Heard through the grapevine...

[Aryn Teth]

Aryn Teth

---

​

---

The Force Praxeum of Commenor, Commenor, Rachuk Sector, The Colonies Region​

Interacting With: [member='Lady Kay']​

​

As Kay suggested he search through the archives for any answers regarding his abilities, he nodded his head once. "In all honesty, I had been hoping that I may find some record of the ability, it should at least provide a reasonable distraction." He was unsure just how much luck he would have in his search, he had not had any access to proper Jedi archives before, but everything he had found thus far had indicated that it was rare, and most of what he had learned thus far was through hearsay, causing more frustration, than giving him any answers. He gave her a nod again as she explained the reason for her secrets, it made sense, force-sensitives in politics were a contentious issue to say the very least, and he wasn't particularly surprised to learn that she had been removed from her position for it.

As she questioned his visions, he sighed and nodded, thinking back on them. She was right, it was possible that by sharing them they would be able to learn more, but it had always been difficult to focus on them long enough to explain. Nodding his head, he crossed his arms over his chest as he watched her. "They're fairly broken and pieced together, so it's not the easiest to explain, first I always see Mandalorian ships bombarding worlds, city worlds, temple worlds." He sighed as he continued. "I see temples burning, bodies strewn over fields, and always him walking among them, always Ra. But there's always something behind him, these dark strands like strings stretching out into the darkness behind him. I see into his eyes, and I see a dark world, far from life and civilization, covered in ice and fire, I see the icey fields of the planet, and a hand stretches forth from the snow, then the vision ends..." He shook his head, as if he wasn't satisfied, it was his first time explaining the vision openly, and he half expected he'd sound like a madman.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay nodded. Distractions were good. If he didn't have them, then his search would turn too narrow, and then details would be missed. It was the same thing with getting a fresh pair of eyes to help look. More than likely that was what brought [member="Aryn Teth"] here.

And then he spoke about his visions. Kay chewed the inside of her cheek while she listened, picking out the clues within the bits and pieces of it. Her jaw clenched as he spoke of dark strings flowing from behind him. She knew what that meant. "If your visions are correct, as well as the theory of Sith Sorcery, then Ra is but a puppet, and the Sith are pulling his strings. More than likely they'd be trying to wipe out the Jedi. But here is a safe haven as we are not on anyone's sights. We can work in secret...behind their backs, so to speak, while their attention is elsewhere." It was the best that they had so far. Of course that could always change.

Plans always do.

 

[Aryn Teth]

Aryn Teth

---

​

---

The Force Praxeum of Commenor, Commenor, Rachuk Sector, The Colonies Region​

Interacting With: [member='Lady Kay']​

​

Aryn sighed as he heard Kay speak up again, nodding his head once as he watched her. "Provided that our theory is correct, I think you're right - but it remains to be seen just how much of a hold the Sith might have on him. It's possible they may be truly guiding his actions, or perhaps they've just ensured he doesn't decide to target them in his crusade. Either way, i'm sure it's not good for the Silver Jedi, or for the Alliance." He did believe that Kay was correct when she said Commenor would be a safe haven for them. He was unsure if that would remain the case forever, or if Ra did indeed even have any desire to spread his coming crusade to Commenor or any of the other coalitions, but it was not out of the realm of possibility in his mind. Similarly, Aryn figured that if either the Mandalorians or the Sith became aware as to what they had begun working on, they could easily become targets. But for now, it was as she said, and they were safe.

"We can only hope, in the event that their attention does become focused on us, I assure you that i won't overstay my welcome, I wouldn't wish to make you or Commenor a target as well." He forced a gentle smile, giving Kay a nod as he lowered his arms back to his side with a sigh. He did in a way hold regrets already for bringing Kay into the investigation, but he had needed help if he was to go anywhere with it, and Kay had thus far proven to be the correct choice in that regard. He just hoped that in time things were not going to turn too sour for them.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Commenor had very little to do with the Silver Jedi, and nothing to do with the Alliance. The Silvers had an Embassy in Chasin City, however it more or less sat empty. A trade deal and alliance was set to be struck, but once she set her foot down on not giving them special treatment over all others, the Silvers pretty much kicked Kay and her team out of the meeting in the Embassy. She had some friends that were among their ranks, but they did not represent the Silvers at all. Only themselves. As for the Alliance, they never reached out to Commenor at all. More than likely they were far too busy with their wars with the First Order. Plus Commenor was too small for the large governments to bother with. For that she was thankful. She had enough trouble already.

