Post by Lissa on Aug 27, 2018 15:02:36 GMT -5
When at last Kel'dan returned to his office... He made a call. It was going to Ja'eeth. It had been weeks, if not months since he'd spoken to her or their children... He'd waited until it would be daylight and everyone would be up and awake before he called... And now sat, waiting anxiously, for her to answer.
A familiar voice would answer the call, but it wouldn't be hello. The first words out of Ja'eeth's mouth were "No, Medren, put that down...I'm on a call, it can wait --" which was followed closely with "Hello?"
He swallowed at the sound of her voice... He'd been avoiding this call to a certain degree. "Hey, Ja'eeth."
"Kel'dan. Where in the hell have you been?!" In the background the sound of children playing was rather loud, but grew softer until it faded away completely. She'd changed rooms to get away from the noise, "Are you alright?"
"I'm not okay," he said softly. "But I will be, I guess... I've been in Keldabe this whole time. Taking care of everything... I'm little more than a very busy, sleep-deprived bureaucrat."
"What's going on? What's -everything-?"
"Everything," he said, shrugging. Even though she couldn't see it. "Work schedules, arranging everything from visitors to and from, approving applications, meeting everyone under the sun... But the single most important thing... Keeping everyone calm all the time... There's some dissention, but not much... Today, someone erected an effigy of my brother and I... And burned it."
The concern in her voice was evident across the comm channel, "Any idea who? Are you alright?"
"No idea... 6 people, cloaked in all black is all the security cameras caught... I don't know if I'm alright. I'm tired. I'm stressed... I don't--" He rubbed his forehead. Very suddenly, he had a headache. "I'm trying to do right by our people, Ja'eeth... I don't know if I'm doing more harm than good."
"Has anyone died, or been imprisoned, since this started?"
"No deaths that I'm aware of... A few people have started fights and have gotten prison time, but not a lot... For those with the dissention, I've been the target of their violence. And I accept it because its part of accepting responsibility for all of this... And Sadhric is never here. Which is probably for the best, but damn."
"Would they even know him if they saw him? You are the face of this, Kel'dan, because they know -you-. They know you were brothers with Ker'dan, and Ker'dan isn't here to take the brunt of everything so its coming to you. I don't think you should have to accept -any- violence in responsibility of this. No one deserves to be beat in their brother's place."
"I rallied for the support of the clans to be Mandalore, Ja'eeth. I got them to agree and then Sadhric demanded the title and everything else... So many still think of me as the Mandalore. Its my job to see that respect is upheld towards him and to handle everything else in his absence... And every time he shows up on this planet, its to stack something else on me, it seems like."
The tone of her voice shifted into something like soft amusement, "Have you tried telling him 'no'?"
"Have you?" he asked. But it wasn't meant as a jab at her specifically, but more like, asking her experiences with the man... "Do I even dare? At every kriffing turn, there's the threat of the Chiss looming over our heads... And the Hapans are everywhere. And I agreed to that. Nobody else... Me. So, yeah. I deserve that aggression... Where is the breaking point?"
"Well, if people are burning you in effigy I can't imagine that its too far off. Find a way to make this seem beneficial to them, beyond not being overrun by Chiss -- if the Hapans are there to stay, then make it look more cooperative than an occupation if possible. Find a way to make some benefit to Mandal beyond just the ability to breathe another day. Remember glory and honor? Find a way to restore that without being brought under boot. That's no place for a Mandal." So said the woman who had been answering to Sadhric for longer than Kel'dan may have even thought to realize. The situations were different, and most recently the objective matched with her intentions so this time it was a win-win.
"I'm trying to do that, too. One of the winning arguements I had for becoming Mandalore was that we had to earn our honor back... But its not so easy as just saying it."
"You're right. Its not as easy as just saying it. Words are nothing. They are meaningless unless you back them up with actions. -- Have you spoken to anyone beyond the clan chiefs about what's going on? Not the effigies, but everything else?"
"Extensively... They know what's at risk. They know the dangers if we don't cooperate. They know that the Hapan occupation is the best chance of earning our honor back and our best chance of actual survival, too."
