Holocron Haul

[Rhane Varless]

Location: Coruscant​

Objective: Surprise​

Tags: [member="Eustachya"]​

The small, unidentifiable shuttle soared through the heights of Coruscant. Speeders, shuttles, trading vessels as well as personal yachts filtered through the atmosphere towards their various destination. Rhane began to point out landmarks to his newly minted Padawan. The two had brief introductions at the recent Silver Jedi Order ball, as well as more extended introductions afterwards when he officially accepted her as his padawan. He stopped his location identification for a moment and reflected back on her data file. Realizing she was from a fairly isolated world, she probably had no idea the history behind the vibrant city-world of Coruscant. He made a mental note to request an advanced history course for her at Silver Rest upon their return. He leaned back in his chair and began speaking.

''Coruscant was once the most important planet in the entire galaxy, and remained so for many years. It was the location of the Galactic Republic's Senate, until Darth Sidious abolished it in favor of a more totalitarian style of government. After that, the newly created Galactic Empire still heavily utilized this planet. Some of history's most important events have happened here. The formation of the Grand Army of the Republic, the deaths of Mace Windu, Saesee Tinn and countless other Jedi during Order 66'' Rhane paused, observing the Padwan to see her reaction and gauge whether or not she was familiar with the events of The Jedi Purge during The Clone Wars. ''-I believe even war rooms involving the Stark Hyperspace War, countless political bills and treaties. However, most of them revolve around that...'' Rhane pointed out the viewport towards the Jedi Temple, only two sides visible from this angle. They were heading straight towards it, rather low to the ground.

''The Jedi Temple. A beacon of hope and possibility throughout the galaxy but, also the site of history's most brutal battles. The March on the Temple by Darth Vader and the 501st legion, the sacking of the temple during the Old Republic times, and several more recent battles...'' Rhane trailed off.

''Now it's abandoned, a den for the homeless and criminals. No Jedi has returned here for quite some time.'' The shuttle turned sharply, almost on queue, to reveal a massive canyon across the landscape of Coruscant. The canyon, caused by the crashing of a One Sith vessel some time ago, destroyed one third of the temple and created a massive crater straight to the lowest level of Coruscant.

The shuttle neared the landing pad, Rhane turned to the learner to see what questions she had about the world of Coruscant, the events she references, the temple or even himself. However, he was purposefully keeping the objective of the mission a secret from his learned due to the volatility involved in such an operation.

 

[Epistor of Phasekion]

~ Objective: Unknown ~ Status: Anxious~​

~ Equitment: Tunic & lightsaber ~ Tag: [member="Rhane Varless"] ~​

Eustachya was nothing but attentive as her new Master pointed out various Coruscanti landmarks. Wonder and horror lived in her simultaneously at the planet's history. She knew admittedly little--she knew she did--but most what she knew she had learned from Master Finley Dawson, so she knew none of it was false. The Jedi librarian had suggested many archives for her to peruse for the purpose of starting her historic education. But, for she did not lack either time or persistence to learn, without the solid foundations offered by a knowledgeable Master, most of the words had meant little to the youth.

When Rhane sat, so did his padawan. Once he finished speaking, Eucha began with a quiet sigh, "...quite the deception." She felt the expectation was of her to speak, to add something to their conversation, but she did not wish to make a fool of herself. But maybe that would be unavoidable. After all, the journey of a padawan learner was a long one she had heard by all accounts. If it was anything like learning to throw the discus still strapped to her belt opposite of her lightsaber, she wouldn't learn how to throw properly for years. And those years of ceaseless trying would be marked with plentiful memories of blackened eyes and twisted ankles.

Shaking her head slightly, Eucha rose her voice to a less submissive, but still appropriate, level. Then she asked, "What was the use of a prophecy that exchanged the lives of so many for the supposed end of the Sith? It seemed a...cruel twist of fate." 'Jedi don't believe in coincidence', Eustachya reminded herself. Who had said that, anyway? She remembered reading it as a quote, but could not recall. In any case, whatever was the difference between coincidence and a fated prophecy? To her, in the Novious religion, they were one and the same.

