Private Repentance

[Sakadi Marathi Sinvala]

Rain ticked against the chrome hull of her dagger-shaped starfighter. It streamed down the transparisteel canopy, transforming the towering skyscrapers outside into columns of glimmering lights.

A sigh escaped her as she leaned back in the starfighter's single seat. The small spacecraft stood alone on the extended landing pad of the Prosperity, the massive bulwark of hope that the New Jedi Order called home. Yet the sight of it made her feel anything but hopeful. Every glance at the Prosperity made her overflow with guilt and shame, born from pride. Even now a part of her was adamant that she had made the right decisions in the past. Had done everything to fight for the good of the galaxy.

But then why had everything failed so spectacularly?

The galaxy was, despite her every effort, still at war. Under her guidance, the Silver Jedi Order had lost control of Wildspace and the Tion cluster. In the territories that had remained in her order's grip, peace, prosperity, and security could scarcely be found. Then there were personal failures too. Padawans in her care, lost to the Dark side of the Force. Her family all but ended, and her home planet irreparably ravaged. Truly, she had failed on every level.

With a glance, she took note of the opening turbolift doors on the opposite end of the landing pad. Sakadi brushed a silver lock of hair aside. Someone was coming out to greet her. That's what you get for hesitating. She thought. With a flick of a switch, the cockpit's canopy opened. She was just a moment too late in pulling her hood up, and felt the cold droplets of rain against her forehead. Her sour expression made the knight, who already seemed wary, even more cautious.

The Knight pulled up the collar of his leather jacket in a futile attempt to shield himself from the rain and the cold, howling wind. Squinting, he barked a question loud enough for her to hear. "What brings you here Master Sinvala? We weren't expecting any arrivals this late in the evening." She chewed on her lip as she mulled over the answer. Suddenly, Sakadi regretted using her personal beacon. "Refuge. If only for the night." She wasn't sure how much the New Jedi Order was made aware of the Silver Jedi's state, now that it was in Matsu Ike's capable hands. Her sabbatical was no secret, but her activities had been.

The knight nodded. "If you'll follow me, I'll show you to our guest quarters." Sakadi quickened her pace to walk beside him. "Actually, I'd like to speak to a councilor first. If any are present at the moment, that is." The Knight gave her another wary, sidelong look. "I'll see what I can do, Master Sinvala."

Dagon Kaze | Valery Noble​

 

[Dagon Kaze]

Council Chamber,
Jedi Temple, Coruscant

To find Dagon on Coruscant was a rare feat. The Jedi Watchman remained intensely reluctant to leave the world of Denon unless it concerned directly the war with the Sith, the rising hostilities with the Empire, or any other galaxy-spanning conflict that threatened the peace on a massive scale. But the Force worked in mysterious ways that even the most capable Jedi could not decipher. It was merely their duty to serve its will.

The enigmatic reason that had dragged him physically to the Jewel of the Core soon revealed itself as a fellow Knight bore the news of Master Sinvala's arrival to the Temple. The raven-haired Jedi arched an eyebrow in response -- it had been years since he had last seen the Sephi Master all the way back to the wars with the Bryn'adul horde. Tints of curiosity flashed across his eyes before Dagon nodded at the Knight to allow their guest entry to the Council Chambers.

He flicked off the holoprojection depicting various intel regarding the Maw's incursion into the Core and eyed Valery, "You ever met Sakadi-- uh -- Master Sinvala?" honorifics still remained a struggle for the leather jacket-wearing Jedi.

They had mere moments before she would step inside the Council's Chamber.​

Sakadi Marathi Sinvala Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Coruscant

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Outfit: Factory Link
Appearance: Link
Weapons: Lightsaber
Tag: Dagon Kaze Sakadi Marathi Sinvala

With a leg crossed over the other, Valery idly studied the maps and new intelligence from the war front she had been looking over with Dagon for a while now. It was a bit late, she was somewhat tired and had almost entirely zoned out at this point, as her mind was focusing on more personal matters. Her life had gone through so many changes in a short amount of time that it was hard to keep track of it all. But much of it was exciting as well, so she was faintly smiling to herself, seemingly without reason.

