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(4.9) Two Halves of the coin (part one)
Two Halves of the coin (part one)
Azgardian Heavy Carrier Ka-riss-ah
En route to Republic Core World of Kelore
Visst walked slowly down the corridors of this mighty trans-galactic warship. The day that they found her adrift lifeless and helpless in deep space. How her corridors and rooms were so cold and devoid of life. Then they discovered the heart and soul of the ship, the remarkable AI named Carissa. How she pleaded for life and not to be turned off once more. Visst couldn't help but feel like both he and she had grown since that day. She has become an important part of a battle plan to save this galaxy. Now her corridors are filled with Azgardian warriors from the warrior house Heartman. New life has been breathed back in to this old ship. Looking up and down the halls and watching the crew, the Azgardian crew tending to their duties. Somehow it seemed natural for them to be aboard. So much has happened since then and he knew that the worse is yet to come.
He had just finished talking with Master Noor regarding the events unfolding on Kelore. Daz was acting normally impatient and stubborn. Visst was getting more and more worried over his friend's choices. Everything he had done up to this point was to help Daz and give him all the chances to succeed. However, Daz had simply refused to listen and heed warnings. Visst could feel that something was going on, something greater than the crisis. He wasn't sure, but there was one thing he was sure of. He couldn't go in and save Daz, not anymore. He didn't want to cast Daz out of the Order however, this might be even beyond his own help. Yet at the same time, something the Teacher had said about leading and the Order itself stuck with him. Daz has been able to get away with things that no other Jedi would have been able to. Visst couldn't turn a blind eye to what Daz had done on Kelore.
There were so many within the Order that looked up to Visst and he could feel their respect. Rushing down to the planet to save Daz from himself would only prove to others that he was treating Daz unfairly in regards to the Code. Having Master Noor handle the situation would allow Daz to either succeed or fail on his own. Master Noor was a capable and able Master, more impotently, she was a member of the Jedi Council. Daz would have to respect her position without relying on Visst's help. Beyond this, Visst felt that they were rushing blindly in to something that could destroy the Order. He needed time before acting so that he could center himself and focus on the Force. He had asked Ogon to give him that time he needed.
The situation was growing further out of control and Visst knew that behind the scenes the Chancellor was pulling the strings. 'What is the draw that Quee has for Daz' was a question that bothered Visst deeply. Lucky for the moment, Master Noor had reported back that she had confronted Daz a few more times before finally ordering Daz to return to Coruscant with the Rangers and wait at the temple so that the Council can talk to him about this issue. She personally witnessed Daz and his Rangers leaving the area in their fighters. She seemed relieved at their departure and indicated that the funeral rites should be concluded in less than an hour. Visst couldn't deny that the result was pleasing and he was happy to see that it concluded. 'There might be some hope for him' Visst thought.
Looking up, he took notice of Ogon walking up to him with the illusion of Carissa behind Ogon. Seeing her image really surprised him sometimes and often caused him to question her true origins of only being a machine. Visst didn't have to look, he knew that Talon was behind him. Her ability to remain in the shadows and keep mind of herself surprised him. Before she had always been out spoken about her thoughts. Now she played a different role, that of being his bodyguard. Was it her training to take on this change of mannerism or the workings of the Puppet Master. It was something he would have to consider deeply later. As Ogon walked up Visst nodded, "you have something for me?"
Ogon nodded and motioned for Carissa to speak. She stepped forward, "the Justice Ministry has placed a heavy lock down on information coming from Kelore, but we have uncovered information that another bomb has exploded some time ago. There is little to go on, but from what I can tell through intercepts, the bombing took place at another school" Carissa explained.
Visst frowned as he thought of what was going on. The Flail had planned these events too carefully. Something about all this bothered him deeply. There was more going on then these bombings on Kelore and he could feel it. He just couldn't put his finger on it. "Have you been able to locate Daz's group leaving the system" He asked softly.
Both Ogon and Carissa simultaneously shook their heads and Carissa spoke up, "if they had indeed left the system we would have been able to detect and track them. My sensors are more than close enough” she explained with a frown and added, “the only logical explanation is that they didn't leave the world as reported.”
