**Log recovery active sections fragmented. Data loss due to file corruption or user deletion**
*fragment*
He's gone. again.
*fragment*
We made camp but not having really brought anything in the rush it wasn't going to be comfortable, after having looked through the force at there situation we decided to see if the three of us could get closer to their camp and possibly catch them by surprise.
I was frankly useless with the tracking between the dust storm and low evening light growing dimmer by the minute, had to rely on Shikkar and Rekha, but eventually we made it to where the beasts where that Lucian's camp had rented where but they where nowhere to be seen. They had been inside somewhere but there was no structure around.
I believe it was Shikkar that discovered the underground bunker doors first. Ancient slabs of stone that where being covered in sand as the storm continued around us. once we figured out how to open them we decided to slip inside and hopefully catch the group inside off guard.
*fragment Recovery*
I tried but, I couldn't... There was too many. We only got out because of him. The repairs weren't enough he was too sick. He was so cold and weightless. He could have been a specter haunting my dreams again.
If only.
*Fragment end*
We made our way down a hallway made of stone again the low light wasn't doing me any favors but Rekha's eyes seemed to be much more adapt at picking up details including a tripwire trap, easily avoided with her help.
We reached the main chamber undetected, they had left one guy to keep watch and he was failing spectacularly even if we hadn't been hiding our presence within the force the idiot was lost in his music listing with a pair of headphones the others where asleep.
Shikkar moved into the room in a manner I was getting all too familiar with and while I didn't much care for the three thugs that had Lucian, still it wasn't right to just kill them even if that would be easier at this point. So I broke the silence and said I wanted to do business hoping the abruptness would throw them on the back foot as well as keep Shikkar from attacking...
*Fragment* I saw the eyes, through the arcing bolts of pure force burning into my parallelized form, Pure hate and anger burning yellow. All I can do is lay here in agony. It's hurting but I can't help all I could do was stay in the way long enough for a second chance. *fragment end*
It seemed my plan worked well enough, they were caught off guard enough to not attack particularly when they realized I was not alone. We negotiated a payout that had them clear out and leave Lucian with us as a slave, I was betting on them not having a chance to look around yet so the gamble what value might be in this hideout vs their lives was what I was playing with. From a pure finical side of things I might have offered a bit too much but it did avoid a conflict and needless fighting.
*fragment damaged sector full recovery impossible*
There is no choice..... tried to run.....pulling in... Hexilon with droids....Force be with us.. *fragment end*
We are heading back to the city, we explored the small bunker and deemed there to be little of use or danger as the most interesting thing was probably the carvings of maps on the walls in one of the rooms I've documented what I could and will be attached.
(A series of photos, and video clips, showing old carvings in the various rooms of the underground bunker a few misc notes of interests are jotted down including the observation that these markings could be at least 1000 years old and that they appear to be Jedi in design)
Rekha pulled me aside last night and told me about Lucian's condition. its not good he needs medical help and soon more than what we have access to here or even on the ship. Can't say I'm surprised and for now try to push forward with the hope we can still help him. When he woke up he was confused and for a moment seemed to think it was several years ago eventually he remembered and I could see a pain of regret that mirrored in my own soul.
Despite everything I still love him.
When we got back to the outdoor market to return the beasts we learned the three we had been following hadn't made it back. I felt partly responsible as it was because of our interaction they had left in the night and storm.
While we got our things together with a plan of getting Lucian to the ship, I took a moment to look through the force to see if I could tell what had happened to the other group. They where alive but one looked possibly injured. Part of me wanted to leave they had gotten themselves into this mess through greed and clearly weren't exactly the best kind of person you could find in the galaxy, but that's not the jedi at least its not what we should aspire to be.
Shikkar and I joined the search party and where able to help find them after several hours. They where still camped out as one of the beasts had been killed and the headphones guy was holding a mangled arm severally in pain. Shikkar and I manged to deescalate the situation from getting extremely violent, A lightsaber can have a chilling effect without ever actually needing to attack. with them found and for the moment tempers cooled to a low anger we called J3 and left the planet. Jedi may help but they don't have to cover for poor choices and stupidity.
We still had to deal with the dangerous debris field around the planet which seemed worse than when we arrived, but Shikkar was able to guide J3 by using the force safely through, once again clearly puzzling the droid at the unnatural knowledge and skills afforded ones with connections to the Force.
Rekha and J3 where able to Hook Lucian up to an iv drip to help with the pain and essentially knock him out for the trip back. The less stress on his heart the better at this point. but before putting him fully under we got to talk.
We.. I didn't get to say everything, there was too much and maybe in a fools way I was trying to hold on and tell myself a comfortable lie. I'm pretty sure he saw through it. He asked if I would be able to let him go, that he wanted to know I would be alright. I told him I wasn't done fighting for a chance just yet, but I would try if it came to that, and that eventually I would try to be okay. Even now through blurry eyes, a tightening throat making it hard to breath and cracked skin burnt from blaster bolts and shikkars attack, I don't know if I was lying or telling the truth.
