Confirmation

[Fennex Zeerda]

Fennex and company made the approach slowly and quietly, not wanting to attract attention. The Jedi knew Silas maintained a good relationship with the Andaran nobles, and it was prudent to assume that relationship extended by association to others at Sanctuary. Fen was playing the sabaac cards close, and didn't want anyone to have any forewarning that they were coming. To that end, he'd asked the Council to requisition a Jedi Infiltrator for him and his team. The sleek ship cut through the atmosphere of Andara with ease and skimmed low above the treetops, its sensor disrupting systems engaged- just in case- while Fennex made the effort to conceal his and the Knights presence within the Force. Silas had been vague- there was no telling who else was involved here or who might be watching for them.

He was sitting in the cockpit, meditating and focusing his energy on the task, when the autopilot beeped, informing him that they were approaching their destination. He opened his eyes, whiskers twitching as he brought himself back to reality as he ensured a smooth landing for once. Luckily enough the former Jedi had done him a favor in this respect- Sanctuary's grounds were spacious and well manicured, making for a nice and easy landing pad. Fen eased the ship in with a deft touch he liked to think of as characteristic, but was really anything but. Looking back at his companions, he had little in the way of advice.

"Just follow my lead."

As the Jedi disembarked the ship, the little Masters paws clacking down the ramp, Fennex reached out with the bare minimum energy necessary to ensure their safety... Convinced of that, he would relax himself. This was potentially the easiest part of this whole sordid ordeal, since they already had Silas in custody. Making his way towards the front door of the complex, Fennex admired the surroundings. It was certainly a nice place- it had a certain calm presence in the Force... it reminded him of Lothal, in a way. The structure was pleasing to the eye as well, in an aristocratic sort of way. It was a bit much for Fen's tastes, but he was a simple being...
Approaching the fronts steps of the place, Fennex released his concealment, thinking he might need the energy if some of Silas' pupils were of the more rambunctious sort- Isola was powerful, if untrained, and Fennex didn't want to be caught unprepared if there were more here like her.

"Master Talus?" His voice echoed over the grounds as he called out to her, searching with his eyes and with the Force in equal measure, "Master Talus!"

@Shalken @Painus @MatureContentWarningx

 

[Ralaa Talus]

The sun rested behind the mountains, its rays outlining their peaks. In the distance, the trees that lined the property moved against a soft breeze and morning dew still coated the grass fields that stretched out into the horizon. It was tranquil here, by all definition of the word; a place of peace amidst an entire galaxy that had been ravaged by chaos. It had been erected for no other purpose than to allow these children, who had been displaced by a never-ending war, a refuge away from the corrupting influence of the criminals that had polluted the streets on Coruscant. Silas had named it Sanctuary, and it was. He had been displaced too, and these children had given him a renewed sense of purpose; their home on Andara had become his entire reason for living. Of course, it wasn't always serene. In fact, this morning, in particular, was far too quiet.

Ralaa sat, hands folded in her lap, watching a small group of children as they played hide-and-seek in the shrubs that lined the gardens. Relin stood beside her, his hands pressed over his face as he counted in a quiet whisper. It was unlike him to engage the other children, but in Silas' absence, he had been forced to find others to attach too and had been forced to find other means of interaction. Ralaa had to admit that it had been a pleasure to see him blossom, though she knew he still ached for Silas to return. Soon she had promised him on more than one occasion, though she wasn't sure how long he'd accept that answer. He and Loa had been absent far longer than Ralaa had anticipated and she wasn't certain where they had gone, only that it had been important.

"Ten! Ready or not, here I come!" He laughed, eyes searching for his friends who all held their breath in hopes it might make them invisible. Relin smiled, turning to run around the side of the building before a voice echoed out across the grounds. His eyes lit up in surprise, retreating to Ralaas side as she stood, her hand rested on the small of his back. She had sensed the Jedi Master far before he had called out her name; his presence didn't unsettle her, though she was curious what had brought him all the way to Andara. It wasn't often they received guests, surely not the Jedi and most certainly not anyone of importance.

"There's no need to be frightened, Relin." Ralaa assured him, allowing him to hold tight to her torso as she made her way to the front of the building.

She rounded the corner of the building, eyes rested on the Jedi Master and the two Knights who accompanied him. Ralaa knew immediately who he was by reputation alone, though she had never had the pleasure of speaking with him. It begged the question as to why he had come to find her on Andara instead of reaching out to her in a message. It was sure to be important, though she received them as she would any other guest, with a warm smile.

"Master Zeerda." Ralaa bowed her head and Relin peeked at the fox in silent admiration from behind her, his fingers laced in her robes as though he'd fall if he released her.

 

[Fennex Zeerda]

Fennex breathed a sigh of relief as Ralaa stepped out from around the corner, the child he'd seen running about moments before clinging tightly to her, deferring to her almost maternally. Perhaps this would go much smoother than the encounter on Tython, he thought- or at least he hoped. The Master Jedi glanced over his shoulders and nodded at the younger Knights, confident they needn't be so on edge as they all were with Silas. Looking back to Master Talus, he grinned and tucked his thumbs into his belt.

