To Build Balance

[Vaudin Miir]

A world of clouded amber hung before his slate grey eyes as his pulsating mind wandered and wended the space lanes of history for answers. Focus was fleeting, forbidding, and foreboding the future with answers from the Force not forthcoming.

He stopped looking at his mountain of datacards though his tumbler of bourbon and started reading his datapad filled with endless details, reports, and budget request. For a planet of semi-clairvoyant people they sure didn't predict cost as well as they did personal injury or sandstorms. He skipped to the bottom of the readout and decided to focus his efforts for the day on his big project, the temple outpost they had started as a result of a mutual vision among the local elder council. A danger was coming to the galaxy. A great threat, and to prepare now was the only hope.

He had commissioned the construction and they were well on the way. Planning still needed to be completed for certain things but foundations were laid deep and even the ever changing sands would not easily erase what they were planning. He only hoped they would have time.

He stood, passed his drink quickly down his throat and donned his unfortunately mandatory robes of office over his more comfortable spacer outfit and walked to his door. He swung the door open and was not surprised to see his Secretary of State standing there in all her aged glory.

"Sae Si." Miir said by way of greeting.

"You're an idiot." The old Iktotchi woman said.

"Ah, ah. What did we talk about?" He said stopping to wag a finger and be as annoying as Iktotchily possible.

"You're an idiot, President Miir." She said stoically as clerks and aides stifled giggles as they passed.

"See?!" He said cheerfully, "Was that so hard?"

"How did you commission and begin construction of a large and I quote 'None of your damn business' structure outside of the city without clearing the budget with the legislature?" She asked as she read the details from her datapad. "This is not how we do things. You have limits. Laws exist for a reason. Even for you this is ridiculously stupid."

"I paid for it myself." He replied as he walked passed.

She looked at him for a moment, mouth ajar.

"You what?" She asked after a moment.

"I used my many ill-gotten gains and paid for it myself." He replied, "There is no budget because it's a private structure and not government funded."

"Well...that does make it less stupid." She said falling in beside him as he sauntered through the building toward the speeder pad.

"I'm going to the site now." He continued not bothering to worry about his apparent stupidity. Static conditions didn't need much worry. "I'm hoping to meet the future inhabitants before they realize their commitment is preplanned."

"We discussed that the militant Jedi should not have a presence here." She said guessing correctly at his schemes.

"These aren't the Jedi your looking for." He said calmly.

"What then?" She asked curious, "Outer Rim Coalition vagabonds?"

"Nope, Je'daii." He said as he ducked i side the open speeder. "Stop gaping at me and get in. They'll be here soon."

 

[Cemas D'baen]

So the magicians had finally actually started up a space temple, well at least he was finally getting something out of them. Plenty of temp hands had been hired for construction, and he'd be damned if he'd miss out on paying work. Even if it was only temporary, after that it be on to another planet, and another temporary job. If nothing else it kept life interesting, and the view was always changing. Just last week he'd worked a job on Ryloth, now that had been an interesting trip, of course he'd he'd left without anything, but the clothes on his back. Rich men tended to be jealous men, note taken. Ah well, wasn't like he owned much anyways. At least he hadn't woken up in a prisoner cell that time.

For now his job was easy, lean on a post and wait for the next ship to arrive, do the little security check wave 'em through the gate, and then go back to leaning. Of course little did he know he was going to run into some old faces here, some who might not remember him so pleasantly. It wasn't like it was his fault, everybody was trying to get out of somewhere, and he had needed a ride. How was he to know that one day a little smuggler might make it to the big time. Turns out the galaxy was just a whole lot smaller then his luck could hold out against.

[member="Jyn Lorr"] [member="Vaudin Miir"]

 

[Lief]

As Tranquility dropped out of atmosphere and tumbled down to the spaceport below, Jyn could not help but nervously glance toward the Zabrak at her side. They had much to talk about, she and Sargon, and while she knew that this meeting was about more pressing matters she could not help but feel the seeds of guilt growing within her. It would be another couple of minutes before they were truly set to leave the ship, and so after a very small and uncertain intake of breath she turned to him properly.

