Jedi Mystery Incorporated (Invite Required)

[Rasu Gan]

Telos IV

The Shi'ido's lengthy hair billowed behind her emerald complexion as the shuttle touched down only meters from where the Master stood. Staring through squinted eyes, Rasu awaited the sight of her fellow Jedi; the members whom she had arranged to meet with after she had completed her initial reconnaissance of the Jedi Enclave on Telos. The planet Telos had always been an interest of the woman's study as a young Jedi, however only now had the Jedi Master been presented with the opportunity to explore.

Telos had been home to numerous Jedi organisations throughout history prior to the epidemic that was the Gulag plague. It had been home to a repository of force-based artifacts and archives during the era of the Old Republic where the knowledge collected by the enclave on Dantooine had been relocated to Telos by famed historian and archivist Atris. Being the sole focus of their mission, Rasu hoped to breach the sealed temple and acquire some of this lost past. However while this temple was one of more interest to the Jedi Master, Telos had once also been home to the failed Padawans of an earlier incarnation of the Jedi Order. As a result, the Force could be found to have a strong presence on the planet. Rasu had enjoyed her time of solitude, relishing the strong aura of Force energy and the vast knowledge that had remained untouched for centuries.

However while the members of her task force were aware of their objectives, this did not account for the various unknown dangers that would also be present during their expedition. While the thought of these unknown terrors alarmed the Shi'ido, she knew there was nothing she could do about them until they were actually faced with the dangers. Therefore patience was needed as well as the arrival of the remaining members of her Jedi task force.

Appearing as a sole shrouded figure, Rasu watched as the boarding ramp descended. It would not be long now until their adventure could begin.

[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"] [member="Aria Vale"] [member="Ryn'Dhal"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Rasu Gan.

He'd heard the name. Hell, he'd even worked with her before. They'd been on a mission or two in the past, how could he forget her? But while he would recognize her... Would she recognize him? As he walked down the ramp of his ship, who knew? It'd been so long since they had worked together... Close to a few years even, perhaps. Josh was visibly different compared to last time... Not just in his physical appearance, but in the way that he walked, the way that he carried himself. The expression on his face, the look in his eyes. He'd seen much, been through much... And grown much in the process. Sure, he was still the wise-cracking, constantly upbeat, flirtatious... While, perhaps not so flirtatious now with Shmi Labooda in the picture... But he was still the same Jedi that Rasu knew in many ways. And yet, he was different in so many others. But one thing was for sure, he couldn't forget her face.

He wore his Jedi Master's robes with pride, no hood on as his blonde hair blew in the planet's equivalent to wind. His gaze kept forward, but also around. The gears were turning, his mind and vision worked as one, scanning the environment with every step that he took as though something could come out and assault them at any moment. One could never be too cautious, you know.

Josh had neglected his work with the Silver Sanctum as of late, due to working out in the Outer Rim with Shmi and the others the last while. But Josh had not forgotten his pact with the Sanctum, and had reached out to them to work with them once he had a moment to spare. That had led him here, to the remains of a Jedi Enclave on Telos. They had been here before, if he recalled... Him and Rasu Gan. This had been their last mission together, all of that time ago. Another Jedi or so was to join them, he was pretty sure, and he was pretty sure they were on the shuttle he had been on.

As he stepped off the loading ramp and stopped in front of Rasu, he would not speak at first. For a moment, he gave the Jedi Master a once-over. He hadn't seen her in a long time, but once again... He could never forget her face. And as his eyes met hers, he would finally flash that cheeky smile that Rasu had not seen in a very long time.

"It figures that they send us here again for a reunion" The Jedi Master would joke softly, but heartily. He'd always been the upbeat one, after all.

[member="Rasu Gan"] - [member="Aria Vale"] - [member="Ryn'Dhal"]

 

[NightSister]

Following the chaotic success of Aria's last mission with the Silver Sanctum, having helped to free a Jedi who had been enslaved by Sith and captured a One Sith deserter, her adventures had been scaled down to wandering the planet and sparring with her best friend. Although her more toned-down escapades were plenty of fun, Aria was ever the wandering soul and having experienced the thrill of bona fide missions, they were no longer enough to satiate her never-ending desire for adventure and excitement. Besides, although she was still but a Padawan, as a member of the Silver Sanctum Aria felt obligated to do her part in aiding them with whatever investigations and operations that she could be any use in. And so, when the opportunity for a mission that took place off the planet and entailed thrills and dangers of all sorts had a risen, Aria had jumped at the chance.

