Wake Up

[Kira Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

The glare grew a bit more fierce over Kira's face. That was no reason why they should isolate younglings. In fact that sounded worse! Devin would be able to tell that it didn't sit right with his wife at all.

"Isolation doesn't help at all!" she added, rising up from his embrace to grumble. The thought that they would do such things unsettled her. All they needed was some extra attention. Not to be isolated from everyone else.

In her mind, they just needed some extra time and attention. Maybe even an adventure or two.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Kira Talith"]

"Well my love, apparently the Jedi of old disagreed with you." He flipped another page.

Soliael himself thought there were merits to both ideas. The idea of removing a spoiling apple from a batch of good ones was a common practice, stopped the entire crop from failing. He wasn't so sure if the same applied to sapient creatures though. When a young man or woman was troubled, it didn't really do much to put them with others whom were just as troubled. Sometimes a kind word and some encouragement went a long way.

Something that his wife would advocate for.

"I think the students would agree with you though." The former Sith Lord said as he read the next page. "They had an uprising."

It explained quite a bit. "She was terrified...but went along with it."

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

Now Kira's expression spanned from displeasure to concern. Eyes went wide and her blonde head turned to her husband.

"An uprising?!" now that caught her attention. She quickly came back to settle beside Devin to get a closer look. "What sort of uprising?" Obviously she wasn't able to really read over Devin's shoulder as he was the one holding the diary, but concerned curiosity had piqued the Lorrdian Jedi Master's interest.

Could that be the case as to why the Jedi Academy had been abandoned?

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Kira Talith"]

”The students, they banded together and took over the Temple.” He frowned for a moment. It sounded unreal, almost impossible, but...well according to the journal it had happened. Soliael shifted as he saw a spot of blood on the edge of the binding for the first time.

”They only had two Masters here, a dozen or so Knights. A lot of the padawans died in the uprising.” Kira would not be happy hearing that. ”They were sick of being constrained...some turned to the darkside.”

He frowned.

Another page was flipped, and finally he nodded. ”It was all done with the force. There weren’t any lightsabers kept here...no weapons of any sort...so they…”

Soliael decided not to continue, instead simply closing the journal.

At least they had the story now.

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

Kira was quiet after that. Silence reigned and the Lorrdian blanched. So there it was, the reason behind it all. It would be a point of reference for sure, but when word no longer could be sent to the academy then others would come. Why hadn't they?

Did the padawans that revolted leave? No that didn't make sense. If they had then why did this journal stay behind? Why had the owner of this journal stayed behind. There were more questions than answers now and that troubled Kira. It disturbed her greatly.

The Jedi Master communicated better by her movements and for now she was unnaturally still. No this didn't sit well with her at all.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Kira Talith"]

”The Jedi must have come to coral the students later.” Soliael said quietly.

It made sense.

The Padawans and younglings here had revolted, killed their masters, and then decided to stay. Of course, when the other Jedi learned of this they came to the Temple to see what had happened. When they discovered the events that had taken place the Padawans had been...well taken back.

When Soliael and Kira read on in the Journal they would find that was indeed what had happened, with the last page of the Journal being an odd sort of goodbye from the Temple, as well as an apology.

”Doesn’t explain how this thing survived.” He looked at it with a weary eye. ”I think the force still clings to this place.”

It was the only explanation he had.

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

"When terrible things occur in a place, the Force always tends to linger." Kira said softly. There had been plenty of examples throughout the galaxy. Ruusan, Tython, Contruum, Metalorn, Togaria; all were places of great sorrow. Some might even say that there were more Darkside nexus than those of the light.

A sigh fell from her lips again, the blonde woman leaning forward to stoke the fire. It had all occurred in the past so there was no changing what was done, but it did give an echo of sorrow to the Lorrdian Master. A bit of a damper to the trip.

"We should get some rest." she added, turning to look at her husband.

"We still have plenty to do tomorrow."