"It's good to see you safe, Master Talus," he called out as he padded toward the other Master, the cool grass feeling good on his paws for a change, "We weren't entirely sure what we would find."

Fen grinned at the boy as he approached, teeth showing. They were almost the same height. Fennex, as an Amaran, would never understand why human children were so fascinated by his fluffy tail and ears, but he knew better than to snap at them unbidden- it had only taken him decades to learn to control. His little black eyes returned their focus to Ralaa as he drew closer.

"We... intercepted, Silas and his 'apprentice' infiltrating Tython again," he informed her, glancing again at the child as he chose his words carefully, not wanting to unduly upset him. Fen shook his head and frowned at the mans foolishness and how he endangered so many with his recklessness, "he admitted stealing your codes to get in the first time. We were worried he might be keeping you here somehow."

He looked her up and down, feeling her out with his eyes and the Force both, probing her surface thoughts and emotions looking for anything wrong or out of place. There was a time when he had the utmost trouble reading or understanding people, but he felt like it was a skill he was finally starting to master. For better or worse, Alais had taught him a lot about himself and others both. Ralaa certainly looked well enough, at least...

"You're well?"

@MatureContentWarningx @Shalken @Painus

 

[Galahad Vult]

theme​

⋮⋮ So this is Andara... ⋮⋮ Galahad wondered as he stepped off the ship behind Master Zeerda, keeping his presence in the Force hidden as he had been previously instructed. While perhaps its beauty could not compare to the thriving, Light-exuding landscape of Tython, it still held a natural beauty that could not be found in many places throughout the Galaxy. Indeed, it was certainly a much more healthy place to raise children than the massive city-scape of Coruscant. But the Jedi had not come to admire the view; there was an investigation they needed to complete.

Releasing the suppression on his Force signature, the ex-temple guard waited patiently a small distance behind the Amaran, brylark staff in hand and clothed in his typical monastic Jedi garb, prepared for whatever would come next. Sure enough, Master Talus appeared from behind the building with a young boy in tow. As she welcomed the visitors, Galahad returned the warm smile, bowing his head slightly to Ralaa. Under investigation or not, she was still a Jedi Master, and respect to superiors aught to be given where it was due. For now, Galahad simply stood at ease nearby, allowing Fennex to do the talking.

Vult was glad to see that Ralaa was unharmed and appeared to be in good health, but he could not help but be curious as to why she had taken up residence on Andara to become a caretaker of the orphanage. Perhaps she had become like the Sentinels of old that hid their identities in order to assist worlds in trouble...but from a cursory look at the situation here, there seemed to be little need for such measures. Not wishing to make further assumptions, the Knight instead held his peace, waiting for the truth to be revealed and for events to unfold.

@Painus @MatureContentWarningx @Loco​

 

[Ralaa Talus]

It was hard to believe how far she had wandered from the Jedi Order, however unintentional it had been. From his words, it was clear that her absence had not gone unnoticed and it was hard to hide the remorse in her eyes. This had become her home, hidden amidst the mountains and plains, but it had not always been her home. Ralaa's first commitment had been to the Jedi and her true place was on Ossus; she knew this but had not been there to aide when it had fallen. No matter her intention, she had abandoned her duties when they were most important and it was a thought, among others, that had held her down for longer than she would have liked to confess. To hold to the past was dangerous, but the past had always been something that had burdened her, even before she had come to know Silas. Her attachments were, perhaps, her greatest weakness.

Her hands clasped behind her back, she held her eyes on the Amaran Master, leaning to one side as Relin pulled at her robes. Her expression faded as he spoke, unsure of her response. Fennex has gone out of his way to ensure that she was safe, though Ralaa was sure she did not deserve the kindness. It was clear from their presence that the Order had been made aware of her association to Silas, though it was never something she had intended to keep hidden. It concerned her, given the nature of his banishment, that they had taken such measures to find her and that both Fennex and Galahad seemed surprised to see that she was well. Silas had never given her reason to doubt his intentions, but she decided it was best not to interrupt Fennex as he spoke.

Her expression faded more as he mentioned Silas and it wouldn't have been hard for the Amaran to sense her disappointment. He had not mentioned to her the details of his planned trip or that Loa would accompany him, only that it would see them absent for an extended period of time. Ralaa still had no reason to question his intentions, but the longer she listened to Fennex, the more she questioned if her trust had been misplaced. It was hard to believe that he had stolen her codes, but the Jedi Master had no reason to lie to her, nor did she lack faith in his words. Her heart dropped into the pits of her stomach and she shook her head, looking down to Relin who still stared at Fen in admiration.

"Is Silas in trouble?" He asked in a timid voice, still taking refuge behind her.

Ralaa held a hand out to the Amaran, stopping him a moment as she turned her attention to Relin. Knelt in front of him, she pushed the bangs from his face and reassured him with a smile. "Don't worry yourself with such things, Relin. Run inside and find your friends, we can talk about it later." He frowned, but reluctantly released his hold on her robes and ran back towards the gardens, around the other side of the building.

