Private Trace

[Loske Treicolt]

Coruscant
Immediately after the conclusion of this thread​

The forum opened to the public and it was up to the politicians and policy-makers to navigate the curiosities of civilians. Through the discourse, Loske had been fairly idly standing with her friends. There'd been something nagging in the recesses of her mind though. From a folder she'd neatly organized and hadn't opened in a while. The frequency of historic interactions was becoming less and less in the dawn of The Alliance.

Still. From her passive position, she'd had a pretty open view of who or what was making her feel that discomfort. The nagging feeling that you know someone, but can't place it. By now though, Loske knew that feeling meant one of her donors knew someone -- not her. She was meant to. While open trade policies and medical aide was agreed on, she'd managed to pin point the origin of the sensation.

At the conclusion of the meeting, and everyone started to file out, she quickly excused herself from Ryv and Maynard and crossed after the short-haired Jedi Master. She reached out to tap Kei Amadis on the shoulder, voluntarily pulling over to the side of the hallway to suggest they linger. "Excuse me, Master Amadis?" That's what he'd introduced himself as.

Like the helpful warnings of cold, cold, cold, warm, warmer, warmest, hot! she was burning up by the time she'd started speaking. This fellow definitely knew something about her history.

"Do you have a moment? My name's Loske, nice to meet you."

 

[Kei Amadis]

Somewhere between a bull in a tea shop, and a pair of hands looking for a crate to stack. That was about where Kei fitted into diplomacy. Ultimately glad he’d been here, hands still behind his back, there was a slight limp as he moved without a cane.

A million things to do, a million more food supplies to ship, bridges to build, roads and hospitals to see done.

Amadis wasn’t much for subtle senses, in the force or in the way he lived. So when he grinned to Loske Matson it was friendly as his nature was, but it wasn’t immediately revealing that he knew her. “Hello Miss.” The Epicanthix nodded firmly, the scar down his cheek visible, the silver lines in the beard and hair this close, showed him to be well into his fifties.

Passing some of the paperwork they were collecting to an old wildcard, now in civilian uniform, who would have also once stood beside her mother too. Much older now, white hair, the elderly soldier herself was a grandmother but still serving day today in logistics, medical aid or transportation as many did. Once of the republic, just like her mother was, maybe the pair had even talked, traveled or worked together.

Do you have a moment?

The older woman bid them farewell and left them alone with a smile. One of those curious events the force arranged from time to time, at just the right time to jog a memory or confirm a suspicion. “All the time in the world,” which was a lie, but he wanted to take time before the next duty shift had to begin. “Walk with me Miss Loske?” Holding the door open if she accepted, if they walked he'd ask, "what brings you into the lion's den of politics?"

Loske Treicolt

 

[Loske Treicolt]

She gave a nod in the direction of the woman who parted from their path, keeping a pleasant smile of her own plastered. His welcoming to talk was appreciated, and the blonde youth grinned with a hearty head-nod. All the time in the world. What a luxury Kei Amadis was extending to her!

"Thank you, yes." She obliged, following after him as he held the door open for her. Outside in the federal district, people were busy. This was like most any sector on the ecumenopolis planet; serenity was not something found in the streets. It was surprisingly clean, though. At certain angles when the sun struck against the concrete, it would sparkle.

Ah, right, politics. He probably thought she was approaching him on the basis of that meeting that had just adjourned. With a small shake of her head, she put her hands in the pockets of her leather flight jacket. "I'm here to support my friends. Whatever it takes to get all the good guys working together." Her shoulders rolled into a shrug. "So you're a Silver Jedi, hey? How do you think that meeting went?"

That knowing feeling didn't go away. If he was a Silver Jedi..how did he know her mom? How did Kiskla know him? She'd ask after pleasantries.

 

[Kei Amadis]

Whatever it takes to get all the good guys working together.

“Like your spirit Loske.” Kei grinned firm and gave a strong nod. That was worth a million of these meetings.

How do you think that meeting went?

There was an honest shrug, “No one got shot or stabbed by darksiders. No Sith fleets in orbit this time.” Which wasn’t as unlikely an event as you might think. She deserved more than that, she had some drive, idealism and wanted to make it work, it was good to see. So he gave her more, some heart. “Natural distance in differences, a common hope.” Which had always been the way, he meant that, and his words were honest.

