Total Eclipse

[Vuthari]

The Apogee
Hyperspace
Enroute to Deep Core

Vu’thari stared out of the Apogee’s viewport lost in thought. So much had happened in the last year. The time had gone by in a blur. He went from minding his own business with a small group of Mandalorians on Nar Shaddaa to entering the galactic stage embarking on something greater than himself. How his heart and mind had been changed by every experience. For five years, he was certain he would never recover from the slaughter of his wife and two children. For five years, he did not dare go back to using the Force in a real way. For five years, he told himself, and he told Jedi Master Eli Reach, that he would never join this Galactic Alliance and these other Jedi. All these things he thought would never happen, did happen.

Ayasha, his first padawan came into his life at a time when they both were a bit lost and unsure of what the future would bring. But the connection between the twi’lek and the Galtean woman was undeniable. He never thought he would love again, but it came to be. Even with all of the responsibility, duty and obligation he felt he was shouldering, he still managed to find love. Initially, he tried to fight it, but it was not being true to his heart or true to Ayasha. So it came to pass that they decided they would not confuse the teacher-student dichotomy and grow in attachment this way. However, Vu’thari told Ayasha that they would have “this conversation again” once she achieved Jedi Master. That conversation would be between two Jedi Masters who would figure out attachment together, but would not stop the feelings felt for one another.

For Vu’thari, he would not take any shortcuts for the sake of Ayasha. While some of the Jedi Masters gave a “handwave” to some of their students in advancement, Vu’thari would not. He would hold all of them to the same standard, no matter who they were. In fact, his grandfather reminded Vu’thari often that although he had taught the twi’lek all he could teach him, he never told the twi’lek he had attained the rank of Master. This was for two reasons. First, there was no Jedi Order. Ranks, titles and designations were wrapped up in that organization. Secondly, Vu’thari had never trained a Jedi Padawan to become a Jedi Knight. His grandfather made sure that he understood that he was no Jedi Master until he trained a Padawan to Jedi Knight. Ayasha was the first Padawan he had trained to Jedi Knight. Vu’thari chuckled to himself and thought…

So technically, I was the only Jedi Master on the Council…if they followed the old ways.

It brought a momentary smile to his face as he pondered the thought, but it quickly dissipated as he thought about the events surrounding his decision to leave the Galactic Alliance. To Vu’thari, the Alliance Council did not function in a way that considered Jedi. The decision-making of their “Jedi Master” leader, Leah, was made without consideration of the other members and heavy-handed punishments were dealt out, like a reigning king decreeing edicts to his subjects. It had that ring to it. The whole concept of an Alliance Council was a lie. He hated to look at it that way, but he could think of it in no other way. Not to mention, the treatment of Jedi and how they were talked about interchangeably with soldiers, did not sit well with Vu’thari…which brought him to this moment.

He and his padawans had followed a lead from Master Eli reach’s belongings that he entrusted to Vu’thari. They went to the deep core and it led to an asteroid field that seemed impossible to navigate. The Jedi group decided that it had to be a mistake. Although they got in some good training onboard the Apogee during that trip, they returned to Nar Shaddaa with nothing and no discovery of note. However, with the discovery of the holocron that he and Leah retrieved from the storage depot of the Fortune Stalkers, he had more to work with…he hoped. Not wanting to waste the padawan’s time, Vu’thari asked Ayasha to join him so that he could continue her training to become a Jedi Master.

She soaked up the information Vu’thari had to share about conducting the trials of a Jedi Knight, shaping the hearts of Jedi Padawans, helping her with training techniques, finer points on lightsaber combat, specifics on the different methods of lightsaber construction, digging deeper into what it mean to be a Jedi and the duties they had to the galaxy at large, and the lessons went on. It was continuous conversation. Ayasha was an enthusiastic and diligent student of the Force. There was no doubt at this point that her skills as an empath had far eclipsed his. He found himself learning techniques from her, in fact…

The trip was going much faster this time around thanks to an upgraded hyperdrive on the Apogee, but even then, he wasn’t sure the Apogee could beat the Ash Angel on a hyperspace run like this. One thing was certain, the trips across the galaxy that needed to be taken were now exponentially faster on the Apogee.

Looking over in the co-pilot seat, he stared at the beautiful human with is one good eye. Lately, the Jedi Master had taken to wearing a half-mask to cover his notable scar, but not now, not within the confines of the ship with Ayasha, where he did not hide anything. He said quietly, “You really are a good teacher. I have watched you some with Torin and Ashlyna. It is a gift. Your heart for others…it is a gift.”

@Wolf

 

[Ayasha Waya]

Ayasha was lost in thought as she stared out of the viewport into the endless streams of stars that passed by the Apogee. She loved the Ash Angel and had made it her home away from the home she now shared with Vu'thari on Ord Mantell...but there was a nostalgia about this craft that the Knight enjoyed. She had grown so much as a person and as a Jedi aboard this very ship. There had been moments of triumph and trepidation shared within its durasteel walls. It was here in the science lab that the woman had constructed her lightsaber. In the medical suite she had helped save Vu'thari's life. In the cockpit she had learned the basics of flight which prepared her for the moment she took possession of her beloved Ash Angel.

Though hyperspace typically made for a mundane trip while alone, it was not so with Vu'thari. Ayasha could listen to him talk about grass growing and it would bring her joy. Just being in the Jedi Master's presence was enough, even in moments of silence. The woman's hair hung loosely at her back and she absently tucked a stray strand behind one ear. It was then that she became aware of the feeling one gets when being stared at. Her honey colored eyes shifted from the void of space to the twi'lek beside her. She smiled warmly and studied him for a moment, sensing his mind searching for words he wished to say.

