The heart of the blade.

[Seo Linn]

"That library has been built and rebuilt many times over the centuries. Thank you, Flinx. I will make sure it is returned to the proper people and put to proper use. A great many things have changed within the Jedi Order though and not to mention there are more than one out there. It seems people can't fully agree on the meaning of the code. My own view is rather broad, but that is due to how I grew up."

She listened to what he knew of the history here and knew some additional information he did not include.

"Indeed they did and your correct on the beliefs on the Knights of Zakuul. However, Odessen never fell under the rule of the Eternal Empire. This was the original base of the Eternal Alliance. Did you know the leader of the Eternal Empire was also the Sith Emperor of the time?"

While they professed being neutral, Seo believed they were more dark than light, but did not speak this out loud. Without positive evidence, she didn't want to speak her theory.
​
"What do you think caused the implosion?"

Provided they had stayed going in the same general direction she felt called, she did not make a suggestion to alter their course. If the ground had made them twist or turn in any direction, then she would direct the cart to move back into the direction she had felt.

[member="Flinx Kalith"]

 

[yancep96]

"Yes while i know the emperor was a Sith, his guards were more on the neutral side and each was encouraged to seek out their own path in the force. It was both their greatest strength and also their greatest weakness, a house divided cannot stand. The je'dai were once a very powerful force on Typhon, but when beings tried to impose their morals on the force, saying the force is good or bad, then war is soon to follow. War spark violence, and sets in motion history as we know it. Look around, the galaxy feels like a giant game of Dejarik with no way for anyone to win. Try to conquer the galaxy and you spread yourself so thin that a mere militia of oppressed can find a foothold and we are off to war again. I dream of a great peace between all species, but I also know that's all it is, a dream."

Flinx pulled up to an old cobbled area that looked like a open air market once stood there but all that was left was the cobbles of the street and stalls. A road led straight to the cave and Flinx unhooked Jake and let him go graze. The others he put out the dried Bantha meat he brought for them. he hoped there would be some native vermin that they could hunt and since they were in a valley they were pretty free to roam.

"Well this looks about as good a place as any to set up camp."

 

[Seo Linn]

It was a good thing Seo thought ahead in matters and had brought some things along that could be used for being out in the wild. She had only packed for herself though so any additional bedding would need to be provided by Flinx. Climbing off the cart, she stretched and looked around.

The stalls and old buildings were made of stone and appeared to mostly solid still. Looking up at the sky, she nodded when he pointed out this would be good place for their camping site.

Setting her bag down, she unclipped from its side a canteen of water. Taking a drink, she offered it to Flinx.

"I can get things set up here if you are able to get us dinner."

[member="Flinx Kalith"]

 

[yancep96]

Flinx would unclip his own canteen and take a swig. "Got it and I got bedding and an extra shelter in the cart."

Flinx would slowly unwrap his hand wraps, setting the Kyber crystals in BB's storage pod in his chassis. He slowly shrugged off his outer robes and undid his tunic. "Hope you don't mind seafood." Flinx would walk to the shore and dive in swimming to the middle of the small cove. Standing, the water was up to his chest. He reached out with with the force and felt for the life around him. Sensing a fish of appropriate size for the meal he wanted to cook he used the force to lift it out of the water and used it to carry it back to the camp and with a sympathetic look he touched the fishes head, "You have had a long life friend, go now and join the force, we thank you for the use of you mortal body." The fishes breathing would stop, and it would lie still.

Flinx would pull out cooking supply's out of the cart and would start to clean the fish and with practiced movements he would fillet the meat off and throw the head and bones into a pot with clean water, setting it over an energy cell cooker. He would pull out some prepped dumpling wrappers and would cut up the fish fillet and stuff the dumplings. Once that was done he fished the boiled fish parts out and drops in the dumplings, taking some fresh onion and peppers and chopping them before throwing them in. He would pull out two bowls and with practiced motions he ladled out some for her and then himself pulling out two spoons. "Food is ready."

 

[Seo Linn]

Hearing his parting comment about hoping she liked seafood, Seo got to work setting up the camp for the night. She looked around for a sturdy building that would provide the best shelter for all of them. Getting his bedding out, she set it up along with hers inside and made a place for a fire outside.

"I may not understand what you say, little guy, but he seems like a nice enough man."

