Private Report: Elias Edo

[Efret Farr]

The light of a three-dimensional ping drew both Nirrah and Efret's eyes up from the Jedi's leather-bound journal. Efret shuffled her hands—picking up her dominant wrist, closing the left leather cover and then right flap, and placed her pencil down on the table nearby.

At the advising of the Legion that was patrolling the field camp, Efret had secured a holographic radar display for her desk. It had been made as a security suggestion, but she didn't know how much good it really did. Nu was a very small installation which was capable of defending itself only to a certain degree, and only from the ground. They had collected a few vessels, from a captured Imperial shuttle to a couple dropships capable of moving their highest priority equipment to a few personal crafts including her own X-wing which she had finally gotten replaced after the invasion of Coruscant. Still, the immediately-adjacent capital city and nearby Galactic Alliance base were much more prepared should an air invasion come.

The radar lit up often at all hours of the day, picking up on all sorts of air traffic. The military patrols and training runs were easy enough to differentiate, but there normally was no way to tell a freighter coming in to the spaceport for a commercial delivery from one carrying one for Efret and her team. This time, however, looking gently at the incoming ship's abstract symbol, she was overcome with a strange sensation.

Nerves. Why?

The room's overhead light flickered off then on. Efret glanced over her shoulder at the door where the light switch was. She smiled at Sodus, standing at the door, as she reached to turn on her interpretation unit.

"You came back quietly," he observed.

That much was true. She had just today returned from Fondor. Her landing hadn't been noted by any of her team members, who all had happened to not be in the camp itself. The lack of reception had been welcome, though; much had happened in the space of just a few days on the new capital planet, none of which Efret was in a hurry to discuss. She needed silence right now, but she felt shame in that as well. She gave him a small, apologetic smile.

"I would be curious," he added, "to hear how the senate hearing went."

"I'll tell you soon," she replied before motioning to her journal. "I feel the need to process it on paper first."

Sodus nodded as if to say, Of course. Instead, he asked, "Troubling?"

"To an anthropologist, yes." It didn't seem to trouble the politicians quite so much. Even worse, it didn't seem to bother the Shield of the Jedi at all.

Elias Edo​

 

[Elias Edo]

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Tags: Efret Farr
Location: EIATTU 6

The field report from Dagobah was never released to the New Jedi Order. Granted, it never had to be; it was written by Elias during a time when he had left the Core to serve the Rimward Jedi, and contrary to the NJO’s latest stance, not every Force lead belonged to them. This report did, however, deserve to be passed on to someone who would see it as more than another entry for the archives. That’s why Elias was landing the crescent-shaped Calypso at Field Camp Nu.

If anyone were going to treat his findings with respect, it was Efret Farr.

With a datapad under his arm, Elias made his way into the camp. He passed friendly waves and smiles to the research staff as he made his way to the central tent where he figured Efret would be working, slowing but never halting his stride. After exchanging a few words with an assistant outside, Elias was let through. The first person he saw was Efret, and he smiled. Much like Sodus before, though without having seen him do it, Elias flicked the lights to announce his arrival.

<“Good see you!”> he signed with both hands. The datapad was held safely in the pit of his arm. <“Too many days since #Dawn-Chaser.”> He was referring to the Forcer conclave that both of them attended, Efret on behalf of the Core and Elias of the remnant RJC. Much was discussed, but the attendees had scattered in the wind once more when the session was over; the Sanrafsix Corridor was not a safe place for Light Siders to convene much longer than a few days.

His smile was big, but it faded a bit when he recalled why he was here. Elias grabbed the datapad and passed it to Efret. <“For you. Report from #Dagobah, under dead-temple.”> He wasn’t sure how else to say it. <“Before attack,”> he then corrected. The notes he brought were from a rescue mission Elias and Nathan Bloodscrawl underwent only a few short months before the Sith blindsided the RTL. A paranoid man would probably connect the events recorded on the datapad to the invasion, but Elias felt they were two separate, terrible things.

<“Not artifact. Thought you-like see what I found. Know what hides on #Dagobah if #NJO comes south.”> If it weren’t for Nathan’s experience, Elias would have died in that cave. The threat was gone now, but there was no telling what other dark secrets lay buried beneath the stagnant marshes.

He tried perking up his smile a bit. It wasn’t a failure, only a scary encounter not yet put to rest in his mind.