Ralaa returned her attention to Fennex and Galahad, releasing a heavy breath. "I am not being held here against my will, nor am I in any danger here. I am, however, concerned by your words. Silas admitted to using my codes to gain access to Tython, but did he have anything else to say? Did he tell you his purpose or give any indication as to what had prompted his presence there? I assure you, I had no knowledge of his location or that my codes had been used." There was a pause as she chose her next words, not wanting to escalate the situation but still wishing to express her concern for both him and Loa, though she had no doubt the Order would keep the both of them safe. "I assume the Order is holding the both of them. Might I ask, Master Zeerda. Is everyone safe? Silas and Loa included."

 

[Fiona MacBheathain]

The trip itself was fairly uneventful for the trio of Jedi. Fiona spent her time meditating or sleeping until the final moments when they had arrived in Andara space. When they landed, Fiona trailed behind the Master alongside her fellow Knight, gazing at the landscape of Andara. A peaceful planet, no doubt, but looks were often deceiving. This could, of course, be the site of a Jedi prison ran by the Exile Silas, wherein Master Talus was held.

That theory was not very sound. The house itself seemed unnecessarily ostentatious for an orphanage, but Fiona was used to a more austere environment, anyways. She kept a few paces behind Master Zeerda, no longer obfuscating her presence in the Force once they had approached the entrance of the estate. Clad in simple robes and common traveler’s garb, lightsaber tightly bound to her hip, Fiona stood ready for whatever followed. Thus far, there had been little in the way of resistance or trouble during the investigation. Fiona doubted much would happen during today’s encounter as long as it kept in line with the current theme.

Master Talus eventually appeared from around the building, her expression amiable upon seeing the three Jedi. Fiona cocked a brow ever-so-slightly at the sight of the small boy clutching her robes, then wiped the expression off her face. The Master certainly had been here a while, but it did not look like she was in any kind of danger. Fiona bowed slightly, offering her the respect she deserved, but otherwise kept silent and relaxed. As Ralaa spoke, Fiona kept her gaze intently on her. She was safe, taken care of, and seemed ignorant of Silas’ actions. How much of that was true was to be decided by the investigation.

Still, Fiona was glad to see that they were not on the hunt for a fallen Jedi Master. Force knows they need less of that.

@Loco @Shalken @MatureContentWarningx

 

[Fennex Zeerda]

Fennex maintained a passive expression as he saw the emotions play across the woman's face... Worry? Disappointment? Fear? It was difficult to narrow down, but it was there, whatever it was. He could feel it as much as he could see it- strong emotions centered around the captured Exiles name. The fox stood back as Master Talus took care of the boy, noting now not just how he deferred to her, but how she handled him- gently, almost motherly... no. Definitely motherly. Fen watched as the boy expressed his displeasure with the order to leave them, but followed it anyway, running off inside the house. Now they could really talk...

"They're perfectly safe..." Fen shrugged, flicking his ear and whiskers again as he mulled the response, "They're being held at the academy until we can arrange something more permanent for Silas. I'm not sure what we'll do with his young apprentice yet. She's still being... evaluated." He padded past her as he spoke, taking in the fairly expansive grounds of the place- carefully manicured lawns, well laid stonework on the school itself, picturesque countryside views... this was certainly a labor of love, the Jedi thought as he smelled the crisp, clean air and listened to the distant sound of children's laughter. "Which is what we're here for, of course."

Fen turned back to face Talus, thumbs tucked into his belt. She was standing between him and the Knights now. A gentle breeze ruffled his fur, and Fennex decided he would really like this place, if brought here under other circumstances. Ralaa certainly deserved to know their suspicions.

"Where there's one Exile's apprentice, there's likely more," Fennex sighed, shaking his head, "Knights Vult and McBethen-" he butchered the woman's name "-will take midichlorian counts and aptitude batteries on the other children here and conduct a thorough search of the estate to see if Silas was hiding any information he might have gathered on the Order during his visits. He didn't say much and got emotional when I talked to him, so we have to assume the worst. When that's done we can take you back for a debrief. Your absence hasn't gone unnoticed, Master Talus..."

His voice trailed off as he eyed the woman intently...

@MatureContentWarningx @Painus @Shalken

 

[Ralaa Talus]

Ralaa held her hands clasped behind her, expression calm despite the accusations that had been presented. She remained silent, her attention following the Amaran Master as he moved, placing her between himself and the two Knights that accompanied him. It all felt rather threatening and her heart pounded in an inward panic, but Ralaa found it to be needless as she had every intention of cooperating. Her association to Silas made it understandable for Fen to be cautious to trust her, but she had given him no other reason to believe that there was trouble. Even so, she observed his movements with caution, curious about what he had planned and the consequences of her decisions to remain on Andara. Was this the beginning of her descent into exile or was there still time to amend her mistakes?

