Private Curiosities

[Katherine Holt]

Post Caldera Crisis​

History would show that the conflict between Jedi and Sith was an eternal one, that should one side fall they would one day return. Master Kahlil had said as much when he began ramping up their training in preparation.

Not that it had helped Katherine much, albeit she wasn’t even meant to have been on Elom in the first place. But the events on that planet had seemingly stirred both the NJO and GA into a buzz of activity. If this was the first sign of Sith stepping back onto the galactic stage, then everyone needed to be ready for the upcoming conflicts, if not outright war.

For Katherine that meant she was being ignored, for the time being anyway. If she wasn’t busy training with Kahlil and her fellow Padawans, or hanging out with the scant few friends she had made, the young woman was hidden away in the Jedi Archive.

Today was one such day. After a bit of light sparring with some training droids, Katherine made a beeline for her go-to hideaway. She grabbed something that looked vaguely interesting to read, before settling in her usual spot, tucked away in the public section of the Archive.

She let out a soft sigh, shifting a bit to get comfortable, as much as one could with a pair of large feathery wings.

Nerralyn Raaf​

 

[Nerralyn Raaf]

There was a longing in her look as she gazed towards the Jedi Archives, specifically the much larger and detailed parts that were exclusive to members of the Order. While her mother had a vast collection of writings and records from the Jedi, courtesy of her efforts to preserve what her godfather constantly sought to crush into dust and her own time among the Jedi, it wasn't everything and she wanted... no needed to have access to everything.

She was absolutely certain that there was data and records that would help her develop her specific skills and research, but for now she was only allowed access to the public portion of the Archives... and even that was only because she was the daughter of a Senator and one of her aides. So today, like every other day that she had taken the trek to the Temple, she was seeing if anything at all on the shelves or databanks might be helpful. Two datapads were tucker under her arm while she reached for a third when she saw her again.

The redheaded young woman, probably about her age, had been in the Archives a time or two before when she had visited and had caught her attention, and her mother's once she told her that a young Arana was in the temple training as a Jedi. How exactly had she found herself there and, perhaps more importantly, how had the process to change her gone awry because it clearly had. Then again, her mother had given the creation process for the base Arana to both her godfather and Lady Moirai as part of their Valkyrie project so perhaps they had been doing some experimenting of their own.

Either way, it looked to her like the girl was alone... perhaps...

"Is this seat taken?" she found herself asking, gesturing at the other side of the table to the Arana.

Katherine Holt

 

[Katherine Holt]

Katherine was lost in her own little world, more so her mind than what she was actually reading. The memories that had been stirred by Caldera were still haunting her. Some of the images had become more clear, but so much was still foggy. Carnifex’s voice was now recognisable, but there was still one that eluded her. And whenever Katherine tried to focus on that particular memory, all she saw was an equally towering shadow looming over her.

Their identity was still a mystery, and it vexed Katherine to no end. It felt like she had taken one step forwards, and two steps back. She had gleaned more information on her past, and yet her experiences on Elom had made her want to recoil back into her shell.

Katherine let out a sigh, her focus returning to her datapad. She really needed to figure out how to meditate properly.

“Is this seat taken?”​

The redhead’s eyes snapped from the screen and towards the source of the voice. She hadn’t even heard them approach, had she been that lost in her own thoughts?

Katherine went to speak, but found herself lost for words for a moment. Her intentions coming here were to be alone to avoid drawing any attention. But at the same time, she didn’t have it in her to be rude to others.

Besides, her Master always said it was important to meet new people.

“Nope, it’s free to take if you want.”

Nerralyn Raaf​

 

[Nerralyn Raaf]

"Thank you," she replied, gingerly setting the small stack of datapads on the table and taking the seat.

For a little while, she didn't say anything and just fired up her first datapad on a discussion between some Jedi on the matter of luck and probability and how the Force influenced them. It was admittedly a dull read as the Jedi Masters doing the discussion kept circling back to the same point that everything that occurred was the will of the Force, something she had seen or read a dozen times already, but there were still a few kernels she pull out from the questions and answer portion once she got to it... hopefully.

But she also didn't want the silence between them to turn rude, so she finally broke it by saying, "Sorry if I disturbed your solitude, since you seemed like you had a lot on your mind and were absorbed into whatever it is that you're reading. Although I suppose it could just be that interesting of a subject and..." she caught herself, biting her lip before adding, "Sorry, I tend to ramble a little bit. My name is Nerralyn."

Katherine Holt

 

[Katherine Holt]

Without any further fuss, the stranger took the seat and immediately focused on her datapad. The silence felt…strange to Katherine. For as much as she had come to the archives for some peace and solitude, it felt wrong to not talk. The Katherine that had first arrived at the Temple would’ve baulked at the very idea.

But she ultimately decided to not speak up, instead returning her focus to the datapad in hand. Although now, she struggled to maintain it, fighting against her curiosity to learn about the person sitting opposite her.