“You really are a good teacher. I have watched you some with Torin and Ashlyna,” Vu'thari began quietly. Ayasha felt her cheeks warm to a crimson tone and she looked away from the Jedi Master's gaze briefly. The Knight's eyes slowly made their way back to his face and she shook her head. “I have you to thank for that,” she said before the twi'lek continued. “It is a gift. Your heart for others...it is a gift,” he added. The caramel skinned woman pulled her legs up and crossed them beneath her. The greatest thing about these lengthy flights was the freedom to wear comfortable clothing. There was no need for weapons or boots. A simple olive tank top, black leggings and bare feet were all Ayasha needed at the moment.

The raven haired woman could not shake her smile if she had tried. Vu'thari had a way of letting her know how special she was to him, even during this time of waiting. “Waiting is agony...” the thought crossed her mind as she took in the twi'lek's array of handsome features. The woman tilted her head to the side and sighed within herself, the pink skinned alien's words replaying within her mind as they had many times before. “Yes...when I'm a Jedi Master...” It was something she did not necessarily agree with, but would respect. Having Vu'thari in her life in any measure was far better than not having him at all and the Knight had vowed to wait as long as was necessary...even to the point of becoming one with the Force.

Still, Ayasha silently struggled with the need to wait until a title was bestowed upon her. She could not wrap her mind around how it was that Vu'thari would find either of them unfit to engage in a proper relationship one day...but then competent the next. It was an internal struggle that the Knight had shelved along with a plethora of other questions about the galaxy that she had no hope of ever answering. The woman decided that continuing her 'hands off' approach to their attachment was far better for Vu'thari, though it caused her heart to ache now and again. “Thank you,” she answered him quietly as her eyes moved back to the viewport.

It had not been long since the Knight was sitting upon the couch, holding the Master close as he poured out the grief he had been storing up for years. It was a moment that had allowed them the closeness she hungered for, though it hurt to see him so broken. It was true, as an empath she did have a heart for others...but the whole of it belonged to him. “I am quite fond of my students. They are a joy to work with,” Ayasha began as she completely sidestepped the comment about her heart. The woman was hoping to avoid another painful conversation that reminded her of the love she was free to express to Vu'thari sometimes, when he wanted her to...but not all of the time.

@Mithias

 

[Vuthari]

The Apogee
Hyperspace
Enroute to Deep Core

“I am quite fond of my students. They are a joy to work with,”

While his head was looking to the dashboard in front of him reading the astrogation charts, those words caused his head to turn in her direction. There was a coldness there. While he sensed the love for him, it was laced with frustration. Vu’thari looked back down at the astrogation charts and calculated they were about to come out of hyperspace shortly. The Jedi Master did understand her frustration, the waiting and the tension from not completely expressing their love for the other. A line had been drawn by Vu’thari in regards to their relationship due to the teacher-student relationship. She had begrudgingly accepted the idea that they would talk about this when she became a Jedi Master. But what neither of them counted on was the two of them growing closer and closer. Of course, the desire was to throw such a silly restriction to the wind and give himself to her completely: mentally, physically and emotionally. But his duty as a Jedi Master kept preventing such a thing. Vu’thari wanted no doubt in his mind, in Ayasha’s mind, in anyone else’s mind that he gave any sort of favor to her in the promotion and title of Jedi Master. He wanted to be sure that his mind was clear if she were to be elevated. Although this would be hard to explain to her, he decided transparency was the order of the day and he would try.

“Ayasha, I—“

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

Alarms began to sound in the Apogee. The modified exploration vessel came out of hyperspace at the coordinates that were plugged in. Ayasha and Vu’thari were staring at yet another asteroid field. Quickly, the twi’lek’s fingers danced over the controls of the long range scanners. They were right at the edge of the field. The Jedi Master groaned. His brow furrowed in confusion as he spoke aloud, “Strange. While this whole system seems full of asteroids, I am sensing a large body deeper within. It seems like…a planet. This planet must be Eclipse. I knew these coordinates would dump us out in the Deep Core, but I wasn’t sure exactly where. But according to the star maps, further in this asteroid field is Eclipse. It was last spoken of five centuries ago, but nothing since. It does not show up on the main databanks…”

Fortunately for the pair, the Apogee was equipped with an array of long range scanning devices and a powerful data collection suite. As the Apogee moved closer into the asteroid field, the twi’lek powered them on and began to survey the planet. It did indeed appear to be Eclipse. It took nearly an hour to get an accurate reading on the planet that was devoid of recent settlements, maneuvering through the asteroids. Fortunately, this was something Vu’thari had done before in the Apogee. Only this time, the controls were even more responsive due to his installation of burst thrusters, which allowed the Apogee amazing maneuvering feats.

It was still nerve wracking, dipping and dodging through the treacherous area of space, but they were making great progress. Eventually, the Apogee got close enough to see through the viewport that it was indeed a planet. The long range scanners picked up no settlements, except for one. It was right in line with where they emerged from hyperspace, which sealed the deal for Vu’thari. He explained to Ayasha…

“I picked up a small settlement down below. We don’t know a thing about this planet. In fact, I am not even sure who or what knows about its existence from 500 years ago. I think we should make a subtle approach and investigate on foot…thoughts?”

@Wolf

 

[Ayasha Waya]

There was a mounting tension filling the cockpit of the Apogee and though the silence was not awkward between the pair as it once had been, it was heavy. It had not been Ayasha's intention to react with a chill in her voice, but she could not help what was there in her emotions beneath the surface. Certainly the woman could not hide these things from the one with whom she shared a Force Bond. She loved Vu'thari and if he could only give her the occasional reassurance that he felt the same but nothing more...then she had resigned herself to a life of loneliness. Still, she clung to the truth that part of him was better than a life void of the one that had quickly become her best friend and then so much more.