Her eyes remained fixated on the fox as he spoke uninterrupted, his tone demeaning if he intended it to be or not. It was quite clear what she stood accused of, but she had no reason to hide or to lie and certainly no intention of running."I understand your concerns, Master Zeerda, but is it our place to decide the path that these children walk? I'm sure that my opinion on this matter is no longer considered, but there is nothing here that needs to be hidden. Loa being the exception, there are no children under Silas' instruction. You may run your counts and tests as you so desire, but I can tell you what your companions will find." She paused, her eyes moving to Galahad and Fiona if only for a brief moment before returning her attention to Fennex, her expression still relaxed. "Four force-sensitive children, all under the age of six. Relin, Lila, Ora, and Kalen, none of whom have been trained, all of whom have aspirations to be good in some sense of the word. Not all of them aspire to be members of the Jedi Order, but I can assure you that I have no intentions of misleading them down a darker path."

There was an audible sigh, and she turned to face Galahad and Fiona now. "Be patient with them, as I'm sure you will be." Ralaa smiled and nodded her head out of respect for the pair before turning back to Fennex, gesturing to the gardens out back. "Unless you had other plans for my detainment, I would like to invite you for tea and I will answer all of your questions in truth, to the best of my knowledge. I have nothing to hide, though I am not without guilt."

 

[Fennex Zeerda]

"Decide their path? Of course not." Fennex scoffed quickly, a little incredulous, "Should we make sure they're guarded against the Sith, rogue Exiles, and whoever else may wish them harm or seek to exploit them and the powers they may not even know they have? You've been a Jedi long enough to know what danger children like that can be in a place like this. Silas is in over his head."

Fennex sighed. The man had been outcast because of his stubborn persistence on letting his passion and emotions control him, clouding his judgement. Even when Fennex spoke to him, his insistence on omission and his impassioned defense for Ralaa spoke volumes- that he'd learned little over the years. Fen absolutely believed that Silas tried hard and meant well, but some of his last words to the man were true and sincere- that wasn't enough. As long as he believed that powerful emotions like love were no danger- that they couldn't lead someone down a path of lust and anger and hate- he was setting these children up for failure. He nodded at the young Knights. Thjs wasn't something that happened often these days and it was often difficult for some Jedi to go through with it for the first time. If what Master Ralaa said was true though, there was four children in this school who were at an enormous risk. They may not choose to be Jedi in the end, but there was nowhere in the galaxy more suited for them than the Jedi Order, at least until they were old enough to make the decision to stay for themselves.

"I also didn't say anything about detaining you, either, much less you leading these children astray," Fennex told Ralaa, meeting the taller Masters eye and cocking an eyebrow, "You're a free woman, now as much as ever..."

The Jedi didn't maintain its ranks by force. There were standards to uphold- the Code and the Tenants- but every Jedi had to interprets those by themselves, to a certain extent, and live within those few hard confines interpreted by the Council. None of those tenants included remaining if you didn't want to. Fennex diverted his eyes to the two knights. They had duties to perform, assessing these younglings. It was a most uncomfortable part of being a Jedi, but a necessary one. These children needed protection and guidance free of the damaging beliefs of misguided former Jedi. They deserved that. Fen motioned to Galahad and Fiona to carry out their task- they would be cautious and careful, he knew. They were professionals. True Jedi. He trusted that much.

"But, if you have something to tell me," Fen finally continued softly, addressing Ralaa, "I do love tea."


@MatureContentWarningx @Shalken @Painus

 

[Ralaa Talus]

Ralaa was lost somewhere between wanting to trust the Amaran Master and keeping silent, to save her confessions for the Jedi Council. It seemed now that a trial was inevitable, but there was nowhere to place the blame but on her own shoulders. Regardless of her intentions, it had been her own decision to leave Ossus and though she wasn't certain at what point she had strayed from her path, it was clear now that she had wandered too far. Perhaps Fennex would be tolerant and help her to find her place, but there was some small part of her that feared he would consider her beyond counsel. Ralaa's own attachment to Silas had led her here and it wasn't entirely unfair of her to assume the worst would come of this particular situation.

In silence, she led Fennex towards the gardens at the back of the estate, all the while considering her next words. Ralaa knew her words held little value in the way of defense against her actions, but at the very least she hoped to avoid creating a hole deep enough to be buried in. Ralaa had fought hard to find her place within the Jedi Order, and the threat of exile weighed heavy on her mind. Fennex may not have said it outright, but this investigation was about more than Silas and her codes; it was also about her absence in the face of warfare.

Ralaa took a deep breath, returning to Fennex in the gardens with a warmed kettle and two porcelain cups which were worn from years of use. Placing them down on one of the tables, she invited the fox to sit with her and poured them both a cup of potent green tea. It was fresh, sourced from local ingredients, and bits of dried leaves floated below the surface. She pulled her tea close, the steam warming her face as she turned to look at Fennex, her expression sullen and far less confident than when she had greeted him earlier.

"I apologize that you had to come this far to find me, Master Zeerda." She began, her finger tracing the soft edge of her glass in a nervous manner. "I know my earlier assumptions might have seemed defensive, but I have no intentions of hiding information and as stated before, I'm willing to answer any questions you may have with honesty."

