An overdue start

[Trextan Voidstalker]

Open to New Jedi Order and other lightsided Jedi Orders (Silver, OSL, etc)

It was a blisteringly hot day on Coruscant. Outside the midday sun was exacerbated by the endless miles of duracrete soaking up all the heat. The courtyard at the centre of the new temple provided some respite at least. The floor was white flagstone but the trees and arches provided plenty of shade. Small streams of water ran through channels in the floor to feed the patches of vegetation that had been planted here. It wasn't air conditioning, but it was better than being out on the city streets as far as Trextan was concerned. The youth had never quite understood why statues of Jedi got built. Perhaps he could understand the Church of the Force building them, but having statues to honour past Jedi built by the Jedi themselves felt slightly conceited to him. Still, he would tolerate it for the shade. The was was noticeably cooler near the little streams too.

It had taken years to rebuild the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. Not only had they needed to finish clearing the dark side nexus and structures built by the One Sith but they had rebuilt their temple from the foundations up. It didn't quite have the awe factor of the floating glass sphere that contained the temple on Sullust. In many ways it barely distinguished itself from the skyscrapers that made up the Coruscant skyline. Many had told him that they felt it was right and proper to have a Jedi temple back on Coruscant though.

This was an opening of sorts. People had been in and out during the construction, but today was the formal start of Jedi operating from the temple once more. The last few years they're hired a section of a conference building a block away. If standing under statues had felt off for Trextan, sitting in what was essentially a hotel lobby waiting for padawans had been worse.

For now this was simply an opportunity for Jedi from across the galaxy to mingle. Those who taught at various academies could find student and Knights could forge bonds that stretched between the various Orders.


[member="Rig Grendo"]
[member="Anarya Drast"]
[member="Zen Phoenix"]
[member="Shamira Karuto"]
[member="Zeke Windrage"]
[member="Jerrol Bastu"]
[member="Avalore Eden"]
[member="Bethany Kismet"]
[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]
[member="Coci Heavenshield"]
[member="Gabriel Sionoma"]
[member="Ryan Korr"]
[member="Elmont Block"]
etc

 

[Jamie Pyne]

Coruscant was a place she rarely found herself without direct purpose, one generally involving assignment or political discourse. Her duty to the people of Naboo superseded her curiosities within the galaxy, preventing her from pleasure traveling on a whim as often as she wished. Her second life as a Jedi, however without Order came second, but was nonetheless still an integral part of who she was. After all, her journey into the galaxy started from a fork in the road, one that lead to becoming a Jedi in the first place. It was impossible for Jamie to ignore that aspect of herself entirely. Hearing that the Jedi Temple on Coruscant had finally been rebuilt after years of Sith occupation, Jamie found a way to finagle a trip to the city world.

In her stead back on Naboo, one of her most trusted advisors were left to oversee matters that did not require her direct involvement.

The Nubian shuttle touched down at its' destination, her pilot signaling their arrival over the ship's comm. Dressed in simple floral attire, complete with headband, the blonde secured Rominaria to her right hip before making way for the loading ramp to depart the ship. Jamie was widely unfamiliar with the majority of the Jedi and the various orders across the galaxy, save for their names and their general locations. She held no official rank within any of their respective numbers, and hardly expected anyone to recognize her. Pyne was simply here to take a gander at the temple.

Several minutes would pass within a speeder before she arrived just outside, the scorching heat bearing down atop her as she exited the transport, forming small beads of sweat across her brow the further she ascended the staircase. Azure eyes widened so as to take in the sight of the structure the closer she got to the towering entrance before her. For a long minute she stood quietly, simply admiring the work of those who took part in its' construction.

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

 

[Jorus Merrill]

Central Courtyard
[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

Far as Captain J.Q. Merrill was concerned, the best shade around was an arch connecting the courtyard to a side garden. He slouched against the wall and sucked back half a canteen. There'd been times when the canteen held more than just water, but the occasion called for respectful sobriety. Beside him, right at the shade's edge, Saggy whirred and blooped every time he spotted a ship pass over the courtyard.

