No More ; The Shadow Falls

[TAC]

It was a quiet day on Arbra. But then, there was rarely a day on the forest world that was not serene and peaceful. It had always been that way, really. And that was what the world represented to Larik Novan. It was a place that had offered him comfort, a place to rest and rejuvenate, a place of protection and peace.

No more.​

There is a certain level of quietness that is somewhat unnerving. As the Jedi Councilor walked along the paths of the forest, back to the temple, it was anything other than quiet. A gentle breeze rustled the trees, and birds and animals of all different kinds chirped and yelped and called back and forth to one another. But that wasn't what was unsettling to Larik- it was that he couldn't feel these animals. Yes, he knew they were there: he could obviously hear them. But before, he would have felt them. How they were feeling. What they were doing. It was an exercise that the man had often taken part in, to attune his force sense.

No more.​

A few days prior Larik Novan had lost his connection to the Force in a freak accident. He had done it to himself to survive, he had later realized, but the life he was now living seemed a hollow one. And his place in the Jedi seemed lost now that his brethren were on a different playing field. It saddened him immensely, but he realized it was true. He did not feel at home with the Jedi anymore, not quite coming to terms with the fact he was no longer a Jedi, as he had no connection to the Force. He was not one of them, but rather he felt like an outsider looking in.

No more.​

Grandmaster Daw, and so many others, had tried to convince him to stay. But he had chosen his path. Master Raythe would succeed him as the Shadow Keeper, and Larik Novan would leave the Jedi. Perhaps not forever, but for awhile. For so long the Jedi had been the center of his life, his focus, and now that it was stripped from him he felt like he had lost his identity. And he could not face the Jedi without it.

No more.

Today would be the day Larik Novan left the Jedi.​

He had taken a final lap around the Arbran Forest, for memories sake. The world had been kind to him, offering him shelter when he and his fellow Jedi needed it most, and he had grown to love this place. But even the forests seemed foreign now. As if they had turned their back on the man. It had only solidified his need to leave, to figure out exactly what his purpose was in the galaxy. And so, with a heavy heart, the man arrived at the field outside of the Arbran Temple. His ship, the Sundance Maiden, awaited him there, already started. It was a bright, beautiful day on Arbra. But a sad day nonetheless.

 

[Insoulent]

It was rare that the Jedi Knight Arkantos Rajax visited the planet Arbra, but when he did he seemed to enjoy the planet. While it was not deep with Jedi History like Tython, it shared it's rather peaceful atmosphere, quiet and very fair weather, similar to Tython. He rarely visited the inside, the makeshift rebel base turned Jedi Temple, and instead had spent the entire time outside to enjoy the forest for a little while. Being surrounded so long by run-down cities, barren deserts and other not-ideal planets thanks to his time with the Hutt Cartel really wore him out, and he lacked the connection to nature, or more simple forms of life than criminal civilizations. Still, he was here for a more somber reason, the departure of Larik Novan.

While Arkantos and Larik weren't the best of friends, Arkantos admired and respected the Jedi Master quite a lot, sharing various qualities and even the same level of admiration for Arkantos' own Master, Ashara Vashtee. He was also the leader of the Shadows, a rather important role in the Order, and one important more to Arkantos. He was hidden behind the canopy of the endless Arbran forest, some yards away from the Jedi Master's ship. He donned his usual black and grey Jedi garments, one which could easily be mistaken as Sith, but in actuality helped the Jedi in both intimidation and with stealth. He came unarmed, though he had a strange carrying backpack with him, the contents of which would be revealed to the Jedi Master later on.

He didn't know the specifics of the reason why he was leaving, but rumors when he arrived were that Larik had lost his connection to the Force, something that the Knight couldn't believe himself, but would explain why he'd be leaving. He wasn't into many Jedi affairs, being on the field most of the time, but still, a part of him was sympathetic for his wanting to leave. Arkantos himself was discouraged for his Force affinity in his time in the Mandalorians, feeling a bit of an outsider to the rest of his Clan, and he was sure Larik was feeling the same feeling of discouragement with the Jedi. They didn't know how Larik felt. Still, Arkantos wasn't here to simply give his goodbyes, he was here to assure him that even if he was leaving the Order, he'd still have a friend in Arkantos, one he could rely on if he ever needed it. And so, he jumped from the canopy, using the Force to propel his jump, landing ontop of the leaving Jedi Master's ship. He took some steps quietly as to not even make a sound on the metallic floor beneath him, and jumped forward before doing a double-full twist onto the ground, landing some yards behind the Jedi Master. "Master Novan." he said, bowing infront of him. "I heard you were leaving, I came to see you off." the man said with a grin, not one of joy, but one of optimism.

