Game On Further! 1.0

XIII. 7933.352to 7934.671CRC

“You’ve changed.” had been Satine’s first word before greeting them, when they’d met up int Little Keldabe, the teen-aged girl proving once more just how keen her mind was
“So have you.” Obi Wan answered with a smile, “You’ve found good teachers, I’d guess?” he asked
Indeed – for the trained eyes, it was easy to see that the girl had put on some muscles, discreet enough that most wouldn’t see, and he was pretty sure she had at least one weapon hidden somewhere in her outfit.

The change was even more evident in Bo-Katan – the seventeen-year-old looking calmer, yet far more lethal, having evidently thrived under the tutelage of whomever had agreed to train them.
“Thanks to you.” the elder sister admitted, “That list you gave us helped.”
It was rather strange for Obi Wan, to see the woman he’d always known as hot-headed and brash so settled – and paradoxically, it made her seem all the more dangerous.
“So,” Satine asked, curiosity shinning in her eyes, “are you allowed to tell us about what you were doing?”
“We went on a training trip, and retraced the steps of the training the Jedi’s predecessors did.”

“The Jedi’s predecessor? That’s like, older than dirt, right?” Bo-Katan mused
“About twenty-five thousand years.” Obi Wan agreed, “I can’t tell too much about it, as the masters are still looking at the data we’ve found, but it was fascinating.”
In turn, the two sisters told him about their training. Mainly fighting training for Bo-Katan, who’d been taken under the wing of an old armorer – and those were quite revered among the Mando’ade. The brash girl had been quickly taught that fighting was only half of the job, as the goran’alor wasn’t just a simple blacksmith, but also the one who knew the most about the Mando’ade’s culture.
Bo-Katan had raged and fought – and gotten easily beaten – in true Mando fashion, before finally resigning herself to listening to the old Human who was the unofficial leader of Little Keldabe. Then – she’d learned.

“I think she may know more about Mando’ade lore than I do now.” had admitted Satine with a rather cute but put out frown
Not, of course, that she hadn’t learned anything – but while Bo-Katan was learning about the past of Mandalore, her sister was focusing on their future.
She’d also learned to fight, thought she’d managed to convince her teacher to focus on non-lethal methods – which the woman, an ancient Twi’lek slave who’d been adopted by the bounty hunter who’d freed her, had accepted, with the express condition that she would have to be the best.
After all — it was far easier to kill than to incapacitate.

Those two sister Kyrze had nothing to do with the women the returned Jedi had known in another life – and quite honestly, he found them magnificent.
Both had blushed when he’d sincerely told them as much.
Then, Arya had hit the back of his head, “You are just as bad as your master.”
“I only flirt with you, nuya Jen’Nwit.”
“Me, and any interesting opponent you fight.” she’d contradicted, clearly finding the situation more funny than annoying

Still, as fun as it had been to catch up with the sisters – and finally get some good old Mando’ade food, after so long away from Coruscant – one thing was obvious. The capital city of the Galactic Republic wouldn’t be holding back the two girls for long – regardless of what their father wished for.
One way or another – those two girls would soon find their way back to Mandalore, and in the very heart of the war currently shaking the system.
Both loved their people far too much to do anything less – they were, after all, the daughters of the Jorad’alor. They knew better than most what it meant, to sacrifice your whole life for an ideal.

Which was why they’d volunteered to take the next Jedi rotation among the Mando’ade – as like Arya had pointed out, it was better for the girls, both of which were old enough to make their decisions, according to Mando laws, to find their way home with them, than alone.
Bant, which was back from Ossus to pass some exams for her schooling modules, had looked rather put out at the idea that they were heading back out so quickly – but truth be told, senior padawan always were busy, and the teen had officially been promoted since their return from Tython.
“You were already skilled enough to be a senior padawan at twelve-year-old.” Mace had easily admitted, “But given how heavily some people protested when I was promoted at fourteen, we decided to wait.”
In the end, Obi Wan had broken Mace’s record by a few months, since his promotion had become official a couple of weeks after their return from Tython. Several beads had also been added to his lengthening braid – a bright yellow one, for the physical training done at Stav Kesh, but also a light green one to symbolize his better mastery of the Force, and even a dark blue one, the color reminiscent of many of the Je’daii artworks they’d brought recording of, to symbolize his completion of the Great Journey.

“Your master and you really don’t do things by halves, uh!” had laughed Quinlan when he’d realized the bead was a new one, never used before
He didn’t see the Kiffar for very long, as the teenager, now a senior padawan too, was leaving with his master, who’d completed his re-education and gone back to fieldwork while they were on Tython.
“You’re one to talk.” Obi Wan had teased back right away – there were several new beads on the other’s braid too, notably a yellow one for fighting prowess, and a new black one for the Shadow work he often did with his master
All those, several years younger than in the past that wouldn't be, as little by little, the changed had cascaded around the Jedi temple — the young generation clearly the one to be the most swept up by it.

Siri Tachi, he’d only caught by holo-call, as the padawan was away on a mission when he came back from his trip. Obi Wan had been rather amused to note that the girl was away on a mission he and Qui-Gon had been assigned too in a previous life – ensuring the transition from monarchy to democracy on planet Gala. And while the knight and her apprentice had taken far longer than he and his master had back then – they’d also managed the situation far smoother than they’d had, avoiding much of the violence between the different factions while uncovering the head of the Council of Minister’s plot to foil the elections.
Garen was away too, as the boy had indeed become Clee Rhara’s padawan, and the knight, thanks to her talent as a pilot, always took missions to the far reaches of the galaxy.

¤.¤.¤

But as much as he enjoyed getting news of his friends that weren’t the death tolls and other battle reports from the Clone Wars – what Obi Wan enjoyed the most was the changes in the Temple.
And those changes were numerous, and hadn’t stopped at all while they were on their training trip.
The relaxing of the aging out limit had already proved useful – Bruck Chun his old bully, having clearly not been the only kid merely stressed out about his future.
But of course, the fact that the children weren’t pushed toward the Corps anymore had made said Corps complain – as they did need people too.

The Agricorp mission of helping out devastated worlds was just as important as the diplomatic or investigation of the regular knights, as was the Medicorp help in impoverished area or backward regions of the outer rim. The Educorp also played a large role in providing any form of teaching to children and adults alike all around the galaxy, not to mention how critical the Exploracorp was, as they were the one charting the less known areas of the galaxy or helping stranded starships.
It was Qui-Gon – who’d asked when being a member of the Corps had started to be considered as not being a Jedi anymore.
The question had cause quite a stir among the masters and the Councils – but Obi Wan and Sehn had already pointed out before that quite a few initiates though of the Corps as less than the Knight’s way.

The Agricorp were effective thanks to their mastery of Force methods that pertained to plants, the Medicorp used the Force too while healing, the Educorp specialized in projecting a calming aura that helped people learn quicker, and of course, the Exploracorp pilots were aces so in tune with the Force they could steer their ship with their eyes close.
Their education in the ways of the Force was different from that of the Knights – but certainly not lesser, the Councils had reaffirmed.

Which is why, by the time the four Je’daii Journeyman had come back from Mortis – the Council of Reassignment, who’d been responsible for managing the Corps and sending initiates to them, had been completely overhauled, starting by adding representatives of said Corps among them, rather than only Jedi masters.
The Council’s masters had protested at first – then quickly realized how much they didn’t understand about the daily workings of the Corps they were supposed to organize. And finally, once they’d started to take more interest in their new counterparts, they’d been stunned to see the very different, yet no less skillful ways those Force users worked.

Someone had suggested adding the Knights to the Corps, rather than the other way around – prompting the creation of the Diplomaticorp and Peacecorp, among which most knights and masters were put – the first for those who specialized in diplomatic missions, the second for those who dealt more with investigation and pacifying missions.
But of course – things weren’t that clear-cut. Quite a few knights specialized in both Corps, and several members of the older Corps pointed out that even among them, some did change Corp occasionally, and as such, held dual qualification too.
Shmi Skywalker, who’d quickly sympathized with some Exploracorp members as she often met them during her flights to free slaves in the Outer Rim, had been the one to ask why people couldn’t just be given qualifications in any Corps they were qualified for after an examination. After all, accumulating several diplomas wasn’t unheard of among non-Force users.

