Ask Coruscant What's Cooking, Scary-Looking?

[Nykoria Tallis]

Apartment block 42-C-1231, Coruscant
Local time: 12:32 PM

Taking visitors. After a decade spent in a monastic order, the concept had become somewhat foreign to Kori. And yet there she was: mixing green and blue milk with scrambled eggs on the frying pan, struggling to remember the proper time to season it. The Zeltron may have the master of lightsaber and the Force, but cooking... she was but a learner again. Why couldn't Izel pick a weekday? We could've been meeting at the CSF Academy and avoiding all of this! However, Nykoria had no choice in the matter... In a lot of matters, actually.

On the bright side, she has a solid place to crash at. The old family apartment remained mostly hers. Except for Kori's very own room, which was now occupied by her younger sister. You can imagine the old Zeltrons' excitement when they realized that their long-lost daughter was staying on Coruscant for a while. As a form of rent, they left the younger sister—who apparently couldn't skip classes—in Kori's care and took off to visit her older brother on Kuat.

But for now, the kid was still at school, and Nykoria was struggling with the eggs. With a white T-shirt and black sweatpants, the Zeltron didn't look like a Jedi at all; even less so a Master. Only the burns on the face told that there was more to that woman than met the eyes. And the smell told that Kori was on the verge of burning the eggs. "Kriff!" the Zeltron cursed outloud, glad that her sister wasn't around yet. That's exactly when the doorbell had to ring!

"Coming!" Kori scoffed, realizing that she had to pick up the pace. Instead of splitting the meal with a spatula, she levitated the brown mass of a meal and slapped it into the two plates she had prepared in advance. Mom definitely makes it look and smell more delicious. But there was no time for second thoughts. When duty calls, don't feed the doubts... Or something like that.

The Zeltron knew who was coming even before she opened the door. Izel Thral was one of her oldest friends in the Jedi Order, so Kori had learned to sense her unique imprint in the Force among the many Jedi she had worked with. That's why she opened the door smiling already; although the smell of her concoction in the kitchen kind of detracted from the smile's radiance. "Izel! Come in, make yourself at home!"

In the meantime, the back of her mind focused on the two plates still standing in the kitchen. She had been practising telekinesis without gestures or eye contact for a while now, and that was her exam of sorts. While she was meeting and greeting her friend, the two plates floated from the kitchen towards the small table in the dining room. Kori could almost see them, even though her brown eyes were clearly looking in the other direction. Come on... Amost....

@Reyn

 

[Izel Thral]

All things considered Coruscant seemed to have recovered from the most recent attack quite quickly, Izel mused as she made her way towards her friend's apartment. While there were remnants of the panic, such as a slightly increased police presence and a general air of anxiety, everything largely seemed to be back to business as usual. Perhaps that was due to Coruscant being such a massive and overpopulated world that one attack, no matter how serious, could not hope to slow the whole machine. Or perhaps it was just a collective attempt to show the universe that the people of Coruscant would not be broken by the actions of a few mad terrorists. She hoped it was the later, more inspiring.

But she hadn't come here to dwell on galactic events. The Vratix had been far too fixated on that lately. She was going to have a relaxing day if it killed her. And Nykoria's promotion to the rank of master was the perfect occasion. What with the nature of their profession Izel hadn't seen the Zeltron in some time, and thus hadn't had the opportunity to congratulate her until now. While just a bit envious, her feelings were overwhelmingly positive on the matter. She could think of none more deserving than the honor, given all of Kori's most recent efforts to strengthen both the Jedi and the galactic community as a whole. She was giving everything she had to the Guardians, the recognition from the Council was well deserved. And some celebration was in order.

As she neared her destination the Vratix checked her bag again, almost obsessively. Still there, obviously, who would steal it? It had been no small task finding a vendor on the planet that sold Knytix soup, let alone fresh. It was an especially rare delicacy on her homeworld, usually only offered as a sign of tremendous respect. She hoped such a gesture would translate appropriately for the Zeltron. Or at the very least not seem revolting in some way. She was aware most humanoids didn't share such a refined taste.

Holding the thermos awkwardly in her hands she finally reached the apartment she was looking for. Kori answered the door with a smile on her face, although the smell of slightly burnt food wafting over made the insectoid's antennae twitch slightly. Well... If she had ended up ruining their lunch she'd really have no choice then to accept her gift. Without missing a beat the Vratix bowed her head slightly.