Visst nodded 'it would have been too easy for you, Daz, to just leave. Why, why Daz do you make things so complicated.' Visst thought frustrated as he continued to consider the events going on. "There is much I must think about before going down to the planet and confronting Daz. Please keep me informed on the situation." They both nodded but before anyone could answer Visst's comlink went off. The pressure of these events were painfully written across Visst's face as he activated the comlink, "yes"
Noor's voice broke in, "Master Visst, the situation has reached it's climax. Under the belief that Daz and his Rangers had left the world as ordered, I lift the site in the care of four Padawans. There was a detachment of soldiers nearby, so I trusted they would be safe. I felt it a sound test for them to obey a simple order to keep the area clear of trespassers. The youngling Preena, to whom I had just taken on as my Padawan, was mauled by one of Daz's Rangers during an exchange. The facts are still unclear but the Padawan will survive her wounds thanks to aid rendered by some soldiers, Master Heartman, and Daz. The three other Padawans were disarmed by one of the Rangers and forcible removed from their post. Due to these unfortunate events, I have ordered that the final funeral rites be suspended at once. I further ordered all Jedi personal to return to the temple. This will keep them away from Daz's and out of harms way. I will continue to keep you informed Master.” There was a clear change in her voice as the disappoint could no longer be hidden, “Master I feel that because I failed to understand the situation I failed you and this child."
Visst was not pleased with this latest development at all. "Master Noor, we will discuss this once I can meet with you. I trust in your decisions and judgment. Your choice to withdraw from the situation was a sound on. Even I would have not seen the events unfold like this.”
Noor's voice broke in again, "Yes Master"
The link went dead as he put his comlink away. The situation has given him the time he desired to search the force. There was no longer a need to confront Daz right away. Angelique was with him and he had a full team of Rangers. Even with all of this, he still worried very deeply about Daz and the situation. Nonetheless he had made up his mind about his course of action. "Ogon, I must search the force. Please continue to keep us where we are and maintain radio silence. Daz is not to reach me till I am ready" Visst requested.
Ogon nodded as Visst turned and entered his room. He walked to the center while Talon took up station next to the door. He set down and quickly entered his meditative state. It didn't take him long to open himself up to the force. Sound of the future entered his mind as well as events in the moment. He could feel that this event was the making or breaking point of the Rangers. He knew that the key laid with Daz. Still there was the unanswered questions of how Daz affected this or what Quee wanted with Daz. Yet there was something else that washed over him. He could see ending of some battle in the near future. A battle between Talon and Daz. He could feel the emotions of the battle playing out as they fought in this life or death struggle. He watched with and opened mind as he saw Talon killing Daz.
Visst focused on this vision but there were simply too many details that were clouded by the darkside. He couldn't be sure of the nature of the battle or why it took place. The only result Visst was sure of was the downfall of Daz Murl at the hands of Talon. Another image came to Visst's mind. A small lake side home in the mountains. It was a calming place that brought a since of refreshment to his mind after the battle vision. It was a welcomed sensation for him. He could feel a great pull on him to go there. He was not sure what he would find but he knew he would find something there. Something that played in to the larger story of what was going on. As his eyes opened he was reassured that his place was not part of the events currently unfolding on Kelore. This was not to be part of his story.
He looked up to see Talon standing by the door calmly. Her rifle at ready, her armor didn't have a blemish on it. She was truly a profession soldier through and through. She would stand there till she died if he ordered her to. Her training made her loyal to the core, he got that from his vision. Not within the images, but more of a feeling about her inner personality. She was loyal to her people and to the Jedi. 'Could this loyalty be called upon once the Puppet Master activates her programming. Could it be a deciding factor' he pondered as he watched her carefully. He slowly got up, "Talon, I must ask you to remain here. Where I must go, I must go alone."
Talon had that look of wanting to disagree but her training took over. "Yes Master" was only her reply. He was not sure where she picked up just addressing him as Master. But it didn't seem to bother her and even more so seemed to better define their relationship. He was okay with it for the moment.
Visst walked over and put on his utility belt, "you may remain here and out of site." He started to gather up his things.
"Yes Master"
"I will be back as soon as I can. I have much I must contend with. And I feel it might be safer for you to remain here." He latched his lightsaber on to his belt and pulled his robes on.
Talon looked surprised, "Safer Master? For me?"
Visst turned and faced her. She was truly an impressive warrior to behold. "No, for Daz."
She leaned back in surprise as Visst walked for the door. Talon didn't know what to say to that statement. She trusted the little Jedi with her life. And while she never had to say it, she gave a blood oath to defend him till the end and avenge him in the end. She just nodded, 'he knows how to handle Daz best' she thought softly then said, "As you wish Master."
