Shadows of Bankor

Dove needed to take a private trip. Or rather, she knew Astin wouldn't be interested in this one, and Floats tended to hitch rides with the others to come this way. She was a rusty pilot, but a short careful trip from planet-surface to moon was one within her abilities thanks to technology.

As the Temple's defenses hailed The Coyote, she responded, "this is The Coyote from Varo's Sword. Only one person aboard, Dove Gray, requesting permission to land. I'm a friend of Knight Petrus, Knight Xanna, and Knight F... Floats." Damnit she could never get the real name right. "And Valus."

It was a strange feeling, this feeling that had brought her here, but before she left Bankor, before she'd execute this plan of hers... she wanted to see him one more time. To know he'd survived the fighting. And to learn... what he would do now.

After a thorough inspection by droids and Guardian Malvik she is brought to a meditation chamber where Valus was tending to plants.

It was rather difficult not to gawk a little as she was guided through the structure. This place was thousands of years old, and had been abandoned for Maker knows how long. That it was even still here was impressive in itself.

So she was even more impressed to see plants.

"Wow... I can see why you like to stay up here," she remarked, turning around to look at the interior and the plants he was tending to.

"It's best for me here," he said honestly. "A place to focus on my recovery and rehabilitation."

Finishing her turn, she faced him once more. "I'm... glad this place wasn't harmed in the fighting last night. It would've been a terrible loss."

A lot of the things she had been thinking about saying during the flight up sounded really cheesy to say now. "... And I'm glad you're unharmed too. But how are you feeling these days?"

"I feel better but now whole, it's a struggle and I am glad that I have this place to work that out," he said.

"I try to help but the Masters think it best I focus on recovery, and also to avoid any unneeded altercations with those who may see a chance to settle an old score."

She nodded, looking closer at some of the plants as she reached out to touch the leaves. "So... you're planning on staying here for the foreseeable future then?"

To her, it felt like he was hiding from the realities of the galaxy. But she also understood... she had heard what happened with Neela, and something similar could happen to him to.

Dove smiled over her shoulder at him. "When you're ready to go out again, I'm sure you will be a hero once more, Valus."

"Not forever, just when I feel ready," he admitted.

"I want to make things right, but I also want to trust myself."

"Well," her hand moved away from the plant, reaching out to him instead, "if it helps, I trust the you that didn't kill me, and didn't kill those prisoners that night. The you that helped me carry the body of my friend."

Dove's voice was soft, but even. "Even if you don't trust yourself quite yet, I trust you, Valus."

"Thank you, perhaps I am just waiting," he said honestly. "I just need to feel sure, I am not out to be a hero. Just a Jedi that can help and try to make amends for the misery I called."

"Nothing wrong with waiting, and we got plenty of folks itching to be the heroic protagonist of this story," Dove chuckled with an amused tone. "But only you can be you. And... if the other Inquisitors are like you and Neela, the two of you can be a light of hope to some of them. That there is a chance for something else."

Her smile was confident, encouraging even. "Besides, you don't have to make amends or do everything alone. You have people willing to stand beside you through this."

"And they give me hope," he said honestly.

That he found hope from those who believed in him... she couldn't ask for much more at the moment. Dove reminded herself that he would need time. Not everyone were like her, moving around with a limp and already thinking of the next steps and how to go on.

"Well... when you feel up for getting into adventures again, let me know, alright? It would be nice to get to know the real Valus, after all this time."

"Thank you and May the Force be with you, Dove," he said warmly.

"And you too, Valus," she smiled warmly in return. "You need it more than I."

Maybe not true, but her sentiment was still the same.

"Now, is there any place I shouldn't wander off to here? I feel like sightseeing a little bit before I fly back."

"Master Surro, please escort Dove and keep her out of trouble," he said with the Jedi master appearing at her side.

"Greetings once again," she said.

"Hello there, again," she figured it must be nice to have a sentient holo-servant.

"Lead the way, master guide."


/fade to tourism and scene