Knights of the Old Republic: The Last of the Sith(Master Essenu's Group)

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

There is a pause, a click, and then a familiar voice. At first, it is hard to tell who it is beyond just 'familiar'. Then, after the heavy breathing faded to an actual speaking voice, it was obvious that it was Master Kanas, though he sounded hoarse and tired, "---trouble on Rollan. Shouldn't have left things unchecked for so long. Natives dead or changed into some horrible mockeries of their former selves. Seen similar Sith alchemy in the early years of the war. Have identified at least one small enclave of Sith. Most former natives. All female. Likely the old Force users on the planet. Statues and writings indicate an eyeless man 'saved' them all. It also says he left to find the...resting place of the ancient Sith. I think I translated it wrong, but that's the best I've got. Sounds to me like your brother...Have encountered four of the dark siders now. Students are all alive, as am I. Will repeat this message once more before shutting down systems to conserve power.
"Repeat. This is Master Kanas aboard the Ossus Talon. Marin, the Talon is badly damaged from a rough landing. I doubt I can get the engines back online for another few months. I'm not asking you for a pickup, though. There is serious trouble on Rollan. Shouldn't have left things unchecked for so long. Natives dead or changed..."

The message continued exactly the same, then cut off to leave only static. It was easy to notice the sudden change in mood aboard the ship's cockpit. Master Essenu was silent, but seemed to have stopped her work on calculating the hyperspace jump.

 

[Vendetta]

"Are we going, Mistress?" Aalun asks, timidly... somewhat afraid that they might not be.

 

[Insight]

"A recorded message?" Urcala asked. "That is not a good sign." The Miralukan Jedi edged closer to Aalun. "Can you calculate its point of origin?"

 

[Vendetta]

Aalun tries to trace the message ((Astrogate +7, Computer use +4))

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Aalun:[sblock]You can't pinpoint the exact location of the message's origin, but you do manage to trace it down to a couple of systems. One of them is a system that is written off as unstable, while the other is Rollan's system.[/sblock]

Master Essenu turns to watch Aalun was he traces the message, obviously thinking on their next move. Quietly, she speaks as if thinking out loud, "Nolem said they're okay...I am not sure whether we should go along our present course or...or go and help them. Emotion is...clouding rational thought."

 

[Insight]

"You taught me that our emotions are our moral guide," Urcana replied. "But we must share with our emotions what we know to be true, which is our rational guide. A Jedi cannot fully dwell within one or the other, for without both, the Dark Side can take hold. We are by nature emotional beings..." The Miralukan turned away from her Mistress and 'looked' through a viewport towards the passing starlines. "Without our emotions, we become as machines, and lose our connection with the Living Force."

Urcala thought of her fellow Jedi, facing potentially an army of savage descendants of the Sith, out there, alone. What would she do in their place? How would she survive against such odds?

And what was the true meaning of this recorded message?

 

[Vendetta]

"If Aalun may be so bold," The Gand interjects, "The possible origin is one of two systems. But Aalun was unable to deduce which. One of those systems is Rollan's System, the same system Master Nolem said was in trouble. If we are to go there, we may be able to both aid our companions and aid in what ever disaster has taken Rollan. Master Nolem did say that he could not get engins back up for months."

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

For a moment, the Jedi Master was silent, thinking on all that had been said. Then, with a renewed calm in her voice, she said quietly with a nod, "You are correct, Urcala. This is understandably difficult. All of your life as a Jedi, you will be tested by the Force. Attaining the title of Master does not make that go away...sometimes we forget that."

She stopped again to look to Aalun, nodding and managing a slight smile, "Nolem is trying to assist me in keeping me from getting too close to my brother. I believe that he is also placing a failing foolish estimate. He is no mechanic," she sighed, obviously not sure of her current words, "Then either we go to Korriban, tracing an invisible trail...or we help our friends."

That got a grin onto her face finally, and she turned back to replot a hyperspace jump, "I have a feeling we all agree on which of those two is more important. Though if you believe that Korriban is a better course, there should be about five minutes to express that before the hyperspace jump is plotted into the navcomputer."

 

[Insight]

"Not knowing which course will bring us closer to success..." Urcala replies. "It is dangerous to guess. We should look to the Force for guidance."

Urcala sits down and starts to meditate on this, hoping that an answer will be quickly forthcoming.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Urcala:[sblock]Looking to the Force, you see two very distinct paths. Both of them seem to end up in the same eventual place, but each take vastly different routes.

Along one, you can see another great war very close at hand. Many Jedi will die, and the Republic looks as if it will falter. There is betrayal, redemption, and more betrayal. Yet there seems to be light at the end...but darkness again...almost a pattern, of which the end you can't see. This path you are sure leads through the planet Rollan, where Master Kanas is.

The second path is more straightforward. Very close you see danger, fear, and yet a wavering hope. There is strength along that path. Strength and a sense of unity, though something about it is worrying...even if you can't pinpoint it. There is no alteration of light and darkness here. It is a constant, straight path. This path does not lead to any particular planet, though somehow it feels safer than the other. There is but a short conflict there, instead of the constant struggle.[/sblock]