"I was the one who told him." Neta's neck muscles twinged a bit, lips pursing together to suppress a stream of foul curses she wanted to bestow upon her employer, but instead quietly added:
"Figured he ought to know where his daughter was and the kind of progress we've made." Her cheek puffed out as her tongue slammed against the interior of her mouth.
"I think that's better than what a mercenary could provide, right?" Her hands had clenched themselves into fists, Yerbol arching a brow at the sudden surge of quiet anger that Neta was holding back.
"Uh, Neta, are you-"
"Fine. Fine." She blew out a sigh, looking around the brightly lit common area they found themselves at(a contrast from the seedy den of iniquity that they had just frequented) before telling the duo:
"I transmitted meeting coordinates for him near the ship. I'll head there now. You two try to convince the Battlemaster to join our cause and we'll see where we go from there." She turned on her heel and strode off, her gait noticeably less...skippier.
"I didn't expect her to take the comment that hard, but then again, when I called her a merc she was about ready to slam her fist straight through my chest cavity." He had turned to watch Neta walk off for a brief second, then resumed eye contact with his companion.
"Let's go find Master Naylen. I have a feeling he and Mrs.Naylen will want to hear what we have to say."
__________
"You shouldn't be here." Yerbol winced at the chiding command shouted from the entrance to the ruined Temple, Master Naylen's imposing outline looming in the distance. It was frustrating to hear the Battlemaster's scolding, but Yerbol could understand his apprehension. The Works was a dangerous place, filled with gangsters, rogue droids whose A.I. circuitry had gone out years ago and other unsavory types that Yerbol and Aria had to sidestep with a wide berth. They had not gotten into TOO much trouble other than having to cut down a few rusting Imperial battle droids that were terrorizing a family of Rodians who were trying to get off world(there were communes within this industrial maze, most of which were composed of those who had no other place to go or were trying to hide themselves from who knows what). After navigating through the hodgepodge of pipes, bodies and droids, they found a shuttle that took them straightaway to the ruins, said shuttle established by scholars who had once occupied the temple for weeks on end, but most had been scared off by the path TO the shuttle. A few remained on the exterior of the ruins, one of which had pointed Yerbol and Aria in the direction of the Battlemaster.
"You tell em, big guy." A petite red-head came alongside the dark-skinned Battlemaster, slugging him in the arm with a fist. His verdant irises looked down at her, eyes narrowing.
"What? Gotta give my man encouragement, right?" Volden rolled his eyes, the beginnings of a smirk flickering onto his face for a quick second before turning his attention to the pair who were now within a few feet of them.
"Master Naylen, it's an honor. I'm Yerbol Massani, a recently inducted Knight and-"
"No pleasantries. Why are you here?"
"I'll keep it brief."
"Please do." Yerbol swallowed a lump that had formed in his throat, calming his mind as much as he could before speaking:
"I know that you're aware of what's happened on Tython and Korriban and I know that there aren't many Masters left. Along with my companion Aria, we're attempting to assemble what Masters we have left to a safe location where you all can convene, regroup and strategize how to move forward." Naylan grimaced, his once gruff exterior turning softer.
"It all happened so fast, didn't it? The collapse of our Order before our very eyes..." Kira placed a gentle hand on her husband's arm as he continued:
"It would be of no use to try and fight this threat head on. I agree with your reasoning and I can sense your sincerity, but your companion..." He looked down at Aria, piercing eyes attempting to survey her motivations.
"I sense the Dark Side within you, young one. Am I to believe that you want the restoration of the Jedi Order?"
"It's not just the Order we want restored, Master Naylan...we're calling together Sith Lords as well." Kira chuckled, giving Yerbol an incredulous gaze.
"You're gonna have to explain this a lot more thoroughly, kid. A lot more."
It took a while, but Yerbol and Aria spun their tale as best they could for the couple, not leaving anything out. After they had spoken their last word, Naylan replied almost instantly:
"This sounds practically impossible, but with the way events have lined up...I'm willing to give this a chance." Kira snorted.
"To think that we're going to have to work with the same people the Emperor trusted..."
"Differences aside, Kira, we must at least be willing to meet with the others." She shook her head.
"Fine, fine. Just shoot us the coordinates and we'll meet up with you as soon as we can make our way out of here." Yerbol wanted to ask why the duo were at the Temple to begin with, but thought better of it and simply said:
"Of course. We'll make sure you know exactly where to go."
__________
They made it back to the hangar in time to hear Neta shouting at the top of her lungs:
"NO ONE TALKS ABOUT ME LIKE THAT, YOU PATHETIC EXCUSE OF A MAN! NO ONE!" Yerbol sighed, looking down at Aria.
"This is going to be so much fun to defuse..."
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