The House that Jack built (Je'daii)

[Sargon Vynea]

Bakura wasn't as populated as the core, but it was still well developed, and among the fringes of space it held an incredible independent spirit. The planet itself had never come close to turning itself into one enormous city, instead it had respected it's wilderness keeping it's growth in check. Such there plenty of spots of beauty left, and Sargon had made it a point as Governor of the world to keep it that way. The outcome of such decisions left him with plenty of choices when deciding where to build Akar Kesh, and still let the students be isolated from the populace itself.

He'd sent out invitations to all the founding members of the Je'daii Order, or at least the founding of the second Je'daii Order. He rather hoped some would be able to show up for the groundbreaking of Akar Kesh, it was something he hoped they could do as a whole. Turning his face to the cliffs before him he imagined the structure of the temple rising up over then until at their peak they floated directly above the waves, it would be a breath taking sight.

The cliffs below would be tunneled into to create docks, and living quarters for both staff and students. Everything from power reactors, supplies, and storage would exist in these tunnels to preserve the fields above for farming space, and the forests beyond untouched. He'd obtained farming equipment, but it was actually his hope to use the students themselves to till the fields. After all a bit of humility helped the mind to understand how far it had to grow, no?

All of this was being supervised by the head engineer an Ithorian who was simply was referred to as Jack, a bit silly perhaps, but he was the best at what he did. He was specifically sought after when a the structure had to fulfill it's purpose, but also to limit the impact it had on nature around it as as much as possible. His plans hadn't failed to impress Sargon, he just hoped the others would feel the same. Turning his eyes to the sky as the time for the ceremony neared he reached out with the Force in search of others. It was a busy time for all of them, and he knew not all would be able to make it, there was more work to do then just his. He was hopeful for the company though, to share this new beginning.

 

[Lief]

Jyn owed her sanity to just one man.

It was he she stood alongside this day, the pair of them having only recently left Myrkr, and she felt confident in his presence. At the same time, however, the girl was fighting back her anxieties. She had learned to keep herself in a state of moderate balance, peace flooding her mind to keep it in check. She had pressed herself into realizing the limits placed upon her by the corrupting Darkside which had set her body ablaze.

Some emotions were fine. She had toyed with them, pushed herself to near breaking point, but now she was not so trigger-happy. Or more, the flames weren't.

So it was that when Jyn smiled at the beautiful sight her body remained... normal. There was a slight prickle of heat beneath her skin, but by now that was nothing to she who had embraced the full heat of molten lava.

"Is this where you intend to place the Temple you have been dreaming up all these years, Master Vynea?"

His had been the only face she had seen since travelling to Myrkr. They had been isolated, and for good reason, while she worked out her issues. Now Jyn, despite the underlying torment brought about by the darkness, was more at peace within herself than she had ever been. It was a freeing experience.

[member="Sargon Vynea"]

 

[Alana Sunrider]

The dreams had been growing worse, full of slaughter in the most gruesome manner, as Onna found herself trapped in a sleeping Hell, writing and sweating in the small bunk aboard her ship. A figure of a woman, who seemed so strangely familiar, in outdated clothes like that seen in some of the ancient recordings on Ambria, seemed to have any calming impact in these visions, bringing a sense of warmth and comfort, of half-remembered faces and soft-spoken memories to Onna's mind. Every time she appeared, the woman said one word.

Bakura.

Onna had thought it had been a dream's gibberish for some time until, on a hunch, she typed it into her ship's computer and pulled up the information. It was a planet, and one she had never been to. So, she had plugged in the coordinates and shot across the galaxy, looking for whatever this woman had desired her to find and perhaps a clue to her identity. Why was she familiar and why was she in her dreams?

As the blue of hyperspace swirled outside the cockpit, Onna sat considering that. She tapped her fingers on the side of her chair, trying to remember where she had seen the woman before. A thought drifted into her mind. Could the woman be her mother, watching over from somewhere? Maybe she was even on Bakura?

The thought chased itself around in her mind as her ship came in for a landing. But where to start looking? She didn't even know her mother's name or if that was even why she was intended to go to Bakura. She frowned for several moments after disembarking, Well, she was a bounty hunter. This was a hunt. She headed for the nearest computer terminal.

[member="Thédus Lorr"] [member="Sargon Vynea"]

 

[Sargon Vynea]

Looking back he couldn't help but smile at her, at her freedom so hard won. He felt her there in the Force, and in fact hadn't let go nearly once of her presence, he hadn't melded into her, but with every moment he sent her his own peace. It wouldn't stop her from feeling, he wanted her to live as fully as she choose. What it would do was act as a safety net until she so desired it ended. If she so much as thought to him for help he'd balance her with his own peace, and calmness. It was at her pace though, her choice as it had been since the moment he'd offered to help. She had made him proud in her healing, and he was prouder still to see her here today.

