Open Separate Ways

[Nykoria Tallis]

Occurs several days after "The Cycle Repeats".
Open to those who know about Yavin IV temple.​

Kori walked outside the the temple towards the landing pads. The roar of engines of arriving and departing ships was muffled by her suit's helmet; the bustle of people and droids carrying cargo into and out of the pyramid made it easy to get lost in the crowd. And although Nykoria could escape sideways glances that way, she could never escape herself. The Zeltron's mistakes still weighed on her, repentance further fueled by the air of numb sorrow around. The Order would heal from the pain, Kori knew that much. But the memories of Ajan Kloss would remain for decades, and might even outlive the current generation of Jedi Knights.

The masked woman wasn't traveling light: lightsaber hilts strapped to the belt, a stun pistol in the holster on the hip, and—most importantly—a sizeable bag that weighed down her right hand. For the time being, she got out of the crowd and dropped the bag on the ground. Taking off her helmet and letting indigo hair fall on her shoulders, she'd listen to the sounds surrounding her, trying to figure out where and which ship went. Perhaps she'd also see a familiar face or two in the crowd. If not, she'd just have to deal with it and carry through with her plan.

@Charndley, @Reyn

 

[Izel Thral]

As Izel approached the landing pads, wide assortment of bags and supplies in hand, she gave off a much brighter aura then she had the past week. Terrible as they were, she had reconciled the events of Sullust and Ajan Kloss, and had dedicated herself to ensuring she shaped herself into a better Jedi for the future. For her own sake and her Padawan's, and for everyone else as well. When she returned, she hoped she would be worthy of the rank of master. And she had made a personal oath not to come back until she was, one way or another.

Her ship wouldn't arrive for some time yet, and she still had to wait for her apprentice to show up. No doubt he was still recovering from his training. Well, that was his own fault for pushing himself too hard when she warned against it. But looking around the clear cut area the Vratix spotted Kori, one of her oldest friends in the Order. It brought some oddly mixed feelings seeing her now, after all that had happened. She had been avoiding the Zeltron since Sullust. Really she had been avoiding everyone other than Isen. Nonetheless she stood up straight as she approached, speaking in a cheerful tone.

"It's been a while!" The Vratix called out as she approached her friend. "And where are you going?" She looked towards the ships, seeing if they gave any indication where the Zeltron was headed to.

@Catbert @Charndley @Isen (If you want to join in for the farewells.)

 

[Isen Ramm]

The young padawan had been spending more and more time in the Yavin wilderness lately. His master, Izel Thral, was obviously working through some things of her own. She hadn't exactly distanced herself from her padawan, but made it clear that she had some things to take care of over the next several days. She had taken the time to check in on his progress and answer any questions, but she had preparations of her own to make. Her mood had been getting better daily, in no small part to seeing Isen's robes, pants, and undershirts come back with mysterious holes from trying to speed up his tutaminis practice.

Isen's spirits have been on the upswing as well due to his time spent in the wild, meeting a like-minded Jedi soul recently, and feeling that his path to becoming one within the Force was headed in the right direction. Calamity and tragedy dotted the recent past for all the Jedi, Izel and Isen included, but it appeared that they had forged a pathway to greener pastures and stillness of mind.

Isen hated returning to this temple from this direction, but his circular path meant that his quickest route back to the Temple was on the side with the landing pads and ship platforms. It was noisy, mechanical, and a reminder to Isen that even the Jedi couldn't keep the galaxy pure, wild, and in symbiosis. As he was walking through the starfighters and light freighters, he heard his master call out, "It's been a while! And where are you going?" She had bags and supplies in tote, and Isen figured their time for leaving on their quest to complete his training was close at hand.

At first, he thought she was talking to him, but he followed his master's gaze to her very close Zeltron friend, Master Tallis. Isen stopped for a moment and took in the scene. She had a large bag packed. Isen and Izel weren't the only ones that would be leaving Yavin for a while. She did not seem to be as upbeat as Isen and Izel. Isen could feel through the Force that she seemed to be struggling with the events of Ajan Kloss and Sullust more than some, probably even more than most.