"It's nice to see you again Nykoria," She replied politely before entering the apartment and catching sight of the floating plates in the background. "I see you're not shirking your practice." She chittered in amusement before falling silent for a moment. She looked down at the thermos a bit nervously before offering it to the Zeltron. "Congratulations on becoming a master. I wanted to give you something that... Well it's a gift that holds great meaning to my people." She didn't expect Kori to be very well-versed in Vratix culture but the feelings she was giving off through the Force should have been enough to make her intentions clear. After everything they'd been through over the years Izel considered her one of a small number of very close friends. One that could truly be relied upon.

@Catbert

 

[Nykoria Tallis]

Nykoria. It occurred to the Zeltron that her Vratix friend always preferred to use the full name. A minor detail but it still was a little distracting; Kori had always found her full name to pompous and old-fashioned. On the outside, however, it only appeared in the plates landing on the table with a louder clang!, rather than silently. While there was a pause, the purple-skinned woman just shrugged, glancing over her shoulders: "Yeah..." She scoffed briefly: "I do need to catch up on cooking though."

Then, all of a sudden, Izel offered congratulations and extended a gift, apparently "of great significance". Of course Kori took it, and with a genuine yet thoughtful "Thanks..." to boot. How could you say no to those antennae, and more importantly the air around the Vratix, evident to those who could touch the Force? But the nature of the gift did get the Zeltron wondering. So, is that a thermos that holds a great meaning? No, it's warm, and there's definitely something inside. It only took the Zeltron a couple of moments to process that; but she decided to leave it for later. "Come in! I'm just about finished setting the table!"

Holding the warm vessel in both hands, the Zeltron walked backwards as the door closed behind Izel by itself. Then she turned around to gesture the insectoid to the dining room, and the forks from the kitchen followed suit by themselves, landing next to the two plates. Alright, the eggs & milk don't smell terrible. The shade usually isn't as brown though. I'll just try them before Izel does. With that, Nykoria set the thermos on the table—assuming it was food, she wanted to save the best for last—and prepared to take a... Oh, seat!

How could she have forgotten! The Vratix anatomy didn't make humanoid seats too convenient for them. Nykoria had only witnessed that once, during a meeting on Fondor, but it completely slipped her mind since then. What to do, what to do? Is it rude if I sit while she doesn't? It's got to be... Right, that could work! A flick of the wrist moved all the seats away from the table. Then the Zeltron... took a seat mid-air and crossed her legs in the lotus pose with a smirk, leveling herself up perfectly at the table level. It didn't come freely to her, as the position took some concentration. But the Zeltron had been practicing and knew that she could probably eat and talk like that... unless distracted by something. "Care to join me?" she asked with a coy smile, gesturing with her head towards the table.

Regardless of what her Vratix friend would say, Kori couldn't buy grab a fork and taste a small piece of her concoction first. It was... a mixed bag at best. Probably too much seasoning had gone into it, and the thing wasn't as tender as it was supposed to be. Let alone the color. After chewing and swallowing the first piece, Kori's smile grown wider. The thing was edible and not ruined entirely."So, uhhh... How goes it?"

@Reyn

 

[Izel Thral]

Izel's first few steps into the apartment were a bit tentative. After five and a half years in the Jedi Order meeting Kori in a different home setting felt somewhat strange. Almost like she couldn't imagine either of them living anywhere other than the temple. While her host hastily went about finishing the preparations for their meal the Vratix took a brief look around the place.

"So this is where you lived before joining the Jedi?" She asked while curiously examining some of the decorations. "It's very nice." She tried her best to offer a compliment. She didn't really have a large frame of reference for what life was like in urban areas. She watched as Kori pushed the chairs away before using the Force to "sit" on the air itself. Izel suppressed an amused chitter. Well, that was one way to avoid seeming rude. Not that she minded. It was easy enough for her to mimic her friend's display on her own side of the table. She didn't usually try to talk while levitating, but given her own growing mastery over the Force, which far exceeded her more physical talents, she figured she should be able to keep up. Her antennae began to twitch a bit from the extra concentration, but she only needed a few moments of silence to acclimate before responding to Kori's question.

