Sanctuary

[Korvo]

Sanctuary​

Hɪꜱ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ. Iɴ ꜰᴀᴄᴛ, ɪᴛ ʜᴀᴅ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴀ ʟᴏɴɢ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴄᴏᴍɪɴɢ. Sᴏ ᴍᴀɴʏ ᴛʜɪɴɢꜱ ʜᴀᴅ ᴠɪᴇᴅ ꜰᴏʀ ʜɪꜱ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀᴛᴛᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ—ᴅᴇᴍᴀɴᴅᴇᴅ ɪᴛ, ᴇᴠᴇɴ. Tʜᴇ Bʟɪɢʜᴛ ᴏꜰ ʏᴇᴀʀꜱ ᴘᴀꜱᴛ, ʜɪꜱ ɪɴᴀᴜɢᴜʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ Uɴɪꜰᴀʀ Tᴇᴍᴘʟᴇ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʀ ᴀᴄʀᴏꜱꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴀʟᴀxʏ, ᴛʜᴇ Sɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴀᴅ ʀᴇᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ Oɴᴅᴇʀᴏɴ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ... ɴᴇᴄᴇꜱꜱᴀʀʏ ᴛʜɪɴɢꜱ. Vɪᴛᴀʟ ᴛʜɪɴɢꜱ. Bᴜᴛ ɴᴏᴡ, ʜᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴡɪᴛʜɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴛᴏʀᴍ'ꜱ ᴍᴇʟʟᴏᴡ ᴇʏᴇ. Tʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴀ ᴄᴀʟᴍ ᴏᴠᴇʀ Oɴᴅᴇʀᴏɴ, ᴡɪᴛʜɪɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʟʟꜱ ᴏꜰ Iᴢɪᴢ. Tʜɪꜱ ᴅᴀʏ ʙᴇʟᴏɴɢᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʜɪᴍ; ɴᴏ ɢᴏᴠᴇʀɴɪɴɢ ᴄᴏɴꜰᴇʀᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ Cᴏɴꜱᴇɴꜱᴜꜱ, ɴᴏ ᴍᴇᴇᴛɪɴɢꜱ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀꜰꜰʟᴜᴇɴᴛ ᴅɪɢɴɪᴛᴀʀɪᴇꜱ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ Eᴍʙᴀꜱꜱʏ, ɴᴏ ꜱᴇꜱꜱɪᴏɴ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜɪꜱ ᴡᴀʀ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴄɪʟ ᴏɴ ʜɪꜱ ʀᴇᴀʟᴍ'ꜱ ᴘʀᴏᴛᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ. Fᴏʀ ɴᴏᴡ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʀ ꜰᴇʟᴛ ꜱᴏ ꜰᴀʀ ꜰʀᴏᴍ Wᴏʀʟᴅ ᴏꜰ ᴀ Tʜᴏᴜꜱᴀɴᴅ Wᴀʟʟꜱ. Aɴᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜɪɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴇᴘɪᴄᴇɴᴛᴇʀ ᴏꜰ ᴄᴀʟᴍ ᴄᴀᴍᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴘᴘᴏʀᴛᴜɴɪᴛʏ ʜᴇ ꜱᴏᴜɢʜᴛ. Tʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ʜᴇ ɴᴇᴇᴅᴇᴅ ꜰᴏʀ ʜɪᴍꜱᴇʟꜰ. Sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ʜᴇ'ᴅ ʙᴇᴇɴ ɪɴ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴏꜰ ꜰᴏʀ ᴍᴀɴʏ ʏᴇᴀʀꜱ. A ʀᴇᴛᴜʀɴ. A ʀᴇᴛᴜʀɴ ᴛᴏ ʜɪꜱ ʀᴏᴏᴛꜱ, ʜɪꜱ ᴄᴇɴᴛᴇʀ ᴏꜰ ʙᴇɪɴɢ. Tᴏ ʀᴇꜰʟᴇᴄᴛ ᴏɴ ᴡʜᴏ ʜᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ, ʙᴏᴛʜ ɪɴ ᴅᴀʏꜱ ᴘᴀꜱᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ɪɴ ʜɪꜱ ᴅᴀʏꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ.