Ayasha felt Vu'thari glance at her but she continued watching through the viewport. She could sense him desperately looking for the right words to convey what he thought might help the situation, but there was hope in the woman's heart that he would decide on silence instead. Vu'thari had spent so much time and energy holding up the line between them that they dare not cross. In doing so, he had denied himself to experience the full scope of her love that was true and lasting. “If he thinks I would sacrifice the greater good for anything... maybe he doesn't know me at all,” Ayasha thought to herself as she leaned her head against the window.

She wondered if this heartache would be worth it in the long run, and at times she had convinced herself that it would be. Then there were the moments when she felt the most alone and she considered disappearing from Vu'thari's world completely in an effort to make his life less complicated. Still...the memory of the unexpected kiss lingered upon the Knight's lips. Even at this moment, she could recall how it felt to finally convey her love to the twi'lek in a physical expression. This memory along with so many others were what spurred Ayasha on as she hoped for a future with Vu'thari...even in spite of how she felt in the present.

“Ayasha, I -”

The Knight closed her eyes, expecting Vu'thari to begin the inevitable explanation about how they would speak about these things when she became a Jedi Master but for the time being, they had a duty to the greater good. The woman wondered still how the twi'lek could assume that with a title, suddenly Ayasha would be less inclined to sacrifice the greater good for his sake. As Vu'thari said the words, the Knight prayed that he would stop. “Please don't...” she thought to herself when suddenly alarms began to sound and indicator lights began to flash upon the control panel. “Saved by the bell...” Ayasha thought to herself as her eyes flashed open and she abruptly sat up in her seat.

“Eclipse. This planet must be Eclipse,” the Jedi Master began speaking his thoughts into the space between them as Ayasha leaned forward and took in the enormous planet that had so suddenly come into view. Vu'thari continued explaining how he knew that the coordinates would take them into the Deep Core, but he was not exactly sure where they would end up. The Knight studied the surface of the approaching globe and she smiled as she began to wonder how long it had been since anyone had set eyes upon the planet.

Vu'thari went to work scanning the surface in an attempt to get an accurate reading of the planet and its possible settlements. Soon, he was explaining that in fact, there was one located as the data came pouring in. “I picked up a small settlement down below. We don't know a thing about this planet,” he began as Ayasha's eyes shifted between the viewport and the Jedi Master's face. He admitted that he was unsure of who or what even knew of the foreign world's existence from five hundred years prior. “I think we should make a subtle approach and investigate on foot..thoughts?”

Ayasha nodded in agreement. Though she was uneasy for the sake that they would be walking into a strange environment without a clue as to what or who might greet them, she was confident in their skills individually and their abilities to work together to overcome any obstacle. “I think that is a wise decision. We can scope out the surface as we draw nearer and if all else fails, we can send SawDip out ahead of us...” the Knight turned around and chuckled as she glanced at the little astrogation droid. He beeped and whistled in tones of displeasure to which the woman gave a mischievous smile.

In addition to developing a firm grasp on binary, Vu'thari had been teaching Ayasha the language of his people - Ryl. She had been studying outside of their time together in hopes of becoming just as fluent in the tongue as she was while speaking Basic. In spite of the sadness that seemed to linger in the background of the woman's thoughts when it came to the relationship that she longed to define, the Knight had done something special to remind Vu'thari of her feelings for him...for whenever he was ready to take the next step into the future with her.

“I know this...arrangement between us is not always easy,” Ayasha began, hoping this moment would not be tainted by a sudden turn to the painful conversation that she had been attempting to avoid. “Well...I made you something...” the woman continued with a smile as she reached down to her satchel sitting upon the floor of the cockpit. From inside, she pulled a black leather strap that had a few bits of twine hanging off of each end.

One of the woman's favorite pastimes on Galtea had been creating pieces of jewelry between scouting and hunting expeditions. Nearly every member of her tribe wore something made by Ayasha. She had stamped this piece of leather with several words before sealing it and attaching the ties. “Maybe it's foolish...” her eyes fell to the bracelet as a bit of anxiety temporarily arrested her hands, halting her from moving on. The Knight brushed a stray hair from her eyes as her gaze returned to Vu'thari's face. She smiled and reached across the twi'lek's body, taking his left hand and drawing his arm closer. Though she knew the Jedi Master's heart for her, she was suddenly nervous that her gift would be rejected, though she told herself that would not be the case.

As the raven haired woman finished tying the leather band to the twi'lek's wrist, she beamed with pride at the finished product. “I stamped it in Ryl...” she began quietly as her eyes moved across the embossed letters. In the Jedi Master's native language were the following words: GESU TUN MA ESKAA'LIA which in Basic was akin to saying 'I love you', but in Ryl the literal translation was 'I give you my love'. Ayasha tilted her head to the side as she held onto Vu'thari's hand and studied the bracelet. Her golden eyes shifted to his mismatched emerald and opaque pair and she abruptly pulled her hands away.

“I just wanted you to know I've been studying,” she smiled and gestured toward the Jedi Master's wrist before moving her eyes back to the viewport. “So we'll take the Apogee down and scan as we go, then venture out on foot to see what's waiting for us on the surface,” Ayasha spoke as she nodded. “I would venture a guess that nothing has seen the touch of a humanoid in centuries...I can only imagine the strength of the Force in a place like this...” the woman continue, attempting to change the subject rapidly to avoid the dreaded conversation and now, the possibility of her gift being rejected. Her mind was in the awkward limbo that had not existed since the very beginning of the attachment between the pair. “Perhaps I should go change and ready myself...” the Knight said as she pushed off from the co-pilot's seat and placed her feet upon the cool floor.


