It's me again! [Return-Edition]

[Arage Bao]

Annaj​

Fringe Confederation​

Approaching night time​

A few months have passed since I came back to the world of the living again, took me a while to balance myself again. Get back into the rhythm, and decide what’s truly important to me. Took me a while, but I got there eventually. Once again, I find myself on Annaj, my city.

Over the years, I had come to love this city of mine. Now I was back, and to meet an important person, Spencer Jacobs. My personal savior. I could feel our Force Bond softly tugging, when I closed my eyes.

She knew I was alive again, I wonder how she will react. When she sees me in blood. Will she kick my ass for not coming back sooner? Probably, I didn’t expect any hugs or kisses.

Wasn’t her way.

I sat on the roof of my penthouse, listening to the life of the city. Watching the skyline, and just be plain.. content in life. Much had happened, many things had changed. But I was still Jared Ovmar, and Spencer was still Spencer.

I couldn’t wait to see her again.

 

[Allyson Locke]

The wind flowed through the window, it was curious how similar the force and the wind were. One would think that they were one and the same, but everyone felt the wind unlike the Force. Curious the way the Galaxy worked some totally oblivious to the workings of the Force, while others watch as their lives are consumed by it. Master of the Living Force, the title always made me laugh. How could one control the Force when in essence the Force gives life. Some though don't realize how valuable that gift is and in the end lose it, but for some like [member="Jared Ovmar"] , the force is kind and grants a second chance.

I could feel the cold metal of the holocron I was working on, my thumb moved over the engraved name as I smiled. I had given my first student my first holocron and now my second would receive my next creation. Inside of it was nothing more than personal thoughts and memories that we shared. He would also be able to encrypt his own story into the flowing eternal database. When the time came, he would be able to unlock the secret within the holocron – by then I'll probably be with the Force and like when I first disappeared and my first student needed comfort – I hope that Jared found the same with this one. Placing the holocron back onto my desk, I wandered towards the open window, the breeze on Annaj was something rare. I took it as a sign from the Force that he had returned like my visions had predicted. I knew Jared wasn't done with this galaxy and I knew the galaxy wasn't done with him.

Dreams were something I took seriously and Jared's face had been in several of them. At first they were painful and I knew it was our bond within the force showing me his life – most of it I knew , but what startled me was how he had seen me. A curious thing to see yourself through someone's eyes and his thoughts of me were humbling – it was possible I felt bad about being hard on him, but then I remember his hubris and it only makes me smile. Reaching out, I aimed to close the window, but something told me to ignore it and just retire back to my work. Something told me in the back of my head, Jared Ovmar would be making an appearance very soon.

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Spencer Jacobs"]

There was a whisper dancing on the wind, the air in the apartment was full of.. anticipation. It was time to go, it tugged at me. Pulled me into the outside of Annaj, made me follow the song of the Force to her. But it didn’t bother me, I followed and she lead. It was the dynamic on which our relationship was founded on, and in that knowledge I found myself content.

My little sister, I called her. It was enough to make me grin all over again, grin because of her.. popularity with the menfolk. She was beautiful and powerful, but in my mind she would always be my savior. My personal Angel of Peace, and in that perspective I couldn’t want her like Shorn did. I could only call her my little sister until I myself believed that was what she was.

One step after another, and the feeling of anticipation only grew. I could feel her now, the bond which had only grown stronger over the time we had known each other. She closed herself off from the outside world, trying to hide herself from the pain and tear of the people all around us. They didn’t have our training, they couldn’t control their feelings into not projecting it all the time.

It was hard for my little sister, but it only made me prouder of what she was. Strong and Scary, but yet there was.. a touch of innocence in her. An amazing thing, if you thought about it. With all the frightening strength she had, with all the painful experience.. she still could play the part of a young old teenager stealing the food off her love’s plate. That.. was true power I think.

Power not to be warped by the Force and your environment. Power to stay in control, and be a teenager when the time allowed it. Power to turn into a Goddess of Vengeance and not be bitter of the role that was assigned to you by fate. It humbled me, because I knew that with all my expertise and experience.. I still had a long way ahead and probably wouldn’t ever reach her state of being.

But trying.. was good enough.

Finally my steps brought me to her front door, and it was there that my progress was halted, stalled if you will. My hand had already formed itself into a fist, ready to bump the door to get her attention. But something gave pause, it made me consider the impact of my appearance. She knew I was alive, the bond held no secrets for either of us.

But knowing and seeing.. those things worked differently, how would she react to my not so dead-existence when she looked upon my face? I had felt it when she had cut off Shorn’s bond to her, how could I not?

The bond holds no secrets.

I had tried to sent her a measure of peace in that defining moment. But I hadn’t come to her then, she had Ashin and in that knowledge I felt content. Her wife would have been better in showing her comfort anyway. At least, if Varanin wasn’t too busy asking technological questions.

That made me grin again, hard to keep a state of discontent and apathy, when so close to her. Her life and fire burned and washed off on me, it made me feel.. well.. alive I suppose. Such an unimaginative word, but I had never claimed to be original.

Finally.. I knocked and braced myself for the coming storm.