Only when Dagon directly addressed her again, Valery snapped out of her trance and back into the world of the living. The conversation with the other Knight had registered somewhere in her brain, but the details had escaped her, "Hmm? Oh..." she smiled sheepishly at her friend, "I haven't met her, no. My time with the Silvers was very short and there have been few interactions with their order. This should be interesting," Valery said before she straightened her posture and made herself look a little more presentable.

The elevator was already coming up, and she sensed the woman's presence as well.

 

[Sakadi Marathi Sinvala]

Their footsteps echoed through the vaulted hallways, sounding almost unnaturally loud in the almost empty temple. Her robes were already damp from the heavy and wet cloak that stuck to her frame. She had already thrown her hood back in a vain effort to protect her hair from the aftermath of Coruscant's acid rain. Coruscant, the jewel of the core. She mirthlessly reminded herself. But at least she had been spared from the Knight's fate, who still left a trial of water droplets as he went. She could practically smell the smog on him too.

They turned right, into a tunnel that led through the aquatic levels of the temple, where she presumed the Jedi and Padawans from waterworlds lived and trained. "It seems like some things are still the same, no matter what temple you visit." Sakadi commented, attempting to start up a conversation.
"Is this your first visit to the Prosperity" He glanced over his shoulder to look at her, but maintained his steady pace.
Sakadi nodded. "I've been to Coruscant's old temple plenty of times. The Prosperity? That's a first." She studied the blue ripples that illuminated the arched translucent ceiling of the tunnel. "Forgive me, I didn't catch your name."
"Lautrec Damarra. Jedi Knight since a month ago." A brief surge of pride rippled through the Force. Sakadi smiled.
"That's quite an achievement. Congratulations." Despite the hundreds of Jedi Knights who roamed the galaxy, she knew that only one out of three, perhaps even less, made it that far. She was always glad to see someone pass the trials. Perhaps even more so in the New Jedi Order, where - due to their numbers - every Knight was even more valuable.

They passed several training halls and a dining facility where kitchen droids overlooked nearly a hundred different dishes before they reached the turbolift that could take her to the council chambers. She was convinced that they had taken a detour just so there had been time to inform the council of her arrival. That, and Lautrec had seemed intent on showing her around after learning it was her first visit. Now, however, she had to continue alone.

When the doors of the Council chambers opened, she found two figures seated and waiting. Her lilac eyes swept over them. Two was not a bad turn up, considering the surprise visit. That, and she felt a little more at ease seeing Dagon was one of them. Admittedly she hadn't seen him since the Bryn'adûl wars years ago. But they had fought side by side against the Titan of Draedimus prime himself, and also against the infamous terrorist and false Jedi Laertia Lo. Although he looked much older now than she remembered. Tougher too, weathered, and his gaze bore years of battle experience. It took her a moment to remind herself that humans ultimately had a shorter lifespan than hers, although she herself was also no longer exempt from the signs of aging.

The other Councilor was a toned woman with a fiery, piercing orange eyes that ironically suited well with the scar she bore over her left cheek and eye. She had a reputation that preceded her, which made it easy for Sakadi to identify her as Valery Noble, despite never having met face to face. The fact that she was also one of the only few female Masters on the New Jedi Order's Council also helped her guess, of course.

With a polite and graceful gesture, Sakadi pointed at her own temple and her two fellow Jedi. It was an indication that she would resort to telepathy, with their approval. It was the better alternative to sign language, which would likely require the presence of a protocol droid to translate.

"Evening, Masters Kaze and Noble. I hope I'm not intruding." She was well aware of the Maw's advancement into the core. Considering what the Bryn'adûl's rampage had put her through, she had no doubt that it gnawed at them day and night. "I did not come here on behalf of the Silver Jedi, but I'd still like a moment of your time, if I may." With her hands woven together, hidden in the long opposite sleeves of her cloak, she stepped into the center of the circular chamber.

Dagon Kaze | Valery Noble​