Dev Shadows of Atrisia

[Junko Ike]

Junko was moving deeper into the ship... her best chance of escape was to reach one of the outposts... the research centers had Wukong and Atrisian forces stationed on tthem and if she could use one of them to make contact then she would be able to get back to civilization at least... she wouldn't have o be stuck out this far. "Alright, so get to the lower levels of the ship... escape through the ice and snow to a base that may or may not still be functional... sure I can do that." She said it and while she could do it and would do it... didn't mean she didn't have the right to complain about it. Junko was moving when she stopped and listened to some of the pirates.

"So did you hear what Ren had planned?" The one was speaking and Junko stopped finding a small alcove she could put herself into and listen to them speak. "Yeah, she got one of those shuttles of girls from Kyushu. What I woudln't do to have some of those dark haired beauties." There was a letcherious laugh to him but Junko was trying to figure out if Jia Ren was here to endanger them or if she was well.. if she was in hiding again.. this could have been a dangerous place to hide out if they were not careful. "Oh yes but you know how she is... all of the ladies get to go to her first and then trickle down to use."

 

[Junko Ike]

Junko was listenign and themention of Jia Ren was well not unexpected but the mysterious figure had been something from Atrisia.. no one was certain who or what they were... always around and causing problems but ever changing according to descriptions... Researchers suspected from the texts that it was more a name given to someone rather then an actual person or that it had been a person once upon a time and it was just easier to keep it being a single person. Debates about such a thing would go on for days if it was allowed in the halls of the Atrisian Imperial academies or law enforcement areas. They couldn't be allowed to well stretch out that time.

Junko though also couldn't stay and she proceeded deeper and deeper itno the ship.. the modular tubes for getting around were helpful as she could get from the top to the botom quickly while feeling in the force and listening for something... anything that might be there. She didn't know what or if they knew she was gone and had managed to get off of the airship or if they were still trying to search it and find her... if she was lucky they wouln't have even noticed just yet... buy her a little more time to really secret herself away as she found some of the cold weather gear in a locker near the bottom fo the ship and climbed outside into the blizzard.

 

[Junko Ike]

She was thankful for the cold weather gear as she started walking and distributed her weight across the snow to keep from sinking and slowing herself down. The jedi master was focused on maintaining her cloak as the sound of klaxons blaring came with the commotion that she could barely hear at the edge of her hearing... they were searching for her as Yuki had been found... more importantly they were scrambling what airships they had managed to recover and claim for their own so it could be a dangerous situatioj if she hadn't been cloaked in the snow... the blizzard would make it harder to find her as she concealed herself from thermal.

She stopped though and paused seeing one of the fliers go over her head... they were trying to search quickly in the snow with spot lights and it made it easier as she crawled through the snow to avoid them... good news was they didn't know where she was or which way she had gone.. bad news there was only so many places that she would be able to go in this case so all they really had to do was wait her out. She could try for another but with little food around the continent... no scratch that... as far as they knew there was none that was able to last here in the snow though she might be able to feed off of the force for a short time.. wouldn't be good to skip meals.

 

[Junko Ike]

She pushed forward though after the airship had passed and allowed herself a moment to breathe when she finally managed to take it all it... the ancient continent was regarded as cursed but there was so much more toit then that. it was one of the oldest civilizations or at least signs of it... this was before much... where they had seen and been used by their older ancestors to build amazing structures. The evidence of them was still there in the distance as the massive towers and cities jutted from the snow. The ancient library had been explored but often the groups met with dangers and only a handful survived whatever had happened here.

Junko found herself in one of the ancient roads that had been developed and created by them... Pillars that had once been carved with statues and script long since faded stood tall and the featureless faces looked down upon her. Smooth deadless eyes where she couldn't get an idea of what fully an ancient Atrisian looked like as in the distance the blizzard roared high above them... it rebounded with the sound of gale force winds on the sea... droning sounds of fliers carried but then were drowned out before Junko came to a cave she could take shelter in and the ancient tree stood tall above her with its red leaves that she knew could be used for tea.