Pʀᴀᴇᴅʏᴛʜ ʜᴀᴅ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴍᴀɴʏ ᴛʜɪɴɢꜱ ɪɴ ʜɪꜱ ᴛʜɪʀᴛʏ-ꜰɪᴠᴇ ʏᴇᴀʀꜱ; ᴀ ɴᴏʙʟᴇ, ᴀ ꜱᴏʟᴅɪᴇʀ, ᴀ Jᴇᴅɪ, ᴀ ᴋɪɴɢ, ᴀ ꜰᴀᴛʜᴇʀ... ʙᴜᴛ ꜱᴏᴍᴇ ᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴏᴠᴇɴ ᴛᴏ ʜɪꜱ ʙᴇɪɴɢ. Iɴ ʜɪꜱ ʙᴏɴᴇꜱ, ʜᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴀ ꜱᴄʜᴏʟᴀʀ, ᴀɴ ᴇᴛᴇʀɴᴀʟ ꜱᴛᴜᴅᴇɴᴛ ᴏꜰ ʜɪꜱᴛᴏʀʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴏꜰ ʟɪᴛᴇʀᴀᴛᴜʀᴇ, ᴏꜰ ᴘʜɪʟᴏꜱᴏᴘʜʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ Fᴏʀᴄᴇ. A ᴋɴᴏᴡʟᴇᴅɢᴇ-ꜱᴇᴇᴋᴇʀ ɪɴ ʜɪꜱ ᴏᴡɴ ʀɪɢʜᴛ. Fᴀᴛᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ᴛᴀᴋᴇɴ ʜɪꜱ ʟɪꜰᴇ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ᴀ ᴅɪꜰꜰᴇʀᴇɴᴛ ᴄᴏᴜʀꜱᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ᴍᴀɴʏ ʏᴇᴀʀꜱ, ʙᴜᴛ ꜱᴏ ᴛᴏᴏ ʜᴀᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴘᴘᴏʀᴛᴜɴɪᴛʏ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ꜰᴏʀᴛʜ ᴛᴏ ʜɪᴍ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ. Tʜᴇ ᴏᴘᴘᴏʀᴛᴜɴɪᴛʏ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴀ ᴍᴀɴ, ꜱɪᴍᴘʟᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴍᴏʀᴇ. Hɪꜱ ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ, ᴍᴇᴀɴɪɴɢʟᴇꜱꜱ. Hɪꜱ ʀᴏʙᴇꜱ, ꜱᴇᴡɴ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴇʟᴛꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴅɪʀᴇᴡᴏʟᴠᴇꜱ, ɴᴏᴡ ᴀᴍᴏᴜɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ. Iᴛ ᴍᴇᴀɴᴛ ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ... ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ɪᴛ ɴᴏ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴡᴀʏ.

"Sîᴅʜ ɪɴᴛʏë, Ráᴍᴀʟóᴄë", ʜᴇ ꜱᴀɪᴅ, ʙᴏᴛʜ ᴠᴇʀʙᴀʟʟʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛʜᴇ Fᴏʀᴄᴇ, ꜱᴏᴏᴛʜɪɴɢʟʏ ᴘʀᴇꜱꜱɪɴɢ ʜɪꜱ ᴘᴀʟᴍ ᴀɢᴀɪɴꜱᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴛᴏɴᴇ-ʟɪᴋᴇ ꜱᴄᴀʟᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜɴɴᴇʀᴠᴇᴅ ᴅʀᴇxʟ. "Mû ɴíʀᴀ ɴëᴀ ᴍᴀᴇ."