It was the Council of Reassignment who’d been given the task of putting in place a new way of testing Force-users for their qualifications among the different Corps.
When they’d heard about the High Council acknowledging the Great Journey undertaken by Arya, Arkous, Obi Wan and Saarai – they’d finally found what they’d been lacking, and completed their reorganization of much of the Order’s hierarchy.

¤.¤.¤

“So all children are still younglings and initiates.”
“Those chosen by a master remains padawan.”
“But those who aren’t chosen can choose to study, either independently, or with other students, among any of the new and improved Corps.”
“The Agricorp, Medicorp, Exploracorp and Educorp haven’t changed. And added to them are now the Diplomaticorp, Peacecorp and Tradicorp.”
“Any student of the Corps is a Novice. And once a novice has progressed enough and passed the right test, they qualify as a Disciple, then a Journeyman.”

“To become a Knight, you must either qualify as a journeyman in three different Corps; or in any Corp and the Tradicorp, and pass the traditional trials, either on the field, or through the old chambers.”
“Passing the next level of test makes you a Scholar of that corp.”
“To become a master, you must be a scholar in any Corp and the Tradi one, and have trained at least one padawan, or be a scholar in three different Corps.”

Qui-Gon, Tahl, Feemor, Dooku and Ali-Ann, along with their padawans, who’d been invited to lunch, had taken turn explaining the new system, since they were among those that had spearheaded the rather heavy overhaul of the Order’s organization.
“When I gave my report to the High Council,” Feemor admitted,” I'd never have thought things would have changed so much barely two years later.”
“Of course,” Qui-Gon had said with an aggravated sigh, “the speed at which things have been changing makes some people talk. Inside and outside the Order.”

“The Senate tried to tell us off!” Tahl added, clearly incensed, “The nerves of those politicians!” the Noorian woman’s smile was rather vicious for a Jedi master, as she concluded, “Of course, knight Gallia was brilliant in the way she reminded them of their own laws.” a shrug, “They can’t interfere in the Order’s internal working, only decide whether or not to approve grants.”
“Which opened another can of worm,” Ali-Alann sighed, “as of course, some Senators asked for an overview of our current grants.”

“Even among the Order,” Feemor said somberly, “we hadn’t realized how much said grants had diminished. To think they always act as if they were founding us, when we’ve been all but self-reliant for nearly three hundred years!”
Realizing just how little the Senate helped the Order had made some rather bitter toward the government, that always demanded more of them, without giving anything in return. Not that the Jedi wanted anything for themselves – but most of those that had taken a few missions out in the galaxy knew how little they could do, between the restrictive budget they had access to, and the few of them that remained.

“Of course, it’s when the Order told the Senate that since they didn’t wish to allow us subventions anymore, we would find our own ways to manage, that p… that things really got wild” Bruck said, withholding a swearword at the last minute – he did spend quite a bit of time with younglings, after all, “Can you believe some Senators had the nerves of suggesting the Order should be ruled by the Senate!”
“All too easily.” Obi Wan and Arya answered in one voice
“Anyway, things were pretty chaotic after that, as some Senators didn’t agree at all, thankfully.” a shrug, “So now we’ve been completely cut off from Senate funding, but several planets have been giving us donations, or special rights when in their jurisdiction, apparently.” the tall padawan concluded

Obi Wan shared a glance with his master, his wife, and sister-padawan.
For the four of them who knew the Siths weren’t quite as gone as people thought, and quite intent on destroying them, the kind of chaos Bruck was telling them about was a rather evident sign of their meddling.
Their reaction sobered the padawan.
“You are looking even more worried than master Qui-Gon and Dooku were, and I thought they were over-reacting.” he told them bluntly, “But they weren’t, were they?” he gestured toward Arya and Arkous, “Because while nobody is really sure about it, there have been rumors ever since you woke up, about war being on the horizon, and things have changed more quickly in the past few years than they have in the past centuries… What’s going on?”

“So much more perceptive than when I took you as a padawan.” Ali-Alann told him fondly, “Yet still far too brash!” he remonstrated lightly
“And yet… We know people have been talking, but he’s the first one to dare to ask.” Arkous pointed out, not disapproving at all – and even rather appreciative of the boy’s courage
The two masters were letting him take the lead on this, Obi Wan realized.
He thought about it a bit, opening himself to the Force – and focusing on Bruck, never realizing his eyes were glinting a bit in the dim light of their living room.
He already knew this Bruck Chun was far different from the fallen boy who died in the depths of the Temple once upon a time. But enough to trust him with any hint about the truth?

The Force hummed in answer, urging him forward.
Things had changed – tremendously so, in their Order – and his knowledge about the future was becoming more spotty by the day, as each change butterflied and affected other things.
“You all know how knight Din's report pointed out how diminished our numbers were, right?”
All nodded.
“But,” Obi Wan turned toward Feemor, “you only looked for natural causes.”

Easily guessing where he was going, Arya took her holo-unit out.
“Those are the other causes.” she soberly said
A few minutes were spent in silence, as all around the room perused the report, that for now had only been seen by Shadows.
“Son of a Hutt.”
This time, Bruck wasn’t able to refrain from swearing – and his master didn’t have the heart to reprimand him.

Because the steady increase in accidents, a fair few ending with the death of a Jedi, along the decades, pointed to an undeniable truth.
“There’s someone out there who is taking great care of sabotaging us.” Dooku said, his voice carefully devoid of any emotions, “Just like during the near disaster of Galidraan.”
But of course, all among them could feel the maelstrom of astonishment/sadness heavily tinged with fear/anger. And none among them disagreed with the sentiment, no matter that Jedi weren’t supposed to feel fear or anger.
Realizing that someone was trying to destroy them made the lapse in control quite understandable, after all.

“Now I understand why my old master has been hounding me for giving out a few saber lessons to the knights.” the aging human mused, leaning back tiredly after having managed to release his emotions into the Force
“This is what your visions told you about, uh?” Bruck guessed, “To think I was jealous of them…” he shuddered contritely
“We can’t just tell the Order just like that.” Obi Wan sighed
“Jedi or not, this would cause a panic.” Ali-Alann agreed
“But now that so many things have been stirred up, people are starting to take notice by themselves, that things aren’t as they should.” Qui-Gon completed, visibly impressed

¤.¤.¤

Dooku – had finally acceded to Yoda’s request, putting his name forward as teacher for several advanced lightsabers classes, geared toward the knights.
Ali-Alann had started advocating for more fighting lessons even out of the Peacecorp, pointing out that the other Corps weren’t strangers to attacks – pirates attacks were legions in the Outer Rim, where the Agri, Medi, Explora and Edu Corps often worked, especially on the war-torn words that were the Agri and Medic Corps bread and butter.
Quite a few Journeymen had grumbled about it, but the crèche master had quickly pointed out that it had just been firmly confirmed that they were Jedi.
And didn’t all initiate learn the same mantra, when they went for their first Gathering to Illum?

“The blade is the heart of the Jedi.
The crystal is the heart of the blade.”

Even those who left the Order behind, kept their crystal with them – and most would have preferred keeping their blade altogether. It was a short argument – but most Jedi were reasonable beings by nature, so it hit true.
Obi Wan was both heartened, and a bit sad, to see that little by little – the Order was getting ready for war. Jedi, as a whole, weren’t meant to be warriors, for all that he was a born-one. But preparing themselves may well be what would save them this time around.

Not everything new was geared toward war, thankfully – the reorganization of the Order was proof enough of it. Garen had been quite proud, when he’d finally managed to reach him via holo-call, to show off the new bead marking him as a Journeyman of the Exploracorp, which really hadn’t surprised the returned Jedi, who knew just how skilled a pilot his friend was.
Of course, the dramatic boy had then loudly protested as he realized that Obi Wan had earned a Journeyman bead before him – worse, an unknown bead!
The multiplication of new ways the Order’s members could choose had given birth to a whole new generation of beads – more ornate beads than the simple colored ones that symbolized the training done by a padawan, symbolizing each Corp, and the Jedi’s rank in them. Which in turn, made even older Jedi take back the tradition of wearing beads, some on an obijime tied to their belt, others directly on their’ lightsaber’s hilt, or even in their hair, thought not in the same style of braid as the padawans.