Her attention wandered to the windows at the back of the estate, eyes watching as the children crowded Galahad and Fiona. It did not surprise her that they were trusting of the strange Jedi, but still she worried about what would happen to them if Silas was not allowed to return. There was no but the Belsair family to watch over them and those who would be singled out to travel to the Jedi Temple would have no one but strangers to guide them.

 

[Fennex Zeerda]

Fennex followed Ralaa to the garden, sniffing at the crisp, clean air as they walked. He could certainly see the appeal in settling here- especially after being stuck in the humidity of Tython so much lately- but he still preferred the cool desert air of Jedha or the dry savannah of Lothal, he decided. Too much wetness made his fur puff up. the Master clambered up into a chair to wait, and then thanked Master Talus as she brought out the tea. The little porcelain cups reminded him of his own set- weathered and worn- that he kept in his little shoulder bag, although he usually preferred more durable materials, since they tended to get rather beat up and jostled around. The tea itself was well made, if not quite as strong as the frothy green broth Fen liked to whisk up from ground herbs in the morning- but it was hot, and more often than not that was what mattered, Fen thought as he sipped at the steaming liquid.

"Nonsense," he waved off her apology with a paw and a twitch of the whiskers, "It's only a few days jump, and if nobody is really in trouble then it's good to get out of the Temple."

He took another sip of the drink and then set the cup back up on the table. His ears flicked as she spoke, and he considered the response. He thought back to his brief conversation with Silas, and how he'd promised much the same but ultimately delivered little. He hadn't lied- not that Fennex knew of- but he hadn't exactly been as forthcoming as Fen had hoped. He was too stuck on his delusions about the Jedi being oppressive and out to get him to offer any real help. He refused to see it when he did anything wrong. Ralaa, on the other hand, had already admitted she was guilty of something, in one way or another- an admittance she knew she had done something wrong- that was a good sign that she was more self aware than Silas was. Fen hoped this conversation wouldn't be similar to the one with him, but ultimately that was up to Master Talus now.

"None of us are Saints, Master Talus," Fennex started, his little black eyes locked on the other Master, "So my only meaningful question, really, is... What happened? Tell me everything. All of it."

Ralaa Talus was a Jedi Master. She'd made it this far on her own merit, and she deserved all the respect that hard work and good will had earned her. In this case, that was a chance to explain herself.


@MatureContentWarningx @Shalken @Painus

 

[Ralaa Talus]

”I suppose we should start with my reasons for leaving Ossus.” Ralaa breathed a heavy breath and took a sip of tea. Thinking back on it now, she realized this had been her first of many mistakes. It followed the Conclave that had been held to discuss the reinstatement of a Padawan rank, but it had been less of a discussion and more of an argument. It disheartened her to see the true separation of their Order and left her curious as to the security of their future. It was the first time she doubted her place within their ranks.

“It started with the Conclave held soon after the trial of Alais Drast. It was hard not to see that the Order was divided. I questioned why we would argue over such trivial matters when it was most important that we come together. I questioned our purpose, but had nowhere to turn for answers.” She stirred the cup in her hand, taking in a breath of aroma to calm her racing thoughts. It was hard to piece it all together now, but she was sure it was the truth.

“I left in pursuit of an Exile,” Ralaa paused in thought before she continued. “Two, really. The first was a Shistavanen who had been successful in capturing a young learner. I should have requested help from the Council to track him down, but my doubts told me it would be easier not to. Instead I followed information that led me to Coruscant and to Silas. He had been threatened by the other exile and I assumed his information would lead me to him. It did, but at great cost.”

Ralaa eyed Fennex, taking another sip of her tea and leaned forward in her chair. Her face over the steaming cup of tea, she closed her eyes a moment and took another soft breath, still wary to trust him.

 

[Fennex Zeerda]

Fennex gave a sad half-cocked smile as Ralaa started off with a significant piece of his own sordid history with the Order before going on with her story. The careers of Masters, contrary to the thoughts of some, often weren't so rosy and unblemished- they were often times instead the result of long struggles and hard lessons. He didn't let memories distract him too much, and he held off on a reply until she'd hit a natural pause and seemed unsure of where or how to continue.

"Good times," he chuckled lightly, "I got held down by temple guards at Alais' trial, and couldn't come up with the courage to say much at the conclave after that." He didn't know if she remembered that- it seemed fewer and fewer of those who had been present were alive each year- but Fennex would never forget how he had embarrassed himself in front of half the Order, stomping his paws and screaming in front of the Council, only to realize years later that what the Order needed was less spectacle, not more of it. "I even followed up by insulting the council and trying to guilt trip Grandmaster Wyck over it."

Fen shook his furry head at what a hot tempered fool he'd been. He'd often chalked it up to his naturally high energy- blaming his temper and notable lack of impulse control on his natural traits, being a hot blooded little fur ball- but that was a cop out, and always had been. He wondered if that was what his own teacher, Master Quickbill, had seen in him, and had tried to teach him about. The short-lived little bird was constantly on the move, making complex and emotionally wrought decisions almost before most creatures could even complete any sort of rational thought, but somehow the wise old Jedi had learned how to control it, harness it, and use it for good. If there was one lesson the little Master had imparted on Fennex, it's that a Jedi was never bound to their circumstance. Within them all was the strength to make difficult decisions, even if that meant detaching yourself from who and what you were.