Tʜᴇ Sᴛᴏʀᴍᴘʟᴀɪɴꜱ. Tʜᴇ ᴀɴᴄɪᴇɴᴛ Lᴀɪᴛʜʀᴀ ᴅɪꜱᴄᴏᴠᴇʀᴇᴅ ʟᴏɴɢ ᴀɢᴏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅʀᴇxʟ ᴍɪɢʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴꜱ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ᴀᴠᴏɪᴅᴇᴅ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ. Sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ɪᴏɴɪᴄ ꜱᴛᴏʀᴍꜱ ᴜɴɴᴇʀᴠᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇᴍ, ᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴛᴏ ꜰʟʏ ʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ, ʙᴜᴛ ɴᴏᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜɪɴ, ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇɢɪᴏɴ. Bᴜᴛ ʜɪꜱ ᴅᴇꜱᴛɪɴᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ʟᴀɪᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜɪɴ; ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴀ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ ʜᴇʀᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ Oɴᴅᴇʀᴏɴɪᴀɴ ᴋɪɴɢ ꜱᴏᴜɢʜᴛ. A Jᴇᴅɪ Tᴇᴍᴘʟᴇ. Hᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ꜰᴜɴᴅᴇᴅ ɪᴛꜱ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛɪᴏɴ, ᴇɴꜱᴜʀᴇᴅ ɪᴛꜱ ᴅᴇꜱɪɢɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴇꜱᴛᴀʙʟɪꜱʜᴇᴅ ɪᴛꜱ ʟᴏᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴀᴅ ᴏᴄᴄᴜʀʀᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʏᴇᴀʀꜱ ꜱɪɴᴄᴇ Pʀᴀᴇᴅʏᴛʜ'ꜱ ᴍᴇᴇᴛɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴏʀᴍᴇʀ Lᴏʀᴅ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ Jᴇᴅɪ, ʜᴇ'ᴅ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴀᴄᴛᴜᴀʟʟʏ ʟᴀɪᴅ ᴇʏᴇꜱ ᴜᴘᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴛʀᴜᴄᴛᴜʀᴇ ɪᴛꜱᴇʟꜰ. Tʜᴇ ɢᴀʟᴇ-ʟɪᴋᴇ ꜰᴏʀᴄᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴡɪɴᴅ ꜱᴜʀʀᴏᴜɴᴅᴇᴅ ʜɪᴍ, ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴀꜱ Ráᴍᴀʟóᴄë ꜰʟᴇᴡ ʜɪɢʜᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ʜɪɢʜᴇʀ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴏʀɪᴢᴏɴ. A ᴡᴀʟʟ ᴏꜰ ᴍᴏᴜɴᴛᴀɪɴꜱ ᴏʙꜱᴄᴜʀᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴇᴀᴋ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴜᴍᴍɪᴛ, ʙᴜᴛ ɪɴ ᴛɪᴍᴇ, Pʀᴀᴇᴅʏᴛʜ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ꜰɪɴᴀʟʟʏ ꜱᴇᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴇᴀᴋ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʏʀᴀᴍɪᴅ. Tʜɪꜱ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ ʜᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ꜱᴇᴀʀᴄʜɪɴɢ ꜰᴏʀ. A ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ ᴏꜰ ʟᴇᴀʀɴɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ᴏꜰ ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴇ, ᴏꜰ ꜱᴏʟᴀᴄᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴏꜰ ᴍᴇᴅɪᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴ. Iᴛꜱ ʟᴏᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴ, ᴀ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴠᴇ ꜱᴇᴄʀᴇᴛ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀꜱꜱᴇꜱ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ɴᴇɪᴛʜᴇʀ Jᴇᴅɪ ɴᴏʀ ɴᴀᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ. Tʜɪꜱ ᴛᴇᴍᴘʟᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴀ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ʙʀᴏᴋᴇɴ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇᴀʟ, ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴜɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇɴᴅ, ᴏʀ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʀᴏᴜʙʟᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ꜰɪɴᴅ ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴇ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ.

"Sᴀɴᴏᴍë, Ráᴍᴀʟóᴄë. Sᴜʟûɴ ᴍᴇʟᴅë", ʜᴇ ꜱᴀɪᴅ, ꜱɪɢɴᴀʟɪɴɢ ʜɪꜱ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀɴɪᴏɴ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀɪɴꜱ ʙᴇʟᴏᴡ. Ráᴍᴀʟóᴄë ᴏʙᴇʏᴇᴅ, ʙᴜᴛ Pʀᴀᴇᴅʏᴛʜ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ꜱᴛɪʟʟ ꜰᴇᴇʟ ɪᴛꜱ ᴜɴᴇᴀꜱᴇ, ɪᴛꜱ ᴡᴏʀʀʏ. Fᴇᴡ ᴘʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴄᴀʟ ᴏᴘᴛɪᴏɴꜱ ᴇxɪꜱᴛᴇᴅ, ᴀꜱ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴠᴇꜱꜱᴇʟꜱ ᴡɪᴛʜ ɪᴏɴɪᴄ ꜱʜɪᴇʟᴅꜱ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴛʀᴀᴠᴇʀꜱᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀʀᴇᴀ. Eᴠᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇɴ, ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇɢɪᴏɴ ᴘʟᴀʏᴇᴅ ʜᴀᴠᴏᴄ ᴡɪᴛʜ ꜱᴇɴꜱᴏʀꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴀᴠɪɢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ; ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏꜱᴛ ᴘʀᴀᴄᴛɪᴄᴀʟ ᴍᴇᴛʜᴏᴅ ꜰᴏʀ ʜɪᴍ, ᴀꜱ ᴡᴇʟʟ ᴀꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏꜱᴛ ᴛʀᴀɴǫᴜɪʟ. Hᴇ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ʜᴀᴅ ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ʙᴏɴᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ Ráᴍᴀʟóᴄë, ᴀɴᴅ ꜰᴇʟᴛ ɪɴᴄʟɪɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴏᴘᴘᴏʀᴛᴜɴɪᴛʏ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏ ꜱᴏ. Ráᴍᴀʟóᴄë'ꜱ ᴍᴀꜱꜱɪᴠᴇ ᴡɪɴɢꜱ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛᴇᴅ ɢᴜꜱᴛꜱ ᴀꜱ ʜᴇ ᴄᴀᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅ, ᴡʜɪᴘᴘɪɴɢ ᴄʟᴏᴜᴅꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴅᴜꜱᴛ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀɪʀ.

