The Pained Heart Of The Lone Ghost.

[Jericho]

Voss​

The sith hunter, The warrior of white flame, The elementalist, The shield, The defender of light, The winged angel of the weak.

The Ghost.

And now a council member?

"To think. I am a council member of the Silver Sanctum....Do I deserve such honor and responsibility? Master...Am I...."

Clank...
Clank....
Clank.....

Went the armor and his mask on to the ground, a rare sight. To see the beast of a man without his heavy gear and mask on. Only three people have ever seen him without his mask on, Thurion, Bree and Master Asha. Today he found a spot away from everyone as he was used to. A pleasant quiet place, the planet of Voss had plenty of that. It was time for some more reflection.

Jericho leaned against the trunk of a large cherry tree and stared out upon the lake. It was an amazing sight and his dull and darkened eyes sparkled in the glimmer from the surface light. The sun's crimson rays reflecting off of the water brimmed reminding him orange color of flames that sparked war. A sigh of exhaustion slipped out. Despite the gorgeous view, there was always a pain that lingered within his being, all the battle and death. It was not something the warrior took for granted, however, it was times like this he reflected on his life and maintained the fragile balance he had within the light and the dark. The warrior closed his eyes and let the force flow through his being. Long inhale, taking the warm air releasing his equally warm breath.

He had left his in Lorrd so he could become a jedi, In the back of his mind he thought it was a bad idea leaving family in his youth, but he had little choice. As a lorrdian he didn't really fit in having rarely spoke, he was called the ghost as he just made his "appearance" from time to time. But there was one who look passed that and honed his potential, Master Asha. It has been years since her death, but the warrior still believed in her teachings, hoping he followed her ways closely to honor her and tune himself. There has never been a time where he didn't have doubts, leaving his younger disciple to the other while he went out to fight and take out his anger on the sith and other dark jedi. Was it right for him to leave Thurion on his own like that? Was it fair? No. But it turned out for the best, seeing that he became grandmaster; a slight smirk came onto his face thinking of how Thurion did well for himself.

Jericho's hand wandered through the inside pocket in his robe and pulled out and clenched the motion silencer she gave him, with writing on it, rather just marks of the number of Sokan style kills he had. As one could see the front side was nearly covered. He started to skim the lines, and remember every single one how that happened and scars left by his foes. He rubbed his tattered face and parts of his body, covered in scars and tattoos would she frown upon him for looking the way he did. Why was she on his mind so much today? He just wanted some peace and quiet for a day. But little guilt filled his heart could there have been a better way?

"Ugh..."

The warrior decided to take a quick swim before continue meditating, that may help. As he brace the water the Pressure squeezed at Jericho's ears. He didn't like the sensation but he had finally reached the bottom of the lake. He loved the feel of being underwater. For some reason it always made him feel safe. Looking around he saw nothing but water and an empty lake bed. Any fish in here had swum away from him as he came down. His throat began to burn after a few minutes. He needed air. Gathering his energy he pushed off the bottom with as much force as he could. He had greeted the essence if water, now it was time to greet the sky. He walked back to the tree and quietly, hover continuing his meditation.

[member="Kyra Sol"]

 

[Lief]

The Force was full of mystery the likes of which mere humans would never comprehend. Many achieved a greater understanding of one aspect, the Unifying Force which glanced into the future and saw the possible strands fate could weave, the Living Force which oversaw the present, life incarnate, even those who meditated on the Bogan and began their journey toward breaking their chains were enlightened.

But all those lessons, all those theories, became meaningless as the body dispersed and the soul became one with the Force.

Years of training, of philosophical debate and contemplation, had set the Master known as Seren up for her forays into the afterlife. Her fierce belief in the Living Force permitted her brief snippets of time wherein she could return to the physical world as an immaterial being. She had always known the practise as that of a Force Ghost, and becoming one was no easy feat. But now that she was within the eye of the storm, immersed so deep into the Force that she could barely distinguish herself from the rest of it, Asha did not view it in quite the same light.

This was like no Ghost she had ever heard of.

