Private Old Friends

[Kei Amadis]

Relaxing clouds flowed leaving a mild mist. There was an effervescent haze around the log cabin by the stream. Kashyyyk, moisture from the towering trees wet the skin and clothing, the warm morning dew evaporating to leave mugginess. More a feature than a person, Kei blended in to the surrounding overgrowth. He wore a simple dark green shirt and practical tanned pants, with brown muddy boots which pointed upright as he sat with his fishing rod. Silver beard and hair, with just streaks of darker youth being seen in the trimmed cut.

Time had stood still, faded into the moment. It felt like he had fished here for years and could stay happily in this heaven of a place. The small stream running by the cabin clearing and into the deeper woods, a small tug on the rod was let go as the catch escaped, he wasn't fishing to eat. He was fishing here to remember.

Zacka and Patches were with the kids in their log cabins not far from where he sat. He could hear the call of a happy family which had rooted him here, and with no regret. Probably with their mother watching over them all now, especially the two adults! Kids? Now they were grown up making lives of their own. He hadn't regretted settling down. For all their battles, the challenges and near death experiences he'd somehow survived, living here with his family had felt right. There'd been adventures sure but the kids were adventure enough most days.

Today was a day that was to change. They were meeting for a purpose. The old crew.

The first steps of a familiar face walked gently by the stream to meet him. Gliding almost along the grass, it could only be one person. Kei stood and turned to greet him, a trademark grin stretched across his grizzled face. The leg heavy in the step as always, and the limp if anything more pronounced on the Epicanthix.

 

[Taiden Keth]

The Scrolls of Taiden Keth Entry: #401. A Mornings Dew Diligence.

Barely a foot touched the earth, his pure white clothing only slight marred by darkened silver boots. Toils of Keth lineage on traditional white Echani purity. No plant was affected by the passage of the Echani scholar, and the blades of grass avoided where possible to disturb nothing.

Taiden's isolation was apparent in the increasing rigidity of his stance and manner. If Kei's had been a happy isolation these last years, Taiden's had been a musty book filled librarian's career. Not that he complained, it was a life of endless understandings built atop each other, intellectual pursuits their own adventure.

As Kei turned, the white clad Echani Scholar bowed fully, eyes closed, to mark deepest respect for his trusted friend. There was of course a traditional sword across his back and lightsaber on his hip, otherwise he came open handed with nothing but himself. A Keth could not entirely walk anywhere without preparation however, not far from here would be the white dressed honorguard waiting for a word. Taresa Kae among them. Years had taught him the value of preparation, a trait a younger Kei once used to embody.

Not one to give the first word, Taiden waited patiently as he heard more approaching footsteps, watching the newcomers body language. Time didn't matter as much to him as others, but there was some familiarity in how the old Ambiguous statement's crew stood around each other. Yet much had changed in them and him, he read that in their motion and intent.

Hands together in greeting he also bowed to each, offering his own respect and gratitude for their attendance, always watching to read what understanding he could from the non verbal.

 

[Sera Inkari]

Heat rose. A long amber robe and veiled appearance. Jedi Jewel Robes flickering lightly in the breeze. Kintan's priestess stood closest to the water's sating embrace. A burning in her eyes unlike there had been for many years. There had been no isolation from the Seer, only the war behind wars. The training her Master had given her to embrace what she had learned, not fear who she was but stand within it and use to help others avoid the same fate she had. Inner conflict turned to aid, guardianship and only when needed the blade.

Behind this fire was a burgeoning care, that had been slowly developed by her new Master, not an easy road for one who used to burn people on command for the One Sith. She had been the vision guiding their emperor to save his life at a critical moment, or the many horrors she had steered towards their subtle devastating conclusions.

Sera did not remove the veil, completely cloaked, her features were barely visible through its thin fabric. Her hand ran across the air in between her and the others almost embracing the dreamwalk in this heightened moment, but she stayed in the here and now. It was a critical juncture she could see it even if the others could not, one that called her to farseeing. There was always conflict and the rising tides of man's ambition to dominate the world around him, but there was something more malevolent happening that they were always connected to. It was what had brought them together and what eventually drove them apart.

"Se'hanar Maratis. May the sand of time be your guide." She repeated in common. It lost something in the translation.

Here they stood again in a tide of fate and happen-stance that only a seer could live within. What was ongoing less predictable personal development, and what was the obvious mechanical pattern and reaction that most lived within to produce a readable future.

 

[Glade]

Familiar wind picked up further, a cheeky wisp of power displayed.

The buzz of a purple hoverchair followed next, floating beside them to carrying its occupant to a resting place. Smells of herbs or powerful scents surrounded the force user, protective and also interesting to distinguish. Unable to walk she relied on the motion of the chair to get where she needed to be. There was a seriousness or melancholy that spilled outward, highlighted in her force aura. Behind the shadow of it there were cracks of purple lightening, speed, excitement and motion when in motion. When in the chair it was this longing emptiness to move, a hollow echo which almost spoke its own language to those with the ear for it.

That changed when she saw the others focus on her, all the attention was like the old days.

"What's up." Popped those familiar lips. A small lopsided smile and the tilt of her head, hung the long wavy hair off to her side. She wore more armor and weapons than all of them combined, and somewhere below that chair was the Fyor Droid, the latest replication of their own 5th crew member Fyor Nayus. His assassin had been killed herself, and then released from her torment by Sera and Syn on one of their missions. To come full circle at least they thought.

But Nato… Glade would never let go of Fyor's memory, nor any memory, she hoarded them like mementos to protect, both hers and others so not to be lost to time. Yes that same carefree girl had changed more than any of them here. From her own mistakes and loss, life was a hard teacher. But there was still that sparkle…

"Dont'cha wanna hug me then?" She asked Kei with almost a laugh, who did eventually come over, though you might swear there were tears in his eyes, even if he'd deny it. Taiden bowed and Sera, well Sera was Sera that was all she had to say about that. She loved them all in that moment. The memories were stronger than ever to live within.

Emotion, happiness from Glade that soon fell back into its melancholy as the moment subsided.

 

[Vertigo]

A couple of lumbering 8ft Houk's or possibly walking tree trunks were in the background. Moving about boxes, and taking over Kei's usual carrying role. One of the Houks grunted something about always doing the carrying, and why don't they invent boxes that carry Houks. Swearing under his breath at the humidity while he was at it, Vertigo headbutted his companion Houk causing them both to stagger back. Telling him to get it together.

"Boss." The Houk Rumbled as Kei hugged the little purple one.

He cleared his throat a bit, which sounded like a sonic boom or just a dam breaking.

"Boss. We've got all the boxes." He sniffed, the humidity was bothering him.

Not exactly a member of the crew, the Houks had worked plenty with the Wildcards over the years, wildcards who were probably in their 50's at least now. Most of them retired or advising others, they had helped integrate Houk soldiers into SJO units at the time, though that was long ago and many things had changed. Not Vertigo's appetite which caused a loud rumble from his stomach, as if to ask if they could have a break for some grub.

Under his feet a child ran around him, Saeria Aldan-Keth giggling had escaped someone's watch. Obviously part of Taiden's crew, the Echani only reacted by giving her a quick glance, she was here for the same reason they all were. They couldn't do it without each of them. The little girl ended up clinging to Vertigo's leg like some daring explorer, not that he noticed the weight as he started to walk.