Private An Ancient Find on an Occupied Planet

[Reedra]

Tython was a cold world and deep in a cave far below what used to be the Je'daii temple rested a forgotten prison most of the pods had failed but one was still active and had yet to be noticed by any of the others that had been here or fought over it. Inside the tube floated a Young woman in ancient cryosleep. She had grey hair that hung in the liquid that kept her body frozen in time. outside was an ancient light whip hilt that was near her along with dark grey robes with silver trim though time was not kind to them. Also setting beside them where three books with no titles.

Vulpesen

 

[Vulpesen]

Tython, the home world of the jedi. Recently, it had been taken by the sith... again. Still, such inconveniences had never really bothered Vulpesen. Even if the sith came to search for them, they would likely assume they had only found one of their own, the Valde's dark cloak wrapped around him like a protective blanket. It was that cover which allowed him to search the more secluded temples with impunity.

Cracking his way through an ancient door, the Wilder muffled a dusty cough as debris and grit released itself from the weathered threshold. "Someone needs to hire a new cleaning lady," he grumbled as he slipped into the room, his lightsaber igniting in a beam of black and gold to help illuminate his way. Most of the room was darkened by age, its various pods holding skeletal and mummified corpses... save one. The pod held a faint blue glow which instantly caught Vulpesen's attention. Extending a hand, he gave Ace silent command, the Astral blue wolf scampering from his pocket and along his arm to find himself a nice hiding place while Vulpesen approached the pod.

His first step was to call the lightwhip to his hand with the force. Whoever was inside might have been locked up for reasons acrimonious to his own morals. After that, he started to snoop around, his tail flicking as he tapped and prodded at any nearby panels to maybe find some clue as to what was going on with the suspended prisoner.

Reedra

 

[Reedra]

The lightwhip shot to his hand and it pulsed with the force it seemed to almost ignite but then didn't and fell silent. it had a smooth shaft and no clip to it and no power switch the opening was focused to a fine point but looked like it should be adjustable. The prisoner inside the pod was unmoving though the pod seemed to light up and the sound of an old force reactor booting up could be heard

When the intruder started to inspect the consoles one booted up and seemed to give medical read outs for all those in here most where listed as executed. When he got to the bottom of the list though he would see that the one pod he knew was active showed the Name Reedra was a symbol beside the name. The console then gave vital read outs showing she was alive healthy and still in stasis but it appears that the process to wake her had been activated. "Waking Prisoner Reedra for final verdict." The system gave no further information on what was going on.

Behind him would be the sound of liquid being drained from the pod. Then clamps as the woman was suspended in the pod and the cylindar opened leaving the woman dripping and still slightly unconscious. "Seems my death has come. I have lived by the laws of Bendu I have done nothing wrong." She then coughed and some of the blue fluid hit the ground.

Vulpesen

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen's ears flicked as the machine spoke. "Prisoner?" Instantly on guard, the Valde turned and backed way from the pod, tucking the ancient weapon behind him as he produced his saberstaff. The silver hair woman that was revealed from beneath the blue liquid seemed rather resigned to her end as she came to, and Vulpesen's suspicions only heightened. Not only was she a prisoner, she was one that deserved the death penalty. But... by who's standards?

"Not sure who you pissed off, miss, but it seems you've already served a few life sentences in that pod." His saber remained unignited, though at his side while he spoke. "Listen, I frankly have no idea what's going on here, so if you could catch me up, it'd be appreciated." So far, she seemed peaceful enough, considering she hadn't woken to reach for her weapon, or attack him upon opening her eyes. Still, situations could change quickly, especially when people were confused or thrust into unfamiliar situations.

Reedra

 

[Reedra]

Seeing a man she did not recognize and hearing his words it took a second for her to understand. She looked about seeing the death and rot in the area. "It seems the the Bogan took those that did not deserve life. Though Ashla saw it fit to spare me." Her body was held her cloths obviously decayed over time the clamps held her secure though and did not allow her movement and she did not struggle.

"I was said to walk none of our paths but if not the Ashal or Bogan all that was left was the Bendu which they stated I also did not follow. I was called a haritic and considered an apostate I was sentenced to Cryo sleep for forced meditation on the path I walked. As I simply did what the force required of me. I do not use it as a tool I also do not treat it as a friend. I simply am the ambassador of its will. If you are to be my executioner then at least you know my truth." Her voice feel silent and she bowed her head closing her eyes awaiting sentencing.

"Please state the verdict of the Council of Masters." The voice stated as the it lowed an arm with a sharp rod attached to it awaiting an answer from the only other person in the room that was not the prisoner.

Vulpesen

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen's ears flicked as the woman spoke, still thumbing the activator on his lightsaber. Bogan, ashla, and bendu? They were words that he had heard of, reading them in ancient texts on proto-jedi cultures. One thing was becoming readily apparent. He had unearthed a fossil. Thankfully, he also knew enough to understand some sort of context with her explanation. She was a force user from a far more regulated age. She was a black sheep and she was punished for it. The only question was, what made her so different that they locked her away?