He approached as Izel approached her friend. Isen bowed to the Zeltron. "Master Tallis," Isen said he turned to his teacher. "Master, I'm packed. Should I grab my things and load them?"

@Catbert @Reyn

 

[Nykoria Tallis]

A familiar insectoid chitter interrupted Kori's thoughts. Izel. But not the Izel that Kori had seen a the fateful meeting on Yavin a week ago. No, this new Izel was almost as cheerful as before. Just like she had been back on Ajan Kloss, right after becoming a Knight. But there was something more about her that Nykoria caught now. Peace. Calm resolve and determination. A certain distance between them. Regardless, the Zeltron was glad seeing Izel in good mood. Anything was better than the dejected state she had last seen her in.

"To Coruscant," Nykoria replied matter-of-factly, with just a shade of a thoughtful smile. "Got a personal matter there. As for where to next..." she simply shrugged, unsure. "The jury is still out on that." Something caught Kori's attention though—the Vratix had more bags than Nykoria herself. Clearly, she was leaving Yavin IV for a while as that. Kori sensed as much; but before she could ask any questions, Isen joined the conversation to further confirm the Zeltron's suspicions.

"Isen," Nykoria returned a slight bow. "It would appear I'm not the only one leaving Yavin," the statement was addressed both to the Vratix Knight and her Kiffar Padawan. Something told her that it wasn't for the missions that Knight Ryn and Master Grayza were planning. And maybe even not for the mission to the Free Worlds Alliance that Oren had in mind. Izel leaving that meeting in silence, with Isen in tow, betrayed as much. "Where are the two of you going?"

@Reyn, @Isen

 

[Izel Thral]

Izel could tell immediately Kori was still troubled over past events. She couldn't blame her. No doubt even the masters were having difficulty coming to terms with what had happened and what it meant. She had always known Kori to be a dynamic sort, always pushing the Jedi forward. She definitely would feel the effects of what had happened and her supposed role in it more than most, even with Master Zapan trying to console her a bit. Her response to Izel's question was somewhat cryptic, not that the Vratix minded much. Whatever she needed to do to get herself squared away, she was behind her, and would be there if she was needed. Thankfully the somewhat awkward moment brought about by Kori's answer was interrupted by the arrival of her Padawan.

"Isen!" She greeted her apprentice warmly. "Yes, our ship should be here any moment now." Looking back to Kori she gave her own explanation. She was well aware how absent she had been the past week. "Jedi go wherever they are needed, regardless of how out of the way it is." She said, cryptically at first to match the Zeltron's words, before giving a more straightforward answer. "Mon Gazza for now. We'll see where things go from there... There are certain lessons we still need to learn."

Still not the most telling answer, but Izel didn't want to tell the whole truth until she had something to show for all her theorizing. Her concepts of change were all well and good, but she still needed an actual strategy to employ in this new fight against the dark side she was trying to start. And she couldn't help but feel Kori would be a bit incredulous to her ideas, given their history with the Guardians.

@Catbert @Isen

 

[Isen Ramm]

It was an uneasy goodbye of sorts between his master and her friend. Isen could feel that there were things that probably needed to be said between Master Tallis and Izel, but he didn't know what they were. He also knew enough to know it probably wasn't his business. Isen didn't know if the two friends would take this opportunity to lay it all out, but it wouldn't be any easier with some kid padawan listening in.

"My things are packed and ready to load, Master," Isen said. "If you'll excuse me, I'll get my things on the ship." He turned to Master Tallis and bowed once more. "Goodbye, Master Tallis. May the Force be with you."

Isen would listen to any goodbyes or addresses before heading out to get this things.

