We're On A Mission From The Force [D1MM]

[Brother Sloan]

"Do you think this is the one?" Sloan turned to Xanna, bending down to whisper.

[Petrus Karath]

Once he'd realized that the cram berry girl was the one they were looking for, Petrus had fallen into a thoughtful silence, almost melancholy. Finding a Jedi was a return to a life he'd left behind, no, that had been torn from him. He trudged along, frowning, his thoughts spinning, threatening to go into turmoil.

He, too, caught his breath when they spotted the figure. "It is." He said softly, answering the question S

But Jedi lent each other strength. Petrus smiled at Xanna, at the hesitant hope on her face. "Hey." He said, reaching out to gently touch her shoulder, his hand warm, reassuring. "Let's go see him." The six of them could approach as one.

[Xanna Teevou]

You do not understand, but...you will. Words from long ago echoed in her mind. Sloan's attempt at whispering and Petrus' touch brought her around, gave her strength. Odd to think they had been strangers only a day before. She smiled her thanks, a little purple in her cheeks.

"Yes."

Emboldened, Xanna walked towards the farmer, leading the Team and stopping before they crowded him. "Would you like some help?"

She tilted her head and looked at the face she had not seen for years. Older yes, but it was either him, or a clone of him, which seemed unlikely. There was a warmth in her voice when she spoke. It might not have been what her new friends were expecting to hear.

"Have you been here this whole time? I... I brought some friends."

[Dapper Dog]

“Papa, these guys wanted your help they are looking for a farmer and something about a danger and… they seem like nice folks,” Veras said to gain his attention.

[Oraka Hin]

The old farmer rubbed his brow and then stood from his work his hands muddy and pants equally dirty, he was pulling weeds out of a field it looked like. He sighed heavily and said, “Veras, welcome back.”

He then looked at the collection of strangers and the familiar face and did not seem surprised it was a look of resignation, he rubbed his hands clean on his thick trousers and said to Xanna, “Where else would I be?”

Actually a billion different places but what does one say after everything that has happened, to him, to the fallen order, to the galaxy. He figured it was crass to ask if they had been followed, the answer was probably not one he wanted to hear and in a way as much as he tried to put the past behind him he knew the Force would find a way to bring things back into focus.

“Veras when we are done here check the gubba fruit water systems, they seem to be acting up, again,” he said.

He gestured for them to follow to the barn, it was a peaceful little farmstead they could hear animals in their pens, a gentle breeze and the crowing of strutting lizard-fowl. He added as they entered the barn, “It’s a good life out here, quiet.”

He turned on a light and inside is a tarp covered craft, it has the shape of a sleek craft as he crossed his arms and looked at it. What can be seen are faded blue and colors and scorch marks, it’s not in the best of shape from what they can see. Veras chimed in and stood next to her father and said, “I have been trying my best to fix it, but it’s not ready yet.”

She looks confused and added looking up at the farmer, “Papa said he found it… but I am thinking maybe not, now?”

He gave a slight grunt and said, “No little berry, this used to be mine back when I served with the Jedi Order, a long time ago.”

[Xanna Teevou]

"Exactly where you are." A sad smile slid off her face, becoming a little melancholy frown. It didn't last too long. She followed along, wondering what he had seen since the siege and the day their worlds had fallen apart.

"Your ship!" She moved over to the fighter and started assessing the remaining damage.

"It was quiet. I am sorry to say this but the Empire is looking for you." She paused in her appraisal and took the folded wanted poster out from a pouch on her belt before handing it over.

[Petrus Karath]

Petrus was silent as he they followed along. He recognized that look of resignation. He'd imagined it on his own features, seen similar when he looked in the mirror. The past couldn't be escaped. One could come to terms with it, or not. He wondered how it would work out for this man. I wonder how it will work out for me.

Still silent, Petrus followed with the rest of the group to the barn. There was a humility to the quiet farm. As splendid as the temple at Coruscant had been, the greatest masters had been humble. He tried to imagine Yoda here, or Kenobi, and found that he could. Petrus swallowed, as certainty grew. Finally to be confirmed as the man confirmed it.

"I thought everyone was gone." Petrus said softly. "I didn't know... there were still Jedi out there."

[Brother Sloan]

"So it's true. You're a Jedi." He spoke in astonishment. Sloan had never met one in person but knew that the Aznuri people owed the Jedi order a great deal.

