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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"He gets it!" Ophiuchus called from a distant shelf.

"We are fundamentally changed by the Light," Ikora explained, ignoring her ghost's comment. "Not only does it make us tougher, more agile, and able to control great powers it changes our minds in some ways. Hunters are driven to explore the wild places of the world and hate being tied down. Titans are driven to stand watch, protect and to protect with extreme prejudice. Warlocks, we are driven to find knowledge wherever that knowledge might be even in death."

She could not explain that drive to anyone who did feel it. It was a pull like a magnet always there. Even know, she felt it. Her ghost was taking data for a reason.

"I would like that. There was a time when I was quite the fierce combatant." Ikora still was but she did not let it drive her like before. "I could demonstrate some of mine but my connection to the Light is... strained. It would leave me powerless for a long time I believe."

Glancing towards Ophiuchus, Obi-Wan can’t help but think he’s coming to like that little droid thing.

“Well, even though we are taught not to fear death, somehow I think I might not make a good warlock if death is a prerequisite.” He’s joking. Somewhat. He still doesn’t see himself wanting to take his own life to gain such knowledge. Some things were better left as mysteries.

When Ikora expresses her interest in a lightsaber demonstration though, he chuckles. “I’m willing to bet you still are. And while you’re perfectly safe here I wouldn’t ask you to make yourself that vulnerable. We can go to the training halls once your ghost is finished here.”

"Not everyone studies thanatonautics. Besides, you don't choose what the Traveler makes you into. When you are reborn a Guardian the Light chooses." Ikora didn't remember her life before being a Guardian. That was the price of it. She knew some heard whispers or had dreams of their former lives but... she didn't have any memories. She was just... Ikora Rey.

"I could leave him here."

"You're not leaving me here."

Her ghost circled back to them and floated in front of her. She could tell he was glaring at her. Ikora pushed down her initial wave of annoyance. He shouldn't worry. This temple was safe. No one would hurt him here. No one would hurt her. But... she was trying to be more understanding of her ghost.

"Alright, then we'll wait for you to finish." She inclined her head to her ghost. He hesitated before floating away slowly like he expected her to run. She might have in her younger days.

"I see. So it is fate that decides. But do you at least decide to become a Guardian?" He certainly isn't judgemental in these questions. It's clear that Obi-Wan is merely curious. He's come across many cultures who do many things differently. He's generally not one to question the ways of people unless they are genuinely harmful.

The Jedi then glanced between guardian and ghost as they seemed to have a bit of a disagreement. The amusement not hidden on his face as Ikora finally relents. What an interesting relationship they two had.

"And all of you have one of those?" He motions towards the ghost as he floats away again.

"No, Guardians are chosen by their Ghosts. They find us dead on battlefields, forgotten ruins, and other places then resurrect us with the Light. They decide who is worthy. A Guardian doesn't have to join with the Last City and the Vanguard but most do." There were some that saw the lack of choice in Guardianship as a problem. Ikora thought of the Drifter who had only just come back to the Tower and wasn't really there to help. No matter what he said about Gambit.

Interesting was one way to think of it. Complicated and messy was perhaps more accurate. But she was trying these days which was better than her youth.

"A Ghost helps us. They can interface with almost any technology including Hive magic, send signals across the system to communicate with other Guardians and the Tower, and can bring us back from death if we fall in battle. To kill a Guardian you first kill their Ghost." Ikora thought briefly of Sundance and Cayde but pushed that aside. "They maintain our shields, weapons and armor, sparrows and ships. They are... very impressive pieces of technology."

Obi-Wan's brows raise curiously at this explanation. "So you have already lived your life and died when you are chosen." That's strange to him, but fascinating at the same time. There were differences and yet notable similarities between their two orders. "It is a calling, much like it is being a Jedi. We believe that the Force chooses us as well from birth."

"Your ghosts sound very useful indeed, and are quite literally your life," the Jedi muses as he continues to watch the little machine dart around the library. "Our lightsabers, while not literally so, are considered to be the same. Our weapons are the heart of who we are and we are connected to them."

It was very taboo for a Guardian to search for this past. Ikora didn't know who she was before being chosen by her ghost. She had never looked even in her most rebellious years. "Most accept it as a calling. Some see it as a burden. It depends on the Guardian."

Ophiuchus floated back over to Obi-Wan and studied him with his single eye for a moment, sell spinning slowly. Then he dropped down and scanned the lightsaber.