@Mithias

 

[Vuthari]

The Apogee
Orbit of Eclipse
Deep Core

Deftly, the Apogee dipped and dove through the asteroids. While a few of the smaller ones still bounced off the deflector shield, they finally managed to get clear of the field and into orbit of Eclipse.

Looking over at Vu’thari, Ayasha as she began to speak and revealed that she made him something. He looked at the jewelry with amazement. Taking his hand, she tied the black leather strap to his wrist. Sensing the beautiful woman across from him, she was nervous about presenting the gift. Vu’thari wore an easy smile as he looked to the bracelet and back to her. In a soft voice, “I love this…and what it means.”

As she was about to pull her hand away, he held her hand within his and looked at her, “Thank you. Your trust is not misplaced, Ayasha. Please be patient with me…”

As if the Apogee knew when tension filled moments were occurring within its hull, the alarms started blaring. After giving her hand one last affectionate squeeze, his hands came to the ship’s controls. The ship began bucking and rocking as it entered Eclipse’s atmosphere. The twi’lek’s hands darted back to the stick and throttle, leveling off the modified exploration vessel. The red-hot fire from entering the atmosphere filled the ship’s viewport. It eventually leveled out into the night sky of Eclipse.

Below, the ground possessed a deadlands terrain, mostly devoid of trees, according to the ship’s sensors. Finding a clearing about the same size as the Apogee, the Jedi Master settled the ship down on the rocky terrain, well out of line of sight from the settlement. He approximated that they were a mile out from where the sensors picked up the only settlement on the planet, at least that they could detect. Fortunately, the atmosphere was breathable and though chilly, the temperatures were also ideal.

He listened to Ayasha and listened to her. He nodded with a smile as she told him she had been studying.

"You are getting the hang of it, for sure."

Another awkward silence. These were becoming more and more frequent...

“Perhaps I should go change and ready myself...”

Unstrapping the harness from the pilot’s chair, the twi’lek looked over to Ayasha with a wry grin and said, “Oh well, we enjoyed our pajamas as long as we could…”

With that the twi’lek went and got dressed and called out to the talented astrogation droid, “SawDip, could you open the cargo bay door and dim to red?”

@Wolf

 

[Ayasha Waya]

As Ayasha moved to pull her hand away, Vu'thari held it instead and captured her gaze. “Thank you. Your trust is not misplaced, Ayasha. Please be patient with me...” The Knight sighed and tilted her head slightly as she attempted to mask the pain that lurked in the place behind her golden eyes. The caramel skinned woman parted her lips and breathed deeply as she spoke. “I don't want to do th...” her words were cut short when, as if on cue, a series of alarms began blaring throughout the Apogee. The twi'lek affectionately squeezed her hand once more before setting his to the ship's controls.

The craft began to handle erratically as it entered the atmosphere of Eclipse. Ayasha was knocked back into her seat as fire engulfted the ship, lighting up the inside of the cockpit like midday on Tatooine. The Knight pushed herself up in her seat and brushed several stray hairs from her eyes. It seemed that in just mere moments everything was calm once again. The Apogee evened out in the night sky of the planet below.

The terrain appeared to be void of grass or trees. It was comprised of a rough and rocky landscape lacking even a hint of life. Vu'thari directed the ship toward a large clearing that would easily accommodate its size and set the craft down upon the planet's austere surface.

Silence.

Another awkward silence fell between the pair of Jedi. This was more than frustrating, it was disappointing. They had overcome so much together. They had vowed nothing but transparency to one another...yet here they were, back to square one it seemed.

“It's my fault...it always has been,” the words crossed through the Knight's mind.

The Jedi Master pulled himself from the harness of the pilot's chair and flashed a wry grin in Ayasha's direction. “Oh well, we enjoyed our pajamas as long as we could...” he said as he rose from his seat. The woman nodded and followed the twi'lek down the passageway toward their respective quarters. The woman watched Vu'thari slip into the privacy of his room from the entrance to hers. Every fiber of her being urged her to go against her better judgement and walk through his door so they could clear the air once again.

A moment passed and then Ayasha took a step toward the Jedi Master's quarters...“I can't keep doing this to him,” she thought to herself before her eyes fell to the cool floor beneath her feet and she turned to retreat through the door at her back.

Once in her room, the Knight made quick work of changing into her typical black tunic, slate leggings and charcoal boots. She fastened the heavy utility belt around her waist and secured the holster holding her blaster pistol upon her right thigh. The woman slipped her lightsaber into place beneath the folds of her tunic and turned to face her mirror. Absently she gathered her lengthy locks in her left hand and with her right, tied a band around the bunch at the back of her head.

As soon as the woman had finished readying herself, she returned to the corridor between the pair of rooms. She could sense Vu'thari readying himself and though Force Sight would have allowed her to see precisely how far along in the process he was, she decided against invading his privacy in this manner. “SawDip, could you open the cargo bay door and dim to red?” the Jedi Master called to the astrogation droid from behind his door. The little machine did as he was asked and the ramp was lowered as the ship went into a low power mode.

Ayasha drew in a deep breath, calling upon the peace within the Force. She took several steps toward Vu'thari's room and placed her palm flat upon the door. “Forgive me...” the Knight thought to herself as she turned and sprinted toward the cargo bay, passing by SawDip as she did. She soon was standing beside one of two speeder bikes that the Jedi Master kept aboard the Apogee. Every alarm within her was blaring as she placed her hands upon the body of the bike and slowly pushed it out of its place and down the ramp.

