Twice a Jedi, Always a Jedi

[Ilias Nytrau]

There was no knowing the passage of time in its grasp, and if one had the (mis)fortune to be aware of where they were, fighting it was a possible but losing battle. To be subjected to the Nether for a handful of years was one thing, and to inhabit it for centuries was really quite another, and she hadn't known the time that had passed after being expelled from that afterlife of the Force as soon as she tumbled out onto Voss; no, her mind was quite severely addled, and coupled with the knowledge of the rifts that had sprung open the galaxy over, the girl - appearances dictating an age of mid-twenties - simply passed out in the forest, only a few short kilometres from the temple complex.

When she woke, panicked and wide-eyed, there were eyes on her from faces she didn't at all recognize; this wouldn't help but for some kindly souls (whom she would later learn were a couple of the most powerful, accomplished healers in the galaxy according to local consensus) who were a balm to her mind, an aid to the long road to her 'recovery' from... from what? Death? Resolving her mind, her confidence in her identity and in general, was a thing far from happening overnight. The galaxy turned around her and wars raged on as healers, scholars, and other Jedi walked the path of her rehabilitation with her. Days turned to weeks, weeks turned to months, so on and so forth, until she gained self-sufficiency and a measure of peace.

She was still troubled, of course, but that was to be expected. The shock of her situation was quite something to surmount, but she had come this far, and it was time for the next step, determined by her only with the guidance she had sought out on her own. The thought of her template's first steps in the way of the Jedi, wonder at how it might have been for her, were very much on Emiery's mind - it simply couldn't be helped. After all, there were only so many things she could learn from the original before her mind wasted away under the weight of the Netherworld of the Force.

The Nether... the still youthful-looking clone of a daughter of Pelagon shook her head to dispel the train of thought of that dismal place and raised a not-too-firm fist to tap on the door of a woman with whom she had become somewhat acquainted, to attend to meeting with her as the brown-haired Master requested.

[member="Coci Heavenshield"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Emiery Athelon"]​

​

Under the watchful care of the healers, the girl had been here within the facilities for some time. Her history unclear,save for her arrival. It is well documented, the events that surrounded the Netherworld, Coci had been there, not as long a Emiery thankfully but still the scars of that event disrupted the galaxy still. So may beings taken away, never to return.

The 'lucky' ones had come home to families that missed them, or missing or dead. She had gotten off lightly, the force had deemed it so that her husband was with here and their to protect her as best he could. With the lack of ability to use the force, the two had found friendships with others that suffered the same fate. They had returned and made their way home to Voss, but for Coci the destruction of Corellia, broke her heart along with all the Coreliians within the galaxy.

It is time to meet this strange girl, come to them from the skies and from a place dark and cold and without hope. The knock on her door, announced her arrival, Coci shut down her computer and stood up from behind her desk to answer the door. No girl, but a woman in mid twenties was revealed to her as the door slid open.

"Welcome, Emiery", she said with a hint of a smile. "Please come in and make yourself comfortable", Coci gestured to a set of seats arranged around a small Caf table, within her office.

 

[Ilias Nytrau]

She smiled in kind, the gesture given by her lips quite genuine. It seemed to her a simple, well-kept space, an enclosure marked by some measure of warmth; the memory of the rooms and gatherings she had grown up in pulled forth the innermost private chambers of family life - the exterior of a Tapani house, both physically and socially, was pleasing to look on and belied the ice of court life to a calculated degree - and that drawn comparison made the room feel just that bit more welcoming.

"Thank you, Master Heavenshield," she said, a bow marking her words, provoked by sheer muscle memory that she was surprised to have after a supposition of so many centuries, "I will."

She then entered the office and made her way to the collection of seats around the modest caf table, gingerly seating herself with back straight and hands folded over one another in her lap - definitive poise. Given court was still an active part of her life right up until her untimely death centuries before, it stood to reason that unconsciously conducting herself in this way simply made sense.

[member="Coci Heavenshield"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Emiery Athelon"]

"Can I offer you something to drink?", she said before they would begin a conversation. However, Coci sat opposite Emiery poised to gather anything the girl wished for. "How are you feeling these days? I am sure you are aware that we have little knowledge of you save for your arrival and subsequent treatment. Please tell me more about yourself, and what we can do for you here in the Temple".