 

[Junko Ike]

The roots of the tree though went deep.. she knew that.. they formed caverns where they pushed and were great for well... for this.. for shelter if it was really needed as the feeling of the cold went away. A dryness... a coolness where the minimal heat had collected was all around her and Junko stretched out. She hadn't really had a good moment to rest since she was captured and that wasn't about to change any time soon at least. She was going to have to really work on it and brought up her wrist chevron.. they hadn't pulled it off because they knew it would lock up and be useless but they went someone the positioning wouldn't work as easily... still as she activated it the AI came to life.

"Princess, I am having a little trouble connecting to you fully... seems a storm is obscuring the signal but we have been looking for you." Junko was glad to hear that as she spoke. "Good, I was well... i is a long story but I am in the north, near the ancient library. Find my location and send several ships as I found one of our missing prototype school ships and a number of pirates... maybe even Jia Ren." The AI was listening and she knew had patched in her guards before speaking again. "We have your location, under good weather conditions... finding you could take a day or two but we are assembling and moviing towards the continent.. just find a way to survive until then and princess your friend brought your cloths and saber back."

 

[Junko Ike]

Alright then she had a plan or at least the beginnings of one... she would have to be able to survive at least until they arrived which could take a little time. Their searching would be narrowed down though near the great library and once she saw them she would be able to rejoin them.. the amount of soldiers would deter the pirates and Junko looked around at what she had here. There was a few things with the root here and Junko followed them as they came into one of the larger chambers. The stone smoothed into almost a bed as she laid down and focused on the force energies around herself. She cast an illusion to seal it and made it solid to keep out the chill... the force to make a fire.

She had what few things she could find and breathed out as still there was a chill in the air. THey had with research teams learned that the chill went deep itno the continent... it was everywhere and whatever had happened here tens of thousands of years ago. Junko was checking out many of the things around her and this appeared more and more like it had been at one point someones shelter or home.. the bedding was gone.. the stone smoothed down. Areas that could double like cupboards and there was even some melted ice forming water in a small pool that ran so it was not still and dangerous with bacteria.

 

[Junko Ike]

She put a hand into the water and cupping one hand lifted it as she focused on the force to look into it... looking for microbes that could be harmful just in case. She had allowed herself a moment to breathe and relax not finding any and took a drink of it.. the ice cold waters were delicious though as she could feel it going into her throat and she hadn't realized just how much she needed something to drink. Being kidnapped and escaping... fighting against the pirate Yuki while it had been one sided had still been a fight. She wasn't used to well someone not being worried about fighting her because she was a jedi... guess her saber well deterred a lot of threats.

Junko finished and she looked around for something that could be used as a form of food.. there wasn't anything there and if she didn't eat or do something to sustain her strength by the time the party came to rescue her she might be far to weak. She needed to focus and enter a trance but it would require her to think about it and she prepared working to ensure the area she was really was secured... wasn't going to suddely be entered while she was asleep and vulnerable. Once that was done she was preparing to go and enter a jedi healing trace but it would be more sustaining to refuel her body do she would be able to function.

 

[Junko Ike]

So she would have to go deeper.. she would have to focus and went to the stone slab that had been smoothed out. It contoured to the body as she laid down and there was a surprisingly level of comfort to it as it wasn't as cold as she had thought it might be. Junko could feel her head being supported as she laid there and closed her eyes.... focusing on how long she wanted the healing trance to last and what would wake her up if needed... couldn't be stuck in it to the point she would run out of food as that wouldn't do them any good. The jedi master was focusing on it and on sustaining herself.. finding the energies of the force around her to pull it in and feed herself the force energies.

She settled on it and closed her eyes feeling her body start to rejuvenate quickly enough.. the sensation of floating was there as the jedi master breathed in and then slowly settles into the healing trance. it would be able to keep her alive until she felt a force presence like the other jedi coming to search for her. She slipped into it and the hunger pangs subsided... the exhaustion she had been feeling being awake and fighting.. running and moving were gone before she knew it and her mind was a blank slate... allowing herself to sleep and breath. She could see the shadow on the wall watching her and for the most part protecting her while she rested... the yamagata weren't always keep on killing if they didn't need to.

