I don't own Star Wars or any of the characters.
Stav Kesh, the Temple of Martial Arts, was the coldest temple of Tython. It was also a place where Je'daii came to help body and mind regain balance. Three Je'daii Journeyers—Shae Koda, Tasha Ryo, and Sek'nos Rath—had journeyed to the temple a few weeks after the Force Hound Xesh crash landed on Tython. They had come hoping to regain balance within themselves, but even after months at the temple the three Journeyers were unable to let go of what happened with Xesh.
Shae Koda awoke and prepared herself for the day. The Dathomiri descended human headed to the joining refresher of the room she shared with Sek'nos Rath and Tasha Ryo. If she wanted her privacy in the refresher, Shae had to get up early to do it. Tasha was always quick in the refresher (being a Twi'lek she didn't have to worry about things like brushing hair) but Shae was still a bit wary of the other female Journeyer. Sek'nos, on the other hand, would hog the refresher and take forever in the sonic shower if Shae and Tasha didn't have a time limit for how long the Sith could have the refresher before the two women forced him out.
Shae had used the sonic shower yesterday, so she only needed a quick freshen up. After combing her long red hair, Shae began the task of redoing her numerous braids. Sealing off the last braid with a golden clasp, Shae looked at herself in the mirror. Her green eyes were bloodshot and she had bags do to the restless nights Shae had been having the last few months. Shae's brows knit together, the lines on her forehead deforming her green triangular tattoo. Shaking her head, Shae put on the sleeveless training robe that had been given to her when she first arrived at Stav Kesh. Pulling on her gloves (leaving the triangular green tattoos on her forearms exposed) and boots Shae exited the refresher.
Sek'nos and Tasha had already woken up. The muscular, red skinned Sith had already tied back his long dark hair, rubbing the sleep from his yellow eyes. Tasha had slipped her hat over her slender white lekku, a red headband just touching the stylized blue crescent tattoos around her eyes.
The Sith and Twi'lek took their respective turns in the refresher and dressing. Once they were all fully dressed, the three Journeyers went to get something to eat.
A few hours later, Shae, Tasha and Sek'nos were at the training ground sparring with Je'daii Master Tave. Tave had been assigned by the Temple Master of Stav Kesh to watch over the three Journeyers. It had fallen upon the Noghri Je'daii Master Tave to instruct the three Journeyers—reminding them, restoring them to how they were before the Force Hound, Xesh, came to Tython.
Tave attacked the three Journeyers with his training staff. The three Journeyers were slow in their defenses and attacks, revealing less focus and discipline as the fight went on.
"Fight to preserve your life! Fight to preserve the life of your enemy! Those are the tents of the Je'daii" announced Tave.
Tave struck at Shae Koda. The red-haired female dodged the attack. Master Tave kept his attack up, never tiring or backing down.
"Use the Force! Sense your opponent—anticipate his next move! Then strike! Strike!" bellowed Tave.
Shae leapt into the air, aiming a kick at Master Tave's head. The master ducked the attack. Spinning around, Tave stopped Sek'nos from attacking him from behind. He punched the Sith in the jaw, making him stumble backwards. Tave ended the battle by disarming Tasha, the young Twi'lek barely putting up a fight.
"The three of you can do better. Your attack was predictable. Your minds were elsewhere—your feelings dominated by doubt and anger. Ah…you still dwell on the one sent to Bogan." lectured Tave.
The Journeyers were not in the mood to here another of Master Tave's lectures. They had been hearing them almost daily since arriving at Stav Kesh.
"We all saw Xesh in the vision before the crash, Master Tave! It was a true Force vision! I think it meant he should stay here on Tython! So, why aren't the Masters taking us seriously?" frustrated spoke Shae.
"We…" said Tave.
"After Xesh was subdued, the Council allowed me to help him remember his past, but there were strong barriers—shadowed images…intense darkness! Xesh was out of balance, but not by choice! Had he stayed on Tython he could have been helped by us! But our words—our vision—were swept away, just as the Masters ignored Daegen Lok's vision! Why?" explained Tasha.
Tave sighed. Even after all their time spent at Stav Kesh, the three Journeyers had still not learned to accept the Council's decision.
"You are young and don't remember. The Temple Masters are rightfully leery. Daegen Lok's 'vision' drove him mad and he ended up on Bogan…" reminded Tave.
"Perhaps Daegen Lok's vision was real, too! Ours was!" stated Shae.