"Yeah, we'll be back out there soon, little guy. Let's just look around a minute. Took a lot of hell to get this place back and built. Mara was here, did her part, her and Darron - you remember Darron. Far as I know, this was the last fight he ever fought." He drained the rest of the canteen.

Saggy breewheeped.

"Salvage value? Whole place? Maybe high eight figures. Lotta folks this could have fed. But then again, they're feeding those folks, and people need symbols too."

Bleet.

"No, not electrical symbols."

Brapp.

"Think of it more like a hyperspace compass." Jorus tapped the miniature one on his ring.

Boop.

"No, we can't salvage that either."

 

[Isar Kislo]

He wasn't a member of the New Jedi Order. Not at the moment, at least. In fact the most exposure he had really had to them was a brief interaction with [member="Ryan Korr"]. At the time, Isar hadn't really known much about the man other than the accolades afforded him from the war. However, when he'd finally met his mysterious donor-parents, they opened his eyes to the reality of an existence he hadn't ever truly known. Apparently, Ryan Korr had, once upon a time, been the apprentice to his paternal donor. Isar rolled his eyes involuntarily as he recalled the exact conversation.

"You know Isar. You should reconsider your thoughts on the New Jedi Order. Attempting to learn from Master Korr was probably the smartest thing you could have done. I assure you he had an excellent teacher."

"Yeah. Thanks to me forcing your father into taking him on as an apprentice."

Insert a bunch of random glaring that wasn't serious, laughing that made no sense, and general physical contact that kind of just made Isar glance at [member="Loske Matson"] with a let's get the feth out of here expression. Seriously. If he never had to endure [member="Kiskla Grayson"] and Marcello Matteo together again, he would probably be just fine.

Stepping off the speeder that had deposited him near the entrance to the new Temple on Coruscant, Isar was struck not by a sense of excitement for 'finally being here'. In fact, he had fractured memories courtesy of the splicing effect when combining both Kiskla and Marcello's respective DNA into his being. For a moment, he slammed his eyelids shut as memories washed over him. A large, freak of nature looking Sith. Countless dead bodies. A crumbled Temple. The loss of a leg, and the gut-wrenching pain associated not from the wound but from the thought of having lost someone.

When he finally opened his eyes once more, Isar exhaled heavily and stepped forward, embracing the heat that reminded him of Kiffu.

 

[Cathul Thuku]

As the commanding officer of Therapy Command, she could call upon the Circle of Healers in emergencies, and in turn, the Circle of Healers could call upon them. However, being placed that high in the Alliance naval chain of command meant that she couldn't undertake that many Jedi missions due to the many responsibilities of running a major naval command. While the Rogue One Sith still lurked at large in the sector, it was understandable if the NJO took precautions not to let the construction be too conspicuous. And for some reason, Star Tours had the audacity to open tours to some location they mistook for a Jedi Temple, elsewhere on the planet. Admittedly it was meant to be temporary, while the real Jedi Temple was being built right there. Prior to completion, that interim, illegitimate even, Jedi Temple was criticized as being a glasteel house, in that the Jedi could train in full view of the abundant visitors, and hence seldom used, but it was where Cathul trained one Stephanie Brown, now fallen to the dark side. After what happened in the Ison Corridor, it was most welcome for some among Therapy Command to be doing patrols around the Core, which led to Cathul being herded back to Coruscant, where a Star Destroyer or two was patrolling the area at all times. Once she took the Neimoidian Yacht from orbit to the Senate executive building, which housed many rental speeders for public functions like the opening of a Jedi Temple:

"Time to get the speeder to the Jedi Temple"

 

[Elmont Block]

Elmont was ambivalent to Temples. He enjoyed the training aspects but his experience had been mixed at best and negative at worst. Was he still bitter at being passed over when his time as a Padawan ended?

Most likely.

Was he sore that when he finally found a Master, the Jedi was called away and he was once again left without a guide in the Force?