 

[Kartikeyan]

It had become a sad day to the entire Jedi Order upon hearing the news that former Jedi Master, Larik Novan had lost the ability to use the force. He could no longer feel its warmth or call upon it to help him. The once Councilor, Shadow Keeper, and Jedi became reduced to an ordinary man broken in ways an ordinary knew not. To be connected to the force since birth then suddenly lose it should be a fear for every force-sensitive in galaxy. No Jedi could understand the depths of pain the Corellian was going through, not even Padawan Arai Munkaira.

‘Just how did this happen?’

‘When could this happen?’

‘Why has the force chosen to forsaken Master Novan and not the Sith?’

Arai kept his thoughts and mixed emotions shielded because he didn’t want anyone to feel how upset he was about this tragedy. Larik wasn’t just a fellow Jedi, for ten years he has been a source of inspiration and hope for Arai ever since the escape from Coruscant. The Tythan knew this man to be committed to the Jedi, protective of each and every one of them, does what needs to be done to keep this Order going.

‘This is not right!’

He walked out of the enclave with his fist balled at his sides and headed for the field where he could see the Sundance Maiden through a session of trees.

‘I can’t believe this is really happening.’

When he got to the field he could see Larik standing in the field, looking sad and pathetic. The shame, pity, and grief hit Arai hard as he took in the man’s condition, because that’s all he truly was now. The once intensifying force aura Larik Novan has no more. His red eyes widen momentarily as he laid bare witness to a broken man who’s lost all his sensitivity to the force. He stopped his eyes from watering up as best as possible but he couldn’t do anything else about keeping his feelings and thoughts under control.

“So that’s it, you’re just going to leave just like that?” Arai said as he approached. He kept his eyes fixed directly on Larik as he came to stand just a few feet away from the man to let him know he was serious. Without the enrichments of the force, Larik looked older and worn than before. There was probably no point to help with a man who has made his choice but Arai knew he had to try, even if he wasn’t sure how to. He felt so useless and confused that he could only shake his head slowly in a disagreeing gesture. “This ain’t you Novan.”

“So what you lost your connection to the force, you didn’t lose your knowledge of it! Larik Novan you don’t need the force to be a great man. You still possess the knowledge of the Jedi, there are still so many of us that can still use your guidance here. I can understand you no longer being on the council or a Jedi, but leaving? Is this what you really want? Is this what the council wants? Whose ever idea it was it’s not a damn good one at all. Larik Novan, you are important to this Order believe it or not, even without the force. But what pisses me off is that you don’t even want to be helped. You don’t need… You shouldn’t need the force to realize that being here with us is the best chance you have at regaining what you lost. If you leave you are saying you no longer care anything about each one of us Jedi, about the existence of this Order. In fact, you leaving potentially puts all of us at risk!!”

Arai took a few deep breaths after pouring out his emotions through his words and through the force. He didn’t care who was around to hear him or what others might of thought. The fact he was just a padawan talking to a former council member and well respected man meant nothing to Arai. He didn’t like this at all. He closed his eyes as the tears started to break through his tough wall and turned around, it was time for him to leave before he really lost it.

“We all might as well pack up and leave ourselves because if the Sith Imperium gets their hands on him, it’s only going to be a matter of time before they take advantage of his condition to pry every ounce of information he has out his mind and I really don’t want to be here when that happens.” He said as he walked off, not even bothering to look back. He needed to cool down, give himself time to let his feelings settle but there was one final thought on his mind as he went.

‘I’m tired being helpless and weak, especially to other Jedi’

 

[TAC]

As the Corellian approached the ship, he gathered himself. There was no one in front of the ship, and the Jedi Master was somewhat hoping for an easy goodbye. He didn't doubt a few of his friends would be there- but to him, the fewer the people the better. He didn't want to make this any more dramatic than it had to be. When he got to the Sundance Maiden he punched in the correct keys on the outside panel to lower the ramp.

