Rikki Barnes aka Nomad (nomaderwhat) wrote in starnomad, @ 2015-03-23 22:00:00 |
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Nearly a dozen Jedi near Coruscant's main government district. They had sat on benches near a fountain that was off of the beaten path - there for the enjoyment of tourists and government officials on lunch breaks, but not a particularly well known one. Still, Tenel Ka had to give Master Skywalker points for having them meet here. They were visible. Where they were it was easy to see the Jedi working, and the galaxy did need to see them working. So many seemed to think the Jedi were doing nothing at all to help the war, and this made them more visible and if anyone stopped to overhear the conversation, they would know that they were looking at the state of the galaxy, the war effort, the Jedi - without any of it being so sensitive as to create problems. Thus the meeting had been worth it for this fact alone. Tenel Ka might not care for the political games that the Hapan royalty she had been born to played, but she knew enough about the game to understand how it might work. As the meeting closed and Master Skywalker greeted each of the Jedi and thanked them for coming, her attention turned to the young woman who had sat near Skywalker the entire time. She was not a Jedi - leastwise no one that Tenel Ka had been introduced to. But she had heard rumors of Mara Jade Skywalker having discovered a niece, and Tenel Ka wondered if this young woman might not be that niece. She looked to be about the right age and there was a resemblance. Before he could reach her Master Skywalker stopped to speak with Jedi Kenth Hamner and the two were drawn into a conversation in low tones regarding the potential dangers of the Peace Brigade and sympathies they might be beginning to pull together in the Senate. Curiosity spurred Tenel Ka to her feet. A tall young woman dressed it a leather armor with her left arm amputated at her elbow, she nevertheless held herself with a presence that could be expected from someone with the royal background that was her claim and Jedi training that she had spent most of her teenage years undertaking. As she approached the young woman it was not with a smile, but her expression was not unfriendly. "I do not believe we've had the pleasure of meeting. You are with Master Skywalker?" Watch and listen, those had been Mara and Luke's orders. The meeting was not one of dire importance, this wouldn't have been the place to meet if it had. But Mara had other obligations today so instead Rikki had been sent as her surrogate. Rikki understood that it was one part trust and one part keeping an eye on her in their own way. So Rikki had taken her seat, quiet and observant as she watched the meeting without participating. If nothing else it was an exercise in putting some of Mara's education to use. While she might not bring back anything of use for Luke today, it gave her more exposure to this world. And Rikki was never one to turn away knowledge. As the meeting wrapped up Rikki had taken to her feet, separated from the Jedi but watching the smaller conversations unfold. Small groups gravitated towards each other, slight changes in body language telling her at least a little even if a Jedi had more control than most over such things. And one broke away from the group, making her way towards her. With a small glance over the woman Rikki knew exactly who she was. The missing part of her arm was a giveaway, Anakin's own description of the girl in the back of her mind. Not that Tenel really looked like a girl. She towered over Rikki and definitely had that air of someone who knew how to hold themselves. Right, royalty, Rikki knew that. Rikki tilted her chin up towards her in acknowledgement. "He asked me to accompany him, yes." she answered, "I'm Rikki Barnes." Rikki Barnes. Tenel Ka offered a mild smile at the name. Jacen had mentioned the girl briefly when she had seen him last. A meeting which had in and of itself been brief. And she hadn't heard from him since before Centerpoint. But he had mentioned Rikki and she was certainly Mara Jade's newfound niece, which meant Tenel Ka had some context to put this meeting into. The woman was about her own age and while she had sat quietly throughout the meeting, Tenel Ka was certain she had been taking mental notes throughout the meeting. She offered a presence not unlike the Jedi Master who was her Aunt Tenel Ka thought with some amusement. "Jedi Tenel Ka," she introduced herself with a brief nod. "Jacen mentioned you, but I had not had the pleasure just yet. Jacen and Jaina and I were in the same classes at the Academy together," she offered as a brief way of explanation. she had no idea how much Jacen had talked of the other Jedi