"It appears to amplify a crystal into some sort of plasma," he said after a moment of study and then floated back up. "The exact mechanism is unknown to me. Theoretically it should stretch on forever but... it doesn't."

Listening to Ikora, Obi-Wan nods quietly in understanding. He could understand that. Fortunately if one felt that being a Jedi was a burden they could simply leave. He imagines that the Guardians might not have such a luxury.

Then Ophiuchus was checking out his lightsaber and that drew his attention back to the ghost. “That is correct. The crystal is called a kyber. They are force sensitive, semi-sentient stones that are attuned to the light side. As for the plasma blade, it retains its shape and length due to an adjustable force field around it.”

"Semi-sentient? Sounds like Hive magic." But Ophiuchus had a goal now. He zipped through the archives looking for how to assemble one of these lightsabers. They sounded like very useful weapons to bring back home.

"Guardians use swords as well," Ikora explained so Ophiuchus' behavior wasn't so confusing. "Not ones made of plasma but steel and occasionally imbued with elements. Ghosts rarely encounter technology they cannot interface with. I think he sees your weapon as a challenge."

Her ghost also liked to know things.

“I don’t know anything about your hive magic, but kyber crystals are naturally occurring and rare. Each Jedi harvests their own and bonds with it to make their lightsaber.”

As she explained about Ophiuchus’ behavior though he glanced towards the ghost. “I see. Well if he’s downloading all the information as I suspect he is, he will also find that they are sacred to our people. We don’t mind curiosity, but we do ask for respect.”

"It's very dark paracasual magic. It feeds on destruction and pain." Ikora frowned just thinking of the Hive and the destruction they would inflict if they ever found this place. "Is there a way I could give your people some of the information I have? The Hive can enter pocket dimensions. They might one day enter this universe through that and the destruction they bring... it consumes everything."

Much like the Darkness itself. Ikora felt it would be wrong to take information from the Jedi and not give them something in return.

"We don't have to act on the knowledge. He can be content simply learning it." Ikora gave her ghost a look and he looked irritated. They had used sacred knowledge before! They took it from the Hive all the time. "We aren't weapon smiths anyway."

“Then I can assure you kyber crystals are nothing of the sort. Jedi would never touch something so dark. In fact it would be... painful to even come close to such a thing.”

And he spoke from experience having been very close to a Sith temple once.

“As for the information, I suppose it would be doable but I’m uncertain what would be done with such knowledge. Our very presence here is disturbing in itself considering its 900 years in the past from my perspective.” There was so much he wanted to tell the Jedi here, to warn them about. But should he?

Ikora’s reassurance about the lightsaber knowledge did put him more at ease. An amused look being passed to the ghost before he nods. “I see. Then there shouldn’t be a problem.”

"The Hive have driven some mad." Ikora thought of Eris and worried if she was alone. Others in the Tower were more trusting of her now but... she didn't have many other friends. "Or tried to corrupt them but they've made it into a strength, a skill, to help us."

Obi-Wan had a good point... if one wasn't used to disrupting timelines and changing destiny. Ikora saw no reason not to warn this place of the dangers of the Hive and the Darkness. "Even if the knowledge is simply stored in your Archives and isn't read for nine hundred years or more it would be there if it needed. And believe me, your people have never felt corruption of life like the Hive. Ophiuchus can you find a way to leave information here?"

"An interface? Maybe. One moment." The ghost started to dart around with more purpose now.

The whole thing brought him pause, and the Jedi frowned a bit. "Are you certain it's a good idea? To be quite honest, the Order has plenty to worry about in the future as it is."

He keeps his voice low, not wanting his words to carry through the library where other Jedi could hear. The question of warning them about their dark future had been brought up by Ezra. Though Obi-Wan still wasn't if it was a good idea or not to leave them any sort of warning.

"I do." Ikora said it firmly, no hesitation. "I've seen what the Hive can do to worlds unprepared for their arrival, unaware of their existence. Why not leave them a warning and information? They may never need it. They may need it a thousand years from now."

"Found it!" Ophiuchus stopped over a console and started to interface, a beam of light shooting out from his eye. "Wow... there's a lot in here..."

"Ghost..." Ikora warned.

"Okay, okay, right. Leaving data on the Hive for the Jedi Order."

"If your people have questions or a problem, they can talk to me." Ikora was used to acting firmly with the simplest, clearest logic possible. Leave the information. Only time would tell if it would be used.

He supposed she had a point, and so he didn’t protest as the information was downloaded into the temple’s database. Though Obi-Wan was now standing there with his hand on his beard and brows furrowed. As if the Jedi was in deep thought.