 

[Junko Ike]

Junkos mind continued to function even in her sleep but it was different here... she was drifting back and felt what was coming... she could feel the power that had been poured in into the continent and the land. it was dangerous and powerful throughout the years.. she was seeing it though... deserts stretching for miles... grand statues to their gods and rulers... murals and cities that were built around ancient wells. There were lakes... rivers and swampland with the great library from which all of the legends and histories were from. They had poured into it so much but there was even older things here... the people were sun kissed... dark skinned, beautiful with eyeliners and ornate trappings around their hair.

She could see a whole lot as well.. from across the sea came other Atrisians... decorated and menacing in long ships. They were demanding tribute and riches.. they demanded slaves and taught power... taught cruelity but the ones here were better able to learn it fast. Soon fighting broke out and the rules settled it in the old way... one on one with displays of their power in the force... it was called something once upon a time but it was the force... that attracted the gods of the sky to come down and work to enslave both sides. They drove the atrisians of Chitei down into the world... they corrupted the Taeki into cannibalistic darksiders and here they experimented to make pure genetic beings.

 

[Junko Ike]

She knew the legends... the myths that they had tried to create themselves into perfect being... the genetically superior beings of the world who would be able to dominate. There was even believed to be secret societies still lingering that dated back to them far and stretching across Atrisia but sort of hard to really prove or disprove that. Then she was awake and could feel the force around her.. she was looking almost instantly as something had shifted and ran away through the caves and into the snows... she could see the barely visible footsteps on the stone where water had melted between their feet and the rock with the little warmth.

Junko emerged carefully and looked towards the sky that was still in dark clouds and shadows around her. She could see much more around though before heading towards the remains of the ancient city and the library as hopefully if she was lucky enough the fliers of the pirates would have moved on. She couldn't see much but her body and mind were refreshed.. she focused on the force to keep herself warm and comfortable even here in the snow before she got to the massive gates of the once great city. The frozen bay with its massive lighthouse were still famous when she came across it and from there she knew you could see the infamous great library.

 

[Junko Ike]

Traveling to the lighthouse though she was able to look up at it and started to ascend it... to look over and maybe have a signal she could make for the others. The jedi master was trying to get up here where she could see it. In the distance over the wind she was able to hear more of it. The whinning of the fliers while it was hovering.. The yovshin who had come in force with her personal guards and in extreme weather gear. Even Io was there with them and they were searching for her as the jedi master crouched on top of the lighthouse overlooking and she breathed in and then out... allowing the force to alert them as she sent it up like a flare or a beacon.

That managed to get their attention though as the jedi master waved with her hands when they were looking and pointing towards her. The sounds of excitement carried on the winds that raged around them. Junko moved and pushed the force into her jump as she lept towards one of the fliers that had taken off and come towards her. Made for three people but having only two she landed on it and was welcomed back by the pilot and gunner before they were starting to head back. "Welcome back princess... we were worried when you weren't here." She nodded to him and sitting down as they were returning to the airship instead of the ground as the others were doing. "I am just happy to be back."

 

[Junko Ike]

The jedi princess as soon as she was back onto the airship lept from the deck of the flier to the airship and then she stood there waiting for the others to come and join her. The group arriving until she moved and smile getting hugs and kisses from the others. "Sorry about leaving so abruptly I just needed to after those days and days of going over everything... I just needed to breathe." She said it when she was checking it out and seeing Io who was coming closer with a smile oher face though. She had Junkos lightsaber in her hand and presented it as Junko took it back with a nod of her head. "Perfect thank you... you have all met IO correct? She helped me back to health."

"Oh we have met her and if she hadn't said you were in danger... we might have just guessed you decided to run away to some island with a woman and not be our princess anymore." Phaidor said it as the others laughed as Junko could see Io's blush creeping along her cheeks. The princess smiled to but she moved over and wrapped an arm around her as she spoke. "Hey... if i was to do such a thing be proud it is you... and allof you would have been invited. the island is beautiful, isolated and exotic enough that we all could have been there and not had to think about what new horrors were being brought to the planet." That got some looks but all of them wrapped arms and held Io within the group. "Welcome to the family."