around Rikki. How was it that Rikki felt younger than she should right now? Tenel Ka was around Jacen's age, she knew that. Which meant that made Rikki older than her. Switching between universes where the calendar didn't exactly match up made it difficult for Rikki to know how old she was, but she knew she was older than the woman in front of her. And yet for some reason that didn't seem to matter. Tenel Ka had grace, presence, and it wasn't so much jealousy that Rikki felt curling but a strange questioning admiration in how the other woman held herself. "There hasn't been much occasion to meet." Rikki returned her light smile with a lightly awkward one of her own. This was Jacen's friend, the woman who would grow up to love him. Hopefully it would end less tragically now but Rikki had no idea if that were true. "He mentioned you. Anakin too. Jacen speaks very highly of you." Tenel Ka raised an eyebrow at the comment, but she couldn't help but feel some pleasure at the statement even if it was partially just a way of making a connection or being friendly to someone she didn't know very well. It was also a meeting point although she knew very little of Rikki Barnes other than Jacen having mentioned her briefly. It was possible that Jacen had said more of her to Rikki than the other way around. Tenel Ka wasn't entirely certain how she felt about such a possibility. Nor did she particularly wish to spend the time in the moment reviewing that emotional sense. "No, I suppose there has not, although I believe you were on Yavin IV briefly, yes? I was there myself, but only for a day between missions, and I spoke some with Jacen and some of the Master's but not with anyone new. Or perhaps you were simply not there when I was there." She glanced across to Master Skywalker and Jedi Hamner in their conversations. "It is good that Master Skywalker has us meeting here. not ideal for the discussion of sensitive data. But good, nonetheless." "I was, though only a few days." Her time on Yavin IV had been spent mostly in the company of Mara or the masters that she was being introduced to. Tenel Ka had not been on Mara's list and thus Rikki's brief time there had been scheduled out mostly be Mara Jade. And after their return from Centerpoint there had been other concerns. And it did not seem that Tenel had even been there to meet. But an eyebrow quirked up slightly at the other woman's observation. "Not every meeting requires sensitive discussions." Rikki commented as she followed Tenel's gaze before looking towards the other Jedi gathered as well. The Jedi faced not just a war of invaders but a war of opinion. They needed to be seen, for the people to know that they weren't being forgotten. "The visibility doesn't hurt opinion." Tenel Ka nodded briefly. "Not everyone appreciates the abilities of the Jedi or feels that they bring good things to the galaxy. My own people among them," she added matter-of-factly. "But seeing them visible like this, with, as I am certain it must be, different Jedi at every meeting, can only help those who believe in the ability of the Jedi to see that they are doing so. And perhaps for those who do not know but only stories will hopefully see something positive as well." She looked over at Rikki and tilted her head. "You are Mara Jade's niece? But you are not Force sensitive yourself?" Rikki looked back at Tenel Ka, her hands folding behind her back as she did. The Force sensitive question seemed to come up with each new Jedi she met. She was used to it in her own world, being the normal one in a world of the extraordinary. Being so closely linked to the Jedi, to Mara Jade and the Skywalker-Solos who lived and breathed the force, her own lack of sensitivity made her an odd person out. The conversation became well practiced, if tiresome. They pushed her to prove what she could do even more, just as it had at home. "I'm not." she answered simply. "Sensitivity didn't run through my line of the family." It wasn't unheard of at all. While the Force did frequently run in families, it didn't necessarily mean that every child would have sensitivity. And if Mara's siblings had not then it would make sense that Rikki would not have either. Tenel Ka simply nodded at Rikki. "Jacen said you helped out in the Undercity? That he and Anakin helped you from time to time?" A slight eyebrow raise and Rikki made note that Jacen had spoken to Tenel Ka about their activities. It was not as if she had ever told the brothers not to but there had always been some element of secrecy. While she did not think that Luke and Mara would necessarily disapprove she was not about to test this guess. "That's true." Rikki nodded to confirm. "There are many people in the Undercity who've been forgotten. I aim to make that