Private What You Leave Behind

[Shoma Ike]

C O R E L L I A
THE SELONIAN TUNNELS

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They were so far underground that he couldn't have said which way was left or right.

The only reason he knew up from down was that he assumed gravity was still a thing here. Aside from that, the cavernous vaults and the labyrinthine lattice of tunnels connecting them were something truly extraordinary. And also a tad frightening, at least for him. Which was odd, as being on a starship had never bothered him. But now, being on a planet, but being so enclosed... it was almost like walking through a grave.

Your own. Or someone else's.

Glancing over at the Bothan padawan, Shoma wondered how he was holding up.

"Apparently the Corellian Academy of Sciences uncovered this vault while updating their records of these tunnels," Shoma remarked, in case the padawan wasn't yet familiar with just what had caused the Academy to call in some support in researching these ruins. "This one wasn't on the map."

"Looks like the section of wall there gave in, exposing these tunnels," the man noted, gesturing to indicate an area of debris that seemed more recently disturbed from the rest.

With a light in one hand and a small, handheld scanner in the other, the Jedi prince started off into the deep and the dark.

"During the war with the ancient Sith Empire, the Corellians hid down here. So we have to be careful. There could still be some traps they left behind."

Kuzon Lu’ten​

 

[Kuzon Lu’ten]

CORELLIA

Seloninan Tunnels​

Keeping his own light in one hand Kuzon glanced around the latest tunnel they crossed into. A sense of awe and caution overcame the padawan. Even in a ruined state the masonry was impressive from his point of view. Most beings would dismiss these details and look for buried trinkets. Not Kuzon however, to him even stones could tell stories.

One has to look hard enough and have a lot of patience. The ancient Selonians did such amazing work.

At Ike's observation the Bothan remained silent paying attention while hearing water nearby but he couldn't figure in which direction. Noting the newly discovered path as pointed by Shoma he nodded in acknowledgment.

"The Seloninans made these tunnels long ago so we should expect some kind of defenses. But do you think the Green Jedi had a presence down here in the vault? From what I read they mounted a uprising until they were crushed by the Sith Empire."

With a steady and wary pace Kuzon advanced alongside Shoma

Shoma Ike​

 

[Shoma Ike]

"But do you think the Green Jedi had a presence down here in the vault? From what I read they mounted a uprising until they were crushed by the Sith Empire."

The prince gave an appreciative nod. A finer point of Corellian history to be sure.

"History is more often written from the victor's point of view," the Atrisian remarked. It was a non-answer, but the only answer he otherwise had was I don't know. But that was a given.

They were here to find answers to questions. Some of those questions, they already knew. Others might be re-phrased as they went. And still more were unknown. They'd have to learn more before they could begin to know what to ask.

"I suspect that the uprising could have been a feint -- a distraction while they moved people underground or for some other purpose." It was a vague hypothesis at best, but he'd never quite understood why the Green Jedi would commit to a course of action that seemed so arbitrarily win or lose. Reality was always painted in shades of gray, and the history of the Jedi was replete with victories that had been revealed as tragedies and losses that emerged as the victory decades later.

It stood to reason that there was something about the history of this place that had a subtlety about it that was not yet understood.

With that in mind, the man wandered further in.

"The Sith Empire used these tunnels as well," the Atrisian recalled aloud as he went. "Raid on a fuel depot, I think. Successful, but it wound up being a major strategic failure later on."

Kuzon Lu’ten​

 

[Kuzon Lu’ten]

Kuzon listens attentively while they wander on. If it had been the Green Jedi's intention that would've been more than understandable. After all as peacekeepers the protection of innocent lives was paramount even over politics. He did find the Corellian based sect to be fascinating to a certain extent. Yet there was one chief aspect about them that bothered him.

Before the padawan could air his latest thought he and Ike would come across a fallen stone block the size of a chair in their way. Examining it and seeing no Selonian markings on he put up the lighter, drawing and igniting his emerald lightsaber. Without hesitation he proceeded to slice it in half, dust kicked up as it caused Kuzon to cough for a few seconds before force pushing the now smaller and scattered rocks out of the way.