/exit thread

 

[Nykoria Tallis]

The Padawan was mindful of the things that were going on. Nykoria didn't really know what was going on inside Isen's mind, but the reserved young man seemed to posses the tact and maturity far beyond his years. "May the Force be with you, Isen," the Zeltron replied, a warmer smile on her face. What Kori felt was... relief. Relief that Isen and Izel might survive what was coming.

Kori remembered how the Padawan had crashed on Sullust. If he had died back then, Izel wouldn't have forgiven herself... And maybe her Zeltron "friend" too. All due to the lack of planning. There was little Nykoria could say to her friend's Padawan. But something stood out; the only thought that mattered: "And may you avoid our mistakes." Then Kori would turn towards her Vratix friend.

"I meant to tell you," she started, approaching Izel. "I'm sorry. For dragging you into this. For having you and Isen risk your lives, and without a proper plan. In the past few days..." The Zeltron lowered her gaze to the old stones she was standing on. "...I realized that there are lessons I myself need to learn." She raised her head to look her friend in the eye: "That whole 'bringing the fight to the Sith' thing? That was a mistake. None of us were prepared for Sullust; and we were lucky it didn't cost us our own lives. Or the lives of those we care about."

Ajan Kloss was not Kori's mistake alone. That much she had come to terms with. But Sullust wasn't as easy to rationalize. Things were pretty simple: they Jedi followed Talak; they ran across the Eternal; and none of them had anything on that Sith. "Next time, I aim to be ready. Having people you care about fight your battles... It's not the Jedi way."

If Izel were to look into the Zeltron now, she'd figure out that Nykoria was speaking what she felt rather than what she thought. There were still a lot of things Kori needed to process. But she also realized that she was about to exchange goodbyes with one of her oldest friends.

@Reyn, @Isen

 

[Izel Thral]

Izel nodded in parting with Isen as he turned to leave. He was never a person of many words, and no doubt he could sense the tensions between his two elders. And in truth, he didn't know Nykoria half as well as his master did. After her apprentice departed to prepare his things the Vratix turned back to listen to Kori. As expected she too was reflecting much over what had happened and was feeling a good degree of guilt. Izel knew that would be important for her going forward, and helping to shape her path, but there were some things worth saying.

"You don't need to apologize to me Kori," She replied softly. "You didn't drag me into anything. I chose to follow you because I believed in what you were saying. Now it's just..." She paused, trying to find the words. "I know we must fight the Sith. But there are other ways... I see the bigger picture now. I think I understand what Grandmaster Skywalker meant, when he wrote of bringing balance to the Force." She looked back at her old friend. She had a good sense of what she was really thinking.

"What happened on Sullust and Ajan Kloss didn't happen because we were weak." She insisted. "It happened because we've been going about this the wrong way... All of it." She didn't know what else to say. There were still missing pieces, things she needed to learn that could only be learned through deep contemplation. It's why she needed to get away for a time. But she also wanted to make sure her friend didn't take the wrong lessons from Sullust. She wished they could go together, but she had the distinct sense that's not what was going to happen.

@Catbert @Isen

 

[Nykoria Tallis]

The way Izel spoke brought a smile to the Zeltron's face. Sure, there were things that Izel said and that Nykoria disagreed with. The Jedi on Sullust were weak. The injuries of Max and Hannibal were proof of that. And if Kori had been a little faster, she would've shared their fate as well.

As for "bringing balance to the Force"... For centuries, Jedi thought that it meant destroying the Sith. Anakin Skywalker was supposed to have done that. And yet, the Sith remained. The Dark Side remained, just as the Light. All that the Jedi had about "the balance of the Force" were assumptions and theories. Some better than others, but theories still; Izel's would no doubt be among them. Nykoria, however, was bothered with more practical things.

Yet it didn't matter. What mattered was that Izel found her own path. Disagreements were a source of the truth, but Kori didn't want to argue. Somehow, she knew that she and Izel would part ways, at least for a while. It would be a shame if they parted ways arguing with each other.