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Kira Talith"]

Kira wasn’t at all pleased by what they had learned inside of the journal, that was more than clear to him. He couldn’t blame her, a part of him had hoped for some fantastical discovery that would set this place apart from anything else, but instead all they got was more of the same chaos that was so prevalent in the galaxy.

”Maybe we should let the Jedi Academy know this is here, or the NJO.” Soliael offered.

”They could rebuild it.” His hand snaked over the small of Kira’s back in a reassuring touch. ”Use it properly.”

The Temple was probably the most isolated structure any Jedi had ever built, more hidden than even the tucked away Temples in the Outer Rim. Something like this could be used for quite a bit of good if put into the right hands.

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

Kira felt the warmth of her husbands touch drift over her back. There was comfort there, one she sought as she went leaning into his embrace. Powerful arms went wrapping around her petite form, and she snuggled in comfortably while he continued this gentle rub.

"We could do that." it was a good plan. The academy ruins weren't really much in terms of ruins. They were actually very well preserved. Perhaps the Circle of Healers or the Jedi Academy could make this a satellite academy for their use. Have it fulfill a new purpose with a fresh and clean slate.

"I'd like that." her head went darting up to catch the glow of his bright orange eyes.

"I'd like that very much." as her hand came up to cup his bearded cheek.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Kira Talith"]

He kissed her palm

There wasn't really much else to do with the place anyway. Turning it into their own home would be a bit...macabre, and Soliael didn't even like the architecture that much. Jedi Temples tended to be a bit too drab and depressing for him, something that he didn't quite like at all. HE frowned for a moment and looked up towards the ruins of the structure, wondering what the building would eventually become.

It couldn't be any worse than it was.

He shifted for a moment and then wrapped his arms around his wife, pulling her into his lap just as he tossed the journal to the side. The little book landed on his bag, safely away from the flames and anything else.

They would have to take it home, perhaps donate it to the Jedi as well.

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

The next day saw them rise along with the same happy go lucky chirps from the birds that had annoyed Devin the day before. This time it was Kira who awoke first. Pressing a loving kiss along his cheek, the Lorrdian Jedi Master wiggled out of his embrace and began to don a standard robe. One of her old Jedi ones she'd used before. It was more for functionality than any emotional ties.

Peeking out of their tent, Kira gave a yawn. She stepped out, moving to stretch her arms high up over her blonde head. It was a foggy morning, the blue grey haze scattered across the jungle. Hoots from birds and other creatures could be heard echoing throughout the valley.

It was a beautiful place.

With a half smile, the blonde dropped her arms to her side and got to work on stoking the fire and getting breakfast ready.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Kira Talith"]

Soliael kept on sleeping, or rather simply laying in bed.

What they had learned the night before was still stuck with him. The Jedi, the padawans rebelling. it struck him as odd. Dozens had died, perhaps even hundreds if what the girl had written was true. Yet...there was no reason for it, not that he saw. Perhaps the Jedi had thought themselves preventing some great tragedy, perhaps they had thought they were doing the right thing, but...well it just seemed off. He frowned slightly and shifted his weight.

It didn't seem right.

Kira wouldn't ever let it happen of course, she was a different kind of Jedi, but would others?

Would the NJO? They were more militant, and yet his daughter was a member of them, a leader. Aela wouldn't allow such things, would she? He frowned for a moment. Perhaps it was time to have a conversation with her. Perhaps it was time to express his...concerns regarding her lifestyle.

Soliael considered for a moment more, simply laying in thought.

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

A blow of air and Kira was able to ignite the kindling against the small tepee of wood. There were still a few glowing embers laying about, but starting fresh would do them some good in this fog. Not to mention provide a little bit of heat. Goosebumps ran up and down her arms. There was a small chill in the air.

"Hmm." a puff of hot air out of her mouth condensed into a small white cloud. Brr! Rubbing her hands up and down her arms for some heat, Kira set forth to breakfast. Her husband was awake. That much she could tell.

"You going to come out or be lazy all day?" she teased, calling out towards the tent with a chuckle.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Kira Talith"]

”I’m coming.” Soliael said, pulling himself out of the tent. For a brief few moments he looked at the scenery, then when about pulling on his clothes.