"Rʜᴇᴠɪᴀ îᴅô, ᴍᴇʟᴅë", Pʀᴀᴇᴅʏᴛʜ ꜱᴀɪᴅ ᴀꜱ ʜᴇ ᴅɪꜱᴍᴏᴜɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅ. "Tᴇɴɴᴀ ɪ'ꜰᴀɴʏᴀʀë."

Wɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ʜᴀꜱᴛᴇ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴍɪɢʜᴛʏ ᴅʀᴇxʟ ꜱᴘʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪᴛꜱ ᴡɪɴɢꜱ ᴡɪᴅᴇ ᴏɴᴄᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ, ʟɪꜰᴛɪɴɢ ɪᴛꜱ ᴍᴀꜱꜱɪᴠᴇ ʙᴏᴅʏ ᴀꜱ ɪᴛ ᴛᴏᴏᴋ ᴛᴏ ꜰʟɪɢʜᴛ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴋɪᴇꜱ. Hᴇ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ʙᴇ ᴄᴏᴍꜰᴏʀᴛᴀʙʟᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ Sᴛᴏʀᴍᴘʟᴀɪɴꜱ, ɴᴏ ᴍᴀᴛᴛᴇʀ ʜᴏᴡ ᴡᴇʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ Tᴀʟᴀʀɴᴏʀ ʜᴀᴅ ᴛʀᴀɪɴᴇᴅ ʜɪᴍ. Bᴜᴛ Ráᴍᴀʟóᴄë ᴡᴀꜱ ᴀ ʟᴏʏᴀʟ ᴏɴᴇ. Hᴇ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅɴ'ᴛ ꜱᴛʀᴀʏ ᴛᴏᴏ ꜰᴀʀ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʀᴇᴛᴜʀɴ ᴛᴏ ʜɪꜱ ᴍᴀꜱᴛᴇʀ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʙᴇᴄᴋᴏɴᴇᴅ. Bᴜᴛ ɴᴏᴡ, ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴀ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴘʀᴇꜱꜱɪɴɢ ᴍᴀᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴀᴛ ʜᴀɴᴅ. Fᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰɪʀꜱᴛ ꜰᴇᴡ ᴍɪɴᴜᴛᴇꜱ ᴛʜᴀᴛ Pʀᴀᴇᴅʏᴛʜ ʜᴀᴅ ꜱᴛᴇᴘᴘᴇᴅ ᴅᴏᴡɴ, ʙᴇꜰᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀꜱꜱɪᴠᴇ ᴅᴏᴏʀꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ Jᴇᴅɪ Tᴇᴍᴘʟᴇ, ʜᴇ ꜱɪᴍᴘʟʏ ꜱᴛᴏᴏᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴀɪᴛᴇᴅ... ʙᴜᴛ ꜰᴏʀ ᴡʜᴀᴛ, ʜᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ʙᴜᴛ ꜱᴜʀᴇ. Iᴛ ᴛᴏᴏᴋ ʜɪᴍ ꜱᴇᴠᴇʀᴀʟ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛꜱ ʙᴇꜰᴏʀᴇ ʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ʀᴇᴄᴀʟʟ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏ ɴᴇxᴛ, ʜᴏᴡ ᴛᴏ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴇɴᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴇᴍᴘʟᴇ ᴅᴏᴏʀꜱ. Aꜱ ʜᴇ ᴄʟᴏꜱᴇᴅ ʜɪꜱ ᴇʏᴇꜱ, ʜᴇ ᴏᴜᴛꜱᴛʀᴇᴛᴄʜᴇᴅ ʜɪꜱ ʜᴀɴᴅ, ʀᴇᴀᴄʜɪɴɢ ꜰᴏʀᴛʜ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ Fᴏʀᴄᴇ. Hᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ꜰᴇᴇʟ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴇᴄʜᴀɴɪꜱᴍ, ꜱᴇᴇ ɪᴛ, ᴇᴠᴇɴ. Tʜᴇ ʟᴏᴄᴋ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴋᴇʏ, ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴏʟᴜᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏꜰ ɪᴛ ᴀʟʟ. Aɴᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜɪɴ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛꜱ, ᴀ ʀᴜᴍʙʟɪɴɢ ᴄᴀᴍᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴏʀꜱ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰʀᴏɴᴛ ʙᴇɢᴀɴ ᴛᴏ ꜱʟᴏᴡʟʏ ᴏᴘᴇɴ.