"Oh yes, this is the task I have long been waiting to fulfill, but have you not been waiting as well? Is this not the place both our dreams will begin anew? Life is never so short that a new beginning isn't something to be walked away from. I will embrace this one, it is as much your victory as mine. I find more joy at your presence here, then I will ever in this temple. It is the people we touch rather then the things we build that leave our legacies behind. One day our names will all be carved in some stone, and maybe it will be found when the universe has long forgotten all of us. What will be remembered is the students we leave behind, and their efforts to make the galaxy a better place will be our echos."

Picking up the shovel that was to dig break ground for the temple complex he walked over to her, his eyes looking over her skin with a look of pleased appraisal at her inner strength to overcome such things. Patting the handle he set it down leaning it against her leg, "When the time comes, you will began this. It will be your hand which places the first block down, and your hand which gives the Je'daii life. There is no one more deserving of the honor."

[member="Onna Sunrider"]
[member="Thédus Lorr"]

 

[Lief]

How long she had been gone, the young girl could not say.

Trapped aboard a great metal graveyard, time had been nothing more than a silly human construct that she had no way of telling. Seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, all blended into one another. She could not tell the changing of days because the only light was artificial and always on though dim. A perpetual state of twilight had set over her life, so much so that when the ship had broken through the rusted prison of junk her eyes had stung beyond belief at the sight of real sunlight. Albeit through the smog of an overly polluted world, and the acid-tinted transparisteel viewing ports.

He had trusted her with leaving his presence for the first time, and now the girl felt exposed and alone despite the fact that she was surrounded by so many people. Isolated, even. Every stray noise caught her attention, making her appear overly jumpy; she could see the lifeless eyes of the corpses she had fallen into all around her, their judgement cast as she dragged them from the ship, around every corner. Those that still had faces, skin, and eyes, at least... There were countless others without such a luxury. All encased within her mind, forever imprinted. It should have been enough to turn her stomach and break her mind... But she had become numb to it long ago. It didn't stop the waking nightmares though. The shadows which moved in her peripheral.

Truth be told, Asha wished that he hadn't let her go at all. It was easy to resign herself to such a fate when she had no other choice. And not just that, the girl wanted to be around him. He was like a great big security blanket, he had been the only face she had seen for so very long. Yes, at times he had been cruel, downright malicious, but he'd kept her from the worst of his wrath. She might have even called him gentle from time to time, but that would've been pushing it. It was terrifying to walk around without him, to be free without chains - though she supposed there would always be some sort of chain tying her to him. After all, this was not goodbye. She was not a freebird, permitted to do whatever she pleased.

If he called, and he would, it was her place to return. Her place to comply. And by now, she knew nothing else.

Asha had always loved her Father. He had been the sole object of her affection, the central figure of her life and her idol. But times had changed; he had not found her. He had not come for her. She had cried his name, screamed it, beat her fist against the durasteel walls of her submerged prison, called out to him in every way she knew how - at points enticing the wrath of her captor for that very reason - yet he had never answered. For a time she would monitor his presence in the Force, the bond between them strong as ever even though her own presence had been completely snuffed by the darkside which permeated the entirety of the craft she had resided upon. But with time that habit, like calling for him, stopped.

In fact, she did her best to scrub him from her mind entirely.

And now that she was free, now that she could walk among mankind again, she was struggling to reignite that link. She could no longer sense him, though she knew he was still there. It was a bittersweet sensation; she hated him in that moment, so much that it hurt, yet she could not bear the thought of him being gone completely. She was torn, her loyalties were completely askew - she wanted nothing more than to please and serve him, yet she longed to return to her Father and fix what had been broken there. She could not have both, though. And Jericho had let her down where he had not. For all his faults, all of the horrific things she had seen while in his service, he had stood by her.

Truly, she did not know how to feel.

She had to find him, though. She had to get back to as close a state of normality as she could between now and when he called. And she could give nothing away. By returning to the Galaxy, and avoiding her Father, she would raise suspicion in the few who knew her.

So she fell upon the only thing she knew, and her senses extended to pick up on the presence so aglow in the Force that he became almost at one with it. Sargon had taught her the wonders of the mind, the infinite expanses of the Force - moreso even than she had known and believed prior to meeting him - and the pair had latched onto one another's presences. It was ingrained into her mind, and she had never once thought to scrub it out the way she had Jericho's. Now that she was no longer on the mobile Darkside Nexus he would likely sense her too. But he had no reason to hunt her down.

Thus she hopped from vessel to vessel, world to world, until she traced him back to Bakura.

It was not a world she was familiar with, but one she would most certainly come to know.

She stood there now, on the edge of the construction zone; her hood was raised, casting a certain shade across her face, gaze fixated upon the Zabrak. She could not see Jericho, but that did not mean he was not among the entourage.

But Asha could not find her feet, they were rooted in place and unwilling to press forward. She was so close, yet truth be told she was afraid to take this last step. First step. Whatever it would be. She didn't know anymore.

[member='Sargon Vynea'] [member='Onna Sunrider'] [member='Jericho']

 

[Jericho]

2 years ago, planet unknown.

"Should I let her go on her own?"

"Should I keep her at my side?"​

"Should I teach her more before?"​

"No....She is all grown up now."