Since Flinx was out ear​ shot or she thought, not considering his hearing might be greater than that of a normal person. By the time he returned, the camp had been set up to her liking. If he wanted anything changed, she would alter it to fit what he needed.

When he did come back, cooked the food for them, she decided to get each of them something to drink. Getting into her pack again, she pulled out a bag of herbs and mixed them in with some of her water. Taking out a cup for herself and him from the back of the cart, when the drink was ready she brought it over to where they would be eating. Set up near to where the fire should be, it would keep any wild animals away from their camp and allow them to rest without worry.

"Thank you, Flinx. I brought the drink."

 

[yancep96]

Flinx would take the the cup and hand her a bowl and spoon. "Thank you Miss Linn." He woulds sit down using a set of chopsticks to eat the dumplings. "So I'm not sure how this is supposed to work. I never truly been through the training that your order's younglings undergo."

Flinx would look down and rewrap his "eyes" and hands resetting the crystals on the back of his hands he folded the robes only donning his tunic for a more casual feel. If she was looking while he changed, she would see that though he seemed thin under his robes, he was surprisingly bulky, years of working and hunting with his companions had sculpted his body in such a way that while relaxed he seemed lithe and wirey like a cat, but in times of stress he could overpower most people his size.

Flinx would look into the fire seeming to be lost in thought.

 

[Seo Linn]

There was no reaction from Seo about his state of dress or the fact he had to redress himself before they ate. She did indeed take notice of his appearance. When he had left to get their dinner, she had missed the scar on his back because she was focused on setting the camp up.

Accepting the bowl and spoon, she nodded at his thanks. He soon after admitted he had no idea how making a saber worked. Sitting back and upright, Seo looked at him considering her words carefully before speaking.

"There is no set path. Each person essentially faces their own demons in a way. Visions of the future, the past. Alternates of either. No matter what you go through, it is for you alone. Something you hold close and when you find the right person, you can tell them about it. I have yet to find mine."

Silence fell between the two of them, but it wasn't tense. Some peace had come as night started to fall on Odessen. She ate after speaking and it gave him the opportunity to think on what she said as he stared into the fire.

Around him, he might start to hear voices. One male and the other female. As of yet, no words could be understood.

[member="Flinx Kalith"]

 

[yancep96]

If he had eyes to squeeze shut he would but instead he just sat there listening to the voices as the Jedi spoke on how he was supposed to find his own path. "Im gonna turn in for the night, in the morning we can see if we can move forward with our investigation." He would go lay on his mat as his companions found places around the camp to sleep. Once settled he fully opened himself to the voices.

 

[Seo Linn]

"See you in the morning then."

Since he had left the cooking stuff out after finishing eating, Seo went through and cleaned it all up, putting it away as well. That fire should keep any animals away, but food left out might draw some attention to the small camp. Once she got done with that, she turned in for the night as well.

As the light of fire started to fade, Seo was asleep and this allowed the Force to speak freely with Flinx.

At first it started like it had at the fire. Quiet voices too distant to understand. Eventually they came closer and clearer. A male and female. They were not familiar to Flinx though.

The female spoke to the male as if Flinx couldn't hear, "he is ready to start this journey. We must prepare for his arrival."

In reply, he might be able to make out the misty outline of both forms. The male clearly the dominating of the two. No threat from either of them though.

"Time will tell if he is ready, woman."

[member="Flinx Kalith"]

 

[yancep96]

Before the sun rises Flinx rouses from his voice filled sleep. He would not eat, instead he went up to the cool creek water and washed himself as clean as he could. Donning pure white robes and a white veil with gold piping around the edge, Flinx would walk barefoot down the cobblestone roads to the cave. Once there he sat and crossed his legs. Setting both crystals down on either side of him and settled into a meditative trance.

To him time seemed to stop as he felt through the force and called out. "I'm here. I seek knowledge and purification for my heart and the heart of my blade to be."

 

[Seo Linn]

Going through his ritual of observed by the two spirits here and noted. It wasn't something they needed, but they read what his intentions were. Even if he attempted to block them, they were too strong to be stopped. However, their touch was like silk. Gentle, light and could only be felt by somebody attuned to them. He was not yet that far along.

The male would come to him first, the female wasn't clear to him. Flinx would not be able to feel her at all.

"You seek power. That is far from pure."