Tʜᴇ ꜱɪɢʜᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜɪɴ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴏɴᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴇ'ᴅ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ʙᴇʜᴇʟᴅ ʙᴇꜰᴏʀᴇ. Sᴛᴀᴛᴜᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴀᴜʀᴏᴅɪᴜᴍ, ᴄᴀʀᴠᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ɪᴍᴀɢᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛ ᴍᴀꜱᴛᴇʀꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴇʀᴀꜱ ʟᴏɴɢ ᴀɢᴏ. Lᴜᴍɪɴᴏᴜꜱ Tᴀꜱᴀʀ ᴄʀʏꜱᴛᴀʟꜱ ʜɪɢʜ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʟʟꜱ ꜱᴏᴏᴛʜɪɴɢʟʏ ᴄᴀꜱᴛ ᴀ ᴠɪʙʀᴀɴᴛ ʙᴜᴛ ɢᴇɴᴛʟᴇ ʟɪɢʜᴛ, ꜱᴏʟɪᴅɪꜰʏɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴍʙɪᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴏꜰ ꜱᴏʟᴀᴄᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʀᴀɴǫᴜɪʟɪᴛʏ. Bʀᴏɴᴢɪᴜᴍ ᴅᴇᴄᴏʀ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟɪᴍᴇɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴀʙʀᴀᴅᴏʀɪᴛᴇ-ᴇꜱǫᴜᴇ ꜱᴛᴏɴᴇ ꜰʟᴏᴏʀꜱ, ᴄᴏɴᴛʀɪʙᴜᴛɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴀ ɢʀᴀɴᴅ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴛᴀꜱᴛᴇꜰᴜʟ, ᴅᴇꜱɪɢɴ. Bᴜᴛ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴍᴏꜱᴛ ʀᴇᴍᴀʀᴋᴀʙʟᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴅɪᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴ. Nᴏ ɢʟᴀɴᴄᴇꜱ ꜰᴏʀᴛʜ ɪɴ ʜɪꜱ ᴅɪʀᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ, ɴᴏ ᴡᴏʀᴅꜱ ꜱᴘᴏᴋᴇɴ ᴛᴏ ʜɪᴍ, ɴᴏ ꜱᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟ ᴀᴛᴛᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ ɢɪᴠᴇɴ ʜɪᴍ. Hɪꜱ ᴅɪᴀᴅᴇᴍ ᴡᴀꜱ ɪɴᴅᴇᴇᴅ ᴏʙꜱᴄᴜʀᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴀ ʜᴏᴏᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴄᴏᴠᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʀᴏᴡɴ ᴏꜰ ʜɪꜱ ʜᴇᴀᴅ, ʙᴜᴛ ʜɪꜱ ꜰᴀᴄᴇ ᴅʀᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴀɴʏᴏɴᴇ ᴇʟꜱᴇ. Hᴇʀᴇ, ʜᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴀꜱꜱᴜᴍᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ꜱɪᴍᴘʟʏ ᴀ Jᴇᴅɪ, ᴀ ꜰᴀᴄᴇ ᴀᴍᴏɴɢ ᴍᴀɴʏ. Aɴᴅ ᴡᴏʀᴅꜱ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ᴇxᴘʀᴇꜱꜱ ʜᴏᴡ ᴘʀᴇᴄɪᴏᴜꜱ ʜᴇ ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅ ɪᴛ.

