I’m Not That Girl

[Aurora Blackwood]

He had sought her out. Eli Reach had come to Vestar looking for her. The rebellion was growing he said. The Empire’s time was near an end. Now was the time to act. He had pleaded and preached, imploring Aurora to join their effort on Dantooine. She had declined. Master Orady had sworn she would know when the time was right. The Force would give her a sign. That sign never came while her elderly Master breathed. Aurora took the mantle. She watched for the right time but it never came. When Eli sought her help she told him as much. The Rebels weren’t ready and the Empire’s strength was undeniable. It was not the time.

Aurora Thaylena Blackwood was used to being right. She took no pleasure in being proven correct. Even in the very dregs of the Outer Rim word had reached of the bombardment on Dantooine. The Empire crowed the destruction of pirates but Aurora knew the truth. Whatever remained of the fledgling Rebellion and the Jedi foolish enough to join were gone. She would return to her watch. Her people were long lived. She could afford to wait.

So it was that she sat on the hill that her small home was built underneath. Vestar was a peaceful world with space for her to be forgotten. She watched the sun begin to rise over the forest. Aurora resisted the urge to close her eyes and reach for the Force. She had only returned to Vestar for a few days. She had spent time hopping from small home to small home across the Outer Rim, just as Master Orady had taught her. She couldn’t chance anyone tracing Eli back to her. For all she knew, she was the last of the Jedi. Aurora had tried taking students in the past. It never truly worked out. She had yet to find a student worthy of the secret she kept. One day. She placed her faith in the Force as she always had.

As the sun climbed higher she kept her eyes on the horizon. She would continue to watch and, when the time came, she would join the fight that awaited, or she would train the generation that would. This was the promise Aurora made to Master Orady and this is the promise she would keep. @Orbit

 

[The Eternal (?)]

Before Eli had passed he told Valentine of a woman he should seek out, her name was Aurora Blackwood. Val had no idea who she was or even heard of her. But his master was adamant on him finding her and he would fulfill the man's dying wish. Master Reach told him of the planet Vestar, home to the woman he was supposed to find and where he tried his previous attempts to bring her to his side. Val didn't even know why his master thought he had a chance to convince her. Master Reach at least knew her and that didn't turn out successful, why Val would he had no clue but he would at least try. Taking Master Reach's personal ship he flew to the planet of Vestar, seeing through his cockpit view as he closed the distance.

Master Reach had given him a few locations to check but would know what to do when he landed. So Val did just that, breaking through the atmosphere as he saw vast vibrant green fields and a planet that seemed to be untouched by war. Places like these were rare and Val understood why someone would call it home. Finding a vacant plot of land, Val gently landed the ship before exiting and stepping onto the grassy ground. He gazed around him, trying to discern which direction to go before eventually crouching down next to the ground, extending his hand to the earth and slightly dipping his fingers into it. Val closed his eyes, reaching out through the force for any type of faint signature that he could follow or at least lead him in a certain direction. It took him a few moments but he swore he felt something, it was faint but it was there. Val opened his eyes before turning his head toward that direction and standing up, getting ready to trek towards it. He didn't know if it was Blackwood but it was the best lead he had.

Val spent a few hours walking, appreciating the silence that followed with it. He connected with the life around him, feeling the force pulsate it with it lightly. It filled him with a sense of duty and gratitude, that he could still experience this without the Empire's corrupting touch and that eventually, he would make sure peace wasn't such a rare thing. The signature he felt before was getting stronger as he kept getting closer and Val knew he had found the right person. When he cleared through some trees he found a woman sitting on a hill, enjoying the rising view of the sun as it cascaded its light across the land.

Val had stopped silently a respectable distance away from Aurora, letting her have her space as his gaze remained on the horizon. It was a beautiful sight, the sun shining a crimson light across the planet that gave a certain hue that he couldn't describe. "That's breathtaking," Val murmured softly, taking the time to soak it in while he could.

 

[Aurora Blackwood]

Vestar held a peace often forgotten in the galaxy. There were few worlds untouched by the Empire, even fewer unmarked by war. Aurora never let herself linger here for too long. The longer she stayed, the harder it was to leave. She could spend a lifetime on Vestar but that served no purpose. While she was here she heard little and learned less. Although, she never felt closer to the Force than when sitting on this hill. That was how she felt the man approaching.

Long before he was within eyesight she could feel him. Her mental walls were high but she knew this place. She was at peace. Her mind at ease and the Force spoke clearly. Well, and the man made no effort to hide his approach. He was either a fool or knew exactly why he was here. Aurora could not smell the stench of Darkness but that meant nothing.

Skilled Sith could hide the Darkness and those with little taint felt ordinary. As he drew closer she carefully slid her blaster from the holster. It rested in her lap, her right hand lightly gripping the handle. If they had finally come for her she would be no easy prey. Finally, the man spoke. Aurora blew out a snort of frustration. All this way and that was what he said.