[member="Flinx Kalith"]

 

[yancep96]

"I come for power, but not the power of the dark that crushes the life from those beneath it. I come for the power to get through the rough times and the power to protect those in my care. I come for the power to stand up to tyranny of those who abuse power to their own ends. If this is not pure then I will find a way other than power." Flinx would try to see the one speaking to him. He was unsure as to who or what was speaking but, something nags at the back of his brain that he should know this voice.

 

[Seo Linn]

While he may think the voice should be familiar, he was wrong. This voice Flinx had never heard before.

"What happens when that power to crush tyranny turns you into the very thing you seek to destroy? You think you are on a pure path, but you are mistaken boy. Follow me and we will find out where you belong."

Through the Force an image would now be seen. A figure of a masked male, same as the previous night.

"Leave your shell behind. No harm will come to it."

[member="Flinx Kalith"]

 

[yancep96]

Not sure of the trustworthiness of the spirit he summoned his vornskyr companion to watch his "shell" as his force spirit would stand and follow the masked masculine voice. If Flinx was honest with himself he is scared, very scared. Rather than trying to throw up defences he just follows demurely quite curious.

 

[Seo Linn]

When Flinx felt that fear, it seemed the spirit leading him grew more solid.

"You want the power to protect those in your care, yet you call upon their aid. You are weak and not worthy of this. Answer my question."

The spirit had taken him off the path that lead​ to the cave. Both of them appearing as spirits now since Flinx had left his body behind in the meditation.

 

[yancep96]

"It is absolute power you are talking of, however if someday I became the thing I despise then I would pray that someone would come to defeat me and if need be kill me. however only the sith deal in absolutes, and I am not sith. I only want the power to protect and not power to rule. Power without restraint is a fire that burns everything it touches. And yes I call on the aid of others, but that is not weakness. By trusting someone it shoulders the burden to more than one soul therefor making life easier."

 

[Seo Linn]

His guide walked on, not turning around to look at Flinx to know if he followed, fell behind or stumbled along the way. Spirit or not, some things did not change for Flinx. If he died in this trial, then he would be dead.

"Ha, you are indeed not a sith. You are too weak, don't have the ambition to be one. Yet you could be."

The image of the spirit started to change, the voice that spoke to him once again became something familiar.

 

[yancep96]

"Wait a second." Flinx would start drawing in on the force defensively. "I remember that voice and that stone cold attitude, so why would my father be trying to help me purify myself. If you are my father or associated with him then why help me, eh? He despised me and my mother and tried to turn me to the dark so I killed him before he could turn me into the very thing my mother hated. he is the one who scarred me and he is the one who's crystal I'm trying to purify. So why would he be here?" Flinx would pull deeply on the force trying to generate enough strength to use should he have to fight. "Bogon help the Sith that tries to turn me, cause I've resisted much in my life."

 

[Seo Linn]

The sound of a wind came through the trees, nothing was felt by the spirits though. Remaining untouched by the natural world here. In front of him, the male figure let out what might be an irritated sigh and seemed to alter back to his original image.

"I am not your father nor have any connection with him."

Next to Flinx, the female would suddenly appear. From her came a sense of peace, calm and tranquility.

"No, he did not despise the two of you. Think about it, young one. Abusive he may have been, but he felt he was doing it right by making you stronger. He could not see that the way of peace was better."

[member="Flinx Kalith"]

 

[yancep96]

Flinx would let out a breath and let the force go that he was building to try and protect himself. "Be that as it may it seems as though I've failed both parents. My father wanted me to be a Sith, wanted me to exude power and dominate others without so much as a whisper. He wanted me to be his right hand, and I killed him, though looking back on that night he didn't fight me, he didn't so much as scream "no don't do it!", he just looked at me and turned his head. I was so angry at him for hurting my mother, so vengeful for all the pain he made me and my mother suffer, that I drove his own lightsaber through his heart. But when i told my mother that we were free, she went to his bedside and sobbed, she wept for that monster and when I tried to comfort her she looked at me like she would look at him when he was singing her hair off with his blade, or burning me to try and break her will. She looked at me like I had become my father. She stayed with me until we got to Kashyyyk and when the council there refused to train me saying I was too dark, she sent me away with her lightsaber devoting herself as a gardener for the temple there until she died. i killed both my parents and it has haunted me my entire life."