There had been some grumbling, as the whole Order was put through the new tests, but the new Council of Reassignment had managed to organize things well enough, giving priority to those heading out on mission, that it went surprisingly smoothly.
By the time they were ready to head out once more, they’d all be asked to sit through the new examinations. Thankfully, the High Council, getting wise to all the ways the four of them caused chaos even when they didn’t intend to, had preemptively put their personal files under restricted access – millenniums ago for Arkous and Arya, when he woke up from his visions for Obi Wan, and as soon as it was created for Saarai.
“Please,” Windu had asked the two padawans when all four had been called to the High Council – both for a debrief for their next mission, and to hand them the results of the tests, “don’t put these up just yet.”

[Achievement unlocked!
Novice Rank(8): 8*100 XP
Disciple Rank(8): 8*250 XP
Journeyman Rank(8): 8*200 XP
Scholar Rank(5): 5*500 XP]

[Level up! Arya Lunika is now LV 59!
+4 SP]

With five Scholar Beads out of Seven Corps, and three Journeyman ones – counting the Je’daii one, Arya not only confirmed her rank as a Master of the Order, but also become the only Jedi with certified knowledge in all the Corps, surpassing even Yoda. Of course, the grand master had found this to be hilarious, and immediately wondered if she shouldn’t be the one with his title – which the Mirialan had refused as quickly as she could.
Arkous wasn’t far beyond, merely having one less bead, as he knew nothing about the manipulation of plant-life and other rather specifics applications of the Living Force Arya had learned while Nyla had been a part of her crew.

But of course, what had really confirmed their private doubts about Obi Wan to the High Council had been his own results – that singled him out as a text-book example of pre-reform master, with his Scholar qualification in Diplomati, Peace and Tradi Corps, along with Journeyman level in Edu and Explora Corps. Only his Medicorp result was coherent for his age, as he’d merely qualified as a Disciple there – and he had been thrilled about it, given how difficult the discipline was for him.
Saarai ‘only’ had two Scholar levels, in Peace and Tradi Corps, along with a Journeyman level in Diplomaticorp and Disciple levels for Medi, Edu and Exploracorp. Which they had rather expected – as while her knowledge was vast, she was still getting used to life in the mortal realm.

The two padawan hadn’t really minded, and offered, “We can put Disciple beads.”
“Nobody who knows you will believe it.” Tyvokka had growled, clearly amused, while Mace gave them another set of beads
The number of Journeyman beads Obi Wan and Saarai had come out of the Council session with had raised a few eyebrows – but just like the Wookie master ha pointed out, nobody who knew them had really been surprised, merely suspecting their master were letting them gather a bit more of hands-on experience before nominating them for their Trials, since they were both quite young.
Shmi and her Red Bird had been the one to take Arkous and Obi Wan back to Mandalore – as Arya and Saarai had left a few days earlier for their own mission, heading toward the other side of the galaxy, in search for Rattatak, and hopefully, master Ky Narec and his very young padawan Asajj Ventress.

¤.¤.¤

Arya smiled, watching carefully as Saarai navigated the SandwalkingMooka through the turbulent nebulae of the Trilon Sector. Rattatak was a mountainous, primitive planet, used as headquarters by a group of Weequay pirates, who ruled over the local population as overlords, and unknown to the Republic. Which meant the planet wasn’t found on any map. As such, master and padawan ha followed the trade Corellian Trade Spire hyperlane toward the Outer Rim, then started to navigate by using the Force as a guide.
While the leg of their trip that had happened on the Corellian hyperlane had barely lasted a week, the rest of the trip, far more uncertain, had been much longer, and Saarai had progressed quite a bit along the way.
And finally – they’d managed to find the right planet.

The Force was humming in warning, preventing them from landing too quickly. As such, they’d waited a bit, hidden behind the planet’s moon, watching the coming and going of the pirates, Arya patiently waiting for her padawan to catch something rather glaring.
“There are only shuttles going down.” Saarai finally realized
“That there are.” the older Force user agreed, “Which means?”
“That there’s… either something shooting down larger ships, or maybe some sort of security code given only to the shuttles?”
“And so, our next step?”
The odd-eyed Sith grinned, “Hijack a shuttle!”

Which was precisely what they had proceeded to do, waiting for a shuttle to land back in her mothership, then waiting for said mothership to get a bit away from the planet, before boarding it. The SandwalkingMooka wasn’t really engineered for this kind of assault – but they still managed easily enough, Arya waiting in the piloting chair to do any adjustment needed, while Saarai attacked, her master’s three familiars right by her side.
The Mirialan’s mind was focused both on piloting – and following her padawan’s progress thought their bond, the young Sith making quick work of much of the pirate crew with quite a bit more violence than a Jedi would have approved of. She’d realized along the way that the ship was a slaver ship – and still had some slaves onboard. As such, once the red-skinned girl had taken care of most of the Weequay crew, she’d taken the captain hostage, along with a shuttle, and had freed the living cargo, letting them take the ship to get back toward home.

From her seat in the SandwalkingMooka, Arya smiled sadly, at the fury she could feel from her padawan. This was Saarai’s first brush with slavery – and it was safe to say she didn’t like the practice any more than Arya herself did.
The girl would need quite a few meditation sessions in the near future to make her peace with what she'd seen – that much was clear.
Interrogating Saarai’s prisoner, the two Force users had quickly discovered that Rattatak was protected by a planetary shield, installed by the current Weequay overlords, and that could only be crossed by shuttles with the right access codes – a shuttle they now had, and access codes they quickly got from their prisoner.
Landing Arya’s ship on the nearby moon, they’d taken the shuttle, and effortlessly landed in a remote area of Rattatak – not that it was too hard, given how primitive the planet was.

Once planet-side, master Narec and his very young padawan’s presence became glaring beacons to them.
The green-eyed, brown-haired Human had been stunned to see them. Not that he hadn’t felt them approach, as they hadn’t hidden their presence, but that he hadn't expected anyone to be able to find them, given how off the tracks the planet he was stranded on was.
“Well, my husband’s padawan has visions,” Arya explained, “so while we didn’t know where the planet was, we at least had a general direction.”
They spent the evening in Ky Narec’s small abode – where they met young Asajj Ventress. The little girl, with her pale white skin, silvery hair, and wide blue eyes, certainly wasn’t a Dark Sider yet, though it was rather clear she had a natural inclination toward it, just like pureblood Siths.

The Jedi master was impressed, hearing about the changes that had occurred during the year he’d been stranded, but not that surprised, as the first slave of reformations had already occurred before he’d left the Order on a mission, and ended up stranded.
“I can feel you are… hesitant to leave.”
Ky Narec nodded, looking torn.
“I’m thankful you came to rescue us, but…” he gestured toward the dark silhouette of a gigantic fortress, so tall it was visible from quite a distance, “This planet is still under the rule of slavers and pirates. How, as a Jedi, can I leave without feeling guilty?”
Arya nodded, easily understanding the other’s dilemma.

“Then,” she suggested, “How about taking care of the problem before leaving?”
He appeared momentarily stunned by how easily she suggested it – then a slow smile bloomed on his face, “Oh, the headaches you must give the High Council!”
They’d immediately gotten down to planning.
It wouldn’t be feasible to leave little Asajj alone – she’d follow them – nor to send her back to the SandwalkingMooka, as too many coming and goings from the shuttle they’d hijacked may well prove suspicious.

As such, Saarai was given the task of protecting the little girl – while Arya and Ky Narec headed the assault.
Alone, this had been impossible to manage for the Jedi master – and later on, with an older padawan, he’d have been too diminished by years of constant battle to be able to manage it.
Currently, the man had been stranded for merely a year, and was still in his prime – and Arya, just out from Tython, exuded the sort of calm assurance in her abilities that told all he needed to know to the other.
The four of them stormed the Weequay fortress, Asajj happily egging her master and Arya on, while Saarai did her fair share of the fight, protecting the little six-year-old spitfire not that easy, as she was often trying to slip away to ‘help’.

