Garang

The return trip to Garang, a journey taking Berdine, Arduino, and Jyotish from the complete and utter devastation of the Jedi Enclave back to the battle torn capital, required by virtue of the nearly planet-wide ruination that had been visited upon Dantooine that there was no relief from scenes of ruination, and served only, at least in Berdine's case, to heighten the allure of surrendering to the despair, hopelessness, and depression that have threatened to overwhelm her ever since the extent of the damage levied on the world she has called home by the First Order's devastating assault became apparent. With the despair, Berdine can feel anger and hatred for the First Order and its allies threatening to ignite within her, inviting a different kind of surrender and release.

Knowing the danger, emotional and otherwise, that surrendering to any of the darker feelings recent events have left her with, Berdine gravitates to tasks that require intense concentration and focus, denying herself opportunity to allow her focus to turn inward where she believes the danger, at present, is greatest. She knows that she cannot avoid dealing with her feelings forever, but Berdine believes that, for now, it is best to keep moving forward.

Monitoring comm chatter and sensor readings had commanded the majority of her focus during the return trip, and upon landing Berdine had thrown herself back into the effort to treat the many injured and wounded, healing requiring intense levels of focus and concentration she knew would prevent her from indulging in any of the dangerous emotions swirling within her.


Master Jyotish, knowing Arudino and Berdine as well as he does, tasked Arduino with joining one of the search and rescue teams being deployed. It is not the first battle Jyotish or the younger Jedi have fought in, nor the first time any have been on the losing side, but the loss of so many at the Enclave is a blow beyond that which any of them have suffered. Jyotish, even with over twenty years more experience as a Jedi than his fellow survivors, knows that he is as at risk as they for allowing what they have seen and endured to lose his way, but in his mind his rank and duty to the Order demand that he do all that he can to ensure Berdine and Arduino remain in the Light, and so he simply does not permit his own emotional response to all that has transpired from gaining a hold on him, and instead devotes all his focus and energy into remaining a steady and firm pillar for the younger Jedi he considers his responsibility. The strategy of faking it until he makes it has served Jyotish well in the past, and so he falls back on it now.

Once Arduino has left with the Rebel search and rescue party, and he has seen that Berdine returns to her work as a healer, Jyotish, a healer himself, follows her example. Helping the people of Dantooine and the Rebel forces that helped defend the world, recover and rebuild from the battle will demand much of him and his fellow Jedi, Jyotish knows, but he hopes that as they work to help Dantooine recover and rebuild it will prove as much a salve for their own internal wounds and damage as it does for those of Dantooine and her people.

Berdine is in the middle of giving some post-surgical orders to a nurse when Master Jyotish finds her, something in the Zabrak's expression or posture suggesting to her that his reason for finding her at the moment is not merely to check in on her. Thanking the nurse once she has finished the post-surgical order set, Berdine reaches up to rub some of the soreness from her neck as, thinking of a reason that might explain why the Zabrak has sought her out, she asks Jyotish, "Has something happened? Do we need to get ready for an influx of trauma patients?"

Shaking his head, Jyotish replies, "Nothing like that, no. We've received orders from the High Council, he explains briefly. A Jedi investigator has learned of an impending First Order operation, and you, Arduino and I have been tasked with thwarting it."

Arching an eyebrow inquisitively, Berdine asks, "Just the three of us? I hope it is a small operation we are to foil?"

Almost smiling, Jyotish, not wanting to explain all of the details of their orders until Arduino is with them, says enigmatically, "Not just the three of us, no, nor is it a small operation. Reaching over to pat Berdine's shoulder, Jyotish chuckles, Go and find Arduino, meet me by the shuttle. We'll be leaving shortly," he concludes before walking away in his customarily purposeful stride.

Accepting that she will simply need to wait to learn what lays ahead, Berdine closes her eyes and focuses on sensing Arduino's presence. Glad that Arduino is nearby, Berdine goes to where she has sensed him. Shaking Arduino's shoulder to wake him, Berdine tells him when he has awoken, "Master Jyotish is waiting, we've received our orders from the Council. Lifting a hand before Arduino can speak, Berdine says, Before you ask, no, he hasn't told me much yet," and then sets out with Arduino for where Jyotish is waiting.

Master Jyotish nods, reaching over to clasp Arduino's shoulder to return the greeting, "The orders came through a few moments ago, and the High Council has assigned all three of us to a mission. Motioning towards the shuttle's boarding ramp, the Zabrak Jedi Master says, I'll fill you both in on the way."

"On the way to where?" Berdine asks as they all make their way aboard the shuttle, following Master Jyotish towards the cockpit.

As he helps with the preparations for take off, Jyotish explains, "A Jedi investigator has learned of an impending First Order operation, a large scale one, and have assigned us to do what we can to prevent, or at least hinder their forces from completing their objective. Looking over towards Berdine, addressing one of her earlier questions, Jyotish explains, We will be joining the Alliance forces that have also volunteered to stand against the forces of the First Order. Turning towards Arduino, he goes on, I believe you know one of the Captains that will be among the Alliance forces assembling to meet the First Order's forces, Captain Cherney? We will be docking aboard his ship, and then journeying on to the rendezvous point where the Jedi Investigator and other Alliance ships and troops are assembling to be briefed. Time is short, however, Jyotish adds with a frown as the shuttle lifts off, and from what I've been told the First Order will have almost certainly already gotten their operation underway by the time we have assembled our forces. Our mission will not be an easy one," the Zabrak concludes as the ship adjusts its course and begins to ascend towards orbit.

"Remind me again why you want to be here" Biz asked.

The Hyperium Star flew low into it's landing arc, passing a FO shuttle as it took of, most likely carrying new prisoners. Zhia stepped up from her pilot's chair, letting Biz handle the landing procedures while she gathered her gear. Her armor, a specialized model of Stormtrooper armor made during her service, was a black color, and bore several scratches, dents, and other signs of wear and tear. Leather and cloth scraps were affixed to the armor in multiple places, giving it a very mercenary look, allowing it to sneak past glancing FO soldiers without notice. She grabbed her long blaster, as well as her E-11 and slung them over her back, then grabbed her helmet and began to dust it off.

"Because the first order are here" she replied. "I may not be a rebel, but an oppressed world gives plenty of chances for someone to request him dealing with their oppressors." She scowled as she gazed into the eye windows of her helmet, her past still haunting her. "And maybe one day i'll find who i'm looking for."

The Hyperium Star touched down onto a landing pad, a small ways away from the center of town. Engineers immediately scrambled around, locking down the ship and beginning it's refueling. Biz began powering the ship down as Zhia donned her helmet, looking effectively like a simple hood at a passing glance.

"Will you be alright? Our cover got us down onto the planet, but I doubt leaving will be easily possible." Biz walked over to her and grabbed his EE-5 rifle off the wall as well.

"I'll be fine." She looked at him and put a hand on his blaster. "Stay here and lay low, a battle droid walking around town will attract too much attention." she tapped the side of her helmet. "I'll be on comms if we need each other."

Biz shrugged, stowing his blaster and sitting back down in his co-pilot's seat. "Fine, but if they try to take your ship i'm shooting them."

Zhia snickered and gave him a silent nod before lowering the ramp. Descending down to the landing pad, she quickly re-sealed the ramp and began walking towards the city, using the navigation system in her helmet to look for any bounty or mercenary-wanted postings. She walked calmly through the streets, passing a few groups of FO stormtroopers without raising any suspicion, her disguise-modified armor doing it's job effectively.