Egypt's Weary Road

[Jsc]

The Al Qina Cluster
Tetan Approach
Deep Core

Sam Jhovna stood upon the bridge of Espadia. A new Nixor-Class Cruiser. The newest line of general purpose starships the Navy had available. The new work-horse of the legions. But boy, was she ugly. Even the interior lighting seemed dimmer than most. It gave the whole cabin a dull gunmetal and soot discolor. Almost made the blackness of space look appealing.

Fascinating thing to say though. Especially since inside the Deep Core of the galaxy, space was never empty. Today their vessel was passing through the Al Qina Cluster. Splashing all of visible space with a grand yellow cloud that seemed to stretch out forever and ever. The exotic dancing lights were supposed to be pocket asteroids flaming out and the dazzling lightning strikes could possibly be giant enough to consume whole planets with a single burst. Oh no. The Deep Core was hardly what anybody would call empty. And today it was an endless void of swirling yellow clouds and beautiful fragmenting lights.

Skirmishes were common here since the borders between Republic and Sith space were contested. Not to mention that the vortexes and gravity fields were always shifting. It was hard to say what part of space would be safe to travel come tomorrow. One day this whole area could be crystal clear blue mineral clouds. Then come tomorrow? Poof! ...It was the center of a pink Nebula Gas explosion. Swirling pink and red flames as far as the eye could see. It was as exciting as it was dangerous.

"We're watching the butterfly stream Ms. Jhovna. Have no fear. This corridor of the Cluster is very stable. Our flyboats report the same. ...It's. Well. ...It's why we expect to find the Sith operating on inside this area of the Drift. They too must know about this current."

"And we're like to run into them very soon Captain?" Sam turned to face the old man.

"Hard to say. Light, Gravity, and even Time can be a fickle fate when you're this deep in the Core. How do they say? When you travel Eygpt's Road, beware the welcoming oasis. ...Something like that."

"Mirages?"

"Expectations. Well. It's always best to be prepared. We'll just leave it at that."

Sam nodded and returned to looking out the viewplate. She didn't like the idea of doing Recon in vast emptiness of the yellow deserts. It seemed just too easy to get lost.

[member="Zaren Bouqi"]

 

[Zion Krayt]

The Al Qina Cluster
Tetan Approach
Deep Core

He spent most of his days upon the edge of Republic Space, the space that bordered the One Sith Space, and Republic Space. It was the only way that he could really think of for him to do his part for the Republic, and his family's own future. Not to mention after hearing of what had happened to past Jedi he would prefer to remain out of the main part of so called 'Jedi Politics' so he could better do his duty to the Republic.

He always made sure to stay within contact with the Jedi Order, and specifically Talon Vosra and Kiskla Grayson, the only two Councillors that he had actually spoken face to face two. He only had the names of the other two Councillors, but it wouldn't make a difference in his opinion. Zaren doubted they'd be marking in close proximity with each other since he was constantly upon the move within the Galaxy. Travelling halfway across the Galaxy, and the full length of Republic Space just to combat two Sith organizations.

He kind of had a bit of an obsession. An obsession of what? Defeating the Sith? Whatever it was, hopefully he'd find out upon one of these missions.

Then he walked upon the bridge and saw the back of [member="Sam Jhovna"]. The other Jedi that he had gotten to come along with him. He hadn't spoken to her directly, but he had asked the Council for more Jedi to help him in his endeavours against the Sith Orders, so he had automatically assumed that she was one of those Jedi that he had requested. A Jedi Knight by the looks of her, so when he took his first few steps upon the bridge his helmet retracted from his face and his phrik boots hit off the floor crisply.

He was a laid back person, but sometimes he liked to get things done straight away. It hadn't made him a lot of friends as a Padawan, not that there were a lot of Padawans in his time. Most had been Knights!

"Greetings, Master...?" He greeted and asked her for her name within the same question. "Zaren Bouqi." He said with a warm smile, deciding to take the friendly approach. "Thank you for coming."

 

[Jsc]

[member="Zaren Bouqi"]

Sam turned and offered a nod. Her mind was elsewhere and she forgot to smile.

"Welcome indeed. I am Knight Jhovna of Coruscant. I am acting as the Ship Councilor's for this little mission, underneath the wise gaze of Admiral Ramis Noah of the Republic Navy. In what way can I assist you?"

The blonde was firm in her body language and wore a black gown of armorsilk that glittered with strong silver strands. It was a regal, if elven, appearance that did little to cover up the twin saber-staffs resting on the small of her back. Wrapped neatly in dark satin and polished to a silver shine. Jhovna was a warrior after the Arts but detested the field of battle greatly. It was a stuffy uncomfortable place better suited to bloody brutes than women of her thin and agile frame. Sam faired better amongst the flowers of Tython than on the bridge of a warship. But alas. ...These are desperate times.