"I am feeling thirsty, I shall bring some water", she said bowing her head slightly and rising. On the sideboard there is a large jug of chilled water on a tray with glasses. Coci gathers those and placing them on the Caf table in good reach of Emiery. Over turning two glasses, Coci pours the water and placed the glass of water in front of the elegant girl.

The progress of this woman will be determine by her answers, it will give Coci a clear view of direction for her.

 

[Ilias Nytrau]

When asked about refreshment, the young woman blinked, drawing a blank until her mind referenced what was once her favourite beverage - a light, sweet wine from the southern provinces - but she was far from the land of her 'birth', in more ways than physical distance. Thinking on an answer, another question came which was oddly easier to form a response to.

"I'm feeling better, thank you," she replied, though she didn't elaborate at that moment. Then a request, and she was once again thinking, putting her thoughts for the subject of herself in order and gathering the words to describe those thoughts, "Water will be lovely, Master."

And really, it was. There was no doubt that she had consumed water, but so much time without - the waters of the Nether being a danger to touch - gave her an entirely new appreciation for it. She watched the other woman go about fetching water, as she thought on how to best begin speaking about herself and what she wanted; once the Jedi Master returned with the water and glasses, the former lady of Pelagon began to speak.

"The most telling bit would be to say where I'm from. I hail from Pelagon, Master Heavenshield, by way of the Netherworld of the Force - a journey of some eight-hundred years, give or take."

She smiled cordially, and retrieved the glass from the table, lifting it to her mouth for a sip with one hand around the body and another supporting the bottom of the glass. She still wasn't certain how she truly felt about her situation and all it entailed, the shock having been so great that processing it all on an emotional level would be slow-going; that was in part due to the way things were. Grief was a private matter.

[member="Coci Heavenshield"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Emiery Athelon"]

The revelation, the extent of her stay within the Netherworld was saddening to say the least, so much had been taken from Amiery, a life interrupted. But now, with the grace of the force, she is here and her life, not only as a force attuned, but as a person can begin once more. Her coping mechanism would be needed and Coci hoped it would be strong, but couple that with the care she will receive from the Order, Emiery will prevail. However, the mention of Pelagon made her lips curl into a smile.

"I have been to Pelagon but once", only words she spoke of the place, but the memory of what had drawn her there, will remain with her forever. A whisper through the force pulled a mother to another. Pregnant at the time, Coci felt a burning need to visit the planet. It was on that occasion she discovered the birth house of her husband and more importantly, a connection to his birthing mother. Sarah. Through this visit and the discovery of the locket, [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] was able to meet his birthing mother, if only briefly. A mother's connection to a child, biological connection, is eternal. Regardless of the upbringing or the events that took place to take her away from him, she is still his mother and will remain so forever. It is a bond, not broken by circumstances or death.

"I want to help you", she begun fixing her eyes on that of the girl. "The galaxy, although the same in many ways, has changed. And no doubt there is an element of shock that you have experienced with your return. I want to help you adjust to it all. I also sense you are attuned to the force, strongly. And if you have a desire to become something more, through it, I can help there too".

"If you so desire, I would become your Master and train you to use the force, more. It would be the beginning of a new chapter for you. Fate, for want of a better word, took you away but fate has returned you, and I believe for a purpose. What that purpose is, can only be answered by yourself".

 

[Ilias Nytrau]

It was exactly the thing she had been thinking to ask after, but the offer surprised her and caused a sip of water to go down the wrong tube, provoking a fit of coughing while she set the glass back on the table and covered her mouth with the back of her other hand. Her eyes watered from it all, and she tried to look apologetic as her respiratory system attempted to reject the offending fluid and return to a relaxed state.

"I would," she said when the respiratory event started to die down, "I would be honoured, Master Heavenshield, to learn from you and benefit from your guidance."

All punctuated with gradually dying wheezes. She dabbed at her eyes with a kerchief she had fashioned sometime over the previous months with a piece of cloth from the torn clothes that had been on her back upon being expelled from the Nether.

"Sorry..." she said, looking sheepish, a blush colouring her cheeks, "...that was unexpected, wasn't it?"

[member="Coci Heavenshield"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Emiery Athelon"]

Coci was surprised by her sudden reaction. But could not help but smile. "It would be my honour to train you, as it is to train anyone in the ways of the Jedi", she said with a slight incline of the head. She allowed the girl to gather herself a little more before Coci would gain more information from her.

"Emiery, I must ask you, if you have had any training in the past and if so what that is. I need to ascertain your skills and what we need to begin with". Reaching for her glass of water, Coci drank.