Tʜᴇ Cʜᴀᴍʙᴇʀ ᴏꜰ Wɪꜱᴅᴏᴍ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰɪʀꜱᴛ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ ʜᴇ ꜱᴏᴜɢʜᴛ. Aɴ ɪɴᴛᴇʀɪᴏʀ ʟᴀᴋᴇ-ʟɪᴋᴇ ʙᴏᴅʏ ᴏꜰ ᴡᴀᴛᴇʀ, ᴅᴇᴄᴏʀᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴘᴏʟɪꜱʜᴇᴅ ʙʀᴏɴᴢɪᴜᴍ ᴘᴀᴛʜᴡᴀʏꜱ, ᴀᴅᴏʀɴᴇᴅ ᴏɴᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀʀᴄʜɪᴠᴇ ᴛᴇʀᴍɪɴᴀʟꜱ. Sᴛᴀᴛᴜᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ Jᴇᴅɪ Mᴀꜱᴛᴇʀꜱ ꜱᴜʀʀᴏᴜɴᴅᴇᴅ ʜɪᴍ, ᴍᴀꜱᴛᴇʀꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ Fᴏʀᴄᴇ'ꜱ ᴍʏꜱᴛᴇʀɪᴇꜱ, ᴛʜᴇ ɪᴅᴇᴏʟᴏɢɪᴇꜱ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ᴛʜᴇ Jᴇᴅɪ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ, ᴛʜᴀᴛ ꜰᴏꜱᴛᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴜɴɪᴛʏ ᴀᴄʀᴏꜱꜱ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛʟᴇꜱꜱ ᴄɪᴠɪʟɪᴢᴀᴛɪᴏɴꜱ. Tʜᴇꜱᴇ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴇᴍᴀᴋᴇʀꜱ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʀᴜᴛʜ-ꜱᴇᴇᴋᴇʀꜱ, ꜱᴜʀʀᴏᴜɴᴅɪɴɢ ʙᴜᴛ ᴏɴᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴍᴀɴʏ ʜᴜʙꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴋɴᴏᴡʟᴇᴅɢᴇ. Pʀᴀᴇᴅʏᴛʜ ᴡᴀꜱ ɴᴏᴛ ᴏɴᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴡɪᴛʜᴅʀᴀᴡ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ʜɪꜱ ᴅᴜᴛɪᴇꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ᴏʙʟɪɢᴀᴛɪᴏɴꜱ, ꜰᴏʀ ɪɴᴅᴇᴇᴅ ʜᴇ ᴠᴀʟᴜᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛʟʏ. Bᴜᴛ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛꜱ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴇ ᴍɪꜱꜱᴇᴅ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ Jᴇᴅɪ Oʀᴅᴇʀ. Tʜᴇ ᴋɴᴏᴡʟᴇᴅɢᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛ ᴏɴᴇꜱ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴄᴀᴍᴇ ʙᴇꜰᴏʀᴇ ʜɪᴍ.

A ɢᴏʟᴅᴇɴ ʙᴇᴀᴍ ᴏꜰ ʟɪɢʜᴛ ꜱʜɪɴᴇᴅ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴇɪʟɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴇʀᴍɪɴᴀʟ. Hᴏʟᴏɢʀᴀᴘʜɪᴄ ʟɪɢʜᴛ, ᴀꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ɪɴᴛᴇʀꜰᴀᴄᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀʀᴄʜɪᴠᴇꜱ ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʜɪᴍ. Fɪɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴏɴᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ʙʏ ʜɪᴍ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ʜɪꜱ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛᴇꜱᴛ ᴏʙꜱᴛᴀᴄʟᴇ. Bᴜᴛ ɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ, ɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴇ ꜱᴛᴏᴏᴅ ʙᴇꜰᴏʀᴇ, ɴᴏᴛ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀʀᴄʜɪᴠᴇꜱ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴀɴ ᴇɴᴛɪʀᴇ ᴛᴇᴍᴘʟᴇ, ᴛʜᴇ ǫᴜᴇꜱᴛɪᴏɴ ᴛᴏ ʜɪᴍ ᴡᴀꜱ... ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʜᴇ ʙᴇɢɪɴ?