"Very well." She answered cheerfully. "Operations lately have mostly gone off without a hitch. Isen's training is coming along nicely. And my own studies are proceeding at a good rate as well." She paused to look down at her plate, picking up her fork and trying a bite of the eggs. Her antennae twitched again. Well... It certainly wasn't her mother's cooking but it wasn't bad... It wasn't inedible. She took a sip of her milk and made herself take another bite before looking back to Kori. "How are you?" She tried to keep the conversation going lest her friend catch wind of her less than stellar response to the meal.

@Catbert

 

[Nykoria Tallis]

"Well, this is I was born and grew up. Spent a few years at the Coruscant Security Academy afterwards...." Nykoria replied when Izel asked her about it. That all seemed like a long time ago: stealing and crashing a friend's swoop bike, being sent off to the academy to avoid repercussions... And then having to leave the academy for the Jedi Order. To think of it, Kori had never told anyone about it. Maybe her own Master, but time had erased even that.

Regardless, those memories did detract from Nykoria's mood somewhat... Although Izel alleviated it with her own cheerful reply and demeanor. Unlike her insectoid friend, Kori didn't take her sweet—or in this case, spicy—time eating her lunch. The sooner she'd handle it, the better. Especially since Izel was doing the talking. When the Vratix did ask a question though, the Zeltron nodded and replied after a few moments of chewing through her own cookery.

"Doing well enough, I guess," she looked away from her plate and at her Vratix friend. "After the attack on Ranger HQ, I've been working at the Academy. Teaching cadets and Ranger volunteers how to handle Force-sensitives. Even getting a salary for that, can you believe it?" To think of it, that did sound like something to be proud of. Caring about material possessions was hardly befitting of a Jedi Master. But Kori didn't have to worry about it in front of Izel of all people.

"Bought myself a swoop bike with that money..." There was a sudden glint in the Zeltron's eyes, as her smile grew wider: "Totally not going to crash it into a skiff this time." A reference that Izel might or might not remember, as it had certainly been a while since their little adventure in the Alaris system. Regardless, there was something else that Nykoria wondered about. Without a gesture, the thermos levitated from the table towards the Zeltron and turned around the axis, presenting itself from all angles, as Nykoria tilted her hand curiously. "So, Izel... What's in it?"

@Reyn

 

[Izel Thral]

"Oh?" Izel replied with a bit of bemusement to her voice in response to Kori's recent exploits. A salaried position certainly seemed an odd choice for a Jedi, especially a Jedi Master who had other responsibilities. Like training her apprentice. It seemed more then a little inappropriate to Izel for Kori to be focusing on such things when she had a young Padawan of her own that likely needed much more attention then already trained law enforcement officers. She held her criticism back however. She didn't want to potentially offend the Zeltron in her own home.

Instead she allowed herself to chitter softly at her friend's joking reference to one of their previous missions on Trandosha. "Let's hope not." She said before taking another drink from her glass. "The fall would be quite a bit further around here." Reflexively she got a bit nervous when Kori picked up the thermos and started turning it over in the air with the Force, afraid she might accidentally spill some of it's contents.

"Knytix soup." She explained a bit sheepishly. "It's quite good... Or at least I think it is. It was very difficult to find someone on Coruscant that made it. I mean, you're supposed to make it yourself. It kind of defeats the purpose otherwise but..." She stopped herself, not really eager to fully explain a custom that most species didn't really approve of. "The point is it's special. You're only supposed to make it for a very good friend." There was another awkward pause. Her antennae twitched slightly. "It's made from an insect." She blurted out.

@Catbert

 

[Nykoria Tallis]

Although almost silent, Izel's reception didn't elude Nykoria's attention. After all, they had learned a lot about each other in the past. The Vratix always held Isen, her Padawan, as the highest priority. The Zeltron, on the other hand, had more pressing concerns. Back when she had started her anti-Sith initiative, her Jawa Padawan was just a kid. There was no way in the world Kori would take him to fight the Sith. His training necessitated a longer stay on Ajan Kloss; maybe some missions to the safer parts of the galaxy, to handle disputes between farmers.

Kori just couldn't do it. Not while her homeworld was under attack, and the Sith activity was on the rise. My responsibility is to the galaxy as a whole. The war against the Sith won't be won by lightsabers alone. But in the hearts and minds of common folk as well. At least that's how Kori justified something that other Jedi might rightfully consider negligence to her duties.