 

[Junko Ike]

The trip back to the palace was quite uneventful... after everythign that had been happening it was just simply nice to have some peace and quiet as the jedi master arrived there... her personal ship in the port as it gleamed with a fresh coat of the aurodium paint that would work to protect it. There was the gleaming crystals that were being put into her ships and they were working to overhaul the systems. If she could improve upon the design with many of the things that they had been developing with her cousins... well then she was going to take some advantage of it. Specifically the pocket dimensions and improved weapons compared to what some of them have faced.

"Welcome back." The voice came to her as the jedi princess turned to look at the woman. buxom didn't give her justice as the Rice Wine Empress stood there with a large grin on her face.. she had a golden kimono on and headpieces of aurodium that would gleam in the sunlight. Long black hair that was freshly combed daily and the flush to her cheeks from drinking which got her the namesake of the Rice Wine Empress was there just at the surface to be seen. She wasn't a lush like some might believe but she was more into the festive side and getting the people to be happy while the emperor focused on the harder decisions... it was a yina ndyang thing with them.

 

[Junko Ike]

Junko moved forward and bowed to the empress who was looking at her with a wider grin upon her face. She would do a whole lot and no greater thing was clear here and now. "Thank you empress." She said it and the empress moved forward embracing her. "I take it our well... your trip has been fun.. getting to travel all around Atrisia and see some of the marvels or learn some more of the mysteries well.. it gives you a lot of things that you can start to think about." The empress seemed excited and while off to the side Junko could see her mother standing tall and proud with the captain of the guard for the empress. The golden armored Yovshin were around the room.

"I did and as you can see... well I have gathered people from all over and within Atrisia.. there is still a whole lot more to do though and I do wish that you might well come with me. I know you like meeting the people and they love their empress." There was also the star festival coming up... a celebration on Atrisia of when they first really started going to the stars and the first generation of ships went out to create the colonies. They had been working on things.. they had been developing it and space travel had united the planet like nothing before it to truely be connected and united. Junko though stood before the empress with a smile on her face for the two of them.

 

[Junko Ike]

She and the empress retreated to private chambers, being able to talk with her without her handmaidens would not color her experience at least. "So talk to me Junko... I know you have had some opinions about what has been going on." She said it and sat there on the carved marble steps of the bath with her long flowing hair behind her. Junko sitting there in the center letting the water lap around her body and soak into each area to sooth her muscles and her mind. The calming scent of the oils that were in the water and the flowers scattered around for modesty with a look of serene acceptance on her face.

"I do but we are as we always have been my empress... we are surviving and looking to get the people another day of life when offworlders come. The CIS is different maybe but if we start to disagree then I imagine suddenly their wanting to let us live will change to being under their thumb so I would advise caution in it. Doubtful many of them would come to the system.. we have nothing they would find valuable and they barely seemed to think we could function without their aid. The recent attacks and recovery are only working to really show what we can do if given the chance. The population will recover and the buildings can be rebuilt... our reputation will take a hit as the CIS is the heroes who saved the backwater planet but our people will know the real history."

 

[Junko Ike]

Junko was listening to the empress and she gave a nod of her head to that... there was something dangerous about it... there was something that they would have to do as she smiled. "Yes and well while I was traveling I was able to think of something... I was able to think of what to say at Jar'kai when we handle things." She said it and it wasn't as sinister as it sounded at least not nearly.. a speech that would work in their favor.. a moment in time that would be used to assure the people that things were happening to help them. The empress and Emperor had given her a lot of time as she was well the one who had been there and encountered their enemies more often.

The empress seemed happy with that and she spoke moving through the water and standing there. "Good. I will look forward to hearing it." There was a smile om her face so that she might be able to better improve the disposition of the poeple on the planet in terms of what they faced. The attacks depleted their willpower more often then nought and the population suffered because if they went by the numbers reported from other governments in the galaxy. They would have it seem the commonwealth was wiped away over and over and the people massacred since a backwards world like Atrisia in the core of the galaxy with a long history... doesn't actually have thoughts.