"Have you had the opportunity to venture out much, since your time away from this galaxy is great you must have some misgivings about it on your return, there must be a level of 'shock' to the progress of the galaxy. Is there something I can help you with in this regard?".

 

[Ilias Nytrau]

She went for the water again, and put her thoughts towards being more aware of the conversation at hand. She sipped while the Master spoke, and mused over what she would say, eyes always on the other woman as was appropriate. When Coci asked as to whether she had any prior training, Emiery swallowed, lowering the glass and blinking once.

"No," she said, shaking her head in a gentle way, "none."

As her father had said, he'd lost her once and would do everything to ensure it wouldn't happen again. A conversation she wasn't meant to hear, that left her full of questions. It wasn't until meeting herself, so to speak, that she found out just what she was. The intentions of her father, the High Lord of House Pelagia, did not protect her in the end. It was strange, how parents sought to control that which they could not. She took another sip.

"That said, a lack of training hasn't kept me ignorant, Master. I feel what is around me, and am well aware of its potential," she said, "I explored it and experimented when I could manage, as we all do when discovering a new part of ourselves."

The young woman didn't doubt that Coci would grasp what she was alluding to, had she any children.

"As for venturing out, no," she said, placing the half-empty glass on the table, "I haven't yet left this world since my... arrival."

She smiled.

"Eight centuries hence, I am uncertain if returning to the world of my birth would hold any benefit, or be very wise," she said, and there were other places she could think to go, but she was similarly uncertain for other reasons, and such things could wait, "I would be content to take this as a chance at a different life, to be honest, and leave the past where it belongs."

Perhaps, for now.

[member="Coci Heavenshield"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Emiery Athelon"]

A lack of training? even in times passed? Whatever the past had declared for her would not be ammended. Coci did not know of her past and the reasons behind her parents not allowing her to grow stronger, in a sense it is negligent, to not prepare ones child with 'weapons' to live in a galaxy so full of turmoil .. especially for a woman. Coci understood well enough.

"Right, I am pleased you have explored your power that is a start and from it we will expand and grow your abilities to it fullest. Although to do that, is up to you. I will guide you, show you how to employee your skills and powers, but seek to further them, by any means that present itself. There are many Jedi in the Sanctum that have great skill and would be willing to help as well".

"I will not be taking you off Voss just yet, but will in the near future, if for nothing else than for you to see where the galaxy as come. I suspect there will not be much difference, technology maybe but the plight of darkness remains, and always will in some manifestation or other. I am not one of those Jedi that believe the dark side will or can be destroyed entirely. It is folly to believe such a thing is possible, .. the Force would never allow it". Coci looked at the girl wondering what she thought of that.

She smiled, "It does not mean we give up the fight however, but one must realise it is perpetual and citizens of the galaxy who do not have the capacity to fight it, need us. We serve to protect those that cannot protect themselves".

 

[Ilias Nytrau]

"I will keep that in mind," she said of the availability of other Jedi within the Sanctum, "thank you."

She nodded, pursing her lips a moment.

"Light and dark are two sides of the same coin, as day and night, one doesn't exist without the other. To eradicate the darkness would be to snuff the light as well," she mused, agreeing, "life itself demands balance, being the source of it."

Life would also be unfulfilling if light and goodness were all that there was in existence. Even pain was necessary to grow, one of many lessons her father had seen safe to impart to her. The thought of protecting others felt very much the right thing to be doing.

"That's why there are Jedi, no?" she said with a small, warm smile, "I would do well to remember it."

[member="Coci Heavenshield"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="Emiery Athelon"]

"Yes that is why there are Jedi, but not just Jedi. Like there is more darkness to contend with than Sith. Like crime, and poverty and slavery ... not necessarily pain cause by those that follow the darkness, but people that wish to harm others or remove freedoms, we need to be vigilant against all forms of corruptions".

Shifting back in her seat, "Some Jedi forget, some seem to have personal agendas over duty. Oh they will go and seek power and better their skills in order to grow, but they forget why they do and only seek to be more powerful than the enemy, which is a good thing to do, however, they loose themselves in only that and while away seeking these things they leave behind ones that need them".

Training is important, cannot be effective without it, but not at the expensive of the death of others. Life balance, and that is a hard thing to do, sometimes. "I shall walk you back to your quarters, and soon we will begin your training, if you wish".