Faction [GA] Sacrifice's End

[Alexander Hayes]

Alex didn’t need to look to know who was approaching him from behind. He could sense her, feel Maeve through the Force.

Light cloaked by Shadows.

Ever since Exegol, since being on the planet’s surface when the Wall of Light enveloped it. The Force had felt different to the K’paur, almost as if a switch had been flipped. Before, it had felt very ‘passive’, much akin to how his people learned the way of control. Now however, it felt more ‘active’, like an electrical current buzzing just beneath the surface of his skin.

So far he could sense people, but it seemed only those he had been around, fought side by side with. The first instance of it had been when he briefly crossed paths with Valery Noble during the inbetween days of the invasion’s end and the celebrations beginning. But Alex hadn’t thought much of it, until now.

He remained in his knelt position, eyes closed as he listened to Maeve’s words. She spoke names, those Alex was only familiar with through reputation. But he did feel the weight lift of his heart, if only by a little.

The K’paur finally opened his eyes and stood up. He turned to the Shadow behind him, offering her a grateful smile.

“It’s good to see you Maeve, how have you been?”

Maeve Linahan​

 

[Maeve Linahan]

"Better," she said, and gestured out to the festivities. Fireworks continued to rain across the sky, a dazzling spectacle that would no doubt last for weeks without ending. "As you can tell, we won. The war's over and victory is ours, at last." Her eyes gleaming with cascades of light, she looked back down to the memorial, row after row of names engraved into stone. "And it's theirs, too. Even if they're not here to celebrate with us."

Maeve folded her arms and shook her head. She used to avoid conversation like the plague, and now here she was, blabbing like no tomorrow.

She wasn't even drunk yet, either. Not remotely.

"Sorry. I don't mean to get sentimental. It's uncharacteristic of me." A ghost of a smile crossed her lips, and she considered Alexander again. "What do you plan to do now that the Maw's defeated? Will you stay with the Defense Force?" With us? She wanted to ask, thinking of the Jedi and the greater Alliance. Although there would always be need for a marine, she wondered if he might have something else planned.

To… what did Amani call it? 'Settling down?' Maeve had no idea.

Alexander Hayes​

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[Goto]

Master Goto chuckled at the suggestion the younger Jedi would have welcomed the assistance, it was kind to say, but Rakaan had had it well in order.

"Another time, perhaps."

The small Jedi Master fell into step with the other and they both walked.

The war on the Maw borders had been well known, for quite a while, and the causalities still caused Master Goto some consternation. On both sides. There was no denying that the Mawites were evil, they pillaged and killed often for enjoyment, and the small Master's concerns were for the inability to reason or find resolution without countless deaths. The events of Csilla had been a turning point, one witnessed by Master Goto through the Force, where peace was likely not an option from that moment.

And then there were the youngest Jedi, those who were barely adults in their own species' lives, who were on the frontlines; those fighting, killing, surviving, and doing it day after day, in a war that had - up until Exegol - been almost without end.

There was no telling how much suffering those experiences would bring.

"Pleased to see you returned from that conflict, I am," Master Goto said with a smile, though his eyes bore sadness. "Other ways to resolve that war would have been ideal, though limited with options we were. Still, to have Jedi return home, is a blessing."

The mention of the Silver space, a region Master Goto was familiar with from his past, did cause him to raise an eye ridge.

"Oh? Trouble in the Silver's region, is there?"

Concerning.

"Meditate on that, I will. Yet, I ask for being told anything you may know, young Rakaan."

Rakaan Horne​

 

[Rakaan Horne]

CORUSCANT - Goto

​

His steps were shorter, almost a shuffle. In the presence of Goto, it was a practiced method of movement; almost a lesson in patience, Rakaan mused with ample time to spare. So soon to rush into conflict, into the problems that stretched across star systems, a flame that burned too fast. The diminutive Jedi Master ensured that his young counterpart became water, still and slow. Even if with slower steps, with a calmer mind, a chance to see all that surrounded them even if not by choice.

"I met with Wookiees on Kashyyyk," said Rakaan, "in the absence of the Silvers, Trandoshan slavers have flocked to the planet. I did what I could to help them, but I only recently received permission from the council to intervene further; I'll be returning there soon enough with a strike force of Jedi. I would like you to come, Master."

