In Gardens

[Jairdain]

An odd communication had been sent to Jairdain. A person she had met more than two years ago wanted to see her again. It was rather mysterious as to why. When they had met before, she had given Akabane a lesson in telepathy and pyrokinesis and they had parted after that. Not expecting to hear from the man again, she had moved on with her life and her role as advisor to the prince of Commenor. That role had taken her away for almost two years and she had assumed Akabane would never contact her again.

It wasn't a bad thing he did or anything, just unexpected. Their previous meeting had been on Iridonia and that location was no longer an option. The home she had there was gone, destroyed two years ago before she and Brad left to go their separate ways for a time. That reunion and return to Commenor had happened not that long ago.

Her home on Voss was also gone because the Sith had since taken over. Jairdain did not want to involve him with the Fel Empire, but she did have a location on Alderaan she could use. She had made friends with Alexandra Feanor and it was to her temple she invited him.

[member="Akabane"]

 

[Akabane Jarvik]

Akabane was always feeling lost after losing a special someone and nothing seemed to help with removing that feeling. The source of it was very clear, that being his memories of her. He was surprisingly well prepared to do anything in his power to get out of his limbo... even having his mind erased like before the "awakening" that he underwent. It was a simple solution to the problem but also came with a heavy cost. While knowing this he decided to go on with the scheduled program. He contacted the only person who he trusted and saw as an expert. Having this go wrong wasn't something he was interested in.

She invited him to Alderaan, and to an old temple which didn't really bother him but he hoped his presence wouldn't be the bother. A sith he was after all. Though a Jedi did invite him so maybe he was welcomed. He traveled to Alderaan engaging autopilot at times to write in an almost full journal. This book would serve as a reminder of who he was after the unfortunate loss of a friend. It wouldn't mention anything about that person, not that he'd remember her anyway... that was the whole point to all of this. Akabane landed near the temple and exited the ship. Steps were heavy and regret clouded his mind. He took in a deep breath, after the release he felt a little better.

He wasn't sure how to navigate throughout the temple so he used something this woman had actually taught him - telepathy. Akabane practiced this ability many nights, eventually getting it down. Now he could say he was experienced in using it. "Miss Ismet, I've arrived. Can you hear my voice?" He stood around waiting for her gracious reply.

[member="Jairdain"]

 

[Jairdain]

The familiar presence of Akabane was felt by Jairdain as he approached the Temple. To her sightless eyes, the fact it was over flowing with life and run down meant little to her. She had cleaned up a small portion for herself and any guests she might have here.

When he sent out the telepathic message, she couldn't help but smile a little. It was a skill she had taught to him and it was obvious he had mastered it.

I​ can.

She came out from the side she had made into her own living space and motioned to him. He would be able to see her clearly.

"Over here. Please come in and tell me why you wanted to meet."

[member="Akabane"]

 

[Akabane Jarvik]

Akabane turned to see the woman that he remembered from not too long ago. She was kind in her greeting as usual and it made him feel comfortable when in her presence. Jedi had battled with sith for centuries but she seemed to ignore that in helping him. You could say he trusted her and thus was able to act as his normal self around her. She invited him into her living quarters which he thought was strange. Somehow, she lived in this rundown temple. It wasn't something he was familiar with... nonetheless, he walked towards the room and entered.

He felt like their meeting would be taking a little bit but refused to sit down. Akabane leaned against a wall with his arms crossed as he addressed her inquiry. Saying it upfront was the plan but he chose to talk about his decisions leading up to now instead. "Ya know, I left the Confederacy. Not sure if you may know of it, Miss. That was where I worked for the past few years and my choice to leave wasn't because I was unhappy of my position or anything. I guess I just... left." He looked around the room for a moment before speaking again. A sigh. "You're the best mental doctor I know and trust. I figured I'd come to you for this." Akabane paused again, his eyes staring straight at the ground. "So. I'm asking you to help me once again. That help is... erasing parts of my memory."

Whether she supported him on this he was sure she'd do it anyway. Akabane thought of her as a friend and hopefully it was mutual. Friends help each other. He realized he was being nitpicky. "Well, parts or all of it. Do what you can."

[member="Jairdain"]

 

[Jairdain]

The woman was still with the same governments she had been when they met, but there was something new with her. While she had been separate from Commenor and her prince, she had been taken in by the Fel Empire. With them, she was considered to be their Grand Master. She listened to what Akabane and what he said about leaving the Confederacy.

It didn't matter to her if he was sith, they were friends after a fashion.

"No, I did not know that. They are an interesting government, but not one I could belong to I don't think."

