Grand Master Kara Ka
The sky darkened as Coalition and Alliance cruisers ripped out of hyperspace, their silhouettes bright pinpricks of light in the moonless night. As one, the assembled Jedi, some 500 strong, rose, some gasping, others crying out in worry. Kara Ka stared at the newly arrived guests and bit her pale red lip. She knew this conclave was a bad idea, she had warned against it, she had begged Ek-Marai to remain hidden on Ilum. And here she was, vindicated.
A hail of orbital turbolaser fire fell upon the small vale within which the Jedi had assembled, a torrent of red and green energy ripping apart the earth, sending men, women, and their assorted space craft flying through the air. Some Jedi scattered, some were immediately incinerated, some raised their hands in an effort to shield themselves with the force, or ignited their sabers as a matter of habit, yet all of it was futile. Before the first blast had even touched the ground, Kara was moving, opening herself to the force and releasing its energy into her limbs. Willing herself forward, the Togrutan Master grabbed her young apprentice by the wrist, and began to run. Dodging around fires, wreckage, bodies, and crowds of scrambling Jedi, the pair began to make their way to the forest at the foot of the vale.
"Go," Kara said as she pushed her student toward the forest, "Get back to the ship! Fire up the engines, and be ready for me to return!"
Spinning on her heels, the Jed Master did not even wait to see if young Illia Daal followed her orders, she knew she would. Streaming from the burning vale, injured and wounded Jedi, those few that had survived the initial bombardment now trickled forth, bloodied and bruised. Kara beckoned them, leading Masters, Knights, and Padawans towards the awaiting ship. Yet, even as the Cruisers above them halted their murderous hail of energy, the roar of engines took their place in the ears of the survivors.
"Transports," a Jedi called, "Run!"
"This way!" Kara called, "Into the forest!"
The stragglers began to run from the hills, and into the eaves of the dense wood. Kara spotted Ek-Marai at the back of the crowd, lightsaber in hand, and missing a his left lekku.
"Grandmaster!" Kara called, as she drew her own blade, allowing the injured Jedi to lean on her for balance. "Our ship is this way, please, we dont have much time."
The elder twi'lek nodded, gripping his chest with a claw like hand as he wheezed forward.
"Aye Kara," he said sadly, "You were right, you have always been right."
The Togrutan shook her head, elegant montrals framing her face.
"No need to worry about that now, we must..."
Kara was cut off by the sound of blaster fire, red bolts ripping through the forest behind. Ek-Marai released a small gasp as the smell of burnt flesh and singed cloth permeated in the air. Suddenly, he went limp, held only by the weight of Kara's arms.
"Master..."
A second bolt whizzed past the Jedi Master, who, with a grunt, was forced to drop her fallen colleague. Kara jumped back, and peered from behind a tree. A line of Coalition and Alliance troops were moving forward, blasters raised. Gripping the leather bound hilt of her lightsaber, Kara pressed its activator, the familiar hiss following the appearance of her emerald blade.
The Jedi Master heard the troopers footsteps. She felt their life through the force. Yet, as she was about to step from behind the tree, she felt their life snuffed out. The roar of blaster fire and a wall of heat surged past her, blistering the back side of her tree. Bright searchlights illuminated her position, and Kara stepped out into them blade held high.
Suspended above the burning plain, an ancient cruiser hovered, docking ramp lowering. Through the bright light, Illia cried out, "Master, come on!"
Without thinking, Kara leaped forward, into the light.
Kara Ka awoke with a start.
Light flickered off the icy walls of her chambers as a dying candle breathed its last. The small room she called her own was line with carpets, drapes, and clothes of many colours, anything to keep the cold at bay. Along one wall, sat her bed, upon which she sat. Along the other wall lined the prized possessions of the Jedi Order, everything she had salvaged from Jedi sites across the Galaxy. Ossus, Coruscant, Ilum, and farther afield, Kara had spent much of the preceding decade trying to save as much of the Order as she could.