Waiting for it to lower, the man took a few steps away from his ship, hands on his hips. He was looking toward the Temple. It was almost invisible unless you got this close, a feat that he was quite thankful for. It would help when- or if, he supposed- the Imperium came looking for them. There was a thump behind him, and the man turned around to see what it was. Apparently out of thin air, Arkantos Rajax appeared. Larik smiled- Arkantos had been a good friend, from before the Fall of the Galactic Alliance. Honestly, though, Larik was a bit surprised that the man had come to say goodbye.

"Knight Rajax," the Master replied, returning the bow. Larik could hear the optimism in the man's voice, and he appreciated it. Taking a step forward he offered a hand, which transitioned into the equivalent of a bro-hug. While Arkantos wasn't as close as Von, Loogo, Ebb, or some of the other Jedi, he was still a good friend. "I appreciate that. How is everything going?"

Before a reply could come, however, a voice chimed up from behind Larik's shoulder. The man, still smiling, turned to see a young Padawan Arai Munkaira. His smile faded as the Arbran Jedi delivered his statement, that this wasn't who Larik was. Suddenly the new Shadow Keeper's padawan launched into a tirade. When he was completed Larik took a step forward, opening his mouth to engage in a conversation, but the boy's emotions got the best of him as he declared that Larik leaving was the doom of the Jedi. The man's eyebrows went up as he outreached a hand, but the boy turned and walked away. The Master Jedi put his hand down, somewhat defeated, as he watched the boy walk away from him.

"I've been getting that reaction a lot," the man said, sighing, as he turned back to Arkantos. "Ebb is going to put a block on my memory, but folks just don't see it reasonable that I leave." As he took a step or two towards Arkantos, to reclose the distance he shrugged. "I wish it wasn't this way, but, I don't feel that my place is here any longer. There are brighter, younger Jedi who are taking my place. And I won't be gone forever, I don't think." The man paused, taking his gaze from the ground back up to his old friend and smiling hesitantly with a shrug, "I don't really know, though."

 

[Just Matt Now]

I sat in my room knowing full well what was supposed to happen that day. As a matter of fact, I had sat in my room ever since we left the emergency room, when I knew that Von would safely and fully recover form her collapse. My hands placed on my head as I sat on the bedside. Shorty was the only one there to console me, though he was no help. My face was red and my eyes had dried up. I was never a crier, actually that was only the second time I have ever cried before.

I looked up to a mirror that was placed on the wall across my bed. I could see the slight rash that the dried tears started to form. Larik was leaving the Order today, or so he said. To be honest, I didnt believe a word of it. There was no way Larik Novan could leave the Jedi, despite what had happened to him. He practically founded this Temple.

Uncoiling my tail, I stood with help from Shorty. I wiped the crust from my face and got ready to see if my master was really going to do it. Then I collapsed back onto my bed.

What if he was really going to leave?

What if I wasnt there to say goodbye to him?

I was torn and another hour had passed. I decided that this could not go on any longer. Just as I had gotten over the death of my brother, I had to try and deal with this, if he was even leaving. I fidgeted with Shorty's internal components for a minute before getting up and leaving my room to roam the halls with the small droid to follow.

I had no intention of seeing my master, though for some reason my tail had found me outside, albeit a different ext than the main entrance. Through the Force, I could feel a congregation of Jedi meeting, and I could feel the presence of one Non-Force sensitive being. My heart sank for a minute, though I then pulled myself back up.

I found myself trekking through the forest, using the Force to masquerade my presence. Something Larik had taught me to utilize to near perfection. He was a talented Jedi. Through the trek, my mind split to a memory...

More than fifteen years ago I walked through the Jedi Temple on Empress Teta. A beautiful and serene planet, much like Arbra, though it had a special feel about it that radiated the Lightside of the Force. More eager than ever, probably annoyingly so, I headed for the chamber where the Corellian Jedi Knight had designated me to go. There we would begin our master and apprentice relationship. Shorty, a much sleek and shinier robot followed with a similar eager attitude. I remember being nervous about bringing Shorty, I wasnt sure if it was acceptable. I was only a mere Padawan. I entered the room, but found nothing. A voice had rang out that caught me by surprise. Larik had been using his technique to mask his presence in the Force. Though what he did not realize was my natural ability to see his heat signature. When I caught him in the act, he was surprised and caught off guard. His initial shock left him with a good impression that made me feel...it made me feel like the world was mine.

