Among the Snow and Ice

[Aryn Teth]

Aryn Teth

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Northern Polar Ice Cap, Telos IV, Kwymar Sector, The Outer Rim Territories​

Interacting With: [member='Alba Talatheen']​

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Aryn let out a sigh as he lifted the goggles from his eyes and peered out over the white expanse before him. It had only been a short trek from the ship he and his impromptu partner had used to get to Telos up to the vista where he stood, but the freezing cold temperatures at the tip of Telos' polar ice cap made movement difficult, to the point where his partner had refused to leave the ship while the Jedi scouted for any major signs of what they were looking for. When [member='Taeli Raaf'] had set Aryn onto this journey, it had not been his expectation that the traces of the Lost Jedi would be so difficult to find, regardless of how much sense that made in reality.

However, many weeks of searching and a number of contacts had led Aryn here. He was searching for, of all things, the ancient Telosian polar irrigation system, where one of the Lost Jedi, Atris, had apparently made her hideout in the aftermath of the Jedi Civil War. More importantly, it was apparently where the Exile had found her. Aryn could feel the force echoing through the holocron as it sat comfortable and safe in a pouch upon his belt, it thrummed with energy, and he couldn't help but feel giddy over the potential of what it would reveal.

Bringing his macrobinoculars up to his eyes, Aryn took a moment to focus them through the perpetual snowfall and fog that seemed to surround the ice caps themselves, a natural blanket protecting it from the outside world. With the weather, it took some time before Aryn actually saw what he was looking for. An immense, circular, central hub, along with four man-made towers at each of the would-be corners of the central sphere. Over the many centuries it had become increasingly covered in snow, but enough remained clearly exposed above the snow that Aryn could tell what it is. He focused his macrobinoculars again, getting a closer look before he lowered them and brought his comlink to his lips.

"It's definitely up ahead, looks like there's an entrance on top." Lowering his macrobinoculars, Aryn settled his goggles back over his eyes and turned back to the ship. His partner had also been a result of Aryn's long research. After contact after contact, Aryn had been told that Alba had the final clue regarding Atris' old hideout, hidden among one of her own previous finds. At the potential for new finds, he had been unable to turn away the treasure hunter even if he had tried, though the perk of using her ship had proved more than satisfactory as a reason to accept her help. Climbing back up onto the ship, Aryn let out a sigh as he closed the ramp, working off his hood and goggles once more as he entered into the considerably warmer interior of the starship.

Peering down the hallways, Aryn called out through the ship. "I'm on board, let's get over there!"

 

[Madison M. Maxwell IV]

Telos IV, Unknown Location, Unknown Time | When The Truth Hunts You Down

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As Alba heard the voice of the Jedi through her comlink, she scowled and shut down her holo-projector with a forceful tap. Her feet were kicked up on the dashboard of her ship in the cockpit, and she had been enjoying what was a particularly exciting match of grav-ball. Had was the key word.

Was this a good idea? This partnership? No, something purred in her mind, this was a big mistake. You should leave before he does.

Yet she was here anyways, despite the warnings. With a Jedi at her side, on one of the greatest hunts of her life. Least she got a signal?

Cold air snaked it's way into the ship from the lowered ramp, making the hilariously underdressed treasure seeker shiver briefly. Not to mention the light, almost weightless feeling that Aryn brought with him made her annoyingly at peace. That didn't help matters. Alba was too used to the opposite, to instinctively measuring the evil in men’s hearts, feeling the tumble of emotions it brought that felt like a shadow of home. Now sensing nothing at all except a boyish goodness somehow was bad for her. Whether that made her want to laugh or throw something out the dashboard had yet to be determined.

Taking her feet down when she heard him in person, she spun in the pilot’s chair to face her partner with a sardonic, artificial smile. From her seat at the shuttle’s controls, she could see right through the open door to him, snow-caked in the cargo bay, “Yessir, Monk-man.” Alba saluted half-assedly to complete the look of the nonchalant tease, swiveling back afterwards to face the console and fully power up the idling ship, “Just point me in the right direction. Don't wanna be the next one buried on this frozen hellhole just ‘cause of your failing eyesight.”

Her ship was certainly… Cozy. Small, a little grungy, with barely enough room for the sleeping quarters it somehow sported as the only other room - besides the separate cockpit, though she kept the blast door often open on that one. Everything else was occupied by ship systems and the massive cargo bay, filled with the occasional off-feeling unsold ‘product’, taking the form of old tech and relics. The objects spanning time itself, some being small statues, derelict portable computers, or even what looked to be an ancient and small tree set in the corner, tagged for a buyer. Thankfully all of it looked above board and legal. What could be seen, anyhow; it wouldn't have been hard to hide a smuggler’s compartment aboard.