And so there she was, her braided golden hair hitting the back of her billowing Jedi robes as she walked over to where the two already present Jedi were greeting each other. The Shi'ido woman Aria had met with before - trained with, in fact - the tall Mando with whom she was conversing was still a stranger to her. Aria knew that she would be as well duelling a Sith, but she supposed that sooner or later she would have to get the awkward introductions over with, although that would certainly make it no less awkward.
After standing there uncomfortably for a moment, Aria cleared her throat as she improvised words in her head. "Hey," she said. "Nice to see you again, Master Gan, Master DragonsFlame, it's a pleasure to meet you."

​

[member="Rasu Gan"] - [member="Joshua DragonsFlame"] - [member="Ryn'Dhal"]​

 

[Rasu Gan]

Never one for growing impatient, Rasu remained frozen in place as her robe continued to be swept behind her. The breeze did not seem to have an effect on the woman however, being unable to feel the artificial chill that was created by the vessel. It would appear the Jedi may have been carved of stone as she would adopt this nature until the passengers would disembark.

However she could not hide the grin that slowly grew on her face as Joshua came in sight. Breaking free of her still form, she began to approach the man, waving in greeting.

"It's good some things haven't changed about you Joshua." She said, no longer hiding the smile that came with being reunited with a dear friend. While years had passed since the pair had seen each other, the previous Grandmaster of the Jedi Order had seemed to remain unchanged. Looking on the same man that had trained and worked alongside her since her time with the Republic, Rasu found herself reminiscing of that old era; an era that seemed to be in an irreversible decline. However putting aside her negativites, she opened her arms to embrace her fellow Jedi. "It has been too long old friend, it's great to see you." Curiousity drove her to ask of the events that had occurred since their last reunion however she was cut short by the presence of another familiar face.

"A pleasure to see you as well Aria." She said smiling in response to the woman's greeting. "I do warn you however to be gentle around Master Dragonsflame. He is getting quite frail in his old age. I'm quite glad I won't have to be the only one looking after him." Joking the whole time, she cast a playful grin towards her fellow Master while also attempting to break the ice among them all. While the two masters had their history, she was sure that Aria would have her anxieties about working with two she hardly knew. While dangerous and educational, Rasu wanted to form and strengthen bonds during this mission, as always it was a chance to make friends.

[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"] [member="Aria Vale"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

Being referred to as a "Mando" was a new thing to him, even in people's minds. Actually, he still didn't know of his heritage himself. That was a story for later, of course, and as far as he knew, he was simply a human. Well, perhaps "simply" wasn't a word people used to describe him... Rasu knew that from experience, of course. The Jedi Master would grin as she approached him and responded to her attempts at an embrace with one of his own, pulling Rasu into a tight hug. Although he did try to be gentle, he vividly recalled hugging a little too hard last time. A result of underestimating his own strength in that regard.

"The same to you, Rasu" He spoke with that same smirk crossing his lips as always. It was in the embrace that he noticed the ring on his finger though, and he would chuckle in turn, recognizing it's make and significance. "So, a married woman now, are you? Remind me to curb the flirty quips" He joked in response with a laugh. "Granted, perhaps I don't need a reminder. The threat of Shmi having my head is reminder enough" He joked again, grinning.

It seemed that the more things changed, the more things stayed the same.

One of the Padawans that had come with them would approach, and Josh would release the embrace. Josh would smile toward Aria and nod his head. "A pleasure to meet you as well, Padawan."

He then looked toward Rasu and rolled his eyes at her comment, playfully booting her lightly on the rear end. "I'll have you know, Master Gan, that I am a ripe age 25! I still have at least several decades to go before I even consider going to an old folks home! And even when I hit that age, maybe I'll just be that crazy old man running around with a lightsaber!" He would joke with another laugh. Break the ice indeed.

[member="Rasu Gan"] - [member="Aria Vale"]​

 

[Rasu Gan]

"Married?" Rasu murmured softly to herself, gazing at the band around her finger. While the group had moved over to other subjects of conversation, the woman remained frozen, staring at the ring that symbolised her marriage. She had forgotten that it was still present on her body, knowing now that the man she had loved was no longer within the physical realm. To her knowledge anyway. Marek had been one whose life had slipped away while she had been absent from the rest of the galaxy. His death had pained her the most, yet she had no desire to part with the ring that still adorned her finger. She had not thought about it for some time, however it did need some considering.