 

[Efret Farr]

As soon as Sodus excused himself, Efret and Nirrah both turned back to the curator's writing. She managed to generate half of a sentence more before she flipped to the back of the journal, then through single pages of cursive arranged into stanzas until she came to one that wasn't yet filled.

Elias was shown into Nu's long tent a few minutes later, and directed to one of the back modular rooms. When he flicked the lights, she looked up as she had for Sodus moments before. Recognition crossed her face, first taking the form of surprise and then of delight. The memory of how she had left Bogano was still raw to a degree for her, made worse by the unspoken understanding that it had rifted their relationship. She had come to accept that there would be no more date-like dinners in their shared future some time ago, but the disappointment in herself hadn't lost its edge quite yet. In time, that would come; she'd have to tolerate the changed interpersonal tide until then.

But she really was happy to see him. That emotion wasn't feigned. She counted herself very lucky to be able to keep him in her life after making the kind of mistake she had, even if it was just as a like-minded colleague.

She stood to greet him and scooted out her chair behind her so she could move to face him.

<“Good see you!”>

<Elias!> she signed back, not bothering to turn on her interpretation unit, which she had turned off when Sodus left the room so that her hand movements when writing wouldn't be picked up as nonsensical attempts at visual-spatial communication. <Same!>

She took the datapad when offered it. <Thank-you.> She powered it on to take a glimpse at the screen, then clicked it back off and set it on her des over the poetry she had been writing.

Looking back at him, her usual smile faltered a bit. <I hope #NJO don't expand south, future. Scared we destroy culture more-than protect it. #LAW Force users need stay autonomous.> She would have thought twice about saying such a thing to almost any other Jedi in the Order, but she knew Elias was a safe sounding board. His sentiments were likely even similar. <This information I use responsibly, future. Promise.>

Elias Edo​

 

[Elias Edo]

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Tags: Efret Farr
Location: EIATTU 6

<“Glad hear-that,”> he returned with relief evident in his face. He wasn’t going to stipulate that she hide the report - in fact, he’d assumed that by giving it to her, he may as well have read it aloud before the Council. This was a kindness he wouldn’t forget, and one he hoped she knew he’d reciprocate if ever she needed something to remain off the record.

He smiled at her as she took the datapad. <“I take many things from #dead-temple after attack. #Jedi things, #Sith things. Keep them on #Bogano now. Safe there.”> Much safer than Coruscant, Elias thought bitterly, remembering how much destruction the Alliance capital sustained during the Dark Empire’s invasion. He understood the convenience of storing all the NJO’s archival records and artifacts in a central location, but when said repository is the focus of a coordinated attack… it really showcased the value of a properly decentralized network.

This was something the LAW Forcers had come to realize, and was the method to their success in remaining undiscovered thus far as the Sith encroach on fallen RTL sectors.

Elias nodded to the datapad. <“If have questions, please-ask. I-tell what I remember.”>

Spoiler: Datapad Contents

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:: FILE NAME: HOLOCRON_OF_THE_VOIDS ::​

---

:: RIMWARD TRADE LEAGUE
:: MISSION DESIGNATION: RJC

:: MISSION PERSONNEL: ELIAS EDO; NATHAN BLOODSCRAWL
:: LOCATION: DAGOBAH; UNDISCLOSED CAVERN SYSTEM
:: OBJECTIVE: RECOVER PADAWAN ALEX REINAR

---

:: The Rimward Jedi Coalition dispatched Master Elias Edo and Padawan Nathan Bloodscrawl to Dagobah following a distress signal that indicated the disappearance of Jedi Padawan Alex Reinar. The mission aimed to find and safely return Padawan Reinar, while investigating the source of the disturbances.

Upon arrival, Master Edo and Padawan Bloodscrawl made their way to the coordinates last recorded from Padawan Reinar's signal. The team was met with an intense concentration of Force energy surrounding a cavern. The entrance was obscured by thick fog, and both Jedi noted the immediate onset of hallucinatory phenomena as they approached. Inside the cavern, Master Edo and Padawan Bloodscrawl encountered vivid illusions, each crafted to disorient and manipulate their perceptions. The team discovered that the source of the phenomena was a Sith Holocron, later identified as the Holocron of Voids. This artifact housed the spirit of an ancient Sith, which was actively attempting to corrupt Padawan Reinar and use him as a vessel for its reawakening.