That's why Kori replied with a smile and a simple, yet confident and encouraging: "Maybe." She approached the Vratix, putting the right hand on her shoulder; now, she had to look up, as the Vratix was quite taller than the Zeltron. "I'm sure you'll tell me all about it when I see you again. And when both of us have figured out a little more." That was the friendliest way of offering to "agree to disagree"; and also an encouragement for Izel to continue down the path she had chosen.

The person standing before Nykoria had come a long way. From a Padawan who almost gave in to her emotions and rushed into a fight with the Sith on Ontotho. To a Jedi Knight who always stood by Nykoria's side and pretty much saved the Zeltron at Ryloth. To an excellent Master for Isen; much better than Nykoria could've been for her own Padawan. To someone who understood the Jedi mistakes on Sullust and was willing to learn from them.

Kori might not have been Izel's master, but she had seen the Vratix grow throughout their journeys together. For all she knew, Izel was now a master in all but title, and it warmed the Zeltron's heart. "Izel..." Nykoria suddenly stepped forward, wrapping her arms around the insectoid's shoulder's. Izel was quite taller than her, but most of it came from an unusually long neck, head, and the antennae.

The hug and the farewell were bittersweet. Somehow, the Zeltron knew that the Force had laid different paths for them. She only hoped that they would cross again in the future. After a few moments like that, Kori would then take a step back, forcing a smile on her face: "...May the Force be with you."

@Reyn

 

[Izel Thral]

Izel could tell Kori had already drawn her own conclusions and was making her way down a different path then her own. It saddened her, but she held on to the hope that maybe in the future she could convince her to reevaluate those conclusions.

She had known Kori since she was a Padawan, and valued her thoughts on matters greatly. In many ways she looked up to the Jedi master, and viewed her as something to aspire to. Even now though she was starting to disagree with her perspective on things, she still viewed her as someone worth emulating. She was strong in the Force and her convictions, and open of mind. Izel hoped that one day she could be to other Jedi what Nykoria Tallis was to her.

The hug was a surprise, causing the Vratix to pull her head back slightly. She had come not to expect such exchanges from humanoids, as they generally seemed much more private and distant then her own kind. At least as far as maintaining personal space was concerned. With a click of mild amusement she returned the gesture, wrapping her arms around the smaller Zeltron and hugging her back before stepping away again. Her antennae twitched as she looked down at her friend. Her expression was unreadable, but when she spoke her voice carried a certain mournfulness to it.

"May the Force be with you Nykoria." She said softly. "I hope to see you again soon." After hesitating for a moment she turned her head awkwardly to look back towards the temple, waiting for her Padawan to return.

@Catbert

 

[Juniper]

"You two weren't thinking of sneaking off without a goodbye, right?"

Nara smirked as she slipped round from behind a ship, carrying a crate in her hands. She knelt down to push it aside, brushing her palms together and flexing her fingers before she stepped up towards Kori and Izel. Things were changing now. The word had gone round about the plans for the Order's future and she supposed that things would be a little different for them all now. Less weeks scrambling around on a scrap-world, for one.

Nara'd already spent her yearly allotted display of 'non-angry emotion' on Oren and Hannibal, so she wasn't feeling particularly downbeat or pressured. There was a path ahead and a new resolve in herself. Now she just needed to decide how to manifest it.
"What? No hug for me?" she asked, faking a pout for a couple of seconds, "I'd be upset if I was, you know, the hugging type." She'd lingered back enough to hear some of the conversation, like the sneaky, snide-y person she was. "I guess it'll be a while before we see each other again."

"I'm heading out to Uba IV soon. Sick people, y'know," she said with a shrug, like it was no big deal. "Then who knows? Whole Galaxy out there. Might even get a padawan of my own, instead of everyone else's." She pulled her face a little; the very idea of trying to train someone else at the moment seemed out of the question. Though, if the Council asked, she couldn't really say no.