The question as to what to do with her was far simpler. Whatever he crimes, there was no way he could accurately judge them given the passage of time. Beyond that, he was beholden to his own code and considering that she did not appear to be a genocidal tyrant, and certainly wasn't a traitor to his own people, death simply wasn't on the table. "Time served. Sentence commuted in light of extended incarceration." His hand reached to his belt, removing his pistol to be levelled at the droid, jsut in case his answer was unsatisfactory. "Welcome to the future, miss. I feel like we have a lot to talk about."

Reedra

 

[Reedra]

Vulpesen's words where effective as the droid helped her to stand and the clamps on her arms and ankles where released though bruised in those areas from the droid she was otherwise healthy. she glanced at the rags that had once been her robes and they lifted pulling to her and wrapping about her hiding what had already been plain to see. She walked over and lightly touched the books as the floated and opened dust falling from them the pages gently turning. "My friends you have not been cared for in some time." The books then closed and she looked to the man standing there that had given her freedom.

"Greetings and when you say Future tell me what year is it?" she had not realized that an entire age had come and gone while she slept. She stared at him and held out her hand. "Return what was taken." She asked/stated politely or as politely as one could make such a demand. "I spent many a night working on that and risked trips through the infinite empire to create my partner. I would like them returned to me."

She realized that everyone she knew was gone by his words that what she knew was in consequential to him most likely. and just smiled and she pulled her hair back and pushed more of the blue liquid out of it. "Once I have my partner returned we may speak at great lengths if you wish."
Vulpesen

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen let out a low whistle in response to her mention of the infinite empire. A student of history in his youth, it was a time that was rarely mentioned. Reedra's time among them made her perhaps the oldest person he had ever met. Which raised quite the issue in raising her question. "Its the year 900... ABY. I believe the infinite empire's been collapsed for over twenty-thousand years."

Given that there only seemed to be a single thing in the place that might be considered hers, it wasn't hard to guess what the woman was requesting from him in terms of her "partner." Holstering his pistol, he pulled out the lightwhip and offered it to the silver haired ancient, his golden eyes running over her. "If you want, we can probably head to my ship. I might have something a bit more fitting for you to wear." Sensing no immediate desire from to attack him, he also placed way his own saber, clearing his throat. "By the way, I'm Vulpesen."

Reedra

 

[Reedra]

She watched with her hand out stretched she listed to him. so much time had passed how had she been in cryo so long with no one having come. She let that question go it didn't matter what mattered was the man before her that had given her life. She watched as the Lightwhip was presented once it was before them it seemed to pulse with the force again and lifted moving over towards her as its configuration seemed to change and fall into her hand and she gripped it comfortably. "Welcome home my dear."

His next statement of heading towards his ship was the next step to exiting granted she was free she felt beholden to him for this freedom. "Then lead the way." She stated he figured he already had her name as the droid announced it. feeling there was no reason to restate the obvious she nodded to him. "A pleasure to meet you Vulpesen"

She would let him lead the way trying to figure out what the force had done with the universe and what wonders she would see as the infinite empire was gone what had their tech done to better the lives of those left now that the oppressions had been taken away with the fall of such a cruel species. She had hope for what she would find.

Vulpesen

 

[Vulpesen]

Before turning to the entrance, Vulpesen reached up and unclasped the cloak of his armor, presenting it to Reedra. "Not much, but it'll keep off the chill until we can find you some proper robes." With that, he turned and started off to the exit. Behind him, a black brush of a tail flicked, each movement coinciding with a curious thought as he mulled over what was happening around him. Perhaps not the strangest of his circumstances, but certainly a memory he'd not lose any time soon.

"Where are you from?" he asked as they walked. The galaxy was a large place, but in his experience, most of its systems and planets had managed to maintain their names throughout the millenia. Basic, as ubiquitous as it was, had proven itself to be a rather hardy and durable language, capable of surviving the ages with relatively few changes, if any.

Reedra

 

[Reedra]

She watched him and took the cloak offered. She was confused by the offer but placed it around it was oddly warm. "Tell me... In this era is it required to cover everything or has modesty become the norm?" Noticing his tail she raised a brow. It wasn't odd per say but it was not something she could place her hand on as the Cathar where the only race she could think of with a tail like that and he was far from one of those. "Have the Cathar evolved? Did I miss a major evolutionary shift?"

She followed as the crystal chamber popped open and out floated a crystal with circuitry and tech connected to it. "My friend Might I place have a shard for the one who has given us both a new chance at life?" She sighed looking at the crystal as she followed him. "I do not know of a better way to give him payment for what he has given us. Do you wish I offer myself to him?" She asked the crystal as if the two where having a private conversation.

