The Pillow Book (Taiden Keth)

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Taiden Keth"]

Matsu was looking at him and he was so formal, she had to admit it sounded great but she wasn't above just being casual though. "That will be welcome, where we are going, there are bound to be dangers." She wasn't fully certain of what they might face or find but there was always a chance to farsee it as she had been doing for some things. Training in deeper mysteries before her attention was on several of the things at the table and she ate more food. "We will be there in awhile, rest and prepare. I know I am going to shower and get all the excitement of the day off of me." Matsu finished and set her plate as it went into the basin of the converter being broken down for recycling. Heading off to her room while the rest of the crew ate and worked on some of the things with a chrono counting the time until arrival.

 

[Taiden Keth]

Sadly Matsu was completely right. One failing of many Echani was there strong reserve, they did allow themselves time to relax but that relaxation often led them back to martial pursuits even in their art, sports existed the Kae’s and their legacy [member="Hana Kae"], had seen to it that the Echani who rebuilt their homeworlds had more life in them than just pure conflict, far from just drones built for war.

Sadly the nature of the galaxy is that things come in cycles, and the newly birthed now were born from a warrior caste in many ways, as they were of old to face the struggles of the future.

#Scrolls of Taiden Keth, our history and our undoing. #Addendum 132

Matsu left Taiden to his thoughts and questions, everyone needed a break eventually, but his mind didn’t let up, retreating to his own study and bidding the rest of the guard goodnight. The honor guard split up, some went to the forward view ports and looked out the windows finally relaxing, a few to places to help, always keen to put themselves into the swing of things and make themselves useful.

In his quarters, it wasn’t long before fatigue got the best of him, and he found as he was writing his latest entry into his scrolls, his head was sagging down into his ink. Old parchment, only an ancestors of aiden’s would ever carry such a thing, finally he fell into a slumber, head sideways on the desk.

[member="Matsu Ike"]​

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Taiden Keth"]

Matsu let the trip hang over themin silence and she was asleep, relaxing for the time until they would arrive as finally the chimed alerting her while she rose up and out of the bed. Finding herself in need of fresh cloths and robes over them. The light brown robes she had gotten from Ulic were there and slowly she put them on feeling the scratchiness of them but they were confining and looked like jedi clothing depsite being called a robe. No the robe was the darker brown thing that she had gotten from the descendant of Nomi along with the arm band she was securing on herself. The robes going over it while she put on her belt and necklace letting the sigil shine brightly with the orce energies. She was ready to begin when they came out of hyperspace above the planet and it was mostly desert. Their destination not much while the ship was heading down and Matsu set her disc saber on her hip with the chakram and her twin blades opposite it. "Ready to begin."

 

[Taiden Keth]

Taiden roused himself from his desk moments before his alarm went off, his usually blemish free face having a large ink blot meant some scrubbing was required in the sonic shower. Followed by a strict regime of meditation, stretching exercises, echani martial arts, and sword practice before he’d even touched breakfast. Breakfast was nothing more than triple distilled water and nutritional herb packs he’d picked for the trip from his own floating garden on Mon Calamari.

As they all gradually arrived or met Matsu, none of them were late because they didn’t want the flow of the mission impeded. Only the injured Echani was absent, resting her leg in her quarters, but everyone else was in attendance.

A friendly nod to Matsu, Taiden smiled and turned to the others, he wasn’t the first to speak, as again Taresa Kae led the speaking for all of them, “ready to assist, I hope you rested well,” was all she said, but there was pride and respect there. Taiden also bowed and turned to some of the others who were standing still in perfect line now, the way he stood ready though might betray the deepening respect for Matsu and those around him, his silence and attention a mark of the authority she was holding.

[member="Matsu Ike"]​

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Taiden Keth"]

Matsu was looking at Taiden and the echani as she had a grin on her face. "Yes I am ready, hopefully you are as well." She had some plans for how to get in as they were touching down and following the coordinates it only showed an old warehouse... Large in size compared to the thers but they couldn't see a safer place to land closer to it with the sheer cliff face and sections of mountain. The remains of an energy bridge while she was moving with the equipment. Matsu kept her attention on some of the things they had motioning and digging into her belt for the rope while securing it and firing. "We'll need to find a way in in case there isn't enough power for the bridge." Matsu though could fly and rose itno the air heading over. "I'll make sure the lines are secured and there is enough room to set up."