Kei wasn’t a philosopher, maybe Taiden was rubbing off on him a bit. His Echani friend might have given her deeper insight, as he had in his talks to Kei. Want for freedom and want for control. Control freedom, it naturally goes elsewhere, rail against control and it forms elsewhere. Freedom and Control forever in conflict when in proximity. The only way in Kei’s mind they could exist was cooperating side by side, not on top of each other. But Kei wasn’t the man to tell her all that, he was more blunt and direct.

Rounding a corner, there was a feeling of familiarity sinking in. Had he been down this hall before? Maybe in another lifetime decades ago. All of sudden right in the middle of the corridor, the Jedi Guardian stopped and turned to look at Loske. The Epicanthix’s brow furrowed, but he didn't say anything. Did she have something on her face? A crumb, a pimple? Why was he staring? He was looking intensely at her, like the world around them didn't exist.

You sure know how to clear a room, Kiskla observed, breaking the silence in the workout facility. I've never seen any part of the Temple so empty.

"Sorry." Kei apologized, "reminded me of someone." A couple of the people walking by had probably given them a glance, not that Kei would have cared.

Loske Treicolt

 

[Loske Treicolt]

She beamed at the compliment to her spirit. Patiently listening to Kei Amadis ' response to the question, she continued at a pace that matched his, hands in her pockets. Differences. "Well, it's just the first meeting. I'll be there'll be more and everyone will fall into a rhythm of things -- hopefully proactively though, the good guys need to get off the back foot." Cocking a grin, she looked over at the Jedi Master and then saw him doing the exact same thing.

Except for an uncomfortably long time.

She drew to a stop, shifting her weight from foot to foot as if to give him more reason to asses. Being a clone, Loske was used to being surveyed - although, it had been a really long time since someone with a clipboard encircled her. And this was giving her uncomfortable flashbacks.

"That's okay," she offered when he explained himself. "That's actually why I wanted to talk to you.

You're familiar as well, and I think I know why." During some training with both Master Grayson and Morgana, she'd been able to distinguish her memories from her injected parent's. "Did you know Kiskla Grayson well?" He was present in a lot of indistinguishable flashes in her mind's eye, and there'd need to be a reason why. He didn't appear in any family lines...so where was he from? The Council? Army of Light?

"She's kind of my..." maternal donor "Mother."

 

[Kei Amadis]

“Spirit.” He grinned firm. “That’s where you get it from.”

A million questions came to him. Donor. Past Tense.

Was Kiskla dead? Even he knew not to ask too sensitive subjects in a hallway. Nodding, “let’s take a weight off.” A few more minutes before she could get answers to some of her past, and family, why she was who she was. “Find some privacy.” Passing through the busy hallway as the meeting behind them concluded.

Another door was opened through the crowds on the steps, and if she followed they rounded a small corner, Kei was looking for a place to sit that was quiet, the cafe’s or restaurants nearby were full diplomats, protestors, or just people living their lives in a busy area. Assuming Loske came, he led her through the energy, the buzz and momentum, making sure they had a path. Amadis like a few of the ambiguous statement’s crew were great at finding out of the way places. That was his life's work, assisting the little guy that was hidden or out of sight.

Moving around storage crates, and parked speeders to find the spot. There was a small bench in the middle of nowhere near where he had landed his old ship, looking out at the city level below. Tucked in a corner. Floating cars going by a distance away but otherwise private. A really old HWK-290 freighter from times gone by was behind them. From the times she wanted to know about. The ambiguous statement, it looked like it had lived three lifetimes with how much work they’d done on her, it was the same ship.

Kei hadn’t sat on the bench yet. He had his hands behind his back again. Looking out over the hovercars. When Kei turned to Loske, he’d decided she’d know every word she wanted. Every detail he had.

Another memory. "I told you," she replied, her voice lightly coated with a warning "Not to thank me until you actually learn something."

“Kiskla. Was my Master and a great friend.” Kei answered and there was much more to come, about how he felt about Kiskla. “Her spirit.” No this was more personal, “She risked everything to do what was right, and what she believed, for people she owed nothing to.” There was sincerity, admiration, and respect in the Epicanthix’s eyes. Emotion too, you could see it in waves from the Jedi Master.

Loske Treicolt

 

[Loske Treicolt]

Where she got it from? "Yeah..literally." She confirmed with a homourless snort.

"Oh, uhm, okay, sure." Loske acquiesced easily to Kei Amadis ' enthusiasm to disappear - or, at least dodge from prying ears. His earnestness was sweet, and she was appreciative.