That had to be the truth.

So he was here out of duty and nothing else. His stills were still limited but what he knew, he was good at. Was he hoping or expecting anything to change anytime soon? No. Did he believe his negative attitude was a factor in his current situation? Perhaps deep down he did, but in his conscious mind he was something of a victim. And there was a certain enjoyment in wallowing in the self-pity it created.

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]

 

[Sorel Crieff]

The Palace of the Jedi was a place close to her heart. It was the first Temple she ever visited and called it home before the One Sith came and took the planet. It was also the headquarters of the Republic Jedi Order.

And now it was back in safe hands — in the shape of the New Jedi Order — and the Galactic Alliance.

As she arrived, she understood how badly the One Sith had defiled the facilities. The New Jedi Order had effectively built a brand new Temple. Sorel was in two minds if she was happy with that or not. There would have been comfort in the familiar but by the same token it would have been against her view of the Code to have relied on an attachment and to look to the past.

A new Temple and a new era. It seemed entirely appropriate. And given [member="Jorus Merrill"] had encouraged her to reach out to the New Jedi Order, her presence here felt as though it served multiple purposes.

So she walked through the heat, her bracelet negating its effects so well that she wore her robes and cloak and did not feel in the least bothered by the sun. She found a courtyard — clearly the centre of the new building and glanced down at the white flagstones and around at the many trees.

So she stood and reflected on the past and then on the future. She suspected one would mirror the other, it had been and would always be the way.

 

[Kaden]

The blistering sun bore down on the renovated Jedi Temple relentlessly. Heatwaves rose across swathes of the dense, urban, environment and ambulance speeders criss-crossed the skies in swollen numbers; responding to all the calamity such heat caused in races not accustomed to it.

Kaden was not part of one such race. He was pureblooded Sith -- this heat reminded him of a winter's evening on Korriban.

He stood before the majesty of years' work; one of the biggest testaments to the Jedi in known existence. He remembered watching the news some 4,500 years ago when the old Sith Empire had sacked Coruscant and laid waste to not just the temple, but the planet. Memories of cheers in the academy in response to the wanton destruction of millions of innocent lives lined the pit of his gut in disgust.

Now he was here, standing before a new iteration of something so old, and revered, and wondered - in the shadows of statues reminiscent of the Valley of the Dark Lords - just how many times this temple had been rebuilt.

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Kaden"] [member="Sorel Crieff"] [member="Elmont Block"][member="Cathul Thuku"][member="Isar Kislo"][member="Jorus Merrill"][member="Jamie Pyne"]

Trextan had never heard a cleared throat carry around an open space so clearly before. Omai Rhen didnt stand on a platform or carry a microphone. He walked into the group in heavy robes, seemingly unaffected by the heat. People stepped back to put same space around him, forming a loose circle.

Trextan had always thought the Grand Marshal of the Alliance Jedi Order seemed a stern sort, deeply entrenched in traditional Jedi values. Jacen said he'd seen a different side of him, but perhaps that was reserved for the ranking members of the Order.

"This achievement is not the end of our task," Omai said softly. Trextan arched his eyebrows at Elmont. What an upbeat way to start. "But it is an end and a beginning too. An interlude if you like.

"Many of you might be surprised to know that at the worst of times I struggled to imagine a future where I stood here and this..." He raised his arms to indicate the temple rising up around them, "...was restored. But there was always was and always will be hope. But it is those with the courage and conviction to make the change that make hope a reality. So thank you.

"Do not take too much pride in your achievements," he cautioned. There was a twitch of a smile on his weathered face. "But enjoy today and put the new threats to peace and stability out of your minds for just a few hours."

 

[Elmont Block]

Elmont wondered how many other Jedi would appear. This was not an official state opening of the Temple, but still, he was expecting more visitors to make the trip. In fact, he expected more Alliance Jedi to be here — New Order or not.

