The Shepherd
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Post by The Shepherd on Oct 31, 2016 11:57:23 GMT -8
"Actual power in a senate that's been undone. Safety and happiness bought with his integrity."
His tone was remarkably even when he spoke. When she had been little, Na'an would have known better than to take that tone with the shepherd; he had made initiates run laps around whatever temple they were training in for less. She did have a point, though; Jade had become an esteemed politician in his own right after his dalliance with a senator. He had also openly welcomed those that served the dark side and themselves, and the safety and happiness of their people was a contestable proposition at best. Names like Dav Man'Sell and Aerandir Calmcacil held weight among the Jedi. Raan Jade did not. Vidalu Na'an hadn't passed her trials, but neither had she given up on what it meant to be a Jedi. Raan Jade had.
"And considering the company he's apparently kept, don't think that he's escaped my notice just because he claims to be a Jedi."
The shepherd spoke his last few words with noticeable disdain.
"Given all you've been through," the shepherd continued, turning to face Na'an as his broken-horned face became bathed in red light, "I'm shocked you're not more confident in yourself."
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The Shepherd
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Post by The Shepherd on Oct 31, 2016 11:38:22 GMT -8
The older man shot Na'an a glance and had been about to protest when he remembered that she hadn't seen those that kept his operation running. Orphans with nowhere to go except the gutters. Mercenaries looking for any excuse to shoot at people. The desperate. The destitute. The down-and-out, looking to be up-and-coming. There were Jedi among his ranks, but the shepherd's flock was largely made up of those that the Sith had wronged, the Jedi had ignored, and the galaxy had forgotten. Each had come from various places. Each had stayed for their own reasons. But all of them had answered the call to fight the darkness wherever it stood, and for that, the shepherd welcomed them. By comparison to the rank and file of his movement, his former student was a saint.
And a saint would be needed in order to bring other, more deviant Jedi into the light. To bring order to the flock when he couldn't enforce it. The supposed stains on Na'an's record could only help in those respects. After all, her dalliances with darkness put her on a path to rub shoulders with the sitting Jedi Grandmaster, helping to legitimize her, and by extension the shepherd's ideals. And her brushes with the dark side not only made her a prime example of what it meant to overcome it, but also to help make her easier to relate to and to help solidify the norms he hoped to instill in his followers.
The shepherd had chosen the right person. Anybody better was long dead.
"I'd respectfully disagree," the Zabrak finally said in response, "after all, who better? Tyrono Parr? Raan Jade? Eliana Shan? Caoimhin Shan?"
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The Shepherd
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Post by The Shepherd on Oct 30, 2016 20:48:33 GMT -8
"And you're right to insist."
The shepherd's jade eyes were unblinking in the last throes of sunlight, his gargoyle-like expression almost daring it to stay above the horizon. Only when it finally descended - and the light outside became an increasingly-vibrant red - did he speak again.
"The Jedi Order hasn't held to its promise of defending the galaxy. Even now, they rest on their laurels, doing nothing as the servants of darkness act to take over once more. They've become...complacent. And you know how I feel about complacency, Na'an. There are too few willing to go forth into the galaxy and do what they've been trained to do. And that is why I've called you here.
"I mean to take the fight to the dark side - and all its followers - and I want someone I can trust at my side."
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The Shepherd
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Post by The Shepherd on Oct 30, 2016 20:11:26 GMT -8
There was an audible grumble before the ATC controller spoke again.
Coordinates are being sent. You land. You fuel. You go.
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The Shepherd
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Post by The Shepherd on Oct 30, 2016 19:54:47 GMT -8
Once again, Yavin's ATC picked up a strange ship on their scopes. His patience run right into the ground with the last vessel's pilot, the controller was in absolutely no mood for games, and made sure that the newest arrival knew it.
This is Jedi Praxeum traffic control, identify yourself. Now.
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The Shepherd
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Post by The Shepherd on Oct 30, 2016 19:48:12 GMT -8
"I called you here to help clean a mess," the shepherd began, "but not this one."
Striding into the empty hall, the shepherd recalled a time when he had introduced the young Vidalu Na'an to the potential of a competent lightsaber combatant. The room hadn't been quite as large as the audience chamber, but the space was just as empty and the ambiance equally so, impressing upon the pair that they truly were alone in this place. Back then, it had been a teaching moment; a demonstration to show the young Human girl exactly what she could become if she could surpass her own self-doubt. And while it would be of a wildly different sort, the teacher hoped to impart upon the student one more lesson.
The shepherd walked, his footfalls loud and long, untill he was abreast of Na'an, standing beside her as an equal as they walked towards the tall, rectangular windows that caught the last glimmers of sunlight before the red gas giant came to dominate the night sky.