"I should have told you," she said, all at once, continuing on without giving him much time to think, "About Ar'ekk, and Tefie, and the hunt I went on to find out about my family. Only, last time we spoke - before the tournament - we had more pressing matters to discuss than who I was dating, and Tefie had only been with us a couple of weeks by the time of the tournament, and I didn't want to upset you by making you think that your guidance wasn't enough. I didn't find my parents, but I also don't need them. I'm sorry."

The ship rocked as it came closer to the ground, the landing thrusters kicking in as the stabilizers pushed forth ready to cling to the dusty earth below. Up on her shoulder Kipo oo'd, and now that the sight of the world came into her view she felt somewhat... terrible for bringing him with her. What if he started breathing in the dust?

"Captain, we have reached the spaceport," came the droning sound of the navigation droid, moments before they touched down and a more significant jolt could be felt. She had to get that seen to.

She looked at Sargon, trying to find out what he was thinking, how badly she had messed up by unintentionally keeping things from him, while the boarding ramp lowered.

Seemed it was showtime.

[member="Sargon Vynea"] [member="Cemas D'baen"] [member="Vaudin Miir"]

 

[Vaudin Miir]

The presidential speeder pulled up to the starport and stopped in the reserved space. He had always felt odd about the preferential treatment. He had been a pirate, a wild rover and smuggler. The fact he was now the leader of a free system was more than a little strange, especially to him.

He stepped out of the vehicle and made a conscious effort to not trip on his stupid robes for once. He stood for a moment as Sae Si exited and came to stand beside him in all her wrinkled cantankerous glory. A tall woman and not bent by her advanced years. She had helped lead their people for more years than most others had been alive, including himself. He was tempted to let her do the talking.

He walked up to the security post and watched as the ship he assumed was Je'daii transport landed and began cool down cycles. He wished he could dispense with the protocols and move forward but sometimes you had to just let things operate as they were designed. It was better for people to have routines that weren't interrupted by some self important numbskull that couldn't be bothered to have patience.

The boarding ramp of the ship slowly lowered and he saw a small woman with a very forcy looking Zabrak that was vaguely familiar in some way. Maybe he had seen gim before during his wandering years. He walked forward, his very unpresidential saunter better suited to bush pilots than career politicians.

"Welcome to Iktotch." He said in his smooth used ship salesman voice, "I'm president Miir and this is Secretary of State Sae Si. Thank you for coming."

Sae Si bowed and folded her hands into her sleeves apparently content to let Vaudin stumble through niceties that had never been his forte.

"Would you be interested in refreshments and some rest before we discuss why I invited you or would you like to just move ahead with the dry stuff and rest later?" He asked.

It was a bit direct for a president but honestly who wanted to spend all day talking in circles anyway?

[member="Cemas D'baen"] [member="Jyn Lorr"]

 

[Sargon Vynea]

It was one of those moments that strikes out of the blue, a sudden flurry of apologies and emotion that leaves a man standing there trying to catch up to it all, but all just keeps pouring out. Taking a deep breath the Zabrak gave himself a second then just laughed, "You're fine, Jyn, I'm happy that you are happy, dear one. I'm not thrilled yet about who you've chosen, but I'm sure that was just a rough first impression of the man. As for Tefie, well, given it all I think it's time we simply talked about all this. In theory I suppose you have no reason to tell me anything, I aided you when you were unwell, and I mentored you a bit, but that doesn't give me any right to be advised about your life. On the other hand it seems our relationship has moved beyond mentor, and since I've been informally adopted I thought it was about time we discussed this in full."

Taking out a datapad from one of his various pockets he handed it over, a bit of a odd look on his face. "I don't know if this is going too far for you, but it seems we're here so this is for you. Sign it at a government office, they'll take a blood sample to prove it's you and then you're officially adopted. Well as much as a grown woman can be adopted. I, uh, I'm not sure if that's what you want, but if you don't I understand completely. More so if you are hunting down your real family, I completely understand if that is your goal. If I'd known more about that before now I might even have not been so presumptions. Either way, the choice is yours."