​

"No....She isn't ready."​

​

"No....She's your eldest."​

His mind was filled with questions and doubts, his child had turned the adult age to the Jedi order and made passage in their lorrdian blood. She was a grown girl now. it was Asha time to grown apart from him and see the universe as a whole, right? Jericho gave his daughter a pat on the head before they departed for their mission. His was to hunt down rogue sith in the area, her job loop them to a specific area and heal anyone wounded in their wake. They had a rendezvous point and if communications broke, they would give each others at least three days before making any irrational movements, this was after all this was her first independent mission, he couldn't smother her. But was it really a good idea to do this? He questioned, but he did gave her an easy mission.

No time to question it now...It was time...

.....

The previous nights hunt hadn't been as successful as he could have asked for, not only had their target gotten away but he was also now a man short. It wasn't a huge deal, the warrior was simply injured, where as he could have wound up dead, or worse; cursed by the thing that they were trying to kill. The sith had sent them on one wild goose chase, before seemingly vanishing into thin air. Jericho had been lucky that all his akk wolf had been left with was a broken rib and him, a wounded ego.

With the beast out of sight and morning fast approaching, they called it a night. But, the ever persistent Jericho made sure to come back as soon as the sun had come up. He wasn't a quitter, he never had been and probably never would, he was the kind of man who'd use his last breath to conquer a goal. Hunting sith was at one point his life, ever since the death of his master and his padawans death, the man really existed for nothing else. At least, until his daughter had entered his life, now hunting sith was just routine, exercise almost, as demented as that had sounded.

Jericho was fully aware that according to the locals, the back roads and woodland areas were typically where people had caught sight of this thing or possibly a few of them. He wasn't sure how many of those sith were roaming about this place, but he was damn certain that he'd do his best to make sure no one else got hurt. He'd opted to leave Asha with their akk wolf and take to the on the remaining few on the planet. He always worked better alone, he found having his daughter around him made him less confident or rather more worried about protecting her. Fatherly instinct he supposed, having been with his daughter for all this time but then again from experience, he knew he'd have to have eyes in the back of his head otherwise, she could wind up dead.

As he retraced his steps through the woods, the man kept eagle eyed. He took in his surroundings, recalling where he'd first saw the sith, where where the akk wolf had been attacked and the direction in which he had chased the sith away. He may not have killed it, but he'd managed to injure it as it ran off into the woods. The man was able to follow the footprints deeper into the woods, before stopping at the nearest tree. His hand touched the bark, as he eyed the crimson stain, blood from the sith as it made its get away. He was on the right path now.

Continuing on, the man came to a brief pause, hearing something. He held his double bladed saber tight in his right hand, as he surveyed the area looking out for whatever was lurking. Taking small steps the man begun to raise the blade, nearing closer to where he could hear something rustling in the bushes. The man almost jumped out his skin as a akk wolf head popped up in front of him. Thankfully, he hadn't had his finger quite on the button yet or else,his pet have had one heck of a surprise.

Jericho frowned slightly, lowering the saber slightly as his eyes fell upon the wolf in front of him. That still didn't quite explain the rustling. His eyes shifted past his wolf, narrowing upon the bushes beyond. The wolf growled slightly and Jericho kept himself armed getting ready for a fight, the warrior took a in a deep inhale and long exhale readying himself for a fight. The bustling bush grew louder with more and more surrounding him. There were much more than he had first anticipated, it seemed that the hunter was now the hunted. The warrior let out a breath, his body braced ready for a long battle ahead while his mind...."Asha." He thought. "Be safe....For papa." With a snap of a stick laying around, the sounds of activating sabers, the roar of the akk wolf, and scream of the battle echoed throughout the woods.

...Several days later...

The sounds of birds chirping as morning came. The orange and pink coloring the milky sky as the sun rose, its warm light pressing over the land. Wood was coated with the stains of a prolonged jedi battle, black stains from blaster fire, trees cut down from sabers, earth dismantled and changed by strong movement and scorched by fire made. Bodies of both force users and trooper flooded the surrounding area with one man and his wolf at the epicenter of it all. The warrior was on one knee with one hand was on his chest, healing his last wound that needed healing, the warrior felt exhausted and weak from the battle with the sith. His head grew heavy for his neck and lowered. Even with his breathing mask, it was difficult for him to breathe, he was but one man after all; face an army alone was no easy task. The warrior looked up to the mass around him and let out a sigh of relief, glad it was over.

His eyes covered with darkness, his face filled with sweat. He felt like he was asleep, but he could feel himself pet the soft fur of his blood stained white thick jedi robe, the sweat from his face dripped and touched the ground, he could hear it's soft breathing as it rested on his thigh, the throbbing in his ears. He could taste the foulness in his own blood and the sour as it mix with his sweat. He could smell the stench of the decaying body mixed with the smell of sweat and tears.

