Don't Listen To The Space Wizards

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

Soliael stood quietly at the edge of the Ossus Jungles.

Just beyond where he stood was a series of structures, ones familiar to him. Behind him sat his daughter, Aela Talith. She wore a short dress of black with long orange talons running down the chest and stomach as though they were claw marks, white paint trailed down her face in reminiscent of the beast riders of Onderon.

The little girl tugged on Soliae's pants.

“Father?”

Soliael looked down at his daughter, a smile on his face. “Yes Aela?”

“Are we going?”

He nodded his head slightly. It wasn't every day that Aela was eager to go out, but ever since Geonosis she had wanted to see more of the galaxy, more of the people that Soliael and Kira knew. That was why they were here today, at the Jedi Temple of Ossus. Kira had suggested this little day trip, a trip to show Aela the other side of the family.

Why hadn't Kira taken her? Because Kira was busy playing with the Twins, so it fell to Soliael. With a slight smile he nodded again, and took a step out of the jungle. No one noticed them at first, both Soliael and Aela radiated calm, not something that attracted a lot of attention.

“Remember Aela, these Jedi are more...traditional than your mother.” The little girl grasped her fathers hand, nodding slightly. “Keep that in mind as you meet them.”

With practiced steps, Soliael and his daughter ventured deeper into the temple complex.

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

Ossus was more or less Sera's home for the sake of discussion. Though she ran Nubia Star Drives out of Nubia, she always felt more like an outsider there than anything else. Her team liked her well enough, and she was a pretty easy going boss, kept her employees well taken care of, and the environment was relaxing and pleasant, but there was just something about Ossus that was always more welcoming than Nubia. Or perhaps it was the simple fact that lately she was so overburdened with training countless new padawans that she hadn't the time for anything else.

She'd heard of the struggle between the RA and ACA on Geonosis, however the Republic had little in the way of resources to spare, and not many Jedi that were in a position to assist in the defense of their new ally's territory. It was a grim prospect, but they simply didn't have the numbers to jump in to the conflict like they had in the past. The Republic was in the middle of a drastic government change, shifting from their once galaxy-wide conquest to a more unified, smaller body of loyalist systems. The Jedi had returned to the ideology of peacekeepers to the Republic, while a new Jedi Academy had been established to encompass light-sided Jedi from across all walks, to train in the various networks across the galaxy, and away from the prying eyes of the One Sith.

Seraphina had been making the rounds within the temple, observing various padawans and knights in training, classes being held, a number of Jedi in the archives, and some simply relaxing. Though upon reaching the security control room, she had been alerted to the presence of a pair of unfamiliar faces approaching the staircase leading into the mouth of the temple, made out by the surveillance system that had been established during the re-occupation of the planet. Sera searched through her mind, much like a filing cabinet within a vault, but found that she had no recollection of the man, nor the younger female accompanying him. There didn't appear to be any cause for alarm, but she was cautious all the same. "Keep an eye on them. I am going to see who they are" Her request was brief, and before giving the security officer a moment to respond she turned on her heels and began the trek toward [member="Soliael Devin Talith"].

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

Soliael moved with the same confidence that he had the last time he was here.

That was nearly eight years ago now, before Aela had been born, before he had even been with Kira. It seemed like an odd illusion, but he could remember it well, that meeting with the Grandmaster of the Jedi Order. Former Grandmaster now as it were, he had absolutely no idea where Kiskla Grayson was now, but he knew she no longer held the Jedi Order.

“Father.”

Soliael looked down at Aela.

“Where are all the younglings?”

Soliael mused for a few moments. Kira had explained some of how they Jedi were taught the force to him, mostly in loosely structured classes and one on one sessions with Masters who had more time. Of course children Aela's age would mostly be studying inside. “Inside probably, most younglings don't really learn to use the force until they're a bit older.”

The young girl looked perturbed by that, her face scrunching slightly. To Aela such a thing was unthinkable, both her and her siblings started using and teachings of the force at an incredibly early age, and all of them had been taught outside with hands on.

That was simply the way of Soliael's family however.

With another few steps the pair reached the top of the stairs, Aela looking around curiously.

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

The soft patter of her feet would lead her from corridor to corridor until she neared the entryway of the temple. Looking out through the large opening she could clearly see the same man and child from before finally ascend the last of the stairs, and then remain still, simply looking about. Sera paused, looking out at the pair as their warm, bright eyes scanned the area surrounding the temple. Her left hand raised to caress her chin while she examined the pair for a few fleeting moments.