She lifted her chin to await Zaren's reply.

 

[Zion Krayt]

[member="Sam Jhovna"]

"Relaxing for one."

He said with a small smile and then he looked past her and through the viewports to look outside to space. He saw the little pinpricks of light that showed other stars, planets, things that held the lives of those they as Jedi were meant to protect. It amazed him as to how an Order as small as the Jedi Order was meant to protect trillions of beings, and succeeded.

The armoured figure meant to lighten this apparent introduction between them, rather than being tense and as militaristic as he would normally be. "The ship functioning as it normally should? Sensors are performing at an optimal level?" He questioned, and then he set his gaze down upon her, awaiting her own reply to him.

 

[Jsc]

[member="Zaren Bouqi"]

She smirked when he sad relax. It wasn't something she could do very well on starships. Sam turned to the window and nodded.

"I'm sure the ship is doing just fine."

Honestly she had no idea. Sam turned to the Captain,

"Excuse me Captain."

"Excused Councilor. Take all the time you need."

Sam waved Zaren towards the exit. She didn't want to talk Order business on the bridge. Today she was a guest of the ship and needed to appear exceptional in every way.

"My office is just downstairs. Walk with me. We can talk on the way."

 

[Zion Krayt]

Zaren blinked.

It was going to be the best answer that he was going to be getting from [member="Sam Jhovna"] it seemed, so he'd accept it. Besides, it didn't seem like there were any problems upon the ship anyway, so he followed her gaze to the Captain when she spoke to him.

He happily followed the other Jedi Knight to the exit, and he gave a polite nod to the Captain as he passed and continued to follow the Jedi Knight. "As you wish. What would you like to talk about?" He said with the sound of curiosity in his voice. She was his only 'connection' so to speak upon the ship, so he might as well just follow her lead in this matter.

 

[Jsc]

[member="Zaren Bouqi"]

They walked and talked,

"Forgive my manners but I'd like to know more about your history? You see. This is only my third combat mission following Coruscant's Fall and I'm afraid that I'm rather lacking in the experience department. The Captain expects a great deal of me and I fear I shall not live up to his expectations."

There was no pity in her voice. Only a woman who seemed musing. As if this ship was a math problem that puzzled her.

"I understand you've seen a bit of fighting in your time. What do you sense of this mission? Poking around so close to Sith space. My own meditations are quite short."

 

[Zion Krayt]

[member="Sam Jhovna"]

At first he had thought that she was asking to know more about his actual life, and how he came to be in the situation that they were in at the moment, but then she soon cleared it up and his thoughts focused upon past combat experiences. She spoke of what he sensed, and of meditations.

Things he rarely did or paid attention to, unless they were absolutely needed.

"My abilities within the Force are not that... Adept at understanding what the future shall bring unfortunately. I rarely meditate if I am to speak truly with you. However, based upon past experiences I believe we may encounter another Sith ship, or Force that is performing patrols as well. Hopefully we do not, for the sake of the lives of the Crew, but it is a necessary evil for the future of the Galaxy."

"Master Jhovna, do not fear if you lack in experience, for we all have lacked at some point in our lives. Tell me what you think of your situation, you have been in three, so you must understand some things?"

 

[Jsc]

[member="Zaren Bouqi"]

She stopped and looked back towards the bridge.

"Mm. I fear that when the fighting starts. I won't make much of a difference."

The woman pondered that thought for a moment and then nodded.

"Well. Mm. What is a Ship's Councilor expected to do anyway? With luck, I won't even be needed."

She straighten her garments and shook her head. It was difficult to find a place to be useful sometimes. But we must remain positive thinkers. No matter what.

"I'm sorry. Forgive my idle thoughts. Combat is not my specialty. As Knights we must remain positive in word and deed. Our minds focused sharply on the present. Not on the past. Forgive my slip of tongue. Let us continue."

 

[Zion Krayt]

He took a few more extra steps when she had stopped and then he turned to look at her. "You can use the Force to try and calm the crew I'm certain." He shrugged his shoulders. He wasn't truly sure as to how to 'educate' another Jedi Knight in how to do their duty. He had always had his Master and mentors with him, and now they were gone. "If you're unneeded, what will you have learned?" He asked with a smile that contained some form of amusement behind it.

He placed a light gauntlet upon her shoulder, to reassure her. "Do not be sorry, Jhovna, you worry for yourself and those you must aid, because you do not have the experience to help them. Or so you think. I'm certain you'll find your place as a Ship's Councillor." He said with a smile.