He could picture the area around he was in but his state he didn't know what was a dream nor reality. He could feel a signature...Similar to his own...It floated in his heart and surge all over his body forcing out a cough from no illness. He pictured in his mind of those he cared for once more. His mind speeding through images of everyone that graced him with their essence. Then there was his daughter, little Asha, the one he named after his master. Her youth face appeared before him, was he going to die and leave her to fend for herself? Without actual movement of his phyical body; he placed a hand on her clear and gorgeous face. Though he knew it was all fake it gave him a warm feeling, making himself blindly smile.

He didn't know much time had passed but he knew he was going to return to her. They had their meeting point and she was a smart enough girl to know to wait. They had that bond, no matter what, papa was going to return to her no matter what, he just needed a little more time to rest. A slight chuckle was released from his lips as he had the though of his daughter scolding him, as if she could. Thinking it over, despite the way he raised her, she turned out to be more than he could have ever expect. "Don't worry, Little one.." Jericho thought to himself an he continue to try to stay awake. "Papa...will...be..."

As the last of his consciousness and strength began to slowly fade, he couldn't help be sense that same signature fill more with fear and lonliness paired with a slight little voice. "Father..." The voice cried. But before he had a chance to do anything his body collapsed onto the ground and everything faded away.

...One week later...


So in tranced with the feeling he didn't hear the noise of the door being opened. He didn't jump to attack the random person, he didn't show his strength, rather, he just sat there motionless with grief, almost as if he were dead. Then a voice called out for him, "...Father." The sweet female voice called with the sound of happy tears. 'What?What is this voice? Is it my head playing games with me?' Out of pure muscle memory his eyes opened and blinked a few times, he was disoriented of what was around him. Then there was another voice that called for him one coming from that another person entirely.

He saw his wolf who raised his head as well looking at the woman, with a tilt of it's head, it panted for a moment then nudge him after figuring out who it was. He looked to his wolf, then close the majority of his eyes to hide the color of his eyes from the presence of another voice. He wiped his sweat and tears for a moment, then finally looked. "Can I hel--" His sentence was cut off with the utter shock of what he saw. You?! He wasn't sure if it was her or not. Then came to the conclusion that he was just another fantasy.

"...M-My love....F-forgive....M-me.....F-for....N-not protecting you.....I-I f-failed....As a lover....I failed you....I've always wanted to let you know that I always loved you. That I cared for you, I loved your smile, your laugh, your kindness, your kisses. Hah....I loved everything about you. And there wasn't a day where I haven't missed you." He confessed to what he thought was a spirit. He fought hard to hold back his tears but in the end failed.

With a groan and blurred vision the warrior woke, his akk dog using its enormous tongue to lick him wake. The warrior grunted and placed a hand on the beasts head and gave it a good push to keep it from continuing on licking him with excitement. "Ugh..." The warrior stated with another grunt. He took some time look around to where he awoke, he was far from the battle and the woods. The place was small but felt cozy, safe and the room was filled with the smell of incense. He knew not where he was until someone came by and alerted the the monks that had taken care of him. After a short span of breaking words and bread, he thanked them and rushed to the meeting point realizing just how time had actually passed.

After another few days of travel, he made it to the point and saw no one. "Asha!" The warrior called out as he search around as he saw that camp was made by the careful hands of a Lorrdian. She was here, for a time, but as he became to check everything it seem no was here for over a week as the camp wasn't maintained. Even if she left for a few days the fire and tent was be much more maintained than it was. "Asha?!" The warrior called out once more. Now the calm and seemingly emotionless man, began to feel nervous, and felt the blunt force of something he had never felt before. Anxiety.

"ASHA!"​

The warrior bellowed, using the force to amplify his voice. The warrior knew she was no where near but he didn't care, he was frantic. Where was she? Did she think he had abandoned her? Did she hate him for not appearing on time for their first mission? No, little Asha wasn't like that. She knew that he cared for her, that he loved her, even if he hadn't expressed it to her. Jericho took off his masked and rubbed his face out of frustration. Where was she, as minutes passed they felt like hours to the warrior, he was extremely worried for his daughter. He shouldn't of left her alone, he shouldn't thought she was old enough to handle a mission alone. She wasn't ready and he was blinded by the idea that she was strong enough or smart enough.....No....She was. But was naive. His eyes widened as the worst case scenario came to time.

What if she was dead....Or worse. There were worst things than death.

The warrior remembered feeling a signature similar to his own. "No..." The warrior thought to himself. The warrior began to meditate to feel the presence once again. For days he meditated, trying to feel her presence again and he got what he wished for. He could feel her calling for him. His daughter was in pain horrifying pain. He tried his damnest to hold onto her. "Asha...Papa is here....He is coming for you." The warrior whispered to himself as he meditated. As fast as he was able to find her, she disappeared, her presence unable to be found, and lost among the stars in galaxy. "No..." He thought to himself and he dropped from his floating meditation to his hands and knee. He had failed his daughter as he had failed everyone else who cared and loved him. His eyes filled with an illuminating bursting white fire as his sorrow turned into rage.