“Do me a favor. Crate to the center right of the bay should have what we need for this. Don't touch anything else - I mean it - please and thank you. Keep it somewhere safe.”

The flighty little shuttle lurched forward off it's snowy perch slowly, the cold had been starting to affect the systems aboard and it felt like it was lethargic from having to lie in wait. Relatable.

Alba touched down on top of the large, buried ruins, the powdered crust of the snowfall crunching under the weight. Untouched for the first time in close to a dozen centuries, no doubt. Though she was trying to hide it well, the adventurer had begun to tremble with excitement and it was radiating off her like body heat.

As the ship cycled down to idle once more, conserving power, she was up and rooting through a storage unit in the bay. Producing her own winter gear and shrugging it on over her clothes, it would be her first line of defense against the blistering cold and wasn't gonna chance it out there. Even if this facility had power, it'd be unreliable but it would certainly be well below freezing. By the time she was done preparing her environmental protection she had a colorful handmade wool scarf tight around her neck and a pair of highly reflective goggles on her forehead. Strapping her glowstick to the utility belt of her coat, she pulled up the fur-lined hood and started to pick out a few more tools. Mainly a gnarly looking ice pick, a length of rope, a small portable heater and a backup comlink, and hopefully that's all they’d need to make it in and out in one piece without joining the collection.

“Ready when you are.”

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Spoiler: Interacting With

[member="Aryn Teth"]

 

[Aryn Teth]

Aryn Teth

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Telos Polar Irrigation System, Telos IV, Kwymar Sector, The Outer Rim Territories​

Interacting With: [member='Alba Talatheen']​

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Aryn did his best to shake the majority of the snow from his form, but still some stuck to his coat and his hair as he moved through the shuttle and up to the cockpit. "You do realise i'm only like, four years older than you." He rolled his eyes, doing his best to ignore the jabs of the treasure hunter who's partnership he was progressively regretting more and more as he peered out of the viewports ahead of them whilst the ship once more took to the sky. It was a remarkably short flight before Aryn pointed out the structure itself, though as the shuttle crested the bluff it would have been almost impossible to miss anyway. as the ship drew closer, he raised an eyebrow at the woman's request, but said nothing as he went to find the crate in mind, opening it up to peer within.

Reaching into the crate, Aryn drew out the small book within. Shifting through its pages, it wasn't long before he found the faded notes which had led them there in the first place. The book was too ancient and faded for there to have been anything clear as to why Atris had come to Telos, but her name, the planet, and the location of the Irrigation System had been close enough in the faded wording and clear enough to be read. By most people's account, it was far, far too distant a connection for anything substantial, but it was the best that they had been able to find, and so they would go with it. Closing the book, Aryn tucked it carefully into a large pocket of his coat, standing once more as he closed the crate, and felt the ship touch down upon the snow-covered plateau atop the irrigation system.

Turning towards the treasure hunter as she readied her gear, Aryn gave her a simple nod and began to lower the ramp again. Stepping down and out onto the plateau, he felt a strange sensation as the force suddenly coursed through him. It was a familiar feeling, the kind he got on the grounds of the Temple on Coruscant or at the Praxeum of Commenor, but he couldn't understand why he felt it here. The sensation paused him only for a moment though as his gaze settled upon the entrance in the center of the plateau, walking towards it as the wind and snow blew over him. The door itself was encased in ice and snow, but it was clear enough on the other side as Aryn carefully drew his lightsaber from his belt.

Clearing the ice took only a matter of moments as the blade melted it away, leaving the ancient but clear metal door before them, a still-lit console directly to its left. Reaching out, Aryn pressed on the keys and found they were still functional, soon enough the door opening into a turbolift. He turned his gaze towards Alba, deactivating his lightsaber and hanging it once more upon his belt as he shrugged. "Looks like the lights are still on." It was unexpected, certainly, Telos was relatively thriving since its ancient restoration, but he knew well enough that the Sith cities on the world no longer utilized the irrigation system, it was unecessary. And yet things still seemed functional as ever.

As he stepped into the turbolift, Aryn waited for his partner to join him before he closed the door, the lift itself slowly beginning to move downward into the facility. As it did, warmth hit the two of them, as if heating systems were still functional within, and soon enough lights came on as well outside the windows of their turbolift, revealing the walkways and rooms beyond. What drew Aryn's eye most of all however was one particular room, circular and surrounding by windows he could clearly see through, a number of seats within almost precisely mimicing the council chambers at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. Realization dawned on Aryn and he could not help the expression of awe from showing across his face.