 

[Taiden Keth]

About to say something, he stood and watched her fly off. The kethborn couldn’t help but nod, a slight smile threatening to come forth. He’d never get used to just how powerful Matsu had become with the force, so many years training and training to get to this point, dedication, there was envy for all of it and her struggles thus far. Rushing air blew his hair back, and he merely stood looking up as she disappeared from view.

Right then and there, Taiden vowed one day he would be able to move as she did. Graceful elegant steps of his own, careful to not break twig or insect underfoot, as they came closer to the font of so much understanding and knowledge, the Echani scholar moved with a respect for all surroundings carried deep in his own heart, reading the etchings on the wall, and taking in their unfamiliar language.

“Is there a map of the facility close by?” One of the Echani called over Matsu’s communicator, quietly of course, they had no idea who was here yet. The rest began to move in their usual rhythm, tempo and connection with their environment deepening and finding its place. The scanning or storage equipment they needed was readied, and soon they awaited the Elder's call.

Spoiler

Can you give me any detail that might help or should I fill in the blanks?

[member="Matsu Ike"]​

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Taiden Keth"]

Matsu looked at him as she was working to get the door opened and a map would be helpful.. She was thinking about it and they didn't have one at best they knew it was grey and on a mountain with a damaged bridge. Exploration was important but ou didn't want to have all mysteries revealed right away right? She was thinking it more as a joke to herself and spoke. "We don't have a map, that they found this place is a matter of celebration. Most believed the world desolate and with nothing of interest." She moved and the door was opened revealing a large open space with boxes and boxes of stuff. Serial numbers over names and Matsu cracked a glow rod tossing it as it smacked into a crate. "See if you can find a manifest or light."

 

[Taiden Keth]

Taiden’s endless curiosity for mysteries often missed the point of the journey, which was the discovery, so keen he was for the answers and direction. Perhaps in later life he would learn more patience, for now all he ever thought about was the next question or logical puzzle in his spare hours.

Searching around for any kind of illumination, two of the guards had a light, the first on his wrist, and the second passed to Taiden, who ran his hand down the side of the metal to get a feel for the structure. Inside there were plenty of cobwebs and other things cluttering up the place, with more than their fair share of dust which brought him to coughing to clear his throat, an animal ran off as it saw them, the residents of this place perhaps.

One beam of light was sent up towards the roof, and Taiden angled his toward the boxes, looking for whatever secrets lay inside. On the top of one box was some kind of list but Taiden couldn’t read it, passing it over for someone else to hold, they climbed up a few steps, and held it up for Matsu to take or read. “The language seems, curious, symbolic? Pictorial?” Called the Echani scholar from below.

Taresa Kae started trying to leverage the top of a container, with a metal jack of some kind but it snapped. Taiden had no ability to force push or pull, being almost disabled in force movement, what he did do was try to use a lesser form of enhancement to his strength to force the remaining piece of metal upwards, and it seemed to be giving way to reveal….

[member="Matsu Ike"]​

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Taiden Keth"]

Matsu was looking into it all and through it while she went around, taking care with the designations on the boxes and searching for some inventory list or something but she couldn't find it. Going through some of the boxes there were old models of weapons and armor she could make out some of the gear while looking over the different things. Sounds within the force were on the edge of her hearing when she heard the padawan speak with her attention going to her while she moved to find him among the boxes until she saw him and the language with her eyes going over it. "It looks like something old, might be local or something from a world they had conquered." Matsu was looking over a few things while she turned her head. "I am not certain, there is something here I can feel it on the edge of my senses."

 

[Taiden Keth]

Another spark of Keth history, [member="Raien Keth"]’s delving into forbidden languages, knowledge and understanding had led to his eventual corruption and the millions dead because of it, perhaps their discussion on how to store an artefact safely was a foreshadowing, because the young Taiden was drawn to particular create in that undiscovered language. Inside were books and books of old knowledge, enough to even start his own library almost, and at the center a small gold globe, matching the sceptre they had taken from the market.

