Evacuated and fortified…

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus laughed. “My type? Trust me, I don’t have one. But it’s safe to say it wasn’t him.” It may have been a little bit of gallow’s humour, but Corvus was none the less relaxed about the situation.

Corvus was genuinely interested by her sister’s saber and resolved to look up the Inquisitor when she had a chance. Corvus may have favoured a simple style herself but she still appreciated the work that went in to making this unique saber. “What sort of crystal does it have?” she added as they started to walk.

The idea of taking the actual Forge back to Ossus appealed to Corvus. As she pondered where it might be best placed, she lifted some loose soil off the ground with the Force and covered the smouldering fire. Having done so, she caught up with her sister as they reached the stone steps.

“Of course, there might be nothing up there.” It would feel an anti-climax after what they’d been through – but it was something that they had to steel themselves for.

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

"Considering it's been rather well hidden, I doubt anyone has moved anything from there," Taeli replied with a grin as she started to climb the steps. "Don't be such a pessimist Corvus, you'll burn yourself out thinking like that all the time."

Taking her sister's hand, they climbed the long stone stairs up to the entrance of the shrine. Inside, a medium sized machine sat, a layer of dust on it, but Taeli could feel the Force flowing around it. It was truly a marvelous sight, but it was a bit too big for them to carry back to their ships. Still . . . she felt a small connection to others who had discovered this machine from the ancient Je'daii Order.

"It's beautiful," Taeli whispered, running a hand along and promptly withdrawing it as she felt a flow of energy race through her. "It's still live! I don't think it likes me though, if I remember right . . . only a true wielder of the light side can actually use this to build their lightsaber."

She felt a bit sad at that, but she was glad to have helped find this ancient piece of technology and history. Now another question came up.

"Soooo how do we move it then?"

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus nodded, sometime she was so pragmatic she spoiled the magic of the occasion – but a Jedi and all that…

“I’m sure we didn’t take it when we evacuated the Academy. I’d have seen it on an inventory somewhere.” So she walked the steps hand in hand and with each level her nervousness grew. She so wanted it to be there – not only because it was an ancient Jedi relic but because she was with Taeli and this was their first adventure.

She sensed it before she saw it. As a machine it was functional. But as a piece of history it was beautiful. She ran to it and wiped away the dust with her bare hands. She was aware her sister was having the same reaction and would no doubt feel the same energy – to Corvus it was pure and strong and like the whitest light you could imagine.

And then she sensed someone. “Master Karr has been here. Funny that he didn’t mention it. I’ll have to ask him when I see him.”

Then she turned to face Taeli. “How to move it indeed?” She was smiling. “How to move a heavy piece of machinery when it’s too heavy for us to lift? If only we had a couple of Force-Sensitives around that could say use Telekinesis? They’d be able to transport it for sure.”

Finally her smile gave way to a laugh. “The truth is, the same thought ran through my mind as I walked up here.”

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

"I mean we could levitate it out . . . but then we have to walk back to our ships, with our concentration focused on that," Taeli said, tapping her chin. "Unless one of us levitates it, and one person defends, switching every so often if we get tired."

It was a marvelous piece of technology, and Taeli was loathe to just leave it here after they found it just because there was no easy way to move it. Plus, now that the Flesh Raiders had moved into the area or were moving into, she really wanted this piece of history moved away from those mutants. They didn't have any respect for history.

"Or one of us goes back to a ship, brings it back here . . . but then someone is left here, alone, with no idea how many Flesh Raiders might be coming if they received that signal."

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus sighed - her sister had a good point, and her suggestion to fetch a ship made her groan audibly.

"Sorry, but I sometimes forget the answer isn't always the Force." She smiled and unclipped her saber. She flicked a safety switch and depressed a button. "A common beckon call. Available at most hardware shops - although this one is, I admit, Republic military standard. Give it...two minutes and my ship will be here." Corvus pointed to a flat piece of land nearby. "Or rather there, that's where it will put down."