"This is a Jedi Academy."

 

[Madison M. Maxwell IV]

Telos IV, 'Jedi Academy', Unknown Time | When The Truth Hunts You Down

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Alba glanced over at her awestruck partner in the turbolift, raising a curious eyebrow at his statement, "...Is that... A big deal or somethin'?" Way to kill the mood, Alba. She almost regretting saying that afterwards, but it had been far too tempting to not say it.

In truth, she was almost as fascinated and excited as the Jedi, but she masked it far better than he did. Tugging the scarf down from her face and the hood from her head, scowling briefly at the heat as if it was inconveniencing her. At least she'd come prepared in case of the next ice age.

As the elevator came to a stop, they had been spit out in some sort of a lower maintenance area of the academy. Which made sense, they'd clearly made their entrance through the back door and not the front. If anything, the front was buried in 100 feet of snow. It didn't necessarily look derelict - With heat and power, it almost looked occupied if not for the fact there wasn't a soul except them - but it certainly looked old. That was a good thing.

"So, you're the mentalist, got any idea where to go?" The hunter questioned with that edge in her voice again, loosening her coat a little as she stepped out of the turbolift, looking around at their immediate surroundings, "This place'll be a maze."

Her own... feelings couldn't sense anything. How ironic that she mocked Aryn for the same thing she had just tried. Then again, it'd be pretty clear that if Alba had been made aware of the fact they had that in common, she'd probably try to headlock him.

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Spoiler: Interacting With

[member="Aryn Teth"]

 

[Aryn Teth]

Aryn Teth

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Telosian Jedi Academy, Telos IV, Kwymar Sector, The Outer Rim Territories​

Interacting With: [member='Alba Talatheen']​

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Alba's words had the considerable effect of dragging his thoughts from where they were, wiping the expression of awe from his face as he looked down at her. He sighed, it was quite a good sigh too, the kind which many generally had to practice over long periods of time to do, it was the sort of sigh which said; you would never understand, even if I wrote it on the wall and rubbed your face in it like an animal. "The Alliance had no record of this academy even existing, none that I could find anyway. I don't even know if the Sith are aware of it." He figured if they had been that the place would have been ransacked, turned to rubble. Yet this academy seemed anything but, everything there seemed in almost complete and perfect working order.

Feeling as the Turbolift came to a halt, Aryn stepped out into the maintenance corridor, focusing on the feeling within him that echoed here as it did in all other temples. He understood it completely now, and he took comfort in it. He didn't answer Alba, too focused on finding the way properly into the academy as he continued along down the corridor to a simple door. The console beside it was functional as the one above had been, and as he opened it, he stepped out into the plain training room which sat, pristine and perfect as though it had been tended to only an hour ago. But as he focused on the force, Aryn knew well enough that there was no one else here but the two of them, the place was empty as it had been for thousands of years.

Yet, there was something that should not have been there, something which echoed and called from the depths of the academy. Like many of its kind, this Academy echoed with the light of the force, but within there lay an alloy of sorts, a counterpoint. Deep within, hidden below where only few would have once been allowed to walk, there lay a darkness in the force, echoing and calling to the Jedi. "We need to get to the council chambers we saw on the turbolift, there should be a map on a console around here somewhere."

 

[Madison M. Maxwell IV]

Telos IV, 'Jedi Academy', Unknown Time | When The Truth Hunts You Down

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"Y'know, I have a bad feeling about this. I bet I could still catch that grav-ball match..."

The lilt in her voice indicated she was joking, but her expression was that of mild weariness. She wasn't physically tired -- Alba was in admirable shape, and liked to keep it that way -- But it was a different sort of tired. The kind that dragged your soul down. And she certainly looked dragged down. Following her partner into the training room, her eyes flicked over the immaculate room, shaking her head a little as she pressed her lips together. Another brief shudder of dread. It was as though the moment they had properly entered this dangerously intact location a bit more, the atmosphere of darkened anxiety had heightened Alba's emotional state.

"...And, this is freaking me out." Her tone was quieter now. It didn't sound like she was giving up, per se, just expressing. Squatting on the floor briefly, she ran an ungloved hand over the flushed surface briefly and shook her head, mainly in disbelief. What kept this place in such good shape? Maybe there were caretaker droids.

