01 ☼ | Video

[seaoflight]

Who: Nomi Sunrider
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Marsiva, Hospitality Deck
When: Current

[A woman in green looks down at the camera, red curls spilling over her face as she inspects it with a gentle, if somewhat unamused look in her eye. She got the briefing it seems, and she's not happy but shouting is only giving her captors what they want. Silent for a few moments, her head quirks to one side a fraction, a bit like a bird studying the ground.

Seeming to come to a conclusion, she nods to herself and finally speaks. Her tone is formal and polite, though there is an undercurrent of uncertainty. Would she be speaking to nobody?]

I understand I'm to be residing aboard this...fleet...and that these communication devices are how we connect with one another. And that means introductions.

[A breath as she seems to compose herself, pushing hair out of her eyes and smiling genially. Her moment of weakness and uncertainty was done.]

My name is Nomi Sunrider, currently of Coruscant. I believe I have an understanding of the basics of what happened, though I would appreciate information that our hosts have not provided. I'd also like to know more about you, whomever might be listening to this. There's little point in being whisked away to another...reality...[She grimaces around the words.] and not at least learning from the experience. [Best to be diplomatic, right?] A name, a favored story, anything. It'd be more worthwhile and significantly less maddening than this horrible canned music.

[Her eyes close, head swiveling slightly to the left as something catches her attention.]

And I feel a handful of individuals strong in the Force present here. I would appreciate it if you would contact me. [A deep, deep frown.] And tell me, why do I sense my daughter's presence?

Comments

[resnipstance]

[Ahsoka sighs. Of course Nomi Sunrider wants to know the full story. But she's told this story too many times, and it's depressing every time.]

I don't mind telling you, but... it's a little heavy.

[It's an offer of an out-- an offer to spare her feelings, to hear it another day maybe, when she hasn't just arrived.]

[seaoflight]

It's fine. I've heard a lot of heavy stories. It'll give me something to focus on.

[She's good. Really. She is Nomi Sunrider, after all.]

[resnipstance]

[Ahsoka nods.] ... Very well.

In my time, the Jedi have been called upon to fight for the Republic in the Clone Wars. When they started, everyone thought they would be over soon, but... they dragged on. By the time this particular story starts... I'd been fighting in the Clone Wars for almost three years.

[Ahsoka doesn't look a day over seventeen, if that, so. Well. You do the math.]

Then there was a bombing in the Temple. Hundreds of people died-- civilians, Jedi, clones, you name it. It was... horrific. My master and I were called to investigate.

Instead, I ended up being framed for the crime by the real culprit.

[seaoflight]

[A war.  Yes, that would be a reason for an apprentice to fight, certainly. Even at a young age, a Force sensitive capable of fighting would be called into action.  That was what they trained to do. But that’s not the detail that really sticks with Nomi.  There are a few words.  Clones being the first, as such things were rare…and downright illegal in a lot of places.  The Republic of her time among them, though that’s a minor thing, something she can figure out later, if it really matters.

The second thing that sticks out to her besides the obvious confusion about how the temple was bombed was that she’d been framed.]

Ahsoka…I’m so sorry.

[Her face lines with sympathy, genuine concern in her voice.]

What was the council doing?  Surely they acquitted you.

[resnipstance]

... You'd think so, wouldn't you.

But the bomber was pretty thorough. There was a lot of evidence against me. In the normal course of affairs, there'd be a thorough investigation, and the case would be handled through the Council.

But... that wasn't what happened. With the war well into it's third year and no end in sight, let's just say that the Jedi have become pretty unpopular in Coruscant-- and the Senate by extension. The bombing and loss of civilian life didn't help. When word got out that a Jedi was responsible... well, you can imagine, there was an outrage. The public was out for blood, and the Senate was desperate to quell it. Apparently, a Jedi being trialed by the Jedi Council would have been seen as "unfair."

The Senate put pressure on the Council expel me from the Order, so I could be tried as a civilian, and the full weight of the law brought upon me should I be found guilty. [She's sure she doesn't have to spell out what that means.] And... the Council capitulated. I was called before the Council to account for my side of the story, but it was clear they'd already made up their minds before I'd even arrived.