"If that were true, it would indeed be serious. As for you three… Can you recall a time in your training when the masters did not take your words and actions seriously? Journeyers now, you will someday become masters yourselves. Think as masters! An alien craft from an unknown race crashes on Tython. Three Journeyers have a vision of the only being to survive that crash. As masters would you not take this seriously? Consider it deeply?" calmly explained Tave.
The Journeyers lowered their heads, not a word said between them. Tave turned, gesturing for the Journeyers to follow.
"Do not worry. You are not being ignored. Now! Lessons are done! Tasha is required at Kaleth and Shae and Sek'nos are needed at the Forge." informed Tave.
"That's the trick I want to learn…" spoke Sek'nos.
Shae and Tasha rolled their eyes, following after master Tave as Sek'nos envisioned himself forging the most powerful sword ever seen on Tython.
XXX
The human Je'daii Master Ketu, Temple Master of Akar Kesh, the Temple of Balance, paddled down the gentle waters that surrounded his home. The waterfalls of Akar Kesh fed the rivers that flowed beneath the towering monolith. Islands doted the landscape, tranquil in their isolation. A place for meditation.
It is here that Temple Master Ketu's own master, Rajivari, came to meditate and clear him mind. Rajivari was a Je'daii general from the Despot War. His command won many battles and his calm wisdom saved many lives. After the war, Rajivari laid down his sword and became one of the Je'daii that meditated on the Force. That is why Ketu has come seeking his old master's aid.
It had been years since Ketu had seen his old master. Rajivari looked very much the same when Ketu last saw him, bald, wise eyed, light skin that had begun to wrinkle with age, and clad in simple but elegant robes. Ketu knew he himself had not changed much in the last few years, other than a few more of the dark hairs on his head and goatee turning gray, a few unnoticeable wrinkles here and there on his otherwise smooth pale skin, and his dark eyes perhaps showing a bit more wisdom.
Ketu pulled up to the island Rajivari where was meditating. The Temple Master senses something is not right with Rajivari. The master's mind is uneasy, a chaotic storm of emotion.
Ketu climbed out of his boat, his long tied back hair swaying behind him as he secured the boat to a nearby rock. Rajivari sat up from his meditation, slowly approaching his old student.
"Ketu. You have not infringed on my solitude since the matter of Daegen Lok. What brings you to disturb my meditations this time?" asked Rajivari.
"Again to ask your wisdom, Master Rajivari. I know that you sensed the dark energy that preceded the Force Storm. All Je'daii did." spoke Ketu.
"Yes. Tython's skies may be clear once more, but the darkness lingers. The balance is tenuous. Speak your mind. I will listen." said Rajivari.
As the two Je'daii walked down the island shore, Ketu told Rajivari of the crashed alien ship and its sole survivor, Xesh, who wielded a weapon of solid energy.
"So…despite the Journeyers' visions, the Council sent Xesh to Bogan. Tell me, Ketu, did you ignore their vision because they are inexperienced Journeyers, or because you did not share it?" questioned Rajivari.
"Should I sound war drums based solely on a vision, General? Daegen Lok's was far from dire, and the Council ignored it. Nothing happened." stubbornly stated Ketu.
"You think the Force whispers in your ear and visions become tangible? That's not how it works! All we're allowed are glimpses—if we are lucky. It is up to us to discern the truth!" proclaimed Rajivari.
"I know the truth. The vision Lok had in the Chasm drove him mad." insisted Ketu.
Rajivari shook his head. When had Ketu become so close minded and stubborn? He nearly had the nerve to lecture his former student as though he was still a Padawan, but Rajivari restrained the urge.
"Then explain the blade of fire—shared in both visions. Did you learn nothing from me? It's been twelve years since Master Telaat was killed in the Despot War and you took his place, yet you're still so youthful in your wisdom! How long will you be Master Telaat's little shadow?" wondered Rajivari.
"For all your meditations on the balance and peace, you would still incite war. This is not the Je'daii way." declared Ketu.
"Listening to the Force is the Je'daii way! Admit it! If these visions are true, the entire Je'daii Order would change. All we know would come to an end! You came for my wisdom, master Ketu? Tell the Masters to consider Daegen Lok's vision a forewarning we should have heeded seven years ago—that what the Journeyers experienced could be the dawn of what Lok's vision foretold. Learn what Xesh knows. Where there is one warrior, an army may follow." forewarned Rajivari.
Ketu thanked the old master and headed back down the river. He had come seeking wisdom, but left with more confusion than when he arrived. Whatever came within the following days, Master Ketu would have to meditate on Rajivari's words and the Force to come up with an idea of what to do next.
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