Ask Echoes of The Force - The Return

[Oren Zapan]

​

You've been gone for a while now...Perhaps it's time for you to return, to share the wisdom that you have learned--to be the light the galaxy needs. You were born among rocks and darkness, you were shown light, nearly rejected it, found redemption and love, you were blinded, and now you see...Wake up. The words were a warm drifting sensation that tingled along his sweat beaten neck, which caused Oren to stir awake from his sleep.

He had been gone for months, contemplating the galaxy and the meaning to life. Wyck's Holocron was with him, and through it he had begun to unlock the secrets of the old Jedi, and with it the meaning of life and the force had slowly begun to unravel before him. There was no longer time for contemplation and thought, but to embark upon the journey that it seemed he had been so destined to follow. The force is everything, all of life--the force is my ally, and by extension all of life.

And so he traveled for several days from his position in the Unknown regions and to the home of the Yavin Temples--one of the many places the Jedi had managed to find during his more active roles within the Order. The air was humid and the canopy overhead seemed to bring little respite to the blazing temperatures that could be felt, but it felt relaxing and familiar in a way.

He could feel the life across the galaxy--the beating of hearts and the calls of the wild through the vast thick jungles of the planet, as well as the halls of the overgrown temple which he had stepped into. His black and brown robes were neatly cleaned, and his reforged lightsaber was clipped to his belt. Oren couldn't help but form a smile on his burned face. And now we search..for those who the force calls to me, through whispers I can sense them..though I know not their face. In time the force will call to me, and I will know that they are the ones for this journey--to find the truth.

tag: @Catbert @Corbeau @Bran

 

[Nykoria Tallis]

Knight Nykoria Tallis was among the least known in the Order. The Zeltron had become a Padawan later than many—in her late teens—and demonstrated hermit tendencies ever since. She never told the reason to anyone but her Master: the innate gift of her species to experience the emotions of others meant that Kori would only be as good at meditation as the worst student in the vicinity.

A later incident with the Tusken Raiders on Tatooine, where her Master had to get into harm's way to save the Zeltron's life only solidified Kori's sentiment. Going it alone was a better option in many cases. Sure, she had saved her Master's life that day—barely—but if it hadn't been for Kori, the Master wouldn't have needed saving.

Responsibility for someone is a scary prospect. Especially when you're forced to put your life on the line. A rather unknightly lesson that the Zeltron had learned from the event that would lead to her Knighting. Perhaps that is the reason why Knight Tallis hadn't volunteered to take any Padawans of her own yet.

It didn't mean that Kori was a loner. On the contrary, a part of her was happy to meet new people and fellow Jedi. On the other hand, strong attachments felt like too much of a risk. Especially with all the kriffin' poodoo going on in the galaxy. The Sith, the Syndicates, any other S-word, you name it.

That's why when an opportunity presented itself to visit the Temples of Yavin, Kori didn't think twice before taking the Serendipity for another spin. New places, new faces. With a brown leather jacket on top of her flight suit, the Zeltron looked more like a spacer than a Jedi. Even her lightsaber hilts were hidden underneath the jacket—a testament to the galaxy where Jedi weren't always welcome.

Aimless wandering around the area brought the Zeltron towards the overgrown temple. She was compelled to enter. Kori had heard that the Force had a will of its own, guiding people to specific places and setting events in motion. But she'd find inside was anyone's guess...

 

[Tehari Rhoan]

Teeming with life and Force energy that flowed through it all, the forests of Yavin IV offered a serene escape to the conflict of the galaxy. Similar to Ajan Kloss yet unique in its own way, the forested moon allowed for a brief respite and the ability to concentrate clearly whilst reaching out beyond oneself. Tehari Rhoan had always relished his time in such calm environments whilst secluded in the unknown regions, making sure to use it to strengthen his bond to the Force. He also knew not to dwell on such places, for with the solace that they bring, they too bring stagnation. Perhaps it was his own personal frustrations that ate away at the back of his mind but he is a man driven by purpose, and his hope diminishes when he feels he has none.

