While change had been a recurring motif in their lives the past eight and a half months, it was still a jarring experience. An academy? A formal Council that blended together former Jedi and Sith that were not only getting along, but working together for the true betterment of the galaxy? Younglings being taught in the ways of the Force that encouraged harmonization rather than polarization? Yerbol had contributed as much as he could to their retelling of events in regard to Renso, but he let Aria and the rest of the Council do the talking while he soaked in the order of events. He hadn't been the only one quiet, Voldon not uttering a word until the room's collective curiosity was directed towards him. A sarcastic smirk broke across his dusk colored face.
"To be fair, we DID derive the word Jedi from High Sith, did we not?" Matt nodded.
"We did. According to the archives, historians claim that the Sith were the ones to name the Order as a label of condescension. The Jedi were a faceless, nameless band of rebels until that point." He continued to muse:
"That name must've arisen after those 'radical Sith' broke away from the original philosophies and began teaching the Sith Code we know today. Maybe there were Sith who took the opposite stance? If only the archives were still available to search."
"And even if they were, they stand as a monument to a past we'll need to forget." Voldon surveyed the room with his eyes as he continued:
"We need to move forward. I can't think of a better way to do that than to have a strong, powerful name for what will define who we are. Whether it be in High Sith, Basic, Twi'lek, I don't care. It needs to be emblematic, though, of a new beginning."
"Then may I suggest something?" A chair scooted next to Aria's, said chair occupied by an all too familiar blonde Miraluka.
"Always with an entrance, eh, Malu?"
"I missed you, too, my dear Voldon." She patted Aria on the back, looking to her with a knowing smile before glancing around the room.
"Oh come now, you can't be surprised that I'm here."
"The last transmission we received from you was three months ago! We were bloody worried!" Matt proclaimed, some of the others nodding in agreement.
"Yes, and what did I say in the transmission, Matthew? I said I would return as soon as I could with the help we needed. You'll want to meet the retinue I brought back...after they clear the med bay, of course."
"Med bay? What-"
"I thought we were trying to name ourselves, not socialize with an old codger like myself." She giggled slightly as she sat back.
"I promise I'll explain everything after this little meeting is over. But, I digress from my original point. In my travels I had a bit of time to do some reading on the language of the High Sith. Without Roan, I thought it would be necessary for me to at least have some working knowledge of the language in case I wanted to pick up where he left off. I came across two words that I found enticing that, when spliced together, form the basis of a powerful message." She cleared her throat.
"Qyaari. Qya meaning Lord and Ari meaning Force. So, in Basic, Lords of the Force." Voldon jutted his chin out in approval, nodding.
"That'll work for me." Matt stroked the small tuft of hair on his chin that was growing out(Cheriss made fun of him for it far too often...he liked it).
"Neutral, yet powerful. Depicts our new found appreciation for controlling the Force, not others." He looked to the others with an appreciative smile.
"I think we've got ourselves a legitimate name." There was a bit more discussion on the name, but in the end the Council of Elders agreed that from here on out, the galaxy would not know Jedi or Sith no longer, but the Qyaari, the Lords of the Force.
"Well isn't this all an exciting time?" Malu rose from her chair, but not before Voldon asked:
"Alright, spill, Malu: where have you been and who's in the med bay?"
"Well, I collected myself on Hoth along with a few other things before traveling to more populated planets in search of those of our Force using brethren who may have hidden themselves in 'plain sight'. Two were in the underbelly of Dromund Kaas, living in a cave(former Sith). Another was on Coruscant, a former Jedi Knight who was protecting several younglings that were thankfully not too beat up. Those three put together informed me that there was a kind of...well, for lack of a better term, underground network of Force users on several worlds that had formed out of necessity to survive. Most of this network was caught by Bracknell's lackeys, but some, like these fortunate souls, managed to stay off the figurative grid. They scavenged, foraged and knocked off minor Alliance supply caravans in order to survive. Resourceful ones, they are."
"Why hadn't they reached out to us?"
"They're afraid, darling. Afraid that Force users are going to be hunted again, that it would only be a matter of time. Thankfully the ones that came with me were more than willing to subscribe to our new philosophies, but others will need more convincing. For now, we can be thankful we have more experienced Force users onboard." She looked to Cheriss, asking:
"Cheriss, would you happen to remember the last name Lugansa? One of the cave dwellers told me that they served under a Lord Lugansa, but I can't quite place the name..." Before Cheriss could answer, the holo terminal recently installed in the Council chambers(now official) came to life, Saresh's face betraying concern.
"Chancellor! We weren't expecting a call at..." The chronometer next to her projection said that it was two in the morning on Coruscant.
"This late."
"An urgent matter has come up that I feel you should know about. As you may have heard, we had been in negotiations with some of the more powerful Hutts in the Outer Rim for full control of Nar Shaddaa. Those negotiations are now on hold because the entire planet has gone dark." Yerbol spoke for the first time in probably half an hour:
"Dark, Chancellor? As in, no communication with anyone?"
"Correct. Hutt Lords off world have alerted us that they sent their own task forces to investigate, but no reports came back...and neither did their squadrons."
"Why not send in a fleet?"
"A show of military force that strong might send the wrong impression to the Hutts, that we want to assert control. We need the Hutts on our side, which they will be if we send in Force users who can investigate."
"It just so happens that our newly appointed Champions are here with us." Voldon nodded to the duo.
"Think of this as your first official mission as Qyaari."
"As what?" Saresh furrowed her brow quizzically.
"We'll explain in a moment. For now, what would you like them to do?"
"Send them along with Havoc to Nar Shaddaa, collect intelligence and do whatever you need to in regard to restoring the planet."
"Right...so saving a planet." Yerbol nudged Ari playfully.
"We've had to take on worse, right?"
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