As he slept I started to clean and work on his arm and leg. They where a mess not just from the dust and sand of the last couple of planets. the parts where old and worn down and hadn't had any maintenance in a way that suggested even longer than Lucian had been using them. Though I had kind of suspected that from seeing him the first time and his journals when I had read them last. You'd only see an abysmal set up like this from the poor and desperate, for it to be given from a "benefactor" like Lucian had had suggests an underlying intent of cruelty or neglect. This was only reinforced when working on his leg and I came across a modification that sent a chill down my spine.
A tracking device and pulsing light showing that it was active. closer examination showed that it was hardwired into the leg to remove it meant turning it off alerting the owner of tampering and possibly disabling the leg completely.
I told the others of what I had found and that I was concerned that there might be someone waiting for us some where in our path home, Shikkar seemed to lose interest and left, J3 said we could plan another route but it would take us several days longer than the currant direct path and Rekha reminded me that Lucian wasn't going to last much longer.
I decided bring Lucian out of his medical comma to let him know what I found and to get his opinion on it. He had been unware of the tracking device and confirmed that the one that had purchased and installed the gear was the same person as Shikkar's master the growing feeling of dread and certainty we would have someone waiting grew stronger. Lucian opted for me to attempt the removal of the device and we put him under again and then moved him to the work bench in the cargo-hold it had the tools needed to even have a chance at what I needed to do.
The job was tricky and there were a few moments where I though I had triggered a fail-safe but in the end was able to extract it and jettison it into space in middle of nowhere and J3 jumped back into hyperspace to the new route I hoped that maybe that wold be enough and buy us the time and confusion we would need to get home.
It wasn't.
They figured it out. that Damned ship was there looming and pulling us in. J3 was trying to modulate the Shields to make us a harder target to grab but he couldn't do that and fly at the same time so I attempted to fly as he worked the computers but it quickly was apparent my skills where lacking but since I had an idea of what he had been doing we switched and seemed to be making some progress before we felt the ship rock from getting hit with blaster fire knocking the shields off line Tractor beams locked onto us. Rekha attempted to use the turret to disable the beams as I worked to get the shields back on line.
Shikkar came into the cockpit and asked us to stop and not fight the master, It didn't have its weapons with It. I didn't have the time to be gentle or patient in a response. I told It it was going to need to make a choice to help us or save us time and just slit our throats there. Perhaps not the best of suggestions but I had nothing else. It went back down the stairs to the loading area as we got dragged into the larger ship. We had failed to get way, and there was little chance another attempt to hide and escape was going to work. As the ship was pulled in I reached desperately through the force, maybe I could brake something just enough to let us escape, I felt a connection but nothing changed that we could see or feel.
Hexilon was in the docking area with a group of battle droids could practically feel the smug confidence radiating off of her. The ball in my gut twisted and for a moment I thought of running to Lucian killing him now to spare him of what would most likely come next but that also felt like giving into hopelessness.
No I was not giving in like that. I walked down the stairs to the exit ramp Shikkar was kneeling in respectful supplication ready to be collected. I pushed back the dread and fear, called on the force and charged forward lightsaber flaring into action.
It was a blur of action, I slashed at a droid cutting it down and then what felt like a wall of blaster fire came at me was able to deflect a few shots back and take out a couple more droids, Atton's lessons had not gone to waste, including the part about being worn down by shear numbers, a couple hit me but I kept moving there was more than me to defend.
I felt a familiar slap of one of Hexilons toxic darts and knew I was once again on a desperate timer before I'd be helpless. Just as I was about to lunge for another attack a Shikkar grabbed me from the side trying to get me to stop pinning my arms and keeping me from attacking. I knew it couldn't help itself, there is still too much of a hold on it from its master, I didn't want to hurt it but it was going to get us all captured and I could only guess at the pain that awaited us all.
A rain of blaster fire came from the ship as J3 fired out on the droids dropping a couple more and in the moment I let go of my lightsaber and wielded it with the force attacking another droid. I would not attack Shikkar I knew the challenge would be already my body was reacting to the poison coursing through it.
Hexilon pulled J3 out of the ship holding him in the air with the force musing how she should distroy him, Rekha came out just in time to grab him with her own force pull essentially putting him into a floating stalemate. In that moment J3 popped out a emp grenade and tossed it at the remaining droids dropping more of them. I moved the my lightsaber in front of Hexilon telling her to put him down. I didn't attack. Maybe I should have but I've come to relize that Hexilon is much like Shikkar, perhaps there is still something left to save in her. I felt the poisen take its hold and my body was no longer able to move.
Shikkar tackled Rekha next again trying to get her to stop fighting, J3 managed to pull out another emp grenade from a compartment dropping the rest of the droids, with that Hexilon let out a burst of electricity from her fingers the currents flowing through J3 arcing and burning through him has he dropped down in a heap. She then turned to Rekha and Shikkar still struggling and lighting up her own lightsaber attempted to stab down and impale both of them.
It is hard however to stab with an arm that is now missing. My body was disabled by my mind and connection to the Force burned strong it was as if I was still there holding my blade and while I may have sympathy I will defend my friends.
Just then explosions went off in the distance and Hexlion screamed running out of the room as the power flickered off in the hanger and emergency lights fire to life. Someone started pulling my body to the ship, Shikkar. I could hear more droids coming and did my best to block and defend our retreat as they opened fire.