He rose up with his hand clenched on his face as a symbol of him trying to control. But with flame and tears brimming lightly through his harden hands, he couldn't hold back even if he wanted to. For a moment, just a single moment, the warrior was silent. In a split second, Jericho's body began to be covered in flames, the winds began to range and swirl and the earth around began to quake. The warrior let out a piercing scream, the loudest he had ever let out as he finally let everything out, his daughter was his tipping point.

"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" ​

​

The warrior roared at the top of his lungs. His rage intensified as he knew as he couldn't do anything to save his daughter as of now, the winds swirled into tornadoes, the earth began to crumble beneath his knees making a crater where he was, the heat around him burned so hot the parts of the earth began to turn into molten lava. He emitted his force signature so strongly he, for but a moment, was able pierce living force. His being was fill with light, dark, hate, rage, love, serenity, loss, and confusion. He just unleashed it everywhere unfocused, pure ravenous, animalistic instinct. When he finally calmed down, the area around him was left a waste land. The warrior lowered his hands in defeat, knowing he had lost his daughter, that he failed his own blood. But he swore to himself, he would never give up looking for her. He would never leave her alone in the universe. Where ever she was she was in pain and who ever had her was keeping her alive. "Dearest Asha....Papa will find you..." He whispered to himself as he began his lone walk to his ship.

Now he had two huge missions in his life, start the Je'daii order for Master Seren.

Find his daughter.

Til his last dying breath.

Present day.

The warrior had finally done it, with the help of the great master zabrak, [member="Sargon Vynea"]. They finally achieved his master's dream of starting the Je'daii order. Jericho walked quietly down rubble of the future temple of Bakura, he was greeted by the like minded student, all of which he had ignored, passing them as if they didn't even exist in his reality. Despite this great achievement in his life, the warrior felt cold and still had the taste of blood and sweat in his mouth. His eyes were jaded with a sense of darkness that had no brim of light. The warrior let out a sigh, as he took a seat at the founders table in the halls of the assembly for the ceremony of the completion of the new order of balance and peace. The warrior leaned back and rested his head on his hand. Two finger rested and rubbed his temple lightly. His eyes scanned the room but not as he usually would, these days the warrior was distracted. Even so, he couldn't care enough to feel each aura in the room. He didn't care enough, not anymore. He had thought fulfilling his masters wish would help him fill the void, though it did, it was only a little.

Though now Sargon was considered a close friend, the warrior spoke little to him and made little contact with the other founding members. In Jericho's mind, despite however great the other masters were, it was only he and Sargon that went through the hardships of making this a reality. Though Sargon would argue otherwise as well. At this point Jericho's long term nickname was truth, he was more a ghost than he ever thought he could ever be. He no longer felt hate, he longer felt serenity, he longer felt happiness from the battle, he use to feel. Considering how he was now compared to how he used to be, he might as well of been the class clown. The warrior sighed lightly as he closed his eyes and wondered why he was even here, he had much work to do as the remained the council member of the SSC and the founding member of the Je'daii. His mind trailed off.

Even with his many achievement in his life as a master of the force, it was shadowed by his all his failures. Speaking of failures; It has been two years, three months, two weeks, seven hours, eighteen minutes, five seconds and counting since his daughter had been missing. Despite all the meditations, despite all his connections with the SSC, a master tracker and hunter, despite even Sargon the master the sensing auras. He still was unable find to own daughter, little Asha. He couldn't even feel her presence anymore like he used to in the first few months, she had either become a sith now or was dead. He had hoped the latter so that one day he would see her again as he did master Seren or joined her in the force when his time had come. If she were a sith now, he could only do one thing release her from her physical binds.

Was he so cold now that he would be able to do such a thing? The question would be answered if that was the case and fate called for it as of now it was truly a mystery. Jericho remained silent as things progressed, wearing the fur white robes his daughter had made for him over his black clad battle torn armor with his signature mask covering his face. He just wanted this to be over and continue on with the rest of his duties owed to both the orders.

@Thedus Dorr [member="Onna Sunrider"] [member="Asha Hex"]

 

[Sargon Vynea]

Jericho was lifeless, it been drained out of him, and despite how far the Order was coming along it seemed to taste of nothing but ash to the man. Yet while he'd nearly given up on life, and had resigned himself to his duty Sargon had not. In fact had not Sargon been paying more attention to Thédus he would have noticed Asha before she'd even landed. However, even as dedicated as he was to her his senses still were always feeling out, and he'd imprinted Asha into his mind once, and that never left you, so at the crowd's edge she stood out like a bright light in his mind.

Turning his head he smiled at her and lifted a hand towards her asking her to join them. He'd been gone too long, but even when he returned he couldn't find her, something had hidden her beyond even his sight. Wherever life had taken her though she'd changed, that much was certain just by her hiding back in the construction crew. Moving his mind towards her he touched her own but didn't press in to meld. Hello again, child, it has been too long, my friend. Come there is no reason to stand in the shadows, this is your moment as well. Your father has missed you, you know? He's hunted for two years for you, he's nearly burnt the fire out of himself searching the galaxy over for signs of you. Come, I have many questions but first I think you should speak with him. When you are ready you will know where I am, we have more to learn from each other, you and I.