Then Eustachya looked down into her lap. She, nervous under the watchful eye of Rhane, began to wring her hands. After a pregnant and wholly uncomfortable--at least, to her--pause, she glanced back up at him. She knew she had to say this now if she wished to not lose respect before her apprenticeship even truly began. Only Grandmaster Nooran and Sargent Rozveeil knew the cultural reason she had turned from the Shadows and almost from the entire Order.

She began after quickly licking her lips, but found herself momentarily unable, unwilling more like, to continue. Quickly after, though, she forced herself on, "On my world, the Jedi would be considered criminals. To do battle with anyone, Light or Dark, is the highest offense Sargus Novians can commit. The reason does not matter. It is tied up in my people's faith. I do not wish..." she paused again but stopped rubbing her hands, "...you to think less of me now, because of this, but I thought you ought to know." A small smile touched her lips, despite herself. "Also, know that I will endeavor not to be useless, where ever you lead me."

 

[Rhane Varless]

Location: Coruscant​

Objective: Holocrons​

Tags: [member="Eustachya"]​

"What was the use of a prophecy that exchanged the lives of so many for the supposed end of the Sith? It seemed a...cruel twist of fate." Eustachya asked Rhane as they neared the temple landing platform. Rhane nodded his head, a probing but thoughtful question. He stared off into the viewport at the temple as he answered her question.

''The answer depends on which Jedi you ask. Some say it appears that The Chosen One was never meant to completely destroy the Sith, only to bring balance...which he did. After slaying the hundreds of Jedi, there were only a few dozen survivors... Oppo Rancis, Yoda, Obi-Wan, Eeth Koth, K'Krukh and several others. Eventually he hunted most of them down. The difference in number between the Jedi and Sith was now in the single digits, as opposed to two decades earlier when the Jedi outnumbered the Sith 100 to 1, by even the most conservative calculations. Of course opponents to that philosophy bring up that The Chosen One eventually did destroy the Sith. The redeemed Anakin Skywalker eventually killed Darth Sidious...'' Rhane trailed off as the shuttle touched down, ending his rant.

He was about to exit the shuttle when he glanced over at his Padawan. He sensed great apprehension and nervousness within her. He didn't speak, but waited for her to bring up whatever it was that was troubling her. She did so before Rhane could exit the shuttle.

"On my world, the Jedi would be considered criminals.'' Rhane became startled, but hid his emotions. ''To do battle with anyone, Light or Dark, is the highest offense Sargus Novians can commit. The reason does not matter. It is tied up in my people's faith. I do not wish..." she paused again but stopped rubbing her hands, "...you to think less of me now, because of this, but I thought you ought to know." A small smile touched her lips, despite herself. "Also, know that I will endeavor not to be useless, where ever you lead me."

''I see'' Rhane began. ''Interesting.''

He gestured for Eustachya to follow him to the back of the shuttle to retrieve a cart he had stowed away there. As he began to pull the cart out of the storage hold, he found the right words and spoke up.

''Pacifism is a popular belief among several ancient Jedi. While your reasoning is new, your philosophy is not. Eventually...you'll find something worth fighting for. Perhaps you already have but are denying it to yourself. Everyone has something not just worth fighting for, but dying for, even me. Your reason could be your ideals, your mother, me or Idris...'' Rhane trailed off for just a moment as he activated the repulsors on the cart but quickly resumed once they were on.

''You'll find it, eventually. You'll know you've found it when you reach for your blade and activate it without hesitation or second thought.'' Rhane gave a thumbs-up to the pilot and began to push the cart towards the temple, giving his padawan an opportunity to either ponder or respond. The two eventually made it up the steps, being greeted by several thugs of varing races. A Weequay spoke up.