​

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Cora could only smile wryly from one corner of her mouth at Dreidi's offer. Being spirited away at the alter was far more appealing than having to marry a pompous lech. Even if Horace was a Prince.

Blue eyes widened initially at the mention of Dreidi being a Force ghost, but her expression softened a moment later when she'd realized it to be a joke. "I'm glad that you survived, Dreidi. I've heard terrible things about that man and his capabilities." Not only from Kahlil himself, but from other Jedi as well. Darth Carnifex was famed for his brutality and combat prowess.

Cora's look of concern shifted into something more amused at the comment about Dreidi being prettier than Tegan. "Certainly. She looked as though she'd crawled out of a cave." Dressed in rags with hair askew, Starfall admittedly had some sort of deranged beauty to her.

Head tilting to the side, Cora listened as Dreidi described what it was like to be both a witch and a Jedi at the same time. "That does seem difficult." She agreed with a nod. "Because you're working twice as hard to study two paths, that means that you can do twice as many things, yes?"

The question was turned back to the blonde Padawan, and she took a few quiet moments to think.

"It is going well, all things considered. While I enjoy studying the Force and learning how to manipulate it, I think what I appreciate the most is the opportunity to meet so many different individuals and see so many new worlds. Until I came to Coruscant, I spent much of my life at my family's estate on Ukatis, interacting with other Ukatians."

There was a wistful note of longing in her tone. Cora missed her family, but she'd also miss the life she'd begun to build in the Jedi Order.

"Say, Dreidi…would you mind doing my makeup sometime?"

A flush of heat reddened her cheeks, and she looked almost bashful asking.

"I ask because your makeup always looks so…well-done, like those girls on the holonet. I've never been brave enough to wear anything so heavy, and I'd like to try it once."

It was a complement and something of an unintended insult rolled into one.

Dreidi Xeraic

 

[Dreidi Xeraic]

Tag: Corazona von Ascania

Dreidi nodded her head, "I wish I could say that the stories are exaggerations or that he was weaker than I thought he would be but he lives up to the infamy from what I encountered. But perhaps with more training and such, next time he will be not big deal?" Dreidi shrugged, she was optimistic that one day there would be a time that she was strong enough, skilled in the Force enough to take down someone as deeply evil and powerful as Carnifex. The chances were likely slim if she was being realistic since her own parents never knowingly demonstrate such gifts in the Force and she already had doubts that she would be as strong as them.

"Well that rugged, cave look can have its own charm. Been told plenty of times that some people like the rugged, rough look on guys." Dreidi shrugged since she never really had a type of person she found attractive.

She smiled, nodding her head, "yup, that kinda ends up being the issue I have. Pushing my body to its limits. However, I am guessing that you got it rough doing the whole nobility, even royalty angle as well as being a Jedi. Luckily my mother never got a chance to try dragging me into her whole royal background." Dreidi admitting that there was some royal bloodline connection that she held, just to offer Corazona someone aware of that life. "I couldn't imagine only ever living on one world for any serious length of time. Most I did was Naboo for less than a decade. Before that Kashyyyk and now, I tend to just move around where I am needed and where I can get work."

"Make up?" Dreidi looked at Corazona, she smirked at the mention of having a lot of make up and she shook her head, "that's just for my eyes, rest of my face is natural. But I can give it a go if you like my look, there are some variations we can try out. Perhaps get you looking more intimidating." Dreidi chuckled deeply.

 

[Goto]

To slow, was to gain calm; to calm, was to gain wisdom.

For many decades, Master Goto had made a choice to slow and see the world around him, whichever one he was on. It fostered peacefulness, thoughtfulness, awareness and through those, more importantly, clarity. The wars constantly waged, constantly opposed, were the antithesis to that state of balance. It was only through calm, awareness and clarity that good decisions could be made.

"Slavers, you say?" Master Goto frowned, as he considered, and even hummed to himself. "Friends, I consider the Wookiees, many times have I visited their tree villages and communities... bode well, this does not. Accompany you, I shall, yes."