In her mind he left a brief visual of where her father sat lost in thought, and sorrow. He let the emotions of his anguish, and fear for her bleed through in small amounts. Worst was his feeling of absolute failure, but he hadn't given up even still he had hunted. Yet she remained hidden from both of them, either by her own will, or by another's. He did have many questions, not much could hide from what the Force showed to him, but first they would need each other.

[member="Jericho"]
[member="Asha Hex"]
[member="Onna Sunrider"]

 

[Lief]

Jyn smiled toward Sargon at his initial comment; he was right, of course, they had shared this vision for quite some time now. But she didn't want to overshadow his moment, this was to be his Temple, his crowning glory, not hers.

"Yes, you are correct, it's one of the things which brought me through the darkness."

What he said as he continued however made her frown.

"I cannot have such an honor, Master; that is not my right."

Her hand settled upon the shovel and her mind wandered for a moment. Her skin prickled, a slight glow, in response to her indignation. Jyn simply closed her eyes, inhaled, and stifled it. Every waking moment was a constant battle.

--

He had seen her. Asha shirked back ever so slightly when the Zabrak's attention was drawn toward her. She felt exposed, on show, helpless even. In that instance all she wanted was to flee back to the graveyard of a ship, to find herself in the twisted-yet-comforting presence of her Master.

One hand lifted, touching something just beneath the collar of her tunic which seemed to fill her with the strength to remain in place. It was his will she would exact, and he had sent her out into the Galaxy. She could not defy him now, he would know.

He always knew.

Her mind like a fortress, years spent strengthening her mind the way the Zabrak had taught her, Asha swallowed her insecurities and began the journey down toward them. She felt him there, on the edge of her mind, and permitted herself to see what he had to share. But she let nothing of herself out. If anything, she held back a little too strongly.

Nothing was said as she passed the pair by, though deep down Asha was glad to see the tortured girl on her feet. The sensation that Sargon had presented her with, of her Father's anguish, left a bitter taste in her mouth. She was blindsided by the fact he hadn't come for her, she could not acknowledge his pain in that moment.

Instead she strode on by and ventured further into the outlying building site, hellbent on finding him. But each step she took shook her very core. Her eyes welled up, hands trembled, and a sincere fear gripped her by the throat and held her in place.

She couldn't do it.

She couldn't face him after all she had done.

[member="Sargon Vynea"] [member='Jericho'] [member='Onna Sunrider']

 

[Sargon Vynea]

He was split for a moment between the two the changes in Asha not so easily dismissed, but first he supposed she should let her find her father. So he just sent her a squeeze, or at least that's how he thought of it mentally, soft and supportive, he was glad to see her. He didn't try to break through the fortress she'd created, it wasn't his way. If she wanted to let him in, she would, the Force alone knew what she'd seen in the years since they'd parted. She knew where he'd be when she was ready, and curiosity would bring her still.

Thédus though was his primary concern for the moment, her well being was his utmost responsibility, and he would not fail her in that. After all, she'd come so far, and been so strong to heal, how could he offer her less? He felt the prickle of her skin and smiled at his mind reached into her's and suppressed the presence within her. It wasn't as strong as it had been, she fought for herself now, and he had no doubt in the end she would win. As her soul and mind healed so too would the burning of her flesh.

"Good, control is good, but never forget you are no machine, Thédus, emotions for you cost more then they cost other's but they still have a place. Balance between your emotion and your logic, but never deny yourself your right to feel. You've come so far, but only here can we began to truly defeat what ails you. You will always have your sanctuary from the Force, and when you need rest from this battle, rest. I will not forget you there, that I can promise you. Do not be afraid though, you are master over this, in time you will see this. In time you will become all the Force has for you, but in your time, no one else's."

Nodding his head towards the shovel he laughed softly as he pointed her over towards the mark for the first blow. "Come, it's almost time. The others will join us later, they have their own wounds to heal I imagine. Let us began a new history today of the Je'daii Order, a history that will echo down through the ages as a beacon of something better. Give the galaxy a piece of your strength, and perhaps it can heal from all it's wounds as well."

[member="Asha Hex"]
[member="Jericho"]
[member="Onna Sunrider"]

 

[Jericho]

The warrior raised a hand slowly and moistened the tips of his fingers shaping water lightly and pressed them against his dry eyes. He was tired, emotionally drained from everything leading him to this point. He was not a good father, not to Asha, to Lily and Micah, to any of his kids. In this weakness, the horrors of the many sith ruins he had explore began to take grip on his mind. The voices whispered things of what his daughter may or may not have gone through circle and that she was far different from the little girl that he had raise for so long. Disgruntled, the warrior shook his head, but they were relentless, they continued to pull on his guilt, his hate, and his rage continuing to rise more and more. In the two long years he had searched the darkness within him began grow and grow overpowering his light, it was taking everything within his being just to combat and keep himself balance. But his emotions though he rarely showed them fed the darkness within him fat. It was leaving him with a painful pit in his stomach just under his rib cage, that caused him issues breathing from time to time, some thing he had never expected to have especially with all of his training in endurance and his personally designed breathing mask.