Drawn away from her thoughts, she returned to her fellow Jedi, acting as her normal, chirpy self. The presence of Joshua made it easier to cope with her present emotions, relying on his humour and positive nature to pull her through.

"Only 25?" she said, already feeling her mood rise from the ground. "My apologies, my eyesight must be getting worse in my own old age, because I swear that blonde hair of yours appears to be growing a grey patch." Smiling once more, Rasu let out a chuckle as she continued to tease the man, feeling her usual mood return in such familiar company. However the joking would have to stop soon enough, as the archives waited for no being. Eyeing the shuttle, Rasu gazed at the boarding ramp, wondering if anymore latecomers were to arrive. She would wait only a few more moments before the group would depart for the mission location.

[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"] [member="Aria Vale"] [member="Ryn'Dhal"]

( [member="Celiana"] you're still more than welcome to join if you were still interested )

 

[Celiana]

My curiosity and an invitation from Master Gan had brought me to landing my new ship close to another here on Telos. More specifically outside of the Telos academy. As I touched down I made sure everything was in order fastening my combat belt around my waist I slipped my silenced Reaper pistol into the holster on my left hip and clipped both my sabers to dangle against my upper thighs. The leather wrapped hilts with the braided leather strands that crystal shards dangled from tinkled against my thighs as I pulled my insulated black riding cloak on over my body.

After sliiping my Mandalorian hidden blade gauntlets on I slipped the second sparrow ring I'd picked up in my travels into my right pocket before I punched the hangar door release and walked down the ramp into a light breeze. I suddenly felt the magnitude of where I was hit me, chills ran down my arms as walking towards the group I realized Jedi Master Atris had resided here at one point and that many figures of history had come through here. Revan, Meetra Surik, Master Atris, and Carth Onasi to name but a few...

Walking over to join the group I saw several familiar faces. Breaking the relative silence I bowed my head slightly and said, "Master DragonsFlame it's good to see you again." Glancing over to a Shi'ido woman I assumed was Master Gan I bowed my head slightly and said, "You must be Master Gan, a pleasure to meet you formally now." Then my eyes cut over to Aria and I felt my face turn what was probably a furious shade of pink and a smile lit up my face as I attempted to contain myself. "Aria, good to see you again my dear." Taking the opportunity to give her a hug as I'd already asked Master DragonsFlame about relationships I slipped the sparrow ring into her robes outer pocket before stepping back away....

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/0f/53/32/0f53322b4d40a29eacaf306e8eb8d97d.jpg

[member="Rasu Gan"],[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"],[member="Aria Vale"]

 

[NightSister]

Feeling herself tense with unease, Aria nodded and gave polite, generic responses to the returned greetings before taking an uncomfortable step aside and slightly turning, hoping the masters were enjoying their friendly and banterous exchange enough to leave her out of it. She fiddled with the soft fabric of her robe as she saw a distant figure descend, getting closer until it became a familiar-looking ship. Instantly Aria recognized the tall Jedi striding over to close the distance, hoping that her cheeks weren't filling with colour as they so often did.

"Good to see you out and about," Aria replied, returning the embrace along with a kiss on the cheek - the greeting was traditional among Echani, but one that the usually very reserved Aria, not to mention the Jedi with whom she lived among, found foreign and unusual. Unable to hide her flaming cheeks, she turned uncomfortably back to the group, hoping all of a sudden that their conversation would come to a swift end.

[member="Celiana"] [member="Rasu Gan"] [member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]

 

[Celiana]

I hadn't been expecting the traditional greeting of the Echani but when I felt Aria's lips press to my cheek I could feel my heart-beat speed up and my face flush a furious shade of pink. Aria broke the silence by saying, "Good to see you out and about." I could tell that the Echani kiss was her attempt to be close with the Masters around and I chose to respect that, though at the end of this adventure I'd have to tell her what I'd learned from Master DragonsFlame about Jedi and relationships.

"Well you can't honestly expect me to just sit around on Voss all day can you? I mean there's only so much that one can learn in training, actively practicing what you've learned and all that." I could tell that there was some kind of history between Master DragonsFlame and Master Gan but I wasn't sure Aria had noticed it. "So Aria, aside from the barely concealed flirting of the Masters do you know what we'll be up to here on Telos?"