Sloan bowed deeply to the farmer. "Meeting you is a true honor. Your people have helped mine in profound ways."

"Have you been here this whole time? I... I brought some friends."

"Xanna, you know this man?" He turned to his blue comrade inquisitively. "A friend of a Jedi is surely a friend of the Force."

[Oraka Hin]

The ship was in a poor state but she could see the repair work that Veras must have been doing and perhaps with time and resources this could be worthy of flying again. If they had the time. The farmer said, “The Jedi has never been a single person, or a building, or even the Order.”

He sighed and said, “You can kill a man, you can destroy a building, you can disperse an order but, an idea, a notion of what is good, what is right, will always persist. There are many Jedi out there, they just have to realize it.”

He placed an arm around Veras and said, “I know they are hunting me, and it is perhaps a danger you will be ill-prepared for. An Inquisitor. Veras remember when I showed you the cabin in the wild lands?”

“I love that… I remember,” she said catching his meaning.

He comforted her gentle and said, “Remember what I said if anything happens you go there, I will follow.”

She nodded and the farmer stood and looked at the poster before saying, “At least they used a good picture this time.” He added to Sloan, "I was... I am a Jedi, and the Force has guided you here, all of you."

[Xanna Teevou]

His words lent her strength and she felt hope again. "I could not believe it when I saw the poster, but soon afterwards I met these beings, and it felt as though it must be true." She nodded at Sloan and Petrus then looked at Veras. "I fought beside your father in the Clone Wars for a time."

"So what do we do now that the Force has brought us here to you?" She patted the ship. "At least I think I can help you with this."

[Oraka Hin]

"We have breakfast, we talk, and then we decide," he said honestly.

Veras chimed in, "Papa makes the best food!"

"I had a lot of time to practice," he said without smiling, but it was warm as he guided them to the farm house.

[Petrus Karath]

"They just have to realize it..." Petrus echoed. Slowly, he smiled. "Yeah. I think maybe you're right."

His lips parted, but then he frowned. "An Inquisitor. That sounds ominous. I'm worried that time might be limited..." His lips quirked, "-but perhaps not so limited as to prevent breakfast." Smiling again, he followed along.

And give father and daughter a little more time together, if they were soon to be separated.

[Brother Sloan]

She nodded at Sloan and Petrus then looked at Veras. "I fought beside your father in the Clone Wars for a time."

Two jedi. I must be exactly where The Calm wants me to be.

He stayed silent as the others exchanged words. Breakfast - was one that caught his attention in particular...but also inquisitor. That word elicited a certain amount of rational fear, and yet, he wasn't afraid; he couldn't afford to be. This morning was a crisis barely averted, and surely matters would escalate day by day.

"no emotion...peace...no passion...serenity" He uttered the words quietly to himself as he followed the others inside.

[Xanna Teevou]

"Breakfast sounds like a good place to begin." She replaced the sheet and followed as the two led them in to the house. It had a certain charm and she was glad that Orska had found this place. Perhaps the quiet times were over now, but at least he had enjoyed some peace.

[Petrus Karath]

"no emotion...peace...no passion...serenity" He uttered the words quietly to himself as he followed the others inside.

That got a surprised look from Petrus. "Sloan... where did you learn that?" He asked. He didn't think the big Trandoshan was a Jedi, but...

[Brother Sloan]

That got a surprised look from Petrus. "Sloan... where did you learn that?" He asked. He didn't think the big Trandoshan was a Jedi, but...

Sloan shook his head suddenly and opened his eyes. He was slightly startled at Petrus' words, as he had briefly found himself lost in thought.

"Many Aznuri have a strong force affinity. Its presence in all of our lives guides the very principles of our tribes."

"We do not practice or seek to emulate Jedi traditions but we do honor them greatly. From a young age I was told stories of great heroism of the Jedi Knights..." Sloan paused. "..and tales warning of the dark fate of those who stray from the light."

[Xanna Teevou]

Sometimes you can live in a place but not truly know it. Sloan's story got Xanna's attention. "Really? That is very interesting. I did not realise that the Aznuri had this affinity, or were so enamoured of the Jedi. We should warn your people. I doubt this Empire will limit its aggression to the Jedi."