Approaching the two, her hand dropped lightly back to her side, halting her stride a few meters away. The Twi'lek smiled to the child and looked at the man standing just a few paces away quizzically, offering a short, polite bow. Her voice when she spoke was soft.

"Greetings...It's not often that I see an unfamiliar face here, even more so a pair, with a young one no less. I am Seraphina Shel'tah."

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

Soliael looked at the Twi'lek.

The first thing he noticed were the deep markings on her face, black tattoos that rimmed her visage in an almost tribal sense. Blazing orange eyes flickered over the markings, then scanned the rest of her. Twi'leks were common in the galaxy, as both Jedi and Sith, though truthfully he had seen far more of the latter than the former/

“Hello Master Jedi.”

Aela responded before her father could, the young girl dipping into a deep bow, her voice holding a smooth and steady stoicism that almost made Soliael bust out laughing. His daughter very much attempted to appear an adult at all times, even at the age of seven.

“I'm not entirely unfamiliar.” Soliael said calmly. “My wife is a member of your Order. My name is Soliael.”

He made no mention of his last name, mostly because it held connotations that those well versed in the histories of the galaxy would most likely not find welcome.

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

Sera's eyes glanced down to the small girl as she referred to her by formality. Master Jedi? Oddly sophisticated for such a young one. A smile formed across her lips and a courteous bow of her head was made towards Aela. For a moment her knees would bend, lowering herself to a squat so that she was eye level with the small blonde haired girl. "Why hello there. What's your name?"

Her head would turn upwards to look towards Soliael as he spoke, mentioning his wife being a part of the Jedi Order raised a bit of curiosity in her. "Oh? That is intriguing. Judging by your wording it would seem that she is alone in that, yes? Are you here to see her? I have to admit I am a little confused. The girl is Force sensitive, is she here to be trained? Or simply accompanying you?"

While they exchanged words her mind would scatter through Jedi she had known to be married to see if she could locate his partner before he informed her.

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

Soliael smiled.

“Aela.”

The little girl spoke first, keeping in mind what Soliael had told her about her last name. She and the twins knew very well who they were related to and what that meant. Soliael told bedtime stories of Grandpa Moridin, the first Sith Emperor. They were not good stories of course, more often than not Moridin was featured as the villain, not the hero.

“No. She's not here to be trained.” Soliael said with a polite smile. “Consider this...a day trip.”

He offered the suggestion in the same kind tone. “Aela and I came here at the behest of my wife. Kira wanted Aela to see the Jedi Temple, watch how the Younglings are trained, learn a bit about your culture and ways, beyond what she has already taught her.”

Name dropping Kira might have some effect, though that wasn't the point.

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

Sera's hand extended gently outwards towards Aela. "It's nice to meet you, Aela." Her eyes would close partly as she smiled towards the girl before standing back up to face Soliael.

"I see." The byzantium Twi'lek listened as he discussed his reasoning behind the trip to Ossus. Then the name clicked. Kira. "You are Master Liadin's husband? I see."

Looking back into the temple she adjusted herself and gestured with her hand to step in."Well, I can certainly give a small tour." She directed her question towards the girl, interested in knowing what she'd like to see first.

"What interests you Aela? Would you like to see some of the training grounds? The classrooms or library? Or I can show you my favorite place on all of Ossus if you'd like, but it doesn't have much to do with the Jedi."

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

The little girl stared up at the Twi'lek woman.

Her offsetting Orange eyes stared at the Byzantium alien, tracing along her odd tattoos and moving across her features. There was an odd look of study in her face, as if she was contemplating the answer that would seem the most rational and well puts. Aela's father simply stood at her side, watching as the little girl thought about her answers.

“In truth Master Jedi, I would like to see it all.”

That still stoic calm ran through the little girls voice, unsettling to some, normal to Soliael.

“Mother has told me many things of the Jedi. Of the younglings, her fellow Masters, the archives and even the jungles of Ossus.”

It was easy to tell, even with Aela trying her hardest to conceal it, that the last of what she said excited her the most. The prospect of seeing Ossus itself, the transformed jungles and the stretching nature is what she most wanted to see. Aela took after her grandmother in that sense, being connected to the more natural side of the force.

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

Sera's smile gave way to a small outburst of laughter after the child referred to her as Master Jedi once more, requesting to see all of Ossus and the temple. With her eyes fixed again on the little one she nodded, listening to her speak in that typical way a child does when they want to seem mature and knowledgeable.

"Has she now? Well, that is encouraging to hear. What do you say we take a walk through the temple, and you can ask questions as we peak in on a few classes and trainings before we take a walk outside?"