They seemed to finally draw to a place Kei was content to pause, and Loske's gaze naturally went to the ship they were near. Standing so near a landing port could rouse up trouble, especially on Coruscant. People were protective of their property. Considering Kei seemed to know his way around, she could only deduce the Corellian freighter was his. She was looking at its paint job when he chose to spoke again.

"Really." Loske sounded like she didn't believe him, though there was no reason not to. She just couldn't imagine her mother being a great friend to someone. "Sorry," she apologized, defending her tone "Not that I doubt you, I just--she and I have a rather strained relationship." A smirk to that understatement. "I can't really imagine her being particularly friendly with anyone."

There was no falsity in his words, only passion. Her expression softened.

"That's kind all I know about her. My two interactions with her, and what history has recorded." He looked somewhat concerned, and she felt the need to address the status of the former Grandmaster. "She's still alive. Isolated on Kiffu, and governing there.

I saw her a few months ago. She didn't even say anything before trying to kill me. Did she train you like that...? Did it work?" It was a total parallel to her teacher's pedagogical method, and she couldn't wrap her head around her mother's No threat, no purpose policy.

 

[Kei Amadis]

“Some friends will sit with you, tell you it’ll be alright, give support.” Kei nodded firm, that’s what some people needed and some days it felt good to be that. “Some friends will risk everything they’ve stood for, their reputation, life’s work, all their friends, and every breath after the next one for something they believe in. They’ll have your back, even with all the doubts and uncertainty.” He nodded, and they’d make the choices others won’t even if they end up alone.

Looking Loske directly in the eyes, that same Epicanthix thousand-yard stare up close. “That’s your mother.” His face softened and he sat on the bench, the leg giving him some pain. “And my Master.”

Trying to kill her. He tapped the bench near him. “Sorry Loske, didn’t know.” Much calmer now reflecting her change in tone, a peaceful jedi nature settling back in. His elbows rested on his knee, those old past times stirred up a lot of emotion. “Want me to go straighten her out? Get some answers?” Kei’s tone was light but his face was serious. As if it was possible to go straighten Kiskla out, least he could see what had happened in these long years, try and reach out, he owed her that.

Did she train you like that...? Did it work? “Yes. We survived.” He looked up at the freighter, patchwork, old but a survivor, grinning. “Still here talking to you, because of her so are a lot of others.” Either directly or these days years on, indirectly from their actions or children, children like he had. Others could all judge that they would have done better, or somehow magically everything would have been flawless, but their heads were in the clouds, their hands not actually involved in trying. Kei took his hololocket off his neck and inside there were a few images of his family, which included his children Mathayus, Amelia and his wife Elara. “She gave us all she had. We survived.”

Loske Treicolt

 

[Loske Treicolt]

If Loske ever needed to hire a Public Relations specialist, she wanted it to be Kei Amadis . The way he reflected on the merits her mother boasted drew Kiskla in a new light. Reframing the cold, distanced queen as a stoic warrior, who remained unbowed against the odds. She drew in a sharp breath at the end of the sentiment about the dichotomy of friend types. His steadfast stare solidified his opinion, and she had to look away sheepishly, about the same time he elected to take a seat.

She too dropped to sit beside him, folding her hands on her lap while chuckling at the idea of her deploying someone to deal with her bitchy mother. She imagined something akin to a schoolteacher scolding a student. "No, no," she held up a hand, facing her palm toward him "It's okay. I think I ended up passing her test. I appreciate it though, I'm sure she could use a friend visit. The Kiffar people can be stuffy if you stick around with them too long. It's all about war, electricity and prisoners over there."

Leaning in to peer at the blue, glowing silhoeuttes of Kei's family, her expression turned warm. "Oh," she breathed "You have a beautiful family. Master Amadis." Families were Loske's weak spot. Her abandonment with her own parents made her yearn to create a space for kids to grow up in the loving arms of a mother and father one day; and seeing people make such intimate units work in a galaxy that was so ample with despair was uplifting. Her heart swelled. Looking back up, she pointed to each of them individually "What are their names?"

After his response, if he cared to divulge, she'd lean back and nod sagely.

All she had. She gave them all she had. Is that why she wasn't giving any more?

She looked down at her feet for a moment's consideration while a thought resonated. "Master Amadis, would it be...could you teach me something? Sort of like a full circle sort of situation. I..I'm a really fast learner, so it won't take up much of your time, but there's a lot I don't know."