[member="Jyn Lorr"]

 

[Lief]

Jyn couldn't quite believe what she was hearing.

She hadn't even taken the datapad from his grasp and was instead staring up at him with a rather dumbfounded expression. Her eyes were wide, and she could feel her heart both quicken and pause at once - whatever that meant. It felt like an eternity before she was able to actually speak, and even then at first her words were breathy and incoherent.

Then she managed to spit out her question.

"Is this what you want?"

Excitement then swelled within her, a slight tremor taking over her body.

"I don't have any real family, Sargon, they're dead..." Well, she had brothers... But she had only met one of them. Parents, though? There was none of that. "You're the closest thing I've had to that, whether you realized it or not... If... If you mean it, if it's what you want, then of course!"

The ship hissed as it finished its landing protocols. Realizing that their time was cut short she took the datapad from him, and without warning threw her arms around him.

"We'll talk more about this later, okay? I don't want you to feel as though you have to do this..."

She looked down the ramp, before letting out a small breath and straightening up her robes.

Stepping down the ramp, Jyn halted at the bottom when the two figures made themselves known and respectfully lowered herself into a deep bow of respect.

"President Miir, Madame Secretary, thank you for the invitation and for greeting us in person. I can't speak for Master Vynea, but I've always preferred to get down to business right away if that's okay with you both."

[member="Sargon Vynea"] [member="Vaudin Miir"]

 

[Cemas D'baen]

He didn't bother to stop leaning when the boss passed him, the man looked like he had enough on his mind anyway. Giving a quick scan of the second ship as it landed he nearly moved, but by the look of it this wasn't a transport ship either. So no goods coming through, nothing to really do. Besides he was pretty sure the governor didn't want the buyers being checked over and harassed anyway. Checking the schedule to see when the next shipment of goods should arrive he blocked the sun out of his eyes to see through the glare. A bit more then an hour until some durasteel came in, local goods to boot, so it didn't require the regular checks as long as the signatures were all there. Sometimes, just sometimes life was easy.

Then he heard the voice from behind him addressing the boss, and he knew sometimes it wasn't as nice as others. Turning around he looked over her ship, seems she was out of the smuggling business now. He considered to trying to move off on his thirty minute break, but the less attention he pulled to himself the better. Instead he just moved inside duracrete little guard stand and leaned against the far wall. The boss had seen him outside, with any luck he'd be far to busy to wonder where he'd gone. Besides, what's the worst that happened? He hadn't actually taken the girl's ship, just a quick ride off station. It was a fair trade for keeping her secret anyway.

[member="Jyn Lorr"] [member="Vaudin Miir"]

 

[Vaudin Miir]

Vaudin looked at the two and let the force have it's way. There was a lot between them and maybe that one guy back and to the left but none of it was really his business at the moment. He smiled and clapped his hands together like people do.

"Great!" He said as he turned and waved them along in a very unpresidential manner, "Right this way."

He walked along toward the waiting speeder as Sae Si rolled her eyes at him for the ten thousandth time. She would go blind like that one day he was sure.

"I'm not big on long speeches and flowery stuff so I'll just say what I mean and keep this as direct as I can." He began, "Our people have a particular gift for clairvoyance. We don't broadcast it all over but it is what it is. Our elders have had a series of shared visions."

He waited for everyone to make it to the speeder.

"Those visions involve your order." He continued, "Long story short. We have begun building a center of learning and study that we want to gift to your people. We ask that you agree to allow any of our citizens that are suitable to train with your people but we leave the standards up to you. Sound good?" He asked as he got into the vehicle.

"Get in let me show you the site."