Then I saw him. our rescuing angel buying us one more chance. As he got closer the temporary repairs finally gave out over worked and stressed to failure Lucian's leg burst into flames dropping him to the ground and he started crawling with his one arm. Shikkar ran out and grabbed him as if he weighed nothing brining him on the ship.
I knew what would happen next and for a moment I considered letting it happen. Shikkar turned to leave, I knew what waited for It, and how much worse would it be for the tool that not only failed to help capture us to its Master's call but help us escape. I could not let that happen. So with the lightsaber still floating in the air its connection strong with me we pushed and held it back for just long enough for the doors to close locking shut as the ship flew out of the doc into space.
I saw the rage, I felt the energy burn through me. it was the same as Hexilon's. It was hurting. I don't even know if it quite understands why. I felt my conscious pull away maybe this was it.
I was pulled from the black, back to the living world, back to the pain. I wish i could have stayed in the void, its quite there. Crying and a hoarse repeating whisper calling me back, I knew what waited me back there, on the ship with all the grime, noise, and the price of our escape.
I answered with a kiss.
The last one, the last heart braking I love you, the last goodbye.
Lucian is dead
My trueheart has been ripped from me again.
It would be so easy to just lay-down and not wake up, not face the pain and emptiness inside again.
Somehow Lucian is here, less than a foot away, sleeping in my bed. A layer of sweat and grime cover his sickly yellowing skin Rekha says its probably liver failure. Both her and J3 have tried their best with what limited medical supplies we have but he is dying.
I'm taking a moment from working on trying to fix what I can of his mechanical prosthetics they are in pretty rough shape and from what I remember reading from his journal awhile back they weren't exactly in good shape when he got them.
A lot has happened in the week or so since my last entry. We left the temple and headed to the remote planet I had seen in my visions through the force up until reaching the planet the trip was fairly uneventful.
Upon our arrived we discovered the planet was surrounded by a rather nasty debris field that created a rather hazardous trek if we continued forward, J3 said there might be a better opening if we waited but the time cold have been hours or even weeks. w
While pondering what to do a Ship blasted past us right in to the mix, We had J3 follow them in since they seemed to be in a rush and opened a small but fairly clean window of opportunity. We had a hunch that Lucian was on that ship, however when I tried to reach out I got a mess of confusion perhaps my emotional state was more reflective of the debris field we just got through than I would like to admit, Shikkar was able to confirm that yes it was the ship we where here to find much to what passes as confusion from J3.
The spaceport/city/tower thing was interesting, platformed spiraled around a central hub at different layers, the air filled with a dusty grime that kinda remanded me of some desert planets but some how less clean. It was manageable enough for me though I'm sure Rekha was less than thrilled and we opted for J3 to stay with and on the ship the environment did not seem to be droid friendly in the least.
Shikkar went a head to start tracking Lucian's group while I stayed behind to settle things with the Dock management apparently repairs are a common requirement for visitors and they seemed a bit disappointed our ship was in decent condition.
Once docking arrangements where dealt with Rekha and I proceeded to make our way through and down the strange spiraling hive of lifts and corridors that made up the landing structure. There didn't appear to be many people around though the structure was quite large but it was quite remote so maybe a leftover from prewar commerce yet maintained rather well all things considered. The lifts where odd with some floors just ending in a walled off doorway and we had to back track and find different lifts a couple times as we made our way down, I could feel Lucian below us somewhere.
Finally reaching the bottom floor we could see that outside was akin to a small sand storm, visibility lower but we could still see well enough, not seeing Shikkar around but sensing it up a head we went outside and ended up at a large building on the outskirts of the city. The building was a bit of an open air market.
Rekha and my comlink crackled to life and after a bit of listening realized the muffled talking was of people renting out animals to go out into the desert, it seems Shikkar managed to slip their comlink into Lucian's pocket giving us one more method of keeping tabs on the group. We made our way through the throng of people and shops to the outer edge where the beasts where kept. Joining up with Shikkar and arranging the rental of our own beasts plus a guide to keep an eye on the beasts.
We set out after the other group across the dusty ashen filled wastes. The grime of the environment clung to us almost immediately in an unpleasant way and while she didn't say anything I can't imagine Rekha was doing well in it. The trip lasted several hours but eventually as the evening started to fall our handler suggested we stop and make camp as the beasts would get more anxious and skittish at night. He set up a bit of a lean-to for himself we really hadn't brought much for a camp out but where able to use the beast as a sort cover.
Knowing we where close and could sense the other group had also stopped I reached out through the force to see if I could tell where they where and how they were doing. A wave of thirst and withdrawal hit me, defiantly seeing things through Lucian's perspective. They seemed to be inside some place, a fire pit was set up, Lucian was tied up and drifting starting to drift off to sleep.
Personal log 22.: If you cut a knife does it feel it?
The long corridor looked liked any other in the temple just a bit more forgotten and a bit stale as if it slumbered and dreamed of a time when its veins pumped with the flow of force users going about their daily tasks.