But he mused that the fewer notables in attendance, the less time he’d have to stand on ceremony and the quicker he could leave and get back to doing something useful, as opposed to being simply dutiful.

He recognised Omai Rhen and kept Trextan between himself and the leader of the Order at all times. Eye contact could lead to being asked to do something — as could staring intently at the ground in an attempt to avoid being asked. So hiding behind someone as inconspicuously as possible was always Elmont’s approach.

The speech that followed was dry. No doubt honest and not particularly uplifting — but he guessed it set the tone for where they were and what had both gone before and what was yet to come. The One Sith had gone but the Sith hadn’t. They merely went to different places. The war would be never ending — he knew that much. It would last long after those assembled were alive — and almost definitely after the structure they stood in was torn down and another put up in its place. History had a habit of repeating itself.

 

[Fen]

The moment he set foot on the temple grounds he felt a pain well up in his chest. Not the thrust and twist of a dagger in the gut - and he knew well what that felt like. No, this was more akin to fingers curling around his heart and squeezing until it ached.

He noticed differences in the sight and feel of the temple, an oddness too - to be back here after everything that had transpired. The place that had once been his home now seemed almost a stranger to him.

Standing in the midst of the group of Jedi, Ryan looked around. He had grown up here. He had fought here, at the temple, during the fall of Coruscant, and had watched it crumble. He saw no one else present who had been there that day. Most who had been were now dead.

Or fighting on the other side.

The feeling of being a stranger in your own home, surrounded by people you barely recognized was . . .

He felt hollow.

[member="Isar Kislo"]

 

[Isar Kislo]

Isar knew the Grand Marshal almost exclusively by reputation. In fact, this was the first time he'd ever seen the man. However, the simple reality that Kislo was not a member of the New Jedi Order in any true form was the easiest explanation to his lack of familiarity.

Similarly...he'd never set foot on Coruscant until this day, well the day prior. He'd allowed himself a small amount of time to get to know the city-planet better. His initial reaction was that it seemed to be much like what he'd read...regardless of whom exercised dominion over the world. There was a great deal of glitz and glamour among the upper levels and shocking poverty on the lower levels. The people though...that's what intrigued him most. The vast majority that had been citizens for extended periods of time seemed mostly...well...they just didn't seem to care too much. Apparently years of being a battleground had numbed most of the people to any true difference.

That had been a somewhat disappointing revelation to Isar...even though he knew it was logical. Coruscant's fate over the recent years had been unfortunate. Still...Isar knew that nothing came without a price. Freedom and independence could not be earned without blood. Sentients may have been born with the right, but in this galaxy, you had to fight to keep it. That was Isar's place. Standing between those without and those would deny them without a right to do so.

He couldn't say that he judged the New Jedi Order to be in line with that belief just yet. Sure...they fought arduously in defense of the Galactic Alliance's interests. Was the Galactic Alliance always in the right, though? It seemed to similar to its predecessor the Old Jedi Order...or the Order of the Silver Jedi. Paramilitary groups of force users supporting a singular government. Isar...envisioned more for his life, but he knew that understanding all government elements would be key to making that happen.

No sooner had the Grandmaster finished speaking than Isar's blue gaze caught sight of [member="Ryan Korr"]. The man seemed...deep in thought or perhaps...trying not to think about anything on the hallowed ground upon which they all stood. Isar knew the stories...some of them memories seared into his brain.

Casually, Isar made his way towards Ryan. When he was within earshot, he made a simple statement. "Marcello Matteo and Kiskla Grayson did not deem it important to come. To acknowledge what I'm sure the New Jedi Order considers a step forward..." Though it was not the New Jedi Order that struggled here. "Perhaps others would never say it, but I thank you for the sacrifices you've made in defense of what was right over the years. Shame though..." Isar turned his gaze towards the horizon before he closed his eyes. "...we're still not getting it right."