“I keep fighting for us...when will you do the same?” the raven haired woman thought as she turned and looked up at the ship behind her. She pushed the bike away from the craft by several meters, hoping that Vu'thari would not hear her leaving. Ayasha struggled as she held the controls and swung her right leg over the body of the bike. Once she was settled upon the thousand pound missile between her thighs, she keyed the ignition and the swoop hummed to life.

The Jedi's conscience immediately began to protest, but she was quick to tune the critical voice out. “I love you...” the woman said with sadness embracing her words. “...but your life would be far easier without me in it,” her mind concluded with the thought. Without another moment of hesitation, Ayasha hit the throttle and darted off toward the settlement. She was unsure of what, if anything, she would find. What she did know was that she should have never put Vu'thari in this situation.

“I'll find the temple on my own and then maybe you'll see that I am strong enough...I've been strong enough to choose the greater good over you...over us,” her thoughts went on as she gripped the throttle and increased the speed of the bike. Ayasha feared nothing anymore. She forced the emotions from her depths as she flew. She was determined to show Vu'thari that she was ready and capable, even though he had convinced himself that she was not.


@Mithias

 

[Vuthari]

The Apogee
Orbit of Eclipse
Deep Core

The last piece of his ensemble was his belt, which he clasped together around his waist. Uneasiness began to settle into his consciousness. There was nothing to indicate anything amiss, but the Force was rarely misleading. The sound of a swoop flaring to life answered a couple of questions at once: why was he uneasy? How was Ayasha dealing with their tension?

The answers were tied together, as most threads in the Force. The bond between the two Jedi was strong. Even though the swoop was now out of hearing range as it tracked quickly across the landscape, he could sense her desperation and frustration…dangerous qualities in a Jedi. His words projected to her full of concern as if she were standing right next to him…

***Ayasha, please stop…***

There was really not much more to say across the distance between them. He knew that she needed to concentrate on piloting the speeder bike and did not want to distract her. Regardless, he called out behind him as he dashed over to the cargo bay, “SawDip, look after the ship…”

A series of beeps and whistles acknowledged the Jedi Master’s request and he hopped on his own speeder bike, priming the ignition and tearing across the landscape after her. They had no idea what the settlement was before them, but if it were hostile, she would be on her own for a spell. While the Jedi Master had utter confidence to handle herself in a fight, his confidence in her emotional control was eroding. It was going to be her biggest challenge to become a Jedi Master—not combat, not her dedication to protecting others…it was the control of her emotions, which were now guiding her actions…which was a dangerous path to be going down.

The twi’lek laid down on the accelerator, covering the gulf between them quickly. But with a little over a mile between the Apogee and the settlement, she would already have arrived many seconds before he did…

@Wolf

 

[Ayasha Waya]

Ayasha embraced the coursing river of the Force as it flowed through her. She loved the freedom found in flying a swoop, though she was quite apprehensive as she went, this being her first solo ride. Her thoughts wandered to Vu'thari as she was certain he was aware of her absence by now. Like clockwork, his voice entered her mind strong and concerned as if he were right beside her. For several moments, the Knight considered slowing to a stop. She now regretted having left, knowing that they could have easily had a conversation that would have erased the tension once again and they could have returned to being them.

The thoughts were incredibly distracting and had taken Ayasha's focus from controlling the swoop. Just a quarter of a mile from the settlement, there was a loud crash accompanied by a brilliant explosion that could be seen well beyond the Apogee. As the dust settled, silence ensued.

The wreckage of the speeder bike sat in a mangled heap at the base of a tall pillar. The fire continued burning the nearly unidentifiable pieces of the swoop and a plume of smoke carried high into the night sky like a sorrowful message. Aside from the crackling of the flames that licked the crumpled bits of durasteel, the area was void of sound or movement.

Just a few meters from the crash lay a black boot. Not too far from it lay the Brylark hilt of Ayasha's lightsaber. Had there been a set of eyes to survey the site, they would have traced from the footwear to the weapon and then to a set of legs. The body of the Jedi Knight was sprawled out across the cool ground. Though internal injuries were unable to be diagnosed on sight, it did not appear as though she had sustained anything beyond a few scrapes, gashes and bruises.

Seconds before the speeder bike had slammed into the pillar, Ayasha had leapt from her seat and hit the ground in a roll. One of her boots had sailed through the air and landed near the wreck and her lightsaber had been shaken free from its place beneath her tunic. She was fortunate to be alive, even as she remained unmoving and unconscious upon the ground.

Several minutes had passed and the incoming cry of Vu'thari's swoop shook the woman awake. She placed a hand against her hand and slowly rolled over. Blood trickled down between her eyes from a cut above her left brow. Everything hurt, but her head was pounding as if she were standing beside one of the pillars, slamming her skull into it repeatedly. “Ow...” she whispered as her eyes searched the night sky above. The stars overhead were vibrant and twinkling as the atmosphere was free of light pollution.

“Maybe I should have had Crix take me back to Galtea...now look at me. This is why Vu'thari won't move forward with us...it's because of me. It always has been,” the woman thought to herself as she winced and closed her eyes. The woman continued lying on the ground, her legs the only visible part of her from behind the giant stone she had come to a stop behind. Part of her hoped that the Jedi Master would just keep going instead of stopping. Another part of her secretly hoped that he would assume her dead and go on without her.

Then there was the part of her that wanted nothing more than for him to come to her rescue. “I'm so stupid,” she thought to herself with heavy remorse. The Knight knew she should have followed her first instinct. She wished she would have reached out to him to talk through the tension, to clear it once and for all. Instead, it seemed as though Ayasha had made the entire situation worse. “How could anybody love me...”