"So as long as we can get this down these steps we're fine." And sure enough, the ship soon came into view and landed where Corvus had previously indicated and its hangar door opened to receive them. "Shall we?" she offered as she connected to the Force and then lifted the Forge and started to manoeuvre it down the steps. "You can keep an eye out for any unwelcome visitors, OK?"

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

"Silly Corvus, I should send you back to the Academy for such an answer," Taeli said, helping her sister get the machine ready to be moved down the stairs. "Honestly, the Force isn't the only answer to a question, that settles it though. I'm getting you a book of riddles and puzzles for your next present so we get that noggin working on other solutions to a problem then either a glowing stick or a mystical energy field that binds us all together."

As her sister started moving it down the stairs, Taeli proceeded in front of her, the purple eyes flashing around for anything . . . unfriendly. She still felt something . . . something didn't feel exactly right. There it was. A huge column of smoke was rising from the distance, from the direction of the tunnel. Company would be arriving soon.

"We're going to have a lot of company if we don't hurry it up, I sense a ton of dark signatures that seem to be curious why their lookouts aren't responding to their signal," she said, drawing her saber again. She was actually kinda hoping she wouldn't need it though.

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus laughed. “I wouldn’t mind, but I berate Padawans for thinking like that. And here I am falling into the same trap.”

Corvus saw the smoke a moment after her sister, “Well that complicates matters.” She walked more quickly, pushing the Forge further ahead of her so it could get into the ship as soon as possible. At worst they could fight a rearguard action as they jumped onto the ship. She pulled an intercom out of her pocket. “Get us ready for take-off and be prepared to shut the hangar doors as soon as I give the word too. We’re going to be leaving in a bit of a hurry.”

They made it down the steps and the Forge was placed on the hangar floor at the moment the creatures emerged from the tunnel. Corvus stood beside her sister as they backed onto the ship. The moment they were half-way up the ramp, she called it in. “Close the doors and get us airborne. Take us back to the Academy hangar.”

The doors closed and the sound of a few blaster bolts and even spears hitting the ship before they felt the ship lift and move swiftly back to where Taeli’s own vessel was waiting. Corvus grinned. “I can’t promise so much fun on Ruusan, but there should be plenty to see. And no doubt you’ll have uncovered something special you want to find.” There was a sparkle in her eye. Clearly this was something she both enjoyed and wanted to repeat.

As she did, Corax the protocol droid walked past. "There are special things here if you only chose to look - I mean, over six million forms of communication. That's special where I come from."

Corvus laughed. "He's not been the same since Kana improved him."

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

"Well, sometimes a quiet experience of discovery and exploring can be just as fun as running from monsters," Taeli replied smiling, her eyes sparkling in happiness. She had truly enjoyed this escapade with her sister, and would gladly repeat it on Ruusan and other worlds if they got to adventuring together and then the protocol droid spoke and she couldn't stop the laughter bubbling up.

"One of these days, I really need to meet your friend Kana," she said, snickering a little still. "Maybe I'll sneak into a lesson of yours on Ossus, with my light aura on and appearance changed, and just observe your interactions with her and your students. I think it would be funny at least, and you know I wouldn't do anything untoward while there."

The idea certainly had merit, but she would never tell Corvus WHEN exactly she might try it. Where would the fun in that be as the ship landed back at the temple, near her own ship. This had been fun, and she was glad that she had helped her sister regain an important piece of history for the Jedi. She knew the Sith forces would be arriving in the system within the next few days, the plan already almost decided about what Tython was going to become.

"I'm really glad to have had this proper adventure with you . . . and to have you as a sister," she said, hugging Corvus tightly.

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus laughed. “You have an odd idea of fun. Although…you should try riding a Krayt Dragon. Now that was fun. And Kana? That would be interesting, and difficult, all rolled into one.” Corvus was clearly contemplating how it might work. “Hmmm…”

She was shaken from her thoughts by her sister’s next words. “You? On Ossus?” There was initially a note of panic in her voice, clearly she was worried for her sister. “Maybe – you’ll have me paranoid now – every new face that turns up. You weren’t that Mandalorian Padawan were you?” She laughed and shook her head. “No, not him, he was accounted for. And of course I trust you, why wouldn’t I?”

