A Past Worth Leaving Buried (Silver Jedi Order)

[Aika Kawakami]

Korriban​

The small vessel slowed its rapid pace as it came out of hyperspace, the red planet just before them and in full view. It was an intersting thing to see. A work which once played home to one of the most powerful forces in the galaxy, and now, it seemed to lay ever silent, never to strike fear into the heart of the galaxy again. Though, in this galaxy, one could never say never...​

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Aika jumped a bit, startled from her meditation within her quarters. It wasn't the first time she'd come to Korriban, but the feel certainly hadn't changed. The sense of emptiness, and ever flowing life. Sensing the spirits that lay trapped upon its surface, even from this distance, was enough to drive one mad. Yet, it was something that had to be done. In her mind, it was something all consulars needed to experience. The feel of the dark side surrounding them, attempting to envelope them. Without a doubt, it was a once in a lifetime experience, and couldn't be found on any other surface within the known galaxy.​

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Rising from the floor of her quarters, Aika made her way to central room. A deep sigh escaping her lips. she approached the holoterminal, striking a few buttons. Suddenly, a hologram of the planet below them emerged. Her head rolled back slightly as she took a step back, sighing once more. This was her first outing leading the Silver Jedi's group of Consulars. She hadn't questioned herself before, so had that suddenly started now?​

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[member="Asaak Tey"] [member="Serra Val Rhia"] [member="Varesk Fey'lya"]​

​

 

[Aeron Zambrano]

With the Silver Jedi hitting the ground and running – a miraculously fast accomplishment though Asaak certainly wasn’t complaining – it seemed it was time to set to work on the individual facets.

If someone had told the Togruta back when she’d first taken up with the Jedi Order of the Republic she would follow a Consular’s path, using her words and the Force alone to solve conflicts, she would have laughed in their face. She was a scrapper from the streets of Coruscant – she was so ingrained in the Underground of that city planet that it was a wonder she’d ever crawled her wretched way out. She fought and clawed, stole to survive. But it had been the Force that had gotten her out, and it was the Force that guided her to the path she chose. She was just as strong here, among her fellow Consulars, as she had been then. Just in different ways.

Korriban was before them, a giant planet painted in hues of red and white, looming as the dark destination of the first true outing of Silver Consulars. Asaak had no idea what was in store for them below even though she’d read all she could of the planet before they came. What hadn’t been lost to time spoke of a past marred by war, despair…and the remains of countless Sith Lords.

Asaak knew Sith intimately: she called for calm, absently stroking the scar that marred her neck before covering it with a lekku.

The Togruta moved through the ship towards the central room only to find [member="Aika Kawakami"] already there. She was the only of the Jedi on the mission she’d formally met and she gave the Master a respectful bow before padding farther in to the room. “Is something bothering you, Master?” she asked. She rather liked that honorific – the last time she’d met with Aika the woman had been a very experienced Knight. She more than deserved her new title. "Besides, of course, the energy from the planet outside our viewport?" she asked, trying to inject some levity in to the situation. It was easy to feel the waves of dark side energy seething through the planet. Asaak had never known anything like it - an entire planet, seemingly aligned?

[member="Varesk Fey'lya"] | [member="Serra Val Rhia"]​

 

[Aika Kawakami]

She could've stood there for hours lost in thought, thankfully, she didn't. Her mind returned to thee present at the voice of the girl who now stood at her side. Her head turned slightly, gaze falling upon the apprentice. Aika was never one to second guess herself, but this was somehow different. She couldn't help but question her motives. Why? Why bring one so young in the Force to a planet that had influenced others for centuries? A planet that was once home to the same group that had plunged the galaxy into darkness so many times. Heck, why had she come?

Realizing that she was being watched, the look upon the Jedi Master's face quickly softened. This was not the time to second guess herself. She could always do that later. After all, there was more than one of her, so to speak. She needed to reassure her close friend's apprentice that everything was fine. Even if that meant lying to herself.

"A mysterious planet, Korriban is. Bathed in darkness, and littered with secrets." Her gaze moved back to the hologram of the planet. "I came here once, with another. Though, for certain reasons, I chose not to walk its surface. So much can be learned from its past. Things that may have been buried here for centuries. And things that no Jedi can, or will, teach to another. But, that alone, is what makes such a trip worth it. Don't you agree?"

[member="Asaak Tey"] Serra Val Rhia Varesk Fey'lya

 

[Aeron Zambrano]

Spoiler

OOC: Sorry this took so long - my notifications have been super wonky for Asaak! Didn't even realize I had a response.

Asaak relaxed slightly when she saw the Master's expression soften, reassured that nothing was wrong besides the aura of the planet they circled above.

She moved closer to the hologram, allowing herself to really look at it. A rather flat planet appearance-wise it seemed, at least from such a zoomed out view. A red expanse broken only by the fluff of white clouds it appeared to be the embodiment of all one might equate with the chaotic, rage-fueled practice of the dark side. She was glad to be able to experience it though despite its dark, almost tragic impression it gave off within the Force. It gave her some understanding, some clarity of events in her past.