The Crystal wasn't anything special aside from it could always grow and provide a shard that would also grow on its own provided you treated it with respect. She smiled and nodded. "Thank you my friend I feel bad as I know this does hurt but thank you for this gift of life for a gift of life."
Vulpesen

 

[Vulpesen]

"I think Modesty is fairly common. Though it depends on where you are. You'd probably be evicted from Zeltros for wearing anything that covered your midriff. I simply offer robes because that's what I have on my ship." Her question on the Cathar caused a flick to his ears and he peered back at her with curiosity. "I don't think so. I've only known a few Cathar in my day, the most prominent was rather recent." Jonyna Si , the newest member of the jedi council, and an increasing pain in his tail given their philosophical differences. At least he could say that he had helped teach her some of what she knew, even if she was loathe to admit it. Beyond her, he had rarely had reason to visit the feline planet, and most of his experience with similar species had been with the Togorians he saved in his younger days.

His ears flicked once more as he listened to her converse with her saber. Shards were a rarity in his experience, but not beyond the realm of his comprehension. It only took him a moment to realize what she was talking about. More shocking was her final query to the weapon which caused an instant flush of heat to his face. Instantly, the Valde was beginning to regret giving her his cloak, and with it, the protection that might have been offered by its hood. It would be wrong to say he was disinterested in the idea, though it was more that he'd been too caught up in the moment to consider it. And he preferred such things to be more than a simple 'reward.' "Erm, I don't think any such things are necessary. Thank you, but saving a life, and one so rich in ancient knowledge is reward enough for me. Though if you insist on a boon, I wouldn't mind taking a peek into those books of yours. I'd hate to be the cause of any discomfort, and I've enough access to crystals for my saber."

Stepping out of the cave, the pair would be greeted by a massive vulpine creature with five tails which swayed and waved in the air. Intelligent eyes darted between Vulpesen and Reedra, and a low growl rumbled in its chest. Instantly, Vulpesen reached to the natural force and placed a hand out to keep his newfound companion from doing anything rash.

Vulpesen's heartrate was elevated. She was armed and moving behind him. He was under duress. Hostage situation. "Hirshe. Ia sen yerna," the Wilder spoke in a soothing tone, his voice carrying a slight growling rumble as he dipped into his native tongue. Instantly, the fox calmed and sat down, her teeth hidden once more in her jaws. "Reedra, this is Shadow. Shadow, Reedra."

Reedra

 

[Reedra]

She was not used to someone refusing opportunity when it knocked in fact she was more used to having to fight people off her. as he mentioned not wanting the shard his ears would of picked up a slight crack sound and then a rush of immense pain that coursed through the cosmic force. She held the small shard and placed it on the books.

"I thank you my friend you have always looked out for me and if you would of waited as I have told you to before we had a third option." She stopped seeing the large fox but didn't move and wasn't scared and simply smiled. She walked as Vulpesen calmed it down and she bowed to the creature in greeting.

"Its a pleasure to meet you Shadow you are adorable how did you come to meet the man who saved my life?" She asked the Fox she was speaking slightly in Vulpesen's Native tongue though broken as she hadn't heard enough yet to get a full grip on it but she seemed to get enough of a hand that it would be broken. She looked to the creature that she had this urge to just go touch and hug and analyze and get lost in its fur.

Reedra coughed a moment realizing that she had spaced out in her thoughts about was he warm was he cold was its fur soft or course was it made for arctic weather or temperate climates where the teeth sharp for its size or sharp for all sizes. the quests hadn't stopped. She looked down tot he books realizing that she hadn't answered his questions about the books.

"You may scan copies of them yes though I am surprised you do not have copies of your own are these lessons not taught anymore?" She asked quizically.

Vulpesen

 

[Vulpesen]

Vulpesen winced as the pain ran through him, his tail lashing irritably as the crystal’s agony rang through the force. He pondered further protests, but what was done, was done. Now, he simply watched as she offered a bow to Shadow and started to speak, her voice taking on the slight growl of the Zorren tongue, or at least, as close to it as a human could get. “Shadow was given to me during the Veran war of independence. She’s been at my side ever since.” He stepped forward and ran a hand along the fox’s neck, his ears picking up the swishing sound of five tails wagging in comfort.

With a beckoning of his hand, he motioned Reedra over as he spoke. “I wouldn’t know. I haven’t had a chance to read them. I’d be very interested to find out, though.” He reached over and patted Shadow’s back, right at the base of her tails then stepped back. With a singular swish the tails swept over, forming a sort of five step staircase to the fox’s back which allowed the Zorren to step up and mount the beast.

No longer flustered by the series of strange events that had plagued their meeting, and of a clear enough mind to answer the strange looks the woman was giving him, even now, regarding his rejection, Vulpesen cleared his throat before speaking. “About earlier, I didn’t mean any offence. I simply prefer that such things be done for reasons beyond payment and compensation. And I think your culture as well took to wearing clothes. I simply offered mine because the ages haven’t been kind to yours.” Reaching down, he then offered her a hand to climb up as well. “Gonna be a long ride and I’m sure you’d rather not spend it on your feet.”