In truth it had may have been more of a mental and emotional thing enough to cause him such physical pain. The fire within his soul was dim as he had felt he would never find his daughter and it was unlikely that she would come back. He hated this feeling that sweeped his mind more so than even his emotions, it felt like a blistering wound in his mind the flooded his body would more and more emotions than he would ever like. A thing once pricked that would just continue to his seep his body over and over and over, no matter how many times he would closed that wound. That flood was doubt and things of what could be. The thought of having the only daughter that he raised alone in his arms length seemed that of a fairy tale and if it were to happen would she be the same? Or would her loyalties tie deep to her captor to his knowledge, from the many that he had massacred and tortured to find her, was a sith.

He looked at his hand as he stared, blood came to vision spattered over his hand like paint and sounds of screams echoed through his mind. In his core, he knew he was not a good man, far from it. Was it fate that took his daughter away for her betterment? He wondered that from time to time but that only would lead more to his hate of the sith and fuel more of his rage. Followed that he think of what he should have taught Asha instead of having learn things on her own. The warrior shook his head, why did he have such physically weak offspring. His mind was cluttered with such pointless thoughts that chained continually to more pointless and hateful thoughts. For he most part the man was just distracted if nothing else. Jericho closed his eyes and let out a heavy breath, clearing his mind as best he could, today was a big day for the order after all. A temple was being built and it was time to lay witness to it's future glory.

....

A light hum came.

.......

A familiar presence felt.

..........

Was it? Could it?

..............

It was darker, full of guilt and fear.

.....................

Why now? Why here?

..........................

Jericho stood from his seat and clenched his fist tightly the others looked at him as he stood. The warrior's head slowly moved over to the direction where the presence made it's appearance to him and just as slow he opened his eyes, his dark brown eyes locked on to hers. With a raise of his hand her feet was entrenched with earth and pressed on her back them glided her being over to him. Jericho quickly analyzed her face and body and the matched Asha's but older and seemingly gone through a lot more. Though her presence in the force was familiar, she felt all too different, touch by darkness. No, he couldn't believe that the girl who stood before him was his daughter, he couldn't, wouldn't accepted. It had been two long years, she would not make an appearance like this without a condition or possibly damage what they built. "No." He started off calmly and shook his head and waved his hand releasing the girl from his grip. Then waved his hand to Sargon as he made his way to the construction zone. "If you need me, I will be helping with the ground work." He said was he shaped the earth under his feet and moved to the work zone.

 

[Lief]

Jyn smiled at the Zabrak; he had helped her through so much, yet he still had more to give. More advice, more opportunities, more care. He had made up for Arthos' wrongs a long time ago, yet he continued all the same. She had to wonder why that was. Did he not feel fulfilled? Did he still feel guilt?

"I'm trying, Master, but it's a very fine line."

She knew in the end she would be stronger for it, more in control of herself then she could ever have been without this burden. But that didn't make it any less taxing.

As he handed her the shovel, Jyn finally accepted it and walked with him toward the foundations of what would become Akar Kesh. He had given her the greatest responsibility, to lay the first stone so to speak. An honour she didn't quite feel ready to shoulder. But he had insisted, and she did not want to seem ungrateful.

The shovel met soil as she carefully planted it into the earth; her foot rested atop the tool head, applying subtle pressure. Her eyes fell upon Sargon, and for a moment she felt tentative. This was his Temple, this was a world he governed. So why was this her right?

[member="Sargon Vynea"]

 

[Lief]

She sensed him moments before her feet became encased in earth. Her body was forcefully dragged through the building site toward where he stood waiting. Closer than expected. Too close.

His shrewd eyes bore into hers before he looked her up and down. Something in his eyes spoke of disgust... One word was uttered and then he left her there, the earth retreating back into the ground.

That one word made her heart stop.

That one word brought to the surface more than she had thought possible.

Asha, in that moment, needed him. Her Father. Not Aellin.

"Papa, please..."

Her voice broke as she watched him leave. She felt like an infant again, tugging at his sleeve and begging for attention. Only she couldn't move, she couldn't hold him by the sleeve or drag him back.

Tears welled within her eyes and spilled over, her knees suddenly buckling as she fell to the ground and knelt there. Only her head remained aloft, eyes fixed upon him.

"Why didn't you come for me?"

It was a tortured whimper.

"I called, Papa... I cried and you ignored me, left me there..."

Her shoulders shook, voice hoarse with emotion.

"Don't leave me again, Papa... Please."

Her chest heaved and finally her gaze fell to the ground. Both hands rose to cover her face, feeling ashamed in that moment that she was becoming so overrun with emotion. She was weak. She was broken. A child who needed reassurance, yet was getting naught but a cold shoulder.

Two years.

Two torturous years.

And he wouldn't even look at her.