I will remember that day for all of my life.

My mind had been taken form me. And before I knew it, I was sitting on top of a thick tree branch, far away enough to not be visible by the naked eye. I could not remember how I got there, but I didnt care. I could see the man, he still had his glow despite not having the Force to back it. That made me smile. And the Sundance Maiden...a ship I had used so many times, and most importantly to escape from that dreadful day. The engine was on. That one brought a tear to my eye. I could also see Shorty approaching him. I wondered why he would leave my side, but then I realized what I had told him in my room before I left.

---

The small droid carted it's way on towards the Jedi Master, Larik. The droid was polite, he made sure to be in such a sad occasion. His quips and antics were all set aside, as now he would enter a new chapter in his life. Once the droid finally got the mans attention he displayed a holovid of the Sluissi Master Attendant.

"My masster...yes MY masster. I am ssorry I am not sstrong enough to see you off on thiss day. I jusst cannot face what I have done yet. There is a sspecial place in my heart for you, and I hope that you know that it is there forever. Lissten, I will keep this sshort. Come back! Do what you have to do, but come back. We will all be here when you return. Though for now, take Sshorty. All information pertaining to the Jedi have been taken and placed on a chip that I posses, including his memory of me. He is yours now, please take care of him...and yoursself." The Sluissi's face looked up only on "Come back!", otherwise he could not face Larik. He could not face his master even if it was a holo projection. He could not just knowing that he would be looking right back at him.

 

[Ben]

Orlaan didn't have much time. Soon he would be leaving the civilizations of the galaxy behind for training with Master Armstrong, but in the meantime, he had something he had to do. Larik Novan was not someone Orlaan had spent a massive amount of time with, but he was a friend. He was Orlaan's direct superior, a mentor in ways, a drinking buddy, and a guy that was easy to be around. He was strong, responsible, and more; he was a Jedi. A proper one, mind you; one of the best Orlaan ever had the luxury of knowing. Calm, conscious, smart, caring, funny and helpful. Orlaan wasn't about to let him wander off without a goodbye.

He was a couple-hundred meters away, jogging towards the little gathering outside the ex-Shadow Keepers ship with a bitter-sweet grim on his face. It would be a nice goodbye, and hopefully not a permanent one, but it was a goodbye all the same. "Larik, buddy!" He called out as he approached with his lumbering strides. He abandoned all sense of propriety that was now unnecessary, picking the man up in a bear hug like a little doll and crushing him. "You big ass, now who is going to keep Von away from me?!"

Orlaan's chest rumbled with laughter as he put Larik down, patting his heavy shoulder. “It is going to suck to see you go buddy, who is going to laugh at my drinking now? But I suppose, you know best the path you belong on. I know you will forget me, but make sure you solve your problems so you can remember me again soon, okay?” Orlaan would have liked Larik to stay, he really would have, but he could see how detached and distracted Larik was looking; how uncomfortable he looked in his surroundings. If a Jedi couldn’t look relaxed on Arbra, where could he? No, Larik needed to find himself again before he came back.

 

[TAC]

Loogo's presence had been noted as absent, but Larik didn't particularly blame him for not showing up in person. The Jedi Councilor knew that it had taken a heavy toll on the consciouses of both the snake and Von Raythe, who was also not present. Truthfully, though, the man didn't mind. It made the goodbye easier, as Loogo and Von had been with him for a long time, pillars he was always able to lean on to when the going got tough.

But not today. And not for a long time the Jedi realized, as he prepared to embark on a journey that would shake the fundamentals of his life. Who wa he? With the loss of his powers, how would he change? Whee would he go? What would he do? Patting Shorty on the head, he waved towards the ship, indicating that he droid should board.