@Mithias

 

[Vuthari]

Outskirts of the Unknown Settlement
Surface of Eclipse
Deep Core

The Ion Custom streaked through the terrain in pursuit of Ayasha. Seconds after taking off, there was a huge explosion, a brief flash of light followed by a smoke plume. Vu’thari knew what it was and his heart sank. Panic started to grip him at the thought of losing Ayasha. However, the twi’lek calmed himself to a point he could reach out...and still felt her presence – she was hurt, but alive. Letting the Force guide his hands, the Ion Custom came up on the wreckage and he quickly surmised where Ayasha was over by a formation of rocks. Swinging the Ion Custom over, he dismounted near her prone form. Padding over behind the rock, his good eye met hers. Lacerations and cuts had torn at the left side of her face and her small places all over her prone form.

Sensing the woman in front of him, the twi’lek looked over his shoulder thinking he heard something in the distance before turning back to her. Vu’thari squatted down next to the Galtean, sensing her frustration, embarrassment and wounded pride. The twi’lek gave her a small smile and extended his hand, “I love you, Ayasha…please don't forget that.”

He said it clearly and his mind was open to her, so there was a peace and a calm in his mind and in his voice. There was no anger or shame or judgment in what she had just done. Taking her hand, he inquired before pulling her to her feet, “Can you walk?”

They only had a few seconds of looking at one another before the distinct sound of multiple repulsor engines started making their way to their position. Turning around, the Jedi Master faced the two landspeeder trucks that made their way to their position. The atmosphere was not entirely breathable, so they wore full masks and medium armor covering most of their body. Vu’thari counted six of them as the speeder trucks came to a stop and they began pouring out of them. They were armed with blaster rifles and blaster carbines which they hefted towards the pair.

One of the largest of them, human by the looks of it, walked to the front of the band some 12 meters from the pair of Jedi. His voice brokered no negotiation, “Well, well, well…it seems we got ourselves a pair of lost spacers. That lil’ breathin’ mask ain’t gonna protect ya long out here…”

He was referring to the small oxygen masks that he and Ayasha wore to protect them from the toxins in the unbreathable atmosphere. He was right, their masks wouldn’t protect them long, but as long as their exposure on Eclipse was not extended. From the look of the band, which Vu’thari was surprised to find, they had the look and feel of spacers…more than likely pirates judging from their armament and armor.

Vu’thari finished helping Ayasha to her feet and answered calmly, “No plans to stay out here very long. We wished to make the settlement nearby. Is that your settlement?”

“Damn right dat’s our settlement. And ain’t no room fer anyone else. In fact, I would venture ta say that ain’t room on dis planet fer ya either…”

A chorus of chuckles came from the six pirates as they had managed to form a semi-circle around the pair.

The large pirate leader wasn’t done making his point, “In fact, Imma bit curious what kind a ship you used to get thru that asteroid field—gotta be a pretty deft one. We were thinkin’ we might take that ship fer ourselves…what say you?”

Vu’thari sighed and answered the pirate honestly, “I am afraid that is not going to happen…”

The pirates really got a kick out of that and laughed loudly. As the laughter died down, the leader leveled his blaster at Vu’thari and quipped, “Suit yerself.”

And he fired…

@Wolf

 

[Ayasha Waya]

As Vu'thari came into view, Ayasha closed her eyes, wishing she could disappear. She could only imagine what he would say about her abrupt decision to head toward the settlement on her own. As the twi'lek drew near and extended his hand, the warmth of his voice cut through the woman's pain. She had not expected to hear a confession of love in the midst of her mess, but that instead of criticism touched her ears. The Knight's eyes slowly opened as she placed her small hand in Vu'thari's and slowly brought herself into a sitting position. She nodded while wincing when he asked if she could walk. “I can, my head hurts the most...” the woman placed her free hand over a gash upon her forehead.

The pair looked at one another silently for a moment as the woman's hand dropped from the wound to her side. She noticed the absence of the weight of her lightsaber and her eyes quickly scanned the wreckage for the weapon. Within seconds, the Brylark hilt came into view but then the sound of approaching engines caused the Knight to pause in her effort to retrieve her wayward saber. She shot Vu'thari a nervous glance when two speeder trucks pulled up beside the pair.

The group formed a horseshoe around the Jedi and Vu'thari slowly helped Ayasha to her feet. She inched closer to the Jedi Master as her golden gaze shifted across the faces of the pirates. She was unsure of the intentions of those that had come to confront them although anger, fear and aggression were chief among the emotions that crashed over the empath like waves. The largest of the group began speaking as he pointed toward the small oxygen masks on the faces of the pair, mentioning that such a device would not protect them in the environment very long.

Vu'thari commented that they would not be staying very long and that their only wish was to reach the nearby settlement. The pirate responded in hostility, adding that there was not enough room on the planet for either of the strangers. The group laughed among themselves but quieted as their leader began to address the Jedi once again. He gestured in the direction of the Apogee before threatening to take the ship. Ayasha's jaw clenched as she could clearly see the direction that the conversation was taking. The Jedi Master at her side informed the pirate leader that he would in fact not be taking their ship and the group erupted in a roar of laughter.

After a long moment, the guffaws returned to chuckles and then were nearly extinguished as the large man lifted his blaster and pointed it directly at Vu'thari's face. “Suit yerself,” he said as his finger moved across the trigger. Ayasha shot her hand out and with the power of the Force, pulled her wayward lightsaber to her hand. As the hilt sailed through the air, she used her mind to ignite the weapon seconds before it settled into her grip. The timing was impeccable as a bolt poured out of the blaster just as the saber passed between Vu'thari and the pirate. The shot was deflected off into the distance as Ayasha narrowed her eyes and set them upon the large man that had just fired at the twi'lek.