"Then give it time. If they dont come around, then it will be as it will. This wasn't going to be easy, and your brother left a lot of angry people looking for answers when he put our stock in Maltez. I'm not the person with the answers, though I wish I did know how to help."
He was quiet for a long moment... And then said, "I can't leave with all the things stacked on me right now... Bring them for a visit? Just a visit, not back to stay?"
"Is it safe for them there? Even for just a visit?"
"I've not had any direct violence or anything... I don't think they'd be threatened, but I don't know for sure," he said honestly. Though it made him a little sad to say it because he knew she'd probably say no.
There was a breath. It was an audible thoughtful noise without really being any sort of sound at all, " The kids have been asking for you, and its getting harder to keep them occupied. You'll need to get me clearance, and think long and hard about this, Kel'dan. Seeing you again could make it more difficult on them when its time for us to go."
"For now, can I talk to them? I won't tell them about a potential visit," he promised. "I'll think about it... And I'll get you clearance, either way."
"Alright. But not for very long, and I fully expect you to let me know when our clearance has been secured, or denied."
"I will," he promised her.
Several seconds would pass with the wild noises of children playing growing louder once more, "Medren, you're first!" And it wouldnt be too much longer after that the comm unit would be handed over to the boy.
Several minutes later, after talking to all three of them, he told Ja'den to hand the phone back to his mother... When she answered again, he sighed softly. "As much as I want to see them... With aggressions being so high... Its selfish to ask you to come," he told her gently. "But I'll still try to get you clearance."
"It is selfish." The sounds of the children had faded again as she found a more quiet place to talk, "and I have more than half a mind to say 'no'. Being away from what they know has been hard on them. It wont get any easier if I bring them home."
He nodded, though she didn't see it. "I understand... But I promise, I'll call more often."
"You damn well better! They're driving me nuts!"
It made him smile. "You're still a good mom," he told her. "I'll let you go... But I'll call again tomorrow if I have the time."
"Be safe, and be smart Kel'dan."
"I can but only try. Have a good day, Ja'eeth." When he hung up, he didn't get up from his desk... He covered his face with his hands and simply sat there like that for a while.
* * * * * *
It was not too long after Kel'dan had called her that Ja'eeth was calling him back. Perhaps just a total of twenty standard minutes had passed.
After a few rings, the comlink clicked on his end. But it was nothing but noise. It sounded like the comlink had been dropped or buried or something and somebody was trying to find it... There was the sound of muffled cursing, both in Basic and Mandoa. Finally, Jaeeth would hear him say, "Ti'ya! Come here! I need your long arms!"
She had no choice but to wait and listen, eyes on the clock and watching time tick by.
It wouldn't be but about 10 seconds before he fumbled with it. "Kel'dan," he said, his voice oddly different. Just a moment ago, it had been flustered. Now it was eerily calm and composed.
"If you want me home, you need to call -him-. And if I come, it will be without the children. And know that once I'm there I wont be able to leave until I'm given clearance."
He was quiet for a long moment... There wasn't even the sound of breathing.. "I guess the question here is... Do you WANT to come?" he asked softly.
" 'Wants' don't matter here, Kel'dan. Am I -needed-? Are you holding up well enough that I don't have to be there, or do you need someone in your corner?"
"If I'm being honest with myself... No. I'm not okay... But I don't want you here if you're gonna hold taking you away from the kids against me."
A breath and a sigh came over the comm, his way, "Kel'dan. The children are safe here, and I'm still active and very much involved in seeing that things go -right- in this. If I'm needed, then I will be there."
She didn't see it, but she could probably hear the tiredness in his voice. He was reluctant to admit that he needed help... "You're needed... I'll call him."
"I'll pack. See you soon, Kel'."
"give them hugs and kisses for me, "he told her, then hung up... He stared at his comlink for a long moment before putting in the frequency he had for Sadhric.
* * * * * * *
A rare occurrence. Maybe an unheard-of one for Kel'dan: Sadhric was on the call at once. "Kel'dan. On the same side suddenly, are we?"
