could not literally tell her what was going on, the Force simply didn’t work that way. It created feelings more often than not – like danger – or could guide actions of you let it – such as her saber form of Soresu. But this was way more complicated. Did this mean her connection to the Force was growing stronger? Or were some things just happening around you and it was too easy and convenient to attribute them to the Force?

Yes, she had been drawn to a place and a person – Aska. And she’d felt compelled to come with her to Onderon. But because the bounty hunter was after someone who just happened to have possession of a Sith holocron?

“Regardless of the reason I am here,” Fiach said after a long pause, “we should be wary. Holocrons are not so well understood. Centuries ago, they appear to have been more commonplace. But now? Sith variants especially are rare – and if the research is to be believed, they seek to corrupt. And they would like nothing better than to taint a Jedi. I would likely be more sensitive to it…assuming it exists.”

She turned to the elderly woman at this point. “Not that I am suggesting you are wrong, but facts are facts and opinions of facts are just opinions. Your information is second or third hand I suspect. Regardless, our path is clear. We must find this woman and the item – and ascertain her guilt and the object’s true function.”

“You mention a friend – Div – can you tell us how to find him?” She glanced over at Aska, who may have had her own ideas for how to progress, and she hoped she hadn't stepped on toes - but to the young Padawan, the potential Holocron superceded the bounty.
 

Aska Ryun

Character
Independent
Rank
Legend

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Tulos
Joined
Mar 24, 2020
Messages
459
Reaction score
203
"Of course, child. Though I should tell you that the Devaronian is not exactly a fan of your order," Gram warned. "Normally he can be found in the same market square where I ran into your friend here, though since the assault he has taken it upon himself to track down his old employee,"

"And where has his search led him?" Aska interjected bluntly. Since her creation, it seemed her life was habitually involved with Force cults. She knew she was cloned from an ancient Sith who had made her name as a bounty hunter before joining the Brotherhood and her creation was intended to duplicate the woman to perfection, but this was all far over her head. She had absolutely no clue on what a holocron was or what it could do, she was constantly thrown in with both Jedi and Sith and she was growing tired of it. "The kid can worry about the 'holocron', my only interest is capturing Kiriena and handing her over to the authorities for my payment,"

Gram scoffed at the last comment. "A simple mercenary after all. I can feel something exceptional about you, young woman. Perhaps this search will show you to yourself," she sighed. "Div and a couple others in his employ have traveled out into the jungles of Onderon. It's incredibly dangerous, but this datapad will provide you with the last co-ordinates my friend had given me before he left," Gram continued as she handed Aska the small hand-held device. Now with a serious demeaner, Gram continued. "You will need to rely on one another if you plan to survive out there," With a smirk, Aska stood from the chair and gave Gram a short bow.

"I appreciate the help, ma'am. And the water. C'mon kid, let's get some supplies and get out there and find this thief," Aska stated as she made her way out the door and back into the market place.
 

Fiach Dubh

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Knight

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Corbeau
Joined
Jan 8, 2020
Messages
1,040
Reaction score
403
A Devaronian? Despite their somewhat intimidating appearance, Fiach knew they were no more scary than any other species. What was odd about them — to Fiach at least — was the fact that they were often Force-sensitive, yet rarely joined the Order.

She was shaken out of her musings by Aska’s somewhat blunt but direct question that cut to the chase and Fiach could not help but smile at her single-mindedness. Fiach would have gladly talked for hours before getting onto business proper. Her smile widened as Gram made her own point of view clear and she reinforced Fiach’s belief that the young Jedi was here not by chance. Aska was not a foot soldier in the story but a general.

And the Padawan was not even caught up with the thoughts that popped into her head when Aska jumped up and announced they were leaving. “Right,” she said and, “supplies.” She stood and bowed formally to Gram. “It was a pleasure to meet you and, who knows, our paths may yet cross again before we leave this planet. May the Force be with you, always.”

She finished her water and popped the glass down on the workbench before taking a deep breath and following Aska out of the apartment. “I have essential rations and basic camping equipment back on the ship, but we should purchase some water for our journey. And…” Fiach was not blessed with diplomacy, she tended to say whatever was in her head at the time, but her Master had been doing his best to curb this tendency. “The thing is, we seek this woman and you should lead of course. But the addition of a Sith relic, that throws in a huge variable. I shall take a back seta and let you take control, but if I sense danger, please respect me if I assume to take over for a short while. I will only do it for our safety and may not have the opportunity to explain my actions. Is that OK?”

@Tulos
 

Aska Ryun

Character
Independent
Rank
Legend

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Tulos
Joined
Mar 24, 2020
Messages
459
Reaction score
203
Aska continued through the market from Gram's with a renewed sense of motivation. Now with a clear path established and the co-ordinates provided by the old woman, it seemed inevitable that they would accomplish both tasks laid before them. Listening as Fiach spoke, Aska never broke stride.

"I was thinking the same. Food, water, medical supplies. But we should also consider renting a couple mounts to cover more ground. I don't have any doubt that Div and his crew have likely done the same and we need to close as much distance as possible before nightfall," Wiping the sweat from her forehead for what felt like the millionth time, Aska proceeded to remove her jacket and let the sun beat down on her bare arms revealed by the white tank top she wore beneath.

It was Fiach's next statement that finally brought Aska to a halt. It was true that a Sith artifact wasn't part of the original plan and it would inevitably play a crucial role in their mission.

"I suppose I should ask what a holocron even is," Aska replied. "You're more than simply my ride to Onderon, kid. This shit goes way beyond my sense of understanding so naturally your field of expertise is something I'm not going to touch,"

((Posted from my cell as I'm sitting on site on standby today so sorry for any coding or spelling errors))
 
Top