She tilted her head to the side a bit, shifting her weight a little on the log. [member="Aryn Teth"] pretty much said the same thing that she would, if she were in his position. She could see the guilt as well as she could feel it. "If we are to become a target, it won't be because of you. There may be a time when I will have to see Ra again where I will try to do as I did before, and hope that a promise of non-aggression will keep my people safe. I just hope that he doesn't look our way and instead focuses on others. But there's no guarantee that that will happen. There's no guarantee for anything. We can only hope for a good outcome."

 

[Aryn Teth]

Aryn Teth

---

​

---

The Force Praxeum of Commenor, Commenor, Rachuk Sector, The Colonies Region​

Interacting With: [member='Lady Kay']​

​

The gentle smile remained on Aryn's face as he woke, but his eyes still held the guilt behind them as he listened to Kay speak. He hoped she was right, he wanted to hope that war was not going to come to Commenor or the more peaceful areas of the galaxy. He had already come to terms with the fact that his investigation would likely not be complete in time to stop any expansion on the part of Ra's Mandalorians, and he doubted the possibility that any results of his investigation would halt his onslaught anyway if he chose to make it. Indeed, Aryn had increasingly begun to accept the likelihood that war was growing increasingly inevitable, not only for himself, but those he held dear and his home in the Alliance. He knew that the times ahead were uncertain, laden with darkness and fears, he just hoped to be able to shine a little light on things before too long.

"I hope you're right, Kay, I hope war, or whatever Crusades Ra might plan never come to Commenor. There at least deserves to be one place in the galaxy that's still peaceful." He kept his smile, but the guilt in his eyes almost turned to sorrow as he watched her. Sighing, he glanced back the way they had come, towards the Praxeum, before he looked back towards her. "Should we begin heading back? I wouldn't want any of the guards or students to think I've kidnapped the Queen." He let out a quiet chuckle, hoping to somewhat lighten the mood or return them to a more comfortable topic than the state of galactic stability.

 

[Kay-Larr]

It was a sad scenario. Whatever happens, innocent people were going to die. It was just a matter of where and when. Given that Kay kept her people out of the wars of the Galaxy had meant that others were targeted instead. Did it mean that she felt that her people were more deserving of life? No. It just meant that she was fulfilling her duty to keep them safe. As Veiere had said, all life was precious. The Force grew in strength because of it, flourished within it. To take away life creates a hole in the very fabric of the Force. Both of them did their best to avoid that.

She nodded in agreement that there should be a safe haven in the Galaxy. Yet if it was known too much, then that safety would provide a challenge to the aggressors for them to destroy. Kay didn't want that. And the look in [member="Aryn Teth"] 's eyes showed her that he didn't want that either.

As he chuckled, so too did Kay smile. She got to her feet. "No, we surely wouldn't want that. Of course it wouldn't be the first time, either. I have a bad habit of attracting trouble. But also the good to counter that." She started to lead him back to the Praxeum. "The Light will win out in the end. You'll see. Sometimes it gets darker before the dawn. We just can't lose our hope, no matter how bleak it gets."

 

[Aryn Teth]

Aryn Teth

---

​

---

The Force Praxeum of Commenor, Commenor, Rachuk Sector, The Colonies Region​

Interacting With: [member='Lady Kay']​

​

Aryn let out another soft chuckle as Kay expressed she had a knack for attracting trouble. He momentarily considered that perhaps he could have been considered a part of that, but did his best to ignore the thought as he began to walk back to the Praxeum along with her. When she spoke again he nodded, but he could feel as the words seemed to just pass through him. Aryn appreciated the sentiment in her words, they were calming, and most certainly welcome considering the grim aspect of their situation. However, a strong part of Aryn's mind couldn't accept Kay's words as truth. He was versed enough in history to know the ebbs and flows of the galaxy, darkness would reign for a few hundred years, then light would return, and so on and so forth, all to the point they were at now. He did not doubt that eventually light would return to its place of primacy in the galaxy, but he could not bring himself to accept that it would ever truly 'win'.

