revivalproject | One More Stranger

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One More Stranger

WHO: Ikora Rey & Others
WHERE: Around Coruscant
WHAT: A little temple and a little fighting
WHEN: The Coruscant trip.
WARNINGS: Some violence

I. The Jedi Temple

When she asked the locals where to go for help almost every single person directed her to a place called the Jedi Temple. "It's a beautiful building," she said as she ascended the steps with Ophiuchus floating at her shoulder.

"And heavily guarded," he pointed out with a nod in the direction of the guards at the entrance.

"If it's as important as the people here say it is it makes sense for it to be guarded." Ikora continued up the steps with her hands folded behind her back. "Perhaps you should stay more hidden for the time being."

"... as you wish." With a little hiss of Light Ophiuchus vanished though Ikora could tell he wasn't happy with the suggestion. She would rather her ghost was out of sight if these temple guards didn't turn out to be as friendly as everyone suggested.

When she reached the top the guards asked her what her business was with the Temple. Ikora explained she had recently arrived on the planet and was seeking knowledge of where she was and in what system. The guards exchanged looks and then seemed to have a conversation without speaking. One stepped away with a nod and Ikora watched him pull a communication device from his robes and speak into it.

She waited patiently for them to decide what to do with the stranger at their door Ikora looked out over the endless city. Golden Age Earth might have resembled this place at one point, she imagined. Flying cars, spaceships, and technology as far as the eye could see.

It was beautiful in a way but Ikora couldn't help but wonder what sort of secrets this place hid.

"Come with us," The guard said.

"Of course." She only raised an eyebrow as the two guards flanked her and led her inside the temple.

"Wait here." They left her in some sort of waiting room.

Apparently, her presence had caused some sort of stir. Ikora wondered just what sort of stir that was.

II. Pit Fights

After arriving in the strange seemingly endless city, Ikora found herself exploring the deeper, more dangerous parts. She was drawn to the secrets hidden in the shadows and unlike some other Warlocks she was not afraid to take physical risks as well as mental ones. Ophiuchus was against the plan, of course. He felt they could stay on the surface and find a way to contact home. They could feel the Traveler out there somewhere even though it felt very far away. There had to be a way to get a signal into deep space.

Instead, Ikora found herself in the middle of a pit with shouting voices in seemingly hundreds of different languages. Some cheering for her. Some against her. She tuned them out and focused on her opponent who looked like a large green pig humanoid.

There were no firearms allowed in the ring which suited Ikora fine since she hadn't arrived on this alien planet with any. She held a mid-sized staff with a hook on the end tipped with a sharp pike. Her opponent had a large bladed weapon and his form was awful. So open. So easy to read. He would have never lasted long in the Crucible.

He charged, clearly relying on his size and muscle mass to overpower her. Ikora sidestepped, hooked the staff around the alien's leg and pulled. He landed on his face as Ikora stepped back. When the alien got up a charged her again she threw her hand forward and a blast of Void sent him reeling back. Ikora followed up with a swift drive of the staff into the alien's gut and then a blow to the side of the head.

She put the spiked point of the staff to the alien's throat. "I recommend you don't get up."

III. Wildcard

Want something else? Go for it.

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"I would hope so," Ikora said with a polite smile of her own. "When I asked who would be able to help I was directed here."

And she was still unsure if that was the right choice. This place was grand and beautiful but she wasn't sure of its purpose yet. She would have liked to send Ophiuchus to scout but not yet.

"My name is Ikora Rey from the Sol system, Vanguard of the Warlock Order." She paused to study his expression to see if any of that seemed familiar to him.

Hearing that, Obi-Wan's brow raised slightly and he put a hand on his chin. "Well, you most certainly are not from around here," the Jedi said. He didn't recognize any of that at all, which stood to reason that she could very well be with them. Padme had suddenly appeared without warning, so why not someone else?

"Let me take a guess. You were suddenly whisked away from whatever world you hail from, this Sol system? And then found yourself here on this planet?"

"Yes." Interesting that this happened more than once in this place. "That's it exactly. Is this a frequent occurrence for your planet?"

He was dressed similarly to the guards that had escorted her and seemed too comfortable in this place to be brought here. Unless he had been here for a long time, that was.

What force in the universe was strong enough to take people? The Darkness? Had it removed her from her system to leave Earth defenseless? Could it do that?

"Not for this planet, no." Many strange things could happen in their galaxy, but that was not typically one of them!

"Do you know anything about the Agrii or Arga 10 by any chance?" Perhaps those names would ring some bells for her? Padme had come with some knowledge of them, somehow. Despite them being away from the datapoint that was back in Temba. It seemed they still had someway of getting the information into people's heads. Would it be the same for her?

"I do." Ikora considered for a moment then tilted her head. "Ophiuchus, if you would."

From behind her back her ghost floated up and hovered around her shoulder, shell spinning left and then right. "Information on Agra 10 was in my databanks when we woke up here. I shared that information with Ikora."

