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The Desire Path
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| Tobias_van_Zant | Date: Monday, 17 March 14, 12:03 PM | Message # 1 |
 Sergeant
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Messages: 21
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| Master Van Zant was known, among other things, for his punctuality. He had summoned the Jedi Knights Julede Starling and "Havoc" Bruder to a meeting at 1100 hours, and at precisely 1059 a wide-eyed Master Et'kla stormed out of the turbolift to the High Council chamber, the Caamasi's fur standing on end. He would glare at Starling and Havoc for a moment, but say nothing as he stomped down the corridor and out of sight. The emotional turmoil within him—anger, even fear—was unbecoming of a Jedi Master, and especially a Caamasi; his was a peace-loving species that had a profound influence on the history of the Jedi Order. To this day, Caamasi Jedi were well-respected and it was a poorly-kept secret that Et'kla was up for Master Tching's seat on the High Council.
Was, but no longer.
Et'kla was an important member of the Council of First Knowledge in charge of the education of younglings. The Jedi Code is very specific on the subject of love, but there were always a handful of Masters who seemed to think the Code didn't apply to them, namely when in the presence of younglings. Et'kla wasn't one of them, but he knew who they were—and he did nothing. Sure, he hushed up any incidents, and he moved the offending Masters from chapter house to chapter house whenever such an incident happened, but this wasn't good enough for Van Zant. The newly-elected Master of the Order had just informed Et'kla that he had two choices: he could either resign from the Council of First Knowledge or be forced to do so. The Caamasi was pragmatic and no doubt he wanted to avoid a censure, and Van Zant was certain he would "go quietly," as it were. And so Master Et'kla would no longer be a problem for him.
Yes, disgracing the respected, peace-loving Et'kla--practically the mascot of the Jedi Consular caste, aside from Master Yoda--was an important step in Van Zant's larger plan. Et'kla probably didn't deserve as much of the blame as Van Zant was placing upon him; it was quite true, as the Caamasi had protested, that "everyone" (meaning the High Council) had known what he was doing and never told him not to. Van Zant himself had known about it, but now, as the Master of the Order, he was in a position to change the culture of the Jedi that he wasn't before. Still, he didn't have the courage to ask himself the question: would he have put a stop to Master Et'klas cover-ups if the Caamasi hadn't also been in Van Zant's way for other reasons?
Either way, today was a good day. The vacant seat on the High Council would almost certainly be filled by Tor Difusal, a loud-mouthed opponent of Master Yoda who would be useful to Van Zant. And now there was a vacant seat on the Council of First Knowledge. This, too, would be useful to Van Zant.
But first thing was first: the Jedi Knights Starling and Havoc. The turbolift door would open upon the High Council chamber bright from the afternoon sun. Van Zant was the only one there, admiring the spectacular view from one of the room's large viewports. He turned at the hissing of the turbolift door to regard the Jedi Knights, nodding to each of them in turn. His features were stern, uncompromising. His thoughts and feelings were guarded—undiscernable to either Starling or Havoc. "Thank you both for coming," he said, his voice echoing in the large, empty room, "I know you had to travel a long way." Indeed, Starling had been summoned from the chapter house on Clak'dor VII, while Havoc had been recalled from his mission to Eriadu. These were practically opposite sides of the galaxy.
"Do you know why I summoned you here?" he asked. It was a strange question, though; of course they didn't know because he hadn't told them. Most likely, there was something he wanted to learn about them from the way they answered it.
Tobias Van Zant
Jedi Master
Master of the Order
Chief Jedi Phenomenologist
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| Havoc | Date: Monday, 17 March 14, 7:36 PM | Message # 2 |
 Lieutenant
Group: Users
Messages: 54
Status: Offline
| [Coruscant, Jedi Temple]
"Great... just great!" Havoc yelled as the canopy from his star fighter would open up. The Jedi had been sitting in high orbit over Eriadu for hours, waiting for clearance. The moment it was given to him, however... the Jedi was forced to retreat back to Coruscant. The whole trip back, Havoc would think of a few phrases he would tell the masters when he arrived back. Granted... what he had to say would probably get him in trouble. And yes, he'd probably have to watch the younglings as part of his punishment. But the fact that he would express how he would feel would make him feel better. Stepping out of his star fighter, the Jedi would leap into the air and land on the ground. Once he regained his stance, he would give a stretch, hearing several popping sound in a few areas. His astro-mech droid would be lowered down and come up to him, beeping different tunes. "Unfortunately I have to go see this Master Van Zant..." He'd walk towards the lift before the droid stopped and beeped again. "I look for reasons to be late... besides... I have to go relieve myself. Not all of us have the ability to... turn it into energy." As the droid continued to beep different tunes, the door to the lift would close. Rather then going all the way up, Havoc would stop mid-level and clean himself up a bit.