[fancybox2]

Tʜʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜱ Dᴇᴀᴛʜ-Dɪꜱᴀʙʟᴇᴅ, ʙᴜᴛ ɪꜱ ᴏᴘᴇɴ ᴛᴏ ᴀɴʏᴏɴᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀ ꜱᴇɴꜱɪʙʟᴇ ᴇxᴄᴜꜱᴇ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ, ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴀʟᴍᴏꜱᴛ ᴇxᴄʟᴜꜱɪᴠᴇʟʏ ᴍᴇᴀɴ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ᴀ Jᴇᴅɪ.

Tʜʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪꜱ ʙᴀꜱɪᴄᴀʟʟʏ Pʀᴀᴇᴅʏᴛʜ ᴇxᴘʟᴏʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴇᴍᴘʟᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴛᴜꜰꜰ, ɢᴏɴɴᴀ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ɪᴛ ᴀʟʟ ᴜᴘ ᴀꜱ I ɢᴏ ᴀʟᴏɴɢ​

[/fancybox2]

 

[Vosrik]

Hooded and cloaked, Jedi Master Vosrik stood in the Chamber of Wisdom with his friend and aide Orrin Murdock. As much as he would like to call himself a Justicar, the former Jedi Lord had much more to learn before ever earning that title. As they observed the immense statue of one of the great Jedi Masters of old, Vosrik could sense a great deal of unease from Orrin. After their visit to Orto Plutonia, his mentor felt it would be best for Vosrik to heal after having visited the commemoration on Dantooine. The Temple here on Onderon was of course the first thing that came to mind, but Orrin had to be convinced and pleaded to come along. There was something about this place...one of the grizzled Justicar's secrets, no doubt.

"Relax, Orrin. Perhaps you needed this reprieve as much as I do."

Orrin shifted uncomfortably, his rugged Ranger's clothing a stark contrast to the rest of the Jedi here in the Temple. "Vosrik, there is something you need to know about this place. Onderon...is my home. I ran from something here — a duty I never wanted."

This was a revelation to Vosrik. While they had known each other for years, Orrin's history beyond the Jedi Army was an utter mystery. The Jedi Master took a step back, observing his friend in a new light. He didn't know whether to push the subject or not, but clearly the guilt weighed heavily on the man after all these years. Perhaps that's why he became a Justicar too after his Initiate passed the Trials. Did Vosrik's master Corlas Anval know about this too? A multitude of questions passed through his mind, though he couldn't bring himself to ask any at all. Another group of Jedi monks passed the duo, paying them no heed as they left the Chamber of Wisdom to continue about their daily business. In strode a differently clad Jedi, one hooded and cloaked. Vosrik's gaze passed from Orrin to the newcomer, wondering why another would want to hid their face as the former Jedi Lord did. Reaching out with the Force, he briefly felt the presence of the man — but the answer couldn't be true. Vosrik looked away, knowing the man must have felt him too. There was none other who had the perception in the Force as Praedyth II.

"I think...it was the will of the Force we came here today, Orrin," was Vosrik's eventual reply. "There are questions that have been bothering me since I made my choice. Questions no one else could answer." He looked back towards the figure who reached the terminal in the center of the great hall.

"What do you mean? Why could no other answer you?" queried the Justicar, noticing and following the Jedi Master's gaze but not seeing the significance of who stood before them.

A small smile dawned upon Vosrik's face. "Only one shared my responsibility as a leader. As a King."

Orrin's eyes widened, and Vosrik could feel the waves of unease that emanated from the Justicar. What was his duty he forsook? Was it related to the King or some other position? To Orrin's dismay, the Jedi Master approached the lone figure at the center of the room. His boots echoed as they stepped on the smooth marble surface, and Vosrik crossed into the holographic light that streamed from the ceiling. He too had reason to keep his hood up as much as the King did — there were many wondering where the last Jedi Lord disappeared to. Reaching the man's side, he stopped and looked at the ornately carved statues along the far wall.

"With the Galaxy opened to you, sometimes finding your roots is the best place to begin. Wouldn't you agree?"

@Korvo
OOC: Orrin's duty was to become a Noble in House Oveiden. He continually has decided not to return to Onderon, and Praedyth might know this.​