''Good morning...'' he smiled, revealing a mouth-full of rotten, diseased teeth. ''There's a 100 credit per-person fee to get into the temple...we'd be glad to collect that now'' Rhane remained silent, watching how his Padawan would respond.

 

[Epistor of Phasekion]

~ Objective: Get past the thugs ~ Status: Blissfully ignorant ~​

~ Equipment: Tunic & lightsaber ~ Tag: [member="Rhane Varless"] ~​

As Eustachya stepped out onto the extended boarding ramp and into the elements of Coruscant, she rose her headscarf over her head as a hood, partially as a sunscreen against the natural light and partially as blinders to keep herself focused. And it was good that she did. The duracrete forest rising around the two Jedi posed dangerous for Eustachya in more ways that one: her natural inclinations to trust and to grow curious, and subsequently wander off alone, did not bother her now, but there was ample reason it should have.

She left her master's pause empty and untouched, instead pondering on the lesson internally. She hoped she would get there one day. Her people might never understand, but even the beginning of this odyssey of hers began to suggest to her that there was a time and a great many good things left to fight for. So, yes, maybe Master Varless was right. She would find something in time--perhaps you already have--that would convince her to depart from her peoples' age of belief.

But that time was not now.

"Be of good cheer, gentlemen," Eucha greeted, smiling wide and taking down her hood. "Is that necessitated?" It was good that Master Varless had not apprised his padawan to their exact mission, for Eucha would likely have carelessly informed the thugs of it. Indeed, the concept of subtlety was still completely lost on her, but not for lack of attempts of the Shadows to teach her. "We are on a pilgrimage. Won't you let us though?"

The Weequay deadpanned, unamused by Eucha's naturally flowered way of speaking. "Not until you pay up, lil' lady," he repeated. Then, a Rodian at the male's left spoke up, eyeing the gilded handle of her lightsaber. He offered as if her was doing her a favor, "If you don't have credits, we accept trinkets."

After following the humanoid's gaze down to her belt, she took hold of her saber by the one of the snakes' heads. "Certainly not." Then, Rhane's voice from minutes ago on the ship echoed in her head. Now it's abandoned, a den for the homeless and criminals. In many a myth, the goddess Pylaris would stop to extend kindness and friendship to strangers whenever she walked the along the skin of Novis, and so would Eustachya here. Affording a quick glance up to her master, she continued, "Can we pay with work? Don't you live here? Let us do some of your chores."

It took the Weequay a moment to process, but then he exclaimed, "Why you--!" and began reaching for his blaster pistol. Eucha recoiled one step, before a female voice called out from behind him: "Wait, Cawn!" Startled, he moved aside to reveal the figure of a Togruta woman in rags step out of the shadows of the great entrance into the temple. "What are you doing out 'ere? Go back inside." "We could use the help," she replied. When the Weequay opened his mouth, seemingly to argue, the Togruta simply put up her hand. "Don't tell me we couldn't." She took the spot in front of Eucha that the male had moved out of. "That's very generous. Are you sure you have the time?" she asked kindly, clearly of quite a different temperament the the males around her.

Eustachya again glanced to Rhane. "I can cook," she reminded, though he likely had not forgotten. She was good at may household tasks, for sure, but listing them off now seemed unnecessary, so she left it at that.

 

[Rhane Varless]

Location: Old Jedi Temple, Coruscant​

Objective: Find Holocrons​

Tag: [member="Eustachya"]​

​

Rhane admired the youthful bliss and trustworthiness that occupied Eustachya's soul. Such aspects were active in Rhane, but in a much more mild and limited fashion. He watched the exchange between the two parties, Eustachya seemed genuinely concerned with the criminals. Rhane was both proud and concerned. Such open kindness would doubtless be abused by billions of people in the galaxy while billions more would receive it with genuine need. He watched them closely, keeping an eye on their hands and body language to gauge his response.