Once refreshed, the lift would go all the way up to the top and the doors would open. Stepping off the lift, Havoc sighed a little bit. He was tired, as well as annoyed. Why send him all the way half-way across the galaxy just to recall him back to the temple? Nothing made sense to him with this move. And he would defiantly let his frustrations be known that Eriadu Ground Control took their sweet time letting him planet-side, regardless if it was on purpose or not.
Such thoughts were considered acts of the dark side. As he approached the Council Room, acts of his training would play in his mind. "Your actions displeases us... Havoc." Even his name brought criticism. "Your name is Frank! You would do well to remember that." Havoc shook his head as if the event was happening again. "Frank Bruder died a long time ago. Frank was a man whom was robbed of everything that was held dear to him! You will not dictate to me who I am!" Suddenly, his eyes focused on the present, rather then seeing the past. He stopped suddenly before entering the door. He took a breathe, and then grinned. With a wave of his hand, the door would open, and before him was a lone man. "You must be Master Van Zant." Havoc would comment as he entered the room. Listening to the man speak, he was joined by a female. Looking at her, he grinned, then focused back on him. "I've got several bones to pick with you concerning my trip. I realize that I am not well liked around here, and I also realize that you all send me across the galaxy just to get me away from this place." His eyes obviously filled with anger. "But what I don't appreciate, is having me sit in Eriadu orbit for hours on end just to recall me back. Is this some sort of sick joke on Tching's part?" Havoc rubbed his eyes. "Let me guess, as part of this on-going joke, I get to watch the younglings again... and this female here gets to do diaper changes... right?"
Your friendly neighborhood Jedi
Message edited by Havoc - Monday, 17 March 14, 7:37 PM |
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| Juliede_Starling | Date: Tuesday, 18 March 14, 9:05 AM | Message # 3 |
 Private
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Messages: 19
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| Juliede was, in general, relatively calm and level-headed at all times. Her serenity was mostly for her own benefit, but tended to be a benefit to others as well. There were times, however, that her temper flared, though those times were few and far between. When she received the message from Coruscant, Jules was somewhat disappointed at the recall, but she realized that she could not hide on Clak'dor VII forever. There was another Jedi on the communication; Havoc.
Jules had heard of him, as most had. He had a temper and an attitude. Though she had never met him in person, his reputation left her believing that he felt the world owed him something for some reason. She didn't let it bother her, but the entire trip she wondered what Master Van Zant could possible want with both of them. They were complete and polar opposites; and it was going to be like throwing a volcano and a tornado together. Complete and utter chaos. Maybe that was what the Council wanted. Instead of being overly concerned, Jules focused on preparing herself for the meeting. She arranged her braids into two ponytails and slipped on a pair of traditional brown robes, which she quickly abandoned due to itchiness. She was who she was, and not everyone agreed with that, and she did not care.
Upon arrival at the Council chamber, the first thing Jules noticed was Master Et'klas storming off in a huff. She had always liked him and his calm demeanor, and despite what some on the council may have thought, she had learned a great deal from him. The second thing she noticed was Havoc, shooting his mouth off immediately (and rudely) to Van Zant. Then of course he had to mention her. Diapers? Really?
Jules took a deep breath and examined Van Zant for a brief moment before she responded. "I have been wondering exactly why you sent for me since I received the communication, but I am still unsure as to the reason, since it was not communicated, so your query as if to we know why seems a bit....remiss." She said politely. "I was, however, under the impression that all of our younglings were out of diapers."
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| Kerethon | Date: Tuesday, 18 March 14, 9:16 AM | Message # 4 |
 Private
Group: Users
Messages: 15
Status: Offline
| The bulky Hutt slid past Juliede on her way to the Council chamber, giving her a friendly smile. "Greetings" he would say, sliding past down toward the Council of Reconciliation room whee he was going to take some of his newly made force artifacts to the Consular masters, respecting their opinion.
Kerethon
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Jedi Knight (Newly Knighted)
Consular
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| Tobias_van_Zant | Date: Friday, 21 March 14, 8:22 PM | Message # 5 |
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Sergeant
Group: Users
Messages: 21
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| Van Zant's brow furrowed as the Jedi Knights spoke, his face resembling the bronzium busts of ancient, great Jedi Masters in the Jedi Archives. A Padawan, much less a Knight, shouldn't speak so freely in the presence of a Master, he thought. Much less the Master of the Order. Not enough discipline was the problem, surely. Or perhaps too much, in Havoc's case? The young man had simply assumed he was in trouble for something, and he'd responded with anger. No, not exactly—it was, rather, a release of anger. This isn't how Van Zant or any other Master would have taught Havoc how to purge himself of emotion, but it seemed Havoc had found his own way to do it.