Master Goto stopped, as he held out a hand for Rakaan to do likewise.

The small Jedi Master looked up, stared at the other, as he spoke clearly.

"Honorable the Wookiees are, escalation of confrontation we should aim to avoid," the small Jedi nodded slowly, "those Jedi capable of calm and peaceful consideration, you should bring... to better pave the way to resolution without death, without temporary solutions provided by intimidation or threat."

Master Goto smiled.

"I am aware that you can handle confrontation, young Rakaan. Now prove you can handle leadership in peace."

Rakaan Horne​

 

[Alexander Hayes]

Where Maeve’s attention turned to the fireworks and then back to the memorial, Alex’s had remained on her. He watched for the emotion that flashed across her face, amongst her usual stoic nature. She had even come adorned in armour, akin to what he had seen before but not as practical.

A stray thought crossed his mind, pondering over if she always opted for armour if the occasion arose. Would she hit up a nightclub in a suit of her usual silver armour?

Hell, the idea alone of Maeve in a nightclub almost had the K’paur snorting with laughter. But he had managed to rein it in, and by the time she looked back at him, Alex’s expression had been schooled to his usual demeanour.

“Nah don’t be sorry, sentimental is good.” It brought a soft smile to his face, seeing the Shadow break out of her shell, if only a little bit. As he had spoken to previously, they weren’t machines. Emotions were what made them who they were.

What Maeve said next had Alex smiling, of which evolved into his trademark grin. “Oh, do I hear a tone of worry?” He walked up to her still grinning. “Concerned that you might lose me?”

Though the topic had been on the K’paur’s mind lately, on what he was going to do next now that the war with the Maw was over. But there was one thing that was certain, and would never change.

“As the old saying goes, ‘once a marine, always a marine’. I’ll always be here to fight the good fight, but I might potentially specialise.” His first steps back after recovery was to reassess his place in the military. Then the fighting with the Maw picked up and he had gotten swept up into it. But now it was over, and his mind drifted to the options that had been laid out before him.

“Might go for a promotion, lead my own squad. Maybe even become a Commando.” At this point the K’paur was standing close to Maeve, looking down at her. “Or perhaps I’ll see if the SIA will have me, and find myself working closer with a certain Shadow.”

Maeve Linahan​

 

[Maeve Linahan]

Whatever semblance of a smile Maeve wore, it melted away at Alexander's answer, replaced by one raised eyebrow. "Now, don't start jumping to conclusions, Hayes. I only think we—the Galactic Alliance, I mean—would have more to benefit if you decided to stick around. We may have peace, but we'll always need soldiers to keep it."

A half-truth, laid over a fat lie. Maeve didn't want to admit her honest worry of Hayes retiring or leaving the Defense Force. She wanted him to stay, if only to still have the opportunity to serve at his side. Of course, she would never give him the satisfaction of saying so. She was far too prideful for that.

At his next point, Maeve struggled not to laugh. "Strategic Intelligence Agency? Please. You're a stone pillar, Alex. You don't exactly blend in with a crowd—you stand over it."

She folded her arms and looked him up and down, considering for a moment. "Now, I can definitely see you as a Commando. Maybe even a commander, if you ever get tired of taking orders from certain Jedi Shadows." She paused. "Or maybe you could even become a Jedi yourself?"

She let the question hang in the air for a long moment. Maeve had sensed a strong connection in him, like the undercurrent of a river, and as rarely as he drew upon it, she'd known. A K'paur had an innate bond to the Force. Some more powerful than others, though Alexander showed promise. Had he never considered enlisting with the Order over the marines?

Perhaps he had a reason. All Maeve wanted was to know.

Alexander Hayes​

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[Ari Naldax]

​

"Sir, I'm tendering my resignation." The stern look on the Colonel's face stunned the Admiral she'd been reporting to. the 303rd had just proved themselves in the battle over Shihon and now Ari was wanting to resign? Of course - She'd joined the GA specifically to help avenge the homeworld of her Chiss Wingmates back in the days of Wolf Squadron, and now the GA themselves were in the business of cleaving planets asunder. Ari's resolve was only strengthened by the apparent obliviousness of her commanding officer.

