Private Stuck Between Families

[Kaleleon]

ODESSEN

The Horizon Evader landed down upon one of the open format pads hidden among the jungles of Odessen. While I was very keen on this meeting of the two families that would be the Ashinas and the Nobles, I was hoping that this interaction would go well. The two families were known to be a little rough around the edges with one another. Even more so when both were part of leadership for two different Jedi Orders. Clashing ideologies, dogmas, and whatever else. Despite all of that, The recent gathering of Lightsworn, with the idea of trying to gather as many different Jedi enclaves, and orders to work together in some capacity against the fight of the Galactic Empire. With that in mind, I was esstally the escort service for the Son of the Ashina family.

Ikuma Ashina was the messenger of the family for them to meet. However, as much as I didn't want to do this, The assets of the Hidden Path needed to be protected. So currently, My hand held the man's arm, and guided him down the ramp and through the compound. He was wearing a blinder that I had checked multiple times, and made sure that he wouldn't be using some kind of force sight to see through it. There were many times in the Hidden path that refugees were also blindfolded to protect them, and Us. Should something happen, get captured by Empire forces, or were spies themselves. Being brought to Odessen was a danger.

He kept his weapons with him. Not going to strip a Jedi of some of their most sacred weapons. However, I did do a precautionary check to make sure he didn't wear a wire or whatever. So here I am, leading a Jedi through the compound to be brought to one of the meeting rooms inside the post. Once the door was shut, I reached up and gently removed the blinders. Attaching them to my belt and then indicating for him to sit down.

"I hate to do that to you. Ikuma. Its part of us trying to be safe with the new formation and making sure that... aspects of what is being done here does not so easily get released."

A moment later, the door opened up to reveal Valery Noble . Walking in and looking at the both of us. I bowed my head enough to show respect towards her and moved to the far end of the room. Out of the way of what was going to proceed, but also close enough should... something happen.

 

[Ikuma Ashina]

Kaleleon's arm was a largely unnecessary crutch. Ikuma could sense any potential trip long before he would have succumbed to it. He limited those feelings to the bare minimum, not extending any attempts to feel anything further than the immediate path of his steps. Not that he possessed the skill to identify the location through sense alone, anyway. He suffered Kale's wish that the location remain mysterious and the blindfold that enforced it with grace, even if he may have been a bit piqued somewhere deep down.

When the blindfold came off, Ikuma's eyes squeezed shut at the initial shock of artificial light. Several blinks swiped away the blur along with small, tight shakes of the head.

"You would have nothing to fear from my tongue. Whatever preserves your confidence, though."

Everything slowly gained fidelity, revealing the small room in recognizable detail. Modest, and perhaps intentionally indistinct. He sat when indicated, turning his head to one side for a gaze at the Odessen jungle beyond the window. Small images of Hidden Path structures and logistics peeked through as gray swaths between the greenery. Nothing too distinct, but at least telling of the amount of effort they'd put into this encampment since the fall of the Core.

When Valery entered, Ikuma stood from his seat. A Jedi bow greeted her, signaling cordiality.

"Master Noble," he greeted softly, lacking his Father's distinct accent though uncannily similar in timbre. "Thank you for agreeing to this meeting."

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Kaleleon | Valery Noble​

 

[Valery Noble]

Outfit: Combat Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery stepped into the room, her gaze first meeting Kaleleon's in acknowledgment before turning fully to Ikuma. She returned his bow with one of her own, the movement paired with a warm smile.

"Knight Ashina," she greeted, her tone carrying an easy cordiality. "Welcome, and I hope the trip here was not too unpleasant." Her eyes flicked briefly to the blinders now resting on Kale's belt.

She moved closer to the table, her hands resting lightly on the back of one of the chairs as she looked at him. "I regret that I missed the recent gathering that brought many of our Orders together. This new initiative has been… demanding much of my time and focus. The pace has been relentless." There was no complaint in her tone, but she wanted to be open about the challenging times.

"Still," she continued, her expression softening again, "Now we have the time to speak without interruption, and that is just as important. I'm glad you agreed to come. There is much we can discuss, and I'm interested to hear your thoughts on how we can work together moving forward."

She gestured to the seat he had just risen from. "Please, make yourself comfortable." Then, as she took her own seat across from him, her posture remained open and attentive, ready to listen and offer her own input.

Kaleleon Ikuma Ashina ​

 

[Kaleleon]

Of course I would not fear what the Son of the Ashina family would see. I trusted them to quite a degree. They were Jedi who understood that actions needed to be taken. They were individuals who sought to fight against evil in all forms. No evil too great or too small. As such it was that alone that I held them in respect. More over, they had sought me out to aid them. While I did what I could with traveling from Enclave to Order, This was one such thing I could do for them. Hoping that this meeting between the two would fortify the position of any Jedi reeling from the destruction and capture of the Core worlds.

I stayed silent as Ikuma spoke first. A simple thanks for meeting with him. With Valery offering him a seat so that they could discuss. I moved over to the door. Standing there as some kind of guard to make sure that no one would enter and hinder the discussion that would be between the two of them.

Valery Noble Ikuma Ashina

 

[Ikuma Ashina]

"I've had worse," Ikuma assured with a jesting smile. A blindfold and a guiding arm were hardly the worst things he could think of. While envoying for the Lightsworn, he'd experienced scores of trudges that made this one appear a leisurely hike in comparison. There was no mountain to climb, no belligerent wildlife, no impossibly complex encryption to break for coordinates. Now, if he could get through this meeting without a duel ensuing, this would easily rank as one of his most successful excursions.

Obliging his host, Ikuma returned to his seat. "Your absence was certainly felt on Atrisia. My Father, in particular, had hoped to see you there, despite any past friction." Those past disagreements meant little in light of all that was at stake now. Ikuma spoke of them gingerly, even in the vague manner he'd brought it up. They predated his responsibilities to his order; his training was in full swing back then. They meant little to him, having experienced them only as stories and external recollections.

"I won't mince words with you, Master Noble." Straight to the point. An Ashina trait through and through. "I know that whispers of Project Stardust have likely reached your circle by now, but I assure you it's a lot worse than most realize." Suddenly, his amicable tone began slowly morphing into the inflexible sternness recognizable in the elder Ashina. "Divided, the Jedi border on impotent. We need to come together, even if only long enough to stop the Empire's plans. The Lightsworn and your Path have unique resources better utilized together." All of that wasn't to mention those of the other myriad orders that had heard the call.

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Valery Noble | Kaleleon​

 

[Valery Noble]

Outfit: Combat Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's smile lingered as Ikuma spoke of his father, and she gave a small shake of her head. "I hold no grudge against your father. Whatever disagreements we have had are behind us. He is a man I would like to meet again, and I hope that chance will come sooner rather than later."

At the mention of Stardust, her expression sharpened. She leaned forward slightly, hands resting together on the table. "Yes, I have heard of the project. Enough to know it cannot be ignored. And you are right, this is not the time for Jedi to act in scattered pockets. If the Empire is allowed to carry this through, the consequences will touch every world we swore to protect."She let a breath out, and pursed her lips in thought for a moment.

"The Path has its mission, and I will see it through, but I was never planning to walk it alone. Strength comes in how we weave our efforts together, not in building walls between them. The Lightsworn, the Path, the New Jedi Order, The High Republic… if we pool what we have, we can bring them down." Her eyes found Ikuma's again, "The question now is how we approach it. How do we align what we have, so that together we can strike where it matters most?"

Each group had its own methods and focus, but ultimately, they were all Jedi. Surely, they could align their individual strengths for this common cause?

Kaleleon Ikuma Ashina ​