Private Another's War

[Sakadi Marathi Sinvala]

B E S T I N E- I V
S A K A D I -S I N V A LA -#3​

M I S S I O N -D E T A I L S​

"Bestine IV is one of the few Inner Rim planets that has not been swept up by the many intergalactic wars of the past few decades. Her oceans are home to an abundance of life, while the indigenous population has transformed the planet's island spires into a true paradise.

The planet is governed by the young Archduchess Renna, who seeks to usher in a new era of wealth for her people by aligning with the Galactic Alliance. But a group of insurgents known as the Isolationist Movement seek to undermine her by all means necessary. Among those who have taken up arms is a former member of our Order. While this is not our fight, we cannot let an exiled Jedi determine the fate of a planet.

Thus I set out, hoping I could convince my former friend to lay down her weapons."

- The Holocron of Master Sinvala.​

The blue oceans of Bestine IV werea welcome sight after spending three whole weeks in the underground levels of Denon. Sakadi could still smell the odour of urine, sweat, alcohol, and drugs, and she suspected that it wouldn't fade anytime soon.

"Don't tell me you are planning to stay on this planet Lady Sinvala?" The white-plated protocol droid, TC-41, complained. She dismissed his question with a small wave of her hand. "Well, I will have you know that I'll corrode away before the end of the week." TC-41 continued, to no avail. "Can you believe this?!" The droid asked their companion.

That was right. Companion.

She still had trouble accepting the clone as one of them. His presence in the Force, like his memories, struck her as unnatural. Fabricated and fractured, not unlike Taliya. But while she knew the Dark-side within Taliya, that of the clone was a sinister mystery to her. She would've liked it to remain that way. To turn a blind eye to the clone, and never be bothered by it again. But that contradicted the code. "There is no ignorance, there is knowledge." she cited to herself.

The village they found themselves in was built atop one of the large stone spires that rose from the sea. The community, while small, had been kind enough to refuel and repair their shuttle. In truth, this 'necessary stop' was an excuse to gather information on the Isolationist Movement. It was the easiest approach Sakadi could think of that would go unnoticed by the Archduchess and the Isolationist movement.

After what seemed like minutes of mindless wandering, Sakadi stopped in front of a small shop. She made a small gesture, upon which TC-41 turned to the young Padawan that accompanied them. "Lady Sinvala asks you to wait outside. It will only be a moment."

Elryn Freestar​

 

[Elryn Freestar]

A new identity, a new lightsaber, and a new sense of self - following the events on Tython, Elryn Freestar now had a new lease on life. Despite the harrowing trials and tribulations he went through on Tython, the young Padawan had managed to begin taking his first steps in overcoming his nature as a clone. This current situation made the clone wonder if this was some sort of test, albeit by the Force or the Jedi themselves.

For this current assignment, he'd been partnered with the Jedi Master Sakadi Sinvala - who he knew had an intense dislike for him. Now knowing he was the clone of Cas Tynen, the Jedi Master's former Padawan as revealed to him by Master Yenna, her cold demanour in their prior meetings finally made sense. Her distaste for him wasn't a one way street however, Master Sakadi's cold nature and seemingly uncaring attitude to those around her warranted Elryn's mututal feelings toward her.

The Kiffar trailed behind the Sephi and her protocol droid as the latter complained about their current environment. As the one-way argument continued, Elryn merely observed his surroundings in awe and took the time to take everything in. This was his first time on an ocean planet after all, a new experience, one he wouldn't let spoiled by Master Sakadi.

"Can you believe this?!" the protocol droid asked, addressing the boy.

Not wanting to cause further issues, Elryn shrugged and continued following the two. Despite his silence on the matter, his feelings could be read like an open book through the Force. This continued before he was eventually halted by TC-41, informing him that Master Sakadi had wished him to stay outside.

Raising an eyebrow of annoyance, Elryn leaned to his side, looking passed TC-41 and toward the back of Sakadi "Can't she ask me herself?" he asked with a hint of attitude in his tone. He knew she was telepathic, did she really hate him that much that she couldn't even be bothered to talk to him? "Fine." he concluded, folding his arms.

Elryn turned his back to both TC-41 and Sakadi, electing to watch the passerbys and observe the way of life in this village. It was fascinating, rock formations erecting from the ocean depths, and the inhabitans using them to build a working society. Against all odds and the planet's nature, the residents were able to survive here.

If there was a place for them here, maybe there was a place for him in this galaxy too.