The Weequay reached for his pistol, and Rhane suddenly jerked for his lightsaber while putting one of his hands on Eustachya's chest to push her backwards if needed. The thugs did not noticed this maneuver, too distracted by the sudden appearance of the woman. The woman, unlike the rest of the clan seemed much kinder and reasonable. Rhane reminded himself that the bar was set low for these sets of thugs, a base level of decency would be considered rare among such individuals.

Rhane almost interjected during the conversation amongst the thieves but restrained himself, reminding the purpose of letting Eustachya take the lead: experience. However, when she offered to cook a meal for such scum, Rhane had to end the experience quickly.

''She can cook, but it won't be for any of you.'' Rhane said, his head swiveling around to make eye contact with the members present. The Weequay spoke up from behind the woman, stepping out from behind her.

''She can do what she pleases, you don't own her!'' Rhane shrugged off his cloak, revealing his newly constructed personal armor. It's metals glistened in the bright Coruscant sun. He kept two of his hands on the sabers on his belt while gesturing with the top two.

''We are members of the Silver Jedi Order and we have neither time, reason or inclination to feed such scum as you. Now disperse!'' Rhane yelled. The Weequay, incensed partially by Rhane's commanding voice and partially due to deep-seeded anger at the revelation Rhane was a member of one of the two parties that caused such destruction on his planet, raised his blaster and fired several shots.

Rhane immediately deployed Tutaminis, a Jedi technique for absorbing energy through the flesh of one's hand. He did so, catching the bolts with the palm of his upper right hand. Suddenly, a bright storm of yellow Electric Judgement erupted from Rhane top left hand and incapacitated the Weequay. The Rodian suddenly jolted forward, knife in hand. Rhane dismissed such an attack by using The Force to throw him against one of the pillars upholding the entrance. The rest of the thugs quickly dispersed.

Rhane brushed himself off and looked down towards his padawan, observing her reaction.

''That wasn't your fault.'' he said, letting her response to the recent action.

''Let's get going.'' he led her just inside the massive temple doorway, having donned his cloak again and resumed pushing the cart. Once inside, he looked around. He felt as if the woman they saw might be following them, although he was not sure. He kept his guard up the entire time. He looked down to his padawan.

''Our mission today is to reclaim several important Jedi Holocrons from this temple. Holocrons are datacrons only accessible by Jedi and Sith, making them extremely valuable. Now, I know where the holocrons are at, but I'm guessing you don't. Reach out, see if you can feel where they are...''

 

[Epistor of Phasekion]

~ Objective: Sense the holocrons ~ Status: Slightly traumatized ~​

~ Equipment: Tunic & lightsaber ~ Tag: [member="Rhane Varless"] ~​

​

Eustachya stumbled backwards and sideways as the Weequay fired, for she lacked the instinct to do anything more defensive. Her eyes widened when the bolts disappeared harmlessly into the palm of Rhane's hand. When he was finished defending, and began to brush himself off so seemingly nonchalantly, the learner picked her jaw up off the ground and followed suit.

"I apologize, Master," she mumbled. "I was only trying to--"

"That wasn't your fault," he said. "Let's get going."

She lingered where she stood for a moment after her master moved on to sweep her eyes over the scene that, no matter what Rhane said, she saw herself as causing. The Togruta woman, who had barely avoided falling victim to the Jedi master's zeal, was kneeling down next to the Weequay. A large part of Eustachya wanted to go to her, but what would she say? And would that make it better again?

Instead, she shook the thought out of her head before rushing to catch up to her master. She forced herself to forget the encounter for the time being in favor of listening intently to their mission. Obediently, Eustachya nodded and then closed her eyes. The moment she did, she reached out to the Force. Nothing at first came to her. She furrowed her brow, but pressed on. Not even her perseverance was so easily thrown off course by failure. Suddenly, a glowing blue dot appeared on the backs of her eyelids. Then one became two, and exponentially more, up to a few dozen, blinked into existence. It was like looking up at the starry sky on a clear night, but instead of holding the secret to unknown worlds, it told of the locations of what they sought. Some of the holocrons were closer, and thus appeared larger, and vice versa, though some of the smaller ones might have been the remains of a box, crushed long ago either during the temple's devastation or after it by raiders.

