Ask Ajan Kloss Return of a Jedi

[Vinry Forge]

Jedi Temple, Ajan Kloss​

As the Skyeel, her antiquated A-Wing, dropped out of hyperspace, Vin got her first look of Ajan Kloss in years. The planet looked just the same as she remembered it, but in the Force she could sense that things had changed. When she had last left she had left behind a planet in harmony, the Force vibrant with gentle ripples from probably the largest gathering of Jedi anywhere in the Galaxy. They had been in sync with each her, with her being the discordant note that had turned her back to it all. But now, now something had changed.

The closer she got to the surface, and the Temple, the more she noticed it. It was barely there, but there for sure. A hint of disharmony in the pulse of the Force, and this time she wasn't the one behind it. It seemed like there might be some truth behind what she had heard on the holonet, and that worried her. But it also filled her with a sense of determination. If the news meant what she thought it did then this was where she was supposed to be.

As she got close she was hailed by the Temple, and once her codes were cleared she was allowed to land in the open hangar outside the temple's main structure and enter the Temple itself. She had come seeking the Council, but was informed that none were available at the moment, directed instead to the only Master at the Temple at the moment. That surprised her, she had never known the Temple to be so empty, making her wonder if the sightings were behind it all. Had it actually made the Council and the Masters get off their asses and go do something? She was glad that there was at least something that could spur them to action.

Having been directed towards the Jedi Master, a name she wasn't familiar with, she navigated her way through the Temple to one of the outer courtyards, where she spotted a man who she assumed must be who she was looking for. "Master Zapan?" She called out as she walked towards him, only then noticing the line of younglings standing in front of him. It seemed like he was about to lead them out into the forest, making her wonder if this was the right time for this. "Oh," she continued, coming to a stop a few feet behind the man, staring at the younglings, "is this a bad time?"

@TWD26

 

[Oren Zapan]

It had been a few months since Oren had returned from his imprisonment, it took a while, but his feet were slowly getting back beneath him. Less people had taken to looking at his wounds, nor did they bother to stop whenever they saw him walking through the halls. Life had been rough during that time, he felt alienated or estranged from the order, but he kept his mind focused on tasks and missions away from the temple. His apprentice, had blossomed into a young woman during his departure, and her training to knighthood was nearly finished.

You're old dog now, well older. He thought to himself as he looked out to his new class of younglings, the six of them standing eagerly with smiles as they talked among each other. He was going to lead them to a small ruins a few miles away from the facility, the hike should be easy enough for a group of seven to ten years old could make, and it would tire them out--hopefully. He did one quick headcount over everyone, making sure they all were there. Kren, Juubi, Yarin, Ulic, Tanoobi, and Kur-biin. That's everyone. He was about to stand up when he heard someone call his name.

He'd turn towards the direction of the voice, his scarred and bruised flesh on full display for the woman to see, to many he looked like a rogue, but his soft smile and gentle eye were enough to put most people at ease. "Hello," he'd say in a soft expression as the woman approached, "There is never a bad time..Please come and join us," he'd say as he looked towards the children who turned to see the Knight. "It seems they're just as curious as to the reason for your visit..How may we help you?"

tag: @Wit

 

[Vinry Forge]

She was still eyeing the younglings, flashing a smile as a few of them turned towards her when she spoke up, when the man turned around. She noticed the scarred face, but she didn't really react to it. She had seen worse over the years, and on a Jedi it was almost like a badge of honor. Gave her the impression that he wasn't one of the Jedi who liked to just sit around in the Temple and meditated on things while the real world passed them by. He also had lines on his face that showed that he smiled and laughed a lot. There was a lot you could learn about someone just from their face, and so far he was striking a good first impression.

"My name is Vin, uhh, Vinry. Vinry Forge. I came looking for the Council, but it seems I picked a wrong time to return. They said you're the only Master on planet right now, they didn't tell me you were about to lead a class." She leaned to the side to get a good look at all the younglings, waving at them before straightening up to face him again and running a hand through her hair as she let out a chuckle.