Of course, it also gave everyone the impression that Havoc was a rebel. Or worse, simply a jerk. But Van Zant knew better. Beneath the angry facade, he saw in Bruder a young man who wanted to amount to something, but felt he wasn't being given the chance. That is, he wanted to be useful. And as with Master Et'kla's now empty seat on the Council of First Knowledge, Van Zant had an appreciation for things (and people) that could be useful.
For this mission, Starling would be useful in her own way. But Van Zant suspected that she was soft—not only in her features, but in principle too. There was only so much time a Jedi should spend feeding the hungry, Van Zant thought. It was consoling work for your typical Jedi washout who couldn't pass the Trials, but Juliede Starling was more than that. She had a destiny. What that destiny was, Van Zant didn't know, and neither did she. But it wasn't growing crops or teaching Bith children how to read and write in Basic.
Still, he had doubts about whether she was an appropriate choice for this mission, but whether she was or not, it would at least toughen her up. And Van Zant would know whether or not she could be useful to him in the time of tribulations that he sensed was coming.
He let an uncomfortable silence fill the room before he eventually answered Havoc. "You're perfectly right, Jedi Knight. You're not 'well-liked' on Coruscant, and you probably were sent to Eriadu just so the Council could be rid of you. But," he paused, "I happen to think that was a waste of talent. I have a mission for you—me, not Sun Tching or anyone else on the Council. It's an actual mission—an important mission. The Council said you were a bad choice. 'Too reckless is he,' Master Yoda said. I told him he was wrong. So, is he? Or am I wrong? That's what you're going to prove, one way or the other."
"Jedi Knight Starling," he boomed, glancing from Havoc to her, his eyes severe, "wonder no longer. You and Jedi Knight Havoc are to go to the planet Mandalore to locate the former Jedi, Drasek Cale. Mandalore is outside of Republic space. There is no Republic law to protect you there—or Drasek Cale. What is he doing there? Why is he hiding from us? These are the questions you must answer. Starling, you are there to be diplomatic. Havoc—" now he turned his stern eye on the young man.
"—you're there for when diplomacy fails," he explained. Notably, he didn't say 'if and when,' for the failure of diplomacy was a foregone conclusion as far as Van Zant was concerned. "As I said, Republic law does not exist on Mandalore. But you'll still be bound by the Jedi codes of conduct."
The Jedi were universally despised on the planet Mandalore. If they were caught by the pacifist 'New Mandalorians,' they would be deported. If, on the other hand, they were caught by the traditionalist 'True Mandalorians' insurgents, they would more likely be executed. Whose company Drasek Cale was keeping on Mandalore, nobody knew. The former Jedi had vanished right after his press conference in Sundari. Clearly, the Council (which had never formally accepted his resignation from the Order) suspected that Cale was up to something, and Havoc and Starling were going to find out what.
"Your questions."
Tobias Van Zant
Jedi Master
Master of the Order
Chief Jedi Phenomenologist
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| Havoc | Date: Saturday, 22 March 14, 7:02 AM | Message # 6 |
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Lieutenant
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| Havoc grinned as Master Zant confirmed the fact of his status, and the Jedi did not seem to care about it. Havoc liked it that way; it kept him from being considered for important missions, but he also hated it because it usually left him with the left-overs that no one else wanted. He listened as he spoke, and Havoc sighed a little bit. "Waste of talent?" He thought to himself. Interesting. That wasn't a phrase he was accustomed to hearing THAT one before. "Does this guy have any true idea of me?" It kind of baffled Havoc at the fact that for once during his dealings with the Jedi Masters... he would of already been sent away. Havoc was breaking his own record for the longest time standing in the Master's Chambers, and he started to sweat a little bit because he wasn't leaving yet... a fact he didn't like at all. But then, one word was spoken and Havoc's eyes jumped a little bit. "Mandalore?!" Havoc stated, rubbing the back of his head, turning towards Starling and then back towards Master Zant. "I don't like the situation on that planet." Havoc stated. He didn't care for politics, but when a waring planet suddenly turns to peace... it would be like Havoc having a different attitude... completely. "Isn't there a Senator that constantly blasts the Mandalorians because of their apparent status on peace? I don't like this." He stated, turning towards Starling. "Looks like I'm just a bodyguard for you then. Try not to... flirt our enemies into submission eh? I can't fight a whole planet... rather keep suitors off you." His gaze turned back to Zant.