"What could possibly have you this upset, Colonel?" The Admiral still had that dumb look of total ignorance on his face - failing to understand how seriously she'd taken these events. That the government she served and its sword-wielding fanatics had done something that lead to a planet's destruction. The serious look on her face, however, told him that there was no turning back.

"I can't serve this government anymore, and I'm not needed here anymore in any case - I can do far more out in the rim than following bureaucrats and religious fanatics crusading through the unknown regions. My decision is made."

Remaining in her parade rest, Ari stared at the floor for a moment - allowing the gravity of the decision she was making to finally hit her - she'd dedicated several years of her life to the GA, and now she was leaving - striking out on her own. She knew some of her old squadronmates would follow, but after this, she would have to source her own support, find her own equipment, and scrounge up her own parts and munitions. This truly was the most momentous decision in her life - a defining moment, even.

Removing her rank tabs from her chest, her GA emblems from her shoulder, and even her Golden Starbird from her neck, she placed them all on the Admiral's desk before rendering a final salute and leaving.

Now it was time to really get to work.

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

One corner of Cora's mouth pulled inward at the mention of juggling the noble and Jedi lifestyle.

"Soon I'll just be a royal."

Maybe it was her fiercely aching ribs or the sober undertone to the celebration, but Cora was beginning to grow tired of holding onto her aristocratic decorum. A wistful sigh passed bruised lips.

What Dreidi said next had the Padawan lifting her brows in curiosity.

"Your mother is royalty? I didn't realize that witches operated under a crown." Looking Dreidi up and down in a new light, Cora hummed thoughtfully. Idly, she pressed a hand to her own face. Her own cosmetics were often applied with a light hand.

"That's your natural skin? Really?" Peering closer, Cora almost sounded as if she didn't believe Dreidi. "Goodness, your pores are tiny."

A noticeable thread of jealousy wove through her tone.

She frowned.

"Am I not intimidating on my own?"

Said the small, doe-eyed teenage girl.

Dreidi Xeraic

 

[Brandyn Sal-Soren]

Midst the hustle, yay even the bustle, of the celebrations Brandyn sought out Cybelle. Familiar faces and presences washed over him, people's general sense of celebration did little to cool his troubled spirit. He sought a way through a gathering of folk who clearly knew one another. Brandyn decided going around was the most reasonable option, if only he could break through the steady stream of pedestrians that rounded the gathered friends as if their party were a boulder in the midst of a stream.

A hand. Not forceful. But the presence attached to it was both familiar and deeply shaken.

"What was it that gave you the courage to seek out the evidence you and I chased before? How did you know it was time to go?"

Long before he question finished, Brandyn's eyes had already fallen to examine Aeris. Her gaze was far off, thoughtful. Her presence even more so. Brandyn narrowed his eyes, the noise about him becoming static as he focused in on his friend.

"Sometimes. You just...know," he said, without really any deep thought given. The thought, as usual, came after the words and he found them to be accurate, if a little clumsy.

His hand rested on her shoulder, trying to pull her attention toward him.

"Aeris. What happened?" Something was wrong.

Aeris Lashiec

 

[Aeris Lashiec]

Brandyn Sal-Soren

Sometimes you just knew. Aeris slowly nodded to what she was hearing, processing what they would have meant. A hand was placed on her shoulder to turn her towards Brandyn but her head and attention would ever so slowly trail behind. In the light of the world beyond those doors, most things seemed exciting. Even now it seemed to bathe Sal-Soren in part of its sheen and that was just instinctively where her focus remained.

"I think I need to leave for a while." She said and finally looked Brandyn in the eyes. "This is not the place where I am needed anymore."

The archives were already in excellent condition. Well, somewhat excellent at the very least. It would be in capable hands. As for the younglings, there were more people looking after them as well. The only slots that Aeris would have filled were the ones that literally anyone else could fill out.

Actually, the more she thought about it the less it seemed that she had any purpose here at all.

"I think I have to go. There are people out there who need my help more than anyone here would need it."

She gently grabbed onto the hand on her shoulder and began to lift it up and away. Unless stopped she would make her way towards the temple doors and leave. She had no mind to say goodbye right now, only a mind to go. Where? Anywhere. Why? Because.