It was slightly disturbing that these Agrii could put information in her ghost without Ophiuchus knowing but, well, this whole situation was not normal for her. Which was saying something considering she regularly warped reality itself.

Now that was something that looked familiar. Obi-Wan stared at Ophiuchus for a moment before nodding at what the ghost had to say.

"That is where we are usually located. The Agrii brought us here for a task of theirs, and you just happened to arrive in the middle of that. This world also just happens to be the planet I've lived most of my life on."

After explaining that, he then motioned to Ophiuchus. "That's a ghost isn't it? Do you know Cayde?"

Ikora raised an eyebrow and glanced over at Ophiuchus. Someone recognized a ghost and knew Cayde?

"Cayde-6 was the Hunter Vanguard. We worked together." She tilted her head at him as she took a step closer. "How do you know him?"

He was very much dead in Ikora's time. Had Cayde passed through here on his many adventures when he was younger? Before becoming Vanguard? What did this man know about her dear friend?

The Jedi kept a calm air about him as the woman stepped closer, though a soft smile came to his lips. It seemed that his suspicions had been correct.

"He's here, and was actually brought to Agra 10 before I Was. We have spoken a few times, and he explained to me a little bit about your world." It had certainly been a fascinating discussion, but he had a feeling there was a lot more to it as the Exo hadn't been able to really answer all of his questions.

"In fact I recently had to get him out of jail. He had landed himself in a bit of trouble." If he has a friend here now, perhaps she could help keep that from happening again before they leave.

Cayde was here? Ikora felt her heart lurch painfully in his chest. Cayde was alive? It seemed... impossible. Sundance had been killed. She had read the report over and over again when it first happened. There was no chance for resurrection. Cayde had died his True Death.

"That does sound like Cayde. I would like to see him." Ikora didn't want to demand but she couldn't quite keep all the urgency out of her voice.

How could she? Cayde might be alive.

He can sense those emotions swelling through the Force, and could certainly understand. Obi-Wan had felt much the same way when Padme had arrived. Thus the Jedi felt compassion for her and nodded.

"Of course. You can contact him yourself through the device you arrived with, or I can do so for you."

"Ophiuchus, can you reach Sundance?" Ikora asked as her ghost glided between her and the man helping her.

"I'll try." Her ghost's eye illuminated as he sent a message to the other ghost. "She's here!"

He bobbed excitedly, shell spinning faster with a surge of emotion. They were all close in the Vanguard even if they didn't always see eye to eye. More importantly, it meant Cayde was alive.

"Thank you for this," she said with a brief but genuine smile. "It's... been a long time since I've seen Cayde."

Watching the ghost spin happily as it managed to make contact, Obi-Wan dipped his head at the thanks. "Believe me, I know that feeling quite well." He was more than happy to reunite two long lost friends.

"My name is Obi-Wan Kenobi, by the way. And I would be happy to give you a lift if you can tell me where he's located."

Because she's certain he will want to see Cayde sooner rather than later, and personally escorting her would be the quickest way.

Cayde was perhaps her best and truest friend in all of the Last City. Ikora had many people she counted as friends but none were quite like Cayde.

"Obi-Wan, thank you. He will come find me when he wants to meet." She imagined if Cayde wasn't busy with some sort of adventure he would find his way here. "I would like to learn more about this world and the situation we find ourselves in if you have the time."

If he didn't, Ikora would find her own answers by exploring. There was plenty to see and she was confident Ophiuchus was making a map as they went.

"All right, I can certainly help you with that. I'll do my best to answer any questions that you have, and if you like, I can give you a tour of the temple as well."

He's been quite the tour guide lately, but it was his home, he didn't mind in the least. Sharing what he knew in his life with others was a pleasure. Particularly since it was no longer accessible in his time.

"If I am not taking up too much of your time I would like to see more of your temple." She nodded, more relaxed simply to know a trusted ally was somewhere nearby. "I can sense some energy here. The whispers of it."

But it was not something she could use. It was like dealing with Hive magic though had none of the Darkness that clung to it. There was something very peaceful about the energy that flowed through this place.

Warlocks were more aware of these things than Hunters.

"Not at all, I would be happy to show you around." He then motioned for her to come with him just before he steps through the door of the waiting room.

"You have keen senses," he said as they stepped out into the hall. "What you are feeling is the Force. It is particularly strong here and is the reason the temple is built in this particular location."

He would take Ikora out into the Great Hall, its towering pillars rising high over them to hold up the ceiling to the room that was several stories high.

"A Warlock is driven to understand the mysteries of the universe and all the forces that work through it." Ikora folded her arms behind her back and fell into step with Obi-Wan. "Much of my order spends their days seeking out knowledge."

Even dark knowledge, forbidden knowledge. It was a drive in Warlocks, almost a compulsion. They could not leave something unknown.

"I can sense your Force but I don't think I can manipulate it. At least, not without a long time to study it." Which she didn't think she would be allowed. There wasn't enough time, she imagined.