Time to get this over with. “You must be lost.. An image flashed through her mind. Her lightsaber hilt flying into her hand. Oh no, not easy prey indeed. “You see, I worked very hard for a very long time to find this view. Decades even.” . Her gripped tightened. “Do you know why? So that I could watch this breathtaking sunrise alone.” Aurora took a deep breath. Her life spanned seven decades. She was ready for this. @Orbit

 

[The Eternal (?)]

Val slowly brought his gaze down upon the woman as she spoke, seeing the lightsaber hilt fly into her hand as the hint of a smile touched his lips. He was definitely not lost and he was glad that Master Reach was thoughtful enough to at least give him the headstart of coming here. With them so close in proximity she couldn't deny it now if she wanted to, Val could feel the force alive in her and only strengthen his resolve not to leave. After she finished speaking, Val slowly crouched down into the grass before running his hand lightly through it. He chuckled softly, "I respect the work you achieved for this view, but my work intends on finding everybody across the galaxy a peaceful view like this." Val gestured to the sky with his hand even though Aurora couldn't see, "You know, without the Empire's ships in orbit."

Val sighed lightly before continuing, thinking it was best to keep talking and explain the full situation, "My name is Valentine Rayth but with my master's recent passing I guess you could call me Master Rayth. I believe you knew my master because he knew you, his name was Master Reach and he told you to find you." He paused for a few moments, letting his words sink in before he continued, "It was actually his dying wish to find you, to come when he thought you were ready to come with." It was a painful memory to recall, seeing his master lying defenseless and weak on a bed after having trained and sparred with him for so long.

Val eventual sat on his knees, resting his hands on them as he patiently stared at the back of Aurora. "I have nothing to hide from you, if needed I will sit here for a day or longer in order to convince you if you don't believe me." There was a certain steel to his voice as he spoke, showing that he wasn't just putting words out there. But after a moment he shrugged his shoulders and chuckled, "But I assure you we can make this a lot easier if we both didn't have to sit here all day to do that." Val also opened himself to the force, letting Aurora easily tell if he planned on hurting her or anything worse.

 

[Aurora Blackwood]

Wonderful. An idealist. Aurora was almost disappointed it wasn’t an Imperial Assassin come to sever her spine. She at least knew what to do with those. She didn’t roll her eyes or audibly sigh. She let Valentine speak, if only because she sensed the truth in his words. He was open to her in the Force. He had nothing to hide. So, she allowed his little speech to go on out of respect for Eli. Aurora had not agreed with his decision. She had been right. Eli was dead, the Rebellion was dead, and the Empire had won again. Still, Eli Reach had been a good man and he deserved what little send off she could give him. It would not change her decision.

“I warned Eli the time was not right. He did not listen, and the galaxy is poorer for it.” That much was true. “But my mind has not changed and your coming here will not change it.” There was no point in hiding any longer. Aurora let her walls down and the Force flood in. Rarely did she get to be so free. Two Jedi, watching the sun rise, and sharing in the Force. A galactic heirloom. “How old are you? Hmmm? 22? 23?” An adult by human standards but still so terribly young. “I am seventy-five years old, and for seventy-two of those years I have traveled the Outer Rim. My own Master died forty years ago. Yet here I am.”

Master Orady had not died as Eli did. Old age had taken her former Master. “I swore to him I would watch and wait for right time. The perfect time to stand tall against the Empire once more.” Another deep breath. “Now is not that time. By all accounts the attack on Dantooine was devastating. Is the Rebellion even still alive?” She had no idea. “Nothing has changed, including my decision.....I am sorry.” She turned to look at Valentine. [color=aqua ] “Truly.”[/color]. @Orbit

 

[The Eternal (?)]

Val arched his eyebrow as she seemed so adamant about not leaving. He didn't really think she would be this difficult about joining but he was surprised by the reaction. He and Leah knew that not all the Jedi were going to willingly join their ranks and think nothing of it. It would be a process and this was just a start of one between him and Aurora. Val let her speak as she did him, his gaze now mostly locked on the back of her head as he focused on her. when she finished speaking Val was silent for a few moments, thinking to himself for a few moments before finally speaking. "Then you would know Aurora that the time for action is now. The Empire we know is split, the Mandalorians share our sentiment about the Empire as well and are launching their offenses. While we lost many in the attack, you could say it's inflicted as much damage to them like us."

"The Rebellion is alive, I would hope me standing here is a testament to that. We are ill supplied, we are injured and on our back foot, but we are organizing every day." Val paused a moment before adding, "I am not the only Jedi as well. Master Reach's wife, she still lives and joins our efforts. Leah found a map of Master Reach's that kept track of the various students he looked to recruit." His gaze locked with Aurora's, his amber colors seeming to light up as he spoke again, "Everything has changed Aurora."

"You don't have to be sorry Aurora, you can act and if you've kept watch as you've said you have, then even you can admit the chinks in its shiny metal armor. I'm not disagreeing that it will be dangerous or that we could all die, we all see that but if we're smart about it the chances of it are a lot less." Val gave her a brief nod, "And we could use whatever help we could get along the way and if not for the Rebellion or the galaxy, at least for your brethren and sisters that are about to fight it."