 

[RC 212]

[member="Ryan Korr"] [member="Isar Kislo"]

Jade was there. After the news that the New Jedi Order was building the temple had emerged, it had piqued her interest. Coruscant had once been her own home for a very short time. She'd left the original Jedi Order on a matter of principal. She believed their bureaucratic ways had made them weak, sapping them of their strength and decisiveness.

Any action against the dark required a decisive mind. Consequences had to be weighed in a matter of seconds, rather than days. This was something the last Jedi had failed to grasp, and thus they had perished for it. Their deliberating had lead to the dark tide that overflowed and destroyed the Republic.

Though she was not a full member of the New Jedi Order and rather a disciple of many order’s this gave her hope.

"Knight Islo, I would agree with you. However please enlighten me. What does it mean to... get it right?" She asked, cocking an eyebrow under her traditional brown cowl.

 

[Isar Kislo]

[member="Ryan Korr"] | [member="Jade Whisperwind"]

Glacier-blue eyes turned to the source of the voice. Though Isar's expression was a mask of neutrality, irritation to scratch at the back of his mind. Did he know this person? No, he definitely didn't. More importantly, he really wasn't sure how she knew him. Apparently, Isar's humble efforts at being just a face in the crowd hadn't been quite as successful as he hoped.

Which was a funny sentiment in general given how large of an individual he was.

"I'm sorry...you are?"

 

[RC 212]

[member="Isar Kislo"]

"Padawan Whisperwind, a pleasure to meet you."

She bowed, then recovered.

"Again I would ask the same question."

She wasn't quite sure who he was, but she knew names, and she knew titles. That much was important for a strict practitioner of the old school Jedi ways. Formality, poise, grace, and a singular connection to the force.

 

[Isar Kislo]

[member="Jade Whisperwind"] | [member="Ryan Korr"]

Isar inhaled slowly before letting it back out in an equally exaggerated exhale. "My name is Isar." He didn't know the woman, but he could already sense the rigidity rolling off of her. If he had to guess, she been drawn in by the romantic notion of the Jedi Order. Isar had been much the same not long ago.

"This Order..." Isar motioned to the gathering around them. "All Orders." Lowering his hands, Isar shrugged his shoulders. "The focus is too narrow. Focused on this government and that government. Purporting to support the ideals of politicians and government functionaries, no matter how noble."

Pausing for a moment, Isar clasped his hands behind his back. "Why do you fight, Whisperwind? What motivates you?"

All Isar saw was the constant struggle of governments perpetuating war simply because they thought their method was better than others. Jedi should be stewards of peace, defenders of the weak. Instead, they were used like a paramilitary assault force, spearheading invasions that ultimately resorted in collateral damage. This was fine if that was the point, but he rejected the inability to uphold stated principles.

 

[Zark San Tekka]

[member="Trextan Voidstalker"] [member="Jamie Pyne"] [member="Jorus Merrill"] [member="Isar Kislo"] [member="Cathul Thuku"] [member="Elmont Block"] [member="Sorel Crieff"] [member="Kaden"] [member="Ryan Korr"] [member="Jade Whisperwind"]

Commodore Zark Pulsar of the Galactic Alliance Defense Fleet skirted the edge of the Temple courtyard self-consciously, feeling somewhat uncomfortable in his civilian attire and more than a little like a pretender surrounded by those more devout in their adherence to the Order's strictest values. When the Jedi Knight had finally found the dusty and frayed plain brown drab robes that he had worn as a full fledged member of the praxeum he had grown up in, the human had assessed probably correctly that to simply wear a brown great coat would stick out a little less, not to mention come across a little less disrespectfully. Annoyed slightly at being embarrassed so, he made a mental note to stop by Kingsley's shop while he was still in Galactic City for a new robe fitting.

And then, of course, there was Bee Ex. Glancing back behind him more than a little sheepishly as the odd old droid stopped to inspect just about every aspect of the Temple's construction that the historian in Zark should be interested in but due to his discomfort was not. The looks had began almost from the moment they had arrived, as the Temple guards had stopped them both for several minutes as they determined among themselves if the unarmed but still nonetheless potentially dangerous combat droid could be allowed in for the ceremony. Upon receiving assurances that, despite its appearances, it was a GADF model, and had authorization to be on the premises, the sentinels had begrudgingly let them pass, but not after drawing more than a few stares.