Corvus returned the hug. There was, as ever when they planned to leave, a note of regret in her voice. Partly because of the separation and the remainder was for what might have been and might be if they were only on the same side. For that spark was still there and Corvus was keen to know what would happen to it by the time they reached Ruusan.

“Don’t wait six years next time, OK?” She beamed. “And I still need to get some shoes. Do you have to visit a shop or can you get them sent to you?” Clearly Corvus had no idea about shopping - but that was par for the course for anything that related to life outside of the Jedi Order.

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

Taeli blinked for a few moments as her sister she still hadn't bought shoes to go with her dress. One more blink . . . then a snicker . . . then another . . . and Taeli was laughing hard again. How was it her sister could stare in the face of danger, fight against the monsters in the dark . . . and not know how to buy herself a decent pair of shoes.

"Corvy, if you have access to the Holonet, you can order shoes from multiple sites and services on there that would gladly deliver to Ossus," she said, finally getting her laughter under control. "I'd show, but you know, Deep Core and all that, messes with Holonet signal a ton. Anywho, I certainly won't be waiting six years to see you again. I might be a little busy soon though, but after I finish taking our sister to Ambria, I'll swing by Ruusan for some fun."

Smiling, and yet a bit sad at having to part from her sister, she hugged her again and whispered, "Just . . . be careful. Cularin and Dorin . . . do what you can . . . but please don't die on me. I need my family alive Corvy."

She didn't even recognize she was calling her sister by a nickname, or the fact that the spark inside her had grown a little bit more. It was still undetectable to her, and it had a long way to go before it might have the chance, but it was just that little bit stronger now.

Letting go of her sister again, she smiled wider and said, "I'll see you on Ruusan . . . or on Ossus, depending on when I want to drop in as it were."

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvy had a nice ring to it. She suspected she had many nicknames – but none were actually known to her. Corvy she liked. It made her fell…less Jedi-like.

Corvus began to bluster – as if she knew all about on-line shopping, but as someone who never had any credits, she’d never had a need to shop. She’d bought the ranch on Dantooine with the proceeds of her share of their parent’s estate and given most of the rest to charity – keeping back some for livestock and living expenses when she decided to move home permanently.

“OK, I’ll order from the Holonet. But you might need to send me a list of places to visit. I’m not exactly familiar with such establishments although I could look to see if the shop on Corellia had branches elsewhere?” She was slightly impressed with her solution.

“So, Ambria and then Ruusan. I’ll likely already be there, there’s a lot to organise. Plus busy makes it easier to hide. And I’ll be fine on Cularin, don’t you worry.”

Corvus kept the hug going for as long as she could before accepting they had to part. And she felt that spark – she was sure it nwas growing but didn’t want to admit it to herself, in case it was just wishful thinking. Ruusan would be the better test.

“And Ossus?” She narrowed her eyes. “Hmmmm…just be careful, OK?”

And she stepped onto her ship and pressed the button to raise the ramp as her sister boarded her own vessel.

“Happy, Master.” Cornix said.

“Yes, I am” she replied.

“Not a question, a statement,” the Protocol droid responded. “I haven’t see you like this since Master Truden used to travel regularly with us.

“Times changed,” she said, sighing as she walked to the cockpit and punched in various codes. “But they can change again.” But as optimistic as she was, she had a bad feeling about Cularin.

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

As Taeli watched her sister's ship take off, she allowed a few tears to flow down her cheeks before wiping them away with her hand. She had a really bad feeling about Cularin, she knew Vornskr was leading the Inquisition forces to that world, to raze any traces of the Jedi. Tython was also on the to do list of the Sith, and while this part had recovered . . . she knew beyond this small valley, the world hadn't fully recovered and was still barren beyond twisted things and environments.

"Be careful, Corvus," she whispered, beginning her own takeoff maneuvers. She would send that list when she got back to Coruscant, rest for a little bit, then take Melori to Ambria. Times were changing . . . for all of them.