Her conscious thoughts would often linger, their focus upon the flow of the Force which was never still. But every once in a while she could draw from the stream a memory or two, of a time before the vast abyss of light had washed over her. Memories of two young boys, the Survivor and the Ghost. Memories which she still held dear.

And during that brief moment in a time which was infinite, Asha reflected on all that had happened in the short span of her life. Barely a grain of sand in the Dune Sea of the Galaxy.

It was rare that she acted on the impulses these memories brought about. To check in on her students, those she had made her Family. She had managed it just once before, with Tracyn, and that had been one of the most taxing and difficult experiences of her life. It had also been very rewarding. She had learned much about herself, about Tracyn, and how best to manage her manifestation.

Today, however, it was not her wayward husband she sought in the Galaxy. The truth was, the pair were likely to never see one another again, and Asha knew that was for the best. He had to move on from the past, which meant no reminders of how things had been. Of all that they had been through, and all they had lost.

Instead when her consciousness left the Force Plains Asha found herself upon the once remote world of Voss. Not somewhere she was innately familiar with, the Galaxy was vast and while she had visited many worlds there would always be more to discover.

She watched for a time, without revealing her presence there. Her student, her son, he who had embraced her teachings more wholly than any other. Thurion, she knew, had done so much to please her; he was the embodiment of her Jedi side, with all the compassion she had instilled in him during his youth. But in Jericho she saw more of her darkness, the conflicted state which had brought her from the Republic and into her own path.

"You bear the brunt of many battles, Padawan."

Asha began to immerse herself into the material plain, her translucent state allowing the greenery of the planet to seep through her visage. But her presence shone brighter than any manifestation could, bringing with it a swathe of peace and tranquility only acquired through death.

"Tell me of your plights, let me shoulder your worries."

Her hand slowly stretched toward him in a welcoming fashion, while the visage itself remained beneath a branch of the tree. Her feet were lost slightly in the tall grass, yet she remained as large a figure as she had in life. There was not an imposing bone remaining, however, just simple serenity.

[member="Jericho"]

 

[Jericho]

While in meditation...He thought of a great many things....Images flowed into his mind

He had a vice grip on his face, with every passing moment his hand tightened harder and harder in the fist. How could he allow his brother remain in this type of condition? He could only use his own clothes to try to stop the bleeding, he kept on blaming himself in his mind. 'Dammit,dammit, dammit! I should of had something prepared for this type of situation.' It was true, overconfident in his brother's abilities he let his own guard down, if Burai was going to survive, he would never do that again. But his mind and heart filled with overwhelming pain and regret matching the pain of losing his own wife. He could feel his heart rush and his body tighten, he wanted to cough but restrained himself from do so, while still his mind filled with memories.

He heard light, brisk step not of an assassin but of a woman. After all his yelling someone was able to come to his aide. He held back his tear but his nose was clogging up. The woman sternly asked him to move only to stride passed him as he felt her presence do. He kept the majority of his face hidden from her. He could hear her help him, with medical supplies, at least that is what he heard. At least she was able to help him, that was the only thing that mattered to him at this point. Then he heard her voice accompanied by another woman's voice. "What in the...What happened here." The first voice said with anger in her tone as if she considered him the one to attack. Regardless of her tone to him, he didn't care, he wasn't the one who attack his own brother, why would he unless they were training. "I'd like to know that much too" The second voice called out.

He didn't know if his brother would feel the same way but he knew who he was and he cared for his brother and would stay by his side till death. Without much movement other than rubbing his temples with is pinky and thumb he quietly spoke in a more serious and low tone. "If I knew....I would be here, I would hunt the beasts who did this to him...." He let out a soft sigh doing his best to relax himself as much as he could. "Thank you for helping him..." He continued assuming that the two women actually were helping him.“What are you people doing here and why am I so cold?” The familiar voice called out, he clenched his hand tighter around his face with not happiness but with guilt being unable to do much to help his brother. A tear was made up but was hidden by his own hand. He remained as he was staying at his brother's side.