"How are you finding Felucia?"
For what may have been the first time in their history, the shepherd spoke to Vidalu Na'an as an equal.
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The Shepherd
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Post by The Shepherd on Oct 30, 2016 18:45:12 GMT -8
The arm was taken firmly in his own, his iron grip clasping the younger woman's forearm; a warrior's greeting. The shepherd's expression didn't change, but the growing aura of frustration lifted almost instantaneously. It wasn't just a metaphorical feeling, either. The Force, having been gathered to once again seize the interloper a little less gently than before, practically washed back into its proper place in the air as it waited to be summoned again.
"Na'an," the shepherd said, silently happy to see his former student return, "I'm glad to see you."
Taking his arm away from the woman's, the looming Zabrak took a step backward and to the side, symbolically opening the Praxeum to Na'an. When they had last seen each other, it had been on Felucia, and she had just taken some street rat under her wing; fortunately, he didn't sense the whelp anywhere aboard the ship. The presence of the lumbering tank wasn't a surprise, but the shepherd supposed that the pair were inseparable now, just as Skywalker and that blue R2 unit had been towards the end of the war. If the droid helped her fight the darkness that infected the galaxy, then so be it. The shepherd wasn't about to cast judgment for her utilizing a non-Jedi weapon to fight a Jedi's battle; the lightwhip of Caoimhin Shan still hung off of his right hip, after all.
"Please, follow me to the audience chamber," the shepherd began, ready to lead until his eyes fell once more upon the dying younger Zabrak, "but I fear we haven't adequate accommodations for your pilot. There's still a great deal of damage to the temple, it may be best for him to stay on his ship.
"For his own safety."
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The Shepherd
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Post by The Shepherd on Oct 28, 2016 21:32:47 GMT -8
As the younger Zabrak's hand was extended, he would have found it immediately arrested by what appeared to be the very air itself. The shepherd hadn't moved a muscle in response to the greeting, but rather chose to respond in a matter more befitting a Jedi in the presence of an intruder. The stasis that had halted Z'har's arm quickly enveloped his entire being, holding him painlessly - but no doubt certainly - in place. The Force itself seemed to growl.
"Z'har," the older Zabrak hissed, "summon your passenger."
There was no mistaking his old apprentice's presence aboard the dilapidated freighter. She was the only reason that this fool had come to this world. She was the only reason he had been allowed to make landfall. And if Z'har persisted, she would be the only thing keeping him from death. Not by the shepherd's hand, of course; while he would slay darksiders without a moment's hesitation or a hint of guilt, foolishness was universal, and did not warrant a death sentence. But he was nevertheless going to need a place to stay for the evening, and some bunks held men that weren't nearly so patient as the shepherd himself was. Assigning Z'har to such a bunk would end rather poorly, the shepherd was sure. But every shepherd had a few members of their flock go astray. Why should he be any different?
As soon as it came, the arresting force that enveloped Z'har dropped away, leaving him free to move once more. The implication, given the shepherd's glare, was that the mercy wasn't to be taken for granted.
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The Shepherd
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Post by The Shepherd on Oct 28, 2016 21:09:49 GMT -8
Patience had been something that the shepherd had long sought to master. As an initiate, he was always restless, ready for the next lesson. As a Padawan, he found he could only meditate in the training areas, lightsaber in hand or objects in the air. And as a Jedi Knight, peace was only ever found in the field, doing what he had trained his entire life to do; bringing balance to the Force, and ending any threats to that balance. It had taken many years, and his grasp of it had only come relatively recently, but the shepherd finally knew patience. And - if the fool before him was any indication - it hadn't come a moment too soon.
The shepherd regarded the fool before him with barely-concealed contempt. At best, he was a fool that didn't know when to keep his bearing. At worst, he was an assassin trying to confuse the shepherd before going for the kill. It would be just like Calmcacil to send an assassin, the coward. But as the Jedi probed deeper, he felt the presence of the man. Something was wrong with him. Nobody that looked or acted like the strapping young man should feel like he did. He was dying. The visual discrepancy was jarring, seeing the fop of a Zabrak prance about despite the very real presence of death that surrounded him. The older Zabrak's left hand slid to his him, lightly gripping the pommel of a marred lightsaber.
The shepherd had finally learned patience. But then again, there had been a lot of teachings he'd had to forsake since Kashyyyk.
"You are?"
His voice was barely more than a growl, making the ATC personnel look like a long-lost friend.