Now, as sweat dripped off her brow from her nightmare, Kara peered at the damp wall and sighed. Another day, just like so many others, and she still could not forget Telos IV. Standing, the Jedi Grandmaster stretched the ache from her body, and went to her dresser. Clad now in her brown Jedi robes, the Togrutan grazed a hand along several heavy coats. Selecting the thickest and most warm, she folded it in her arms, and stepped through the small, icy, hole she called a door.
The caves of Ilum had once been filled with kyber crystals, the power cells of the old orders lightsabers. Now, few remained, the walls were bare, aside from the utilitarian shelves and equipment the Jedi had cannibalized from the ship that had spirited them from Coruscant, the ancient Archangel. As she trudged through the carved out halls of the Cavern, she neared the old Temple itself. Here, the jagged walls turned smooth, the cramped spaces became a wide cathedral of carved pillars and niches. Most of her coven lived within these walls, and many of them nodded respectfully as she past near, some muttered Master. As she neared the great doors that lead to the icy plains of Ilum, the Warden moved to greet her.
"Good morning Master Neloth," Ka said softly, inclining her head at the large Quarren that was bundled before her.
"Master Ka," Neloth said. "Ranging today?"
The togrutan chuckled as she opened the massive stone doors with her mind. "A visit, to the shrine."
The hike to the top of the cliff was long, and the winter winds whipped at Kara's heavy coat. Yet, as she neared the summit, she breathed a deep sigh of relief. From this height, the horizon of Ilum showed its curvature, and the temperature was dangerously low. The Jedi Master saw her breath in the hair, hovering like a small cloud, though, as it dissipated, a small twinkle emerged in the distance. A single golden chest, octagonal, sat embedded in the ice.
Placing a pale red hand on the chest, Kara smiled and released herself into the force...
Ilia Daal
"I have eyes on them," Ilia said softly into the comm link embedded deep in her ear. Hidden by her long auburn hair, the device allowed seamless communication with her brother, stationed as he was on the other end of the space port. The Crucible was always crowded but rarely haf it seen this much tension. After a decade of peace, Alliance and Coalition negotiators were resigning the Carida Concordat, the only document keeping the Galaxy at peace.
"I still don't know why we are here," Korven's voice buzzed in. "The Jedi should hate the Concordat. And dont tell me you hate nothing, I dont buy it."
Illia frowned, ignoring her brothers last comment. "We are here to ensure the security of the Concordat. Master Ka does not want another war in the Galaxy."
"Master Ka doesnt work for the Alliance any more. To hell with them both."
"Ill explain later Korven, just keep your eyes peeled." Illia had hardly taken her gaze of the men in front of her. At the small cafe on the Crucible's promenade, several well appointed men sat eating and drinking to excess. "I have my eyes on the Alliance delegation, any sign of our Coalition friends?"
"A Pellaeon class destroyer just dropped out of hyperspace, they will be here any moment. When they arrive Im going too... oh hello ladies."
Illia rolled her eyes.
"Korven, focus."
"Koh-to-yah baby, you ever been with an oxygen breather before?"
"Korven!"
"Relax Illia, this is an easy gig, neither the Coalition nor the Alliance wants war. Why would they sabotage thwir own peace process?"
Illia squinted at the Alliance delegates, one of whom had just vomited into a nearby planter.
"We just need to be sure. We do not intervene unless necessary."
"Well our Coalition friends just docked, they are being lead go their rooms. By the force thats alot of body guards." Korven chuckled. "Maybe they were sent by the Ambassadors wife, with all the women around here..."
"Korven," Illia said more forcefully.
The low level static was her only reaponse before Korven softly said "Your lucky I have incredible self restraint."
"You wanna buy sone death sticks?" An unfamiliar voice buzzed in Ilias ear, someone having leaned in close to speak with Korven.
"Hell yeah!" Her brother replied, much to Illia's annoyance.
"By the Force Korven," Illia said, watching as her quarry began to stumble off from the Cafe. "The signing is in 5 hours, just behave until then."
"C'mon little sis, when have I ever let you down?"
"I dont have time to count," Illia said sharply, before turning off her comm, and following her prey down the promenade .