As Aryn spoke of the chambers they had seen, she nodded and stood after her brief inspection, stretching a little in her shoulders, "Mm, right. Of course, it'd be terribly convenient if power ran out just after we came here. I've seen horror vids." The attempt at levity did nothing to help Alba, and it was doubtful to even affect the glacier called Aryn Teth, but what it did bring was a brief and flickering sense of normality to her. It passed too soon.

Shaking her head, Alba began to search the edges of the training room, stuffing both gloves in a jacket pocket, eyes running over the walls in search of anything that could pass as a console... There!

Her pace quickened as she spotted the box jutting out of the round room's smooth walls. It looked old for sure, but with their luck perhaps it'd hold out, "Over here." Her voice seemed a bit higher at the find, running her hands over the computer's displays to try and trigger a reaction. The interface lit up blue, spitting out an error code -- Looks like the software didn't know how to parse date and time a couple thousand years in the future, and had gotten very angry because of it -- But Alba flicked past them, scanning the menus.

With any luck, this would be the break they needed to navigate through the abandoned academy.

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Spoiler: Interacting With

[member="Aryn Teth"]

 

[Aryn Teth]

Aryn Teth

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Telosian Jedi Academy, Telos IV, Kwymar Sector, The Outer Rim Territories​

Interacting With: [member='Alba Talatheen']​

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Moving over to the empty benches that sat around the middle of the training room which by all appearances seemed intended for sparring, Aryn began to work off his heavy winter gear as he piled it carefully ontop of one of the benches. He didn't respond to Alba's idle comments or jokes, instead focusing on the room around him, and that strange feeling he could feel echoing through the academy. "I doubt the power will go out, it's been functional all this time, after all." He commented, as if the Jedi had completely missed any intended sarcasm whilst his focus was elsewhere. Briefly he wandered around the room, pulling a pike from one of the shelves as he looked over the weapon, impressed it was still functional.

His attention was drawn by Alba's voice across the room then, Aryn turning his gaze over to the woman as she stood in front of the console. Walking over, he crossed his arms over his chest as he looked down over the screen. He was even more impressed that it seemed to be completely functional. The power being on was one thing, but the fact that this computer system was still completely functional as well was unprecedented. The menus were simple, but similar to systems he'd seen at the academies on Coruscant and Commenor. He shifted through it rapidly, eventually bringing up a 3D map display of the entire academy. It was an impressively small affair, and it was evident that the academy was not intended for a vast number of students.

Similarly, the details brought up gave at least a reasonable explanation as to the fact the academy seemed perfectly functional. The power systems had been designed to use power from the snow around the compound, as long as the polar ice caps remained as they were, the power was going to stay on. "Come on, looks like it's a bit of a walk to the council chambers." He explained as he walked away from the computer to one of the larger doors out of the training room. It opened up into a large central corridor, a number of subsequent doors on either side, along with another large one at the end of the corridor. Aryn immediately made his way to the primary door, but all the others seemed perfectly functional as well. Under ordinary circumstance, the Jedi may have been curious to explore, but the feeling echoing through the academy had stolen his attention and his focus, triggering an almost fervent curiosity.

 

[Madison M. Maxwell IV]

Telos IV, 'Jedi Academy', Unknown Time | When The Truth Hunts You Down

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For once the prideful adventurer stepped aside to let Aryn navigate the programs. Alba tilted her head around to see every angle she could of the holographic map, briefly scowling as he flicked it away to system information after he'd gotten what he'd needed. But her eyes lit up as they absorbed the information concerning the state of the power in the temple, "In that case..." Quite unceremoniously she shrugged her winter coat off, letting it drop into a heap on the ground near the console. Nudging it with her foot into a slight ball in the nook between the computer casing and the wall, she turned to follow him out the largest door.

And almost immediately, was side-tracked.

That uncomfortable echo wasn't exactly welcome by the novice, and she certainly wasn't going to entertain it like Aryn was until she unmistakably had to. That drove her to address the first door she could in the long corridor, watching him charge ahead out of the corner of her eye. Sadly for her, door number one only contained a small closet, with nothing of value in it besides some clearly expired cleaning products. How eventful.

Letting the door automatically shut as she moved away down the hallway, separated from Aryn by a few feet or so, she let her eyes wander over the other doors, the ceiling, the floor, and the back of her Jedi partner as she stuck her hands in her pockets, taking slow but lengthy steps. Her voice still seemed irritated or bothered as she spoke up, addressing him but at the same time just commenting to herself, "So, this is where they make Jedi. Or, where they did, I guess."

