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

[sandhate]

[ A faint smile. ] That's what I thought. There are a number of reasons to keep us-- all of us here and all the ones I've come up with is as far-fetched as that one.

[ A beat ]

The hope is that he went home, like we will all do when Atroma feels we've done enough entertaining.

[seaoflight]

Yes, that has the potential to appear rather sinister, doesn't it? Taking us from our homes, leaving them undefended. But then, it'd hardly make sense to spirit so many away from different worlds and at different times. It's not as though taking me will help them with your time, and any damage done in my time would have already afflicted yours.

[A puzzle for another time though...]

Were you close to this missing Jedi?

[sandhate]

[ He hesitates to talk about Luke. How do you say "he's my son from the future and I barely got to know him before he left"? ]

No, we weren't close. I only talked to him a few times. As far as I know, of our universe, there are four different points in time where people are being taken from. The time you come from. Where I come from, four thousand years later. Where a Twilek and a human comes from, a few years after my time. And where Luke, his sister and Captain Solo comes from, approximately twenty years into my future.

[seaoflight]

[Nomi nods in time with that, offering a smile.]

And Jaina Solo is from after that, she tells me. Some...twenty or thirty years after that.

[sandhate]

And Jaina Solo. She's new.

[ He's still unsure about that kid, and if it shows, he doesn't seem to care. ]

I don't suppose you have any idea why it's these times periods, do you, Master- Nomi?

[seaoflight]

Well.

[She has a theory?]

If I were to say I had concrete evidence, I'd be lying. But it might be related to the events of our times. They seem to be pivotal moments in Galactic history, if what I understand from Obi-Wan and Ahsoka is true. The war against Exar Kun and your own war changes the course of history.

That isn't insignificant. And that's no coincidence.

[sandhate]

But there are no wars in Leia and Jaina's times.

[ A beat ]

I'm sorry. There is a war in Leia's time. But that war is, as far as I know, in the past. If the associations are true, it could be something in their future.

[seaoflight]

It could be. I really don't have enough information to go on beyond that though. Pivotal moments are definitely a common thread though.

[A breath.]

Though, like Leia's? My war is in the past.

[sandhate]

[ Her war -- the Great Sith War. A thing of for history books for him. ]

It's ... very surreal to see you here. And your daughter. You're both legends in my time.

[ And possibly non-existent in any records in Leia and Jaina's, he doesn't add ]

Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?

[seaoflight]

I've been told that, yes.

[A huff, but she smiles wryly.]

And absolutely, feel free. Though, I may ask you a few in kind, if that's alright.

[sandhate]

[ He doesn't hesitate once he has the approval. ]

Vima told me what you've done to an outlaw, Ulic Qel-Droma. [ There's no accusation, only a firm determination. ] Can you really sever someone's connection with the Force?

[seaoflight]

[Nomi nods in reply.]

I can, yes. Ulic Qel-Droma was an unfortunate case, though I'd hesitate to call him an outlaw. He was a kinslayer, and a traitor to the Order.

[She feels bad for his continued suffering, but he had murdered his brother and dozens of Jedi. He had to be dealt with.]

[sandhate]

[ A beat ]

And this is ... standard? This is what you do to traitors to the Order. Or is it for kinslayers?

[seaoflight]

Oh, Force...no. He and I were close before his fall, as were his brother and I. He murdered Cay, he assisted in the destruction of an entire star cluster, killing billions and destroying the Jedi archives on Ossus in the process.

[She shakes her head, her voice wavering ever so slightly.]

I had no choice in the matter. It was that or kill him. He had to be stopped, or he'd have killed again, and I didn't...I couldn't bring myself to end his life. But I had to do something.

[This is one of her few regrets. Her biggest.]

[sandhate]

[ He nods somberly but doesn't rest his questions. ]

Who decides that he should be cut from the Force rather than death? The Council?

[ His history knowledge is clearly lacking but at least he's earnest in his efforts to learn. However sensitive the topic. ]

[seaoflight]

Me.

[Nomi's voice is quiet, strained.]

The Council didn't exist at the time. Ulic killed most of them when he destroyed Ossus and attacked Coruscant. Those he didn't were murdered by Exar Kun. The responsibility fell to me, and his crimes were damning.

[sandhate]

[ He felt a chill down his spine. ]

Battle of Coruscant. We still talk about it, sometimes.

[ He swallowed hard, preparing his next question. ]

You said you and Qel-Droma were close. Do you know... what made him fall?

[seaoflight]

[That's hard. She'd cared for him, loved him even. But the answer comes easily enough.]

Arrogance. He believed he could conquer the Dark Side from within, find a way to trick Exar Kun and destroy him from by his side. That never goes as planned, though.

He is...or should be in your time...a cautionary tale. For all his good intentions, he still turned.

[sandhate]

[ He doesn't know what to say. He doesn't even think he could breath with so many colliding thoughts that her words triggered.

Anakin is quiet for a long time. When he finally speaks again, the words barely string together. No ]

I--

It's.

No. It's not. I never looked.

[ He swallows, trying to over come the sudden distress and tries again, more composed this time. ]

Thank you. I know it must be... difficult to talk about. Thank you for sharing this with me.

[seaoflight]

[His expression is telling. There's more at play here than just curiosity. Was he seeking advice in his own roundabout way? It was a guess, but she didn't know the man well enough...or at all...to really feel like it was her place to intrude onto his private thoughts and worries.

But whatever it was, her heart went out to him. She closes her eyes, takes a breath and bows her head.]

Of course, Anakin. If you need advice, or just...wish to talk, I am more than happy to do so.

[A sad smile graces her lips, her presence in the Force reaching out to his own, brushing just at the edges. The psychic equivalent of a shoulder squeeze, probably.]

Perhaps my arrival here was meant to do just that. Who can say, where the Force is concerned?

[sandhate]

[ Oh yes, the Force. His lips tug upwards in an odd smile. However comforting she was in the Force, he's reminded of the duty he has by just being bound to it. ]

Perhaps. [ He dryly quotes: ] The Force works in mysterious ways.

[seaoflight]

[A duty she also shares, a burden shoved onto an unwilling woman in a moment of blind panic. But a duty all the same.]

It does at that. [Huffing a faint laugh, she adds:] I'd said I'd ask you a question as well but honestly I'm not even sure what to ask except what foodstuffs are edible here. [Another laugh, as she's hoping to liven the mood.]

Advice?

[sandhate]

[ He chuckles faintly and looks sheepish. ]

Food - depends on your taste buds or if you're a picky eater.

Everything else? I don't think I can say anything that you wouldn't already prepared. We are Jedi, after all.

[seaoflight]

Fair enough.

[A sigh]

I think...perhaps I should let you go, though. I need to start looking for the mess hall. Thank you, Anakin, stay in touch.

And may the Force be with you.

[sandhate]

[ He nods so slowly it's almost a small respectful bow. ]

It's a small ship, I'm sure we will. Take care of yourself, Nomi.