The path of uniformed doors was eventually broken by the form of J3 who stood motionless and yet some how almost as if at a casual resting stance as much as his ridged metallic form would allow
"Oh good, you're here" the flat robotic voice stated.
"It's hiding in there"
It was the same flat delivery yet I could almost picture it slightly cocking its head towrds the room in indication.
"Thank you for staying with It J3, it's appreciated"
Stepping into the low light of the room, it was like any other in the temple, simple furnishings covered in a layer of dust off to one side was a door that presumably lead off to another room possibly for a padawan. Another door that looked like a closet had a distinctly traveled path through the dust.
Sitting on the bed caused a poof of dust to scatter and dance around in the path of light and I watched it a moment before finally breaking the stillness.
"I'm sorry for causing It the distress I have, but I can't apologize for doing it."
"You had no right to take it!" the words spat out with anger and betrayal.
"It was going to stay, It was obeying Master, It was not yours to take"
I titled my head in half agreement to the empty room. "Maybe."
"I met the master." Silence. "He offered to make Rekha and I tools too. I'm pretty sure it wasn't a request, we said no. He hurt Rekha"
"I saw it on the video" the voice coming out of the closet was sad and quite.
"why did it help us escape, Shikkar?"
A pause.
"You would not survive the training. It did not want that, It was going to stay! It is a good weapon!"
"It is a good weapon, a great one even" I agreed with the closet door's outburst.
I paused for a moment.
"this being a Jedi thing is all very new to me. I was a youngling, but never got the chance to be trained as a padawan. I ended up being part of the work core. Its where I picked up my skills with computers and repairing things.
When I left with Lulcian I kept repairing things. Its what I was good at, and in turn they kept us safe, kept us alive. I learned to listen to machines, they couldn't always tell me something was wrong but I could still hear and feel it and I did what I could to keep them working.
Shikkar is a unique weapon. It is organic. I don't know how.. I can't repair It if It gets damaged. I was afraid it would be hurt if I left it."
"It didn't want to go, It was fine, It never should have listen to the woman" the voice sounded miserable and conflicted.
"What woman?" I asked though I had a suspicion of the answer to come.
Shikkar talked about some visions, and how she had talked to Shikkar back on the ship using J3, This was her room. It had come here before but never into the other room. It didn't want/ couldn't do it.
"Why" I asked
"Because it might show It was a person once"
The statement was quiet, yet there it was a thread of vulnerability. What would it mean to one that had been crafted and formed to this state of existence? Honed to perfection, what methods would you have to go through to get to that point?
"Well.." I paused trying to form my words carefully.
"It doesn't have to look right now, It doesn't have to look ever if it doesn't want to." The door to the closet slid open slightly as a pair of eyes looked out from a pile of old robes.
I continued " I think it might be worth considering, but it doesn't have to and it doesn't have to do it alone."
"For now I would recommend eating something"
"It is functional" insisted the pile of robes
"I have no doubt, but seeing as how its been several days at least since I last saw it eat I'm advising as a mechanic that it could use fuel to operate and a more optimal level"
That argument seemed to finally win-out and a hand stuck out from between the clothing pile and retreated with the offered food when handed it. the closet door slightly partly shut again though a tearing of wrappers and eating could be heard.
J3 could be heard talking to someone over the coms and excused himself to go get the ship ready for our soon to be mission, and Rekha's presence cold be felt moving closer to our location.
"Oh yeah so we have a mission if you are feeling up to it, but also understandable if you you need more time, we've been through a lot the past few days. we could use you though"
I clumsily explained the force vision and that the the council though it worth checking it out. As I finished the door to the closet fulled opened and Shikkar stepped out.
"I need to get ready" and It said.
I nodded and stood up "We have a little time but will need to get going shortly"
With that we headed to our rooms to get ready, I made a stop to talk to Atton about securing additional founds for bargaining should it be needed and then we took off for the outer reaches as I wondered how Lucian was going to take our barging in on his currant predicament.
Spent some time cleaning up after the last mission, the damn toxin that Hexilon uses sticks to the skin like tar pretty sure there is still a slight stain even after scrubbing the skin raw.
Felt a sudden wave of hope, I'm pretty sure from Rekha. I assume her brother is doing well. Will need to check in later.
A less positive wave of emotion from Shikkar. I would head out to help but I dont think my presence would do much in the way of good.
Instead i finally sat down to meditate. Ive been avoiding it a bit. Not a habit i should encourage.
Closed my eyes and drifted
Easy to get lost in the waves of sluggish tilting nothing of an acrid sea of cheap booze.
Or it would be if there wasn't the annoying muffed buzzing of two pricks droning on about something... Payment. Hard to hear over the throbbing headache and alcohol blanketing my thoughts.
"is payed.. paid for the week..lemyalone"
Once again i started to slump back into my stupor when the feeling of cold metal and an unmistakable hum of a charging pack brought me,
No Lucian, back to paying at least a little more attention.
"wait, i gossumpin." He pulled out a data pad flickering to life showed a star map of the Corellian sector.
"There's a data cache, gotta be worth lots"
One of the two guys grabbed the pad looking through it for a moment before nodding and sliding it into his pocket.