 

[Kei Amadis]

“Tests between family.” Kei offered consolingly, “shouldn’t have had to go through that Loske,” whatever Kiskla’s motivation. He’d decided, “I will visit her.” Do what he could for an old friend who was there for him those years ago. “People, crowds, have the acceptance levels of a Sith, flavors of the month.” Different times framed different individuals differently, depending on which way the wind was blowing, and what people wanted to see, often in themselves.

“Thank you,” he grinned broadly and proudly about his family. Kei had recounted he’d named his children Mathayus and Amelia; his wife Elara, and a spot for his father was in his hololocket, not his mother by a strange coincidence. Also two of his closest friends, old Zacka in his leather hat and the large bald form of Patches, Taiden in his white robes, Glade in her purple hoverchair, and Elara’s sister were shown in frozen scenes about the ship, before he folded it back away. Sentimentality to spare for many a picture or story about them, glade had been rubbing off on him again.

Another dose of sentimentality, full circle, he could hardly resist helping, raising himself up and offering his hand for her to raise up. “Sure. How practical do you want the lesson?” Kiskla had shown him the basics, expanded on his own technique, he often did the same. Not everyone appreciated the in your face style of it though.

Pulling a door open on one of the very large orange containers that blocked their private corner in, opened up a large enclosed, safe and private space. Turning on the light inside for illumination, showed it to be sparsely filled. A few wooden stacks, empty metal boxes, a spare laser pen, and clipboard but otherwise empty. They’d been using this place as a pre-meeting area before the meeting, the boxes for seats, a laser pen to write hasty notes, and the empty cup of stimcaf to raise the spirits. Strangely the makeshift setup wasn't all that different to the modifier hanger bay of the True Venture, where Kiskla had trained him, sentimentality done justice.

"What do you know?" Direct and to the point. He stood opposite her, hands linked behind his back.

Loske Treicolt

 

[Loske Treicolt]

She took his hand and followed obediently, being swallowed up by the old ship. Kiskla never would have taken anyone's assistance, even in the most polite of gestures. As if she always had something to prove -- Loske, on the other hand, was more than happy to oblige to pleasanties and manners; and always asked for help when needed. A stark parallel.

She looked around their space, surprised that he had access to something so recluse on Coruscant other than his ship.

"Well, I kind of..know a lot of what Kiskla knew." That was a lie. She knew everything Kiskla knew. Up to this point, Kei Amadis had been nothing but forthright with her -- he deserved to know a little bit of her weird history. "I actually know mostly everything. I'm kind of a clone or..honestly, I prefer the term test tube baby, of Marcello Matteo and Kiskla Grayson. All of their formidable powers, techniques, were forged into my DNA. I have trouble time to time accessing what I know, but it is there. It's all pretty aggressive though -- other than a limited grasp on Art of The Small, I know nothing about healing." She chuckled.

"I was made to be a weapon, pretty much. And I've been stabbed a few too many times and I'm always a burden to other people when that happens." She looked down, and absently touched at her stomach where she'd been rendered incapacitated more than once.

"Or a spar? I could always be exposed to more techniques and how other people fight.

Thank you, again Master Amadis. This is really generous of you."

 

[Kei Amadis]

Amadis spoke something quietly into his wrist device. Noticing how she dipped her head and dropped in thought, he spoke strongly to pick her attention up off past traumas. He'd help her find the strength to stand defensively and begin her teaching as a healer, solid core tenants for any Jedi.

Made to be... “a weapon. How do you feel about that?” Kei asked frankly. “My race are warriors, my wife is a warrior, my children will be.” if their household was anything to go by, they had every chance of being. “How you start can become a distant memory, making peace with it is important, then you can respect or learn to appreciate who you are.” He tapped his chest, respecting who and what you were counted for a lot.

He walked before her arms still behind his back, like a military instructor in his manner, as he often was at training, his past on show.

Relaxing his posture, he flexed his knees and stance, “don’t thank me yet, remember who trained me.” Grinning lightly, not only Kiskla but his military service drill instructor hadn’t been easy on a more casual Kei all those years back.

“Soften your knees, with legs spaced apart.” He waited until she did, then tugged at her front ankle with a force pull very lightly, a technique that had a lot of surprising applications, “when someone unbalances, your stance compensates.”

About then the older wildcard lady arrived again with two “training sabers, low powered non lethal stings” if struck but nothing more serious. Giving her the choice of green or blue, and Kei taking the other. Demonstrating a simple Shi-Cho grip to start with, stance and grip, the basics. “Back fingers act as a push-pull on the hilt, don’t clench it, hold it like you can still point with your index finger.” There was some flexibility in the Shi-Cho grip but this was going to be much more than a lesson on forms.