”Lake?” He asked his wife with a smile

There wasn’t much else left to do. They could go back into the temple and explore it a bit more, but...well in truth he found that option to be a bit depressing. They knew what had happened here now, the mystery was gone and well...the reality was much more sad than anything that he could have really imagined.

It wasn’t Jedi versus Sith, it hadn’t been a plague.

It had been children.

That fact alone tainted all of this for him, made him want to get away from this place as soon as he possibly could. Kira would be able to tell that of course, though he wasn’t trying to consciously get her away from this place.

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

Concern went washing over her features. She was able to tell that something was off. It wasn't anything specifically she read on his face or body, but she knew.

"Maybe." They could go to the lake but if his heart wasn't in it. "Are you alright?" She inquired, wa ting to know more.

"Credit for your thoughts. " she added. The fire gave a small crackle and heat would start radiating from it. The glow reflected against her skin, giving it a healthy glow.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Kira Talith"]

Soliael shrugged.

”Just thinking about all this.” He motioned to the Temple. He didn’t like what had happened here. He could see the odd, false logic that the Jedi had used, but that didn’t mean he had to like it.

Perhaps he was just soured on the idea of Jedi Orders in general.

”Was thinking about having a word with Aela.” He admitted truthfully. ”Talking to her about her serving the NJO.”

Soliael had never been an advocate of any of his children working closely with Jedi Orders of any sort, that had been a constant in all of their lives.

It wasn’t that he disapproved...he just...well didn’t like it.

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

That prompted Kira to frown. Talk to Esme about the New Jedi Order? They had done their best to teach their children to do what was right and to make their own path in life. When their eldest had joined the New Jedi Order, they had both been concerned, but Esme had been insistent about it. The same thing for when she wanted to learn more about undercover work when Esme approached both of her parents for guidance. They afforded her all they could, but that didn't mean they weren't concerned for her well being

"Why?" she inquired, straightening up in her seated position to look at him.

"Because of what happened here?"

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Kira Talith"]

He gave her a nod. ”There’s something about this...it just reminds me of the way groups of people tend to move together and convince even outliers to go along with things.”

This was true of even Jedi. Kira herself had experienced it a few times throughout her time in the Jedi Order. There were some things that simply...well had simply moved forward even though some in the Order had disagreed. He was sure that the NJO as well had that happen more than a few times, and what happened at this Temple?

He was more than sure some had objected.

”I don’t know.” He shrugged. ”I just think it’d be good to remind her that she might be a part of the Order, but she doesn’t have to do everything they tell her to.”

Soliael was afraid of one thing really, radicalization.

It seemed an odd fear to have with Jedi, but this...this was a perfect example.

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Soliael Devin Talith"]

That brought a pause to the Lorrdian Jedi Master. Thinking about Aela, about radicalization. They had taught their children to do what was right. One could only hope that they would not forget that. But a conversation and a check up never hurt anyone. Especially after all of this...

Turning, Kira let her aquamarine gaze drift back to the silent Jedi Temple ruins. She bit her lower lip. So much could change in an instant. Whatever had prompted this tragedy to occur had been a slow bubbling fester. It was a tragedy that she did not want for it to repeat again.

"We can stop by at Sullust first when we get back." she suggested. They never actually had traveled to the New Jedi Order's base. Nor even she to the Sullust Jedi Academy.

 

[Soliath Devin Talith]

[member="Kira Talith"]

"Yeah." Soliael agreed.

There wasn't any harm in a short conversation. He doubted that Aela would stand by any cruelty such at this, but war...well war had a way of changing a person. Soliael and Kira didn't like to admit it, but Aela was fighting a war. More than any of their other children Aela was involved in the Jedi Order, involved in the fight against the tide of the Sith in the galaxy. There was no denying she played an active role, no denying that she was nearly a spear tip in it.

"When we get back." Soliael said. "We'll put it out of our minds for now."

He shifted slightly and stretched.

This was still a vacation, not the time to be gloomy.