@Catbert @Reyn

 

[Nykoria Tallis]

Nara's arrival was a little unexpected—even though the Zeltron had sensed her somewhere around—but not unwelcome. Contrary to what Kori expected, Nara was her usual self. Like Izel, she already recovered from the blows dealt to the Jedi Order. Her friends' mood reflected on the Zeltron as well, which manifested in her speech.

"Oh, come on!" Nykoria's grin grew wide as she approached the human Jedi. "You make a perfect Padawan-sitter. If you have to do it so often, it might not be a coincidence, but the will of the Force itself." The Zeltron glanced sideways to the Vratix, before looking at Nara again: "By the way, ever trained Isen?" Probably not; the Vratix was an exemplary Master, and Isen must've been preoccupied with whatever Izel had in store for him.

Regardless of her answer, Kori had something else in stock. "Also... You're getting a hug too, like it or not," If not interrupted, she'd approach Nara and wrap the arms around her back, even lifting her slightly for a few moments. But after that, she'd let the Knight down and comment on the remainder of what she had learned more seriously.

"Seriously though," she noticed the reluctance of Nara's expression. "That's a big thing which I wouldn't have done, unless the Council had asked me." She reminisced on the day when they assigned Mnoc Quipac, a Jawa barely in his teens, to her. "Someone else's Padawans are actually better. No responsibility, no attachments, you impart what you know, and feel better about doing the right thing."

@Reyn @Charndley

 

[Izel Thral]

Izel hadn't been expecting Nara's appearance but was glad to see her. She had known the human even longer than Kori after all. Nara was one of the first friends she made within the Order back when they were both Padawans themselves. She had parted ways with many of the Jedi she'd met back then, but Nara had always remained. She was someone dependable who embodied the Jedi way in spirit and action... If not always in attitude.

The Vratix would chitter amusedly at Kori's undesired hug, and give one herself afterwards, no doubt further annoying their friend. As talk turned to apprentices she clicked in bemusement.

"I don't know why you two are so opposed to teaching." She remarked, crossing her arms. "It's not half as difficult as you make it out to be. People learn from everything they see." She inclined her head slightly and took on a sly tone. "Which means you just need to hide your mistakes and let them pick up the good stuff." She turned her attention to Nara.

"I'm glad you're focusing on healing though. It suits you. Keep at it and you may even surpass Master Boan one day." She paused and looked down as thoughts of recent events came back to her with that reference. "Well... You know what I mean..." She looked away, her mood souring somewhat.

@Catbert @Charndley

 

[Juniper]

Nara was glad when the gloomy mood turned a little brighter. The most recent events had knocked a lot out of them and yet... still, they wouldn't get anywhere all mired in misery. There was always hope. Always light. Always a friend around the corner, ready with a smile and a sarcastic remark.

"I'm afraid Izel's too good a master to let her padawan wander off with me. I might leave him to be eaten by a mynock," she joked, hugging Kori back as she came close. Smiling warmly as they did, hiding just how happy the smile was from her friend. No doubt she'd sense it, but she didn't want to give Kori the satisfaction of knowing how happy her hug had made her.

"I don't have the right mindset for teaching padawans. They're all so... small. And wide-eyed." She winced a little, thinking about the latest crop she'd seen. "There's one who keeps looking at me whenever I walk by and I cannot deal with that sort of... drama."

The mention of the late Grandmaster dampened the mood somewhat, with Nara looking away for a second. Eeesh. Mood killer.

"Hey. We'll make them all proud. In our own way, I promise. Don't forget that, Izel," Nara said, stepping closer to her friend. "Do I have to give you a hug now? I'm actually willing to do it. C'mon."

@Catbert @Reyn

 

[Nykoria Tallis]

Nara may've hidden her smile. She may've denied Kori the satisfaction of knowing that she cared about that hug so much. But hiding emotions from a Zeltron was like hiding metal from a strong magnet. So unless Nara shielded her mind like during an interrogation, she'd give Kori something better: the happiness of that hug, amplified, and returned to the sender as well.