[member="Aria Vale"], [member="Joshua DragonsFlame"], [member="Rasu Gan"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

She didn't seem to like that. She had tried to hide it, but Josh noted the body language, noted her expression at the very moment he'd said it. Something was off, and for a moment he frowned but soon replaced it with his usual smirk to match her own feigned expression. He was sure that if she wanted to discuss it, then she would on her own time. But he could tell that something was off. Just him knowing people, is all. No Force foresight or any of that.

"Nah, nothing grey. Just you getting old, Ras, we'll have to commit you to the Jedi home sooner or later" He would joke in turn, shooting her another grin. Ah, the usual banter. He missed that with his fellow Jedi back in the day. He didn't get to do that as much anymore. "But hey, at least your looks are still as good as ever" He would joke. Not in a romantic or flirtatious sort of way, of course. By the Force, [member="Shmi Labooda"] would kill him. Just the usual being him, with one motivation in mind...

Laughter.

Speaking of romantics, he would watch as [member="Celiana"] would show up and nod politely to her. But it was her reception toward [member="Aria Vale"] that would cause him to quirk a brow. And then he started to laugh. Hard.

"So THIS is the lovely lady that you've been telling me about, Celiana!" He cracked in the midst of his laughter, patting the Padawan on the back. "Well, this is mighty convenient, isn't it? Well, I can at least say you have quite the taste in women. Good job" He would tease, shooting Celiana a grin as well before looking toward [member="Aria Vale"] as well. Josh knew Celiana prior, so it came to no shock that the Padawan seemed used to him being a lot more casual then many other Masters. It was just how he was. "And hey, take good care of her. I hear she can get a bit... Fiery. But hopefully you like that sort of thing. Geez, if Shmi had decided to come along, it'd be quite the fest" He would joke cheekily toward Aria before deciding it was time to get down to business.

"So, with that in mind, since we're all here... Let's get down to business. All defeating the Huns jokes aside, what's the plan, Rasy-Gan?"

 

[Celiana]

It suddenly dawned on me why it was that Lady Kerrigan had an intense...distaste for men. I'd hoped to talk to Aria privately, though it had been Master DragonsFlame who'd basically given me the green light for romantic relationships.Glaring daggers at him I said very calmly, "Master, have you ever been on the receiving end of a Keldabe kiss? Because while there is a time and place to be loud not to mention rude, this was neither. Someone please remind me to set his robes ablaze later."

Turning to Aria I formed an arrow of thought to where only she could hear in her mind, "Aria I'm so sorry, I honestly only asked him if dating and relationships were allowed in the Silver Sanctum. Your name never even came up because I wanted to respect your desire to keep this quiet until I knew it was ok and could tell you privately over dinner or something." I projected an image of a nice place on Voss for a candlelit dinner, me in a dress of all things and the feeling of utter peace and love towards her as well. I'd been planning that for almost a month now....Slapping my left palm against my forehead in frustration I blushed an even brighter shade of pink....

Hopefully we'd get to work soon, I swear next time Master it'll be Mando'ade sparring instead of Jedi or even the polite Echani hand to hand duels.

[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"], [member="Aria Vale"], [member="Rasu Gan"]

 

[NightSister]

Ever the serene one, Aria cringed at the sudden tension between Celiana and Master DragonsFlame. Now for the rest of the mission they would be shooting veiled insults and death stares at each other. Not something Aria was up for. "Hey, calm down, that's how he is, it doesn't matter," she muttered rapidly in a hasty attempt to keep Celiana's temper at bay. She heard Celiana's apology, wondering what the problem would have been with looking through records but still pleased at Celiana's discovery. Extremely worried, but pleased.

Still, they could have that discussion later - in private, without the flirting and wisecracks in the background - and now they had a mission to go on. Not deigning to reply to the comment about Celiana, Aria straightened out the frown in her face and turned to follow Master Gan, who had apparently been put in charge.

[member="Celiana"] - [member="Rasu Gan"] - [member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]​

 

[Rasu Gan]

As the last member of their team arrived, Rasu offered the woman a smile as she joined the rest. Nodding politely, the Shi'ido subtly studied the new addition, noting the familiarity between the two Padawans, before her attention returned once more to Joshua. Flashing another cheeky grin, Rasu whipped her leg around, whacking him rather harshly on his buttocks. While not exactly Jedi-like or not in the slightest sense dignified, the Shi'ido found it nice to be able to break away from the formalities of Jedi business. Joshua's antics made it ever easier to do just that.