"We all make mistakes, Master Talus." He continued, picking his little porcelain cup back up from the table, "What those mistakes cost us is important, but what's more important is what we learn from them"

He lapped at the steaming green tea carefully, beads of it sticking to the roots of his whiskers as he went. He glanced out at Fiona and Galahad working with the children to complete their task. It could potentially change the lives of the children or the Knights either one- perhaps both. You could never know how things like this were going to work out in the long run- you could only live one moment at a time, really, doing the best you could.

"So, what did your mistakes cost, and what have you learned?"

@MatureContentWarningx @Shalken @Painus

 

[Galahad Vult]

Galahad slowed to a halt, resting a hand against his good knee. Sweat dripped down his brow as he gasped for air. Before he and Fiona went to work and gathered blood samples from the children, the former guard figured it would be a good idea to engage in a fun activity first to establish a preliminary positive bond between them and the younglings beforehand — plus, it would get the young ones' blood flowing. Initially they had started with a game of hide-and-seek, but because children never really like being caught, it had somehow turned into hide-and-seek tag. Galahad was already at a disadvantage in finding the younglings because of his unfamiliarity with the orphanage's grounds, but having to chase after them too was just icing on the cake. While most parents would intentionally slow themselves down to give the illusion that the children could escape, Vult was actually physically incapable of keeping up with them due to his weak right leg; and outrunning a Jedi was no small amount of amusement for the young ones.

Slowly lowering himself onto a bench nearby to rest, Galahad set aside his staff and raised both hands in surrender. "Alas, I yield! You have bested me," the Knight conceded, much to the children's elation. Pausing a bit longer to catch his breath, he beckoned to them. "Come, come! I have a story to tell." Once the younglings had all come out of hiding and gathered around in a circle, the Knight motioned to one of them. "I will also be taking a small blood sample from each of you. Do not be afraid, it will only pinch a little. Young sir, what is your name?" Once the young boy had sat beside him on the bench, Galahad sanitizing a spot on his arm as he began his tale. "Listen closely, and I will tell you of my journey to Prakith to face the evil abominations that haunted it."

"There we were, at the front of the old Temple: myself, my good friend Doctor Austin Wolfe, and the wise Grandmaster of our order, Wyck. It was once inhabited by the evil Exiles who had terrorized the people and worked all sorts of dark sorceries there. The Jedi had scared them away some time before, but they had left behind creatures to keep us out of their old temple: abominations, monsters of pure cruelty and hate." The blood sampler pinpricked the first child, leaving only a small dot of blood behind. Quickly cleaning the minuscule wound, Galahad applied a kolto bandage, its revitalizing properties quickly dulling the pain. One after the other he motioned each youngling up to test them, handing the device over to Fiona between each one to document the readings. All the while, Galahad made sure to tell his tale to keep the children entertained.

"And so the three of us stood there before the door of the broken Temple, when suddenly the monsters emerged from within! First came nineteen bug-creatures, as big as my chest! Behind them came two giant fiends, with powerful legs and claws and with ugly horns on their heads." At this the Knight held his hands up to his temples to imitate the antlers. "But behind them all came just a man with an axe. But this was no regular person. He was full of power, and his face was uglier than a Bith that ate sour candy." At this Galahad scrunched up his features for emphasis before continuing. "At first I thought we would be overwhelmed, but Grandmaster Wyck was strong in the Force. He is very green and very short — even shorter than some of you! — but his size mattered little. With just a flick of his hands, he created a huge fire tornado and burned all the insects to ash."

Momentarily, the ex-guard glanced at the window into the manor, curiosity about what Fennex and Ralaa were discussing passed momentarily through his mind. Though Galahad was also aware that the Amaran Master had also spoken in private to Silas, he was not aware of what had been said. ⋮⋮ Perhaps that is for the best, ⋮⋮ he contemplated before turning his attention back to the children. Someday everything would come to light, and until then he would do his duty.

@Painus @MatureContentWarningx @Loco​

 

[Ralaa Talus]

She imagined the small Jedi wouldn't have been easy to catch and much less to restrain. It was hard enough for her to keep up with children who matched his size and stature, but a grown man would be far more tactical. Ralaa was sure it had been quite a memorable display and one Fennex would have been content to have forgotten. However, knowing the Amaran Master was as much a saint as she was herself, made it easier to trust that he'd be understanding of her mistakes and all the more willing to help her amend them. Leaving Andara and Silas would be a difficult choice, but one she had always known would need to be made. For a while, she had been able to outrun it, but it seemed now that her time had run out and there was nowhere left to hide.