[member="Jyn Lorr"] [member="Cemas D'baen"]

 

[Sargon Vynea]

The Zabrak was struck by the unusually generous nature of the offer, normally he'd have even been deeply suspicious of just how generous it was. There was something about Miir though, usually a trap was hidden by flowery words and overly long titles at occasions that stank of ceremony. The Governor seemed anything but that type, in fact he was the type that enraged the political. His assistant actually seemed a bit exasperated by him, of course he could just be the criminal sneaky but for the moment he seemed quite genuine. Allowing Jyn to get in first he pushed in next to her as he settled in next to her.

It was a bit odd even still being the escort and not the escorted, but he genuinely preferred it. Not that occasionally he didn't have the itch to get back into the greater game and make a difference, but that wasn't a life he was prepared to walk back into yet. "It's a nice world, Governor Miir, and while we appreciate your show of faith in the Order, I must confess I'm surprised you got this through the bureaucracy so quickly. Things were easier back on Bakura, I was a military Governor, I didn't really have to submit or ask anything. I just gave orders, though I suppose that may seem a bit repressive out here. I'm quite excited to see what your people have built."

[member="Vaudin Miir"] [member="Jyn Lorr"]

 

[Lief]

There was an odd familiarity in the air around them as they made their way from Tranquility and over to the awaiting speeder.

When they were ushered inside she actually waited, letting Sargon go first so that she could scan their surroundings. A shadow of a man seemed to flutter out of sight when her eyes fell over him, and his presence hit her all at once, transporting her back in time to her less fortunate days, when she did all she could to survive. Even if that meant selling things she probably shouldn't have. There had been a man, one who had ended up running off with her ship. At the time she had been devastated, though nowaways it was simply water under the bridge.

She could feel waves of anxiety from him at the prospect of being caught. Nobody should have to hide away when simply doing their duties, so as she shuffled into the speeder alongside the others Jyn pushed her mind out toward him and brokered a connection.

All is forgiven, she informed him, while smiling across at the President. Seems like she might be needing to host two conversations at once.

"I am excited to see this project of yours. An alliance between our people would be beneficial indeed. As Je'daii we seek to learn all that we can of the Force and the people who are impacted by it; forgive me if my next words can be deemed rude, but there is so much about your kind which fascinates me... And if we can give your people a platform to safely delve into the Force? Then who are we to deny them such."

I am glad to see you are alive and well, in truth... Would the man believe her? Would he even hear her thoughts in his mind? She didn't know for sure, but she certainly hoped so. These days Jyn was all about building bridges, not burning them.

[member="Sargon Vynea"] [member="Vaudin Miir"] [member="Cemas D'baen"]

 

[Vaudin Miir]

Vaudin leaned back in his seat and relaxed visibly. He was still a star jockey at heart and old habits were hard to break, especially if you didn't care to try. He watched them as they piled into the presidential speeder and felt it begin to move toward the site.

"Yeah the red tape and that stuff." He began with a nod and the Secretary of state crossed her arms already aware he had circumvented the entire process over senate committees, "I skipped that part by using private funds rather than government funding. The outpost or temple or school...whatever will be privately owned. That will keep it detached from politics but it means that you'll have to fund your own supplies."

He listened to the woman as she spoke with a smile and a nod. That was a very Je'daii like response if he ever heard one.

"Well, we're glad you accepted." He said as he gave a slight nudge to Sae Si.

"That is very true." The woman replied, "Surprised as we were when the President informed us of his project we are all pleased with your acceptance of our offer."

"This is the first time in many years that this planet hasn't been under some massive impersonal alliance or another and that is important for us." Miir continued, "For literally centuries we as a people have contributed to one massive government or another and gotten very little from the arrangement. We're passed due for a chance to focus on our own people and our own planet. I've been around the galaxy and back again. I've seen some strange things but Iktotch is different. Our people get stronger in the force when on the planet, and the strength lessens the longer we are away. On top of that despite some of us having the urge to wander we all to the last person get a longing to come home. I don't expect you to pop off with answers to why and how or whatever, but I feel like the people here could really benefit from a chance to learn not only for themselves but for future generations. I know that's a mouth full, folks, but we have high hopes that this is what is best for everyone."