Moving around the check her hands on the weapon, he tried to force pull it out of her hand lightly. Nodding whatever the result, no judgment, just practice and showing her what she would experience ahead of time.

Loske Treicolt

 

[Loske Treicolt]

"I'll feel better about it when I can do my purpose some justice." Loske admitted. She had this burdensome feeling that she'd been created with terrible purpose, and was spending too much time investing in her personal relationships than a benefactor of battle.

Obedient, Loske listened to what he wanted and performed appropriately; distributing her weight with the stance he requested. She wavered , taking a step back with her left foot when he tugged at the right one with an invisible hand and tightening the balls of her fists in defiance.

"Oh, hi!" The kiffar greeted to the woman, and received the emerald coloured saber. It thrummed quietly in her grip while she got a feeling for its weight - testing it's bouyancy. "Who is that?" She asked with a hushed tone, her head inclined to the white-haired woman who had uncanny timing. Had she been watching this whole time? Where did she come from?

She followed suit, fingers curling around the hilt and extending the point. It was a good tidbit. If the saber was to be an extension of her arm, it made sense that her pointer finger would be required to point and direct where she wanted the blade to go. The hilt quivered in her grip, and a smile touched her lips. Her Master had done this to her before -- and found success. He'd yanked it from her grip and she'd sought to gather it back -- keeping it suspended betwixt them until he let it go like a slingshot and hit her in the face. Her lesson had been learned then, thus, when Kei Amadis send a snaking tendril to rob her of her weapon, the sensation warned her and she tightened her grip -- but it still quivered.

"How do I counter that?

 

[Kei Amadis]

Everyone was here for a united purpose: To bring light to a threateningly bleak universe.
"This is impressive,” Kiskla commented when Kei made his way to her, working his rounds.

Noticing she’d pull the saber back, Kei nodded. Purpose, got to find that yourself, he wanted to say. He’d talked ‘at’ her enough about her past, something people needed to see, experience or be trained in.

“Steady,” he could see her defiant spirit, and that lifted his, “keep your head.” Which was everything, if you lost your head or acted on impulse, click your fingers and you were gone. Spirit got you through a lot.

Amadis took the blue saber, turning it to its absolutely lowest setting and immediately the second he had, he attacked her, only a swipe and only at that same leg he’d pulled. Taking a step back. “Wildcard, that lady served with your mother in the republic, and the army of light” she was a grandmother now nearing the end of her days. The second Loske had recovered or began to digest that information, he struck again with a downward swing at the other leg. “Sith will always pull at the heartstrings.” There was no better way he could show her, he turned the saber back up to a medium setting, still only ever enough to sting. That was you had to make peace with your past, so the strings were all part of your life.

“Counter a push with a push or a barrier. Push is easier, less tiring, held just long as you need. Pull....”

He went to force pull the nearest small metal box into the air.

“Reaching into the force. Pull it away from me.” Assuming she did, he’d resist to about her level of ability, so it stayed tugged at a standstill. Then, “drop the box, now pull toward me again.” He did the same, the two pulls, two opposing energies canceled each other out. Visually was the best way to demonstrate pulling he'd found.

Loske Treicolt

 

[Loske Treicolt]

The Army of Light? Loske blinked. That part of history she'd skipped - so much of what was recorded was concentrated on the blah-blah-blah-Grandmaster side of things. Lest history forget all the action Grandmaster Grayson took and saw -- mostly dissolving the council, something that in hindsight tossed a lot of chaos amongst the Jedi.

Her emerald blade arced to meet his, catching the blue near her shin and twisting it upward and away from her target zone.

"That's why Jedi are warned against attachments, right? Heartstrings can affect the mind - losing them brings fear and..fear is the mind killer." If that was the case, and she was sure it was, Loske was certain she'd fall victim to that one day. The love she had for her friends was esteemed above all else.

A push for a push. She should remember that - it was fire against fire. She appreciated Kei Amadis ' straightforward answer.

She twirled her blade, still on the training setting, by her hip and extended her arm. Invisible tendrils snaked out from her mind's eye around the floating mass. It was easy enough to discover and secure, and she gave it a tug in her direction. There was resistance. She simpered -- a tell-tale Kiskla expression.

"In this contest, I could either exhaust myself trying to overpower you, or use your own strength against you by letting go....right?"