"I was confident in my decision to leave Ossus, though not entirely confident that I knew what I was doing or the consequences that would result from these decisions. I knew Silas had been exiled from the Order and I was cautious to trust him at first, but I saw the good in him. There aren't many exiles alive who would be willing to lay their lives on the line to return a Jedi student to the Jedi Temple and even fewer still who would ask for nothing in return." Ralaa paused, holding her cup of tea to her chest to find comfort in its warmth. It had been foolish of her to seek Silas' help so many years ago, but if given the chance to change it now, she wouldn't. Had it not been for him, she would have died on Naboo or somewhere in-between. Ralaa hadn't been ready to face the trials she had created and for all the credit Silas deserved for pulling her through them, she doubted he would see any of it. Of course, it was his own fault for stealing her codes but the blame couldn't rest entirely upon his shoulders.

Ralaa breathed another heavy breath and took a sip of her tea, eyes wandering back to Fennex. "I returned Ossus to find the Temple in ruins, and while I saw that the students were safely evacuated, Silas and I remained behind to aid in rescue efforts. Hours we spent digging through the rubble to recover what had been lost and I suppose I had forgotten he was no longer a Jedi. I trusted him and even returned to Coruscant as I had made enemies with a local criminal organization who threatened the lives of his children. I felt it was my responsibility to ensure they had a safe home, especially considering everything Silas had done for me."

Her eyes wandered back to the estate, curious to know how the two Knights were handling things. Ralaa remembered how difficult it had been to handle so many children, but over time she had become used to the chaos. "I allowed emotions to guide me, acted in fear and frustration. It resulted in death, more than I'm willing to admit. I still wonder how many of them really deserved it or if I had done it for the right reasons, despite my emotional stance on the situation. I wanted to desperately to be good, that I didn't consider how far I had wandered from what I had been taught as a Jedi student or a young Knight."

She set her cup down on the table and leaned back in her chair, wanting to wish it all away but knowing it would do her no good. What had she learned from all of this? It was difficult to tell, but she was sure there was more learning to be done. She thought of Silas, held in a cell at the Jedi Temple, and wondered what would become of him when all of this was done. How he would move on without her or even if he'd be allowed to go free after what he had done. It was hard to detach herself from him, but sooner or later she would need to.

 

[Fennex Zeerda]

Fennex finished his tea in silence and then set it back on the table with finality. If he had any doubts left about what was going on here before, they had all but evaporated now. Ralaa knew what this was all about and knew where she'd gone wrong. The internal struggle was clear- Fen didn't even have to read the emotions on her face- he could feel them plainly enough. It almost seemed incongruous with the peaceful atmosphere of this place. Paws folded in his lap, he addressed the other Master with a grave tone.

"We all wander from the path from time to time," he said seriously but gently, "But at some point you have to make a choice- do you get back on the path, or do you find a new one?"

The meaning was clear. Ralaa would have to choose one home or another. Fennex would not presume to make it for her- it was a deeply personal decision, and one that most Jedi had to contend with at some point or another. For all their teachings, powerful emotions like love and fear were a natural part of existence. Some Jedi learned to overcome them and dedicate themselves to the Order and the Order alone, and some didn't. It was the Jedi version of natural selection, in a way.

"It's your decision. But you need to choose."

@MatureContentWarningx @Painus @Shalken

 

[Ralaa Talus]

Ralaa slid the cup away from her, leaning back in her chair. The smell of tea was no longer appealing, her stomach having turned to stone. Her world felt as though it was about to collapse, the gravity of the situation too heavy for her to hold at that moment. It was silent for several minutes after Fennex had spoken, Ralaa's head spinning as she tried to grasp the courage to speak. The decision to remain on Andara or to continue her life within the Jedi Order had sat on her shoulders even before today. It was one she knew she would need to make at one point or another but had presumed her time was limitless when in actuality, it had been closing in on her for quite some time. Silas was important to her, but he had broken her trust and stolen her codes; he was held captive by the Jedi Council and his future was uncertain. The children he cared for would be safe, even if that meant continuing on without him. Few would return to Tython to train as Jedi Leaners, their paths to be decided later, and those who remained would be under the watchful eyes of the Andaran nobles; there was no reason for her to stay aside from her own selfish desires.

She breathed heavily, sitting upright in her chair to address Fennex, trying to wipe the pain from her expression. "I appreciate your words of wisdom and your allowing me the opportunity to think on the events that have placed me here on Andara, in the company of Silas." Ralaa paused, leaning on her folded arms against the table. "I have avoided this decision for a while. I feel I have a responsibility to see that these children are taken care of, but I am not the only one who watches over them. I will accompany you to Tython along with the children I named earlier, and I will find my way down a path that keeps me with the Jedi Order. I made a commitment when I found the Jedi to remain loyal to our cause and it's not a commitment I want to break. Not under these circumstances."

Ralaa pushed herself to her feet, straightening her robes as her eyes wandered to the windows of the estate. The children still crowded the two Knights, happy to be in their company. It wouldn't be long before they realized the reason for their visit and she remained hopeful that Relin and the others would be understanding of why they would be required to leave. On Tython she could watch over them and ensure they are guided in the right direction but here their futures were threatened by those who would seek to abuse their talents.

She directed her attention back to Fennex, giving him the faintest of smiles.