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Spoiler: Interacting With

[member="Aryn Teth"]

 

[Aryn Teth]

Aryn Teth

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Telosian Jedi Academy, Telos IV, Kwymar Sector, The Outer Rim Territories​

Interacting With: [member='Alba Talatheen']​

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"Make Jedi isn't exactly the word I would use, but this academy isn't like the one on Coruscant, there's something different about it, something odd..." Aryn understood that it was something about the purpose of the academy that he couldn't quite make out. He knew many of the ancient academies had specific purposes, Dantooine had been for prodigy-students, and Coruscant for the majority of students, but what purpose the Telos temple had, he couldn't put his finger onto it as he continued along. "It's strange, it doesn't even feel like this academy has really been used for training new students..." He explained with a shrug as he glanced around curiously before finally pushing on through the large door at the end of the hall.

Stepping out, he continued along the suspended walkway, over a large drop into darkness far below, up into the council chambers. It was old but still as pristine as the rest of the academy, the chairs set around comfortably with one large central stone in the middle. He walked up, running his fingers over the stone briefly as he focused on the force echoing out from the place. He hoped that there would be some explanation here, but there was nothing. Though, on the other side of the council chambers another walkway continued up to a large doorway once more.

The dark feeling that Aryn had felt echoed from that room, and now that he stood so close to it he could feel the immensity of it. It was far stronger than he had expected, and indeed the sensation was strong enough that likely even Alba, with her limited and untrained abilities, would feel somewhat uneasy about the room ahead of them both. Sucking in a breath, Aryn looked past the central stone towards the large room, before turning his gaze back towards Alba, as if seeking her opinion before they continued.

 

[Madison M. Maxwell IV]

Telos IV, 'Jedi Academy', Unknown Time | When The Truth Hunts You Down

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She followed him silently across the walkway, leaning over briefly to peer into the darkness. Whether it peered back was lost on her.

Hesitation seemed to stiffen Alba's body as she moved past both the Jedi and his big stone, approached the exiting threshold of the council chambers. She turned away from the path that led to the next room, briefly locking eyes with Aryn as he simultaneously looked to her. The emotions behind them were a jumble, unreadable and confused but the one thing that stuck was strong uncertainty.

"I don't think we should go up there." With a bleak voice she answered his silent question, flinching a bit from her own words. But it was a meaningless answer -- they both knew they would need to press onwards to find their treasure. Shaking her head, Alba shifted back to the doorway and stepped up, leading the way into the sense of impending doom. There was a contradiction in her posture, stiff from fear. It was blatantly obvious she didn't enjoy having to be near this source of negativity, and the mere fact she could tell what was potentially beyond spoke far greater volumes. She spoke a lot more quietly now, but Alba knew he'd hear anyways regardless of how loud, "Come on if you're coming... Or do I have to do everything?"

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Spoiler: Interacting With

[member="Aryn Teth"]

 

[Aryn Teth]

Aryn Teth

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Telosian Jedi Academy, Telos IV, Kwymar Sector, The Outer Rim Territories​

Interacting With: [member='Alba Talatheen']​

Aryn watched Alba closely as she moved, hearing her words but watching as she moved up towards the walkway regardless. He could tell clearly enough that the darkness in the room was calling to her as it was to him, that was interesting in and of itself. He hadn't really noted how much he was drawing upon Alba until that moment, and as he watched her intently for a moment as she moved, he realized he could quite clearly feel the force flowing through her. It was subtle, far more subtle than he would usually have expected. He gave her a curious look, wondering if anyone had made it known to her before, he doubted that was likely, she reminded him very much of himself when he had been in her position.

He was dragged from his thoughts as she spoke up, sighing as he nodded and began to move up towards her, pushing past as he reached her to move up towards the large door at the end of the walkway. He looked over it, a hesitant expression briefly crossing his face, but curiosity pushed him forward as his hand reached down towards the console, opening the door.

As it opened, Aryn could instantly understand the sensation he had felt from a distance. It was a meditation chamber, that was clear to him, the circular pattern of the room along with the large central dias meant that it couldn't have been anything else. But what was especially unique, and even unsettling was the number of Sith holocrons lining the outside of the room, each one radiating and echoing through the dark side of the force. It made no sense to him, this place was clearly a Jedi Academy, the majority of the academy was surrounded by the light, but this singular room, this nexus, reeked of darkness like a cancer deep within. Aryn stood in relative silence and awe, his mind working overtime to try and explain it. He hadn't even noticed the holocron on his belt beginning to let off a soft glow.