Master Edo and Padawan Bloodscrawl engaged in a fierce mental and physical confrontation with the Sith spirit. Utilizing their combined strength in the Force, they were able to sever the spirit's connection to Padawan Reinar, effectively banishing it back into the Holocron. Padawan Alex Reinar was found unconscious but alive within the cavern. Immediate medical attention was administered, and he was transported back to the Dagobah temple for further treatment. Despite the efforts of the temple healers, Padawan Reinar succumbed to the lingering effects of the Sith spirit's assimilation attempt two days later.

---

:: ADDENDUM: PERSONAL NOTES
Recognizing the danger posed by the Holocron of Voids, Padawan Nathan Bloodscrawl took responsibility for its containment. Under my guidance, the Holocron was secured and hidden in an undisclosed location, ensuring it does not fall into the wrong hands. This mission must underscore the persistent threat posed by ancient Sith artifacts and the necessity for ongoing vigilance by the Jedi. The loss of Padawan Alex Reinar is deeply felt, and his sacrifice serves as a somber reminder of the dangers inherent in our duty to the Force.

I will not let this happen again.

 

[Efret Farr]

It felt strange to receive another tablet from Elias considering that the last had affected both of them so deeply. As the moments passed since putting the datapad aside, her palms began to burn as if she had an allergy to durasteel. In reality, it was a memory fraying at her nerves.

She slowed her breath and clasped her hands behind her back as she watched Elias finish speaking. Only then did she bring her hands back to her front. <Yes. Thank-you,> she repeated, forcing a smile.

Perhaps a change in topic would distract her from the unresolved past floating between them.

<Three day ago I go-to Senate. Discussion about Dark side use. Ask-question, ban or not. They work-on regulate plan.> Somehow, even with the spirit of a elephant in the room with them, it felt more comfortable to discuss this with him rather than with Sodus. <Diversity strength. Now if Senate try regulate it, future I scared #GA lose it.> She gave a small pout. <Keep things in #Bogano temple. Already forgot you have them.>

That was the only cultural preservation happening here.

Elias Edo​

 

[Elias Edo]

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Tags: Efret Farr
Location: EIATTU 6

Elias’ face scrunched up at the mention of the Alliance Senate. It wasn’t a secret that he had little regard for that area of the GA, despite his lack of conversation about it. Perhaps it was all the screwy expressions he made when the topic was brought up that outed his personal feelings.

<“I not go,”> he signed with a half-shrug. <“Too many people make big decisions, know nothing about.”>

Technically, despite its massive impact on galactic society, the Jedi Order was a religious institution working alongside a secular government; just as the Senate was clear that the Jedi were not to use their station to influence the government, he felt they the Senate should, in turn, be disallowed from regulating their religious practices - even if those practices were considered distasteful.

Elias gave Efret an apologetic nod. <“Forgive-me,”> he said. <“I not political, just frustrated.”>

He turned to leave, then hesitated. <“You know, #Bogano there for you. Anytime you-need or you-want. Don’t have to be…”> he trailed. His face was placid but his shoulders carried the ache of when she left the first time.

<“Don’t be #stranger.”>

 

[Efret Farr]

<“Don’t be #stranger.”>

That couple of signs bewitched her body, causing her lungs to, for a moment, forget how to breathe, her heart how to beat.

And then the functions whipped back into place, her breath all but gulping and her pulse quickening. <Won't,> she replied with a trembling hand that stabilized somewhat as she curled her fingers to her palm. <I visit soon.>

She couldn't leave it at that.

She wanted to tell him that she missed him, she wanted to ask after Fenn and Erewhon, but she somehow couldn't form any of the signs.

Dammit, Efret, she admonished herself. Why was it so hard to speak her truth to him? Perhaps it was overthinking. Yes, that was it. She didn't want to cause him any more harm, even if she thought she said something with the best of intentions, so it was challenging to say anything at all. Still, she wanted to give herself more time to force herself through whatever communication barrier had constructed itself, but had trailed off too long by now to feel like she could continue to grasp at words. Instead, she began a new thought and concluded it with a bittersweet smile:

<Sorry. Thank-you again. Hope Force stay with you.>

Elias Edo​