“Not today,” she growled in the glow of the turquoise blade. The other five took several steps back and glanced at one another in disbelief. Perhaps the news of the resurgence of the Jedi had not reached Eclipse, or perhaps they had not believed it. Though Ayasha's head was still wracked with pain and she was sore throughout her extremities, her heart was ready for the fight and she would make her flesh follow. Without hesitation, the Knight sliced her saber through the pirate's blaster and the pieces fell from his hands to the ground beneath their feet.

The opposition did not end their however, and the five others simultaneously pulled their own weapons from their holsters and leveled them at the Jedi. “Looks like yer outnumbered, little lady,” the large man said through a twisted grin as the group began laughing hysterically. “They've never seen us in a fight before. I guess they'll learn the hard way,” the words drenched in amusement slipped into Vu'thari's mind as Ayasha shot him a sideways grin. The statement was far less cocky than it was true...the group really had no idea what they had just done.


@Mithias

 

[Vuthari]

Outskirts of the Unknown Settlement
Surface of Eclipse
Deep Core

Many things happened at once and. Ayasha’s lightsaber lit up the dim lighting and she deftly deflected the bolt. Sensing he actions, the Jedi Master did not opt to block the blaster shot that he knew was coming, but instead called his own lightsaber from the hidden pocket in his tunic and lit up the darkness further with his green-hued lightsaber blade. At that point, all the banter was at an end.

Veering off to the left with preternatural alacrity, Vu’thari deflected a pair of bolts aimed his direction and with his inverted grip, came up through the pirate on the far left before he could pull his vibroblade due to the close proximity. The next pirate in line did get his large vibroblade out and continued to fire his pistol. The other three could not get a shot on the fast-moving twi’lek due to his placing his current opponent in between them and him. The human pirate slashed with his powerful right hand, prompting the Jedi Master to step back, but then he quickly stepped back into the pirate, slashing out across his belly as he passed. A pair of blaster bolts found their way quickly to the twi’lek as the opponent in front of him fell to his knees and out of the fight, no longer blocking their shots. Deftly, the twi’lek deflected one and side stepped the other. A burn grazed his arm from the shot, which did not completely miss, but the Jedi Master pressed on, continuing to wade into the “horseshoe” formation of the pirates, complementing Ayasha’s movements. Vu’thari could tell these pirates were seasoned warriors, so a misstep could be fatal…

@Wolf

 

[Ayasha Waya]

And just like that, all hell broke loose.

The Jedi Master at Ayasha's side drew his lightsaber and ignited the weapon. The vibrant green blade hummed to life in his hand and the pair stood in silence for several seconds. Suddenly the pirates began to shoot and the twi'lek went to work taking them down, one by one.

Ayasha's eyes never left the face of the large man standing before her. A cocky grin crossed his lips as he reached for a vibroblade and began to pull it into his hand. The Knight did not hesitate as she raised her lightsaber in an arching motion from her knees through his arms. He screamed in horror as his hands were severed at the wrist.

The Knight's motions were fluid and flawless as she sought to end his suffering quickly. She pulled her arms down and across her body and swung her blade straight through the pirate's neck, taking his head off in one fell swoop. His body fell to its knees and then to the ground in a heap at the woman's feet.

Just as the man met his demise, Ayasha felt the searing pain of a blaster bolt as it grazed her neck. Her eyes shifted from the corpse to the remaining pirates who had now taken aim on the woman. She quickly lifted her saber and began deflecting the firestorm of shots that rained down on her. Moving toward the group was akin to fighting through a hailstorm and the Knight furiously waved her weapon high and low, side to side to deflect the bolts streaming in her direction.

Another shot managed to slip through her defense and it slammed directly into her thigh. Ayasha yelped in pain, stumbling a bit as she pressed on toward the pirates. They began to slowly step backward as she and Vu'thari approached. The Knight pushed through the pain and leapt from the ground, shooting over the heads of one of the men in a somersault. Her head had been pounding from the speeder bike crash and was now throbbing as she continued to exert herself in the effort against these unforeseen enemies.

Just as one of the pirates was beginning to spin on his heal to face the Jedi, she took a swing with her saber and just like his comrade before him, the blade cut clean through the man's neck. His head fell to the ground leaving only a stump attached to a body which soon followed into a heap at Ayasha's feet.


@Mithias

 

[Vuthari]

Outskirts of the Unknown Settlement
Surface of Eclipse
Deep Core

Only the hum of the lightsabers broke the eerie silence that settled after the furious combat. The Jedi Master deactivated his lightsaber and looked over at Ayasha. She had taken a beating from the wreck and had a few scorching marks from a pair of grazes. Looking over, he said quietly, “Are you alright?”

Although the woman nodded, the twi’lek was not entirely convinced. Padding over to her, he put a hand on the Jedi Knight’s shoulder, giving her a reassuring squeeze, and then walked over to this speeder. Coming back over, he retrieved a first-aid kit from a side container of the speeder bike and quickly went to work bandaging up the blaster burn on her thigh. Then, he placed his hand gently on her forehead and closed his eyes. The Force flowed through the twi’lek, causing her natural healing capacity to speed up within her quickly. Slowly, the wound on her head and the other abrasions would start to mend as time passed.