The speeder slowed and they came to a stop outside the large dome roofed building with simple but sturdy construction. It was built tough, it had to be if it was going to hold up to the sandstorms that could come on so suddenly.

It had a large hanger for ships that was already finished along with the outer structure. The inside was still being finished but the Je'daii were needed to help finalise those designs. He should probably inform them of that.

"So, as you can see," He started, "It's not a beacon of artistic expression but it's tough. The hanger bays and outer walls are done. Roofing and basement levels are done, but we didn't know exactly what you needed on the inner designs. Should have asked, didn't, oh well. Anyway, the point is that you get to tell these construction guys what you want where and they will make it happen. They've been paid but if you need more credits for anything contact me directly and I'll see you get what you need. Sound good?"


[member="Sargon Vynea"] [member="Jyn Lorr"]

 

[Cemas D'baen]

Great, she was a witch now. Sure she had claimed to be a witch before, but now she was actually a witch with gorram space magic. It rose up annoyance in him akin to anger, but not quite. He didn't trust her kind, and he didn't give a damn if he was one of their kind or not. He'd been picked up abandoned, kidnapped, imprisoned and then dropped without a second thought by their kind. He had no love for them, and no real need for them. Forgiven? Sweetheart there was nothing to forgive, survival wasn't something you apologized for. Still she wasn't one of the ones who'd been at fault and they'd come to an agreement. As they boarded their speeder to take off he kept his eyes on it until it disappeared. How the frak did they get into your head anyway?

[member="Jyn Lorr"]

 

[Sargon Vynea]

The Zabrak listened rather passively as he considered their banter. It may have just been idle discussion but he imagined in truth it mirrored quite a few worlds thoughts on the governments that seemed to rise and fall with barely any rhyme or reason. An ambitious age, but a costly one to be sure. If it wasn't for droids and clones he doubted the entire galaxy would have held together this long. Just too many dead from the wars and atrocities to hold out against the raging storm that the galaxy had become.

"Artistic expression can be found in many ways, as can the way a people live. There's a beauty to pragmatic structures, and a real feel of purpose. In this age one must be built to weather out the storm." Leaning back the Zabrak closed his eyes and moved his awareness over the building and it's workers as the Force guided him. He was only there to advice the true say was Jyn's, no amount of title and ranks could change the fact that the Je'daii were hers. Someday she would be Grand Master, and in that time she would finally complete the path the Force had set out for her.

[member="Vaudin Miir"] [member="Jyn Lorr"]

 

[Lief]

"It's beautiful," Jyn breathed, as the structure came into view.

She had been watching through the window via her peripherals, while making sure to pay the two Iktotchi a respectful amount of attention, but she'd be lying if she tried to claim that in that moment her sights hadn't been torn away to the building completely. Awe-struck. The architecture was astounding to say the least, the cyclical rooms and domed rooftops... Simply astounding.

Of course that did not excuse ignorance, so she looked back to the President with a smile.

"We understand the need for autonomy, President Miir, our Order exists away from the greater powers which ravage this Galaxy, we keep ourselves clear of politics which will no doubt be in keeping with the ideals you've already put into play for this Temple. I am certain of our abilities to provide teachers from all branches of our Order, so that your people may learn from our full scope, and worry not about supplies. Though there is much space between Iktotch and our system we have a means to sustain an outpost, and your placement along the Corellian Run makes it easily accessible for supply runs. Is there anything specific you would like our people to focus on here? As I have already mentioned we are more than happy to provide all forms of teachings if that is what is desired."

Her gaze drifted briefly back toward the structure, to give herself a momentary break from speaking, and to provide him with a chance to answer.

"Depending on what it is you are hoping we can provide, I will be sure to have plans drawn up for how the interior space would best be utilized."

[member="Sargon Vynea"] [member="Cemas D'baen"] [member="Vaudin Miir"]