But Izel didn't bring it up, so neither did Nykoria. Instead, the Zeltron merely smiled to Izel's reception of the joke, and how awkward the Jedi Knight became while talking about her "present". "Thank you, Izel," Kori replied genuinely, with a radiant smile on her face. "It's always the intention that matters." Nykoria had come a long way since Trandosha, so she wasn't going to dismiss the gift outright only because it was Vratix food. Still, you could've omitted the last part. I might not have guessed, and would've felt better about it.

Resting the thermos carefully on the table—it had a meaning to Izel, so Kori had to be respectful—the Master reached out to a nearby cupboard, where she knew the deeper plates were. Kark it, I'm going for it! A Sith didn't kill me, so some Vratix food won't either. On the outside, Kori's smile only grew wider inadvertently: "So, is it ok when friends share their Knytix soup?"

Meanwhile, both Jedi were distracted by the sound of an open door, followed by a high-pitched voice after a while: "What's that smell? Oh, please-please don't tell me we have 'burnt eggs a la Korí' for lunch again! Why not just order takeout?" The shouting distracted the Zeltron from the cupboard for a moment, as her expression got gloomier: "Lani, we've got a guest! Come over to the dining room when you're ready!" But then, a mischievous glint appeared in Kori's eyes: "Actually, is it ok when the good friend shares Knytix soup with family?"

@Reyn

 

[Izel Thral]

Izel hid her relief at Kori's response. So far so good, this was going better than she feared. "Yes we can share it. I suppose it would be a bit strange for me to just sit here and watch you eat it wouldn't it?" She replied with a bit of amusement. She was just about finished her eggs anyway, and while Kori might have been a bit hesitant to partake Izel certainly wasn't going to turn down such a delicacy.

Her antennae twitched just a moment before the door opened, sensing the new but somewhat familiar presence just a moment before she made herself known. So this must have been one of Kori's siblings. A younger one by the sound of it. Her friend's request to share the meal with her sister as well caught the Vratix a bit by surprise. That wasn't normally how this worked but...

"I suppose there's nothing wrong with it." She answered. In all honesty now that she thought about it she wasn't entirely sure herself. Knytix wasn't something you typically offered to a stranger, but if the person you did offer it to wanted to share it? That wasn't really a question that ever came up. At least not in her own experience. "Lani's your sister I take it?" She asked, trying to get back on track.

@Catbert

 

[Nykoria Tallis]

Kori just nodded to both of Izel's questions. It made sense: the soup was probably supposed to be eaten while hot, and it was strange to eat it alone. Maybe the Vratix were more like the Zeltrons an Humans than the Jedi Master had been giving them credit for. As for Lani... Well, she did want takeout food, right?

It didn't take the younger Zetron long to show up. If Izel ever wanted to see what Nykoria would have looked like in her early teens, as a Jedi youngling—sans the robes—she now had the chance. The same dark indigo hair tucked in a ponytail, the same piercing brown eyes; orange T-shirt and black jeans; the sound of schoolbag dropped, and the jaw following suit. An unwitting "Kark..." followed by a loud gasp and a step back. There could be worse reactions to seeing your sister suspended in the air, facing a large scary levitating insectoid.

Nykoria, however, expected something like that, and kept acting as if it was normal, with a wide grin on her face. She didn't even take the accidental swear into account. "Lani, meet Izel Thral, my colleague. Izel, meet Lani, my younger sister." Before the younger Zeltron could add anything, Kori continued: "I'll get the plates. Lani, please get the spoons and a chair for yourself. Izel, mind pouring the soup?"

The kid shook her head and blinked a few times, but the awkward scene didn't disappear. So she'd circle around, giving Izel a wide berth, to grab the spoons as instructed. Meanwhile, three plates flew out of the cupboard, landing in front of Kori, Izel, and where Lani would sit between them.

@Reyn

 

[Izel Thral]

Izel winced a bit at Lani's repulsed, albeit mostly subdued reaction to her appearance. Even if she had grown accustomed to such reactions it never felt good to see them. And she could do without the cursing too. Still, for the most part her outward appearance gave no tell to her feelings, and she dipped her head politely towards the younger Zeltron.

"My pleasure." She said cheerfully to the teenager as she was introduced. At Kori's suggestion her attention turned back to the thermos on the table. Wanting to show the results of her own training she used the Force instead of her hands. Lani would watch with a rather perplexed expression at all the objects floating around the room. As the bowls moved into place the thermos lifted off of the table, the lid slowly unscrewing and floating back town to the table faceup. The thermos then slowly moved around the table, pouring first a bowl for Kori, then her sister, and finally Izel before floating back to the center of the table and gently setting down. The lid then lifted up and screwed itself back on.