"Oh sorry, I hope I didn't break anything." she said, acting concerned. If anything, you'll be heading to the home before me, she thought, smiling sweetly at her fellow Master. Taking a step back as the three got more acquainted, the Jedi pulled out her portable holo-display. Blue light filtered from the machine as it took shape to form the famed Telos archive. While she had analysed the exterior and had read excessively on its history, the woman was still in the dark concerning the interior layout of the building. Since the plague pandemic several centuries earlier, much of the Jedi knowledge had been lost. Rasu had worked off of several dated works concerning the structure however her knowledge was limited.

Turning at Joshua's request, she held back a chuckle at the absurd name he had addressed her as. Bringing forth her display, she adjusted the settings slightly to expand the archive form, making it much easier for the group to view.

"So our objective today is to explore the archives and hopefully retrieve some data and lost knowledge from the repository within." she began, allowing the group to study the glowing building before them. "My knowledge of the interior is limited, but I have some idea of where the holocron library is located. We will navigate through the building and analyse our findings." While she was aware that several native species had inhabited the building since its abandonment, she was certain that none would bother them during their travels. However if they were presented with danger, she was certain Joshua and herself could protect the Padawans.

"Any questions?"

[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"] [member="Aria Vale"] [member="Celiana"]

 

[Celiana]

The mention of the Holocron Library filled me with a great deal of unease. From the archives on Voss I'd done my share of studying on the Old Republic and from what I knew those holocrons had corrupted Jedi Master Atris.... I suddnely wasn't sure this wisdom of this venture. "Excuse me Master I mean no disrespect, but about the holocron library...is this not the library that corrupted Jedi Master Atris who was a keeper of the Jedi knowledge of that time? What business have we with that kind of knowledge?"

I was intrigued by the idea of seeing some of the history of ancient Echani though...Records showed that there was a group of Echani Handmaidens that had attended Master Atris and that one named Brianna had traveled with the Jedi exile Meetra Surik and for a brief while they'd been lovers and continued to be good friends. That knowledge and those histories intrigued me and I wanted at the least a copy of those records.

[member="Rasu Gan"]-[member="Aria Vale"]-[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

The Jedi Master shot Rasu a grin in turn. "Nothing broken" He would tease back. "Gonna take a lot more then that. I'm a lot younger then you, you know? And besides... Your strength and reflexes are fading with age."

To [member="Celiana"]'s remarks though, he would stare at her for a moment, before shaking his head and not bothering to dignify that with a response. He would look back to Rasu, to hear the briefing for their mission. His face had become cold, stone faced. All business. It was now time to get right down to business and be prepared for a potential fight. Especially if they were going to find a holocron that may belong to someone that had once turned to the dark side... Josh knew that it was likely that if the holocrons were there, then there would be defenses. Perhaps even more then defenses. They may not even be the only ones looking for the data.

When the Padawan would decide to interject with "no disrespect" he almost remarked something about her clearly having no problem with threats and the like to the Masters. But business was business. Instead, he would turn toward [member="Celiana"] and speak calmly still, but still as firm and stoic as he had been since the mood had changed.

"Knowledge" He spoke. "We are Jedi. Knowledge is a part of who we are. Even if that knowledge is from data belonging to the less then savory. Not to mention, do not forget what can be found if we do find that data. We may be able to see what went wrong. See what makes that corrupt Jedi tick. Find out what corrupted them. Perhaps even see if anything else in that library, some kind of magic, caused their corruption. Their failure is our opportunity to learn and be prepared so we do not meet the same fate. Remember... Those who are ignorant to history are doomed to repeat it."

"Of course..." He would trail off, raising a brow. "If you would prefer, should we find any data that belongs to that library that might link to Atris, I can mail it to the One Sith via HoloNet since clearly any knowledge from the library automatically belongs to the darksiders. It's not like we should keep them from having that knowledge or anything."

Even in Jedi Mode, Josh still had a bit of sass left in him.