¤.¤.¤

The four Jedi left Rattatak a week later, having disabled the dangerous planetary shield that forbid people from landing. Of course, they couldn’t be sure whether other pirates would come back to the area – but Arya’s first step, once back in the SandwalkingMooka, had been to transmit the planet’s coordinate to the Jedi Order, which would send any spared Jedi in the area to check on the situation from time to time. Not a perfect solution – but the best they had right now, with how few Force users remained in their Order.
While Ky Narec, despite the changes, had easily slipped back into his life in the Order, it hadn’t been quite that smooth a transition for little Asajj Ventress, still skittish and weary of strangers, and far wilder than most youngling, what with her past as a slave.
As such, rather than heading back directly toward Mandalore, where Arkous and Obi Wan had taken their turn in the Jedi rotation, Arya elected to stay a bit, understanding all too well the young Dathomiri’s troubles.

Her first step had been to teach the young girl to hide – many of the children in her clan learning along them, much to the crèche master’s dismay. Of course, given how young they were, their technique wasn’t perfect yet, and they couldn’t hide their Force signature for more than a few seconds. But the simple idea of being able to hide had helped the girl tremendously.
Saarai had helped too, having grown rather fond of the white-skinned girl who felt so similar to her – and introducing the little initiate to Jar’kai years before she should have learned about it.
Taking advantage of their stay in the Temple, Qui-Gon had asked her to go and see his former padawan.
The young man felt far more settled, she immediately noticed.

Still dark, doubtlessly, but much less erratic than he’d been when she fought him on Telos IV.
“The mind-healers don’t know what to do with me anymore.” he told her, voice tinged with amusement, “I’ve told them there’s nothing more they can do, but they don’t understand.”
“Well,” Arya pointed out, “This is the Jedi Order, they aren’t used to sane Dark Siders.”
“Sane Dark Siders?” he laughed, “I don’t think they even believe in the concept.”
“It’s far easier to succumb to madness as a Dark Sider, you’ll have to admit.”

“I was mad.” he nodded, “We’re so unprepared for feelings in this place, I had no protection when I fell…” he added, a bit sadly, “I got swept by the current, instead of ridding it.”
“Accepting death is one of the hardest lessons for many people.” Arya agreed, “Especially those gifted with powers like ours.”
“Yet all things die.”
“All things die.” she agreed, “For it is only Death, that gives value to Life. Just like Death would be meaningless, if Life didn’t come before it.”
“How come the Jedi haven’t locked you up by my side yet?” Xanathos wondered, both amused, yet truly interested in the answer
“They realized change was on the horizon, and they couldn’t stop it. Least they get swept along, and disappear.”

“The Sith.”
She eyed him, surprised at the certainty in his affirmation.
“I didn’t understand what I was feeling at first… But this kind of icy cold darkness, carefully controlled and mastered, this fathomless pit of hatred…” his eyes were wide, the mere memory of what he’d felt enough to frighten him anew, “They quickly lost any interest in me, but there was no denying what this presence was.” he shuddered, “I was lucky, that I didn’t interest them enough for them to make the trip and kill me.”
“That you were.” Arya agreed, “So… Let’s put what the mind-healers are saying to the side. What do you want?”

He hesitated for a moment, not having expected the question.
“I know I’ve not completed my sentence.” he said, “But afterward…” a pause, “Honestly, I want to run as far from those guys as I can.” he admitted easily, before shrugging,” But I fear that it isn't possible. Not without entirely leaving the galaxy.” he laughed bitterly, “So I guess that what I want… Is to survive what is on the horizon.” he eyed her, “And somehow, I’ve got the feeling this will only be possible by throwing my lot with you.” he admitted,” I’ll never be a Jedi ever again. But I would rather not be their enemy, either.”
“You still love them.”

“I love some of them.” he contradicted,” My master, with far too much passion to ever make a good Jedi, some clan-friends from my crèche year…” his smile was brittle, “I know all of them consider me a lost cause, but I do still love them.” he admitted, “But the Order as an institution, with its far too strict rules, and its willful blindness to what really goes on in the galaxy…. This, I really hate.”
“But they are changing.”
“They are.” the Human agreed, “But not enough for me to be one of them ever again.”
“How about something else?”

“Like what?” he laughed, “Clearly, I’m not worthy of the Sith’ attention…” another shudder, “not that I mind. And what else is there? A few Force sects, here and there, closed off to the galaxy at large? Other Jedi temples?”
“How about, something new instead?” Arya suggested, “Neither Sith nor Jedi, neither Light nor Dark?”
“If you find something like this,” the fallen padawan agreed, “I’d try it, at least!”

¤.¤.¤

“You want to do what?”
“Take a few struggling Jedi, and offer them a new path.”
“Take them, and guide them, on the Great Journey, you wish to?” Yoda guessed first
“Some of them have always been standing at the edge between Light and Dark, and will never be completely happy as Jedi. Does it mean we have to prevent them from learning, and doing good in the galaxy?”
“Would people touched by the Dark Side really do any good around them?”

Arya smiled, and answered, “Well, it was a Sith who ensured the laws of the Empire were so harsh toward slave-abusers that the death rate among slaves in the Empire was divided by two in less than four years. A Sith, who allowed my ‘spy network’ to smuggle the too old and the too young, the pregnant and the sick, right back toward a Republic where slavery was outlawed.” a smirk,” Why do you think I fell for him.” a pause, before she felt compelled to admit, “Well beside his skills as a warrior.”
“And suddenly, how that man became a crèche master is all the more understandable.” mused Mace, an amused smile on his lips, “Why doesn’t he tells us things like that, instead of hinting about the worst things he’s done?”

Arya laughed, “He remains a Sith, you have to allow him a bit of pride.”
Yoda cackled at that – echoed, amusingly enough, by Yaddle.
“If this trip you start, a long time away from here you will be.”
“I know.” Arya agreed, not bothering to hide the pang of loneliness the mere idea of being away from Arkous and Obi Wan for so long made her feel, “But… this is the right way.”
“Grand master you’ll be.” the green troll laughed, “Thought not of this Order.”
“Maybe.” Arya shrugged, “But if it means I prove that we can all cohabit, isn’t it worth it? Dark Siders, not driven mad by their inability to control the Force anymore, straddlers finally finding a place to just be themselves.”
“Who were you thinking about taking?”

The reunion, after that, had lasted hours longer. But from that point onward – Arya knew she had won.
She’d taken her time preparing, going through the Temple, talking to people, and putting a list together little by little.

Xanathos, of course – and Qui-Gon.
Little Asajj – and where she went, her master followed.
Quinlan, so very skilled for his young age – and so very damaged, because of his psychometry gift. He’d tried to convince his master not to follow, telling the man that the galaxy needed him – Tholme had reminded him that he’d vowed to put him before everything else, when he’d saved the boy, ad barely five years old, from his aunt.
Dooku, and his padawan, so close to be knighted, yet still so rash.
A pair of young twins, Mikkians initiates in the crèche, both of them firmly anchored in the Light, yet having found her by themselves.
Several more came from the old Corps – a furry, Frozian, Medicorp scholar; a blue-skinned, teen-aged, Aruzan Journeyman from the Exploracorp, a young, grey-skinned Evereni Educorp Disciple boy, and a limber Ardennian Novice from the Agricorp.

Finally, master Yaddle herself had caused her fair share of chaos when she’d announced that she was coming with them.

Arkous and Obi Wan had come back from Mandalore, but a few hours before she left.
“I hate that you must leave.”
The Sith – had become far more in tune with godly powers ever since Mortis. Not enough that he could use them – but just enough to understand the urge pushing Arya toward this trip, the way the Force was singing for her as she helped restore a balance that had been broken far too long ago.
And Arkous – Arkous was a warrior. Doing the Great Journey once had been helpful – but now, he was needed in the galaxy, as conflicts broke left and right, and the other half of his soul tried to mend them all before the new Sith could take advantage.
This wasn’t the first time they were separated by the necessities of war – but he hadn’t ever gotten used to it, hating their separation just as much as he understood it was needed.