 

[Madison M. Maxwell IV]

Telos IV, 'Jedi Academy', Unknown Time | When The Truth Hunts You Down

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They were utterly captivating.

Alba's dark eyes were wide as she stepped into the meditation chamber, her head slowly turning to look at the nearest wall of the irresistible things. She had entirely disregarded Aryn's dumbstruck expression, far more practical things on her mind than the how or the why. For the briefest moment, her hand raised and it looked as though she was going to touch one, but recoiled at the last moment before she would make contact. Instead, her hand hovered, half-way between heaven and hell. One couldn't hurt, something old and ancient rumbled in Alba's skull, a heavy presence resting on her shoulders like a heavy cape, two or three, even better... Go on, girl. It took all her strength to fight off the urge, she dropped her hand and looked to the Jedi with eyes of mild terror. For once her tone soft and serious as she spoke, forcing the question to him as if speaking across worlds.

"What are these?--"

But that was when her eye caught the blue light on his belt, a star in the sea of metaphorical darkness, "Aryn." It wouldn't have been hard to tell what she was looking at, gesturing with a flick of her head, "Look."

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Spoiler: Interacting With

[member="Aryn Teth"]

 

[Aryn Teth]

Aryn Teth

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Telosian Jedi Academy, Telos IV, Kwymar Sector, The Outer Rim Territories​

Interacting With: [member='Alba Talatheen']​

Aryn watched Alba intently as she moved into the room. There was a kind of horror in his eyes as he saw her reach for the holocrons, and yet his voice could find no power to speak up and urge her against her actions. Yet he could see within the conflict she faced, the desire to take the holocron, to learn, but he could see the light within urging her to do the opposite. As he saw her turn towards him, he was drawn in, he saw the fear in her eyes, the same he had seen in himself so long ago. This was the beginning of a long journey for her, he knew that clearly as he stood there. He heard her words as she began to speak, but quickly she changed her tone and focus as he saw her gaze drawn down to his belt. Turning his gaze downwards, he took the holocron in his hand and opened his palm. Slowly Aryn watched as it lifted into the air, the corners shifting and detaching from the central structure of the holocron as it floated to the center of the room.

As it halted above the central dias, the holographic image of a woman appeared. Her hair was short and brown, and she wore simple brown Jedi robes. Her features were youthful, yet her expressions carried with them a great deal of wisdom and knowledge as she began to speak. "Atris had clung desperately to her view of the Jedi since the Mandalorian Wars, she could not accept that she and the council had been wrong in their judgement of the war, and she could not accept that the force, and the Jedi, had changed. Because of her inability to accept this change, Atris fell into darkness. What I learned from Atris' fall was perhaps the strongest lesson that I learned from any of the masters, and it is this lesson that I will now share to you, who have found this holocron and followed in my steps."

As the holographic figure bowed her head, the holocron began to glow brighter, and Aryn could feel a surge of energy and warmth rush over him. He closed his eyes, lowering his head in a similar manner as he meditated in a moment, the force echoing and building around him into a bright aura of the light side. As the aura faded, slowly the holocron began to close, the hologram fading as the artifact floated softly down to the center of the room and set itself onto the floor.

 

[Madison M. Maxwell IV]

Telos IV, 'Jedi Academy', Unknown Time | When The Truth Hunts You Down

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"...Bring her back, she was hot."

Mentally, something kicked a rock at Alba. Always with the quips, can't you see this is serious? Flinching internally, a brief scowl flashed over her face at the discipline. She had listened in an uncomfortable silence while the holocron's recording spoke of things she didn't quite understand, eventually giving Aryn a side-glance after the light show ended and the crystalline box touched down. Like a million eyes she could feel the red little devils still behind her, cold tendrils barely managing to try and pull her back into their hypnotic grasp. That was enough to make her want to leave.

Her muted gaze would be fixated on him for a few more heartbeats. A more intense vibe was coming off the treasure-hunter, and she shook her head, going to turn for the exit to the mediation chamber, her voice thicker than before, "Sorry. Did you get what you needed? Was knowledge the treasure all along?"

The last part had meant to be a joke, something to make her feel more like herself, but it fell flat even to her own ears. An apology, though, that was a first. There were too many firsts today. First temptation. Something was smiling inside from that, and it wasn't a smile Alba particularly liked. Shaking her head once more, she let out an uneven exhale and wiped her palms off on her pants, obviously waiting for her companion before getting the hell out of there. Judging by her fidgeting, she was getting impatient too.