This twist of fate or coincidence was too much, he picked it up and it felt much heavier than it actually was, the energy pooling internally in the metal, one of the old places, the old legends, those forgotten creations that time locked away in empty boxes, just waiting for one young eager student to come across.

Matsu though was his balancing factor, and despite his drawn curiosity, he turned to her, to offer it over. tThe pure gold globe span in part of its own accord, force assisted metal that was clearly matching the sceptre one of the Echani had purchased previously.

Was it Sith, didn’t feel like it, but not Jedi either, what then? “Elder Ike may we study this later, together?”

[member="Matsu Ike"]​

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Taiden Keth"]

Matsu was looking at it, a golden orb on a scepter as she raised an eyebrow and was going over the different sections. Her senses narrowing while she looked it over and spoke. "That is I am not certain, It almost looks like an old staff held by members of the Republic." She was thinking about it and felt something buzz while she was moving. Quickly towards some of the boxes as one of the larger crates was buried under the others and the metal was there while she was prying it open. The chrome finish of the artifact underneath while she got the crate opened slowly now more then ever as she was looking over it and felt the force energy pouring off of it with more energy being drawn in. "We have a lot of things here to go through and get in the ships."

 

[Taiden Keth]

Taiden listened for any of her advice intently, focus deepening to the point she was all he saw, silver eyes ever watchful for even the smallest details of her body language and its communication. Those threads could be followed up, refollowed, even hints of history were of so much worth. “Of course Elder Ike,” Taiden realised he might delaying moving everything, and that thought alone of delaying the flow of the mission spurred him to action, so motion could correct his blockage.

They began readying the crates, all care and attention was made that the boxes should not be broken or dropped, everything inside treated like the possessions and prizes they were, enough perhaps to make a combined library or archive for the new coalition and temple? Taiden could not say, but he would very much like to be involved in the operation of such a library, his place firmly to be among the dusty tomes and artifacts nearby.

“Straight to your ship Master Matsu?” Or did she want to oversea each box individually?

[member="Matsu Ike"]​

Spoiler

Sorry about the delay Matsu.

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Taiden Keth"]

Matsu was looking at him and gave a nod of her head. "Yes start loading some of it up and we'll make sure things are secured." She had a few ideas and clearing away more of it the piece in the crate became visible while she was moving. "It is real." The journal within the crate she picked up holding it while she was reading it. The journal was something as she sat on a crate and thumbed through it letting the force dilate her pupils as she was reading it faster and faster. The details on the engine and how to make it work with other pieces of technology and the force. How to feed it energy to produce and it worked on the same idea of the converters they had been building and developed for creating materials. Just it could make a lot more and that was what she wanted to get to upgrade them while she continued to read the journal.

 

[Taiden Keth]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YcFlE7z5Po
Secrets and Solitude, Opening the boxes.​

Diligently they worked for an hour or more beginning to carefully move the crates. Echani could be gentle creatures, all things considered they were at least careful in how they handled the relics and boxes, not a foot out of place. It was orderly and it was something a stormtrooper would have envied, a stormtrooper though could not have matched just how the honor guard naturally flowed, moving between one another as if they were not even there, falling into a usual rhythm again, communication made by every step.

Yet in the middle of this display of motion and expressed interest, concern fell over him, little expression betrayed this on his face, instead his body leaned in, becoming more ready to act. He was concerned for Matsu, how involved she became in her study. “Master,” he didn’t say the words, but perhaps she could read his concern, because he certainly didn’t hide it in body language or the force, is everything alright?

“Perhaps you should rest?” She had so much to give, so much drive, brushing his white tunic down straight, the Echaniborn worried that perhaps she carried too much on her shoulders? Asked too much of herself, on his world she would be a matriarch of considerable prowess, yet the life of a Jedi was meant to be a humble one and often unrecognized for their contributions, as his friend [member="Kei Amadis"] often reminded him.

[member="Matsu Ike"]​

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Taiden Keth"]

Matsu looked at the padawan when he spoke and she was involved in the studies of the infinite engine as she looked up and at the padawan. "I am alright." The thoughts of it though she stood up and looked at him while she breathing in and out slowly letting the force energies enter and go through her while she spoke. "THis is a good time we can work on skills like revitalization." She was looking at him though and fcusing on matukai technioques. THey had shown her their secret to near infinite stamina and awareness for getting energy and toxins out of her body. "You want to feel the force and push it slowly through your body."