Vision started to fade as they grabbed Lucian and said "your coming with us, going to be our guide"
My stomach churned a bit from a half state of being drunk but not. "Damn it Lucian"
I pondered for a moment about which of the council would be most interested in a potential data cache and might not look to much into its connection with my Ex.
i settled on Bao-Dur, and headed for the workshop where he was most likely to be. He was indeed in the shop and listened as i explained what i saw.
He then asked if there was a bit more information on a more exact location. An entire system is a bit vague. So again I reached through the Force and the scene materialized but this time i stood as an outside observer.
The urge to look at Lucian was strong but i focused instead on the pad. A few points where highlighted but one location in particular, Sigil, stood out at that point i glanced toward Lucian finally.
He wasn't doing well. Aside from knowing the drunken stupor he was in, his hair was overgrown and wild even by his standards and his skin had the unhealthy gloom of poor sleep and malnutrition. I feel a mix of sadness and frustration, even guilt. I know what he can be, what he was, what i did.
I let the vision fall.
"It looks like Sigil is the destination."
Bao-Dur considered that then asked how much time we had. I wasn't entirely sure but i assumed not long having grabbed Lucian as a "guide" probably a couple of days at moat depending on how much prep they needed.
He nodded and said he needed to check with the rest of the council, it was a bit of a trip on limited information but also a data cache in that area could be potentially dangerous considering its history.
As it turns out I didn't have long to wait for an answer as it was deemed worth a look and considering how our last trips had gone sending us out to face a battle ship alone was probably a recipe for disaster. I appreciate the consideration.
Bao-Dur advised me to gather the team, I knew Rekha would be easiest to find so I stopped into the medcenter and sure enough she was there with Brodhe. He didn't look good exactly but also better resting there as I came in. I told Rekha about the mission, where it had come from, She asked if there was a way to ask Lucian not to blow us up this time, Fair question a little out of my hands though. I did say she didn't have to come. I understood what its like finding out someone you cared for and thought was dead is once again in your life. I told her I still had to at least find J3 and Shikkar so we had a little time at least.
With that I excused myself and called J3, as it turns out he was with Shikkar in one of the currently unused areas of the temple and he said something about Shikkar being in a closet. I suppose we'll see what that's about when I get there, in the mean time I'm stopping by the mess hall to pick up a couple of drinks and small snacks. Knowing Shikkar it probably hasn't eaten in almost a week now and that can't be helping it's mood.
The trip back to the temple was mostly without incident.
J3 did eventually help me deal with the parallelization issue, Rekha spent some time healing, Brodhe has situated himself onto bench in the dinning area and just seems to be checked out of reality for a bit. which without knowing exactly what he went through makes sense. Shikkar is also unresponsive has not eaten any food provided. I figure its probably best not to press the issue.
For my part I've been restless, I should probably mediate but every attempt leaves me replaying what happened in the holding cells. the feeling of powerlessness and rage boiling just under the surface. The last time I felt like this was with Lucian.
The only other thing of note is J3 asking me if I had a moment to talk. Considering the Droid has never had any problem just stating whatever he wanted before this I was curious to see what was on his mind.
He wanted to know if I was aware of anyway someone might have over written is code and subroutines. He had done system scans and everything seemed to be fine but he had been noting an unusual level of protective drive for all three of us but in particularly Shikkar and during our time on the ship we where now running from there was an unaccounted for amount of time from when he shut himself down to when he reactivated and when he had it was not on our ship but in front of Shikkar's holding cell.
Unfortunately I didn't really have any good suggestions, I know droids that haven't had a memory wipe for several cycles can gain odd quirks but this seemed like something else. I know the bound the three of us had was something fairly unusual but as far as anyone knows droids can't sense the force but I am aware of skilled force users that could disable a droid so maybe its not out of possibility one could use a droid without it's knowing? but who or if that was even the case is unclear.
The only one that had any idea of what J3 did during his shut down time would be Shikkar and at the moment It didn't seem to be very talkative.
Personal Log #20: May you have the Shikkar you deserve.
We arrived back at the Temple we where met by a couple of the Masters, since we had come back without Brodhe or the Holocron they assumed that things hadn't gone well. A terse confirmation and simple explanation that now Hex had Brodhe and had escaped us.
There was going to be a more formal debriefing once all the console was ready but for a short time we had a moment to collect ourselves, Personally I went to the work shop to keep myself busy as it was, I afraid if I let myself pause to long I would stew in my anger more than I already had been.
Master Bao-Dur found me there and talked to me for a bit about what had happend. I shared the holodisk, Shikkar's lightsaber, and toxic dart I had found and told him what happened. also my suspicions that Shikkar may have been a padawan at some point. To many force vision fragments felt linked to Shikkar and the temple in a way I couldn't dismiss but also not sure how they all fit.
A call on the coms interrupted our conversation, Shikkar had taken the fighter ship we had acquired a little while ago and took off. J3 was already getting our ship ready to follow Shikkar.
There is no Chaos my ass.
Following Shikkar proved to be easy enough, while the leak in the engine core had been fixed we where able to keep track of Shikkar in the force despite its best efforts. Also there was a tracking beacon that had been installed on the craft and J3 is good pilot.