He hoped that was answer enough to dodge her question. He didn't know himself what a Ship's Councillor was supposed to do, and how was he meant to give her an answer if he didn't even know himself? To council? He'd only look like he was mocking her.

And so they continued through the ship to her office.

[member="Sam Jhovna"]

 

[Jsc]

[member="Zaren Bouqi"]

She appreciated his words both and was embarrassed by them. It was improper to show such weakness amongst warriors, she was certain. But it felt good to express her concerns with a fellow Jedi. Gods know there was too few of them these days.

The door to her office slipped open revealing a large spacious cabin. A sitting area and a desk with plenty of bookshelves for storage. Alas, no windows. It was obvious she had yet to decorate the space. The walls and floor were bare but for a Echani sparring rug.

"Well. Thank you for the escort Knight Bishop. I trust you have duties to attend to. No doubt a ship of this size has it's many assignments."

She smiled lightly and squared her shoulders. It had been a good introduction away from the crew.

 

[Zion Krayt]

When they had arrived at the office he remained quiet for a few moments and let her speak. He had nothing to say since she seemed to be content with his answers, which was good, since he didn't really think he had anything else to offer her as information. He figured he did a good job.

"My only duties are to make sure the ship is safe, and to protect it if the Sith were to attack. The ship is safe for the moment, and it's crew is taking a break before our next jump it should seem. Besides, if we're meant to both be upon the same ship, would it not be better for the both of us to get to know each other better?" He questioned with a single eyebrow raised. He looked into the spacious room as he took one step through the threshold.

"Who else is going to use that?" He said indicating to the sparring rug. He had no idea what it was for, but it was there in the middle of the room, so it must be for training, right?

 

[Jsc]

[member="Zaren Bouqi"]

She seemed to shrug as he entered. A fully-armored Spartan with a moment to spare. Fascinating. A rare occurrence on any Navy vessel. But the Jedi always did enjoy a few leisure's the Military did not. Such was the slight of things. She followed behind him and stepped across the room to her desk.

"It is an Echani sparring rug. For Yoga, Meditations, and light stretching exercises. I fear it is not for fighting." She smiled.

"You know. They gave me this office when I volunteered to assist onboard the ship. The crew have been hesitant to seek my assistance however. Apparently, they dislike the thought of having a mind-reader as their Ship's Councilor. ...Well. I can understand their concern. Every sailor has their own opinions of the Order."

She took a seat and flipped her monitor on. Zero appointments. Disappointing.

"So tell me Knight Bishop. How do the assignments find you lately? Keeping busy, hm? I trust you've seen your fair share of the war."

 

[Zion Krayt]

"A sparring rug that is not meant for fighting? It is unheard of." He said with a smile that said he was joking. In fact, he had never heard of an 'Echani sparring rug,' but he was always interested in learning new things. Being a Jedi always made him feel more privileged when he learned, it made him feel as if he had more to offer the Jedi Order. "You're probably not that good anyway." He said as a side comment with a shrug and then he chuckled at his own 'comedy.'

It wasn't good to laugh at your own jokes. He remembered saying that to someone one day when he was with his friend, if only he could see him now. Laughing at his own jokes!

"If you immerse yourself more with the Crew, perhaps they will be more inclined to think that you are there to help them with whatever qualms they have, rather than sitting in your Office."

Again, he shrugged his shoulders at her question. He had seen his fair share of war, maybe too much in hindsight, but he hadn't seen the war in this time. He had only been present upon the ground of Carida and encountered few skirmishes. "I have seen plenty of war, although not of this one." He replied, hoping that was answer enough, and in hopes of that he made his attempts at changing the subject.

"What did you do before you became a Jedi? Interesting things I hope?"

 

[Jsc]

[member="Zaren Bouqi"]

He aimed to remain a mystery whilst now asking personal questions. That simply wouldn't do.

"Let's remain professional Knight Bishop. I'd prefer not discuss our personal lives. At least, not whilst on-mission."

She did enjoy this thoughts about the crew though. Perhaps she did need to work a bit harder to gain their trust. Maybe an appointment with the Captain would be an excellent place to start. Hmm. Ideas, ideas...

She nodded,

"Of course? If you're looking for work? I'm sure the chef could use an extra hand. Or, gauntlet in your case."

Sam smiled. She could veil her humor with the best of them. Men seemed to respect a woman more when she spoke as an equal. It was such a tiresome charade but necessary.