Fortunately, the choice was taken from Katherine as the other woman spoke up first. “Oh, it’s alright. I mostly came here just to take my mind off some things.” To try and forget. “Honestly, I just grabbed this as something to read, it’s not overly interesting.” Katherine chuckled lightly, glancing at her datapad for a moment.

She offered a small smile at Nerralyn’s apology for rambling. “It’s fine, I have a habit of rambling too. I’m Katherine.” The Padawan was silent for a few moments, just looking at the young woman trying to figure out if she had seen her before. “I don’t think I’ve seen you in the archive before, are you new?”

Not like Katherine exactly had a perfect memory of every face that walked into the archives. But she had been here frequently enough to get a rough impression of who were equally frequent visitors.

Nerralyn Raaf​

 

[Nerralyn Raaf]

"Well I'm glad it's not just me," she quietly chuckled, cognizant that the Archives was still in face a library. She did have to wonder what Katherine was trying to keep off her mind, but that was something for later.

"It is lovely to meet you, Katherine," she continued before quickly shaking her head at the question if she was new here. "Oh no, no I'm not a Jedi. I'm one of Senator Athacorr's aides, her daughter actually, adopted, but I'm just here doing a little research. Although..." she looked around, as if looking for potential eavesdroppers, before continuing with a conspiratorial whisper, "I am a little Force Sensitive, and I do find the Jedi quite fascinating."

And that was all quite true, if understated, from a certain point of view.

"But I have responsibilities and duties for my mom, and I doubt I could find a Master that would let me train and keep working for Mom in the Senate because that's just a full-time gig, you know. What brought you to the Jedi, if you don't mind a total strange or acquaintance if you think we are, asking?"

Katherine Holt

 

[Katherine Holt]

Katherine’s head tilted ever slightly as Nerralyn revealed she was part of the Senate, particularly Senator Athacorr’s aide. The Padawan remembered seeing the Senate building when she first arrived on Coruscant. Seeing the city planet was a whole thing in itself, but both the Senate and the Jedi Temple stood out amongst it all.

She nodded her head in response to Nerralyn’s words. Already, Katherine had felt the strain of training as a Jedi. Both in terms of the physical toll, and the amount of time it took up. She couldn’t even begin to imagine trying to juggle a whole other set of responsibilities too.

Katherine went to reply, but instead bit her lip slightly.

So far there hadn’t been anyone she encountered, who she had told about her past, that led to them thinking of her badly. But Katherine knew that was just luck, and it was bound to inevitably run out some day.

“My town was attacked, completely totalled. I was able to escape, but ended up wandering for a long time. Was eventually discovered by an Alliance patrol, just within former Maw space.”

Katherine opted for a more ‘partial truth’. What she said was true, but there were details missing. It painted a whole picture, but it lacked some of the colour.

“What about you? You said you were adopted?” The Padawan’s eyes widened, realising she was being particularly presumptuous. “Only if you want to talk about it, of course.”

Nerralyn Raaf​

 

[Nerralyn Raaf]

"Oh... I'm so sorry, but at least an Alliance patrol found you," she replied, sincerely meaning it. The former Maw controlled space was still littered with their remnants and other warlords trying to fill the vacuum. Her mother had once said that the Maw were only useful for a loud distraction, and they had certainly been that. If she wasn't aware of what Katherine was, she might almost believe that was the whole story, but she knew better. There was something else, but she certainly didn't need to pry right now.

Besides, she had her own story to tell.

"It's okay," she reassured Katherine, offering a small smile. "My... mother defected during the war and took my two siblings with her." There would be a flash of anger at the mention of Her, but she continued saying, "My other mother was... lost during the war too. I was part of a group of orphans that were transported to Alliance space for adoption and Senator Athacorr took a shine to me. I was a pretty precocious young girl, or so I was told."

And much like Katherine, her story painted a whole picture and most of it was even the truth. She just omitted the fact that Senator Athacorr and her actual mother were one and the same.

"She even found where my siblings are, but it's been so long and they have their own lives now, I'm just happy to know they're doing well out there."

Katherine Holt

 

[Katherine Holt]

The redhead’s attention slipped away as Nerralyn mentioned her siblings. A wistful expression fell across Katherine’s face, remembering the scant memories she had recently reclaimed. Floating in a bacta tank, images flashing before her of younger self playing with two other girls, her sisters.

It still pained her to have only vague recollections, but they were at least better than haunting memories of the Creeping Lignan. She still had moments of phantom pain in her arm, especially at night.

“Well, I’m glad she was able to find your siblings. I can only imagine how much of a relief it is to know they’re safe.”

Katherine flashed a small smile, followed by silence as she didn’t know what to follow up with. That was until her eyes fell upon Nerralyn’s datapad.

“What were you reading?”

Nerralyn Raaf​