Unsurprisingly following Shikkar lead us to its Masters ship, a massive claw shaped that I had only a glimpse of in the Force visions now more menacingly real and our destination.
There was very little time to decide on a course of action. Everything in me wanted to run. but that is not what jedi do and despite recent events, or rather because of them, I was also concerned for Shikkar. It was not coming back with success or victory and clearly It's Master's training metheds where harsh and the holocron from Hex suggests that he was ready to toss it aside.
There wasn't a whole lot of options as we approached the ship J3 and Rekha attempted to hide somewhere in the ship and I chose to openly surrender, the hope being it would buy the other two enough time to mount a rescue and we could look for shikkar or the holocron as well as disable defenses.
A tractor beam pulled the ship in and I stepped out to a small group of battle droids lead by Hexalon, She asked if I was alone and to handover my lightsaber. I tried to play it off as if I was the only one but frankly I'm not the most convincing of lairs and I was dealing with an expert of social manipulations. I was brought to a holding cell.
There is a weird sort of serenity one can acquire when all chose is finally taken away and you must wait for the outcome behind a glowing wall of energy. At least this is what I was almost successfully able to convince myself as the door slid open and Hexalon lead Rekha into another holding cell. I could almost hear the Jizz band horns growing louder in my head.
We where left alone for a bit, there didn't seem to be much to say. I did try to see if there might be some way to lower or disable the shields from our vantage point but unfortunately any controls seemed to be elsewhere. Again some time passed and the door opened this time to Tall Gray skinned figure with a face full of exposed teeth and taloned fingers, a Draethos. He held himself as one used to being in charge. The Master in the flesh.
He spoke into our minds accused us of damaging/ breaking his tools. we said he should take better care of them which seemed to annoy him just a bit he took out a remote and activated it. Nothing happened in the room but a wave of pain hit me somewhere Shikkar was being hurt. He asked us if we had considered the Offer to become his tools, we both declined myself saying it just didn't seem to be my style. I had though about trying to play along maybe learn more about his plans but I'm both a bad liar and he didn't seem to be the trusting type, besides I have suspicions about his training methods and I can't imagine they where going to be any more pleasant than the torture methods most likely planed for us now. As if to prove that point Rekha said something else and the Master once again pressed a button on his remote but this time Rekha's cage crackled to life as electricity shot through her. She remained standing and I could only watch helplessly. Shortly after his little display of power the Master left us to ponder our current and future fates in his hands.
some time passed and the door once again opened and I braced for another round of questions and pain, instead Shikkar and J3 stepped through the door. A moment of concern that maybe J3 had also been capture but then the force-fields dropped, Shikkar looked pensive and on edge. It said It would help us get to the ship. The delivery implied that It did not included it's self in the leaving. I chose not to press the issue but we did need to find our weapons thankfully they where close by in another room
Entering entering the room Rekha and my sabers where secured to a wall apposite to a familiar teal Mon Calamari, Rehka's brother in a cell and looking much worse for wear with clear wounds and bruising. J3 turned off the energy walls. Brodhe stared at Rekha in shock for a moment before rushing at her for a a second I was afraid he was about to attack her considering how last time went but instead he just grabbed her into a big hug despite the injuries, he would later explain that he had been told she had been killed and our lightsabers where being used to prove it.
It was decided that J3 would take Brodhe back to the ship while the three off us disable the tracker beam holding the ship in place and what turrets we could. It would be a very short trip if we couldn't move or were filled with holes before getting to hyperspace.
We managed to get to the security deck with no issues and I logged into the computer system or as best as I could. The system was unusual but with a little bit of work I was able to figure out the basics enough to turn off the tractor beam and started working through the main cannons. 3 rooms of computers until we got to what seemed like a main hub just as the last of the guns went off line an alarm rang out. our escape had been noticed.
we made our way back to our ship, Arriving in the landing dock Hexalon was already there with a group of battle droids She started to gloat but was cut short as the engines started up. She only then remembered J3. The droids and Hex moved to contain us but we where able to make a path to the ship. Notably while helping to defend us Shikkar was not making any attacking moves. We could feel the Master's presence approaching we where out of time and I knew full well there was no point in arguing or trying to convince Shikkar to leave with us. It had already started to fall into a panic a couple times already.
I had no intention of leaving it behind weather it liked that or not. Reaching out with the force I grabbed it as I'd done before during the test and recent fight pulled it into the ship hitting the button to close the door as J3 Took off, Hex managed one last parting gift with a paralyzing dart striking me as the door shut. Shikkar wailed and tried to open the door but it was too late as we shot into space. I left Shikkar curled up like a ball by the door and stumbled up the stairs to the cockpit and falling into a chair with the paralyzing agent worked through my system yet again. I could tell the ship was being rocked by a few blaster hits, apparently they had gotten them on line faster than I would have liked but J3 is a good Pilot and the ship made it to hyperspace. I stopped fighting the toxin letting it finally take over my tired body. I knew at some point J3 would be able to take care of it but for now uncomfortable stillness.
Personal log 19: At least there wasn't a leviathan.