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The Shepherd
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Post by The Shepherd on Oct 28, 2016 20:32:46 GMT -8
The hangar bay of the Jedi Praxeum was far from clean. Most of the physical damage had been taken care of, to be sure, but there were still large swathes left unusable by fallen, crumbled stone or the remains of what used to be starfighters. Stains from oil, carbon, and blood had seeped into the floor, and had been left long enough to make removal impossible. The walls were carbon-scored by hundreds of bolts that had missed their marks from both sides of the conflict, and vines had begun to grow out of almost every single one of them. And if the remnants of the battle were not enough, the psychic scars - often left in the wake of battles as ferocious as this one had been - would leave a sense of weariness and uneasiness in those that were able to perceive them. But even with its state, the Praxeum hangar was more than suited to handle a small freighter.
In anticipation of the ship's arrival, the Praxeum's newest commander strode into the hangar. The tall, broken-horned Zabrak took long, measured strides until coming to a stop seemingly at random. A dark cloak draped over his broad shoulders almost to reach the floor, covering a set of chocolate brown Jedi robes. Fiery jade eyes - bright and brilliant emeralds set in copper-colored leather - scoured the darkening horizon, demanding to catch a glimpse of the inbound vessel. His presence seemed to elate those working in the hangar; the only man willing to stand against the dark side was in their midst, and over the weeks the spark of admiration that led them to this forsaken jungle world had become a wildfire. The shepherd was respected. Revered. And had it not been for his adamant insistence, he likely would have been worshiped by his flock. Such was their love for their shepherd that when they heard his voice in their head...
Leave me in peace.
...they dropped what they were doing - excepting those whose tasks needed completing then and there - and left.
The shepherd was alone in the empty, silent hangar. He had demanded to be left in peace, and nobody - not his flock, not his soldiers, not even the Jedi Praxeum itself - dared disturb him.
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The Shepherd
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Post by The Shepherd on Oct 28, 2016 19:41:39 GMT -8
This was quickly losing its fun. It was supposed to be a routine run & now he was being threatened with destruction. Who on earth would shot down a ship that looked like it might blow up on its own, anyway? -Z'har Now listen here, grumpy pants, I already identified myself & my cargo. There is no reason to go around threatening young, virile men with a boat full of Foxy Jedi by waving around your oversized space cannons just because you need to compensate for something. The controller had been about to fire off a snappy retort when he felt a fire in his heart, which aptly compensated for the sudden chill that shot down his spine. He didn't need to turn around; the mixture of awe and fear radiated from their leader, who had arrived in the control center with nary an announcement. He stood there in silence, his fiery jade eyes closed for what might have been the first time, considering his stone-like face. The controller hadn't been aware of the Force for long in his life, but he knew of the atrocities that the Sith had committed in their millennia-long quest for power. The controller also knew that, out of all the Jedi in the galaxy, only his shepherd had the stones to try and fight back against it. Of course, the Jedi Order being what it was, the masters hadn't seen it that way. And while the shepherd was always welcoming new members into his flock, he was waiting for one Jedi in particular. With a quick opening of his jade eyes and a solemn nod, the controller knew that said Jedi had arrived. ...High Maintenance, you are cleared for landing. Coordinates will be sent shortly. Copy when received, over.
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The Shepherd
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Post by The Shepherd on Oct 28, 2016 19:40:19 GMT -8
This was quickly losing its fun. It was supposed to be a routine run & now he was being threatened with destruction. Who on earth would shot down a ship that looked like it might blow up on its own, anyway? -Z'har Now listen here, grumpy pants, I already identified myself & my cargo. There is no reason to go around threatening young, virile men with a boat full of Foxy Jedi by waving around your oversized space cannons just because you need to compensate for something. The controller had been about to fire off a snappy retort when he felt a fire in his heart, which aptly compensated for the sudden chill that shot down his spine. He didn't need to turn around; the mixture of awe and fear radiated from their leader, who had arrived in the control center with nary an announcement. He stood there in silence, his fiery jade eyes closed for what might have been the first time, considering his stone-like face. The controller hadn't been aware of the Force for long in his life, but he knew of the atrocities that the Sith had committed in their millennia-long quest for power. The controller also knew that, out of all the Jedi in the galaxy, only his shepherd had the stones to try and fight back against it. Of course, the Jedi Order being what it was, the masters hadn't seen it that way. And while the shepherd was always welcoming new members into his flock, he was waiting for one Jedi in particular. With a quick opening of his jade eyes and a solemn nod, the controller knew that said Jedi had arrived.
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The Shepherd
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Post by The Shepherd on Oct 28, 2016 15:24:14 GMT -8
A fair enough request, the voice said, its tone far removed from friendliness, we're just the people that will blast you to dust if you continue on your current course. Repeat; identify yourself and your cargo.