Sakadi Marathi Sinvala

 

[Sakadi Marathi Sinvala]

B E S T I N E- I V
S A K A D I -S I N V A LA -#3​

Sakadi saw the clone shift from the corner of her eye.

"Can't she ask me herself?" asked Elryn.

For just a moment, it was quiet. The only sounds coming from the wind that gently tugged at her cloak. It was TC-41 who broke the silence first. Its orange photoreceptors, normally devoid of any emotion, somehow betraying flickers of anger and disbelief. Yet no droid was programmed to have a temper. It was why she had always thought that, despite thorough maintenance, TC-41 had a few screws loose.

"Now listen here you little-" Sakadi stopped TC-41 mid-sentence, placing a hand on its white-plated arm. "But Lady Sinvala! This boy thinks that-" Again she gestured for the droid to be silent. It was a final warning. "As you wish Lady Sinvala." TC-41 reluctantly obeyed.

Sakadi then made her way up the uneven stone stairs, and through the beaded cords that hung from the doorpost, separating inside from outside. It was dark, the room only illuminated by candlelight that came from atop the many trinkets cluttered across the place.

"< Who's there?>" The gruff snorts came from the far end, the details of the large figure hidden by support beams and dreamcatchers. "< I told you. If this is about that warranty again, I swear- >"

"Oh, yes. I've been trying to reach you about your speeder's extended warranty." The figure froze upon hearing the soothing disembodied voice in his mind. "Surely you can make some time for that?"

"< Little Marathi! >" The figure exclaimed, his massive clawed hand grabbing hold of a support beam to drag himself up. What came into the light was a massive Talz with a rough leathery face, and silver-grey fur.

"It's good to see you Nuniq." projected Sakadi heartily. "It has been forty years. I was not even sure if you were still alive." She truthfully admitted.

Nuniq straightened his back and rose to his full stature, thumping with his fist against his chest. "< Death has not yet found a warrior strong enough to claim me. >" He scoffed. "< What brings you here, little Marathi? >"

Sakadi's ears drooped a little. Yet she knew that was enough of a signal to the Talz. "I was hoping you knew Zasha's whereabouts. I need her aid." explained Sakadi with a pained expression.

"< Zasha... >" Nuniq sounded doubtful. "< You need a dive guide. Is that it? >" He pointed a clawed finger at her. "< You ask for my adoptive daughter, but don't bother to mention the cub outside? >" Sakadi silently cursed herself for underestimating the old hunter's eyesight. "< Ah, little Marathi... >" Her eyes had betrayed too much already. "< So Odara the only one who could thaw your heart? >"

The Sephi let out a sigh. Forty years had passed and yet he still read her like an open book. But one in which new pages were written. "There was another." She admitted. "One who is..." She struggled to find the right words. "Lost."

Nuniq's four dark eyes studied her. "< And for that, the cub must bleed? >"

She glanced over her shoulder to watch the clone through the beaded cords. "He's not just a 'cub', Nuniq. He is an echo of the past. One that hurts." Sakadi retorted. "Besides, I doubt he cares."

Nuniq growled in disagreement. "< Have you given the cub a chance to hunt alongside you, little Marathi? >"

She gave him a look. "That's what this is."

"< Then bring him in. >" Nuniq demanded.

The old Talz gave her no option. "Eleven. Come in please."

Elryn Freestar

 

[Elryn Freestar]

Elryn was taken aback by the sudden shift in the protocol droid's sudden hostility, leading him to take a cautious step backward in response. To his surprise, Master Sakadi called off the protocol droid's would-be verbal assault. Much to the boy's appreciation. With that small altercation concluded, Elryn watched as the Sephi Master entered the shop.

A moment of awkward silence between the clone and droid passed, casting a sideway glance Elryn spoke up "I know she can't speak." He then returned to observe the village before adding on "There are more ways to communicate than verbally."

Why Sakadi had brought him along continued to wrack the Padawan's brain, did she have use for him? Was she keeping an eye on him? He must have proven a thousand different times that he was different to his brothers and donor. Elryn had many opportunities to betray the Silver Jedi but he hadn't. Was that not proof enough? It didn't matter, after discovering his true identity the memories of Cas Tynen was a little more accessible than before. Well, he had better context. Elryn had sifted through Cas' memories, reliving the ones the fallen Jedi had had with his former Master whenever he was in the Sephi's presence.