As he tuned to say goodbye to everyone finally, a booming voice and thundering steps further slowed his departure. The man was scooped up by the beast of a man, and all Larik could do was laugh and go limp, so that the bear hug didn't completely crush him. "Von's harmless to a giant like yourself, Orlaan," he replied with a grin, as both men knew that was far from reality, although Orlaan was quite formidible in his own right.

"I'll do my best," he replied solemnly to the man with a smile. Patting the Jedi Knight- why the hell was this man still only a KNight?- he walked to the ramp, looking for Ebb to join him. He turned around for a moment, giving a small smile to those assembled around him.

 

[Insoulent]

Arkantos' reply to the Jedi Master was interrupted by some rather curious characters. Jedi, like him, but different. They were closer to Larik, it was quite apparent, and he knew very little of the Jedi present, or even mentioned, rarely making contact with the Jedi would do that to someone. The faces were unfamiliar, but still, he knew the amount of respect the now ex-Jedi Councilor held in the Order, so their reactions were somewhat understandable. As he was making his departure, Arkantos' face turned to that into shock.

"Oh, Larik!" he shouted, pulling the backpack from behind his shoulders to the feet of the departing man. "There's a small amount of unmarked credits I managed to...acquire thanks to my new job." he mentioned, a nod to his new life as a Bounty Hunter. He knew that Jedi had very little in the Galaxy, but Larik wouldn't be a Jedi, and he'd missed out on gaining credits for most of his life. It wasn't a large fortune, but it would be enough to be a start. "There's also my Taskmaster Rifle in there, I needed an upgrade, plus, I figure you might need to practice that shot, with you probably not using that Lightsaber.", but he didn't tell the Jedi Master of the tracking chip he placed within the carbine, something he thought would be important, just incase the Jedi Master ever found himself in trouble. "There's also a bottle of some very fine wine I got from Vero the Hutt himself." he said with almost a bit of pride. That last one he actually did get from Vero, though albeit indirectly, every guest at a party he went to received one, but Arkantos managed to bag a few more. It was some rare, and extremely expensive bottle. "Since we never got that drink back on Tatooine all those years back, maybe next time we see each other, we can pour a glass. Don't be afraid to drink it, I got one saved back at home for when you return, eh." he let out with a bit of a grin.

"May the Force be with you, Larik. Even though you cannot feel it, it doesn't mean it doesn't still exist around you. If you need anything, don't hesitate to find me." he ended. Hopefully, even with his disconnection to the Force, it could guide and protect him.

 

[TAC]

As Larik turned to leave, his old friend stopped him, their interaction not quite over. Although he and Arkantos weren't the closest, Larik had known the Jedi Knight for longer than any of the few gathered at this pivotal moment in the Jedi Councilor's life. The man's gifts were thoughtful, and certainly useful. The words meant quite a bit coming from Knight Rajax as well, as the man was more of a person to follow through with action as opposed to words. Short, simple, and directly to the point. It was appreciated.

The Corellian gripped his friend in a final handshake, and without another look, boarded the ship. The Grand Master followed him as predetermined, but Larik asked her to wait in the cockpit for a moment. Taking Shorty he retreated to his quarters for a few moments, giving the little droid a few instructions. He shouldered off a questioning look before Ebb did what needed to be done, leaving the man without the most confidential of Jedi memories. Larik could feel something was gone as the woman left, their own goodbye made, and the combination of the memory loss and inability to feel the force pushed the man further in to sadness.

Without any more hesitation he hit the automatic pilot on the Sundance Maiden, the usual codes set to take him along the appointed secure route and then self-destruct. Security measures and all of that. Ebb, in meddling with his mind, would have realized what he had done, but she had left the memory. Larik appreciated it immensely. Eventually Larik arrived at Naboo, docking the ship. Taking his bags he made a quick thank to Shorty, and then for the final time departed the Sundance Maiden. He turned to watch the ramp close as Shorty piloted the ship, taking it back to the Jedi base it had come from- although the name of which was lost to the ex-Councilor. Turning his back he smiled. He might not remember now, but one day, he'd be back.

---

The little droid was a bit confused at the orders of it's master, Larik Novan, but the man had been very specific. Taking the ship, the Sundance Maiden, Shorty flew it back to Arbra. Upon arrival he was pinged by the Jedi, and the little droid replied via text-

The Sundance Maiden arriving with cargo for Von Raythe & Loogo Vsil. Please appoint coordinates for safe and private review of ship, ship personnel, and cargo.