Still, he turned his gaze to her and gave a smile, one which hid all the twisting and disconcerting doubts in his heart as he gave her a nod. "Your people are lucky to have a queen such as you, Kay." His eyes lingered on her for a moment, almost as if they were searching for something, before he turned his gaze back away towards the Praxeum as they drew nearer. He had not been planning or expecting to stay at the Praxeum, to have it serve as a kind of base of operations or a temporary home, but it was a comfortable place, he could feel the force flowing when he was there and it not only relaxed him, it invigorated him. At the very least, it ensured he would have other things to focus on and distract himself with other than the impending threats of invasion by Mandalorians or countless other galactic threats.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay caught [member="Aryn Teth"] looking at her from the corner of her eye, so she turned her head towards him while he spoke. The fact that his eyes lingered on hers made her wonder if he truly believed what he had said, or if he was looking to see if she believed enough in herself to agree with his sentiment. The truth of the matter was that she wasn't as sure of herself as she should be. She didn't have all the answers. All that she could do was her best and to hope that it was enough.

She turned her head forward again, catching herself in the nick of time while she tripped on a root that was exposed on the forest floor. Kay cleared her throat a little. "Well...I've made mistakes too. Not all of my decisions are the right ones. I wasn't exactly born to lead a single world, let alone dozens. But I try my best to accomodate everyone and maintain peace without oppression....If the rest of the biggest governments did the same, then the Galaxy would be a better place." But none of them would ever listen to her. Kay and her government, even her territory were small and insignificant. She had gone to their meetings, only to discover that there was no point in her being there at all.

But being ignored had it's merits. It kept them from being targeted.

 

[Aryn Teth]

Aryn Teth

---

​

---

The Force Praxeum of Commenor, Commenor, Rachuk Sector, The Colonies Region​

Interacting With: [member='Lady Kay']​

​

He almost laughed as Kay spoke. There was a great deal of truth to what she'd said, if the other governments across the galaxy followed the example she aimed to set out, it was likely that the galaxy would be a far more peaceful place than it was, alas, that was not the case. "Unfortunately, I feel as though the galaxy is doomed to its cycles of light and dark forever." He shrugged. Aryn lingered on the thought for a few long moments, sighing as he shook his head and they finally made their way back to the Praxeum, taking a few steps inside with her before he stopped, glancing around. It was not the most private of settings, but it was relatively quiet, and there was no one exactly within range of eavesdropping as far as Aryn figured, so he turned towards Kay, watching her closely for a moment before he cleared his throat and spoke up.

"I suppose we should perhaps work out our next step." He said, dragging them from the rather grim discussion on galactic politics to the matter at hand. There was research still to be done, but he figured it would have been best if they had some idea of their goal next in the investigation they'd now become involved in. Whether or not Kay had contacts she could speak to in regards to their investigation, he did know, and as for the ideas Aryn had in his mind, well, they were foolish to say the least. Any more intelligent options she had, well, he would likely be more inclined to pick those first.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay nodded as they walked. Yes, the Galaxy was doomed to flow in cycles. That's just the way that it was. Orbits were circular, planets, moons and stars, all of them rounded. There was no beginning and no end, only a change of duration. The main thing that they could do was to make the best out of whichever part of the cycle that they were in.

Soon they were inside the Praxeum. Kay stopped as [member="Aryn Teth"] did. She wasn't entirely sure of why he observed her so much, but had already shrunk down her Force signature before they had reached the Praxeum's grounds. Perhaps he was waiting for something from her. She was a leader of her people. Maybe Aryn thought that she should lead this investigation too. It could be safer that way, given that where he came from had faced enough wars already.

"Alright. I'm going to put the word out and see what kind of expertise that I can find. Meanwhile, see what you can find in our library. I'll also head over to the Mandalorian Embassy and see if they have anything of use. I don't know how the Mandalorian culture deals with death, but I'll find out." She had plenty of good contacts in that respect. However this darker Mandalorian sect that followed Ra was out of her reach at the moment. That was something that she may have to rectify. And that gave her great discomfort.