 

[Allyson Locke]

A small screw fell from the holocron I was working on, it pattered against my desk and then fell towards the ground. I watched it with my full attention, for some reason it held some sort of symbolism to me and I don’t know why. I watched it as it rolled toward the door of my room, my small apartment I was granted for my own personal work. I stood feeling the freedom of my robes flutter with the soft breeze that entered. He was so close, yet in a way so far from me. He had fallen past balance and into darkness, would I be able to pull him away from the life he had chosen or like a parent let him make his mistakes and learn from them. Questions filled my mind, but then I remembered my own journey. I moved within the spectrum of the Force until I found comfort, to understand the Force is to see it from all sides.

I finally found the strength to move my feet towards the door to open it. I don’t know why I’m so scared to see him, I know he’s alive I had felt him return to the living, but would he be the same Jared I met on Coruscant? I felt my nose wrinkle like it did when I didn’t like what my brain was telling me, I always hated when it went against my heart, which in this sense fluttered with joy knowing that one of my students has returned. My mind wandered to another of one of my prodigies, he owned my first holocron, I made it just for him to comfort him when I disappeared from the galaxy with Ashin. Silently saying a prayer, I hoped that the Force filled him with joy and that he was okay. If he had become one with the Force I pray that he found eternal happiness with in the comfort of the Force.

I had left Jared out there for far too long and I took a few quick steps and finally found the handle of the door. Twisting the knob I pulled it towards me and I found myself staring at Jared for the first time in a while. Well for the first time I actually saw him, I saw him as something more than my student, more than someone who helped keep the fringe safe, I finally saw him as a part of my legacy. If I left and allowed the Force to take me back, I would have him to carry on my teachings, to sing my praises and to help people understand my mistakes.

As quickly as I opened the door and finally realized Jared’s place in my life, I stepped forward and pulled him tightly against me. My fingers pressed against his back as I pulled him close, I could smell him and hear his heart beat against my ear. I didn’t pull away, but kept him close as if I needed him to be that close. My words muffled against his chest, "Welcome home."

[member="Jared Ovmar"]

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Spencer Jacobs"]

Minutes trickled by and yet the Lady of the Fringe didn’t open her door for me, I wasn’t sure what the problem was. Might be my heartbeat rose just a tad bit, racing in my chest as I waited. Feeling of annoyance coursed through my veins, until she finally admitted me. It evaporated the moment she took me in her arms and gave me a hug, I… never had a loving mother or father. Never had a hug, a kiss, a pat on the head when I had done something right. Wasn’t my life, so this.. perhaps it broke something in me, I ain’t the same guy as I keep telling myself. But instead of annoyance I felt a wild energy streaming through me, life itself coming alive yet again. First step, wasn’t sure if I liked it, but as a single tear found its way from my eye to the floor of her apartment I could only say a single thing.

“Glad to be home, big sis.”

Ain’t anything else to say really. The hug continued on for a short while, but eventually I disentangled myself from her. Didn’t want it to become awkward and ruin the moment, as I stepped into her room I quickly tried off my eyes. ‘Twas some dust, obviously. Again it hit me like a brick, as my eyes surveyed where she lived. It was so… modest in some ways, in sheer contrast to my eternal bachelor pad. Suddenly I was pretty glad she hadn’t visited me, now that would have been something. Something horrible.

“How have you been, Spens?”

 

[Allyson Locke]

He pulled away thinking I didn't notice the tear, the boy friends that I can feel his emotions better than anyone. I watched him as he moved into my modest apartment there wasn't much, which I was embarrassed slightly. Company never came this way, except for Ashin of course, but even then we usually retreated back to our place together. Pushing my blonde hair behind my ears I followed him trying to pick up the remnants of changing into something comfortable, seeing that I left some of my underwear out I quickly kicked them under the couch.

Reaching out, I used the force to close the window seemed a bit easier than having to walk across the room which meant I'd have to push past him. The window closed and I drew the length of my robe around my body, then proceeded to answer him.

“Not much Jared, I've just locked myself in here working on Holocrons and Datacrons...Ibaris is getting bigger and of course Ashin is Ashin. I--” I stopped myself, I casually spoke of Ibaris as if the man knew who she was. He had been gone for some time and really didn't know much about Ibaris. Ashin and I kept her quiet mostly for her protection, but she was fully capable of being aware now and she was getting to big to hide.

“You probably don't know Ibaris. She's the child Ashin and I found on Tund, we adopted her. She's my five year old daughter. You should meet her, she has Ashin's stubbornness. I think she'd give you a run for your money Jared.” A soft smile spread across my face as I leaned against the back of the small couch. “What have you been up too? I've been feeling our connection for some time now, what took you so long?”

[member="Jared Ovmar"]

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Spencer Jacobs"]

When she said she had a daughter I sat down on the bed and blinked, which was closely followed by her explaining what had happened. There was a silly grin on my face, plastered to my lips and not wanting to go just yet, a daughter… there had been a baby in my life in a different time. I coughed and spoke then with some anxiety in my voice.

“Eh… does that mean that I am.. kinda? an uncle?”