This was the sort of thing that would make Von Raythe, now the head of security in Councilor Novan's absence, very alert. Coordinates or not, alone or not, Shorty had a message to deliver and deliver it he would. As the little droid piloted the ship famous amongst the Jedi to the pre-determined security checkpoint, it still faintly wondered why it's master gave it up so willingly. Regardless, upon arrival it rumbled out of the ship to the awaiting Jedi, stopping in front of them and projecting an image of the now gone Jedi Master to all of those gathered.

"Hello," the hologram said, "This message is for Von and Loogo. It's not going to explode, don't worry, but is is private. So if you could please, give us a moment." The Jedi Councilor wasn't smiling, but he wasn't frowning- he was solemn. There was a few seconds of quietness as the man waited others who might be around to follow his directions. He simply stood there, the hologram flickering like it always did, the patience he had learned as a Jedi being put to good use.

"Loogo," he said finally, quietly, followed closely by, "Von." There was more silence after that. He knew he had something to say, but the Jedi Councilor wasn't quite clear how to express himself. What to say. How to go about it.

"I know that you're sad, confused, and a little bit hurt. You probably don't understand what has gotten in to me, and the only reason that you're not here stopping me and questioning me is because you feel that you've lost the right." A sad smile crossed the man's lips. He knew that a majority of the Jedi disagreed with his decision, felt that he was turning his back on them, but those that truly knew him knew that wasn't the case.

"Both of you are the closest thing I have to family, and I know that you feel like you have ended my life, I want you to know that you haven't." The sad smile was still there as the Corellian looked out at the two Jedi. "Every day I asked myself if I was prepared to do what needed to be done, how much I was willing to sacrifice, to preserve the Order. I thought that I would never make it out of the war, off of Coruscant, away from the Sith." He paused again. They had been with him, to varying degrees, along those steps. They had been there and stood by him whenever he had needed them. "Together, we helped save the Jedi. And the three of us, together, helped rebuild the order. We were part of of the journey, part of the reconstruction, and that continues today."

The man's smile went away as his voice showed he had been thinking about this thoroughly. The Corellian was sure of what he was saying. "The two of you continue in that endeavor together. When you were utilizing Primal Force, you were continuing to endeavor on that path. And when I stepped in, I made a conscious choice to be all in on our endeavor. I am sad that I've lost my ability to use the Force. But if ever presented the circumstance again, I would choose the same outcome. You were doing what you had to to continue building up the Order, and I made a choice to continue doing the same."

Larik nodded to himself a few times as his sadness turned to his lop sided Corellian grin. "And the best part about it, is that the our work is far from over. Our fellow Jedi need us, the Order needs us, the galaxy needs us, and we need each other. You are both magnificent Jedi, capable of aiding our brethren to restore Order to the galaxy, push back corruption in any form and to bring back peace." The last three words had a lot of emphasis on them. It was what they were fighting for, at the end of the day. "The endeavor hasn't changed. We're still fighting the same fight. And while I may not be able to stand by your side and support you, and benefit from the support you offer, I will never be far away. We have our memories, the lessons we have taught each other, and a will to restore balance to the Force."

"I don't know where our roads will lead us, but it a difficult place. But that is the nature of our service, we do difficult things for the endgoal of the common good. The Force is our guide. I will miss you, but in my loss you can lean on the Force. Let my guidance be replaced by it's much truer and much stronger direction. You are two of the most gifted Jedi I have ever had the privilege of knowing, and you both will far surpass my skill and accomplishments. It is in that knowledge I can take the respite I need, and it is in my absence that your connection to the Force will grow stronger."

Larik wasn't sure what else to say. What else was there to say?

"Jedi are the guardians of peace and justice throughout the galaxy.
Jedi use the Force only for the pursuit of knowledge, to defend, and to protect.
Jedi respect all life in the galaxy, in any form it may take.
Jedi to not rule others, but serve them for the welfare of the galaxy.
Jedi seek to improve themselves through knowledge, training, and self-discipline.


"May the Force be with you."​

And with that, the Shadow Keeper was no more.