Turning off the saber and clipping to the belt once more he got out the lighter again he finally said what was on his mind.

"It would make sense the Sith use whatever advantage they can have. Though to be honest Knight Ike there is something that bothers me about the Green Jedi. Like us they were supposed to be guardians of peace and justice yet they placed duty to Corellia over everything else."

Moving on he shook his head at the very concept.

"It doesn't seem right to me. For Jedi to value their homeworld more so than protecting the galaxy.”

Shoma Ike

 

[Shoma Ike]

The prince was glancing down at his scanner.

It was having a hard time trying to generate a map of the tunnel ahead. "Must be something like duranium in the walls," the prince mused aloud, more to himself.

"It doesn't seem right to me. For Jedi to value their homeworld more so than protecting the galaxy."

The Atrisian glanced over the Bothan, offering a sad but knowing smile as he offered, "Be careful when you take ownership for the galaxy's safety. There are more places in the heavens than there will ever be Jedi. Our history is a tale of choosing to protect one world at the cost of another."

Tucking the scanner away, the prince glanced around as he tried to determine which way to proceed. There seemed two apparent forks. Random selection? Will of the Force? Merely feeling like going left today?

Merely feeling like going left today. Which, may very well be the will of the Force. Or just sheer coincidence. Either way, as the prince strolled alound he continued, "People have many identities or ways in which they see themselves or which supply their motivation for being. Their why. For the Corellian Jedi, it would not do to save the galaxy and lose their home. Because they would lose that which, in their perspective, makes them... them."

The prince stopped, angling his light up along the wall. "Looks like we've got some carbon scoring here," he observed.

So a battle took place here.

Or a shoot out, in any case.

Kuzon Lu’ten​

 

[Kuzon Lu’ten]

Kuzon fell silent at Ike's answers. He pondered on them within the confines of his mind while still following alongside Shoma. The knight did make some interesting points that he hadn't even considered beforehand.

Grimacing Kuzon thought. He's right, there are more stars and worlds in the universe than there are of us.

Somewhere right now people are suffering and he's not even aware of it. The young padawan didn't want to believe he was arrogant but perhaps he should re-examine his heart in that regard. On the other matter Kuzon silently asked himself.

What makes me…me?

It was a painful question that caused the young man to slow his pace somewhat as he uncomfortably wrestled with implications.

Upon Ike lighting a scorched marked wall Kuzon subsequently stepped over and placed his right hand on some of the scarred stone. Then out of the corner of his eyes he noted the rusted remains of a blaster. Pausing momentarily he walked over before kneeling down and grabbed a hold of the gun barrel. Calling the force's aid Kuzon closed both eyes utilizing psychometry.

Instantly his vision was consumed by blaster bolts flying back and forth. Then he saw a dark skinned human female in what he assumed to be Corellian uniform being backed in a corner while firing back. Kuzon can feel a swirl of fear, anger and determination from her as comrades were being gunned down all around her. Gritting her teeth she ducks, evading an enemy burst before shooting back. The Jedi bit his lower jaw sensing the desperation that was overwhelming her.

She didn't want to die yet a sense of duty and even love compelled the soldier to keep fighting, exclaiming.

"For Corellia!"

Her defiance was answered with a burst of three bolts that cut into her center mass. Instinctively Kuzon groaned as if he had been shot but continued with the vision. The soldier fell on her knees before collapsing backwards. With life fading she murmured weakly.

'Ronn…I…sorr-

Finally the vision ended, returning Kuzon to the present. Breathing in and out slowly as he calmed himself, the padawan stood up a minute later.

Handing the broken gun barrel to Ike he explained.

"T-That…belonged to a Corellian soldier. She and her squad were trying to halt the Imperials here. They were overwhelmed."

Kuzon pauses to glance down at the rest of the shattered weapon. A single tear drip down from his left eye.

"In her final moments she was thinking of someone she loved, trying to apologize."