Obi Wan and Saarai had exchanged a glance – and had quickly left the couple alone, finding refuge in an empty suit not too far.
“Are you… alright with doing this again?” the returned Jedi had asked his padawan-sister, while doing his best to ignore his bond with both Arkous and Arya, “After all, you didn’t really need this trip.”
“This will be different, with more people.” she answered, clearly not dreading doing the same trip anew, “Besides,” she smiled, “I came here to learn about the galaxy, but I’m not in any hurry.”
Obi Wan eyed her, noticing how little she’d changed since leaving Korriban’s heart. She’d matured, there was no doubt about it – but clearly, having a Force entity as one of her three parents had made her very slow growing.

¤.¤.¤

It was in this separation that Arya’s MoonSystem proved, without any shadow of doubt, how effective it was – as even with the Mirialan and her padawan in the Deep Core, while Arkous and Obi Wan traveled around the galaxy, they were still able to communicate, if only by written messages.
Occasionally, the returned Jedi felt quite envious of the incarnate goddess, as he still often missed Tython. But with each mission gone right – each change Arkous and him ensured, he couldn’t regret having stayed, no matter how much his master and him had been tempted by the idea of following Arya on her new journey.
It had taken only one message to master Noor R’aya for the retired Jedi to be ready when bounty hunter Ona Nobis had tried to kidnap him. Obi Wan remembered the Sorrusian with dread, given how many times she’d escaped him and Qui-Gon, eventually capturing his then-master, and nearly killing both of them quite a few times. Retired, and quite peaceful, master Noor R’aya may be – once warned, he’d managed to push back and capture the bounty hunter, bringing her back to the Temple.
With Ona Nobis imprisoned, tracking who’d hired her hadn’t taken long for a couple of Jedi knights, and mad scientist Jenna Zan Arbor had been arrested, her crimes soon coming to light.

Some other missions, on the other hand, had remained quite the same – sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse.
One such had been their stint on Kegan, where they had eventually managed to end the thirty years of isolation of the planet – but not to reassure O-Vieve and V-Tan, the ‘Benevolent Guide’, about what the future held for their home. Both of them had been haunted by visions of the Empire, and the destruction it would bring, and had tried to protect their planet by isolating it from the rest of the galaxy – but Obi Wan’s return, along with Arkous and Arya’s awakening, had caused the vision to change, and become more unstable, making the two fall to the Dark Side, as they desperately tried to hold on power. All to protect their world.

O-Vieve and V-Tan had ended imprisoned, while Kegan slowly opened itself back to the rest of the galaxy, realizing that the Republic wasn’t as fearsome as they’d feared.
The little, yet unnamed, girl, they’d been sent to test for the Force had come back home with them to the Jedi Temple – along with several other children and teenagers – but the planet itself would need time, before it was able to truly be a part of the greater galaxy once more.

That mission had also been the one when Obi Wan had been confronted with a rather uncomfortable truth – his friendship with Siri Tachi, once more, reaffirmed by the time they’d spent together in the dangerous Re-Learning Circle. His inability to fall in love with the girl once more also reaffirmed, as the girl, who was physically as old as him, felt far too young spiritually speaking to him.
“Well, it was to be expected.” Arkous had pointed out, not surprised in the least, when he’d finally managed to extirpate the truth about the teenager’s latest turmoil from his mouth, “Your body may be fourteen, your mind is several decades older. Which probably puts your real age somewhere between the two?” he mused

“Why do you always manage to make sense about such nebulous topic?” the returned Jedi had grumbled, allowing himself, for once, to let his teenage's angst at the front of his mind
The red-skinned laughed, amused by his grumpiness rather than annoyed – then again, according to the tales he’d woven, pureblood Sith’ teen-aged years could be the stuff of nightmares.
“This happened to Arya in her first reincarnation.” Arkous said, making Obi Wan listen more attentively – the stories about the incarnate goddess were always fascinating after all, “Which is how she fell in love with her first husband, that was, at the time, curse into a baby’s body, while on the contrary, he whole life-spawn had been nearly destroyed by using too much of her godly powers.”
The next hour, hidden away in one of the Jedi Temple’s spire, the pureblood Sith spent telling him about Light.

Which, inevitably, led Obi Wan to wonder, “I know pureblood Sith were quite possessive… Aren’t you jealous?”
“I proposed to nuya Jen’Nwit already knowing about Light.” Arkous answered him, “And making her talk about the man she loves, and who was stubborn enough to ascend, just to follow her through different incarnations, wasn’t really hard.”
Obi Wan had to laugh about the dry affirmation.
“I was jealous at first, of course.” he admitted easily, “But then she told me the true nature of their vow. About the fact both were bonded to each-other… But not chained.”

Obi Wan’s eyes widened in sudden understanding. He may not be a Sith, he’d fought enough of them to know their code nearly as well as the Jedi one.
The red-skinned man nodded, confirming this was what had made him look past his jealousy – and learn about the other men the incarnate goddess had loved, each differently. What had made him think – that he could be one of those men, without becoming consumed by jealousy.
By the end of this talk, Obi Wan had felt faintly regretful – that the hitman the other had told him about hadn’t followed Arya in this life, as he felt he really wouldn’t have minded meeting the man, who as a dealer of death, had become a brother to Life, and saved countless species from extinction over his various incarnations.

“Me too.” had agreed Arkous when he’d admitted as much, before smirking smugly, “But then again, do you think nuya Jen’Nwit could ever love someone uninteresting?”
The returned Jedi had laughed at the other’s self-compliment – and left the spire feeling much better about himself.
Having finally understood that he’d probably never fall in love again with the same people as in his memories – but that it didn’t mean he wouldn’t have new love stories. Though, probably – with more mature people.
He had laughed at the idea, all too easily able to picture the old Quinlan teasing him about it.

¤.¤.¤

Satine was looking tired, and thinner than the last time he’d seen her – not that Obi Wan was really surprised, as he knew all too well how harsh life could be on a war-torn world.
Yet – the girl was already looking more alive than ever, eyes shinning bright, and it was becoming more and more evident to all that if Bo-Katan was set to become the never goran’alor of clan Kyrze – her little sister’s path led her toward their father’s role. And the girl maybe only fourteen and raised on Coruscant – she’d proved, just like her sister, just how much mandorkarla she had, when she’d found a teacher in Little Keldabe, then found her way back to Mandalore.
In but a few months, Satine Kyrze had managed to bring to the discussion table both the Old Clans and the New Mandalorian, something that hadn’t been managed in decades.
And her ambitions didn’t stop there – as she even appealed to the Kyr’tsad’s members – something which had made quite a few teeth grind, until she’d reminded all that many of the current Kyr’tsad fighters were children taken from their very clans and brainwashed by Tor Vizla.
Murderous, misguide idiots, sure enough – but family, nonetheless, for many of them.

She’d also taken to reminding everyone that traditionally, two things were needed to be a Mand’alor.
The clan’s approval – which Jango Fett had, and the Darksaber, the traditional blade once wielded by the last Mandalorian Jedi, which Tor Vizla had.
Which meant that both had a legitimate claim to the title – and that there was only one way to settle this.
The Mando’ade way.
The fact that Jango had immediately agreed to the challenge, while Tor Vizla hadn’t answered back, had greatly diminished whatever legitimacy he’d had until then.

The assassination attempts had started not long after.
“ I hate it.” Satine confided to the returned Jedi, “This is all that made me reject my culture as a child… Yet…” her eyed were hard as she pointed out, “It’s the proof what I’m doing is working too, isn’t it?” a sigh, “The more killers he sends after me, the more he proves me right, and the clans have taken notice.”
She was right, Obi Wan knew – as several clans previously allied with Tor Vizla had stepped away from the war, declaring that they wouldn’t take part in the fight as long as the legitimacy of any Mand’alor hadn't been proved.

Which wasn’t to say the war was over, far from it – as visibly, while they’d been hiding away, between Korda VI and Galidraan, the Kyr’tsad had been building up their forces, training – and brainwashing – soldiers, but also gathering war resources, like fuel, weapons and food, and building bases.
Jango and the Haat Mando’ade had made some progress, and people were coming to their aid more every day, but they hadn’t been ready for a full-scale war, most Mando’ade verde more used to fighting either alone, or with their House and Clan.
And while the Jedi assistance had been very valuable – and was doing wonders to settle old griefs between the two different yet similar people – they weren’t soldiers either.