 

[Aryn Teth]

Aryn Teth

---

​

---

The Force Praxeum of Commenor, Commenor, Rachuk Sector, The Colonies Region​

Interacting With: [member='Lady Kay']​

​

Aryn nodded his head as he listened to Kay's plan. He figured that she would have a much safer time trying to learn something from the Mandalorians, Aryn had heard of Ra's aggression towards force users, and so he imagined any attempts on his behalf would likely not wend well, if anything, he wouldn't ever meet with Ra, unless circumstances made it absolutely necessary. Research, however, was something that Aryn could manage with ease. He had longed for access to an archive such as the ones in the Commenor Praxeum for far longer than he could remember, now, finally having more-or-less free reign, it was everything he could do not to let it go to his head. Nodding his head towards her, he cleared his throat.

"I think that sounds like a good idea, i'm afraid my own list of contacts in the galaxy is limited, so you would have much better odds finding someone capable of helping than I would." He chuckled in a slightly embarrassed tone, shrugging his shoulders as he reached back and gently clasped his hands together behind his back, sighing as he glanced down the hall towards the library briefly, before turning back towards her and reaching into his jacket. He pulled out a very small data-disc, smaller than the palm of his hand, and held it out towards her. "This is an encrypted channel which should let you contact directly with me if you need to." Aryn appreciated that his time among the Rebellion had not gone to waste, encryptions and espionage were still relatively commonplace for the Jedi, and in situations like this, it came in handy.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay nodded. Being a ruler and caretaker for dozens of worlds, and being allied with dozens more, gave her the advantage of knowing a lot of people. Many different types of people.

Her head tilted to the side a bit as [member="Aryn Teth"] chuckled in such a way that made her wonder if her title and place on Commenor made him a bit nervous or uncomfortable around her. There were some that just didn't know how to act, yet her request has always been for them to be themselves. She wasn't a stickler for titles or formalities. She knew what it was like to have nothing.

Aryn held out the data-disc, to which she gently took it out of his hand and palmed it in her own. "Thank you. I'll be sure to keep in touch and keep you up to date on my progress. If you need a break there's plenty to do in and around Chasin City. You can even drop by the Palace if you'd like." No doubt they'd be having moments to brainstorm and discuss some of their findings.

 

[Aryn Teth]

Aryn Teth

---

​

---

The Force Praxeum of Commenor, Commenor, Rachuk Sector, The Colonies Region​

Interacting With: [member='Lady Kay']​

​

Aryn raised an eyebrow as Kay spoke, seeming somewhat surprised at the invitation, though he gave an appreciative smile, regardless. Aryn had expected his relationship with Kay to be limited, and it had already developed into more of a partnership than he expected. Regardless, he appreciated how open Kay was, how welcoming and eager to assist him she had been had been a welcome change to many of the interactions with his 'betters' that Aryn had grown used to over the past few years, it made him more confident that the two of them may actually make some progress. "I may take you up on that offer, Kay." He said with a polite smile, giving a slight bow of his head as he looked back up at her.

"I imagine if you ever have trouble finding me over the next few days, i'll be somewhere in the library." Chuckling softly, Aryn gave her another slight bow, giving Kay a moment for any last words that she may have desired before taking a step back and turning around. Retracing his steps, he made his way back towards the archives, stepping inside as he looked over all the shelves and rubbed his hands together, ready to begin his search.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay smiled, bowing her head to [member="Aryn Teth"] in kind. "Good luck on your research, my friend. Hopefully some good will come of it." Knowledge was key in solving any sort of problem. And this was a big problem.

She turned and left him, making her way out of the Praxeum. It wasn't until she was out of sight of the Padawans and Masters that her expression dropped to show the real concern that she had. All of her memories of Ra contained nothing positive. The man held an intimidating presence and when it was believed that he was dead, she felt relieved.

But that was all gone now. This was a second wave coming. Once the civil war was over, she knew that he'd do as he did before, he'd fuel the flames of war. The question was, would her defences hold? Or would her allies come to help? And if they did, what would be the cost? Some of them had warned her that her little corner of the Galaxy wouldn't always be overlooked, yet she tended to brush those concerns aside. However she did work to bolster her fleets and armouries, so at least that counted for something.

But would it be enough? For that she had no answer. And it bothered her greatly.