[member="Jericho"]

 

[Sargon Vynea]

He stopped dead as his mind focused on the father and daughter, his attention completely captured as he saw Jericho past and felt despair swallow Asha completely. Turning his eyes back to Thédus and reached his hand out to her inviting her to join him. "Come, I shall show you things of true value." Giving her a moment to catch up he moved at a rather quick military march as he moved with purpose towards Asha' presence. He did however continue to make sure Thédus could keep up with him, he was not leaving one for the other, but if this was to be his Temple then all were his wards while they were here.

"Do you remember Asha? She watched over you while you were aboard Jericho's ship. Unknowing I planned to help you she sought my aid for you. She stopped a lesson in process because her worry and care for you an injured person was enough to put it over her own needs, her own desires. Now the balance has changed and it is her soul that needs healing, and we will not fail her anymore then she would have failed you. This is the true value of the Order, not in buildings, but in its members. It is you who make the Order real, because it is you who gives this dream life. Without you these temples mean nothing. With you, we have a chance at being something that changes everything."

As he reached Asha he didn't speak at all he simply opened up his mind to her and embraced her in warmth as he lifted her up off her feet and carried her out like a babe. He didn't stop but as he walked he sent a single message to Jericho through the Force, This, my friend, is one of those moments we regret even to the day we die. Your daughter needs you, you're a better man then to turn your back on that. Reconsider before you create a gap that will take years to heal.

His path became apparent as they reached Sargon's ship beyond the workmen's area boarding still silent as he carried Asha to her own room aboard the ship. It was exactly as she left it, untouched during her absence but for one thing. Instead of the cat sitting on her bed alone there was a small orange and black kitten waiting for her with small mews as he laid her on the bed. The cat purred for a moment before moving to Thédus and rubbing against her legs. The kitten however moved up to her neck nuzzling in nose first as she purred.

"Kittens, can you believe it? The cat has more romance in it's life then I do." With mock envy he stuck his nose up as he glanced over at the cat before moving his eyes back to Asha and her new kitthen. "Now, as for you and your kitten, who really needs a name by the way, its lovely to see you. We don't need to speak right now, when you want we're here. For now though, how about some dinner?"

Without looking away he reached out to Thédus and spoke softly in her mind. This is what matters, Thédus, people. You will always matter more to me then any building, and your every effort to be stronger then the day before is what truly brings me honor. You are as near to me as family, and I would trade a thousand honors the galaxy would throw at me to help you find your true value. Asha here is no less an honor for the order, for us. The ones who care for us, and fight for us, those we should fight for as well. How many men have died fighting over pieces of land. I'd rather die fighting for the people I love."
[member="Asha Hex"]
[member="Thédus Lorr"]
[member="Jericho"]

 

[Jericho]

He knew little how to love, to show how he loved and cared, he had always been a strict man; a warrior. He wasn't blinded by faith or pride but he knew not what to do.

"I called, Papa... I cried and you ignored me, left me there.."

"No." He uttered under his breath.

"Don't leave me again, Papa... Please."

"I never left." He replied as she was taken away to her room by Sargon.

This was too easy, too simple, this couldn't be true there had to the be a trick or trap laid out. The warrior thought as he began to do the ground work for the temple from his earth shaping. For two long years, he was apart from his beloved Asha, his eldest daughter, his mind was flooded countless thoughts came into mind. How did she find her way here of all places so easily, was this a gift of fate allowing his daughter return to him safe and sound. He couldn't believe it, so many scars in his life left him with little to care about and everything to be watchful for, it couldn't be this easy, could it.He felt her light tug of his heavy coat like a child wanting their parent, longing for their love and support. But Jericho ignored it for the time allowing for Sargon to carry little Asha away to the ship and assuming to her room. She would see that her room was kept exactly as she would want to keep it due to her fathers utmost attention to even the smallest of details.

Still, for what ever the reason, she was here, Asha was home. His beautiful little girl was home. The warrior closed his eyes and took a long sound and cool breath in and out. As he continued to help with the construction with his shaping his movements were influenced by the memories of his little girl, he was much more calm than he was. Little Asha. When she first appear to his ship, he knew not what to do, to the marks of her very first steps of her dirty little feet on the floor of his clean ship. To how he taught her the basics of piloting and how she became exceedingly better than him by the age of thirteen. Her fifteen birthday...The last time he saw her and how he regretted not showing her more affection from their time spent. As he thought about he hadn't even held her for years, he had thought the pet on her head was more than enough affection. Was that right?

The warrior sighed before resigning to letting his guard and he glided back to the entrance of their ship and sighed. The warrior raised his hand and tapped hard on the ships door to send her a gentle message. He tapped hard so she could hear that he was tapping the code only they would know between them. "Papa is always here. You are safe now. Rest you must be tired from your travels." The warrior took a pause before tapping again. "Welcome home." Another pause. "I missed you." He decided to leave it at that to keep her calm. He would not hanging what he had to do and what he did to the galaxy in the two years he searched for her. He didn't want fling a net a guilt or regret over her. All he wanted her to know is that he was here and he missed her deeply from the deepest part of his heart.

[member="Asha Hex"]
[member="Sargon Vynea"].