Then she asked me the obvious question, where had I been? Why hadn’t I contacted her before, the moment I knew I was still alive? Why hadn’t I? After my death and resurrection, I had been a mess, didn’t really know what was up with me and my feelings. Or lack of them, at least. Took me a while to readjust to life again, spent most of the time on my space station, it was a lonely time. But it was necessary, otherwise I might have turned into something worse than what I was right now.

Didn’t really want to tell her though, oh she knew I fell. Didn’t bother trying to radiate the lightside for her, she could feel me through our bond. No secrets between the two of us, not really. I shrugged and tried to explain sorta.
“Was a mess, sis. After Shorn killed me, I managed to latch on to him. Lived in his head for a while, was always an empty place there so ‘twas pretty comfy. Eventually, I parted with him, didn’t work out. Spent some time travelling, trying to figure out my role in the Galaxy, ya know?” Again I shrugged. “And here I am. Sorry I made you worry, never meant for you to get hurt.”

 

[Allyson Locke]

I couldn’t help but laugh, Jared assumed much, but when I thought about it I wouldn’t leave Ibaris in anyone’s hands. I knew that deep down inside Jared was loyal to me if there was a loyal bone in his body. If anything were to happen to Ashin or I, I’d trust him with Ibaris to teach her and mold her how I molded him. He’s a good man under the alcohol and women, I knew this. I gave him a nod answering his question about being an uncle.

His story continued on how things happened. My arms casually found their way against my chest, I never knew what to do with my arms when someone was talking especially about sensitive subjects. They could always hang down to my side, but then my body language could be easily mistaken as I didn’t show interest. I wanted to look concerned or intrigued so crossing my arms in front of me just made the most sense. My body tensed as he mentioned this man named Shorn. The name tickled against my brain, but I couldn’t place it anywhere. I just knew he was someone who threatened my prodigy. I made a mental note to find out who this Shorn was and either make him regret killing Jared in the beginning or just make his life a living hell.

The quick flare of emotions died down while I leaned against one of the couches in the room. My hand rested against my stomach as my thoughts escaped to Ibaris, I wished to carry a child, to give birth to him or her, and to truly be a mother, but I didn’t have that with Ibaris – though it didn’t change my love for her.
“Its okay, its in the past and you’re here now. Once I discuss things with Ashin, I’d like for you to be Ibaris’ guardian. Watch over her if anything happened to me or Ashin.” I felt my hand rub my stomach once more then fall in front of me. “It makes me wonder, I love this child so much what it would feel like to actually have one of my own. Silly thought, but always curious.” Talking children with Jared was odd so I decided to change the subject to this Shorn. “Who is this man that killed you? Why did he do it?”

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Spencer Jacobs"]

I didn’t show any emotion at her mention of me becoming the Guardian for Ibaris, my heart rose up in a metaphorical cheer, which was just a tad embarrassing but hey. Even a Sith Lord such as I needs affection and trust once in a while, that was the truth of the matter.

Then she asked me who Shorn was and I blinked, twice. Her and Shorn had had a… strange relationship, she had told me some parts of it and it had always brought a smile up to me. Seeing Mikki be the lovestruck dove, but then… it came to me.

I had been there on that fateful day, which ended with him slamming through the glass, and seemingly out of Spencer’s life.

I wondered… and decided to be careful about this.

‘You do not know anyone by the name of Mikhail Shorn?’

 

[Allyson Locke]

I blinked, it was really all I could do for the time being. The name sounded familiar and my mind went searching for memories tied to this name. Yet there as nothing I would catch glimpses of something possible, but then they disappeared and I was left grasping at straws. My head shook and my blonde hair fell out of place. Frustration twisted my face as I kept trying to figure something out why this name sounded familiar but wasn’t.

“I’m sorry Jared, I don’t know who Mikhail is or why he would be fighting you. Who is he Jared?” He didn’t answer me the first time around, maybe he would this time around. Crossing my arms, I gave him the look that he would remember when he wasn’t telling me something during his apprenticeship with me. It was funny, but I kept my smile hidden. I was younger than him, yet was my student. He was one of the special ones. [member="Jared Ovmar"]

 

[Arage Bao]

[member="Spencer Jacobs"]

At first I wasn’t sure why Jacobs wasn’t remembering Shorn - the guy had been a pretty big part of her life, with the whole romantic ‘will they, won’t they’-play going on. Yet… now she wasn’t even recognizing his name, which could mean a variety of ways, but the circles I moved in and the training I had received by her own hands… made me think it was mentalism.

Someone had scrubbed her mind, maybe even did it herself. Perhaps it was even after that one meeting where Shorn jumped out of a window all dramatic-like, that hadn’t been a pleasant conversation, I grimaced looking back at it now.

Wasn’t sure what to tell her though, if this had been done by herself on purpose… then it was better not to say anything at all, so I nodded… more to myself than anyone else and gave her one of my lazy grins.

‘Just some poor emo schmuck, Spens, don’t worry ‘bout ‘im. Now something more important, tell me about the kid.’ I said while lounging on her bed and waiting for a reply.