Transmission Begins, Holocom
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It had been quite some time since she had recorded any means of information, whether it was text or by holo. Sien finds herself sitting in a side room within Lakin's ship. The holorecorder within her hands and a blank, distant look upon her features… Much had transpired since the last time she wrote. With a heavy sigh the zabrak carefully turns on the holocom.
"Sien Zoth, Jedi Sage of the Order signing in…"
Her voice sounded heavy as if several weighted plates were held upon her very person. Her eyes distant as she stares into the recording device.
"Much… Has happened since the last recording. I suppose I should quickly debrief you upon the situation on Alderaan. I-"
Her lips pull into a slight frown and it seems that she doesn't even know where to begin.
"Things have been settled there. Peace has been restored to the Houses, but at… Several costs. First of all, concerning the overall status of Alderaan. The Usurper has been dethroned and the rightful heirs have regained the crown of Alderaan. I wish them peace from here on out. It was through Lakin's strong decisions that the usurper was removed and taken into custody… I am, glad that he was the one to speak up. After all that has transpired, I do not think I could have been a strong as him with my words… And I may have said things that would cause even more of a rift between us. He has a strong sensibility and empathy, something that I sometimes lack."
Shifting her weight, the sage continues, dipping her head slightly, a troubled look upon her face.
"With this news, there is sure to be peace talks within the near future, and I'm glad of it. However, my troubles did not end there. While upon Alderaan we found the traitor that I had previously mentioned in my third log. But in doing so, Lakin was scanned by the weapon that had taken the life of the House member that we previously met with… I won't lie, this was unnerving for me. I'm not sure what would happen if Lakin was injured by it… Or worse. I am glad that the force was with us however, and we were able to get passed this trial. Nevertheless it was something that, while we are taught that fear leads to the darkness, it frightened me. I sometimes find myself questioning this, if one cannot fear- then they become prideful… Is it not best to fear a small amount to keep our actions in check so we don't act rashly and drive one's self into a situation? …But one also argues, that there is no emotion there is only peace… And that too, I struggle with every day…"
A hand pushes up and presses lightly against her forehead disturbing the silver headdress and her expression grows unreadable as she continues, seemingly extremely exhausted.
"Not only was Lakin marked for death… Once we solved the issue, and proceeded to make sure the weapon was destroyed- Lakin safe… We found ourselves in front of the very darth that has been causing so much grief for both Lakin and the republic. Or rather his holo… Lakin's… Master was murdered before us, and there was nothing… Nothing I could have done for Lakin… Nor for his master… I feel so helpless. I have the ability to heal, to shield, to protect… And I could do none of this… Instead I was forced to watch the death that I feel I could have prevented… No doubt, Lakin feels the very same. To see his master fall, it tore at me… I did not know Lakin's master very well, but I could tell he was a good person… And everything within me cried out when I felt the horrible shift within the Force… I could do… Nothing to prevent it, I couldn't heal him…"
A shuddered breath escapes the young woman as she struggles to go further. For a moment she thinks that perhaps she shouldn't have allowed the holo to record and left it as text, but there was no reason to destroy the holorecording now and start over.
"Once the weapon was destroyed, Lakin and I both left to attend the summit. By this point I had gained enough trust with House Teral to act as their representative. Before we left the bunker that housed the weapon's main computer, Lakin very clearly pained by the loss of his master… I tried my best to reassure him, but… I think I may have alienated him… I shouldn't have embraced him, but I didn't know what else I could do for him… In the end, I find myself even more conflicted by my own actions. What could I have done! -NOTHING-! I stood there and watched-"
A hand pushes out and firmly covers the lens of the recorder and for a long few moments there is radio silence. Finally Sien returns to recording and her figure is seen once more, this time more composed and ready to continue her log.
"I… Apologize for my outburst…"She begins.