What he said after became difficult for him, but he finally got out the reason he had contacted her. Her face grew a thoughtful look and her focus was on him as they sat there.

"I'm not going to say no, but I would like to know why."

[member="Akabane"]

 

[Akabane Jarvik]

Jair had no idea he was a member of the CIS not too long ago. That was odd because he swore he had told her about it on their last visit. Maybe not then, it could've been someone else. It wasn't really important that she knew of his time in the faction but he figured it'd pop up in his various memories eventually. Telling her now was the best time to mention it if it was gonna cause any issues. She seemed to not care about it in the end though. Akabane planned on erasing any memory of that organization too. The CIS hadn't wronged him in any way. His master taught him many things and allowed him to explore the world as a curious young man, the force order served as way to gain back memories of his true family and origin, and the people were fun. No, they weren't bad... however nothing within the last few years could be spared. Sadly, that's how he wanted it to happen.

Akabane could notice the change in Jair as he let out his request, she was concerned. Naturally she asked him why he wanted to do something like this. He smiled and looked up at the ceiling. "I'm tired, Miss Ismet. It's so hard going on in my current state. I thought things would getting better as long as I kept hope by my side... some faith even if it's only an ounce. I was wrong." Akabane kept stairing at the ceiling for quite some time in silence. "Life isn't a video game where you can save at a checkpoint. Load up a backup save if you screw up. No, there's only one way it goes. I'm sure you know the answer. We must have a fresh start." He stopped for a moment to uncross his arms and wipe his eyes. Tears were rolling out of them unexpectedly. Memory wiping wasn't anything new to him, he knew the cost of it. It was like killing the person little by little. Still, knowing that made him sad.

"I want to start anew. Find a new home like I did after leaving my home planet. Before the fun, before the CIS, and before Aevan. Will that be enough for you grant me my wish?" The last part was a joke since he knew she was going to do it anyway. He grinned.

[member="Jairdain"]

 

[Jairdain]

She was aware he had been a part of the Confederacy when they met, but not that he had since left them. He had indeed informed her or via word of mouth she had learned he was with them. It was how they had met, through the alliance of the Silvers with the Confederacy. The he had left them did not matter to her or that he was sith. Clashing ideologies wasn't a worry either. Besides after today, there was the chance he may no longer think of himself as a sith.

Listening to what he said as she sat next to him. A wave of sympathy came off her. She knew exactly how it felt to have somebody loved die. Her first love was dead. Fate had also lead to the break up another serious relationship she had with a fellow Silver, but at least she knew he was still alive.

Of course Jairdain could accomplish what he wanted, but she needed his help to do it.

"It is, but once the memory is taken, it can't be returned. Do you understand that?"

What he wanted was something at one time maybe she would have wanted for herself. Not doing that though, she had kept her memory intact and helped use it to make her who she was today. A woman that walked the balance of light and dark, no longer Sith and not quite Jedi.

Before she could begin, she needed to know the answer to that one question. This would also bring more emotional pain to him before the process was complete.

[member="Akabane"]

 

[Akabane Jarvik]

Akabane looked at the floor once more and kept his gaze there for the duration of Jair sitting next to him. He wasn't trying to avoid looking at her or anything, the floor just had his attention is all. That was a strange way of putting it. Maybe it would be better said that his mind was in shambles and he could only look down, ashamed of himself. Jair was acting as if she understood how he felt. That was a nice feeling knowing that his friend would be helping him out. Before they would continue though, she asked Akabane if he still wanted to do this while knowing that any memory lost cannot be returned. He smiled, these consequences we're exactly what he expected. It was a sad thing to do to yourself but he did want to go through with it. "I've thought about doing this for a long time, Miss. Let's do it."

The pain of losing a part of himself was a lot better than living and not knowing where his partner was located, whether she was dead or alive, etc. Perhaps they would meet again in the future by chance. It didn't matter either way if he still had any memory of the girl, seeing her again would bring pain anyway. "Let me keep all memories up to my first visit on Naboo. And if you can, please implant fake memories so I can truly start anew. Do whatever you wish with that part. Something that would last for a few years after landing on Naboo. Surprise me." He grinned. Akabane had officially given Jair full control of deciding his new life, literally. Hopefully she'd be able to meet his demands. If not he wouldn't hold it against her.

[member="Jairdain"]

 

[Jairdain]

The fact he was unable to look at her was something she missed. Being blind was sometimes a weakness. Jairdain was unable to see the body language of people. Seeing a person through the Force gave her an insight into them though. He was no longer questioning his choice and felt secure in it. Something she could respect. When they had met, she had felt some doubt on him concerning something, this is what it must have been. Years later now, he had finally decided to go through with it.