 

[Celiana]

I could sense Master DragonsFlame's amusement at my comment on no disrespect. I simply wished that he'd allowed the realization that Aria was the girl I'd been asking about to sink in silently, rather than comment on it. In my experience silence was wisdom. Much harder to offend someone that way, plus I'd wanted to discuss it with Aria rather than have a Master any master comment loudly on it. As to my threats well, I wasn't truly threatening him.

Though his sarcasm remained about mailing the data through the holonet to The Sith. I wasn't particularly amused though. "Master all I'm saying is that Master Atris was just that, a Master. And that she fell, knowledge is power even if it's Jedi Knowledge. Power and the ambition to seek further power has the tendency to influence everyone. I'm not saying that Dark side knowledge is inherently evil but that all of what could be in the holocron library should be treated with respect and handled extremely carefully."

"Master, by the way I wasn't serious about setting your robes ablaze or a Keldabe kiss unless you care to spar Mando'ade style." Moving in closer so only he could hear I also said, "I'd have preferred to have talked with Aria privately though so as to avoid the whole being asked why I told anyone about us, or her being embarrassed. I wanted to spare her that if possible Master I understand your...humor but there is a time and place, Master Gan looked uncomfortable as well about the ring when you mentioned it. Just perhaps think in the future Master. I realize I'm only a padawan but I sensed discomfort from Master Gan when you asked about the ring..."

[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"] - [member="Rasu Gan"] - [member="Aria Vale"]

 

[Rasu Gan]

Celiana made a good point. It was a dangerous mission, however it was for this reason that Master Dragonsflame had accompanied the group. She, herself had come face to face with various forms of the dark side, each trying to corrupt or deceive the Shi'ido, however none had succeeded. Joshua's past was a mystery to her, however she was confident in his abilities also, besides he had served as Grandmaster of the once famous Jedi Order, surely that meant something in terms of his own skills.

As if on cue, her fellow Master summed up her own answer. Atris had succumbed to the manipulation of the dark holocrons, that much Rasu had read in the Voss archives, however not much was known about the location of these holocrons. Had they remained on Telos? Would the Jedi find them intact? These were the questions that the Jedi Master wanted answered. Joshua made another good point within this humourous statement. If the Jedi weren't the first to acquire this knowledge, then what was to stop the Sith from doing so also. The risks were outweighed by the rewards in this instance. Rasu would sleep soundly at night knowing that it was the Jedi that could possess and secure the secrets of the dark side. Better it locked away were it could be studied carefully rather than used to reek havoc on the innocent of the galaxy.

"Master Dragonsflame speaks the truth." she said addressing Celiana. "I share your concerns for the dark artifacts, however we must prevent these relics from falling into the hands of someone who might put them to use." The Jedi dare not imagine what chaos would be unleashed if the power of the holocrons was unleashed. The galaxy was in enough turmoil as it is, let alone if the secrets were revealed on Telos. Rasu almost shuddered at the thought. She longed for the day when she could hang up her armored robes and enjoy a peaceful era of study and tranquility. However at this point in time, such a period was a long way away, almost out of sight.

Returning her gaze to the two Padawan's, she wanted to stress the point to the pair. What they were about to do was benefiting the Jedi as a whole and not condemning them to corruption and destruction. "Studying these holocrons under a much more secure environment would do the Jedi some good as well. While Master Atris had the right idea, I believe we had better relocate the secrets of the archives once more." Having said her piece, she waited once more, ready for any final questions.

However what came next made the woman blush profusely. Obviously her reaction to Joshua's earlier remark had not gone unnoticed as Celiana brought up the fact with the Jedi Master. Feeling her cheeks flush a bright green, Rasu had to interject to ensure that Joshua felt no guilt from bringing up what was a harmless remark.

"I thank you for the concern Celiana, but I'm absolutely fine. Master Dragonsflame's.. Joshua's comment was meant with no hurtful intent. He was not to know that I am... well a widow." she let the statement sink in before continuing. "I'm sure if he had realised he had caused such hurtful feelings Joshua would have never brought the subject up."

"I've known this man for a much longer time than you Padawan. His joking nature may come across as quite blunt but he never intends to hurt. He has a very kind heart, and has only the best intentions. His jokes can just sometimes come across the wrong way." she eyed up the Jedi Master, indicating it was now his turn to apologise or defend his actions. What have you gotten yourself into this time Joshua? she thought, hiding the laughter with a small smile. This would be an interesting expedition indeed.