The warrior was filled with rage and confusion, those were old memories when he had tried to meet with some of his family. There was only pain. That was just one of many memories. But then there was a a presence nearby he felt through the force, what was this? Who was this? This was a familiar feeling one he has not felt for years. It was a trick, it had to be; Jericho summoned his double bladed saber and mask to his hands. With an inhuman burst of speed, he placed on his mask and ignited the saber, it's orange light piercing through the air. With the one fluid motion, he was battle ready and stood firm. He looked around and didn't see anything but he could feel someone was there, whomever it was; was able to get the jump on him.

You bear the brunt of many battles, Padawan.

The voice called out.

Jericho stood with a slight expression of shock withing his eyes as the voice slowly took form through the force. He couldn't believe what he was witnessing, the warrior gripped his blade even tighter than before. Was this a trick by a sith? The warrior looked from side to side, he has been to a great many sith ruins and faced their traps and trick but....but this was different. In the ruins he could felt the fury and emotions set in the force, unknown being emitted nothing but serenity. As it became more and more apperant, its form took the liking of his fallen master, Asha Seren. Never had he witness such a thing in his lifetime, was this even true or was he deep in meditation? The warrior kept his calm demeanor thought his slightiest movements in grip of his blade and the twitch of his eyes said otherwise. He was far from calm. Despite his vast knowledge in the force never did he encounter anything like this. One so strong in the force could be seen and speak through the force even in death? How could this be?


Tell me of your plights, let me shoulder your worries.

"What are you? Who are you, being? Why do take form of Master Seren?"

The being had her build, had her face, even her tone of voice. But the warrior remained skeptical.

[member="Kyra Sol"]

 

[Lief]

What remained of Asha had been expecting this kind of reaction; Thurion, she knew, would have immediately been at ease around her, she was his Mother in the truest sense of the word, even if it was not by blood. But Jericho was different. His personally hardships and the training he had undertaken made him suspicious. It was both a blessing and a hindrance.

"I am the Heart of the Force" she began, her head tilting ever so slightly to the left to regard her Padawan fondly. "The Living Force made me immortal within its embrace; I have lost my individual self to serve a greater purpose."

Shaking her head, the figure took one step forward, gliding across the grass, before halting, one hand outstretched.

"You have come so far, Padawan, I am proud of your progress..." She had left him when his training was incomplete, yet he had taken from her lessons more than she had expected or thought possible. "But you cannot shoulder the pains of the Galaxy alone. Though you may appear to walk alongside others, I see the self-imposed solitary you reside in."

Her expression changed from one of serenity to pain; her concern for the boy who had been her student was palpable. "You do not have to walk this path alone, my son, there are many who would hear our doctrine, who would understand the road of balance and moderation."

Asha had once attempted to revive the Je'daii, but her personal issues got in the way. Still, she would not change her actions if given the chance. A Mother's love could not be contained, and the death of her boy had been too much.

[member="Jericho"]

 

[Jericho]

The warrior quickly analyzed the surrounding area suspecting foul play, but there was nothing around; no one was around. It was just him and the manifestation of force taking form of his former master. He looked at the woman close, eyeing her from feet up to her eyes still unsure of the being that stood before him. He inched foreword in his stance about to make an attack, but he read her body language, the slightest movement of the head, tilting and revealing her neck. A gestured made to show vulnerability, shown only to those one cared for reveal a part of their body trusting one. Her look was motherly to him despite him being grown man, it was then he realized the gravity of just how long it has been since he had seen his master. It was then he accepted that fact that she was his fallen master.

" I am proud of your progress..." The being called out to him. And humbly the warrior deactivated his saber and lowered it bowing his head. "Only through your teachings, Master Seren, was able to achieve what I have."

In his time he thought he would just follow her teachings only due to the fact that she was his only master.

"my son" The voice called him as.

With those two words something came into the light; the truth.

And in that truth it was revealed that he missed her.

