Private Shadow of the Past

[Darth Tennacus]

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Location: Coruscant, Jedi Temple
Mentions: Aria Vestra Jhira Mereel Seraa Vestra

It came not as any easy feat to walk in the heart of the enemy's shadow. Meticulous planning and patience were needed in order to construct an ironclad precaution to any and all scenarios that may arise against his favour. Thankfully, any righteous Sith who followed the old methods of conduct would have demonstrated the cunning to any grand scheme they sought to carry out with the utmost subtlety.

Weeks had turned into months of organisation before Tennacus could successfully walk freely through Coruscant's surrounding districts encapsulating the Jedi Temple. Sorcery of the dark side saw him sinking his association to the Force into the depths of his core, until at last he was portrayed a mere banker who had grown to achieve several ties to which all tediously inevitably reached back to that place of interest. It had long been his intention to wander its many halls, but not to carry out some grand plot of destruction that would level the temple by a single opponent. No, in fact, Tennacus was there for a complete opposite reason, but the last few weeks had left him unsatisfied in his progression.

He was looking for someone. Even now, in the heart of night, he wandered the halls with such interest in mind, draped in dark, brown robes that had been offered to him after a generous donation of credits. The last thing he desired to do was bring attention to himself, so he remained unhooded in his robe, but kept his mouth buried within the high rising collar of his coat beneath the loose fabrics, masking the respirator he depended on so greatly. Calmed breaths and a steady pace left him without needing to exhale heavily to exaggerate his breaths through mechanical audio, and his need to keep his arms folded across his chest subconsciously told others of his disinterest to communicate.

Here and there he reached out to the Force ever so subtly, trying to feel the flow of power he had yet to come across. But the Force was silent in its offerings, telling him nothing more that he was surrounding by the blinding light of the opposing forces, dedicated to their restricted teachings. Unfortunately, without further expanding his reach to the Force - and potentially exposing himself - there was little more he could do but keep wandering.

Jedi often passed by him and shot gazes of interest, but his bowed head quickly relieved them of any suspicion.

How long until the veil was broken?

 

[Aria Vestra]

Jedi Temple, Coruscant​

Coruscant had suffered terrible damage at the hands of the Brotherhood of the Maw. Even the Jedi Temple had been afflicted by the violence and exchange of ordinance. That and the perceived betrayal of the Senate -- their effort to seal the Jedi within their own Temple just prior to the attack -- had led many to relocate posts and resources elsewhere. Other temples and even mobile platforms. The structure that stood on Coruscant, however, endured in spite of all this.

Jedi Master Aria Vestra, Sentinel and Duchess of Ios, had ascended the Temple with her daughter Seraa. It was not customary, but Aria had been persuasive long ago, that a Jedi Master would adopt a young child, raise them, train them, and then oversee their education as a padawan to become a knight. It certainly had not been easy. There'd been many lengthy discussions on the matter throughout the years -- some of which over Aria's tendency to steal the youth from her classes to 'run around the galaxy.'

Aria saw no issue with giving an adolescent young woman a taste of the real world. It was not as black and white as the teachers had the Younglings believe. There were very few 'right' choices or 'right' answers to the galaxy's litany of problems. For every issue you solved one or many new ones might arise. Even the smallest pebble cast into a pond created ripples. Seraa needed to understand that if she were to affect real, lasting, and meaningful change in the galaxy. She needed to see the work it took to engage people at their level. A Jedi's life was not meant to be in service of just protecting the galaxy -- it was to serve the people. Many got swept away in the larger conflicts and forgot about the smaller ones.

As they stood there in the balcony, Aria looked out over the ruins of the city. At least it was no longer smoldering with smoke billowing into the sky any longer. The cries of the trapped and lost weren't screaming through the Force begging to be saved.

"Now the complexities of such a diverse set of people become manifest," Aria said aloud. "With many Jedi eager to stop the Maw and distrustful of the Senate that sought to control them, and the Senate of many worlds wary of people with so much power in the palm of their hands banded together. War is often believed and spoken of as though there are two sides -- one just, one unjust. An easy dichotomy for people to follow, to latch on to, and to support the righteousness of their side. It is rare that is ever the case, Seraa. Even the Maw is not so monolithic as it might seem."

Thoughts of how best to guide the people in these troubled times plagued Aria. She desired to see the Jedi flourish, but also that they uplift the people and not merely wage war. Where best could she focus her effort? The Jedi Council, or the Galactic Senate? And what of Seraa? The white-haired Ioshan turned to regard her daughter with a smile.

Tag: Seraa Vestra | Darth Tennacus | Jhira Mereel