"I see them, Master," she announced, trying to keep the raw girlish wonder out of her voice. Opening her eyes, the young woman pointed down the hall in front of them where the closest holocron had seemed to be.

 

[Rhane Varless]

Location: Hallway in Coruscant's Jedi Temple​

Tags: @Eustachya​

Objetive: Holocrons​

 
''Good, good good.'' Rhane reassuringly said to his apprentice as she reached out and sensed the holocrons across the temple. He distinctly remembered both his first time seeing a holocron and his first time unlocking one. As the two ventured off down the hall he flipped his hood up and motioned for his padawan to do likewise. He spoke in a hushed tone to her as they walked in order to not disturb the sleeping individuals scattered around them.
 
''The first holocron I unlocked and used was a copy of Saesee Tinn's. Each holocron has a variety of information on it from one or more masters. Saesee Tinn's had a great amount on naval combat, which I studied extensively, as well as a Form IV training session. He was both a wise and practical Jedi, full of wisdom as well as skill. A mixture I've tried to replicate, as I hope you will as well.'' Rhane unsuccessfully tried to change the topic in order to ease the tension from the recent battle. The two strolled down the wide open hallways, meandering in the general direction Eustachya pointed. Rhane spoke up again.
 
''I sense much apprehension and guilt in you, Padawan. Why do you bother yourself with things that aren't your fault?'' Rhane asked, allowing his learner to respond before speaking again.
 
''You shouldn't blame yourself for actions you don't have control over. Peace is a virtue highly sought after by not just Jedi, but the population at large. Your affliction is not unique to you. But...'' Rhane trailed off.
 
''...if you see the woman again, you can quickly give her aid. We must leave quickly, this place is more dangerous than I think either of us realizes'' Rhane looked up at the ceiling of the long hallways, both admiring and envying the ancient craftsmanship that bore witness to millennia of sacred Jedi history. The two eventually reached the end of the long hall and noticed a large pile of rubble. Rhane smiled and patted his learner on the back.
 
''You are correct, excellent job.'' he pulled the rubble off, piece by piece, to reveal a bright blue triangular datacron whose glow was dimmed due to caked on dust. He blew on the datacron and brushed it off, removing most of the dust. He twirled it around, looking for any identifying marks. Finding none, he spoke up.
 
''No identifiable features, time to figure out whose this is.'' he sat down and effortlessly activated the holocron. It suddenly opened up, much like a puzzle, to reveal the hologram of an older Jedi. His eyes were grayed over, his face gaunt and scarred and his hair a white the shade of ivory. Rhane smiled.
 
''Do you know who that is?''
 

 

[Epistor of Phasekion]

~ Objective: Find holocrons ~ Tag: [member="Rhane Varless"] ~​

When she was motioned to, the padawan both got up and pulled on her hood. She listened intently to her master, nodding appropriately along, until Rhane asked her why.

Eustachya breathed in, long and slow, through her teeth. The answer was not one she was overly fond of relaying to the towering besalisk, as she did not want the reputation of the padawan that lectured her master in turn. The myth of Saytros, Iatrokles, and the Thyreidians pulled at her tongue, wanting to be explained, but the youth resisted. Not just the humans, but most of the beings off of Sargus Novis did not seem to hold to the exact values that Eustachya had grown to, and, thus, the myth might not hold the power here that it had in its birthplace.

And so, she kept it to herself. If she felt the need to explain at a later time, she would only then do so. "My offer made thing worse for them," she said instead. "Said I not anything--" She stopped herself before she fell into self-pity. "I understand, Master."