Her hand would extend down and toward Aela, offering to join her in walking through the inner halls of the temple along with Soliael. The Jedi turned her attention for a moment to address Soliael, "Shall we?"

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

Aela looked at the Jedi's hand for a moment.

There was a hint of worry in her eye, though with a look up at Soliael it was quickly whisked away. Her father simply nodded, and the little girl grasped the purple hued hand in a tight grip.

“Yes.” Soliael simply said.

He had of course toured these very halls before with Kira as his guide. There had been many small stops along the way, though they hadn't really been of an instructive nature. He smiled at the nostalgic memory, following after the Twi'lek and his Daughter.

Aela peered about curiously, taking in the construction and the décor of the temple with a carefully honed eye.

“Master Jedi.”

Again that polite tone.

“Why Ossus? I asked mother this question, but she couldn't answer me. I know the temple here is important, but why not Onderon where the Republic is?”

Aela was well versed thanks to Soliael and Kira, plus her own reading, she knew what questions to ask.

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

The Twi'lek looked down to Aela as they began walking through the long corridor that fed into the inner chambers of the temple. Once more the reference was made, though after the child had asked her curious question Sera halted the small group for only a moment. Turning towards one of the meditation rooms she peered inside to catch a glimpse of a fellow Jedi teaching a class of Padawans a more in depth method of meditation. One not unlike the training she had undergone when she had first come to the temple.

Looking back down to the girl she gestured toward the classroom for her to take a look in. With a hushed tone she spoke directly to Aela while kneeling down. "Inside are a group of Jedi Padawans. They're a bit older than you, and they are collectively training themselves to connect more deeply with the Force through meditation that is a bit more complex than what is typically taught to younglings But, to answer your initial question, Ossus is very important to us for a couple of reasons."

She stood back up and moved towards the opposite wall so not to interrupt the class with her words. "The temple here was built a long, long time ago by Masters Solusar and Skywalker. The Jedi had a temple on the old Republic capital of Coruscant, however when that fell to the Sith, we decided it best to maintain our primary location outside of the capital chosen by the Republic. You see, we still have a number of enclaves scattered about, as well as a few mobile praxeums, but the temple here is home to an incredible amount of Jedi history, lore, and archives. We would do well to protect that which matters the most to us, while also not placing the Republic in further danger by maintaining our collective leadership on one planet."

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

Soliael nodded.

He had always guessed that was the reasoning behind it. Ossus had been owned by the Sith Empire, when the Republic reclaimed it the temple had been rebuilt due to its historical value. He had never thought about why the Jedi used it as its main home, but his daughter apparently had. He smiled at her cleverness, then looked into the classroom of padawans.

Aela followed suite, though it was clear that most of her attention was on Seraphina.

She nodded when the Jedi master finished.

“Does everyone get taught in classes?”

Aela knew that eventually every padawan got their own Master, but she was more curious to see if their were more special cases that received teaching from only one master since the very beginning. Since her siblings were still much too young for any formal training, Aela was currently the only one of the Talith children actively being trained in the force.

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

The Twi'lek Jedi shook her head slowly, understanding the bit of confusion the girl had with regard to the classrooms.

"No. The classrooms are mostly aimed for our younglings, the students which are not yet old enough for formal, direct training. Sometimes though, we have more students than any one Jedi Knight or Master is capable of training individually, so we on occasion hold group classes to train students on the more common techniques and practices of the Force. This one happens to be on meditation."

Her hand motioned for them to continue further down the hall. As they walked, she elaborated a bit more on the subject of classrooms.

"Once in a while, a fellow Master or even an advanced Knight will openly invite anyone to accompany them in a training session that they are proficient in. And anyone who shows up is welcome to take part. This is something that typically stirs a good participation level, as nobody can ever possibly learn everything there is to know about the Force, each of us have inherent proficiencies with which we excel at, and that is a good thing."

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

The little girl frowned slightly as they moved on.

“But won't that make the training less effective? If the teachers are focused on more than one student, won't some of them fall behind?”

There was actual concern in his daughters voice, something that Soliael found surprising.

He had never known her to be all that compassionate, at least not to most sapient beings who were capable of fending for themselves. Of course it was a different story with animals and the down trodden, but he had never though padawans and younglings would evoke those feelings within Aela. Perhaps it was because learning was such an important facet to her.

Soliael nevertheless smiled.

Any change in his daughter was a good thing. Before Geonosis she had been stuck in her own little world, something that had concerned both him and Kira. That was slowly changing now, and her questions showed it.

