Private Walk It Off

[Sakadi Marathi Sinvala]

The voices became murmurs behind her as she left the courtyard, where the last few Jedi were still hashing out their stances.

Her parting words had been for Rik alone. She hoped he'd let her know when the Vanguard moved. It was unavoidable that they would. And the fewer voices among them urging moderation, the more extreme their actions would become. That thought sat like a knot in her stomach. Even if she believed it was the only path forward, it could still be wrong. It could still cost untold billions across the Galaxy their lives.

And I don't even know who I'm backing.

She'd spent time digging through what she could find on this generation's Jedi. She'd hidden too long behind penance for what had befallen the Silver Concord. The few faces she remembered belonged to people whose advice she could already predict. It was the leaders she needed to read. This Lorn. This Ala. Both had come off strong.

Worry marked her brow, each crease deepening as she turned the problem over.

Then movement ahead caught her eye. The lengthening shadow of the woman who'd left just before her.

She weighed it for a moment. Then quickened her pace to catch up.

Colette

 

[Colette]

Sakadi Marathi Sinvala

In some ways Colette felt like she might have been the only detractor who left the gathering at Sanctuary's Rest without a chip on her shoulder. Perhaps she was just that dedicated to sitting on the fence, or maybe there was no reason for her to really work herself up over it.

People weren't wrong to be scared, and they would undoubtedly make mistakes in the coming months, but that was almost to be expected at this point. Actually if anything she might just have joined the cause had it not been because she'd sworn to never raise her blade unless absolutely necessary.

The rapid sounds of boots on the ground forced Colette out of her mind. She peeked over her shoulder at whoever it was that decided to approach her and gave them a quick nod.

Not a familiar face. Very purple.

"Hello." Colette greeted them. "Wasn't sure if Lily was about to follow behind me or not, but I guess not."

"Did you have something you wanted to talk about, uhh…" She motioned towards Sakadi with her elbow. "Sorry, I don't know your name."

 

[Sakadi Marathi Sinvala]

She made an uncertain gesture. From what little she'd still caught of the conversation, it hadn't seemed like Lily was considering leaving.

Sakadi raised two fingers from her temple toward Colette's, her eyes questioning.

~ Apologies for this intrusion. I lost my voice in my younger years, and my protocol droid could not make the hike. It leaves my options limited. ~

She didn't enjoy forming bonds through the Force with people she'd only just met. Hers were, through long practice, minimally invasive. But there were still plenty who objected.

~ Rest assured, though. I hereby promise I will not read your thoughts. ~ Her eyes shone with a glint of amusement.

~ Sakadi. I was with the Silver Jedi through the Bryn'adûl wars and the Maw conflicts. ~ Her smile turned distant, her gaze briefly unfocused. ~ And the Elder Compact before that. ~

Few people liked to be reminded of the Jedi schism that had culminated in the battle of Dantooine. The memory was hard to shake regardless. Especially in light of the Order's latest moral dilemma.

~ I was hoping you could enlighten me on the way back. Because that was... ~ She let her feelings of discomfort carry through the telepathic bridge. It was perhaps the one advantage her impairment had ever given her. A great deal could be shared through feeling alone. ~ And you seem to know them. Far better than I, at least. ~

She lowered her gaze for a moment as she thought. ~ What did you make of it? This... heated debate. ~

Colette

 

[Colette]

Sakadi Marathi Sinvala

An uneasy look carved itself into Colette's entire face. Telepathy always unnerved her as an undesired external influence and something she actively avoided using for herself. There was one voice that belonged inside of her mind: her own.

At least Sakadi had a decent reason but it didn't start them off on the right foot.

"It wasn't actually meant to be a debate." Colette began and shook her head. "I believe that Lorn isn't wrong to be worried, and that his delivery undermined his message. He is scared, he knows that he is partly to blame for the current circumstances, but he has no better solution."

"And given how many people were there, he isn't alone. That gives his cause credibility. The right thing for the wrong reason. Ala needs to play the politician, meaning she has to oppose this crusade because at the end of the day we're still living under the Republican flag."

"As for the rest, well, hard to say."

 

[Sakadi Marathi Sinvala]

She nodded along as Colette spoke, keeping herself perfectly poised in a formal manner.

Her look was thoughtful. ~ I'm afraid there might be no better solution. ~ She conveyed earnestly. ~ The idea of any solution scares me. There is no path I can foresee without bloodshed, direct or indirect. ~ She shot a look at Colette. ~ I wish that were enough of an excuse to rally behind Lorn blindly. ~ She couldn't help but imagine how pitiful her smile must look.

She'd done everything in her power to protect her version of the Republic when the Sith Order had threatened them. Then the Bryn'adûl, the Maw, the Imperials. In the end, it had all collapsed anyway. Mandalorian and Republic space now. Black Sun territory before that. She couldn't fathom the suffering that had followed when the Concord disbanded.

~ I can understand where Ala is coming from. It's impossible to choose a path when the interests of the Jedi and the Republic don't seem to align. I never managed to reconcile those myself, not until one of my choices fell away. ~ And then, not long after, the Jedi had collapsed too. Even Galactic Alliance had broken the same way.