Obi Wan and Arkous had taken steps to change this during the two rotations they’d taken in the Mandalorian sector, which hadn’t gone unnoticed, but it was an ongoing effort, while the Kyr’tsad had been preparing for years.
While there were over a dozen inhabitable worlds around the Mandalore Sector, most of them were empty, or only inhabited by small or primitive clans and tribes.
There were only two agricultural worlds, which were barely enough to feed the sector, as much of the traditional worlds had been destroyed during the last large Mandalorian conflict.
Kalevela’s cities all stood under domes, as the planet was a toxic wasteland, nothing but a few stubborn weeks grew on Mandalore, Mandallia’s local flora wasn’t really suitable for exportation….
In other words, the Mandalore Sector had been in shambles before the civil war – and things had only become worse since.

An attack on Kalevala had destroyed the ancestral Kyrze fortress – and killed many of Satine and Bo-Kotan’s cousins along the way, Jango Fett had retorted by pushing the Kyr’tsad back from Concord Dawn, all but destroying the year’s harvest along the way. Vorpa’ya’s nerfs had stopped arriving at Haat Mando’ade planets, making them more reliant than ever on out-of-sector importations – but of course, most traders weren’t keen to make deliveries in a war-torn area, and the only ones who did agree to come demanded exorbitant prices.
The only way to end the conflict quickly, just like Satine had tried to make happen, had been to resolve the conflict between the two Mand’alor candidates.
But since Tor Vizla had refused – things were dragging on, and it was clearer and clearer that while the Haat Mando’ade had allied with the Jedi, the Kyr’tsad must have some sort of backing too, given the funds it must have taken to prepare so well for war as he had.

The Jedi had managed to find some Kyr’tsad hidden bases, on Breshig, Zanbar and Harswee, proving how prepared for war they had been – but the battles that had followed had been long and bloody, all of that to root the traitorous Mandalorians away from planets that beyond that didn’t have much strategic value.
Arkous hadn’t looked surprised in the least – when Obi Wan had suggested taking a new rotation back to Mandalore as soon as possible. Hadn’t minded either, truth be told, as the Sith seemed to use battles as therapy sessions to forget about his wife’s prolonged absence, building a fearsome reputation among the Mando’ade who’d fought by their side.
Obi Wan becoming friendly with Jango Fett had taken him by surprise – but this was a version of the man who hadn’t been broken by a massacre at Galidraan, and had been reminded about his duties as Mand’alor. First by Arya – then by Satine, and the now fifteen-year-old had taken to the duty with relish. With how hard-headed both Mando’ade were, this led to some epic clashes of will between the Mand’alor and the Jorad’alor’s daughter.

It had taken some time before Obi Wan had noticed that the two were slowly but surely heading toward more than friendship – and he’d laughed so hard once he’d realized, that Bo-Katan had needled him until he told her why he was laughing.
“Oh, that.” she’d mused without a hint of surprise, “Yeah, I’m not surprised she’s gunning for an older guy, though I really didn’t think she’d gun for the verd of all verd.” she said, rolling her eyes – before laughing, “Then again, she’s always enjoyed arguing, so this isn’t a bad choice.”
“She doesn’t even realize it yet, does she?”
“No more than he does.” Bo-Katan agreed, “Want to place your bet?” a smirk, “The House Kast Goran’alor is keeping the books.”

Arkous had started giving lightsabers lessons to Jango Fett, using an old training saber he’d somehow had the foresight to bring from the Temple – pointing out that if the man even found himself facing Tor Vizla and his dark saber, he had to be ready. Of course, the Haat Mando’ade Mand’alor had tried to argue that he had been trained with a beskad, the Mandalorian saber – Arkous had retorted by pointing out all the way a beskad wouldn’t last more than a few seconds against the Darksaber.
The Mand’alor had quickly realized just how right the Sith was a rather violent duel later – and truth be told, what they called training resembled more sessions where the two happily tried to skewer each other.
Obi Wan hadn’t been surprised in the least.

Satine had started another loud argument with Jango, saying something about irresponsible it was for him to fight so dangerously when he was needed against Kyr’tsad, he’d answered by saying something about needing to be prepared to fight Kyr’tsad – and Arkous and Obi Wan had left the two to their flirting.
“I think Mando’ade maybe even more violent than pureblood Sith when it comes to courting.” the red-skin man had commented dryly
“I’ve seen you fight Arya, and I wasn’t able to stop blushing for hours after. Don’t lie.” Obi Wan retorted just as dryly
Kit Fisto, with whom they shared their tent on the current battlefield, had laughed at that – and clearly agreed with the padawan on this point.

Then he became more serious, announcing, “A Shadow team is back, and they’ve found proof of the Trade Federation founding the Kyr’tsad.”
Obi Wan’s eyes widened – this was something they’d suspected, of course – but no proof had been found until now. He smirked sharply, “The Senate is going to love that.”
“Adi is already on it.” the knight confirmed, looking rather amused, “She’s been making a specialty of pointing out their failings nowadays.”
“ And she’s quite skilled at it.” Arkous confirmed, a smile eerily similar to his padawan's on his lips, before adding more somberly, “But they’ve already tried to collar us not too long ago. If we stir things too often, they’ll retaliate.”

This sobered the Nautolan, who nodded, “You’re right, of course.” a sigh, “To think as a youngling I thought all there was to be a Jedi was traveling the galaxy and helping people.” a grumble, “I really didn’t expect all the politicking and double-talk, when I became a padawan!”
“ We already start to train our children young enough, we can’t well destroy all their illusions about the world too young, can we?” Obi Wan pointed out
He’d been the same the first time he became a padawan, he remembered – idealistic and oh so naive about the ways the galaxy worked.

While it didn’t do anything about what the Kyr’tsad already had – it at least become more complicated for them to restock now that the Trade Federation was under scrutiny. Of course, given how slow the Galactic Senate always was, they hadn’t been punished for their meddling – but at least, they weren’t able to do whatever they wanted in the Mandalore Sector anymore.
Little by little, the status quo started to shift in the Haat Mando’ade’s advantage, and by the time Arkous and Obi Wan ended their rotation in Mandalore and headed back toward the Temple, the situation was looking far brighter for the Haat Mando’ade and their allies.

¤.¤.¤

Obi Wan hadn’t been prepared, when he arrived back in the Temple, to be faced with a Shmi Skywalker who was just starting to show her pregnancy – and the familiar, already quite powerful Force presence of Anakin.
Needless to say, everyone in the Temple, had felt the pregnancy as soon as it had started. And the fact that the Amavikkan’s every emotions were amplified by her yet unborn child made de things rather strange all around the Temple, as only the most skilled knights and masters were able to shield themselves from them, given how strong the child, even unborn, already was.
The younglings and initiates were entranced, many of them slipping past their crèche masters’ watchful eyes to go and visit the woman whenever she was around; the padawans and knights were solicitous enough that Shmi had to put her feet down and remind them she wasn’t disabled; as for the masters, they watched from afar, a bit at a loss about how to react about such an unheard of event.

“They’ll have to get used to it.” Feemor had laughed, “The old Corps don’t bother with the marriage interdiction us traditional knights and masters keep to, and their ideas are starting to make some headway now that people from all the Corps mingle much more freely than before.”
“ And it's impossible not to notice that quite a few Corps members never were younglings or initiates, but simply are the children of other Corps members.” Sehn agreed
The Noorian, now in his early twenties, had lost his padawan braid while Arkous and Obi Wan were on Mandalore – but while he did take missions without his former master now, he still visited with him quite often.

Anakin – was probably going to be the first child born in the Temple in a long time, but he certainly wouldn’t be the last.
Which meant – some adaptations would have to be made.
Healers were watching Shmi carefully – not, they’d explained to her, because they thought her weak, but because the effects a pregnancy could have in the middle of a place full of people with diverse level of empathic talents, hadn’t been recorded in over a thousand years. Once this had been pointed to her, the woman had accepted their scrutiny with grace, even becoming fast-friend with Vokara Che, who’d quickly volunteered to become her personal healer.