She thought [member="Aika Kawakami"] was right. "I do agree. Even if we do not want to learn it, it's important to understand it, in my opinion. You can not defend against an enemy you don't understand," she said, thinking of her own confusion when the Sith had tried to twist her Jedi teachings in to nothingness as they tortured her. It had been her lack of knowledge, the early time she'd been stolen from the Order, that had nearly taken her from the Light. This trip felt like some kind of catharsis.

[member="Serra Val Rhia"] | [member="Varesk Fey'lya"]​

 

[Aika Kawakami]

(OOC: No worries, hun. I'm a patient one. :3)

"That, apprentice, is a perfect way to look at things. Nothing in this galaxy is one sided. Therefore, one must make themselves open in order to fully understand. Everything can't be measured in black and white. Good and evil. Dark and light.." Her boots made an audible click as she began to pace around the holoterminal, eyes fixated on the planet within the hologram. Certainly, she shouldn't have been taking such an adventure. Yet, Korriban called to her, as if beckoning her to stand upon its surface. All on her own, she was a lightning rod for attention. But upon the planet that gave birth to the Sith? It was like walking into a den on gundarks and attacking the mother, but not killing it. Like pistol whipping the sarlac. None of it could end well.

Her steps came to a halt as she reached the other side of the terminal, her gaze falling on the girl on the other side. "It isn't understanding that we're after. You can gain that from a holocron. No, there's something much more precious here. Knowledge. Forbidden secrets that the Jedi want buried forever. I plan to unearth these secrets, and you will learn as you assist."

[member="Asaak Tey"]

 

[Lorna Halcyon]

[member="Asaak Tey"] [member="Aika Kawakami"]

The ship was a strange place to remain and Lorna had chosen to focus on the meditations her master had given her. While the idea of choosing her own path was something new she didn't fully know how to do it. Perhaps learning from going to the place where their greatest enemy was could provide some perspective as the padawan secured the robes she had on and ran her hands through her hair. The faint shimmering of her own energy while it flared and caressed her skin. She might not be the strongest but dammit she was going to work to make Selena proud of her one way or another... Whether it be by being a strong jedi or not embarrassing the family.

Moving from the room and taking a moment for a final check as she held the training saber and her gloves going on over her hands. A small smile tugged at her lips until she came to stand and listen to her master and the other jedi. There wasn't much else she could think about that had been moving forward, choosing a path would be something she had to do and finding advice, finding wisdom wasn't an easy thing. "The sith don't have to be understood that is how we end up with treaties they violate and giving them a chance to literally run for the position of supreme chancellor or able to walk into jedi temples with full immunity." LOrna kept a look on her face but rolled her shoulders in enjoyment of it all.

 

[Aeron Zambrano]

She turned her head when she heard an unfamiliar voice, seeing a human coming to stand with herself and Aika.

Asaak supposed that her motivations where this exploration were concerned were slightly different. For a girl who'd faced the dark side, who'd felt its knife not only against her skin but instead her flesh, cutting through her throat and severing arteries...they'd taken pieces of her. They'd tried to implant their ideals in Asaak's mind and show her the error they believed was her way. So for Asaak, this was about understanding. This was about knowing the minds of those who she would one day face directly again so that they would never sway her. "No, perhaps not," she said to the woman. "But I believe we can have understanding without bending the knee," she offered, a small smile on her face.

She thought she knew the stranger'a name from the mission briefing, but she didn't want to be rude and assume or not introduce herself. "I'm Asaak Tey, it's nice to meet you," she said, bowing slightly.

She looked out the viewport, knowing that what lay before them was a challenge...but one she felt the trio were more than up to.

[member="Aika Kawakami"] | [member="Lorna Halcyon"]​

 

[Lorna Halcyon]

[member="Asaak Tey"] [member="Aika Kawakami"]

"I am Lorna Halcyon." Lorna gave a bow while looking at her master and remembering the lessons Aika had given her about choosing her own path which was what she wanted to do. She would just have to find a chance to work at being a sentinel and this world would be something to show and work upon it. "Master Aika do we have an idea where we are going to go? The tombs closest the academies and ports would most likely be cleaned out several times and the ones deeper in are not always accessible by ships."

 

[Aika Kawakami]

"We're entering the atmosphere, Counselor." The voice came from the cockpit, the familiar tone of security chief, Captain Nova.

Her eyes looked to both of the girl, a small laughter escaping as her eyes returned to the hologram, a formation on it lighting up a blazing red, as if drawing their attention. "It isn't the tombs of the old Sith Lords we seek. Those have long been looted. and whatever remains would likely need multiple Sith Lords to unlock. And Czerka, knowing them, are unlikely to have left anything behind. No, we have a different target. One that holds many secrets within.." Aika turned, her lips curved in a coy grin as she faced the two. "We will explore the remains of the old Sith Academy, and discover what has been buried form the galaxy all this time. Just think of what could be learned within.. The secrets that it can tell.. The things that could be gained..With the knowledge within, one could easily separate themselves from the other Jedi. Can't you just imagine it?.."

She must have been nuts. Aika on Korriban? Considering her connection to the Force, how was this possibly a good idea? To anyone who knew what awaited them on the planet, it would seem she was vaulting into danger..

[member="Lorna Halcyon"] [member="Asaak Tey"]