[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"] [member="Celiana"] [member="Aria Vale"]

 

[Josh Dragovalor]

The mission was dangerous indeed. Rasu knew that. Josh knew that. They would not have come if they did not think that they could handle it. Josh had been exposed to the dark side... Well... More then he would like. He held a secret that he wasn't sure he liked telling. Had gone through things to achieve a reward that did not outweigh the cost to his mind. He had a secret weapon if it came to corruption... But as said, it wasn't worth what he'd gone through to obtain it. But he wouldn't give it up, no no no, he wouldn't take back what he'd done. He wouldn't go back and change it all, he wouldn't go back and alleviate his suffering. He'd take the same path over and over again, because the fact was... He did not take that path out of a lust for power. He could handle corruption and temptation on his own. He might not be as... Well... Yeah... The way he was now, but he didn't need the help. But, again, he'd never sought out for that affinity to begin with. It was a side effect of his true goal. What was his true goal? Love. It was motivated by love. But love for what? Or who? Shmi wasn't sick, or corrupted...

He allowed Rasu to explain the situation, first up. It was after that, that he would speak to them both. "Listen..." He spoke, his voice suddenly voice. His eyelids narrowed. Not in disdain, but a soft sadness that filled his eyes to match the lowered lids. "All three of you. If something happens in there... Let me set you at ease. If something happens in there, if you fear corruption and know it's coming, with whatever magic lies in there... Leave. All three of you...."

"Let me do it" He spoke quietly. "I... I don't know how to say this. But... The dark side will never tempt me again. I can't be corrupted. I can't be swayed by the dark maiden's kiss any longer. I will never be able to turn... Although, at the same time I will never be capable mentally of using the dark side in any form either. Unfortunately, that came at a price, one that far outweighs the reward. Granted... I didn't ask for the reward, as it wasn't what I sought for to begin with when I went through all of that. This isn't a secret I entrust to anyone lightly... And I only say it because I trust the three of you not to take it the wrong way. If things come to the worst, I want the three of you to save yourselves and let me endure it alone" He would remark, his tone somber. "I'll come out the same man I am now. Hopefully with what we're looking for. Please, do not worry. Any of you. If you feel you cannot handle the mental strain that comes with whatever lies in that library, allow me to suffer it alone and spare you it. No one needs to suffer needlessly. The mental block I have will protect me, let me be your shield if need be" He would speak. He didn't like to remember what he went through, and what he continued to suffer from. "I want to be rid of it, admittedly, but... Not yet. I still have one more mission that requires it. But if I can protect the three of you should you need it, then it's my job as a Jedi Master to do so."

To be honest... After he got what he was after, he was tempted to ask to have his memories of it wiped. He didn't care for the benefit that it held. It wasn't worth the trauma, it wasn't worth the mental anguish. It wasn't worth the sleepless nights. But in this time and place... He would use it if it meant protecting his fellow Jedi in what could fell them the same as it felled Atris. At the very least... He wanted to set them at ease.

It was the least he could do...

But he needed to keep these memories, this affinity, everything... He needed it just a little longer. He needed to... He needed to...

He needed to save him...

Taking a breath, he would look over at [member="Celiana"] when she came over to him and spoke, and he nodded. "I apologize as well then" He spoke softly. "I understand my antics are a bit... Overwhelming, and perhaps not with the best timing. I only intended to make light of it all and keep spirits up" He would explain. "Besides..." He began, and a faint smile crossed his lips. "You two make such a good couple, I couldn't resist" He joked quietly.

When she spoke of Rasu, he nodded gently in turn. "I know" He spoke quietly. "I noticed it. But I knew that if Rasu wanted to explain, then she would-"

And of course, then [member="Rasu Gan"] would interject. When she said she was a widow, his pupils shrunk as he looked toward her.

"I.... I...."

He didn't know what to say.

Part of him was incredibly frustrated with himself. It showed in his face. That right there, was an indication of the price he paid... It was a rare sign of actual negative emotion in the vein of frustration or anger of any of the sort. It was ingrained in him at this point.

In a way, he'd become human. Human with very real emotions both good and bad. Jedi tended to suppress them to a degree depending on where they hailed from. Even Josh suppressed, but... Here, not so much. It'd become a lot harder to.

But he managed to find his center after a moment. Half of him wanted to punch the wall nearby. But he kept it at bay. He needed to set an example for the Padawans there. For their sake, he held on. Instead, he would simply walk over to Rasu... And just wrap her in a tight hug.