By the Force's will it seemed that purpose would come in the form of an intriguing proposition... A proposition that would result in him spending days hiking through the wilderness of Yavin IV in search of an ancient Temple. Having hitched a ride to one of the main space ports of the moon, he ended up being a little further from his destination than anticipated. Despite the setback he thought that a lengthy hike would do the ex-ranger some good. What he didn't take into account however, was his age. His close connection to the Force allowed for his body to be more active than the average man his age however three days into the journey his back still ached and his knees began to buckle. His old, frayed brown robe (now drenched with sweat) did little to protect him from the sweltering heat of the midday sun. With the dilapidated bricks of the temple now in sight, Tehari let out a drawn out sigh of relief. Perhaps it's time I stopped hitchhiking the galaxy and commission a ship from the Order, he thought to himself. Reaching out with his mind he could sense that he was not the first to arrive, nor did he expect himself to be the last. The Jedi Knight approached the temple, a jagged branch clutched in his hand to be used as a walking aid or self defense depending on if his senses betrayed their intentions.

@Corbeau @TWD26

 

[Fiach Dubh]

The ‘why’ was beyond her, but that did not bother her in the slightest. She was used to following the Force wherever it took her. She had theories of course – she would not be Fiach if she did not – but neither was concrete. Neither had sufficient evidence for the logically-minded Padawan to say for certain they were the cause of her actions.

Which, she mused, was almost an oxymoron. For having complete faith in the Force – and allowing it to govern your actions – could be argued to be highly illogical. But not for Fiach.

She had been practicing her saber technique – and more specifically Soresu, her preferred Form. She was becoming adept at entering the eye of the storm, and effectively meditating as she duelled – allowing the Force to guide her actions. And so deep in meditation was she against the remotes that buzzed around her, trying to zap her with a low-energy bolt, that she’d seen it.

It was in one sense hard to describe and in another quite straightforward. Images flashed in her mind. Of places and a person. Her Master.

Was it the meditative state that produced the visions or the connection with Oren? Either way, Fiach ascribed it to the Force and shut down her saber with a hiss-snap and hurried to change and take a scout ship into space.

###​

The Yavin system. Three planets, with the one she’d come to visit being Yavin Prime. A gas giant with a number of habitable moons.

As she exited hyperspace, she closed her eyes and connected with the Force. The pull was still there. The why and wherefore still evaded her, but she knew instinctively it was where she needed to be. Her Master would be pleased with her progress. Not as a student in the temple per se. That was almost predictable. No, she had developed in a wider context. She was now beginning to understand emotions and the need for social interaction. Friends still evaded her, but she would not dismiss the notion for lack of effort. Not that she was sure you had to make an effort to find friends. It was still a bit of a mystery to her.

It's hard to picture a world less like Klatooine. There, everywhere you looked was desert, with maybe a small town here or there. It was a continuous fight to suck the water needed from the almost-dry air. This moon, however, was a jungle come forest, vast and luxurious. Instead of bleak browns, beiges and scorched whites, the planet was a riot of green and life.

She flew the ship low above the trees of the rain forest on Yavin Four. It zigzagged around pointy spires of ancient temples and pyramids that just peeked out above the canopy of thick green leaves.

As she made her way down the boarding ramp, the air hit her like a wet sock. The atmosphere was practically steam. She turned tail and removed her cloak, folding it neatly and stowing it in her locker, before returning to the planet’s surface.

A hot, humid, breeze blew across the small landing area she’d located. She turned her face into the wind and looked out over the vibrant jungle that stretched unbroken to the horizon.

The enormous orange disk of the gas giant Yavin dominated the sky, hanging just above the edge of the world.

Something tickled Fiach’s consciousness at the hazy fringe of awareness. She closed her eyes and searched the area, reading the currents of the Force as they flowed around her.