It felt as if time was of the essence. So we made our way to Ithor immediately not much conversation was had as we mostly spent our times mediating and preparing for what we would find.
Landing on the planet the Ithorians where polite and accommodating providing a submersible for us to check some of the underwater domes for Rekha's brother where we felt he would be.
while most of my focus was on the mission at hand it was hard not to miss the amount of just ocean and nature that surrounded us. I was used to the rugged mountains, deserts and vast city planets. This was different and while nature was around us I couldn't began to call it 'organic'
This city was a garden carefully crafted and maintained by the Ithorians impressive but also felt as sterile and clean as a hospital a weird sensation to be sure. A sensation that wouldn't leave until we had past the clear boundaries of the city as we plunged into the depth of the ocean depths following markers that lead us to the domed habitats.
Rekha could tell which dome had her brother and seeing as how none of us out side of Rekha could swim with any confidence outside of a bathtub we had to just dock and hope that there wasn't going to be a violent welcoming.
which turned out to be the case. We made it do the landing pool/dock without incident as we approached the main airlock door Rekha's brother spoke over the coms. Some generic you shouldn't have come type lines.
meanwhile Shikkar manged to hack and unlock the door before I got to it. seems the skill trade through the Force was alive an well.
Entering the central section of the dome was Rekha's brother annoyed at the ease of the door being opened, Rekha and him had some words, the family resemblance in both looks and behavior was unmistakable and almost amusing in any other setting.
As the two Mon Calamari siblings tried to out sass and convince each other of the reality of their past since separating during the purge Shikkar crept around the edge of the conversation pit that Rekha's brother was in, at one point when it seemed like he might be about to tell us more about the holocron and who had it now, Shikkar lunged in an attack that was only stopped by Rekha throwing herself in front of the blow and taking the hit dropping her to the floor.
I jumped in igniting my saber to defend Rekha and her brother but still very taken aback by what was happening. I tried to use the Force to push Shikkar away but It lept right back in making swings at Rekha's brother who seemed to be the full focus of It's attacks
Thankfully while injured Rekha was okay and helped in the defense of her brother but Shikkar is fearsome opponent and even with the three of us it was looking grim and It wasn't listening to our demands to stop. At some point J3 also joined the fight firing a stunning blaster at Shikkar though even that wasn't enough to get it to stop. At this point I yanked shikkar's lightsaber from It's hands using the force. I knew that wouldn't stop it but at least it would help give a fighting chance, Or so I thought just as I felt something hit my neck and in the next moment some small black object hit Shikkar and Rekha's brother.
Unnoticed to us Hexalon had slipped in and tossed a parallelizing agent at us I could feel my muscles start to tighten almost immediately but I tried to ignore the effects as falling now I was certain would lead to disaster. Shikkar seemed to be able to shake off the effects, Rekha's brother seemed to be having a harder time with it.
In a desperate attempt to get Shikkar further away and to distracte Hex I flung Shikkar up to the catwalk that Hex was standing on. As the untangled themselves Hex said something to Shikkar and then used the force to grab and pull Rekha's brother toward the docking port and Shikkar ran a head of them but just as It reached the door a electonic explosion ripped through the air, a trap. In one last desperate attempt to stop Hexalon I tossed my Lightsavber at her cutting across her back and making her cry out but still managed to roll into her sub with Rekha's brother and take off. Shikkar was left behind.
J3 Helped Rekha bandage up, and was able to figure out a antidote for the paralyzing agent as he got up he did suggest I think about how bad that could have gone. Way a head of you captain.
He then revived Shikkar and suggested they find a spot in the sub to sit down and wait. By that point I was back on my feet but not exactly in the best mood but noticed J3 looking around and when asked made the point that we came hear for information and that it would be a good idea for us to gather what we could.
Rekha found a star chart with some locations marked and I found a holo-disk and one of Hex's unbroken parallelizing darts. On the disk was a message personably from Hex and Shikkar's Master. He wanted Rekha's brother alive and for Shikkar to be dealt with so It was no longer a problem.
Without much of a plan we returned to the Jedi Temple to figure-out what our next move was and what to do with Shikkar.
I asked it why it had attacked us. It counterd saying it wasn't attacking Rekha or myself just Her brother. It couldn't let anyone interfere with her masters plan it didn't elaborate what that was.
The rest of the trip was spent in a tense and conflicted silence.
After the events at the meditation chamber the three of us took some time to rest and recuperate. As has been my habit of late I went to the workshop to work on repairing whatever I could in the endless supply of gadgets that had broken or needed to be maintained in one shape or another.
Normally as I work on stuff it becomes a sort of meditation in its own way, the world fades out and the only thing in focus is the project at hand and finding the flow of machinery and electronics that leads to a working item.
This time was a little different. At first I couldn't place it, but then it came to me. Or rather didn't. It was as if someone had turned off or blocked a part of my
(our?)
senses. I could see the flashes of the multi-tool and feel the pulse of energy
(the blades moved with familiar form but without connection)
but the sound wasn't there and when a broken com-link sparked to life there was no sense of..
(the keys pressed down and the information displayed but no sounds clicked out)
accomplishment, I paused and reached out and felt a void
(I need to protect his goals)
where was this coming from?