As they stopped at the pile of rubble, the athletic padawan bent down to help clear the area. She ceased when Rhane told her of her success, then she stood and nodded her head to hide her pride in herself. After brushing off her bare knees, Eustachya cocked her head at the blue man that had appeared before her. "That I do not," she admitted.

 

[Rhane Varless]

Objective: Holocrons​

Tags: [member="Eustachya"]​

''Rahm Kota, a general during the Clone Wars. He survived because he didn't trust the clones and decided to form his own independent militia. I'm not aware if we have a copy of his holocron, exceptional. Exceptional job.'' Rhane smiled and gently patted Eustachya on the back. He picked up the small device, momentarily concealing it with his massive hand before placing it inside one of the several dozen compartments on the cart. Rhane motioned for Eustachya to follow him, and the two rounded a nearby corner to reveal another massive corridor. This one was filled with several persons on the ground in varying states of awakeness. He led the way down the hall paying little attention to the requests for aid or mumbles for help from the homeless gathered here.

After reaching the end of the hall, Rhane motioned to a large doorway that was sealed off by several large rocks, only a small opening was present at the bottom. The crash had doubtless sealed off large portions of the temple from hasty invaders, preserving the insides from theft or decay. Rhane stared up and down the doorway before stepping back. He reached out with all four hands, each in a grasping and pulling motion. Slowly, one by one, the rocks were being removed from the doorway until a dimly lit inner hallway was revealed. As he set down the last rock, several shots rang out. Blaster bolts slammed into Rhane's lower right arm, sendind him surging aganst a nearby wall for support.

He turned and witnessed the thugs they had recently encountered approaching, blasters in hands and anger in eyes.

 

[Epistor of Phasekion]

~ Objective: Defend or deescalate ~ Tag: [member="Rhane Varless"] ~​

"Master!" Eustachya exclaimed, quick to Rhane's side to offer additional support. "Are you--?" she began to ask in a hurried, urgent tone before cutting herself off and looking back behind them both.

"Milady?" was her next rhetorical question when she saw the Togruta woman among the group of approaching thugs. However, upon a prolonged glance, the padawan realized that she was being held at gunpoint by a thug that she and her mater had not yet seen. "I-I'm sorry, I couldn't--" she began, voice trembling like her body. "It is alright," was all Eustachya could think to say, extending one arm in what was hopefully a calming gesture.

The Sargus Novian then said to the other thugs, "Let her go. You are upset, but you want us." Truthfully, she had no idea what she was saying, or what she would do, but something was moving in her to act somehow. "You have many ails, and I think I understand." Maybe it was the spirit of Saytros, the god of, among other things, deception and lies. "Let us speak of your grievances." She felt like the myth of Iatrokles had been brought to life, just simply molded into the present moment. Moreover she felt like the Thyreidians that had treated the man poorly when he begged, now at odds with the same man sat on the continental throne and saddled with the power to have their heads.

"The time to talk isss passst," a Transdosian male hissed at the youth. "Please..." Eustachya whined before another man spoke: "Come with us, shutta. Maybe you can help make it up to us."

As all the male thugs laughed, Eustachya gave Rhane half a glance before resolving that she had to rely on herself--at least in the moment. Least of all, she didn't wish for a repetition of what had happened at the entrance. She let go of the older Jedi and walked towards the group slowly. She had almost made it when a Twi'lek, an arms length away, shot his arm out and pulled her to him. Another male reached over to rip off her headscarf hood.

And her pacifism snapped.

It wasn't that her desire to solve this peacefully faded. Nay, she would do as much as she very well could, but the option to remain entirely nonviolent seemed, now, impractical.

In one swift motion, she reached down to her belt. Opposite her lightsaber hung her discus, a palm-sized weight of light colored clay, solid and sturdy. She wrapped her hand around in, into which it fit perfectly, and smashing the disk into the Twi'lek's chin.