Then Izel brought up the late Grandmaster. For a moment, it did ruin the mood, but then Nara seemed to recover pretty well. Nara's outward behavior may not have been that of a Jedi, but her character most certainly was. Kori sure was going to miss Nara and Izel both. Though them going their separate ways wouldn't have to last too long, right? Kori just had a matter or two to attend to on Coruscant and Chandrila. After that, they'd probably be together again. She knew as much.

Still, there was something that compelled her to say: "I rarely told you two... But I'm glad that the Force brought the three of us together." Who would've thought that the random Jedi with whom she traveled to Ontotho would become her best friends, and that the trio would cover that bond throughout the years? "I'll miss you both."

@Reyn @Charndley

 

[Izel Thral]

Izel chittered softly in amusement at Nara's response, and leaned over to give her a hug as well. "I know." She replied to the human's remark. Were they still around, she was sure their fallen comrades would say something along the lines of 'we've always been proud of you' but still, the thought gave them something to aspire to. Always strive to be the best Jedi, to be an example to others, and to ensure the sacrifices of those that came before were not in vain.

Kori made sure to tell them how grateful she was to have met them. It was something Izel and no doubt Nara as well were already aware of. They had formed a strong bond over the years. But it was still nice to hear. "The enemies of the light live in fear whenever the three of us are in one place." She replied jokingly to the Zeltron's words. She looked between her and Nara. "I'll miss you both as well. I expect to hear interesting stories when we see each other again."

With that the freighter she and her apprentice were waiting for appeared from over the forest canopy on the edge of the landing zone, engines roaring and kicking up dust as it slowly descended towards the ground a few hundred yards away. The Vratix watched the ship dock silently. It appeared their time was almost up.

@Catbert @Charndley

 

[Juniper]

Nara hugged her friend back, her skinny arms reaching around the Vratix and squeezing her tight. She knew that wherever her friend went, she'd be the model Jedi and set a good example to everyone, least of all her padawan. Nara would miss her a great deal. The Order'd miss her even more, whether she knew it or not.

She pulled back and looked at Kori, smiling. "Hey, girls against the Galaxy, right? There'll be no stopping us soon. One day we'll all be old crones, like Max, and we can sit around and tell the younglings about all the cool adventures we had and how we did things better in our day."

As Izel looked to the ship that arrived, Nara felt a rush of emotion. Her friends were leaving and there was nothing she could do. On her own, again. As ever. Though it wasn't the same as the last time. So long as they all still drew breath, they'd always be with each other.

Still, showing more emotion than necessary wasn't her style, so before she felt the hot tears prick at the corners of her eyes, she decided it was time. "I better go. Looks like your ship is here and I gotta load up these medicine boxes." She kicked the box she'd brought down with her, hearing the rattle of bottles within.

"See you later Master Tallis, soon-to-be-Master Thral!" she called out, as brightly as she could as she squatted down and lifted the box up. Letting her hide her sadness in a menial task, walking straight from where they'd been stood towards her own ship. Towards the comfort and solitude of a familiar place.

/Exit thread.

@Catbert @Reyn

 

[Nykoria Tallis]

Izel's joke was encouraging, but did strike a nerve. The three of them had been on Sullust, and the Eternal hadn't expressed any fear. Nara had a more realistic outlook: "soon". Nykoria nodded, for she was determined to make that a reality. Still, she didn't want things to end on a gloomy note, so she went for a joke. "Speak for yourself," she chuckled at Nara's remark. "I intend to remain young." An irony indeed, given that the Zeltron was the oldest of the three.

"May the Force be with both of you, Jedi Knights," Nykoria added with a warm smile, as the three started going their separate ways. The bag jumped into Kori's hand without the Zeltron paying it any mind. Even the weight was of no concern anymore. The bitter lumpy feeling gnawing at her very being was exactly what she had tried to avoid by rejecting attachments. In the end, the Force had other plans. And regardless of where each of them would end up, somehow Nykoria knew she'd see her friends again. Sooner or later.

// End thread?