Paths of Peace and Passion

[Tydeus of Tion]

The words took Ryan aback. He stutter-stepped, nearly tripping. What he had just heard from his new Master were the most revealing words the man had said so far. He got an inkling of the well of emotion that lay beneath Marcello's Jedi calm. Demons. Yes. Ryan had so many demons. He could feel the anger inside of him. The storm. He knew if he didn't get a hold over it it might end up destroying him. But he couldn't let go of the fury he felt toward the Council. He owed it to his friends to cling to that rage.

"I-" Ryan regained his composure, the weariness dragged at his body, but at the mentioning of piloting he grinned tiredly. It was the first time he'd smiled in over four months. Longer, maybe.

Best pilot in his padawan class by far. Capable of flying circles around them all.

"I'm alright."

[member="Marcello Matteo"]

 

[Marcello Matteo]

Marcello piqued a brow of sincere interest at [member="Ryan Korr"]'s response. "You're alright? Nothing wrong with being clear about skill if you have it." Marcello could understand modesty...even respect it. However, he respected justified confidence even more. "Give me the gear." Marcello made a simple command as he extended his hand.

Smirking slightly, he continued. "You go get her ready for departure. We're going to Jabiim."

 

[Tydeus of Tion]

Ryan just smiled tightly in response, happily handing over the wrapped tent that had been steadily destroying his shoulders for the past nine kilometers. He wandered wearily over to the ship and his eyes ran over her appreciatively. Not bad. Ryan breathed easily. As he settled into the cockpit a great burden seemed to lift from his chest that had nothing to do with the tent he'd been carrying.

Pre-flight checks came to him almost instinctively. Memories of a different time, before the scars. A time when his face did not have a hard cast, but smiled freely and often.

At last, the lad buckled himself into the crash webbing and activated the sublight engines. Their whining roar blew away the storm clouds in his eyes. To be in the skies and beyond. Freedom waited for him there. An escape from the nightmare.

"We're good to go, Master," Ryan said, finally coming to terms with the epitaph.

[member="Marcello Matteo"]

 

[Marcello Matteo]

Marcello briefly allowed nostalgic thoughts to enter his brain as he took the gear from [member="Ryan Korr"] and watched the young man set off to execute the task handed to him. The Jedi Master recalled his younger days...yearning simply to be free from it all. He still had that same desire and passion when it came to flying, but it somehow seemed less...pure these days. Perhaps because he knew that his days of a simple existence had all but left him completely.

Casually, Marcello boarded the shuttle and secured the gear before making his way to the cockpit. Settling into the seat beside Ryan, he adjusted his own crash webbing as the Padawan declared they were prepared for departure. After offering Ryan a subtle nod of the head, Marcello leaned back. "Good. Let's get the hell out of here."

 

[Tydeus of Tion]

Still trying to deny the small flicker of hope inside his chest, Ryan lifted the ship off the ground and pointed the nose toward space. With a whoosh of sublight engines they were off. A few seconds later and hyperspace swallowed them in bending stars.

FIN​