"I suppose you're going to give us information on what this Drasek Cale looks like... because I have no idea what he looks like." Havoc spoke in honesty. He usually didn't take notice of individuals at all, he kept to himself. He mingled little, and adventured a lot. Sure, a mission to Mandalore would be one for the ages considering the history that comes from that planet. But, to look for a rogue Jedi that wasn't him for once... would make this mission a little interesting. Havoc would know where HE would hide, but because he had never met this Jedi before... would have no idea where to start. Cale obviously wouldn't be with the 'Peaceful' Mandalorians... or would he? Or... would he be with the extremists? These were all questions that would be answered in due time. Nodding, he looked at Zant. "I want a secondary shuttle outside the system... in the event it gets very hair out there. I may be the designated bodyguard in this mission, but I won't accept any loses on our side." Havoc commented.
Your friendly neighborhood Jedi
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| Juliede_Starling | Date: Saturday, 22 March 14, 4:58 PM | Message # 7 |
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Private
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| Mandalore. While it did not seem to be the ideal mission, it was a mission and she would do as instructed. She did noticed the hesitance and, what was it, nervousness coming from Havoc regarding the planet they were being sent to. Jules had not paid a huge amount of attention to current events outside of Republic space, and she had really only heard stories of Mandalore.
And then...Havoc opened his mouth again.
"Flirt our....I'm sorry, but....no. It's not even worth arguing with you over." She said, dampening her temper to keep it from flaring. This was not the place, nor the time. But it was obvious that Havoc either thought very little of women, or he had this attitude to hide something; perhaps in his past.
"Master van Zant, are we to leave immediately? I am sure that additional information on Drasek Cale can be found In The archives, perhaps?" Jules shot a glance to Havoc for a brief moment.
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| Tobias_van_Zant | Date: Monday, 07 April 14, 5:39 PM | Message # 8 |
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Sergeant
Group: Users
Messages: 21
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| Cale's visage had been a common sight in the Temple prior to his "resignation." But it was understandable, Van Zant supposed, that a Jedi Knight who spent as much time in the field as Havoc might not be able to place the name or the face. Still, Cale's face had been in the news, and his name whispered in the corridors of the Temple since he'd quit the Order, and even more so now that he'd emigrated to Mandalore. Havoc was right about Mandalore―there was perhaps no planet in the galaxy more hostile to the Jedi; the peaceful "New" Mandalorians and the "True" Mandalorian insurgents agreed on absolutely nothing, except for a mutual hatred of Jedi. Van Zant had nothing but disdain for them, especially the "New" Mandalorians who should know better. They, indeed, who owed their power to the Jedi.
But as dangerous as the Mandalorians were, Cale was more so, as far as Van Zant was concerned. Uncommonly powerful in the Force, Cale might have become the youngest Jedi ever to sit on the Council, if he hadn't thrown it all away. Van Zant sensed that there was more to Cale's "resignation" than a philosophical difference of views. No, Cale was up to something, and they needed to find out what that something was. Van Zant raised an eyebrow in disapproval of Havoc's casual sexism, then nodded to Starling. "Master Valla has already prepared datacards for you in the Archives," he said, "On them, you'll find everything you need to know. And you must leave as soon as possible, yes. Cale's press conference places him in the city of Sundari a day ago, which means that lead is already a day old."
He bowed his head to each of them, then turned away to the viewport once more. "Havoc, stay a moment please," Van Zant added just as they'd turn to leave.
Tobias Van Zant
Jedi Master
Master of the Order
Chief Jedi Phenomenologist
Message edited by Tobias_van_Zant - Monday, 07 April 14, 5:54 PM |
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| Havoc | Date: Monday, 07 April 14, 6:19 PM | Message # 9 |
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Lieutenant
Group: Users
Messages: 54
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| "Wonderful." Havoc would comment as the datacards were mentioned. He would need every bit of information that was available on this rogue Jedi... and for once it would be interesting to read something on someone else besides his own 'mis-deeds'. Nodding some, The Jedi grinned some. "Sometimes old leads are still fresh..." He would comment. Based off of his experience, you could still find something on someone in which they last appeared. Hearing that they were to leave right away, he would look at Juliede and then attempt to leave before Master Van Zant stopped him. Taken by surprise, he'd raise an eyebrow. "Is this about the shuttle?"
Your friendly neighborhood Jedi
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| Juliede_Starling | Date: Monday, 07 April 14, 6:35 PM | Message # 10 |
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Private
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| Juliede paused as they started to leave, when Van Zant asked Havoc to stay behind. She glanced to Havoc for a moment and caught his gaze briefly. "I will go to the archives and gather what we need and meet you in the hanger bay, Havie?" Her heavy accent twisted his name into something completely different than he was perhaps trying to achieve with the moniker. She would say nothing to Van Zant, there being no words that needed to be said, before she departed in silence to the archives to retrieve the datacards.
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