"Very well. What I need to you to do is focus on the memories you want removed."

Such a simple request, b​ut it was going to cause him a lot of emotional pain. Once he started focusing on those memories, she then used Drain Knowledge on him. How long it took for those memories to be removed was in his control. Jairdain did not pry further into his mind and only took from him what he focused on.

At the same time that she took those memories, she overrode them with something easily believable. He would know he could use the Force and those skills he already knew were taught to him by a mentor or guide. Naboo, a near pristine and almost paradise flitted into those memories for him. Depending on what age he was from what he wanted taken away and replaced what she put in. Causing trouble like any typical person might. Nothing too horrible that would make him be arrested or anything like that.

It made little sense to take away the memory of her since when this process was complete, he would become aware of her anyway. The details on way they met were altered since he wanted his Confederacy days removed. So somewhere in the false memory she put in, he paid a visit to Iridonia and met her there. That part was true, but it would have come about just by his passing through and not because of the alliance between the Confederacy and Silvers. All memories of Aevan were removed except what he had from his childhood.

When she was done, Jairdain let out a breath and let go of her hold on the Force. Now she had to do her best to continue on as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened and he was here for a simple visit and reunion.

[member="Akabane"]

 

[Akabane Jarvik]

She explained to Akabane how they would go about the process. It seemed simple enough when she gave him the instructions. All he had to do was focus on what he wanted to be erased and they would vanish from his mind. He took in a deep breath before starting his thoughts. "I'm sure I won't remember our little doctor visit for the sake of my end goal here, so thank you. For this and the other time." He then started to think about Aevan. Not the childhood version of her but the adult Aevan. The one he craved attention from and the one who completely destroyed him. That wasn't her fault of course but it was true that she was the reason for his brokenness.

He remembered the time that they met in Golbah city before he discovered his real identity. She was a cute and short girl who wielded the flames. Akabane fancied girls with her physical traits and the fire shaping was a plus. At the time he had no way of knowing that she was a girl he had met on his homeplanet of Kro Var. One thing he quickly realized about Aevan was she loved to dance. It was lovely in the way she moved across the floor, working in coordination with the flames she produced. A wonderful performance by her, he thought. The memory of that day started to escape his mind... a visual representation could be a puzzle board being ripped apart. It didn't hurt his brain or anything physically but the mental damage was felt. He suddenly teared up experiencing the death of a memory firsthand. Akabane couldn't describe the pain in words and it truly hurt him, but he continued.

The day they reunited at the diner, he remembered that so clearly as well. She cared not about his new red glowing demon eyes but about seeing him after so long. Such a caring person she was... and then that one poofed as well. The dance held by the Confederacy, they danced all night in each other's arms like any loving couple would do. Poof. They kept on leaving so abruptly one after a other until none were left, none but the ones he wished to keep. Aevan the partner, no longer did she exist in his memories. More tears kept coming out uncontrollably and god he felt horrible. Akabane thought about every mission he completed with the Confederacy and the day he met up with his master for the first time. Poof, gone. The curtain was coming to a close as he stopped thinking, instead mind waiting on Jair to finish up doing her thing.

Once she did, he returned to normal and began to speak. A confused look was painted on his face. Tears? He wiped his eyes and felt tears continuing to roll out of his eyes. Akabane was so confused and laughed at himself. "Pardon me, Miss Ismet. When did I become such a crybaby?" The tears didn't let up for awhile. When they did he stepped out into the hall to clean himself up a bit. He came back inside and sat down where he was previously. "Sorry. I don't know what's wrong with me. Anyway, I came all the way here to make sure you're still kicking. I don't know many authentic and kind people such as yourself, Miss Ismet, so I gotta make sure I hold on to ya." Akabane was only joking, he hadn't spoke to her in awhile so a visit was the least he could do for a friend like her.

[member="Jairdain"]

 

[Jairdain]

The couple of skills she had taught him before would remain in his memory, but not because of his connection to the Confederacy. He wanted that part of his life erased so she did that for him. All the adult memories he had of Aevan were wiped out and removed from his mind. However, they were not lost forever. If Akabane ever remember the truth of today, his memories were now hers. They could be returned to him.

Everything progressed like he wanted and when the ordeal was finished, he sat there crying for a good while. Eventually in a confused manner got himself put together. She just sat there and gave him what support she could considering he had no idea why he was upset.

"It's alright, Akabane. Sometimes one needs to cry but with no clear reason. My gods know it's happened to me a few times."

She gave him a smile when he said he was just making sure she was alive and kicking.

"I'm not going anywhere and will always be found when I'm needed."

[member="Akabane"]