Another surprise – was that the Amavikkan now had her own beads in her hair – as the healer knight had quickly caught on the woman’s Force sensitivity during the various examinations she’d done on her to ensure her pregnancy was going right, and soon after offered to train her.
Shmi had been stunned – and she’d taken the time to think the proposition over, knowing it would take some time away from the freedom-runs she did between her missions as an official pilot for the Order.

She’d quickly come to the conclusion – that with proper training, she’d be able to free even more slaves, and had thus agreed. There had been some grumbling about taking such an old padawan – but Vokara Che hadn’t let this stop her, and the two were slowly but steadily proving their detractors wrong.
Obi Wan’s fifteen’s birthday was spent in Little Keldabe, with all his friends – and of course, some Mando’ade had needled them until he took a turn in the arena. Bant wasn’t too keen on the idea – but Siri hadn’t wasted a second in taking her turn, as had Bruck.

Then, Arkous had decided that things were becoming a bit too calm in the Jedi Temple, and announced his intention to teach emotion-based abilities to his padawan.
“You want to teach your padawan Sith lightning?”
“A variant of it.” Arkous smirked at how scandalized most of the High Council members seemed, “You know I use the Dark Side.” he reminded them, “And that I haven’t shied away from teaching my padawan about. Did you really think I wouldn’t get to practical training in due time?”

“All the reports about Dark side abilities we have are about chaos and destruction.” Mace answered him surprisingly calmly, “Of course we’re worried.”
“Most healing methods you use are technically Dark Sided, since they use emotions.” Arkous contradicted, the argument clearly hitting home for several masters, “But I’m not going to just drop him in a pit and tell him to learn or die.” he pointed out, in a way that made it rather clear this had been how he had learned, “Which is why I’m warning you.”
“ Carefully supervise such a training must be.” Yoda had said, causing some surprise around, as many had thought he’d be the staunchest opponent of such a thing, “Just like master Windu or master Koon’s training was.”

Arkous glanced at Obi Wan, who reminded him over their bond that Mace was the only practitioner of Vaapad, that did use emotions – while Plo Koon, thought it wasn’t well-known, was able to use a Light Side variation of Sith Lightning.
Which is how Obi Wan found himself in a training room, with Arkous, Mace and Vokara both watching attentively.

“What you must understand is the difference between the feelings you use.” had been the red-skinned man's first warning, “This is Sith Lightning.”
He’d then proceeded to demonstrate what Obi Wan had only ever witnessed once dead – Sith Lightning. The feeling of darkness and madness was jarring, the attack wild and looking barely controlled, and fury and hate permeating the air, just as disturbing as the attack itself.

“And this is Force Lightning.”
The next attack only had in common the fact that it used the same element. This time, the main thing they could feel was an intense focus – and while there was anger, it felt far sharper, yet much more controlled, just like the lightning itself seemed to be under the Sith’s complete control.
In the background, Obi Wan heard Mace and Vokara talk about what they’d just seen in a low voice, the shock of witnessing the first attack quickly overtaken by the Sith’s ongoing control over the second attack.

“It’s of course easier to focus on something like anger to make attacks, like focusing on positive feelings will work better for healing abilities.” Arkous commented, his voice as calm as if he were talking about the weather – making quite the point about the kind of control and focus he had over his attack, “But it doesn’t mean you should be controlled by those feelings either.”
Obi Wan eyed Arkous, both getting what the man meant, yet naturally weary of trying. As if reading his mind – or probably feelings his misgiving through their Force-bond, the pureblood Sith smirked.
“ Do you think I’d let you get out of control, Karza'Berniuk?”

The returned Jedi eyed him – and through their bond, felt the other’s quiet assurance that he wouldn’t fail.
“ Well, focus and control I know about.” he mused, suddenly feeling more reassured, “But what about the lightning?”
Arkous smiled – and went into the technical details, Mace and Vokara listening attentively in the background – neither feeling quite as wary nor worried as they had but a few minutes before.

4316.165.9 CRC – birth of Arya Lunika on Benduday (5th day of the week) of the 6 ^th week of the 1 ^st month of the year 4316 while in Hyperspace (3661 BBY / -7 ATC)
4320.412.0 CRC – Fluffy Mooka boarded, death of Sayah and Leelai Lunika, Arya Lunika registered to the Korriban Academy as “ Jen’Nwit” (Little Shadow) by Darth Arkous (3657 BBY / -3 ATC)
4322.742 CRC – Arya saves Lyn’Me, they become sisters (3655 BBY / -1 ATC)
4323.273 CRC – Arya Lunika escape s the Korriban Academy and is recruited by Cipher Eleven (3654 BBY / 0 ATC)

4325.323.0 CRC – Deaknal (Born from the Wind) Raheth (Sandwalker) adopts Arya Lunika (3652 BBY / 2 ATC)
4328.444 CRC – Return to the Empire, Deaknal promoted (3649 BBY / 5 ATC)
4330.974 CRC – Lyn’Me escapes Korriban (3647 BBY / 7 ATC)
4331.165.0 CRC – re-birth of Padfoot, Arya leaves Dromund Kaas on her first solo mission (3646 BBY / 8 ATC)
4331.721 CRC – finding of the vergeance and re-birth of Blanche on Lothal (3646 BBY / 8 ATC)

4332.211 CRC– finding the vergeance of Ossus (3645 BBY / 9 ATC)
4332.231 CRC– return on Dromund Kaas (3645 BBY / 9 ATC)
4332.315 CRC– mission on Nal Hutta starts (3645 BBY / 9 ATC)
4333.164 CRC– arrival of Ketan Seva on Nal Hutta (3644 BBY / 10 ATC)
4333.333 CRC– Arya becomes Cipher Seven (3644 BBY / 10 ATC)
4333.923 CRC– Darth Arkous becomes a member of the Dark Council, Deaknal is promoted from Keeper to Minister (3644 BBY / 10 ATC)
4334.233 CRC– Dash.a Ellan becomes a Privateer for the Republic (3643 BBY / 11 ATC)

4334.762 CRC– War starts again (3643 BBY / 11 ATC)
4334.943 CRC– re-birth of Kagetsu (3643 BBY / 11 ATC)
4334.954 CRC– death of Sel-Makor (3643 BBY / 11 ATC)
4335.625 CRC– birth of Jela’Me, son of Lyn’Me and Xenloth Nor (3642 BBY / 12 ATC)
4337.172 CRC– death of Vitiate’s Voice in the Empire (3640 BBY / 14 ATC)

4340.835 CRC– battle against Revan (3637 BBY / 17 ATC)
4340.064 CRC– destruction of Ziost (3637 BBY / 17 ATC)
4341.174 CRC– Eternal Empire offensive (3636 BBY / 18 ATC)
4341.342 CRC– Arya wakes up (3636 BBY / 18 ATC)
4341.461 CRC– visit on Tython (3636 BBY / 18 ATC)
4341.512 CRC– defeat against the Eternal Empire, death of Darth Marr, Arya in cryostasis (3636 BBY / 18 ATC)
4346.364 CRC– Arya rescued and waked up (3631 BBY / 23 ATC)

4346.415 CRC– battle of Asylum (3631 BBY / 23 ATC)
4346.061 CRC– journey to Odessen’s core (3631 BBY / 23 ATC)
4346.074 CRC– Firebrand’s assault on Zakuul’s infrastructures (3631 BBY / 23 ATC)
4347.122 CRC– Arcann’s retaliation (3630 BBY / 24 ATC)
4347.413 CRC– assault on Zakuul (3630 BBY / 24 ATC)
4348.272 CRC– battle against Tenebrae (3659 BBY / 25 ATC)