a little less true." "Fact," Tenel Ka said. "It is easy to forget that we live on top of others lives on this planet. I have never been overly fond of it. But it is the center of the core worlds, the jewel of the New Republic - it would be difficult to be a Jedi and never visit Coruscant. Nor, would I want it that way." She glanced over her eyes on Hamner and Skywalker who were still talking. "Despite this, they live with the relative safety of having been the core worlds, and that is more than many in the galaxy have. Have you been working with the Master's Skywalker?" "There are more to help in the galaxy then there are Jedi or people who ally with them." Rikki commented as she went back to watching the Jedi. "And I have, as they find need of me." She was right, despite rampant poverty and crime Coruscant was still a core world that had not seen the true touch of the Yuuzhan Vong. Still the day when they would was creeping ever closer and there was no true convincing people that their jewel would no longer be safe. "That will always be fact," Tenel Ka said simply. "Which is why we must ally with others. It is good to send Jedi out but to be effective we must work in concert with others. It is difficult to do that where we are not wanted or trusted. What Jaina Solo does is a good thing, working with Rogue Squadron, but not everyone can fly like she can. And so we must find other ways. It is a challenge. "But you have trusted the Jedi - did you always?" Tenel Ka looked over at her. The question was blunt but it was not meant rudely. She knew that Rikki was not Force sensitive and knew she had just recently made contact with her Aunt who was. If she had more recently learned to trust them perhaps there would be a lesson there that could be pulled out for others. Rikki shrugged at Tenel Ka's question. It was a valid question and the Jedi had as much trouble with public relations as they did with the war. The Jedi could brainstorm all they wanted but they were isolated thanks to their position. "I've always believed in heroes." Rikki answered honestly. "It was a friend of mine who believed in the Jedi, not me. When I lost him, it did not seem like there was anyone else to turn to. And there are members of your order that are heroes." "Fact," Tenel Ka said. Luke Skywalker was perhaps the most famous of the heroes but there were others. Before the war was out there would be more. With all that had been done there were many others that had done a great deal for the galaxy already without it being counted. She fell quiet for a moment. She had a sense the girl beside her was perhaps a hero of her own type even without the Force as a direct ally. She turned to tilt her head towards Rikki. "Have you met many people with the Skywalkers?" Rikki couldn't help but chuckle for a moment, looking up at Tenel ka with a small smile on her face. This felt almost like an interrogation but far more good natures than that. It seemed the other woman saw little reason to coach her questioning. "You're very blunt. I can see why Jacen likes you." She commented easily. Her shoulders relaxed a little, more at ease as she felt she had a better grip on the situation. "I've met the other masters and a few of the older Jedi. There hasn't been much time or reason for meet and greets." Rikki's statement caught Tenel Ka almost off guard but she quickly covered any surprise between years of both Force training and the coolness of the Hapan aristocracy. You needed to be able to hide emotions from those that might try to take the throne from you. So she merely continued watching Master Skywalker and Jedi Hamner as they spoke. "We have been friends for a number of years," she offered. "Although likely he has told you that. We were at the academy and much of our training was together." She turned her attention to Rikki and offered, not a wide smile but a friendly expression none-the-less. "If the Solo boys think so highly of you, you must be a worthy companion. I could see that you may not have had much time to meet people but hopefully that will change. Do you know everyone here?" She glanced at the circle. "You can train effectively with someone and not actually like them." Rikki pointed out with another small smile. She was so cool, Rikki still felt that slight edge that maybe she should hold herself back more. Which she could do, fall completely into the professional. But Tenel Ka seemed to be attempting to be friendly in her own stoic way. It was the kind of control that she watched in Jacen, only this was a far more masterful approach. Rikki tilted her head as she turned more obviously towards Tenel Ka. "Personally? No, but Master Skywalker briefed me on those who would attend before we arrived." "Fact," Tenel Ka seemed almost amused. "In