Shoma Ike

 

[Shoma Ike]

Shoma could feel the shift in the Force.

It wasn't clear at first just what was happening, but the impact of the broken blaster on the padawan was both immediate and apparent.

"In her final moments she was thinking of someone she loved, trying to apologize."

Psychometry? "An impressive gift," the Atrisian remarked, with a slight bow of his head to reinforce his awe toward the other Jedi. Truly, to be able to see through the eyes of the past was a historian's dream.

And, yet, the pain on the padawan's face also suggested that such gifts came at a cost.

It was something that the prince made a mental note to be mindful of as they continued, least the padawan inadvertently brush against an artifact strong in the Dark Side of the Force.

And, being Atrisian, if there was one thing that Shoma was familiar with, it was the annoying and pervasive impact of Dark Side relics. Or Sith-fed, volcano-spawning space cthulus. As happens, occasionally. Particularly, it seemed, on Atrisia.

"Well, it seems we've found a doorway into a history of the war that time forgot," Shoma remarked, preparing to continue on.

What the padawan described seemed to illuminate some new questions for them. "Why were they trying to hold them here, I wonder?" the prince mused aloud.

"We should press further. Your vision suggests that there may have been something that they were trying to protect."

Kuzon Lu’ten​

 

[Kuzon Lu’ten]

It is a gift…heavy with burden.

Kuzon thought in response to his fellow Jedi's compliment. Many of those occasions he used it had given much insight to past events. Still Kuzon shuddered, recalling the time he recklessly utilized the ability to try to solve a murder case when his master told him not to in the first place. He winces at the memory of how he nearly went insane only to be restrained and calmed down by Master Vidya.

Took me hours to come fully to my senses afterwards. Sometimes it still…

At Shoma Ike's urging, the Bothan resumed walking with him. Soon his boots began to crutch stones beneath him with each step taken.

"Yes, that was what I could gather. They were defending something desperately but I couldn't pick up what exactly though.”

Without warning his right foot tripped from a tiny crater and he nearly fell to the left but regained balance at the last instant. Somewhat embarrassed, Kuzon didn't look back but made sure to watch his steps more than before.

"Uhh Knight Ike about earlier... You're right there are more stars and worlds than are Jedi. To know that there are people that we're not able to help does bother me if I'm being honest."

The more they walked inside the more ancient the tunnel looked from their lights. At first Kuzon was tempted to stop speaking but he squashed the thought by saying.

"If we're not defending the galaxy then what and who are we protecting? Unlike the Green Jedi our dedication is not to a homeworld after all."


Shoma Ike

 

[Shoma Ike]

"To know that there are people that we're not able to help does bother me if I'm being honest."

The Atrisian gave a nod of his head in agreement with that statement.

"The Force is infinite," the prince noted simply. A rote expression that any Jedi would recognize. But he wanted that point precisely as he added, "...we are not."

It could be a difficult realization to grapple with. Of that, Shoma was only too familiar. "You've heard it said that a Jedi must be mindful of the Living Force, but a Jedi must also recognize their limits," the prince remarked, offering a hand to help steady the padawan when he stumbled. As the two continued on through the tunnel, Shoma continued. "Now, often, a Jedi is able to call upon the Force to overcome many limitations, and so it is easy to develop a confidence that we can do anything because it is true to say that through the Force, all things are possible. But confidence can lead to arrogance."

Okay, at this point he was lecturing. If he wasn't careful, he'd start becoming like Junko Ike and be able to pull a speech out at any given moment.

"If we're not defending the galaxy then what and who are we protecting? Unlike the Green Jedi our dedication is not to a homeworld after all."

"You are correct," Shoma affirmed, glancing from the tunnel walls over to the Bothan before looking ahead again. As he walked, he said, "But think of what you've said and ask yourself, how do you define those words? What do they mean? Not to the Council. Not to me. But to you."

He could have said more, but that would been injecting his own thoughts on the matter. How he saw himself contributing as a scientist. Or as a prince. Or as an Atrisian.