There was life everywhere, for the creatures of Yavin 4 had long ago claimed whatever previous civilisation had abandoned.

There was also an familiar presence, too – but given her draw to come here, not an unexpected one.

She closed her eyes again and let her hands hang at his side, her fingers spread. She let her mind open and relax; and she drew strength from the Force, touching ripples made by the life-forms crowding the jungles. With now heightened senses, she could hear the rustle of millions of leaves, twigs scraping, small animals scurrying through the underbrush.

Letting out a yelp of pain and terror, a rodent thrashed and died as a predator crushed it in its jaws. Flying creatures sang mating songs to each other through the dense treetops. Large grazing mammals fed on leaves, tearing tender shoots from high branches or grubbing for fungi in the forest debris.

Fiach’s introspective moment had ended. She smiled and headed off in the direction she knew to lead her to her Master.

 

[Oren Zapan]

There were many new faces lingering within the halls, he could feel it through the force. The sound of training blades could be heard, as well as the familiar lessons and instructions which he had known all too well. So many Jedi had come to him with questions, concerns, and ideas--and the Council member liked to believe that he had helped many of them.

That was all you could truly do in life, be there to help others when they needed it most. There is no sense in predicting the future, all we can do is look to live in the present and worry about the problems as they come. The words echoed through his mind as he made his way into a large interior garden.

The smells were strong and vibrant, as plants from all over the galaxy had been planted within the atrium. The will of the force was strong here, and the plants which had been nurtured by the younglings had grown to their full potential. Oren would take a seat in the center of the stone floor, crossing his legs.

Slowly he would raise Wyck's holocron with the force and sending it in orbit around his body. With a few deep breaths he would begin to center himself. What was once a puzzle had become routine, and with ease the clicks and shifts the holocron would begin to open up to the Jedi. There was something he was looking for, a sensation he couldn't shake--a desolate wasteland, harsh and rugged, covered in darkness. The beginning of it all starts there...

What this riddle was, the Jedi did not know, but he would find the truth and uncover its secrets--even alone if he had to. But, he felt a shift through the force, and the arrival of three different signatures through the force. One of them, he knew well, the other two, were alien to his senses--but he could feel a warmness between the two of them.

"So the force called you here as well?" His eyes would open, one brown, the other a milky white. Though Fiach would be able to notice that a slight shade had formed around the Iris. The Jedi Master chuckled to himself, "or perhaps I'm going senile..and the three of you were simply passing by."

His lone flesh hand would reach out through the force to pull the holocron back into his grasp as he stood up. He would turn to meet their gaze, though his eyes would fixate on the two newcomers. "I don't think we've met. I'm Oren Zapan." The words oozed with a softness that he had shown so many before.

tag: @Catbert @Corbeau @Bran

 

[Nykoria Tallis]

The Zeltron walked through the atrium; a faint smile on her lips and an occasional nod to anyone who'd greet her. She hadn't been on the Yavin's moon before; what the Jedi had done with the place was admirable. Perhaps she could ask to stay around there for a while?

Kori's path led her to the inner gardens, where she took the her sweet time to admire the lush flora inside. Time, serenity, and finding joy in simple things were among the few luxuries that hadn't been available to her on Coruscant.

She didn't notice how she'd end up in the center of the garden, next to a few "more orthodox" Jedi. They seemed to be wearing traditional outfits, as opposed to Kori's "spacer" look. One of Jedi addressed her and introduced himself. Oren Zapan.

Kori hadn't met him in person, but even a hermit like her had heard a passing mention of his exploits. Not to mention that the man who was addressing her was on the kriffin' Jedi Council! The Knight was caught completely off guard. "I'm Kori...." she cleared her throat quickly. "I mean, Nykoria Tallis... But friends call me Kori." she mumbled, pulling herself together—in large part due to the Master's state of mind, that reflected on the Zeltron.