Tears ran down the silent, stone cold warrior, as her warming energy mixed and engulfed his own. He had forgotten this feeling, having a force bond with someone that wasn't disconnect by the darkness. His knees went weak and fell to a knee before his master, his scarred face now buried in her opened hand with his hand clasping as if it was her physical being. Whether or not she knew just how much she had impacted him was not known. But it did not stop him from letting out his emotions for the first time in his life. "Immortal in the force. Even now, you show me there is so much more to learn." The warrior whispered soundly emitting both spectrum of the force. "Of whom do you speak, Master? I will help spread the knowledge of our ways, if needed."

[member="Kyra Sol"]

 

[Lief]

It took a little while for Jericho to ease up, but when he did she took note of the deactivating lightsaber; she did not respond to this decision, instead she took the time to listen to what he had to say. She watched as tears fell across his cheeks, and her heart ached, longing to embrace him.

Stepping closer she extended both her arms, but deep down she knew there would be no tangible connection between them. She was an immaterial being now. Still, she had exerted her will over the Force enough once before to feign touch. It had been tiring but possible. So it was that Asha focused her eyes closing to enhance this, and allowed the Force to flow through her body and specifically toward her arms.

In a similar method to telekinesis, Asha was able to make it seem as though she were embracing the boy. Her arms wrapped around him in a gentle motion, though there was no bodily warmth to accompany it. "It is okay to cry, my son, tears are not for the weak" she whispered, wanting nothing more than to wipe them away.

Pulling back the woman peered down intently, listening to what he was saying. "There is always more to learn; there is no ignorance, there is knowledge. This tenant will always hold true, but be wary of knowledge for the sake of knowledge alone. It is not our place to horde and hide what we learn."

Asha had been watching them, all of them, where possible; she had seen the struggles her son Kobe faced and the dark path he now walked along. She could not intervene there, where the darkness was so suffocating. Tracyn was gone, and even she could not find him now. Thurion had come so far, but he was too busy to look for the signs of her presence. That left Jericho and her other twins.

Seth was not to be touched upon, not by her or any other from their family. It would drag him into affairs that would dehumanize him. Jyn, however... Jyn was struggling. She had been fighting a losing battle for most of her life, constantly trying to keep on the narrow path of moderation and balance, the same path Asha had tried to imbue onto her students.

"There are many in the Galaxy lost, without purpose, forced into categories they know deep down they do not fit within. Jedi, Sith, it's inconsequential. But they are seen as the norms of this Galaxy. Allow yourself to be who you are, not who they want you to be."

She turned her gaze from him to the lake, her gaze becoming rather faraway. "There is someone specific I have in mind, however; the blood of my blood. She is locked away, her will falters with each passing day, and I fear she may end up broken beyond repair if I do not intervene. But I cannot show myself to her, she does not know who I am."

Looking back to Jericho, expressionless yet with an underlying somber tone, the woman sighed. "Seek out the Slaver known as Arthos, but don't be fooled by his profession; the man is a Sith, and dangerous at that. He holds captive my daughter. Do not view this as a selfish act on my part, she can help you. It is her destiny."

[member="Jericho"]

 

[Jericho]

The warrior wiped his tears away with his robes and stood up tall walked to he could stand next to his master as she gazed to the horizon. The blood of her blood? Did she mean family? He looked down for a moment and let a quiet sigh realizing how little he knew about his beloved master. He fought for her ideals, bled for them, sacrificed so much for them and yet he knew so little of her, the person. He supposed now, it would be selfish for him to say he fought for her. At least until now, the ghost of his master asked him to seek out a slaver, a sith; for his master she didn't even need to ask. He turn around and took a few steps away from his master having a slight head start.

"Where is she?"

He nodded after she told him.

"It....Was refreshing to see you again master."

The warrior said before departing.

[member="Kyra Sol"]

 

[Lief]

Asha watched as [member="Jericho"] wiped away his tears and stood tall. Purpose held him up now, she could see his mind whirring as he took in everything which had been said, all that had happened, and could not help but smile with pride. "Journey well, my son, and may the Force be with you - always."

Her gaze remained locked on him as he left the glade without any further word. Her heart ached, wishing nothing more than to accompany him on his quest. But it was not to be. She had spent too long here already, and she could feel the void drawing her back in. With a gentle bow of her head the woman conceded to the Force and began to disperse among it.