4351.xxx CRC– Arkous starts living on Tython (3656 BBY / 28 ATC)
4383.xxx CRC– death of Deaknal (3624 BBY / 60 ATC)
4408.xxx CRC– death of Xenloth and Lyn’Me (3599 BBY / 85 ATC)
4439.xxx CRC– Aayla’Me becomes Grand Master (3568 BBY / 116 ATC)
4517.xxx CRC– death of Aayla’Me (3590 BBY / 194 ATC)
4568.xxx CRC– Arkous takes Arya’s pod to Coruscant (3539 BBY / 245 ATC)
6945.354 CRC– birth of Fay (1031 BBY / 2621 ATC)
6976.xxx CRC– Ruusan Reformation, Fay gives up her lightsaber (1000 BBY / 2652 ATC)
7080.075 CRC– birth of Yoda (896 BBY / 2756 ATC)
7919.653 CRC– birth of Obi Wan Kenobi (57 BBY / 3598 ATC)
7930.234 CRC– return of Obi Wan Kenobi, awakening of Arkous (46 BBY / 3598 ATC)

7930.262 CRC– awakening of Arya (46 BBY / 3598 ATC)
7930.265 CRC– second anti-poison (46 BBY / 3598 ATC)
7930.471 CRC– Obi Wan becomes Arkous’ padawan (46 BBY / 3598 ATC)
7930.654 CRC– Quinlan saves Aayla’Secura, Arya gets Pol Secura arrested (46 BBY / 3598 ATC)
7930.923 CRC– gambling cession at the Outlander (46 BBY / 3598 ATC)

7930.962 CRC– arrival on Hetzal Prime (46 BBY / 3598 ATC)
7930.971 CRC– arrival on Melida/Daan (46 BBY / 3598 ATC)
7931.212 CRC– counter-offensive begins (45 BBY / 3599 ATC)
7931.423 CRC– return to Coruscant (45 BBY / 3599 ATC)
7931.475 CRC– Feemor’s presentation (45 BBY / 3599 ATC)
7931.642 CRC– first reformations (45 BBY / 3599 ATC)
7931.7xx CRC– pranking war (45 BBY / 3599 ATC)

7931.814 CRC– first meeting with Satine Kyrze (45 BBY / 3599 ATC)
7931.863 CRC– arrival on Telos (45 BBY / 3599 ATC)
7931.945 CRC– capture of Xanathos (45 BBY / 3599 ATC)
7932.222 CRC– battle of Galidraan (44 BBY / 3600 ATC)
7932.241 CRC– meeting with Adonai Kyrze (44 BBY / 3600 ATC)

7932.515 CRC– return to Coruscant (44 BBY / 3600 ATC)
7932.563 CRC– arrival in the Colundra Sector (44 BBY / 3600 ATC)
7932.624 CRC– first job for the Stark Combine (44 BBY / 3600 ATC)
7932.651 CRC– arrest of Iaco Stark (44 BBY / 3600 ATC)
7932.663 CRC– trip to Korriban’s heart (44 BBY / 3600 ATC)
7932.775 CRC– trip to Tython (44 BBY / 3600 ATC)
7932.834 CRC– stay at Padawan Kesh (44 BBY / 3600 ATC)
7932.852 CRC– stay at Bodhi (44 BBY / 3600 ATC)
7932.911 CRC– stay at Mahara Kesh (44 BBY / 3600 ATC)
7932.963 CRC– stay at Anil Kesh (44 BBY / 3600 ATC)

7932.034 CRC– stay at Kaleth (44 BBY / 3600 ATC)
7932.055 CRC– stay at Qigong Kesh (44 BBY / 3600 ATC)
7933.311 CRC– stay at Stav Kesh (43 BBY / 3601 ATC)
7933.314 CRC– stay at Akar Kesh (43 BBY / 3601 ATC)
7933.322 CRC– trip to Vur Tepe (43 BBY / 3601 ATC)
7933.351 CRC– old distress signal (43 BBY / 3601 ATC)
7933.352 CRC– return to Coruscant (43 BBY / 3601 ATC)

7933.415 CRC– Obi Wan becomes senior padawan (43 BBY / 3601 ATC)
7933.523 CRC– Order reformation (43 BBY / 3601 ATC)
7933.612 CRC– Arkous and Obi Wan’s return to Mandalore (43 BBY / 3601 ATC)
7933.631 CRC– Arya and Saarai’s arrival on Rattatak (43 BBY / 3601 ATC)
7933.712 CRC– Ky Narec an Asajj Ventress arrive on Coruscant (43 BBY / 3601 ATC)
7933.874 CRC– Arkous and Obi returns from Mandalore (43 BBY / 3601 ATC)
7933.875 CRC– Arya and Saarai escort the new Je’daii prospect to Tython (43 BBY / 3601 ATC)
7933.912 CRC– Ona Nobis captured by Noor R’aya (43 BBY / 3601 ATC)
7933.014 CRC– arrival on Kegan (43 BBY / 3601 ATC)
7933.052 CRC– talk with Arkous (43 BBY / 3601 ATC)
7934.213 CRC– start of Arkous and Obi Wan third rotation on Mandalore (42 BBY / 3602 ATC)
7934.345CRC– Shmi becomes pregnant (42 BBY / 3602 ATC)
7934.432CRC– Trade Federation activities suspended in the Mandalore Sector (42 BBY / 3602 ATC)
7934.463CRC– Shmi becomes Vokara Che’s padawan (42 BBY / 3602 ATC)
7934.515CRC– Arkous an Obi returns to Coruscant (42 BBY / 3602 ATC)
7934.671CRC– Obi Wan’s first lesson in Force Lightning (42 BBY / 3602 ATC)

Fluffy Mooka – Defender Class light corvette, lime green paint job (Sayah and Leelai Lunika’s starship)
? – Praetor Class frigate (Exchange slave cargo)
Ember – Fury Class light corvette (Darth Arkous’ starship)
? –X-70B-Phatom (Cipher 11’ starship)
Unfettered Mooka – XS Stock Class light freighter, lime line around the hull (Davin and Dash.a Ellan’s starship)
Ziost’ Revenger – Terminus Class destroyer (Darth Marr’s flagship)
SandwalkingMooka – DeepWater Class light freighter, double lime- line along the top of the hull (Dasha’s starship)
Red Bird – HT 2200 Class light freighter, black band with blue borders all around the hull (Shmi’s ship)
Raptor – ? Carrier (flagship of the Stark Commercial Combine)

- Repository(enhancement): unlocks the Repository System
Kitsune Weave(clothe, leveling, LV44):+44 Physical Defense
FuurinKiba (weapon, leveling, LV44): +1 AG, +46 Cutting Damages
- Saya(enhancement): +10 Force Reservoir
KageShin (weapon, leveling, LV44): +1 WIS, +46 Shadow Damages
ShiroInu Tessen (weapon, leveling, LV44): +1 LUCK, +44 Cutting Damages
Trill-181 prototype (weapon, leveling, LV44, adaptable: blaster gun/carbine/rifle): +44/46/49 Energy Damages
Arkous’ Shoto Saber (weapon, leveling, LV44): +1 AG, +46 Force Damages
- Adegan Crystal (enhancement): +1 INT, WILL and WIS
- Daiyoukai Claws (enhancement): +2 damages

[Arkous’ Shadow Weave(clothe, leveling): + x Physical Defense)]

(4bXP)New Force Bond: Saarai(training bond)

(XP)Novice Rank: Agricorp / Medicorp / Educorp / Exploracorp / Diplomati corp / Peacecorp / Tradicorp / Je’daii
(bXP)Disciple Rank: Agricorp / Medicorp / Educorp / Exploracorp / Diplomati corp / Peacecorp / Tradicorp / Je’daii
(2XP)Journeyman Rank: Agricorp / Medicorp / Educorp / Exploracorp / Diplomati corp / Peacecorp / Tradicorp / Je’daii
(2bXP)Scholar Rank: Educorp / Exploracorp / Diplomati corp / Peacecorp / Tradicorp

(4XP) War won: Rattatak freed

current XP: 35 070
current LV: 60
XP to next level: 865

ARYA LUNIKA AGE 31 LV 60

BODY: Agility (15/1:16) / Strength (12/1:13) / Endurance (11/2:13)
MIND: Intelligence (12/2:14) / Willpower (16/3:19) / Wisdom (14/7:21)
Heart: Presence (10/5:15) / Instinct (12/4:16)
UNIQUE: Luck (30) / Element (38) / Godly (28)