A Light in the Dark: Homecoming

[Fennex Zeerda]

The Jedi Temple on Ossus had a very different air about it than it had only a few years ago, Fennex thought. Once, long before his time, it had been a simple place dedicated to knowledge, learning, and raising younglings to be Jedi Knights- the galaxies great protectors. Then, as the Exiles waged their century long campaign to destroy the order and conquer the galaxy, it slowly shifted. It became a seat of power. A fortress in all but name. A bastion of hope to the Jedi and the Republic, and a thorn in the side of the Exiles who would like nothing more than to see its archives ruined, its vaults emptied, its custodians slaughtered, and the buildings themselves razed to the foundations. But it had always felt like a place of strength, even after Illum. But now, with two temples overtaken in such quick succession by this new onslaught, things were feelings a bit tense. The guards were doubled and seemed to grip their sabers tighter, younglings and initiates did little wandering about without close supervision, whispers could be heard in every corner and quiet corridor... Fennex's mission here today did nothing to ease the sense of loss and uncertainty for the future. He'd come to lay some friends to rest.

His little knapsack hung heavy at his side, clinking with the sound of the assortment of lightsaber hilts and pieces he'd collected over his last several adventures. He'd meant to bring them here to the Jedi Archives much sooner, but it always seemed that there was just one more mission, one more lead to follow up on, one more crisis to try to avert or fire to put out. It was a disservice to keep these weapons with him, and doing so was also becoming increasingly dangerous. Fennex had passed through Hutt space before, and was keenly aware that he was carrying enough credits in lightsaber bounties to buy a small tropical moon in the outer rim and retire. Not that he would ever even consider the idea. Fennex had chosen this life of a Jedi knight every day for several decades now, and he wasn't about to quit just because some overgrown slug dangled a few million credits in front of his snout.

He mounted the steps of the temple solemnly, the faint echo of the nails on his hind paws clacking on the polished marble flooring echoed through the silent corridors. It was a bit late. The temples initiates had retired for the evening, the younglings he'd brought back from Telos had settled into their new quarters on the other side of the quad, and most of the Knights and Masters that usually stalked the temple at this hour had other concerns. He imagined the council chambers were a bit more lively right now. The Librarian or one of his assistants should be here though, and that was all Fennex really needed. Interring the lightsabers of the fallen need not be a grand affair, like that of Councilor Vao's funeral. Each living Jedi who had known them would be able to come and pay their respects in their own time, as they were able. It was more important just to make sure the last earthly remains of these great Jedi returned home, for the last time.

Fennex entered the dimly lit archives quietly, searching for someone to assist him.

 

[Tam al'Thor]

Tam was being very, very careful. Hand as steady as a surgeons, he reached out to the deck and drew another card. In front of him, on the tabletop that normally housed a large display and comm unit, was a near complete house of cards. He had spent the better part of the past hour assembling and reassembling the thing to its current state. He had already reached this state once before, the five levels complete and only the top two cards to be placed, before the whole thing had collapsed. He had almost given up then, but with nothing better to do he had ultimately started again. This time he was intent to get it right.

With a card in each hand, he gently placed atop the structure, slowly leaning back as they settled into place. A grin of satisfaction started to appear on his face, onto to die as the entire structure suddenly collapsed. Showing frustration that most would not consider to be a Jedi trait, he swatted his hand through the cards littered across the table and sent them flying away. Pulling out the bottle of water that was sitting on the floor next to him, to drowned a few large gulps before returning his attention to the cards, most now scattered on the floor.

Reaching out with the Force, he drew them all back to the table, and watched as the structure reassembled itself, the final cards falling into place and actually staying put even after he let go of the Force. But there was no satisfaction in simply waving his hand and magically putting the thing together, he had to do it by hand. So he let out a sigh and flicked a finger at the last card on the lowest level, bringing it all crashing down. He was in the process of gathering the cards back into a neat pile to start again when he heard the sound fo footsteps. Soon enough a diminutive figure came into view, an Amaran. His interest piqued, as he hadn't actually ever met an Amaran in person, he stood up and waiting for the Amaran Jedi to be close enough that they wouldn't have to shout to have a conversation.

"Hello there, can I help you with something?"

@Loco

 

[Kaizer Sutsgy]

His muscles still sore from Telos, the Knight sat in front of a collection of books, though he had long since stopped paying attention to them. His mind was still replaying the battle in front of him. His partner had gone down before she had a chance to attack and, while Kaizer knew better to entertain these thoughts, couldn't help but wonder what had happened. She wasn't an Initiate, she was a Knight. As if she were no different from a normal being, she had been gunned down. For a Jedi to be felled by simple blaster bolts within the first minute of a fight was concerning, though the fact that the Jedi had suffered a total loss at Telos made Kaizer thankful to be alive.

He needed a break, that much was certain. He needed to wrap his head around the Jedi's failures in order to see how best to fix them. With a small sigh, the Knight pushed his seat outwards and stood up, closing the books as he stood. He pushed his chair in and pulled his robe a bit tighter. He was certainly conflicted and being isolated from other Jedi since Telos had not helped matters. Did they view him a coward? Should he have laid down his life on that rooftop? He should have been killed that Rainea survived. No, that last thought was too much for the Knight and so he pushed it from his mind. Survivor's guilt would not do him, nor the Order, any good.

He began making his way to the main part of the library when he noticed a familiar face. I'm not sure if it's Fennec or Fennex or Finx but it's close, thought the Knight as he began making his way towards where he and one of the library staff were located. The last time he had seen the other Jedi, he had yelled at him to shut up and sit down at Alais' trial and the lack of self-discipline had gone without an apology. Since he rarely saw the Amaran Jedi, Kaizer felt compelled to use this opportunity while he existed. He moved towards the pair just in time to hear the librarian ask if Fennex needed assistance and Kaizer stood off to the side, obvious to both but hopefully not intruding.