 

[Aurora Blackwood]

Conviction. She could not deny Valentine possessed conviction. Eli had been much the same. A passion that easily flowed forth as he spoke. It was hard not to get wrapped up in those words. They sounded convincing. Aurora had no doubt Valentine believed them. She was uncertain how much of a difference that made. Conviction would not win a war. She knew the Empire was splintered, warring among themselves. She knew the Mandalorians began a new crusade. That meant little or less to her. The Mandalorians were barbarians who had hunted the Jedi to near extinction. For all she cared the Empire and Mandalorians could burn each other to ash.

She couldn’t stop the sigh that escaped. “I do not doubt what you say of the Rebellion, that Dantooine was not as devastating as it appears.” She reached out to the Force, calling for answers. She needed guidance. “But you must understand why I preach caution.” Aurora pointed towards the sky. “We are all that if left of the Jedi. All that is left of an Order that survived for millennia, and that survived its own destruction.” The Force was silent to her pleas. It would not show her the path.

“Eli must have told you. While we are few, they cannot sense us. We are tiny grains of sand in an ocean of Darkness. The more we grow, the easier to uncover we will be, until it is undeniable. Then they would be hunted, killed, and the Order would truly fall. “Our efforts to rebuild the Order may sign its death warrant. How can we be responsible for that? She sighed again. This was an impossible decision. Truly, one she was not ready to make. “We do not know each other. I do not know the Rebellion.” Aurora had to make a kriffing choice.

“Let me meet the others and the leader of this Alliance. Then, I can make my choice. For now, that was likely the best she could offer. Aurora could not wallow in the Outer Rim any longer. Still, there was a spike of fear growing in her chest. This was the moment she had been waiting for, but now that it was here, she was uncertain she was ready. @Orbit

 

[The Eternal (?)]

Valentine continued to sit there, his gaze not threatening to leave hers as he let her speak. He understood the points she was making but now how she was presenting them. She spoke in a way as if putting those obstacles in front of her in a way to gaze and be frightened by instead of thinking away to work through it. Val spoke once more, "How much more are you going to preach sister? How much longer are you going to wait by and use the caution of what could happen to us to stop you? The only thing more dangerous to us then the Empire or the Sith is inactivity. Letting this infection spread uncontested, claim and kill anybody uncontested while we sit by and wonder what can be done." There was a conviction in Val's voice, he saw this no other way. This wasn't something to run from, this is what it meant to be a Jedi. No matter the odds, they would face the evil that plagued the galaxy for the greater good.

"You see grains of sand Aurora but grains of sand can become a sandstorm, a simple wave can become a tsunami. We cannot remain in the shadows forever, that was not our purpose. When people see chaos they run away from it, our purpose is to run to it." Val got up from his knees, standing up to his full height as he stared down at Aurora. "Maybe we will sign the Order's death warrant, but sometimes you have to take responsibility for something and give it your damnest. I would rather go down fighting and knowing I at least tried then sit back and regret I did nothing." Val gave the last of his words, seeing that Aurora would like to meet the leader of the Alliance and the others of their assembled order so far. It's what he believed in his core, his principles formed from only knowing the rebel military for so long. Val couldn't handle the thought of failing and if he did, at least he wanted to know for himself he gave it his all. But he also couldn't blame her for wanting to meet the others and he gave her a brief nod to her statement.

"I have a ship not far from here, I can take you there." Val waited until Aurora stood up before turning his head to see the woman in the corner of the eye, "It's not a bad thing to feel fear." He murmured it softly, sort of like a tip over the years he learned despite the age difference between the two of them. Val began to lead the way, walking at a pace to let her catch up if she wanted.

 

[Aurora Blackwood]

She could not deny his conviction. Aurora could feel the heat of Val’s truth as he spoke. He firmly believed every word he uttered. She simply did not share his conviction. She had been raised to be more cautious, to value careful decision making. Seventy years watching the Empire churn had only further engrained that belief. Aurora could not be the fiery Jedi Val wished to see. It was not who she was, nor would it ever be. When the time came she would make her choice. She stood to follow as he finished his speech. It was inspiring, and she could see the outlines of leadership in the young Jedi. Her stride quickly lengthened to match his.

“Oh my boy, I am afraid.” She patted him on the shoulder as they walked. “And I am not embarrassed to admit it. We should all fear what may come, fear of what may happen if we fail.” Aurora knew exactly who she was, confident in the life she lived. “Fear is not something to be ashamed of, but it must be faced.” A long life did not make one wise. Kriff, the Force knew Aurora was not, but she had seen far more of the galaxy than most. “I do not fear my own death but that of the Order and the hope we may bring.” A sad smile blossomed on her face. “And we shall face that fear together.”

Her feet carried her away from the small hut under the hill. She was leaving behind most of everything she had ever known. Sadness did well in her heart. This had been her home for a time. “I do not doubt your conviction, Val. I pray it is well placed, and I am proven horribly wrong.” The Force seemed to hum with finality. This was it. The true start of the Rebellion. @Orbit

OOC: End Thread