At the very least the concoction had a good presentation. Along with the light steam still wafting off of each bowl came a pleasant aroma of expertly mixed spices. There were some types of vegetables and starches floating in the broth that the Zeltrons would have been able to recognize as standard fare in most restaurants, although the primary ingredient was an unfamiliar greenish colored meat. Obviously the titular Knytix. Izel leant down and blew lightly over her own bowl before glancing at the others. Given the smell she could already tell the cook knew what he was doing, enough to trigger a pleasant sense of nostalgia in the Vratix. It certainly piqued her appetite, but she hesitated, worried over whether or not her host would be discouraged by the meal's appearance. For her own part Lani looked a bit skeptical as she poked at the soup's contents with her spoon.

Anxiously Izel twirled her spoon between her fingers as she scanned over the other two women sitting at the table. At least she had the excuse if need be that it was still a bit too hot to eat. But it was quickly becoming awkward again. "So... Has your sister told you much about what we do Lani?" She asked, trying to break the tension a bit.

@Catbert

 

[Nykoria Tallis]

In the galaxy where milk came in all colors, greenish meat—even if it came from an insect—wasn't as much of a turnoff as Nykoria would've feared. In fact, Kori had expected some awfully-smelling green goo with strange consistence. Instead, she got a surprisingly appetizing soup. Besides, as a Zeltron and a Jedi, she picked up Izel's anticipation, and it was somewhat contagious.

On hearing Izel's question, the younger Zeltron cast a quick glance at Kori, before turning her head to the insectoid again and shaking it shyly in denial. "I didn't think it'd be a good idea... Especially given the recent events," she interjected, before picking up a spoonful and tasting the broth. "It's pretty good stuff," the Zeltron looked at her plate in surprise, before looking at Lani again. "You should give it a shot, Lani."

"It's Galania," the girl mumbled in turn, her face turned to the older sister. But she did taste the broth nonetheless, before turning her attention to the guest. It took her a while to muster some courage before asking the question: "You're a Jedi too? What is it that you do? Are you really above the law?" That last question appeared to have caught Kori off guard as well: evident how she turned her face to her younger sister: "Where'd you hear that? I never told you anything like that." To that, the younger girl simply shrugged: "On the Holonet."

@Reyn

 

[Izel Thral]

Izel inclined her head slightly as Kori explained why she had kept much of her time with the Order a secret. It made sense. Telling your family about how you were constantly throwing yourself in life-threatening situations was unlikely to go over well. And Kori was particularly endangered by her involvement in the Guardians initiative. Izel herself often downplayed how high-risk the life of a Jedi was when speaking with her own family, even with them being less prone to an emotional reaction. Compared to her old life, being a Jedi would seem like an insane choice to most people.

Well, at least they seemed to be enjoying the soup, that was a relief. With that potential crisis averted the Vratix happily dug in. To her own tastes Knytix was absolutely delicious, and something she had only eaten a few times in her entire life. It really wasn't an opportunity to pass on. To the others the consistency of the meat would certainly be unusual. A bit crunchy even after being boiled, with a more gelatinous interior. The taste itself was not bad though per se.

Izel perked up in surprise as well at Lani's question. That really wasn't what she had been expecting as a first question, and really didn't bode well if that's what the general public thought of the Jedi. While Kori seemed taken aback by such a statement Izel tried to be a bit more measured in her response.

"I can understand why people might be given that impression." She explained. "Because of our talents we're often approached by independent people and groups for help. Sometimes our aid is even preferred over proper law enforcement. But we'll often act in cooperation with law enforcement and even militaries as well. Let's say the police were having difficulty with a case. They might ask a Jedi to help them the same way they would a private investigator. So no, I wouldn't say we're above the law. As a matter of fact, one of our highest ranking members was held in prison for a time, so you don't have to worry about Jedi acting without accountability." That last statement was meant to be reassuring, but realizing how it might be taken Izel had a moment of panic.

"Uh, not that Master Zapan is some kind of criminal, he's actually really sweet. Everyone loves him. What happened really wasn't his fault, he just... Never mind..." She stopped herself, not wanting to make things sound any worse. After poking at her soup a bit awkwardly for a moment she turned her attention back to the young Zeltron. "To put things simply, Jedi help people, whenever, wherever, and however we can. Sometimes that means humanitarian work, sometimes fighting bad people. We also explore and try to learn new things about the Force. It's all quite wonderful. You should be proud of your sister."