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The Shepherd
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Post by The Shepherd on Oct 28, 2016 5:56:54 GMT -8
While they weren't nearly what they once were, the long-range sensors of Yavin IV's Jedi Praxeum were still able to detect the telltale release of radiation that usually accompanied a hyperspace re-entry. Given the distance of the interloping vessel and the damage done by the Mandalorian attack, hailing the freighter took far, far longer than it ordinarily would have for a base as advanced as Jedi Master Dav Man'sell had made it.
That was not to say, however, that it took long.
We have you on our scopes now, said the ATC controller, identify yourself and your cargo immediately.
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The Shepherd
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Post by The Shepherd on Oct 26, 2016 15:46:20 GMT -8
BOOBIES!
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The Shepherd
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Post by The Shepherd on Oct 25, 2016 16:21:16 GMT -8
Blue. Rutil was trained and lived as a Jedi Guardian, and lives by that line of thought right down to the blade color.
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The Shepherd
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Post by The Shepherd on Oct 23, 2016 18:48:49 GMT -8
I'll go ahead and open the line of discussion.
As far as I'm concerned as a writer, a Jedi should be merciful, but with the capacity to be merciless if need be. A Jedi should be willing to help those in need, but also able to see the bigger picture. And a Jedi should be able to see all points of view in that aforementioned bigger picture - and truly understand them - but also be able to choose a path and stick with it when the time comes. But above all else, a Jedi should follow the Jedi Code and stick to it above all else, no matter what the universe throws their way. To break from the code is to divorce oneself from the Jedi Order altogether; either because they've cast aside their entire raising in the case of the old orders, or because they've cast aside everything else to become a Jedi. It's a monastic order of knights dedicated to keeping the peace across the galaxy. It's not a day job. And in the past, people have claimed to be a Jedi while chasing tail, lashing out in anger, swearing to end a family line, the works.
As far as the shepherd is concerned, the Jedi of JvS have been entirely too forgiving of the various Dark Side factions across the galaxy. Letting the known Sith stronghold of Kashyyyk go unopposed? Sitting around on Yavin babying repeat-offender darksiders? Running a daycare in a fungus jungle? Tolerance of orders that claimed to govern? As the years went on and Rutil fought the good fight, he grew increasingly impatient with anything that didn't somehow forward the mission of the Jedi Order. Further still, given the horrors the dark side visits upon the weak of the galaxy and the inaction of the Jedi, Rutil's gone full Spanish Inquisition; even dabbling or experimenting with darkness carries a death sentence at this stage in his life. Rutil is definitely an exception from the norm (and it helps, no doubt, that he's certifiably insane by this point) and he certainly takes the Jedi Code to its most violent extreme, but he still follows it. And from his uber-conservative standpoint, that still makes him more deserving of the title than many.
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The Shepherd
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Post by The Shepherd on Oct 11, 2016 17:37:21 GMT -8
Dang, I could plant my ass down and read a book under shade that heavy.
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The Shepherd
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Post by The Shepherd on Oct 11, 2016 17:28:21 GMT -8
LOGAN. GET ON IT.
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Post by The Shepherd on Oct 11, 2016 7:38:12 GMT -8
The Zabrak's heart welled with anger upon hearing the oracle's words. Nothing unmanageable; a quick flare-up caused by the AI's ignorance of his wishes, easily kept in check by a Jedi Master.
"I talk of enlightenment, machine, not deception! If Vidalu comes into the light based on a lie, then her support is meaningless! If she doesn't believe in what needs to be done, then she's as pathetic as the rest of them!
"And I will not sully our cause by lying to those that would help enlighten the galaxy."
The stupid holographic sphere didn't get it. If its aim was to "disrupt the capacity for rational thought", its plan was a fool's errand. If it was so smart, why not plan for when the lie came unraveled? If its plan was so ingenious, what was the contingency for his old apprentice not taking the bait in the first place? The shepherd wanted his old apprentice by his side. The Jedi in the galaxy wouldn't listen to him anymore. But she now had Aerandir's ear. And Aerandir was pliable enough if one knew how to work him; even the shepherd, as unyielding and as abrasive as he was, had managed to do it to rally support for the Kashyyyk campaign. By spreading his message on Felucia, Vidalu would help the Jedi see the error of their ways and bask in the light as it was meant to be basked in.
But she had to believe it. Truly. Willingly. It had to be as much a part of her as her lightsaber was a part of her hand. And if she didn't...
It wasn't a pleasant thought, but it was one the shepherd was prepared to act on. All enemies of the light had to be punished, no matter how light their transgressions.
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