"I return after years and pick the one time when no one is there to talk to, and I do need to talk to someone in charge, understand what's going on. And right now I guess that's you." She noticed the expressions on some of the younglings' faces, the disappointment they could not hide on realizing that their teacher might be pulled away to talk to her. "But it can wait," she said, eyes on the younglings, a warm smile on her face as she started tunring to leave, "I'm sure there will be time enough after you're done here. I can dig around in the archives till then, see what I can find. Work hard kids!"

The younglings were listening on to every word, and one of the younger ones piped up at this point. "Or we begin walking, and you talk while we walk. Right Master?" He asked Zapan, an eager smile on his face, "No one loses when we find a compromise!"

Vin couldn't help but smile, she had forgotten how younglings were, hard to stay irritated around one. Or six, in this instance. She didn't say anything, for while she didn't have any issues with the walk and talk routine, this was Zapan's class and she had no intentions of imposing if he didn't want here there.

@TWD26

 

[Oren Zapan]

A small toothy smile would form on the Jedi's lips as he gave a gentle nod towards her introduction, "Miss Forge," he'd say as he peered towards his class, "I am Jedi Master Oren Zapan," he realized that she knew that already, but still he felt it was polite, "And these are my students--we were just preparing to head to some of the old ruins a few miles away," he'd fold his hands behind his back as he contemplated her proposition.

It seemed that several new faces had arrived since his own return, had she seen something--another incident with the darksiders? He contemplated the urgency of her prompt, and was close to proposing she join them when one of the students, Yarin, did it for him. "Well it seems that the descision has been made for us."

He would motion his students forward and in a straight line, he'd walk behind them, his eyes peering towards them and Vinry as they walked. "And how may I be of service to you Vin?" He'd ask in a gentle low tone that would be near impossible for the children to pick up on.

tag: @Wit

 

[Vinry Forge]

Still smiling, Vin nodded as Zapan agreed with the student's suggestion and got them marching. Falling into step besides him, a little behind from the younglings to give them room to talk without being overheard.

"I heard rumors, all sorts of whispers out beyond the Outer Rim. The Jedi have gone bad, the Sith have returned, the Knights of Ren have been spotted. And then there was something about a broadcast about red lightsabers?" She was quiet for a few moments as they continued walking, about to say more when one of the younglings, the same one that had suggested she accompany them, ran back towards them and held out something for her. A fruit of some sort, which she noticed that all the other younglings seemed to be munching on. She took the fruit from the youngling, who didn't even wait long enough to give her the opportunity to thank him before darting off to join his companions, pulling out another piece of fruit from within his robes and beginning to eat.

"Lies though they may be, but they are spreading. And I wanted to know for myself what was happening." She glanced to the side towards the Jedi Master, concern on her face. "Is it true? Any of it? Who, what, how? The more I think on it, the more questions I have."

@TWD26

 

[Oren Zapan]

Oren would wait for the young child to move away from the two adults before speaking. She asked about rumors of the darkside emerging from the unknown regions of space, and all of it was true, even if he didn't want it to be. He thought of the two he had encountered, on Naboo, The Rain and The Arcanist. "It's not the Jedi my friend," he'd say with a gentle sigh, as he ducked down to miss a hanging branch.

"The Knights of Ren have returned, though I believe there are more..a whole group of various cults, but how many and whom, I still do not know." He'd place a hand gently against her shoulder, out of comfort and instinct, hoping that she wouldn't take the words too hard. "I met one on Naboo, she seemed conflicted and in my attempts to help her, she burned my face and I lost my eye." This would explain why his right was a rigid, white milky texture. "I sense the pain and the hurt inside of her, and I've been trying..trying to redeem her." He'd say with a gentle sigh, knowing that most Jedi would look down on him. "It's foolish I know"

tag: @Wit