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

Thinking about the question for a moment it was certainly valid, but there were measures in place to ensure that everyone involved would be well taken care of.

"Not necessarily. Anyone who feels that they are not at the level they should be, or if the training senses or sees that the student in question is not picking up on the lesson with respect to what would be expected, then private, personal training is offered and expanded upon to ensure that the student is comfortable with whatever it is they are learning. We never let our students feel like they are falling behind, or less capable of a task than any other. Each of us have strength in different areas, that is what make us both unique, and better equipped to handle different situations and tasks."

For such a young girl, she was certainly a promising one. Sera only hoped that when the time came the information being imparted to this girl would be used properly. She had personally seen so many Jedi fall to the path of darkness. Hatred and oppression were no way to live, or rule. However she knew that no words she posed to anyone, be it this girl or an adult made the slightest bit of difference. Everyone made their own decisions in the end, and to try and force otherwise guaranteed failure.

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

Aela nodded her head. There was skepticism in her look, but she clearly had decided that further questioning of the Jedi Master would yield no better results in that path. That was the way his daughter was, calculating, intelligent, always searching for the easiest way to gain the most knowledge. It reminded him of the way he was in his mid thirties.

A smile drew across his lips.

“Aela.” The little girl briefly looked back at her father, an inquisitive look drawing across her face. “You wanted to ask about animals.”

The little girl suddenly brightened up, as if she had remembered something. Of course she likely would have eventually come around to it, but there was a lull in the show and tell right now. Plus he knew that Aela would always get excited about animals.

“Does the temple have any pets?!”

She had asked Kira this, though her mother had simply told her to wait and see.

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

...Pets? An odd choice of words...

Sera ran her hand along the back of her head, craning her neck as if to crack it. "Pets huh? Well..." She paused, withholding what she was going to say, as she was again reminded that she was speaking with a little girl.

"I'm not sure if anyone in particular has pets, we don't typically keep animals for our own entertainment or pleasure, but there are a number of animals that are raised here, as well as some that can be found outside and around the temple."

Walking a bit further they approached an intersection, and Sera decided to turn towards the left and continue on, heading towards a stable which held a number of large Nerfs, and a few calves that were still nursing. Seraphina leaned against the frame of the entryway and nodded to the girl, allowing her to look at them if she so wished, though she may need a small boost to see over the walls, if the beasts were not right up front. Along the ground as well, a number of Gokob's scampered around. It appeared that they may have made their home here, but since they were mostly harmless and not much of a pest, they were allowed to stay.

"Outside the temple, in the jungle are many more animals, though not all of them are as friendly as these."

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Seraphina Shel'tah"]

Aela's excitement was obvious.

Even Nerf's were animals after all, and if Aela wanted to she could very likely become a Beast Rider some day, maybe even find a place at her Grandmothers side. She eagerly ran over to one of the stalls, looking through tiny cracks within the wood to see a far away Nerf eating something. She grinned, and looked over to her father.

Soliael walked passed the Twi'lek woman for a few moments. He reached his daughter and grasped her beneath the arms, lifting her and placing her atop the stable wall, giving her a tiny perch from where she could see the animals. The little girl turned around and mouthed the words thank you to Soliael, before directing her attention to the nerfs.

A single loud whistle left her lips, and suddenly all of the creatures within the stables looked up at the tiny girl.

Her father retreated to stand besides the twi'lek, watching as the nerfs slowly approached his daughter. Seraphina would feel a small pressure of the force exerted from Aela, a tiny nudge sent out towards the creatures within the stable. It was far more control than a girl her age should normally have, and Soliael looked to the Jedi to see her reaction.

 

[Seraphina Shel'tah]

Sera smiled while she watched from a few paces back as the man lifted up his daughter to look at the animals. In that aspect she was a pretty normal kid. Most children loved animals, she was seemingly no different. The Nerfs here were well domesticated and docile, and gazed at her with seemingly neutral eyes, continuing to feed from the troughs as she looked on with burning orange eyes.

Although the Twi'lek's eye would raise slightly as the girl unleashed a fairly loud, distinct whistle from her tiny little frame, commanding the attention of the animals within their wooden homes. Were the Jedi not Force sensitive, she would simply assume that the girl's audible noise attracted the attention of the animals. However, it was clear that what she was doing was not just a simple a high pitched whistle, but something more of a command, a prodding through the Force to penetrate their minds and direct their attention to the girl.

The byzantium Twi'lek looked curiously at both Aela and Soliael, her teeth gently chewing on the inside of her lip as she observed the actions of this little girl with great interest.

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]