As someone who self-identified as a Jedi Consular, Shoma was not one to pick up a lightsaber and go charging into the places where the Sith were thought to be. That didn't mean he didn't fight or didn't defend, just that his method of doing so was different from one who might have identified as a Guardian or Sentinel.

The tunnel that the two were in suddenly widened, as Shoma shone his light up along the ceiling to illuminate that they had wandered into a chamber of some kind. "What does it mean to defend the Galaxy? Who are you protecting and how will you defend them?" he remarked, posing a rhetorical question for the padawan to consider.

To further illustrate that he didn't expect an answer now, the Atrisian added, "I encourage you to ask that question to many masters. You'll find many answers may be similar, but they won't be the same."

Glancing around, the Atrisian opted for a new topic as he asked, "Now, what do we have here?"

Kuzon Lu’ten​

 

[Kuzon Lu’ten]

Kuzon grimaced, feeling conflicted at the question posed to him. Who am I supposed to protect and how to do it? As Ike already figured out there won't be an immediate answer. The padawan nodded again and said he will indeed ask that question to whoever it can be. Ike didn't pull any punches and yet Kuzon was grateful for it.

As a Jedi it is my duty to learn.

As for the chamber Kuzon squinted his eyes amidst his own light, seeing more Selonian words and symbols etched on the walls. There were also pieces and chunks of rubble on the floor. Stepping close to one on his left he jumped back upon seeing a skeleton seemingly staring up at him. With a bit of embarrassment he took a deep breath and softly released.

"There is no emotion, there is peace." He recited in a whisper and subsequently knelt down for a better look with the light.

The remains had faded black armor with more bones in similar grab around. Angling the light some more meters away Kuzon then noted what he suspected were Corellian defenders and a Selonian. Gesturing with the free hand to one group of remains to the other the young man stated.

"It appears the fighting intensified once the invaders stormed in here. In this case they suffered more casualties than their enemies."

Shoma Ike

 

[Shoma Ike]

"It appears the fighting intensified once the invaders stormed in here. In this case they suffered more casualties than their enemies."

The Atrisian gave a nod in agreement at his assessment.

There was a tunnel on the other side of the chamber. So the choice of battlefield seemed to be conscious, if not strategic -- even if a strategic failure. "They had the means to retreat," Shoma remarked, continuing to glance around the chamber before he looked back at the Bothan and added, "They didn't."

Stooping down, the prince picked up the broken remains of a blaster. Cradling it for a moment, he remarked, "That suggests that they were trying to hold the line. Buying time..."

Rising back to his feet, the man motioned toward the tunnel ahead. "...but for what?"

They likely wouldn't find the answer here.

Kuzon Lu’ten​

 

[Kuzon Lu’ten]

Kuzon found becoming more and more curious. He had read and heard Corellian resilience but what could drive these soldiers and their Selonian allies to fight like this? Patriotism, comradeship, hatred and love can compel certain souls to lay down their lives. Likely it was a combination of those things but the evidence they found so far suggests there is something very specific the defenders were trying to deny the Sith from taking.

Following Ike he commented. "It must've been something or someone important in their point of view. Not many sentient beings would sacrifice themselves like this unless…"

Words lost him while going through the next tunnel. He had to step over several chunks of stones on the left side before continuing. Touching it briefly Kuzon gasps seeing a vision of a rocket exploding and shredding three Sith troopers. Forcing himself to keep going they finally entered another chamber. This one was smaller than the last and yet piles of rubble buried much of the floor.

Subsequently, the Bothan looked around before he sensed something that made him shiver. Despite it Kuzon made himself walk toward the source until finally he noted shattered bones underneath a fallen column. To the side was a cylinder covered in centuries worth of dust. Glancing down he realized it was the source of the taint. Not daring to touch it Kuzon used the force to lift the object from the ground and it was revealed to be...

"A lightsaber!" Exclaimed the padawan, before sending it to Shoma Ike. The Knight would see the weapon was painted dark with the ancient Sith symbol on it.

Shoma Ike