Ask Yavin IV Popular

[Alexandria Voran]

Jedi could make mistakes. The Force gave them extraordinary gift, but they remained ordinarily mortal. There was no secret to wisdom…no hidden path to knowledge. There was only the Force. The Jedi Council was supposed to be the best of them. Strong, confident, unflappable, wise. They were the leaders of the Jedi Order. Surely, they were not susceptible to mistakes of the mortal world?

Alex sat alone in the Council Chambers. High above the Temple on Yavin she contemplated her mistakes…her mortality…her morality. The seats around her were empty, as they were so often empty. There were only three of them and they rarely occupied the same room. There was too much to be done. She was tired and only growing more tired. She needed help but she was not sure she was looking in the right places. Her mind had been so focused on the Republic, New Alderaan, and Dr. Morata that she missed what was right under her nose. Alexandria Voran felt foolish.

She took a deep breath, straited in her seat, and closed off her mind. She was a calm pool in the midst of life within the Temple. She checked her datapad. Her message asking Sevrin to meet her had gone through a few hours ago. She never knew when the tall Jedi was in the temple, but she had heard he was recently returned. Alex was not one for long speech. Words were not what she planned to offer Sevrin today, but actions. He had thrown himself into harms way time and again. She tried to do the same…with varying results. The image of the Sith on Taris burned in her mind. Her own words grinding forth as blood spilled from her mouth. A street fighter. Could she still be the Light the Shadows needed to find their way back? She was uncertain. One thing stuck in her mind, she needed fighters.

@Sreeya

 

[Sevrin Valtiere]

It wasn’t often that Sevrin found himself in any of the Jedi temples. He either operated deep behind enemy lines, or he led padawan cohorts out on obscure planets. Whatever precious downtime he had was often spent with Amariel. It was a strange and wonderful part of his reality, the normally detached and aloof Sephi allowing another beyond his walls. In many ways she empowered him, and he had learned to see things from the perspective of empathy. Where before he would be entirely closed off and removed from the mental plights of others, he at least gave it dedicated focus now.

Sevrin hadn’t seen Alex in a very long time, but he had certainly done quite a bit since then. The Sephi ducked as he walked through the doorway into the council chambers, sparing a cursory glance towards the custom made council seat that had been installed for Hans. Of course, he had since stepped down, but the chair was there nonetheless.

Silver gaze flicked over to Alex, and he gave a slight tilt of his head as a greeting, “Councilor Voran,” He couldn’t help but address her before the faintest grin crossed his face, “Have you gotten used to it yet?”

@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

She felt Sevrin before he appeared. That same wave of calm she had first felt at Max and Talak’s funeral. A careful ship of control amongst a sea of boiling emotion. They had both changed since then. Alex returned the Sephi Jedi’s smile. He looked every bit the Shadow he was. Her resolve hardened. She was making the right choice. “Does anyone ever get used to it?” Her smile widened. “Well, maybe Max did.” Alex’s eyes rested on Hannibal’s chair for a moment. He certainly had not. The gesture could not be missed. Her voice was light as she spoke. “You can sit down, the Force knows we have enough empty seats.” There was an edge of sadness in her voice.

A difficult reality to face. Alex tried very hard to avoid the long-drawn-out speeches. They were silly and very seldom helpful. Sevrin personified the action they needed to take. Flowery words would not accomplish what she wished. She looked back at Hannibal’s empty chair. “We don’t know where Hannibal is…I don’t think he’s coming back.” Now she looked at the chair Max once occupied. “I thought Vahn might take his place but I’m uncertain he’s ready.” The Morellian Jedi had not seen Sevrin in quiet some time. However, she knew she could still trust him.

“We need the Shadows.” There were things that needed doing which were best kept separate from the greater Order. “You lead them in all but name Sevrin.” Alex turned to looked at his silver eyes. “No titles, no elevations, just leadership.” She ran a hand through her hair. “You and I, to decide the course of their engagement.” She would shield the Order and the Council from what needed to be done. I’m sorry Max. He had thought the war could be won with diplomacy. A part of her still believed that, but it would take more than political alliances.

@Sreeya

 

[Sevrin Valtiere]

If Sevrin had any emotional reactions to what Alex said, none of it manifested on his face. The tall Sephi stood in quiet silence, analyzing the details she shared. He had worked with Hannibal a few times, and the news of his complete disappearance was surprising. There had been rumors that he went into enemy territory, but it was not shared with the other Shadows or the council. His thoughts lingered on concern for a brief moment before he drew himself back to the present.

The suggestion about leading shadows was the first comment that drew a visible reaction from the man, silver eyes widening in mild shock. Having come from nobility, he had been groomed and trained for some sort of leadership and charismatic role. He had wanted nothing to do with it as he grew up, and he ultimately turned his back on his legacy.

However, the slight look of displeasure on his face eased off when Alex continued speaking. It was as if she had known exactly how he would take the comment and reassured him it wouldn’t come with pomp or fanfare.

“The Shadows are a dangerous path,” He said quietly, “They can never represent the Order as a whole. We can never allow that. It needs to be only a small, select tactical force to engage the Sith or operate covertly. I fear we are going to be heading into full scale war and risk the Jedi becoming militarized.”

Sevrin eyed her for a moment, his expression difficult to read, “Is that what you wish?”

@Valen Pelora

 

[Alexandria Voran]

Alex nodded slowly. Sevrin echoing her concerns. “We see the same path.” The road was undeniable, the signs of war every increasing. “The galaxy is on the edge of chaos. We can’t prevent it…and we can’t be uninvolved. The Republic and Free World Alliance can not fight the Sith alone and it is our duty to stand against the Darkness.” They were in a terrible position. She knew it, even if the rest of the Order struggled to see the truth. “There are some who would see us return to the days of the Jedi Army and Jedi Generals. You and I both know that would be a mistake.”

Alex shook her head, looking around the empty room. “The Order is not well suited to that path. We have walked it before and lost pieces of ourselves. That is why I believe in the Shadows…believe in you.” She knew there was a path here, a path that allowed the Jedi to heal and protected while striking back at the Sith. It was a dangerous journey but one she was prepared to undertake. “A small, covert force, separate from the Order that can do what others cannot. The risks are great, but I see no other path.” She looked back to meet Sevrin’s eyes.

“I know what I ask of you Sevrin…what I will ask of all the others who join us. I would not ask if I saw another way.” Alex took these steps with great care. They could never be seen in the open but if they were, she could take the fall and save the others. She could not allow the Order to wage a full-scale war. It would destroy them as it had every other time.

@Sreeya