"Come on, Bee Ex," he said, trying to keep any resentment out of his tone. The refurbished commando model could be curiously aware of such social nuances, a part of the reason the Commodore had taken him on as his personal aide.

"Yes, Commodore!" the droid answered dutifully.

"And remember what I said," Zark reminded BX-32 chidingly. It was still more or less sound of mind but sometimes the seriously outdated logic circuits could fry, "No ranks on Temple grounds. Just call me Zark."

His aide stared blankly at him, and he rolled his eyes as he realized such familiarity was just not going to work.

"Okay, if you need to get my attention, call me Knight Zark. Or," and he sighed as he finished, "if you absolutely have to, call me...sir."

"Sir, yes, sir!"

This is punishment for not paying enough attention to you, Zark thought as he stared past Bee Ex at one of the intricate artistic reliefs depicting the ancient Jedi Knights of the half remembered past. It was said the Force had a plan for them all, and sometimes he suspected that included one hell of a dark cosmic sense of humor.

 

[RC 212]

[member="Isar Kislo"]

Jade blinked then nodded. He was right. The Rigid agenda of governments was disturbing, and ever since the Republic formation Jedi had either become the long arm of the law, or the paramilitary force he described.

"I can understand your concerns Knight Isar. I would agree. The Governments of the Galaxy have blinded us from our true calling."

She shifted her eyes to see [member="Zark"] and then continued.

"I fight for justice foremost. For me peace is secondary and fleeting as evil is always afoot. Though certain men and women may have a subjective view of what evil is, I maintain a strict moral code of the Jedi. I have some background in Je'daii teachings."

She apused, chewing her words. Jade never spoke, unless she had something impactful to contribute to the conversation.

"I fight for the Force. I fight for the light. Governments do not concern me, I am a drifter, an agent of many Orders, but fore most the eradication of the Sith. Tell me Knight Isar, what motivates you? Why do you fight?"

 

[Ashin Varanin]

Delete

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Zark"] Pulsar [member="Ryan Korr"] [member="Isar Kislo"] [member="Trextan Voidstalker"] [member="Jamie Pyne"] [member="Cathul Thuku"] [member="Sorel Crieff"] [member="Kaden"] [member="Jade Whisperwind"]

A bit of a hush fell after Grand Marshall Rhen. A few people murmured in the background; Jorus couldn't catch a word. This right here felt like nobody wanted to leave, or knew what came next, or had the right words to add.

Jorus patted Saggy’s binocular photoreceptor and handed off his empty water canteen. The little droid tucked it away in a compartment and turned back to shipgazing. Jorus straightened his oil-smeared jacket and his spine.

“I've got a few words to add,” he said, walking out from the shade of the archway. He met Rhen’s gaze evenly and turned to scan the crowd.

“Two things need remembering here. Number one is what this place means to me and all the other Jedi that aren't Alliance. Grandmaster Grayson and me and some other folks busted half a decade trying to fix the rifts in the Jedi. Others made their names doing the opposite, a lot of’em from this spot right here. This place claimed a monopoly on legitimacy. Inviting the lot of us is a great fething start, but that good feeling’s gotta stick around. No two ways about it, you gotta make this place a spot for all Jedi, not just the ones that answer to one government.

“Second thing ties in with that. Walking wounded. Folks got hurt taking all this back, and not just the kind of hurt a doc can patch up. Grandmaster Wraith, my daughter Mara, a bunch of others had to wade through innocent folks that the Sith turned into monsters. It broke’em and off they went to the middle of nowhere. Wraith doesn't even use a saber anymore, and used to be there wasn't a blademaster that could stand up to him. Sure, be proud this place got taken back, just know that the tip of the spear ain’t here for you to be proud of’em. That's all.”