~ I believe that, as you say, Lorn's delivery undermined his message. Still, I fear this showing may fuel the wrong emotions among his contemporaries. ~ Sakadi hesitated. ~ I believe this Vanguard will need moderate voices. Hands that can stay the blade when the critical moments arise. It's the role I hope to fill... but it requires coordination. Communication. ~

She was silent for a moment. ~ I came after you because you said your door would always be open. Would you be willing to aid me from the Order's side? ~

It was the path she was determined to follow. To build a bridge between what would become the Vanguard and the Order, so that none would be lost to misunderstanding.

Colette

 

[Colette]

Sakadi Marathi Sinvala

The response got a disquieted grunt. True enough, people would die regardless of their action or inaction. She gave the other woman a look when she admitted her intent to follow Lorn. Sakadi was being proactive then. The intent was not to leave in order to send Lorn a message but rather Colette herself.

The quartermaster slowed her pace until she stopped. She motioned towards a bunch of nearby boulders that they could sit on and promptly took a seat.

"Sure." Colette said and gave Sakadi a gentle nod. "I don't know what kind of role you hope to fill there, but we can certainly talk about how we'll keep in touch."

"No doubt the Vanguard will be cut off from the Order's communications and inventory." She already knew the latter to be true, she'd made the arrangements already. "Just know that I won't lie to keep our communications hidden. If asked, I will be honest. But unless asked, I have no reason to tell — unless the Vanguard steps entirely out of line."

 

[Sakadi Marathi Sinvala]

Sakadi glided over in her long, swishing robes and took the rock opposite Colette, folding her hands neatly in her lap.

She gave a slow nod to Colette's warning.

~ Regular means of communication won't do. But the Force can provide ways, though not without strain. ~ Her telepathy had bridged star systems before. And Sakadi was too proud to believe her limits lay at the blackwall, not after nearly a century of study in the mental aspects of the Force. She was confident she could manage. Even if it would demand specific circumstances, leaning on stronger connections or vergences.

A smile played about her features as Colette spoke honestly. ~ The Jedi would be beyond mending if we were driven to secrecy. ~ A faint amusement rose in her that she could not quite suppress. ~ We need exactly that. Honesty and open communication. The more Jedi who know of this, and wish to remain in dialogue, the less extreme these fractures will become. Hopefully. ~ The last word she offered with quiet uncertainty. There was no fixed path, no absolute that could guarantee a good outcome.

~ As for my role? ~ Her gaze lowered as she contemplated. ~ It's… ~ She looked at Colette again. ~ Did you notice how many of those swept up by Lorn's speech were padawans? Young knights? They are passionate. Spirited, as the young among us always seem to be. But as they spoke, their focus was fixed solely on driving off the Sith. It is empathy for life that must guide them. Not righteousness. Not self-imposed judgment. We cannot be that, if we are to truly serve the people of this galaxy. ~

She wove the argument away with a small, dismissive gesture. ~ I'm getting off-topic. Forgive me. I don't mean to restart the whole debate. ~ She gathered herself. ~ I hope to help facilitate a shift in that view. But it will take more than my ravings. They will need to know there remains a place for them in the Jedi Order - and guidance available to them. ~ She gestured toward Colette. ~ And that will require communication with said Order. ~

A short silence settled between them. ~ I suppose it is all wishful thinking. But I remain hopeful it can make a difference. ~

Colette

 

[Colette]

Sakadi Marathi Sinvala
They couldn't really be serious about operating beyond the blackwall. That was a suicide mission no matter how you put it, either physical or spiritual. But then again, Colette used to think Lorn was a reasonable if not outright good man once. Now she wasn't quite so sure what to think of him.

"Wishful thinking is about all the Order has had for a while now." Colette replied rather wryly, albeit not aimed at Sakadi in particular. "Wishful thinking and sense of duty is about the only two things that are keeping me from not outright leaving the Order."

"So, for there to still be a place for them in the Order they must have left the Order to begin with." She continued. "I don't see this as the Order fracturing, I see it more as a… Moment of change."

"I'm the old guard, you are the new guard. Either we get along, eventually, or only one of us remains to call the shots. Meaning either the crusaders carry the voice of the people, or they don't. And when the day comes, if the current Council has to go — I'll go."

"Given our size it won't take long before we know the answers."

 

[Sakadi Marathi Sinvala]

~ And I fear they may have the impression that they'll be forced to leave. ~ She did not blame Ala for her words. But she'd lacked tact, the same as Lorn.

A moment of change. Her brow knitted as she turned the phrase over. Colette's read on it felt measured. More measured than her own. She had leapt to the worst conclusion immediately. A fracture. But perhaps there wouldn't even be talk of one, over a dispute this small.

~ New guard. ~ Sakadi mused. ~ My, that's a grouping I haven't identified with in a long time. ~ It felt fresh. Young. And youthful was something she hadn't been in a long while.

Her amusement settled back into serenity when Colette mentioned, almost casually, what their Council might yet face. ~ Let us hope it doesn't come to that. ~ She nodded, satisfied. Then rose with finality, dusting off her tunic. ~ I believe we'll get along. Even if our views may not align in the days to come, I trust your capabilities and judgement, Councillor Colette. ~

She drifted away from the rock, glancing back once more. ~ May the Force be with you. I'll keep in touch. ~

Colette