Visst was happy he didn't have to explain everything to her. Her trust was evident in her actions. Telling her it would be safer for Daz was actually more then he needed to say. For some reason he felt he owed her some kind of reasoning. He took one last look at her then walked through the door. As the doors closed he activated his comlink to Ogon, "Ogon please have my fighter made ready."
Over the comlink he heard, "Yes Master Visst. Shall we jump in to normal space and announce our arrival finally?"
"No Captain. I am not going to meet with Daz. That time has not come, yet." Visst explained.
"Master, about a half hour ago another bomb went off at a military academy. Are you sure we shouldn't render some kind of help?"
Visst could feel the draw of the situation and understood that many were in need. But he also felt that being dragged in to the situation blindly like Daz had been would be foolish. The plan had already been set forth and he knew there was little he could do to stop it now. Daz had everything he needed to succeed once more. This was Daz's story and his own pulled him else where. "Captain give me one hour, then you can announce our arrival." He figured that would give him enough time to investigate what the Force was drawing him to. Then he would deal with Daz's situation. He already felt that Noor might see Daz's actions as over the line. There might not be much he could do to protect his friend after his foolish actions. 'The real questions is, should I still protect him' crossed Visst's mind.
By the time Ka-riss-ah was in a position and Visst departed Ka-riss-ah while she hung in Hyperspace near the zenith of the planet, a massive explosion had leaved a huge chunk of a city near where he was traveling. Visst shook his head, as reports came in that Daz was failing horribly. He felt sad over the losses but knew this was Daz's story. He shook his head as he departed Ka-riss-ah in his fighter. He piloted the craft through the jump point that Ka-riss-ah's powerful engines had formed for him. "Carissa, please pull up the locations of all the bombings and display it on my screen."
He watched as his datalink came to life. It was a feeling about the bombings. Something nagging at his mind regarding this past Flail operations. They were little red dots across a large map. "Now draw a line between the first, second and third bombings" he requested as a bold red line showed up on the map. "Now a line between second and forth bombings." Once more another line was added to the map. "Where is the Jedi temple located?" A new red dot appeared on the map and he didn't need any more lines. "Inform Master Noor to evacuate the Temple at once. That is where the final attack will take place." He order as he saw the giant 'F' formation of the five attacks. 'Graff had planned out the attacks to signal their war on the Core Worlds' Visst thought as he turned his fighter toward the mountains and away from Daz and his operations.
It didn't take long for Visst to located the lake in his vision. In hopes of helping those in need, he asked Master Noor to have the Jedi head to those areas where Daz's team were not and help where they could. It wouldn't be much but it would be something. The reports were depressing but he trusted in the Force. He set his fighter down along a road which lead to the small house he saw as he over flew the lake. He walked the rest of the way their on foot. During his travels he felt Biggs and Lysire in the distant area through a powerful surge in the Force. Minutes later, he felt their presence vanish once more. As he walked along the road he felt the Force about him. He knew he was on the right path guiding him up the road. Short time later he came to the simple house in his vision.
He could hear the familiar sounds of chickens in their pins on the side of the house. He walked across the property and took notice that there was no power cells or lines leading to the house. 'primitive' he thought softly as he continued to look around. There was a fire pit between the house and the lake. As we walked over he saw that several logs had been cut to fashion seat around the pit. It was clear that not to long ago, maybe a few days or at most a week ago, a large group of people were here. He placed his hand over the pit and closed his eyes. He could see a group of people laughing and dancing about as the fire burned. The music matched the scene and was played by a group of the men around the fire. It was smoothing to see the mixed races laughing, eating, and drinking around the fire. He saw Lysire showing other women how dance with her hips like he had seen women on Baklid VI dance. “I see, the trial continues Teacher.” Visst said taking in the vision of the night time party of friends then added “and I am still presiding over it.” He slowly rose up from the fire pit and walked around the house.
He could feel the echoes of the past speaking out to him. It was strange for him as he looked around and could see and hear the echoes of Biggs and Lysire here working the land and striving to build a life. Even though they seemed happy on the surface, he could feel deeper. He could feel their remorse and sadness over what had happened during the war. While Lysire's own darkness seemed almost to have a mind of its own. Biggs suffered greater from the sadness and remorse. He paused next to a small field and could feel the seedlings thriving within the soil. There were clothes drying on a line behind the house. Off in the distance he saw a small house that could only be an outhouse. He looked around and felt at peace along the shores of the mountain lake. “Much like Azgard.” He said as he turned to the house and walked towards it. He didn't hear or see anyone around, and found the front door unlocked. He slowly opened the simple wooden door and found its creaking some what comforting. The day light did a lot to illuminate the interior of the house. He did see a simple oil lamp hanging from a hook on the wall next to the door. On the far side of the house was a fireplace that doubled as a place for cooking.