@Catbert

 

[Nykoria Tallis]

The younger Zeltron did look at the Vratix with a degree of curiosity, as Izel went on to give a lecture about the Jedi. She even slurped the soup in the meantime, chewing on the unusual meat. As Izel mentioned one of the Jedi being imprisoned once, the teenager's lips curled up. She had clearly sensed that panic in the Vratix; and her attempts to rectify things were even funnier. Young or not, Zeltrons were perceptive to emotions, and Lani was no exception.

"So, Jedi help people?" Galania shifted her gaze towards her sister briefly, and Nykoria couldn't but nod. "Then how come you never help me with homework? Or don't go punish those bullies at school?" The comment made the Jedi Master shake her head with a wide smirk. But the teenager was already facing Izel again: "I am, and my parents tell me so too, but... It's the first time—in years!—when she's around for long enough. And when this is over, how long until she comes again? Not my words, by the way, my mother's."

The hard questions did catch Kori at an inopportune time, when she was tasting the exotic meat. Though Galania's sudden outburst of questions and accusations did almost make her choke on the Knytix. "Lani... Uhhh, Galania. We'll talk about it some other time, ok?" After staring at the older sister for a bit, the younger one just looked at the Vratix, her gaze and expression telegraphing immense frustration. Kori's own gaze at Izel in turn expressed something along the lines of: "You see what I have to put up with? Harder than a Padawan, this one."

@Reyn

 

[Izel Thral]

Izel was a bit surprised at how quickly Kori's sister opened up about what was clearly a very personal matter, and hardly appropriate given the setting. But then again, she was just a child. She could see how awkward this was to Kori as well. After looking between the two Zeltrons Izel paused a moment to eat some more of her soup before responding. She didn't want to wait for it to go cold after all. After finishing another mouthful she cleared her throat before looking back at Lani.

"It's alright." She assured Kori first. Her tone didn't show any indication of embarrassment, remaining perfectly calm. "I know how it feels to be separated from your family. I've been a Jedi for five years, and in that time I've seen very little of mine. It can be very difficult at times. Especially when you're surrounded by species that look and act so differently from what you're used to. I'd be lying if I said I'm never tempted to abandon the Order all together and return home. But life sometimes demands things of you that you don't want to give up. That's true for everyone, not just the Jedi. Rather then lament that your sister will eventually have to leave, you should celebrate the time you have with her."

After finishing her little speech Izel looked between the two of them again before turning back to her meal. Hopefully Galania would be able to see things from her perspective, although she would understand if the teenager found that difficult. Following the way of the Living Force meant not worrying over the past or future. And all children her age seemed to do was worry. As she swallowed another spoonful of her soup the Vratix looked back to the young Zeltron, antennae twitching slightly.

"But so long as we are here... Perhaps you'd like to learn a few tricks on how to put those bullies you mentioned in their place?" She asked with a humorous chitter.

@Catbert

 

[Nykoria Tallis]

Galania was clearly enjoying the effect she had on the two adults. Surprise, awkwardness, confusion. She was hit by the same emotions as well, but it was totally worth it. Maybe Nykoria herself had forgotten what it meant to be a Zeltron. But one of the things Lani had learned was that "personal matter" was a relative thing. If she felt someone's emotions, what was the point of hiding or suppressing them? So, she asked with an almost infant-like frankness: "If you don't want to give up something, why give it up anyway? Especially when you have an option not to?" The purple-skinned teenager looked at both Jedi with visible confusion and frustration: "It's not like the galaxy will fall apart if Nykoria just stays here. She even got a job already!"

Kori only sighed in turn. This was taking a direction she hadn't foreseen and didn't want at all. Indeed, why was she pursuing the Sith? Her first instinct was to say "To keep the people I care about safe." No, that was only half the truth. After all, if she wanted to keep her family safe, she could've stayed closer to them. That would've done the job much more efficiently. Of course, Kori could say that she cared about the galaxy at large. But was that the truth? The Zeltron wasn't certain of that.