"To continue where I left off… Lakin and I both went to the summit to find the ailing master. For the seventh time I used my shielding technique, and it has left me extremely weak… Exhausted. My battle with the Jedi master was no easy task either… I found myself nearly crushed by a statue which she force-lobbed at me. However, she has been healed, and the peace talks continued… My search for Vivicar continues and I must return to Tython… However, before I return to Tython- I have told Lakin that I will accompany him to face the darth that took the life of his master. I will not abandon him in his time of need. I will face this darkness at his side. I know that I said within my last log that I may very well not write again, and I will say this once more… All I can hope is that all will be well. May the Force be with us…"
"Before I cut off the transmission, I do wish to address something… When Lakin and I both returned to Alderaan after the situation upon Taris and Tython, we returned to the Shining Star Cantina… Where I ended up falling asleep…"A pause."Against Lakin's shoulder, I woke startled the next day with a strange feeling looming… I felt a presence. I… I wasn't sure what it was at first… Though what I do know, it felt dark, heavy… And familiar. Something I still cannot truthfully pinpoint and yet… It weighs heavy upon my mind. Lakin for some reason did not feel it, and seemed to brush it off… But I cannot. Or am I losing what sanity I have left? …Am I just sensing ghosts?"
Transmission Resumes, Holocom
Addendum; This portion of the holo is attached to the previous recording some time later.
"Sien Zoth, Jedi Sage- Signing in."
The young sage finds herself standing before a recording device, back upon her own ship. Her features still seem quite drained, but a look of relief plays upon her face. Finally, she thinks, it was finished…
"I have much to report upon this holocom, it has been quite some time since I have addressed this log. First of all, the darth that killed Lakin's master is no longer. We succeeded in snuffing out his pitiful life. No longer will the scourge torment Lakin or anyone else within this existence. It is a shame that so many people had to die on his account… Before we could even silence him, we found that he had destroyed millions of lives through another weapon… Lakin blames himself, it was so readable as we stood in front of the dying planet… Its hauntingly beautiful glow burning within the night sky, eerie flames seemed to leap from its very core engulfing it within a nebula like luminance. So many people died horrifically because of this man. However, now he can no longer harm anyone else… And Lakin is safe, that is all that I can ask for any more on this matter… We succeeded, we won."
"There is no death, there is only the force." The iridonian woman exhales and bows her head a little. "That is what I told him… I also told him that he is not alone, and while there isn't much else I can say to soothe him, what I have said; seems to have brought some sort of absolution; or so I hope. The battle was difficult, and there were times when I found myself concerned that we would not live through it… The same could be said about my own task… And the darth that was the root of the illnesses that I shielded."
Pausing, a bitter sweet smile plays upon her own features and a soft exhale leaves the young woman as she slightly paces.
"My final jedi master that I shielded, was the very master that was spreading the plague. While it was not by his doing, as he was influenced by dark forces… I found myself drained. The battle before healing him was painful, he was so very strong, to the extent that Lakin and I both were nearly destroyed by the man's very hands. Gathering what strength we had, we were able to finally render him; and my last and final shielding was upon his very person. The illnesses have been lifted and no longer do I have to use my shielding ability… Still weak, I find myself thinking over all that has transpired…"
"I nearly had to take the life of my former master before I found the tainted Jedi who had become Sith. I…" A shuddered breath left the woman and she tightly closed her eyes in thought. "To think I came so close to having to take my master's life, it was… So painful… To see her kneeling before me, begging me to kill her so she would not take my life. It was agonizing, and I still… Struggle with the very thought of what happened. If I had taken her life, if I had ended it… Where… Would I be now? What would I have become? The darkness, it wreathed me, and I fear it may have affected me in a long term way… I will meditate during my time of rest, in hopes to cleanse that shadow from myself. I can still see her before me…"
Sien trails off her gaze growing distant as if caught by something in the far landscape. Reflecting back upon all that happened, her focus finally returns after several minutes.
"The recording…" She whispers only to blink a few times and frown.
"In any case… All of this, has finally come to an end… Lakin and I both returned to the Jedi council and were given strict orders to rest and recuperate. We were given shore leave on Carrick Station, and told to report in to the masters there before taking the required time off. But before that, each of us have been granted titles… Lakin is now celebrated as the Hero whom saved Tython… Which, I might add may have or have not gone to his head… But I can forgive him for that at least. While I have been named a warden of the Jedi Order, and have been requested to create a holocron of my trials. Now all that has finally come to an end, I am to meet Lakin at the Carrick Station's cantina after reporting in that we arrived at Carrick."
Frowning her gaze softens a little and a hand carefully pushes up and clutches onto her robes.
" I suppose… This will be goodbye. I have… Enjoyed the time that I spent traveling with Lakin, and he will forever remain my Oen'nuin, …My dear friend."
"Sien Zoth… Signing out…"
Her voice is bitter sweet as she shuts down the holorecording, thinking upon all that happened, and of course her "Oen'nuin".
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End Transmission