How many years had it been now since she first began to struggle with these thoughts? Dagon was still around back then. Kai was more akin to a little kid than a full-grown man, and more than that the whole temple was still in ruins because of an attack.

If she left now, she could just let it all rest. She could maybe rebuild something new, see the galaxy again. Except this time without the bounty hunters and inquisitors on her heels.

 

[Dreidi Xeraic]

Tag: Corazona von Ascania

"Maybe, just because someone has forged a path in front of us doesn't mean the Force will guide us down that path." Dreidi commented, hoping to offer some reassurance and confidence to Corazona that nothing was ever set in stone.

Dreidi chuckled and shook her head, "my mother is a Jedi Master not a Witch. Witches do not hold any royalty from what I have observed. No, she is Zorran and apparently there is a royal bloodline, when she shifted she developed more canine traits than I did when I shifted." Gesturing to her pointed ears and longer canine teeth. "However, she doesn't have any royal obligations or such from what I have observed so never had pressures to perform royal duties or continue the royal bloodline. Especially since I am not as 'pure'" Dreidi did air quotes to gesture how stupid the concept was.

"Well, there might be a little something. My eyes are the heaviest I use make up and dolling up like some do for a funeral didn't seem quite right." Dreidi smirked and shrugged, "you look great as you are as well, sure you look much better than I do early morning." Dreidi chuckled lightly.

Shaking her head, "I wouldn't say you do, but then again I have fought Sith so my bar for intimidating is fairly high. Being intimidating isn't necessarily a good thing, we're Jedi, not meant to scare or intimidate people. Meant to offer hope, inspiration, openness. Being able to do that is more important and think you do that loads better than me." Dreidi smiled reassuringly.

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Eyes creased in thought, Cora considered Dreidi's words. It was a nice sentiment, and perhaps one she'd come to truly understand in time. For now, her path—fixed and rigid as it was—had always been clear.

Finish your training, marry a nobleman of equal or greater status, and serve your family.

Fortunately, what Dreidi said next was thoroughly distracting from more dismal ideas.

"You're...a canine? Zorran, you said?" The word 'Zorran' rolled from her tongue as if it were completely new, and it was. She took a moment longer to study Dreidi's less than human features, eyes lingering on her pointed ears and sharp teeth. Ukatis was largely comprised of humans, and though she'd been exposed to a handful of different species though the Alliance, Cora was still enchanted by near-humans and non-humans alike.

"Fascinating." She declared. "Is your witch blood from your father, then?" That didn't sound quite right, but Cora knew next to nothing about witches, and even less about Zorrans.

Pale cheeks flushed red at Dreidi's complement, and Cora gave the witch a bashful smile. "You think so? This takes quite a bit of work, too." A hand gestured over her face. "Keeping up appearances, especially for noblewomen, is of utmost importance where I'm from."

An expensive and lengthy twelve-step skincare routine, along with youth, certainly helped matters. Idly, Cora wondered what her mother would think of the scars that had begun to mar her daughter's flesh.

"Hope, inspiration, and openness…" The blonde Padawan repeated Dreidi's words thoughtfully as the pink blush of her face deepened a shade. She wasn't sure about the witch's assessment, but took it as a complement all the same. "I suppose that those traits will be important in this upcoming era of rebuilding the galaxy. The Alliance has been entrenched in war with the Maw ever since I joined—I'm sure it'll be an adjustment for us all."

She offered a hopeful smile for them both.

Dreidi Xeraic

 

[Makko Vyres]

The flame changed color from orange to a pinkish hue. Selecting a bruise on Makko's arm for a demonstration, Starlin held the flame to it, watching as the dark splotch rapidly disappeared.

"Neat, huh?"

Makko lifted his arm sharply and yelped. The flame caused a sensation and he immediately assumed it was pain. There was a warmth where it had touched him, but the bruise was gone.

He rubbed his arm, looking slightly embarrassed by his reaction.

"Definitely worth sitting through a signature Starlin impromptu lesson, huh?"Eli certainly thought so.Then he turned to Starlin. "I'm gonna get a smoothie, want one?"