Experiencing those memories allowed Elryn to also experience the emotions Cas felt, albeit temporarily. The Kiffar and Sephi had a sibling-like relationship and from what he'd seen, they were close, from what he felt, Cas loved her deeply. If... if Sakadi felt the same way, Elryn was more understanding of her coldness toward him. It was even more confusing for the clone though, his own personal relationship with the Sephi was rocky as were his feelings toward her - but that small part of Cas that lived within him, cared for her too. Separating his own identity from Cas' was an ongoing struggle, one he'd hoped to solve someday.

But then again... maybe Cas' memories and Elryn's own experiences is what is meant to forge him and his destiny going forward.

"Eleven. Come in please."

Master Sakadi's bodiless words intruded on his thoughts, knocking him out of deep contemplation. "Uh, she wants me to go in." Elryn informed the protocol droid before awkwardly stepping past it and entering inside the shop. Elryn climbed up the stairs at a slow pace, what could she possibly want from him now? As the Padawan gently brushed away the beaded cords and entered inside, his eyes squinted and pupils dilated as they tried to adapt to the now darker surroundings.

Elryn could just about make out two figures as he treaded closer, one being rather larger than the other. "Master, I prefer to go by Elryn now. Eleven is--" he stopped when his dark brown eyes came upon the Talz standing in front of him. "--is..." he tried to continue but had completely lost his trail of thought as he took in the Talz's sheer scale.

Sakadi Marathi Sinvala

 

[Sakadi Marathi Sinvala]

B E S T I N E- I V
S A K A D I -S I N V A LA -#3​

Sakadi caught a glimpse of the confused protocol droid when the beaded cords parted. The floor under the Talz creaked as he leaned forward to study the newcomer, much to her displeasure.

"Master, I prefer to go by Elryn now. Eleven is--" said Elryn.

Nuniq produced a sound she interpreted as a laugh. "< Tell the cub the name of a hunter is earned, not freely given or changed. >" Nuniq said.

"You can tell him yourself if you could spare a moment." Sakadi retorted, approaching the astonished Elryn. "Please stand still," began Sakadi. "and try to relax." She placed two fingers against his forehead, and extended her comprehension through the Force. "You should be able to understand him now." She remarked as she stepped away. "This is Nuniq. An old friend of mine whose help we will need." No longer feeling the need to strike up a cordial conversation, Sakadi came straight to the point. "I brought him here now. So please share with us what you know about Zasha."

The Talz gave her a look of disapproval. "< Does the cub know what he is hunting? >" He extended a clawed hand. "< Did she tell you, little one? >" He then asked directly.

Elryn Freestar

 

[Elryn Freestar]

Elryn didn't understand Talz, but judging by the tone of his response, the Padawan determined that he found some humor in Elryn's brief shock. Casting a side long glance at Sakadi, he watched as... what he deemed was her communicating telepathically. Just judging by her intense stare in the Talz's direction.

Flinching as her voice invaded his mind once again, Elryn spun in Sakadi's direction before taking a step back as she approached him. She asked him to stand still, but her constant intrusions into his mind was always startling, that and she'd never been this close to him before. Sakadi practically avoided him as if he carred the Rakghoul plague. Elryn slightly leaned back as Sakadi moved her fingers toward his head, both uncomfortable and unsure of what she was about to do.

At first he resisted, whatever she was trying to do but eventually gave in. The inside of his head felt warm, but also as if it had... broadened in some way. It was a strange sensation. The boy rubbed his temples and glanced at the Sephi, parting his lips to ask what she had just done to him. He didn't need to ask. She explained that what had just transpired while also introducing him to the Talz in the room. The ability to comprehend another language through the Force was amazing, and something he had no idea of, the capabilities of the Force continued to surprise him.

Elryn returned his attention to Nuniq, turning to look up at him. "H-hello." he sheepishly waved at him.

"< Does the cub know what he is hunting? >"

Cub? Was he referring to him? Elryn's brain rambled on until he saw Nuniq's clawed hand extend toward him, along with another question. Eyes darting between the hand and his four eyes. He took a few seconds longer than necessary to answer before finally opening his mouth.

"Uh, no, sir. She kind of just... strung me along..." he answered "Master Sakadi tends to... keep a lot of things to herself." Elryn added, casting a glance in the direction of the Sephi. It wasn't something he knew personally, but from Cas' memories and feelings, he knew she wasn't secretive with just himself. Looking back at Nuniq, the Padawan asked "Do you know what I'm... 'hunting'?"

Sakadi Marathi Sinvala