 

[Fennex Zeerda]

As Talus began to speak, Fennex let out a breath he hadn't even realized he'd been holding. The entire time she'd sat in silence, debating with herself, Fennex could feel the roiling depths of the emotions within her vying against her better judgement as a Jedi and, for a time, the little Master was very uncertain which side would win out. The hardest part of all these appeared to be over- the choice itself. That wasn't to say things would be easy from here on out either, he knew. Fennex stood in his seat and then dropped lightly back to the ground.

"It'll be good to have you back," Fen told her as he ruffled his fur from all the sitting in an awkwardly high chair, "We really weren't sure what we'd find here today, and the Order needs teachers now more than ever..."

He followed her gaze to the Knights, still working with the children. He mulled the situation over in his mind. With Ralaa coming home with them, as a Jedi, it didn't seem right to have her answer for the children. They needed a legal guardian to release them to the Order which... well, probably meant Silas, or perhaps the Nobility. Fennex didn't have enough room on his Infiltrator anyway for that many passengers, so this was something that would have to be handled later. The children, for now, would get to be children for a bit longer it seemed. He returned Ralaa's slight sad smile, knowing he was about to make things harder for her. She'd made a difficult choice, and he hated piling on, but she had to know what she was coming back to.

"The Council discussed a number of possible outcomes with me before we departed, and I think you should know their conditions before you commit to this..." he told her, tucking his paws into the opposite sleeves of his robes and looking up at her, "If you come back with us, you'll no longer be Master Talus. That is a title you'll have to earn once again, as a Knight."

Fennex figured this was something that Ralaa probably expected, given the circumstances, but it could still be a bit disheartening- the fact that she recognized her mistakes and was willing to correct them spoke volumes though, and this entire sordid affair was as classic a Trial of the Flesh as he'd ever seen. The next condition might be harder to swallow, however...

"You'll also need to come clean to the Council about the exact nature of your relationship with Silas. Everything you experienced, everything you felt, how it all affected you. It will get... personal-" a mighty understatement, he knew, but it wasn't the most difficult thing she'd have to endure, "-and, finally... you'll never be able to see or contact him again."

@MatureContentWarningx @Shalken @Painus

 

[Ralaa Talus]

Ralaa had expected that there would be consequences for her actions, but that did not make them any less painful. It had taken years of arduous work and dedication, but all of that had been thrown to the wind- she was no longer Master Talus. It would take years more to regain what she had lost, starting from the bottom with a sullied reputation. There was a part of her that wanted desperately to be angry but there was no one to be angry at but herself. It had been her decision to leave Ossus, her own faults that had created a bond between her and Silas, and her own carelessness that had led her to this moment. It would be unfair of her to place the blame on anyone else as no one else had been responsible for her failings. Ralaa would face these trials alone and try and retain whatever dignity she had not already lost.

Her eyes fell to the ground, hands hidden in the sleeves of her robes to hide her trembling fingers. Her thoughts ran wild, but she could not find the courage to speak. Instead, she stood silent for several moments before finally lifting her gaze to Fennex. "I understand," she managed, her voice a defeated whisper. Ralaa wasn't sure what else there was to be said. Her decision to return to Tython had not changed- to run from this would be exhausting and do nothing to salvage her reputation with the Jedi Order. It was difficult to accept, but there was no point to argue.

"I have to face the consequences for what I've done, there's no reason to run now. I have nothing more to hide, Master Zeerda." She took a deep breath and released it slowly to ease her racing heart, pushing a strand of hair from her face. This was the start of her finding her way back to where she had started, even if the path seemed to grow harder.

 

[Fennex Zeerda]

Fennex smiled sadly. It hurt to hear the sense of defeat in her voice, but he knew there wasn't much to be done about it. He recognized the tone exactly- he used it himself, on Knight Wyck, many years ago at the funeral of Councilor Vao. He'd been lost and misguided, defeated in spirit, frustrated with life and the Force and the Council and everything else. He hadn't realized then how misguided he was. It was difficult and incredibly painful, coming back from that sheer brink... but it was doable. He couldn't have done it without help, but that was the beauty of being a Jedi- you were never truly alone, no matter your struggle.

"I'm sorry, Ralaa. I know it's difficult." He moved to the other Jedi's side and reached out with a paw- he couldn't reach much past her knee, but he patted her leg anyway, offering what support he could in the moment, "Just remember that you're never alone in any struggle. The Force is your ally, and so are the rest of us."

Cheesy lines concluded for the day, Fennex moved away to give her a bit of space. Taking a few steps, he put his paws on his hips and took a deep breath. It was hard for him to witness the same sort of struggle he'd once seen. He'd never really understood how much he cared about those younglings, Alais and Vin, until it was too late, and when his attachment was exposed he'd lashed out at those he thought were responsible. What a little furry fool. Seeing Ralaa deal with this attachment of her own. having it torn away from her, it was dredging up powerful memories... Fen took a deep breath, centering himself as he watched Galahad and Fiona work.

"I'll check on the Knights. We'll give you some time to gather your things, and... if you wish," he hesitated, unsure if this was something he should really offer, "you can leave something for Silas. A holo-recording, perhaps."

@MatureContentWarningx @Shalken @Painus