 

[Junko Ike]

The journey towards Jar'kai was something as the retinue were going over what the pair would be wearing. Junko didn't tell them what she was going to say... members of the parliament had been invited as well as some of the lesser houses who were outspoken to hear and as they were told hopefully win them over and make them happy. JUnko had wanted them to make sure some of the things were handled but yovshin were also there and the people of Atrisia who were outside the wall near Jar'kai would be the primary ones talked to. After everything that had been done in the city... well a wallof light had made it a very different scenario.

The city of Jar'kai though was much improved as Junko stood there... she allowed her mind to reach out and she could sense all fo the people who were wondering.. she could sense the people who were anticipating the conversations at least... "Are you ready?" The Emperor said it and stood tall and regal at the top of the stairs leading up to one of the sections of the wall. They had more yovshin and more defenses being built... the massive orchid platforms had been brought it and the jedi master knew what she needed to do and what would happen after this if well.. all went as it was supposed to. Ships had already been prepared at the closest port.

 

[Junko Ike]

"Friends, Atrisians lend me your ears;
I come to denounce Mythos, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them;
The worse is often forgotten with their bones
So let it be with Mythos. The noble followers
Hath told you Mythos was ambitious:
If it were so, it was a grievous lie,
And grievously hath Mythos answer'd for it.
Here, under leave of his still loyal and the rest
For Mythos was an honourable man;
So are they all, all honourable men
Come I to speak in Mythos absence.
He was our conquer, he was our tyrant, disliked and mistrusted not just by me:
But many say he was ambitious;
And his sycophants are honourable men.
He hath brought many captives home to Atrisia
Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill:
Did this in Mythos seem ambitious?
When that the poor have cried, Mythos sacrificed them to create a force storm
Ambition should be made of sterner stuff:
Yet his bootlickers say he was ambitious;
And are honourable men.
You all did see that on the Star Festival
I thrice sought to rebuke him our world,
Which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition?
Yet slaves says he was ambitious;
And, surely, they are honourable men.
I speak not to disprove what they have spoke,
But here I am to speak what I do know.
You all did love him once, not without force, not without him suppressing thought:
What cause demanded you then, to mourn for him now?
O judgment! thou art no longer fed to brutish beasts,
And have lost no longer your reason. Bear with me;
My heart is in the world with all of you,
And I must pause till it you listen to me. "

 

[Junko Ike]

The speech brought the peoples attention.. she knew what else was happening as the yovshin and investigators worked across the planet. As she had spoke they had raided and arrested dozens.. the ones who would help mythos should he return... the last remnants of his influences on the planet were wiped away as well as others. Atrisia was under thumb and control but its people were not bound by obligation... the few who had worked to earn their respect and given They honored them but it was no longer required to fawn over them... the age of hero worship would be coming to an end if they were lucky and instead they would move towards just rebuilding the commonwealth.

"But our ambitions, our dreams and our people have endured... we are not gone or forgotten... we thrive, we live, we love, we breathe and we no longer need to define ourselves by being on a bed of bones." Junko said it as the reports there were thirty two people taken into custody with only two of them being problem enough they had forced their hands. Two deaths was still bad but it had been a specific thing to not kill them unless it was a direct threat to lives. So she was trusting that was the case as the jedi master breathed out and Jar'kai loomed in the background with the feeling of Zanza's wall of light still lingering and clinging to the air.

 

[Junko Ike]

There was even more... they had used this as a means to contact and work with the old commonwealth charter.. the worlds in the area around them who had been essential for trade and commerce... well they were being revisited and established to rebuild the commonwealth itself. They were looking to expand it.. once over two hundred worlds called Atrisia friend and so if they could get those planets and their systems into the bubble and she was looking towards the farlax sector... she was looking towards he future and expanding it into the surrounding systemss that might be within the CIS but weren't deemed notable or important enough for them to give notice.

The speech was finished and the people were more then happy, two had been arrested here and well... the crowd was glad to see them gone. Instead of threats or oppression... Junko offered them the ultimate balm.. honesty... facts and history. Atrisia liked to learn from history and not repeat it. They would break the wheel compared to just keep letting it go round and round and round. That she stepped back and looked at the emperor who walked forward to stand in front of her.... His chest the main thing she saw as he was a full two heads above her. THe embroidered tunic he wore with his feathery white beard and dark eyes. "Well done."