 

[Taiden Keth]

Taiden’s stance shifted backward, uncertain of the term, “Revitalization Master?” He had heard rumours but with no library or archives to research from, it left him at a loss to follow up some of the more interesting force terms! This of course meant he was hanging on her every word again, he actually had to sit down just so he didn’t overdo it.

“What does that involve?” The Echani scholar made another mental note to begin badgering the Master’s back home for some form of central library of knowledge or understanding when they returned! Sadly Echani didn't so much badger as stand around with significant looks on their faces, but even so.

He listened and then followed her instruction, pushing the force through his body, sadly when it got to the edges Taiden felt himself unable to release, such was his disability and being so reliant on motion to express, motion outside of his body was impossible for him to achieve. Could Matsu help him find another way to release the energy?

Sweat formed across the padawan’s brow. "I am unable to release these toxins Master," Taiden answered, clearly struggling, finding pinpoint focus on the junk material within his body, to move energy beyond himself was proving difficult, but the sweating was helping, as the body itself assisted him.

[member="Matsu Ike"]​

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Taiden Keth"]

Matsu watched the padawan as she was standing there and loading up the crate as they worked on the smaller generator to get the bridge going so they could move things easier and she spoke. "It is alright, such skills can take time to accomplish." She wasn't going to force him but her pale was colorful for her natural paleness and snow white looks. A thought crossing her mind while she was leading the way and they were working on securing the crate in the cargo bay of the ship. "But you have done well, helping find the journal and engine, this will progress much of what the jedi know and can use the force in ways not seen for thousands of years."

 

[Taiden Keth]

Contentment as she spoke, her snowy white visage a good match for how he often looked. Watching their horizon, as their discoveries rolled into the cargo hold of her ship, his mind rested and his questioning nature slowed, part of him yet that needed to find peace with itself. They'd found a little bit of history here, built something, or at least done a small measure of something important in the galaxy, and that was enough for him.

“I will work on the technique Elder,” he committed still, perhaps in time he'd be able to surpass his disability or work around it. Allowing himself a moments rest perhaps for the first time on their trip, he had not slept or rested for more than a few hours, beads of sweat upon his brow, exhaustion was there but suppressed.

Only a moment passed before he let his arms continued to finish loading their cargo, hair whipped up by their winds nearby, his usual white attire slightly marred but still finding energy for more, “if you need help studying it further, may you call on me?” He asked as the last of it was loaded, taking a small fallen twig from nearby for his collection, not breaking but using what was already there. He didn't assume she'd require his aid, but being apart of her expedition, meant finding small gifts within and without that he had not discovered before, thanks to her.

[member="Matsu Ike"]​

 

[Matsu Ike]

[member="Taiden Keth"]

Matsu was looking at him and gave a nod when they finished, she had one of the strongest devices in the galaxy at her fingertips and learnign how to use it well, she'd have to handle that as well as work with some more of the things they had. She had thoughts to work with it and her cube going forward to construct a stronger converter for them and their ships. She had been workign with Kay and using the information they had found here. "Good and I shall, for now rest, you have earned it. I have things that need to be logged into the books we have and the reports to write. I know many will not ready them but there is the rare exception that comes from scholars within the order. My friendship with the Republic's Grandmastrer has given me some perspective."

 

[Taiden Keth]

About to leave but before he did, Taiden wanted to reassure her, and would have done, if he was more for words rather than bodylanguage. He wanted to shout out to her, that it didn’t matter how many read them, only that they were there when they were needed, that Matsu’s work could be passed down to the next generation, either directly or through her efforts by example.

Instead all his expression did was more firmly fix itself on his face, and he nodded long and respectfully, beyond any military salute, the gesture meant to instead tell her that what she was doing would have meaning in the days to come.

If he had anything to say about it.

Unlike Kei’s stubborness Taiden had no holdups at all working with the republic, and was glad to hear the information would be shared, that bonds were being formed between the Jedi orders in the galaxy's time of strife. With no further words, they parted ways, and hopefully Matsu knew she had a friend here too.

[member="Matsu Ike"]​