If Ikora was kind enough to leave such a warning for his people, did it not stand to reason that he should do the same? Though perhaps not quite in the same fashion. They were always warned on how to interpret visions as ones actions could lead to their fulfillment and not in a good way. He didn’t wish to make things worse by giving them details of the future. Though he can’t really fathom how it could get much worse.

When the guardian spoke to him again, the Jedi blinked and looked up. “Oh. Yes of course. Thank you.”

Whatever thoughts troubled the Jedi Ikora didn't ask. It felt rude to pry into his thoughts when they were practically strangers. She could tamper down that curiosity. Not all Warlocks even had it. Sometimes, they were so concerned with the mysteries of the universe that they forgot people existed.

"You're welcome," she said with a little nod.

Ophiuchus worked quickly uploading a great deal of data to the Jedi. It was all the details that they knew of the Hive, how their magic worked, how they acted in battle, and the various rankings and types. It was detailed and very informative. Chilling, as well.

The ghost floated towards them when he was done.

Obi-Wan remained quietly in thought until the ghost floated back over to them. Seemingly done with its task. He still had a lot to consider, but he would leave that for later.

“Well then, shall we move on to the training rooms?”

He had promised her a lightsaber demonstration after all.

"Yes, that is a good idea."

Her ghost flew ahead of them, occasionally scanning anything he found interesting. Ophiuchus kept glancing back to make sure Ikora was still near by and that what he scanned wasn't of any religious significance.

"It wouldn't be possible for me to spar against you and the lightsaber would it?" She asked with a slight smile. "I imagine there aren't many weapons that could withstand it."

Except, perhaps, another of its own kind.

“A real lightsaber would most certainly damage just about any weapon easily,” Obi-Wan confirmed as they walked. It might not be much of a fight if she wanted to truly spar with him.

“However, I could use one of the training sabers. They are kept at a much lower power to prevent serious injury.” Not that one couldn’t kill someone with one but it was much harder to. And it wouldn’t cut her weapons in half at least.

"Unfortunately, I don't have any weapons." She held her arms out to indicate her lack of weapons. "When I arrived here all I had was my ghost and his storage of my weapons was empty."

A rather frustrating and annoying situation to find herself in. She was a talented fighter without weapons but if he wanted to face off she would need a weapon to use.

And she doubted they would let her use a spare.

"I will just have to observe."

“Then I will be sure to give you something worth observing,” he said as they walked. The two of them and the ghost boarding a turbolift to take them to another part of the temple. Where they emerged was the training halls.

As they made their way to the different sparring rooms, someone caught his eye and he beckoned to them. “Padawan, with me.” The young Rodian stared at him with his glittering eyes before scrambling to join them. “Yes, master.”

"I hope so."

Ikora had high standards. She was considered one of the best to ever fight in the Crucible. Not with a sword but she knew how to handle herself in combat. Obi-Wan seemed confident enough in himself which was a good sign.

While he addressed the young Jedi Ikora tilted her head towards Ophiuchus who darted off to scan things after a little hesitation. She could feel his judgement wanting to have him scout while the Jedi were slightly distracted.

She didn't expect him to go far. She didn't want him to go far but just to get a sense of the training room and the technology here.

Sneaky. Obi-Wan was busy talking with the Rodian Padawan so he didn’t notice as the ghost floated away. He had seen the student training a few days ago and had been impressed with his skill. So that’s why he invited him to spar. By this point everyone knew about Obi-Wan and his group. While he was a virtual stranger the children had been told to treat him and his friends with respect. He was still a master and should be regarded no less. So the boy was quick to obey and even seemed a bit excited to have a chance to cross blades with this strange master.

“There’s an observation deck if you would like to have a better view,” Obi-Wan pointed out to Ikora as they paused at the training room’s door. “And this is Padawan Chonda Lar, he will be my opponent today.” The reptilian Padawan dipping his head respectfully to Ikora even as his antennae twitched in anticipation.

No one seemed to notice the little Ghost float away from them. The training facility didn't have as many interesting bits of data like the archives did but there were plenty of training weapons to study and scan.

"Hello, Padawan Chonda Lar." Ikora returned the little incline of her head. She looked towards the observation deck and after a second of consideration she shook her head. "I would rather observe from up close, if you don't mind."

Ikora was not worried that she would get caught up in their practice fight. They would be careful and she could move and avoid things if the young padawan lost control of himself. A Blink would be exhausting but she could avoid a lot of danger that way.

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