For the time being, she kept eating her soup, as Lani replied to the insectoid Jedi. "Kori already taught me a few tricks," the teenager smirked smugly, her head tilted and her indigo ponytail falling on her shoulder. "Some of them are the same tricks that dad had taught me before Kori and I ever met." Of course, she couldn't pass up on that opportunity, could she? The Jedi Master stepped in for a quick explanation, mainly to Izel: "All Tallises are taught martial arts in one form or the other. As dad always says, if you go out there..." "... you'e got to know how to protect yourself," Galania interjected. "It's not about the bullies—although I'd love to see what you've got on that—it's about having a sister. I know why she had to leave a decade ago, but there's no reason for her not to come home now."

Nykoria just... shrugged in response. It wasn't the first time she'd had this conversation with a bunch of times, and wasn't interested in repeating it again. It was enough that Izel had seen all that. Of course, on the outside, she continued to eat without even reprimanding her sister. Like it or not, Lani had a point.

@Reyn

 

[Izel Thral]

Even though it was Lani speaking Izel kept her eyes fixed on Kori. It didn't take a Jedi's senses to see how uncomfortable this turn was making her. She didn't feel too good about being reminded of her separation from her own family either, but the teacher in her still felt it was necessary to impress on the young Zeltron how important their work was. She continued eating in silence as Lani went off, eventually looking back to her as she finished her little rant.

"It's about having a sister. I know why she had to leave a decade ago, but there's no reason for her not to come home now."

"But that's not true." Izel responded softly. "And I think you know that. That attack on the Sector Ranger HQ that you probably heard about on the news? Things like that are happening all over the galaxy. Nar Shaddaa, Sullust, Ryloth... The list goes on. Nobody but the Jedi are really equipped to fight the people doing these things. If people like your sister and I worry ourselves with our personal desires instead of standing up to them, it's our fault when it happens. It's not fair, but that's how it is."

Doing the right thing wasn't easy. If it was the Sith wouldn't exist. But Galania seemed bright enough to understand that. Izel recognized this as a child just complaining that their older sibling had grown up and left the house. She'd done it herself when she was younger. Noticing her soup was nearly finished the Vratix picked up her bowl and slurped the last of it up before putting it back on the table. The strain of levitating paired with the emotionally charged argument was starting to tire her out a bit, so she put her legs down and stood up to her full height.

"Let's use our time thinking of more pleasant things shall we?" She asked, looking between the two, trying to put on her more usual cheerful attitude. "I'm almost never on Coruscant. Are there any places in particular you two think are worth visiting?" Hopefully a nice little tour would get everyone's mind off this uncomfortable discussion.

@Catbert

 

[Nykoria Tallis]

The revelation that her older sister was involved—or somehow would be involved—in something like that did catch the young Zeltron by surprise. Her mouth was half-open: "So..." Galania's gaze jumped between the two Jedi: "You are involved in all this? The fighting? Against the Sith? Didn't you tell that you were one of the Jedi staying away from the frontlines? Studying the Force and artifacts, reading on ancient lore?" Even though Kori remained silent for a while, there was something different about the teenager now. A certain smugness that grew even stronger, replacing the grudges of old. Nykoria, on the other hand, had to concede defeat eventually: "Yeah, Lani... I didn't want to tell you all, because mom worries enough as it is. And you... We will keep it that way." The last part was spoken rather adamantly.

To the surprise of the Jedi, Lani simply nodded. The smirk wasn't gone though: "As long as you tell me about what and whom you fought." To that, the Jedi Master replied with a mixture of a chuckle and a scoff, before adding: "Alright, sure. As long as we keep it our little secret. Nobody but you, me, and Izel have to know. Deal?" Galania simply nodded again: "Deal."

...​

Izel did defuse the situation that day... At least for a while. Though I couldn't foresee at the time what it would lead to. After all, is it wise to tell a kid that her sister is one of the people going after dangerous lunatics of galactic notoriety? Though Izel alone can't be blamed. After all, it was me who confirmed Lani's suspicion.

As reckless as it was, it was an easy way out. Not to mention that it changed how she looked at me. The revelation meant a lot to me and to her. The Tallises know what it means to wait for the nearest and dearest while they do their duty. Lani just didn't know how important it is... Until I risked the consequences and told her.​

...​

Izel's question hit right home. Now that the mood had improved, both Zeltrons were eager to share their thoughts. A faint smile appeared on Nykoria's lips, as she simply shrugged: "Well, I'm the one who has barely been around last decade... And most places I know aren't up your or Lani's street. You got any ideas, sis?" Galania's smirk was even wider, as she look and felt genuinely surprised: "Really, Kori? You can do better! Aren't you both Jedi? I mean, the Imperial Palace used to be the old Jedi Temple. Have you been there?" The question was directed mainly at Izel.