"I'm so sorry..." He spoke quietly as he held her tight. "I... I had no idea. Force, I... I feel like such an idiot..."

It was rare for him to act this way. But... Her situation? He could make an exception. Perhaps talking about what had happened to him had caused him to let his guard down emotionally? He wasn't sure. But all he could think of now was the pain he'd likely caused Rasu by bringing up her marriage the way he did, as though she weren't a widow.

He knew they had a mission to do, but... Force, why did he have to do that?

 

[Rasu Gan]

"Please don't worry Joshua. You weren't to know, in fact you're all the first to know." she said, placing a comforting hand on the Jedi Master's shoulder, hoping to reassure him. Most of the time, Rasu would forget she had ever been in love, however in those rare moments when she did, the Shi'ido chose to recall the more pleasant memories of her relationship. Their time had been short, and he had been taken from her so quickly, yet she chose to remain content with the happiness she and her husband had shared.

As she returned her attention back to the group, she could sense tensions beginning to rise. Her statement had seemed not the help the situation either. With the previous chirpy atmosphere having vanished, Rasu now attempted to ease the somber mood.

"Well now that all our secrets are revealed, shall we head off?" she announced, putting the holo-display back in her pack before shouldering the bag. She had not forgotten Joshua's earlier explanation either. Her thoughts had lingered on what he had said, leaving her rather troubled. Obviously something had happened to the man and his connection with the Force, however she resisted the urge to learn more of his ailment. While she lacked this immunity to the call of the dark side, she was not one to leave a friend behind. If the worst-case scenario was to befall the Jedi, Rasu would ensure that all four Jedi made it out of the archives alive. Joshua wasn't the only capable Jedi Master.

Leaving the area of the shuttle destination, Rasu set off. Leading the group towards the large structure. As the path turned into a rather steep incline, winds began to pick up and sweep the cloak of the Jedi behind her, leaving any loose clothing to billow as she pushed onward. The climate began to drop also, as the path around them became littered with white snow. The environment had drastically changed from their previous location, leaving Rasu hoping that the group had prepared for such conditions.

Soon the archive would appear before them. Four large pillars sat at each corner of the large temple, reminiscent to the four Councils of the traditional Jedi Order. Covered in the bright snow, the dark material sourced for the construction allowed for the temple to be easily identified. An ingenious creation indeed.

Approaching what looked to be the main entrance, Rasu could already feel the aura's of the holocrons calling to her. However at this distance the intentions of the gatekeepers remained unknown, it still managed to make the woman's hair stand up on end, sending a sickening feeling in stomach. The Shi'ido wondered if it affected her team mates as well, knowing that they too would be sensing such a disturbance. Deciding that this would be as good a stop as any to break, Rasu pulled out a water canister and took a small swig before offering it the rest of the group. Now would be the time for the last remarks of caution or concern before all would have to be on alert.

[member="Joshua DragonsFlame"] [member="Celiana"] [member="Aria Vale"]

 

[Celiana]

I hadn't meant to cause problems....It seemed I had a gift for it though. As we trudged up the path snow began falling more heavily and the winds caused my black cloak to billow and flap about behind me. I was silent this was a place of knowledge but also some very real danger. Revan had been here once upon a time, as had The Jedi Exile Meetra Surik. While I didn't know all of what history lay here I had no illusions about this place being dangerous in it's own right. I just wasn't afraid of that danger anymore.

I could feel the shift in The Force as we approached the temple entrance. A hunger, for knowledge. That didn't bode well, from experience things that emanated that feeling of hunger were rarely satiated. Breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth I opened my eyes again to see Master Gan offering water to us before we headed inside. I simply pulled the straw on my pack forward and sipped from the water reservoir I had in my pack. Immersing myself fully in the currents of The Force I could feel the hunger, the lust for knowledge and I realized that was how Atris had been seduced. She hadn't wanted to repeat the past mistakes so she'd tried to learn all she could about how to avoid them. The knowledge she'd gained had slowly corrupted her even as it had appealed to the historian and noble woman she was.... I, I understood.

I waited for the others but now I had my understanding of how Atris had fallen. Understanding your enemy was the first step to undermining and defeating them. Knowledge is power indeed I thought to myself.

[member="Rasu Gan"] - [member="Aria Vale"] - [member="Joshua DragonsFlame"]