He walked in slowly as he called out for anyone. He knew that no one was home but did so out of respect. As he walked in, he noticed how simple everything was. The house was divided in to two sections by a partial wall. A living space and a bedroom, the latter he decided didn't need investigation. Walking around the living space he found a glass jar with about a hundred paper credits tossed and waded within it. Next to the jar he found and picked up a list of items. There were many items on the list that had already been crossed off. He smiled as he noticed that items were normal every day items. “Milking Cow” he read off the next item on the list. "They were going to buy a cow" he said softly with a smile. He replaced the list next to the jar and continued to walk around. On the mantle he found a digital picture of a group of people standing around a tractor. He noticed that the some of people in the picture were from the fire pit vision. In the picture he identified both Biggs and Lysire once more. They were dirty and appeared to be well worked. In their smiles he saw something honest and humbling.
"That does explain why" he said as he replaced the photo and added, “Now for the what.” He took a moment and looked deeper at the picture. He could feel the moment it was taken. There was no hate, anger or fear. Just friends celebrating something worthy of achievement. "Your chance at a new life?" He questioned.
"Who the hell are YOU!" Visst nearly froze for a moment, then something dawned on him. There was no sense danger other then what he would create for himself. He slowly turned with his hands up to see a woman dressed in humble dirty clothes with a rustic blaster leveled at him. Behind and to the side of her was a teenage boy with a similar blaster aimed at him. Just outside he saw two younger girls and judging by the movements of the shadows maybe another child.
"Ma, that's the bird like creature Mikala talked about." The boy said softly to the woman.
The woman motioned her head at the boy without taking the weapon or her eyes off of Visst, "hush boy" she said sternly. Her eyes squinted a bit as she looked Visst over, "anyway, it looks more like a lizard to me than a bird."
Visst didn't move, just stood there taking in the situation. He knew all of the different kinds of loyalty. There was loyalty that was demanded by training, like that of Talon. He knew of loyalty from fear and respect. Each of those loyalties could be changed. What Visst saw in this woman was the kind of loyalty brought by trust and sincere friendship. Much like the loyalty Angelique has for Daz. Visst knew better then to directly challenge it. The Force brought him here for a reason, he trusted that reason was not to be shot. "I am Visst" he said softly and as clearly as possible.
The boy smiled, "see ma"
The woman frowned a bit, "I said hush." She stepped forward, "Mikala said you would know what was written on her left arm. If you are her friend you would know this."
Visst smiled at the question, "Fear." He waited a moment for the answer to sink in. During that time, he took in Lysire's message. She had many words tattooed across her body in that ancient language. He couldn't help but wonder, 'Why this word from all the rest? What were they fearful of? What should be feared?' he silently questioned, then asked out loud "Where is, um Mikala?"
The woman put her weapon away as did the boy. "Get to work" she ordered her children then added, "remember only items on the list." As the kids started to rush about the house gathering things and placing them in boxes, she walked over to the book shelf and started to search for something, "she's dead. The'ir both dead. Died at the mill during the blast and don't ask questions."
Visst knew she was lying but also understood not to push the issue. Before he could have said something, the boy spoke up once more. "My pa is alive because of them."
The woman grabbed a book, "Boy, I said hush! Don't make me put you over my knee boy! Now no more!"
The boy looked defeated, "someone should know. Its only right and fair ma. What those gold star fella's saying an't right!"
"I show you right if you don't hush!" She snapped with her hand pulled across her body as a threat to the boy. He retreated and remained silent. She then turned to Visst and walked up opening the book. Visst and the woman seemed surprised to see the book had the center cut out and there were four scrolls hidden within. "She said this one was for you. Some foolish rambling about lights and shadows." She said pulling the scroll and handing it over to him. As she pulled out a paper with a comlink contact on it she said, “Mikala said you would know when to use it.” The woman looked around at her children working “Mikala and David died. What they did for all of us earned at least that much. No one here will betray them. Not even to those gold star carrying Jedi.” She closed the book and handed it over to one of the girls holding a box. “The boy's right. They're good people. You should know this.”
Visst looked at the scroll and nodded, "I know."
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