fact a companion one does not like may be very helpful when training. But in our case we have been friends." She nodded. Of course Skywalker would have done that. And then Rikki knew each of the people around the room including herself. Depending in the level of the briefing she might know other things as well. Such as Tenel Ka's history and the distractions that came from the royal court in these times but for the moment Tenel Ka had told herself she was a Jedi first and that she would stay for as long as it was possible that she do so. "Information, is a difficult thing to come by. We have found some things, as was reported here today, but we need to find out more about the enemy we fight. Only then can we really deconstruct their motives and desires enough to effectively fight them. The sooner we can do this, the better it will be for the New Republic and all who call this galaxy home." "Jacen's lucky to have a friend who holds his opinion in such high regard." Rikki's eyebrow twitched up for a moment. The way Tenel Ka spoke, it was so... formal, proper. But it didn't come off as something that was done to put others down. It just seemed to be how she spoke. And Rikki couldn't help but mimic a little, even if she really didn't have that regal a command of words so easily. "Information can come from unlikely places." The Jedi needed intelligence and badly. That was a truth of any war and the Jedi only had so much access to spies. Her only little tendrils hadn't turned up much but it was all she could do to help. But the people that were forgotten could move where people wouldn't notice them. Tenel Ka glanced over to consider Rikki for an instant. It was true she did hold Jacen's opinion in high regard. The young man had first been an annoyance, but then he had become been a friend and one that she trusted rather a lot. Time spent with him was something she enjoyed. Something that was less than she might have liked had they not both had other places they were needed. But it was odd to hear it stated from someone that she hardly knew at all. She had to remind herself that Rikki knew Jacen well. She only nodded at the words at first. There were Jedi out across the galaxy looking. But it was needles in asteroid fields. No one could say precisely where the Yuuzhan Vong would strike next and even guessing that correctly you had to find an agent or find something from what others had. This was easier said than done. "It does. And I know that Master Skywalker has many looking but it is a concern that we will learn the right information. And then there are those who believe that if we simply appease or hand over what they have that they will leave the rest of us alone." But Tenel Ka set no store on that idea. None at all. The snort escaped rikki before she could stop herself. Oh yeah appeasement totally worked in war. She folded her arms, story after story from her grandparents or Steve running in her mind at that. "Well negotiating with people who want to wipe you out always goes super well I've found." The sarcasm was dripping and Rikki knew it. But she honestly didn't know how this war did end. And likely it would be different from her own interference. But Mara was right, she could only hold herself responsible for what she did and could only make choices based on what she knew. "Are you staying on Coruscant long?" Rikki asked instead, looking up at the other woman. "But clustering yourself behind your fortresses sometimes works - at least for a while. My people have a history of hiding behind the transitory mists and believing they can isolate themselves from the rest of the galaxy. In some cases it has worked," Tenel Ka said simply. It had mostly done so during the days of the Empire after all. But that was likely more politics and history than the other girl was deeply interested in. And at any rate, Tenel Ka had no interest in digging into her own feelings on the Hapan mindset. She had been elsewhere, and trained with others, and she had a different perspective herself. "I will be here through tomorrow and then I will head out to the mid-rim it seems." Rikkis knowledge of Tenel Ka's people extended to a few quick lessons from Mara while watching reports on the holos that involved the Hapans. She was at least aware of Leias attempts in establishing an alliance. But as with so many things of culture and history in this galaxy Rikki was left adrift, not able to relate with her own since she simply did not know. "I'd say I wish you luck on your mission but I can already hear Anakin in the back of my head saying it doesn't exist." Rikki smiled slightly towards the other girl. "Not that I've much to offer, but if you ever have need of me just ask. Any friend of Anakin and Jacen's is an ally of mine." |