"I'll take one of those," Makko said. "Maybe, with a straw."

He was still bleeding from a split lip and his gums.

Makko leaned forwards towards Starlin. Since their last lesson he had started to form more of an understanding with the Force.

"Alright, how?" Makko said, finally distracted from his moping.

 

[Starlin Rand]

Makko jumped as the flame touched his skin. Once he figured it out, though, Starlin could tell he was interested.

"I'm gonna get a smoothie, want one?"

"Hell yeah. Ask for the cryptberry special. Whatever you do, don't mix them up, 'cause that shit'll kill you if you drink it." But for Starlin, it was just a delicious, refreshing smoothie.

"Alright, how?"

"It's the same as using the Force any other way. The spell is just a focus for your intent. You channel the Force into your words, and turn the flame from something harmful into something helpful." He handed the lighter to Makko. "'Healing waters, the body spurns; Ashla, let this flame mend instead of burn.' Got it? Now you try."

Makko Vyres​

 

[Dreidi Xeraic]

Tag: Corazona von Ascania

Dreidi nods her head, "yeah. They are a small race, not many of us. One fun fact is that we get to live 2,000 years." Her tone making it clear that she was not pleased that she would have to live that long a life.

"My father was a Jedi Master, he was Grand Master of the Silver Jedi at one point then he got really ill and stepped away from the position and public eye. I don't know much about his family though, there could be a Dathomirian connection but any chances of figuring out is impossible. His parents abandoned him on Nar Shaddaa as an infant." Dreidi explained, there wasn't any hurt or pain in her tone, a curiosity if there was a connection, a reason she could use both the Force and Magick, just background information lost forever.

She chuckled at the blushes from Corazona, "well, I am sure you get plenty of people complimenting your looks and probably decent number hitting on you." Dreidi shrugged, "I think people put too much worth in nobles and titles. Galaxy might be a better place with less nobles and more effort in equality." She blinked then looked over at Corazona, "not that I am saying we should get rid of you! Just more the titles and the whole generational wealth idea." She blushed this time as she felt silly for her ideas.

Nodding her head, "will be tough. Especially since both the NJO and the GA grew through war and conflict, sure plenty of people made money from the war effort and now they might not be pleased that money will not be coming in as much." Dreidi was holding a pessimistic attitude towards those forged in war being able to shed such constraints. Herself included. She had always framed herself as the Jedi that would fight for peace, protect those who couldn't and kill those that threaten lives.

What was she when there was no one to war against?

 

[Lia Ka Rai]

"Play it again for me," Lia said. The little droid complied, though it whirred and beeped in a concerned pattern that told Lia she had watched this too many times. The hologram appeared. The Battle of Exogol. Marines were all around her, blaster fire echoing in the subterranean complex of the planet. Her Padawan was running ahead, Lia right behind her.

"Shshshehfshrhhhh, wait!" Lia's hologram self reached out, Lia herself opened a hand she hadn't realized she'd been clenching. Metal fired through one of the Brotherhood's crude weapons screamed through the air. She never did learn the proper forms of Soresu like Lia had told her to. The metal rod pierced through her neck, a splatter of blood obscured the marine's camera.

"Shshshfhshehfs!!!!" The name only came to Lia in a whisper of hushed syllables and sounds but the anguish was clear in her voice, shrill like the ragged call of an aiwha. In the Force, like a mournful song echoing through now empty chambers. She hadn't been able to hear her padawan's name since the battle. Captain Torrel had told her that the casualties in the military still hadn't been fully recorded but it was almost as bad as Tython. Probably worse. Not everyone was able to get off world before. Before.

She closed her eyes and stood. There had to be another way. There had to be an end to the sacrifice.

 

[Rakaan Horne]

CORUSCANT - Goto

​

In thoughtfulness, the Jedi slowed; his eyes seemed to soften over the Jedi Master and a small nod followed thereafter. The mantle of leadership seemed so terribly foreign to Rakaan some time ago, even now - whether it would change was yet to be seen, into the fire and the flame with these missions thrown into the space once beneath the dominion of the Silvers.

"I will, master." He reassured, smiling.

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