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Spoiler: Interacting With

[member="Aryn Teth"]

 

[Aryn Teth]

Aryn Teth

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Telosian Jedi Academy, Telos IV, Kwymar Sector, The Outer Rim Territories​

Interacting With: [member='Alba Talatheen'], [member='Taeli Raaf']​

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Aryn just rolled his eyes at Alba's comment. He had grown used to her quips and jokes, and he knew well enough that many if not most of them were directed towards trying to irritate him, so he did his best to ignore them. Stepping forward, Aryn sighed as he reached down and curled his fingers back around the holocron. He could feel the force echoing stronger within it now, as if some lock had been partially opened. He supposed that this meant certainly he was on the right track, and it meant he only had a few more ancient masters to track down...

He looked up towards Alba at her question, sighing as he nodded, tucking the holocron back onto his belt. "It would seem so, Jedi Academies aren't usually renowned for their treasures." He explained, glancing around the room then. The dark side still oozed from this place, echoing around him and surrounding the Jedi as he stood within the meditation chamber. He couldn't have left the holocrons there, not while the Sith controlled Telos, it would only be a matter of time before one of them noticed the call, and came to retrieve this ancient knowledge. "Go get the ship ready, we'll leave soon."

Turning away from Alba, Aryn reached down to his belt once more to grab a small holocommunicator. Taking a few moments, he input the personal comm codes he'd been given by Taeli after their meeting on Coruscant, waiting for the call to be answered before he began to speak immediately. "Master Raaf, I figured you might me interested to know I have found Master Atris' old academy on Telos. And you might be very interested to know that there is a rather large cache of ancient Sith holocrons here. If you're able to send a strike team, these should definitely be taken back to the Temple on Coruscant for safekeeping." Aryn gave a nod, as if satisfied with his suggestion, and he glanced back down to the holographic image of the Jedi, waiting to hear her input.

 

[Madison M. Maxwell IV]

Telos IV, 'Jedi Academy', Unknown Time | When The Truth Hunts You Down

---

"Oooh, go get the ship ready he says. Yeah, whatever, want me to rub your feet too? ..Unfair... I'll brain him when he gets back."

Alba was complaining to empty air, unfortunately. She'd shuffled off in a huff, retracing her way through the Academy after Aryn had given his orders (That seemed to be a fixation of hers; That was her ship. He couldn't tell her what to do with it. Even if he was a General). Maybe she'd strand him here. That'd be funny.

Well, funny for a time.

Okay, maybe not that funny.

She scowled as she reached the meditation chamber, retrieving the winter gear she'd unceremoniously dumped there, feeling that suppressed annoyance bubble up again. It was harder to confront that she was obviously, one-hundred-percent blowing it all out of proportion, but that didn't stop the rumbling machine of sodium chloride that was Alba Talatheen. Of course, you're not important enough to stick around for the big reveals and revelations, that annoying taunter hummed, you're just the disposable sidekick anyways.

"Shut up." Alba muttered, shaking her head. It was pragmatic for her to prep the ship. It meant they could leave as soon as humanly possible. Besides, he'd probably share what he learned once they rendezvoused back at the ship. Well, if he didn't, then he'd definitely get stranded.

The facility felt lonelier on the second pass, but maybe that's just because she trekked back alone. Either way, the walls felt more claustrophobic, bearing down on the treasure hunter with a critical, judgemental energy. Invisible eyes followed her back, and more than once she looked behind her to see nothing but the empty corridors. She was almost, almost glad to take the turbolift back into the brutal weather.

---

---

---

Spoiler: Interacting With

[member="Aryn Teth"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Coruscant, Jedi Temple, Personal Office

[member="Aryn Teth"]

She had been wondering how long it would take Aryn Teth to begin his journey, and when he had messaged her he was on his way to Telos, she had smiled to herself. Starting at the beginning of the Exile's trip, besides Peragus II... but nobody wanted to go there, it would be a significant step in his understanding of what his abilities were. So, while she had been waiting, she had dispatched Eldaah to the next likely world and was waiting for her report on the challenge she was to set in his path.

"Really?" she responded, looking at the small blue hologram that represented the Knight before her. "Odd that Master Atris had a cache of Sith holocrons... then again, she was the Jedi archivist during the Jedi Civil War. Perhaps she took them with her to safeguard them against those preying upon the Jedi of the era. Nevertheless, I have a small team of Inquisitors out investigating the planet Raekkar. Some splinter Sith had gone there and conquered the planet, and I wanted to see what they were up to. I'll divert that team to Telos to discreetly pick up those holocrons. Very well done, Knight Teth, very well done indeed."