Without fair trial or proper investigation, I was expelled from the Order.

[seaoflight]

[That's more than a little philosophical difference there, Ahsoka. And as you might expect from someone as emotional...and potentially volatile...as a Sunrider, her eyes flash with sudden heat. That the Jedi Council would capitulate to the Senate in her time was completely unthinkable. That a Jedi would be denied the proper dignity of a trial because of politics was absurd!

She'd only just met Ahsoka, but her heart went out to the young one, her palm smacking the bedside table hard.]

That's outrageous! That the Jedi would give in to demands made by the Senate? Force, Ahsoka, that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Especially during wartime. [There'd been some necessary trials for the Fallen Jedi of her era, yes, and she'd presided over them...but after the war had ended. A show of dissent would only appear weak, divided, and it was insane to think otherwise.]

I am sorry, child. I know that must have been hard.

[resnipstance]

Yeah, well, the fun doesn't stop there.

A few days later I had my actual trial in the Supreme Court. But it turns out, nobody in that room was very interested in a fair trial either. With all the evidence that was piled against me, my side of the story wasn't deemed worth listening to. [She's not bitter at all. Nope.]

I would have been found guilty if it hadn't been for Anakin. That's-- my old master. While the trial was on, he made use of the information I'd told him about the digging I'd tried to do on my own. He managed to find the real culprit and dragged them down to the courtroom just in the nick of time, where she finally confessed.

If Anakin hadn't put the pieces together in time... let's just say we wouldn't be talking right now.

[seaoflight]

[Nomi takes all of that information in stride, mind reeling. A Jedi on trial in the court of the Republic? That was not right. The Republic hardly deserved that right, after everything they'd failed to do, and the memory of that was a fresh rub for her. Still...]

That's...that's good to hear.

[A beat.]

Your training was never completed, was it?

[resnipstance]

... The Council extended an invitation for me to come back, if I wanted to. And I did consider it.

But the Council members in that room... save for Master Obi-Wan and Master Plo, none of them even seemed to think they'd done anything wrong. They only offered a fat lot of excuses, like "It was the will of the Force," and "This was your Great Trial," and stuff like that.

So I declined their generous offer. They were supposed to be my family, but they decided that politics was more important than trust, than justice. ... If that's what the Order has become ... I don't want any part of it.

[seaoflight]

No. I don't blame you. [Nomi's face turns extremely stern for once, a steel there that even someone who just met her might find...uncharacteristic.]

I wouldn't want to be a part of that, either.

[resnipstance]

... Yeah.

[Ahsoka sighs slightly and shakes her head as if to clear it, smiling a little sardonically.]

I did warn you it was a depressing story.

[seaoflight]

You did. But what's done is done.

[Nomi offers a half-smile in kind, a wan little thing.]

However, I'd be happy to show you a few things if you were inclined to learn. It's not as though I lack authority among the Jedi.

[resnipstance]

[An offer to be taught by Nomi Sunrider herself? ... The offer is tempting. ... Extremely tempting. It looks for a moment like she's seriously considering it. But ...]

... I'm sorry. As much as part of me wants to take you up on that ... I can't. Not right now. When I left the Order ... I made a decision that I needed some time to find out who I was outside of being a Jedi. That hasn't changed.

But... I'll think on it. Is that all right?

[seaoflight]

[Nomi raises a hand in acceptance, nodding coolly. That was as much a test as anything else, and she admires your conviction there.]

Absolutely, Ahsoka. My only request is that if there is some sort of trouble, pay attention to what I do. Never, ever, waste a chance to glean some benefit from your elders.

[resnipstance]

Of course.

[Then, jokingly:] ... But not too much. Wouldn't want to make Anakin jealous.

[seaoflight]

Naturally.

[A beat.]

Speaking of, I believe he's contacting me now. Stay in touch, will you dear?

[resnipstance]

Deal.

See you later. [She signs off.]