As the adrenaline wore off, the twi'lek was really noticing the effects of the planet. The temperature was freezing on the surface of Eclipse and the air was to the point of not being breathable. The Force had sustained the pair on the surface for this long, but it was becoming too taxing, especially now. Wrapped in a neat bundle on the rear of the speeder bike was a pair of environmental suits, complete with self-contained air. Unwrapping the bundle, he spread one out that was a bit smaller and handed it to Ayasha, “We better put these on…”

The pair quickly put the suits on that were designed to go over their own clothes. Taking his blaster and lightsaber, the twi’lek stuffed them into the environmental suit’s belt. Cutting on the suit’s oxygen and ensuring a seal, the Jedi Master looked over at Ayasha and said, “The pirate settlement is over the next ridge. Hopefully, we will not see anymore today…”

With that, the twi’lek swung his leg over the speeder and looked over at Ayasha with a grin and patted the seat behind him, “Well, come on…”

@Wolf

 

[Ayasha Waya]

Ayasha's hand fell to her side as her thumb passed over the ignition switch on the hilt of her lightsaber. The glowing turquoise blade disappeared and the familiar hum of the weapon ceased. She returned the Brylark cylinder to its place beneath her tunic and sighed. Her body hurt. Between the crash and the fight not to mention the harsh conditions upon the surface of the planet, the Knight was in rough shape.

Vu'thari looked her direction and questioned her condition. She nodded and waved off his concern. “I'm okay, just a few bumps and bruises...a little blaster burn,” the woman added with a wry smile. The Jedi Master slowly approached and placed a hand on the Knight's shoulder with a reassuring squeeze before continuing on toward the speeder bike where he fetched a first aid kit.

“You are always prepared...always thinking ahead, I like that,” Ayasha said with a weak laugh. It was true, Vu'thari seemed able to plan for things that could not be planned. Though a first aid kit was a simple example, it went far behind this. The way the twi'lek lived, how he worked, how he spoke and carried himself...it was always done with such intentionality.

As the pink skinned alien began to patch the wounds sustained by the raven haired woman, she winced and clenched her jaw. The burn on her thigh was one of the worst she had felt, and the Force knew she had taken plenty in her time as a Jedi. Vu'thari moved on and placed his hand upon her forehead. Ayasha could feel the deep healing waves of the Force washing over her from the ends of her hair to the tips of her toes. She closed her golden eyes and drew upon the endless energy to aid the twi'lek in his healing efforts.

“Time heals all wounds...” while the Knight did not agree with the sentiment entirely, she was referring to her physical ailments and indeed, she knew that she would be okay. Vu'thari stepped away and retrieved a bundle from the back of the speeder bike. He unwrapped it and handed a small suit to Ayasha, noting that they should pull the protective gear over their clothing as they would fare better with the help of the oxygen within.

The Jedi Master gestured toward a nearby ridge and spoke of the settlement. “I hope this was it,” Ayasha said in reply to the twi'lek's statement of seeing more pirates. Without further hesitation, he moved toward the speeder bike and swung his leg over. A grin appeared upon Vu'thari's lips as he beckoned the Knight to join him by patting the familiar place on the seat at his back.

She smiled and placed a hand upon his bicep while swinging her leg over the body of the bike. The raven haired woman slid forward and wrapped her arms around Vu'thari's waist. “Well?” Ayasha playfully quipped as she locked her hands, fully anticipating the twi'lek to hit the throttle without any warning.


@Mithias

 

[Vuthari]

Pirate Settlement
Surface of Eclipse
Deep Core

“Well?”

Smirking, the twi’lek pressed down on the accelerator and the speeder bike shot forward. From the navigation readout, the settlement would be over the next rise. If there was anyone there, they would probably be aware of their presence at this point, so the twi’lek drove the speeder bike around the ridge, approaching from an angle that would allow any opposition little time to respond when they got line of sight. Fortunately, when the two Jedi came over the top of the hill, no blaster bolts were there to meet them. In fact, it seemed empty.

Vu’thari let off the accelerator and came to stop atop the rise, looking down into the small encampment that was nestled in a small crater on the planet’s surface. An pair of Overhead-class light freighters, that had been modified heavily for combat, sat silently off to the side of the settlement. In the center of the encampment were a ring of modular habitats, complete with pressurized sealed entries and attached oxygen tanks. There were many containers stacked up at various spots in between the habitats as well. All of these items seemed to be well-maintained and fairly new. However, in the center of the encampment was a scene that was completely out of place…

A large rock formation sat naturally on Eclipse, but it was worked stone that had taken the form of a cave entrance surrounding leading to a walkway that went down below the planet’s surface. He looked back at Ayasha and pointed to the formation. She nodded, noticing the same thing. Throwing his leg over the speeder bike, he and Ayasha cautiously walked down the side and into the encampment proper. There was no signs of any other inhabitants. Looking over at one of the displays on the side of the entrance to each modular habitat, Vu’thari read the information that was displayed: oxygen levels, humidity, structural integrity, and most importantly, “occupied” or “unoccupied”. Methodically, the Jedi Master went over to each habitat and read the “unoccupied” readout for each one. Reaching out, the twi’lek trusted in the Force and also did not sense any others in the area besides him and Ayasha.

Satisfied it was just the two of them, Vu’thari made his way over to the ancient entrance into the side of the rocks. While the outside of the entrance was unremarkable, it changed once he clicked on his lights atop his helmet. The stairs went down to a small landing 50 steps down. On the walls, the stone had been worked to create a large mural, showing the struggle between light and darkness. It was represented by figures wielding what appeared to be lightsabers.

Vu’thari mused quietly, “Jedi, Sith and…others”

There was an ancient doorway, carved with symbols that seemed familiar to the twi’lek, but he could not place it.

Looking over at Ayasha once they got to the landing and the doorway in front of them, he said, “I sense something beyond this door, but cannot sense a way in. It seems only wielders of the Force can activate this door. Which explains the pirates' lack of interest down here. Thoughts?”

@Wolf