And any of those holocrons that were valuable would... quietly find their way elsewhere.

 

[Aryn Teth]

Aryn Teth

---

​

---

Telosian Jedi Academy, Telos IV, Kwymar Sector, The Outer Rim Territories​

Interacting With: [member='Alba Talatheen'], [member='Taeli Raaf']​

Aryn gave a firm nod as he listened to Taeli speak. He did suppose the rational was reasonable, however if the holocron's gatekeeper was to be believed, the holocrons had done their damage even to Atris over time. "I'm sure your Inquisitors will take care, the Exile's holocron activated when I entered the chamber here, apparently Atris fell to the dark side under their influence." He sighed, glancing around the room for a moment before he began to walk from it, keeping the holocommunicator in his hand as he moved down the walkway into the council chambers again, reminding himself that Taeli's inquisitors would take care to ensure the holocrons would not influence any others. How wrong he was.

"I'll be heading for Korriban next. I don't imagine it will be easy with the Sith crawling over the old Academy there, but if i'm lucky, I imagine I can find a time when their focus is elsewhere for a while." He shrugged his shoulders, reaching the elevator again as he began to head back up towards the plateau atop the old academy. "Regardless, i'll speak to you again once I am there, and have an idea of anything Master Vash might have left behind that wasn't destroyed by the Sith." Giving the Jedi master a nod, he waited for any final words from her before he deactivated the holocomm and placed it back onto his belt, stepping back out onto the snow-covered plateau and making his way over to the ship.

Climbing back aboard, Aryn sighed as he removed his winter gear, tucking it away and moving back up into the cockpit to take a seat in the co-pilot's chair. "The Jedi are going to send some Inquisitors to pick up and protect what we found, you probably helped do the galaxy a favour." He chuckled, smiling over at her for a moment for once, before looking back to the computer. "Anyway, let's get back to Coruscant, i'm already tired of this place..."

 

[Madison M. Maxwell IV]

Telos IV, 'Jedi Academy', Unknown Time | When The Truth Hunts You Down

---

Alba had returned to lounging in her pilot's chair, glancing as Aryn casually conquered her co-pilot seat, "Back to Coruscant, huh..." She hummed, nodding her head. Internally, Alba cackled like an amused Kowakian monkey-lizard at having finally-- Finally --gotten something out of him, even if it wasn't directly caused by her crass humour, "And what exactly... Did we find?"

It was clear what she was referring to, and all trace of inner or outer amusement left her face as she gave him a sideglance. She wasn't talking about the Academy itself, or even the vast knowledge that could be stored within its miraculously functional databanks. The way that her expression went almost cold clearly referred to what had gotten far too close to seducing the treasure hunter.

She didn't understand any of what had been discovered today, beyond it meant a great deal to the monk, and that was starting to get a bit frustrating, grating on her nerves like a knife on bone. Tipping her head back in the pilot's chair, she let out a long exhale, blowing a stray strand of black hair from her face in the process. Even if Aryn had bothered to give her an answer to her question, it didn't seem like she'd be paying any attention; too lost in her own mind's traps.

"Well--" Sitting upright, and completely disregarding anything potentially said, Alba turned to the dashboard of her ship and fired up the thrusters, the sudden heat blasting away a snow drift that had begun to pile up. Flying offered a good distraction, and the little shuttle began to make its way into orbit with her guidance.

If you can't kill it, bury it. Bury it deep. Pressing her lips into a thin line, she intended to do just that.

---

---

---

Spoiler: Interacting With

[member="Aryn Teth"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Coruscant, Jedi Temple, Personal Office

[member="Aryn Teth"]

"Hmm I hope some records of how she fell survived, I'll take a look through the archives," she responded. "Be careful on Korriban, the old academy isn't just the only thing there. The Sith, from what my sources in the Outer Rim have said, have established a new academy on the world. Security is tight, and there are many expeditions into the Valley of the Dark Lords. If you aren't careful... well I think it goes without saying what might happen to you."

And she would make sure that he would be able to slip onto the planet, but not too easily to arouse suspicion. Eldaah would be waiting for his arrival, and they could start testing him more to see what exactly Aryn Teth was made of... and more importantly, how they could make him fall.

"I wish you the best of luck and May the Force be with you," she said in closing as the channel shutdown. Leaning back in her chair, the shadows of the setting Coruscanti mirror throwing her into darkness, she smiled.