"Woah, hold your horses!" the older Zeltron chuckled. "Mom was clear on one thing: not going anywhere until you do your homework." Galania's sigh embodied all the disappointment in the galaxy: "Come on, can't you stop being yourself just for one day?" This time, it was Kori who shook her head with a smug smirk. The younger Zeltron looked at the Jedi Master, but didn't get any more comments. With a sigh of obedient frustration, she stood up, leaving the almost-empty plate on the table; just a millimeter of broth and a small piece of particularly tough meat was left.

"And no cheating! I can touch your homework and see if you did it yourself," Nykoria smirked, to further annoy the younger Zeltron. However, it was the conclusion that mattered; it was said in a much friendlier and encouraging tone: "Come on, go to your room. The sooner you get it done, the sooner we can go. I'll wash the dishes." The last comment did lift the teenager's spirits, as she left the dining room. Leaning backwards in her seat, Nykoria just looked at Izel and shrugged with a friendly smile, her own plate empty now.

@Reyn

 

[Izel Thral]

Izel caught herself too late, realizing she had essentially just outed Kori. Stupid, she had been aware that she was trying to hide just how much she was doing so why had she allowed herself to say that? Well, at least Galania seemed to be taking it relatively well. After watching the young Zeltron run off the Vratix sighed in embarrassment.

"Sorry about that," She apologized for letting the truth slip out. "I wasn't thinking. That one is quite a handful, I'm glad none of my sisters are quite so... spirited." She chittered a bit in amusement. She looked towards the apartment window thoughtfully, watching speeders soar through the air like so many ants. "The Jedi Grand Temple. Seat of the Order during the height of our glory. I've never seen it. I'd like that very much." She fell into silence for a few moments, ruminating over their discussion.

"Whenever did everything become so complicated?" She asked softly, mostly to herself. "I think back to when I first joined the Jedi... And it feels like a million years have passed. I had such a different idea of what it would be like..." She crossed her arms and looked up at the ceiling. "I don't regret my decision I just... I keep thinking I'm supposed to wake up any moment now." Transforming from a farmer into some mystical warrior, traveling the galaxy, fighting criminals and wild beasts and evil cults, watching people die. It really was like a dream, or maybe a nightmare. She looked back at Kori.

"We live in truly interesting times don't we?" She asked with some grim humor.

@Catbert

 

[Nykoria Tallis]

Kori just waved off Izel's apology, staring at the nearby wall. To an outside observer, it could look strange, but if there hadn't been a wall, the Jedi Master would've been looking straight at her younger sister. She was probably still listening; at least Kori would've done the same in her place. "Sooner or later, she would've found out anyway," the Zeltron mused, reassuring her Vratix companion, but more importantly herself. "And yeah, Lani is... quite something," she added in agreement, but with a very slight hint of sisterly pride in her voice. "It's funny that she's the one to remind me of the Jedi Temple. I was born here, but never visited or considered it." Regardless, the Jedi had a few hours before the trip.

As she listened to Izel's thoughts, Kori considered her own path to the Order. Did she even have a choice in the matter? Was the life of a Jedi everything she had expected it to be? The answer to those questions was clearly a "No". But would Kori have made a different choice if she had been given it? Not in a million years. "You got that right," the Master nodded. "Hopefully, we'll make these times less interesting..." Kori exhaled through her nose and exhaled at the notion: "But safer."

@Reyn

 

[Izel Thral]

Even without being able to smile, a certain confidence started to radiate from the Vratix in response to Kori's words. "I'm with you there." She said. "All the way, Master Tallis." A bit of a formality among friends, but Izel was trying to make a point. She considered Nykoria a leader worth following. This whole project had been her idea after all, and she was glad to be a part of it.

But everyone needed a break once in a while. The responsibility of their undertaking would be crushing otherwise. If they were waiting on Kori's sister to finish her homework before departing they might be there for a while, but Izel didn't mind too much. It would give them some time to chat.

"You said you bought a new swoop bike right?" She asked with a bit of mischief. "Maybe one day I'll show you my own home. There's an enormous jungle just outside the village. We could have a little race, so long as you're certain you won't crash this time that is..." Izel's mood seemed to have brightened, now that they were moving away from the previous line of thought.

@Catbert