[Brother Sloan]

Sometimes you can live in a place but not truly know it. Sloan's story got Xanna's attention. "Really? That is very interesting. I did not realise that the Aznuri had this affinity, or were so enamoured of the Jedi. We should warn your people. I doubt this Empire will limit its aggression to the Jedi."

"I'm afraid we're well aware of their limitless aggression my friend. Recently there was a raid on our enclave, we were able to drive them out but bad blood lingers in the air." The aroma of breakfast added the feeling of craving to Sloan's anguish in remembering the conflict.

"As for our connection to the force...I don't believe the Empire or many other laowai know much of anything about that. We do tend to keep to ourselves for reasons I suppose." He reached out with both arms, pulled out two chairs at the modest looking table and politely gestured at the others to take a seat.

[Petrus Karath]

Petrus nodded solemnly. "I'm sorry, Sloan. The Empire's hurting everyone, but it's hard when it's people close to you.". He gave the Trandoshan a clap on the shoulder.

Murmuring thanks, he sat in one of the offered chairs.

[Oraka Hin]

The farmhouse was simple but inviting, the table had some papers on it, probably Veras’ notes on how to fix the ship and schematics which she scooped up and started preparing the table. The farmer went into the open kitchen and started getting some fresh fruits, bread and seasoned meats and laid them on the table.

He then started cooking some eggs and said, “Yes, the people of the Aznuri have been long time friends of the Jedi, though sadly many Jedi are not taught the old histories and it is old history. It’s one of the reasons I came to Bankor, it resonantes in the Force, maybe I was drawn here, interesting.”

He responded to Petrus’s inquiry, “Inquisitors are trained in the Dark side, they steep themselves in it, they are not many but they are enough and each is well trained. They are dangerous, not just because they hunt us but because I believe they have a more insidious plan.”

“They seek to turn Jedi to the Dark Side and join the very evil we have pledged ourselves to fight.”

Veras listened to all this new information but stayed silent. Mahon just nodded as if this was familiar and not so familiar while Liua tried and failed to look unimpressed.

[Xanna Teevou]

Spotting the plans for the ship Xanna made a note to ask about them again later. "Oh. Master Saarth told me that Bankor would be a good place to seek out. I do not recall her mentioning the Aznuri, but perhaps this is why?" Or she did and I was not paying attention.

She contemplated Oraka's description of the Inquisitors. It was horrific really. "Do you think we can stop this Inquisitor? Or will that simply draw even more attention to Bankor? Perhaps we could draw it away, trick it into thinking you have left."

[Petrus Karath]

Petrus made a face as though he'd bitten into a cram berry that had gone bad. "Turn Jedi to the Dark Side? That's horrible." He said. "The loss of anyone who fights for what's right is terrible, but to actually turn them against what they stood for..." Grimacing, he shook his head.

So what did it mean, when he gave up instead of fighting? Petrus' lips pressed together, his blue eyes clouded, but only for a moment. "Uh, just in case it wasn't clear..." He raised a hand. "I was a Jedi, too. I mean, I figure it was, but I wanted to get that out there, just in case."

[Oraka Hin]

“I was wondering when you would admit what was in your heart instead of warring with yourself,” the old farmer said to Petrus.

“Your emotions betray your struggle.”

It felt natural to fall back into this rhythm and added, “I have had the same thoughts many times.”

He finished with, “I do not know if we can stop the Inquisitor but if we do not a great many will suffer, a confrontation is perhaps inevitable. We cannot run from it, not forever.”

[Xanna Teevou]

Xanna nodded encouragingly at Petrus. "The Force brought us together yesterday, and look at what has already transpired." They were no longer alone for a start.

She was more solemn as Oraka said his piece about the Inquisitor. "So together we will find a way. If Bankor resonates with the Force, perhaps it holds the answer?" Her attention was drawn back to Sloan, his giant reptilian muscles, and the idea of the Aznuri. Maybe we have more allies here than we thought?

[Petrus Karath]

Petrus lowered his eyes, but he did not turn away. "Yes. It's... a weakness of mine. I know it. Order Sixty-Six changed everything..."

His eyes flickered back up. "But perhaps I shouldn't have let it change me as much as I did. I'll t-... no." He smiled. Every Jedi knew what they'd hear if they said 'I'll try'. "I'll do better." It would still be a struggle, of course

He sat up, accepting Xanna's encouragement with a smile. "Huh. That seems like a good idea." He looked at Sloan. "What do you think your friends would say to all of this?"