 

[Zion Krayt]

He shrugged his shoulders. He wasn't able to cook, he hadn't ever done it in his life, the thought of cooking had never even crossed his mind but it was interesting. "I've never cooked in my life, would you happen to know if it's complicated or not?" It was a genuine question.

He felt as if she wasn't acting as herself, as if she was just trying to keep up an act, or at least just be able to keep this conversation a little bit more fun than she normally would. Whichever it was, it didn't bother him for the moment but he would have preferred if she acted as herself, instead.

[member="Sam Jhovna"]

 

[Jsc]

[member="Zaren Bouqi"]

Sam, like many characters, had changed a great deal since the Fall of Coruscant. She would never say it, but the scars had changed her. From the Venom bath, to the death of students and friends, to the fleeing of her very own homeworld. Sam was not the fun bubbly girl she had once been. In a single day her entire life had been destroyed and her own body radically burned by mercenaries. The Fall of Coruscant, had destroyed her.

So now. She only wore black and she only talked business. Because deep inside, business was all she had left.

"...Well. I'll call ahead then and let them know you're coming. I'm sure you'll do fine."

She nodded and dialed a few numbers on her desk com. Mostly thinking about how to convince the Captain to let her met with her. To her, there was only the mission.

 

[Zion Krayt]

Looks like that was it. Nothing else to discuss, no reason to continue speaking with each other. So with that, he got up to his feet and headed towards the door. "The best idea would be to ask the Captain what you should do." And then he was gone, strolling through the doorway and looking both ways down the hallway trying to decide which way to go before he felt the best idea was to return to the bridge and find something to do.

Talking to the Ship's Councillor had proven... Helpful on her part hopefully, but on his part he still had little if nything to do without any combat engagements. His purpose was to direct them to the Sith threats, but he was lost on the part of the One Sith, the New Order he knew where they were, and how to handle them, but this was something else.

He rolled his shoulders back to stretch them and then he emerged upon the bridge and nodded his head to the Captain. When he returned his own acknowledgement, Zaren's retractable helmet removed itself from it's resting place between his shoulder blades and reformed itself around his head and turned on. He had to say, it did feel cool when it did that.

Always wanted something like this.

Then he was shocked out of his short daydream when one of the ensign's who was at the scanners started to speak about long range sensors picking up a small taskforce, numbering three ships from the direction of Sith Space. Then, he had found his use and looked to the Captain who then turned on the alarm upon the ship.

Looks like he would be useful upon this ship after all.

 

[Jsc]

[member="Zaren Bouqi"]

The Alert command. That meant combat stations.

Sam slipped out of her door and dashed up to the Observation Deck. By the time she got there the blast shield had already closed over the windows. She slammed her palms the glass and cursed her luck. So much for a view of the fight. She frowned and decided it was best to return to quarters. Maybe pass by medical. She couldn't help anybody all the way up here.

Outside the battle had already begun. The Espadia held a contingent of numerous Starfighters that could help even the odds. But the line would be drawn if they were outnumbered and outgunned by larger vessels. And in the swirling mists of the Deep Core there is nowhere for an escape pod to escape too.

 

[Zion Krayt]

[member="Sam Jhovna"]

When the Sith ships had scanned them and took them as Galactic Republic ships, the Jedi Knight braced himself upon a railing just as the crimson turbolaser beams were sent towards the Republic ship. The Captain of the ship knew what to do, he didn't deploy fighters, they would be outnumbered in space and reduced to nothing quick enough. They would have to wait to be boarded instead if they planned to win the battle.

The Jedi Knight exited from the bridge once boarding shuttles were reported to be approaching the ship and to the Hangar Bay. By the time his turbolift got to the hangar bay's level, the sound of blaster fire had already begun and he unclipped his lightsaber hilt as he strolled into the hangar to see Republic fighter pilots being gunned down.

The Sith Troopers were more prepared for this battle it seemed, and when the first bolt hit his armour, he hadn't been paying attention and he paused for a moment and his head rotated towards where the bolt had come from. He started to walk towards there, then he began to jog, then he began to run as he leapt up into the air and drew fire from the pinned down Republic troopers, and ignited the purple lightsaber beam as he came down in the midst of the sith troopers, thrusting and hacking with a certain finesse. There was no mercy for any of them, and in the Force, it would seem as if he wasn't even paying attention as he led the counter-attack upon the first landing shuttle.

Push them back Zaren. It's up to you, Knight Jhovna is most likely upon the bridge doing her duty as Councillor. He actually paused for a moment when he came to that conclusion and then he leapt straight up onto the landing shuttle just as a grenade blew up where he was standing previously. His lightsaber created a shield in front of him as he spun it around, blocking blaster fire and redirecting it.