(I want to hide)
I could ignore it.
(block it out)
(close myself off).
It would be so easy to just be alone.
And then it came back, a connection and a choice to stay present, and with that I ended my time in the workshop and found Rekha in the archives. We didn't talk much I simply stayed nearby for a while. We don't have to handle it all lone anymore.
The loss of the Sith Holocron is alarming, both the potential danger of what knowledge it may possess and that the Temple was so easily breached.
For our part the Masters wanted to track down the holocron or at least garner what might be in it. Rekha's brother having been the last user of it seemed like the best option for that and while she wasn't thrilled with the idea agreed to try and use the force to find him.
We gathered in the mediation chamber and through the Force linked together and reached at first nothing but eventually a location in space or what almost seemed like a void in it distant and empty accept for a ship.
A massive war ship I didn't recognize it but in a moment we where on the bridge. The Holocron in the hands of a foreboding individual. The vision faded out apparently Rekha had heard and seen a little more and shared with the group. Shikkar seemed on edge but then that's often its state of being anyway.
Since we needed more we took a moment and the tried again this time Rekha focused on her brother, he came in to focus talking with someone presumably the person that now had the holocron, Saying something about needing to finish the ritual. The
The vision pulled back to show that he was in an underwater dome and pulled back further to show the planet. Ithor. We had a location, now the question was could we get their quick enough and to convince Rekha's brother to cooperate with us?
The rumblings of a distant explosion shook the trial room and at once everyone rushed out and up the long spiraling staircase back to the main temple floors.
The Masters where on the com-links it sounded as if the source of the explosion had started at or near the vault. when we arrived there was still a cloud of dust and debris filling the air and the two jedi that had been posted as security where on the ground choking, it was hard to tell if it was just from the dust or if some chemical agent was at work.
Instinctively I pushed out with the force, normally in a way that would move large objects with ease but this time the focus was on the air and dust while trying to not actually push around the guards already having a bad time as it was. It seemed to work as they where able to start pulling themselves together as we rushed past them into the vault.
A massive hole had been punched through the vault wall and past several rooms past that into a hallway of an unused part of the temple and a figure could be seen just darting around the corner. One of the Masters shouted that the Sith Holocron was missing and Shikkar bolted forward after the thief.
Rekha and I ran after Shikkar and where hit almost immediately with visions or flashbacks through the force, people filled the empty hallway but looking past that we could see Shikkar being held in the air in a Force choke by Lanvarok.
I activated my light saber and tossed it forward and guided into making an attack on Lanvarok, she was able to avoid it but it did cause enough of a distraction that she let Shikkar go and started running again, both Shikkar and Rekha following and me taking a second longer to bring up the rear grabbing my floating blade as I passed by it.
The chase carried out to the back of the temple on to a landing pad Shikkar was engaged with Lanvarok and I jumped in to assist it was a quick clash of blades with Shikkar landing a lethal blow and then catching Lanvarok before she hit the ground.
I would find out later that Lanvarok managed to send the Holocron off with a droid and Rekha had tried to pull it back but unfortunately it had pulled away, a short time later the city security showed up to investigate the disturbance much was focused on Shikkar and what It knew though I'd assume there wasn't much that came out of that. It is ever so chatty on normal occasions.
Personal log #16: A dream achieved and looming shadow grows.
The Jedi Counsel summoned us early in the morning. They believe we have progressed far enough in training and recent missions to be acknowledged as Jedi Knights with one final test.
We were brought to a chamber with a scattering of pillars rising several meters into the air and above that a collection of chains hanging down from the ceiling, on three of the chains red ribbons. The task itself was simple, Grab the ribbons.
Shikkar was the first to leap into action wrapping a cloth around the pillar and using that to help climb up, it was a clever idea so I followed suit. Rekha help back and watched for a bit.
Reaching the top first, Shikkar tried to force grab a chain and pull it towards Itself however it seemed to resist and pull away. Just as I reached the top of my pillar, Shikkar leapt at one of the ribbons just as it looked like It was about to to reach the scrap of fabric the chain sped up.
Obviously this task was going to be more than just an easy test of our agility and force powers, we had already demonstrated that several times. No this was a test of teamwork and cooperation. As I started to point that fact out Shikkar leapt for another ribbon but it looked like a miss step happened and looked like it was going to send Shikkar falling to the ground but Rekha's hand shot out with a surge of the force which boosted Shikkar and gave it just enough momentum to snag one of the ribbons.
Seeing all that I had an Idea, Rekha jumped up and stood on one of the pillars and I used the force to move Shikkar (with their disgruntled consent) towards a ribbon so that it moved right about Rekha who was able to jump up and grab it with ease. Then I moved Shikkar over to a pillar near myself so that ribbon was close enough to make a leap and grab landing on the arena floor.
Test past with flying colors, and a loss of credits for Master Michel and a win for Atton. I feel like side bets crosses some sort of ethical boundary but then its not like the currant makeup of the council is traditional anyway.
Congratulations and praise was short lived, as an explosion that shook the room taking everyone off guard for a moment and then we rushed from the room to see what was the cause.
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