After an awkward pause, the Zeltron Knight raised an eyebrow, as something occurred to her. A thought that she had wanted to run by someone more experienced for a while. She worded her concern with a somewhat sly smirk: "I was kind of passing by... I think. But does it exclude the fact that a Force could've brought me 'passing by' all the same?"

@Bran, @Corbeau, @TWD26

 

[Fiach Dubh]

Fiach wondered why she’d never been here before. Yes, there was nothing on offer she could not get at the Temple on Ajan Kloss. But she enjoyed the full opportunities the Order had on hand and so made a commitment to visit here again, very soon. But first there was the no small matter of greeting her Master once more. She was progressing well in her Jedi Trials and knew that it was due to his tutelage that she was able to develop as a person as well as a student of the Force. He’d emphasised the wider aspect of learning to her and as she embarked on more and more missions, she appreciated all the more the social aspect of her role – and was making strides in this aspect of her progress.

She was drawn to the centre of the building – and finally came to what could only be described as an indoor garden. She was overwhelmed with the various fragrances – and felt the Force strongly here. It was almost enough to mask her Master’s presence, but the bond forged was strong enough to overcome the camouflage.

As she approached him, she noticed two others heading towards her Master too. She smiled her ubiquitous smile and gave a short formal bow as she reached the seated figure of Oren. She paid no heed to the holocron for the moment but instead focused entirely on her Master.

“I was meditating and received images that brought me here. It would have been easier to send me a quick transmission.” Her smile broadened to a grin. She was slowly, but surely, getting the hang of humour. At least she thought she was.

As the Zeltron introduced herself, Fiach gave a second short bow and her usual smile returned to her lips. “Pleased to meet you. I am Fiach. Fiach Dubh. Everyone calls me…well…Fiach.”

@TWD26 @Bran @Catbert

 

[Tehari Rhoan]

An aggravated sigh left the lips of the Jedi Knight at the prospect of climbing the few short stairs into the temple, despite this, Tehari proceeded on. The soft clacking of wood on brick announced the arrival of the Jedi as he entered the vibrant courtyard. Raising his hand to wave at his fellow travelers he spoke with a broad smile plastered across his face, "Hail... Friends..." He spoke between deep breaths. His eyes met each person recognising their deep and unique connections to the Force. What brought a small pang to his heart however, was the connection between the younger woman and the elder Jedi whom he recognised to be a member of the Jedi council. The link between master and padawan was unmistakable and for a brief moment it brought back sombre memories. "It seems like the guidance of the Force was not, in fact, the inner ramblings of a crazy old man." He continued in jest, the sweet aromas and extraordinarily refreshing atmosphere calmed his breathing immensely, "Fiach... Kori... Oren..." he spoke in reply to their introductions. "Jedi Knight Tehari Rhoan," He introduced himself, his hand placed on his chest, "But please, if we're already operating on a first name basis then by all means call me Tehari."

Each member of this sudden grouping had seemingly arrived on a whim of the Force, one of the fascinating natures of the Force that while Tehari didn't quite yet understand its purpose, he knew that there was one and that it would be revealed in time. Taking a short reprieve to appreciate the beauty of his surroundings, Tehari marveled at the workmanship of the temple and the natural forces that intermingled within its walls. The entire courtyard was a flourishing example of what the Jedi hoped to achieve. A cohesive and synergistic connection to life and the Force that resided within. In his more youthful years he would scoff and roll his eyes to such teachings and Tehari knew that he still had a long path ahead of him if he were to truly understand what those words meant.

Breaking free from his ruminations, the Jedi caught on to the presence of the holocron in the possession of the Jedi council member. Zapan, he remembered his name to be. With squinted eyes he attempted to study the Jedi's features. Disfigured to some degree, his face would be unmistakably recognisable even among the greenest of padawans. While Tehari knew little of the man's exploits what he did know was that even though the two of them shared a similar age, the Jedi Masters ventures far outclassed his own. Without a doubt this meeting was orchestrated around this man, whether intentional or otherwise, it had to be.

@TWD26 @Corbeau @Catbert