Folding his hands in the big sleeves of his robe, they walked along quietly and at a leisurely pace. Which was what many of the Jedi did here. Everything seemed very peaceful and relaxed indeed. This would give Ikora time to soak it all in as they went.

"My order is much the same," Obi-Wan says as he nods in understanding. "Though we are also tasked with serving others who are less fortunate. As well as keeping peace where and when we can."

Unfortunately, no, they would not have near the amount of time she would need to study it. At least not in this place. "Cayde has told me some of the workings of your world. Of your Light and Darkness. Which of these do you ascribe to?"

"I am trying to guide my order into a more active role in protecting others. Sometimes... we can get lost in the mysteries and forget there are real people relying on us to do more than think." It was an old argument among Warlocks, what truly was their purpose scholar or warrior. Ikora chose both and she felt that was the most important thing one could do as a Guardian.

She thought about reaching for this Force just to see what happened but... she felt it would be like oil and water. Her power unable to mix with the Force without violence which would not go well, she imagined.

"All Guardians walk in the Light of the Traveler," she explained patiently. "The Darkness can tempt us, especially Warlocks but very few Guardians have ever fallen to it."

It was coming though. They heard its song and its power had reached out to them. She held her hand up and charged the Void in her fist, her hand glowing with intense purple light. "I wield the Void, the energy in the space between space. The breath between atoms. It's not Darkness, no more than Solar is Light."

Obi-Wan listened intently as she explained, trying to tie what he'd heard from Cayde to what Ikora was saying now. There was definitely some links, but it seemed obvious to him that this woman knew more about how things worked than the Exo did. So the Jedi's curiosity was piqued as she went on. His eyes going to that purple light that formed around her hand.

"The Force also has a light side and a dark side. We Jedi are followers of the light. Just as the dark side may tempt us, we are taught to resist it. Though I have seen a few of us fall."

His tone became more melancholy towards the end. But its not something he wishes to dwell on.

"But your light and darkness seems to work quite differently from what I've heard. What is this traveler exactly?"

She closed her fist and dismissed the Void. Reaching for the Light too much exhausted her, a feeling she was not used to. She had yet to try for the other elements as well. It might be that she couldn't change them.

"The Light and the Darkness are both paracausal powers," she explained as she once again folded her arms behind her back. "They allow the Guardian that wields them to change their fate. Those who wield the Light change it for the better. Those that are corrupted by the Darkness use it selfishly."

At the question about the Traveler Ophiuchus floats forward and projects an image or a large sphere. "The Traveler arrived in our solar system hundreds of years ago and through its powers humanity ushered in a Golden Age. When other alien presences began to overwhelm us it was only through the Traveler's sacrifice that we were able to survive. It grants us Guardians powers over the Light and our ghosts as companions. What it is depends on who you ask. Some think it is a large vessel. Others an artificial intelligence. Or a living being. No one is certain."

Edited (one of these will work i can code i swear) 2021-03-30 14:50 (UTC)

"Actually, that does sound remarkably similar to ours," Obi-Wan said thoughtfully, a hand resting on his chin. Even if not from the same source, it wasn't all that different from the light side and dark side. "However, Cayde mentioned that there are those with ill intent who also wield the light." Was that incorrect? An exception? Or somehow a contradiction?

When the ghost projects an image in front of him, the Jedi blinks. That's certainly a curious looking thing. "So the traveler gave humans an advantage. But to what purpose? And how did it sacrifice itself? That would at least imply that it has some form of intelligence."

"Yes, sometimes those with the Light can use it for the wrong purpose. There is always a chance power will corrupt whether it is Light or Dark." Ikora knew that perhaps better than some being a Warlock. Her kind were vulnerable to such things.

The Traveler wasn't as impressive as it once was having been destroyed and captured and currently in the middle of repairing itself. "It is sentient but whether that's living sentience or artificial we don't know. We know that it has chosen various races over the years and has abandoned them as well, taking its power with it. The Eliksni, for example, used to worship it as the Great Machine before the Darkness came to attack the Traveler and drove it away."

A future that looked more and more possible in her reality. "We don't know why it chooses or what its purpose is. We only know without it we would be lost."

"That seems like a rather precarious relationship," Obi-Wan points out. "If there's the possibility of it leaving, it would seem unwise to rely fully on it." Granted he understands they probably don't have much of a choice, but surely they would at least be looking into a way to become more independent of it? If they didn't, it could lead to their ruin.

"I suppose we are fortunate in that we don't have that worry. The power of the Force is from life itself. It's simply that some beings are more sensitive to that power and are able to wield it."

"Not everyone is a Guardian. And we proved ourselves capable of protecting our home without the Light during the Red War." Ikora understood his concern. It was something that slept in the back of every Guardian's mind since the Red War. They might have to fight without it one day.

The Force did sound more... reliable. She would give Obi-Wan that point. "And what do you do with that power? How do you help your system with it?"

Because she was curious what the Jedi order did besides study in a temple.

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