His first instinct was to roll his eyes... But he didn't. Rather, he say there quiet for a few seconds. "I've been trying to stay on your side since the beginning of all of this."
"And I on yours."
"I'd like permission for Ja'eeth to come home. The kids are safe where they are... And... I need help.". Sadhric might have had an idea of how hard that was for him to admit... But at the same time, didn't have a clue.
"If you need a demolitions specialist, things are worse in Keldabe than I thought." It came with a little rise of laughter.
It took everything he had not to twitch... "You never know," he said, shrugging... "Have you heard about the effigy?"
"Why don't you tell me about it," The Mechanic said calmly. At the Hapan Palace, he was looking up into a layered gray sky laced every so often with lightning. Thunder chased it. The rain was fierce and then gentle, fierce and gentle, fierce and gentle in a long slow cycle.
He sighed softly and settled into his desk chair. "early, early morning, 6 people shrouded in black left eggifies on the property of (insert name here). It bore likenesses to myself and Ker'dan.. And it had been set on fire. I collected ascmuch security footage as I could find. Not much to be found. They were careful... Maybe you can get further than I did."
"Maybe so. And then what? Shall we begin this new era by making examples of those who dislike us? I'd have quite a few examples to make."
"I just wanted to figure out who it was. Their family status and influence might affect how people react to potential punishment... Wanted to know who I was dealing with before I asked you how to proceed."
"Good thought. Investigate if it pleases you. Involve the demolitions expert if that pleases you, too, though I would prefer that demolitions of all kinds be kept to a necessary minimum. And I leave you with this directive: we do not 'punish.' We act according to the law. Currently, to my knowledge, there is no law among your people against the burning of images of public figures. And while I'd rather not see Keldabe ablaze in protest, neither am I going to weigh in on a matter of inappropriate burning. If it endangers safety, pursue it. Otherwise, move on."
"I have already looked into it and came up with next to nothing... Would you mind looking at it for me? I just want to know who they are. This could escalate and I want to keep an eye on them... But the rest? Understood. Thank you for your permission for Jaeeth to return."
"You're welcome," Sadhric said first, sounding odd--maybe pleasantly surprised. Always hard to tell. "Do you have any Intel that suggests escalation is imminent?"
"No, to be honest... But I'd like to see it not get that... Worst I could charge them with is property damage, but it has potential to stir dissent."
"Of course it does. But if you have no evidence that it may lead to greater things, for now it is the business of Keldabe's local keepers of the peace. If there should come a time when it rears its head as something greater, we will reassess. Until then, you do not have time to waste on such things, and I certainly do not. Unless you find it 'honorable' to pursue every individual who leaves graffiti in the night? You would do better to continue finding out from the clans what is needed and wanted. And you may construct a list of names for me. I don't give half a damn about the names of malcontents at this moment. Find me the names of those who will talk with me."
There was a creaking noise in the background as he propped booted feet up on the surface of his desk. "Yes, sir," he said. He hated being a pushover, being the man to exe ute all of these orders... But who else would do it? Nobody. His mouth tightened as he followed those thoughts. "permission to speak frankly?"
"Provided you do so with appropriate language: granted."
"You say I don't have time for this and neither do you... But it's not just an insult to me, it's an insult to you. It says they don't believe in any of the current or recent leadership... While the crime itself is minor, the attitude and motivation behind it is dangerous... And I would appreciate knowing who these people are so I can be better prepared the next time they try this."
"It's our way to challenge leadership openly and that's all fine and good. Its an insult to our culture, too, to do this from the shadows."
"Funny, I don't feel insulted." Sadhric said it without a hint of mockery. "I am the Mand'alor. I do not police the sentiments of my free citizens and warriors. Should a true threat emerge, I will address it. We do not chase shadows. That is an order."
He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. "Yes, sir."
End call.
* * * * * * *
He mumbled incoherently for a few seconds and then picked up his comlink again... He sent Jaeeth a message with only five words. 'It's done. See you soon.'
Some days later, Ja'eeth was stepping into Kel'dan's office. Her bag was slung over one shoulder with a long strap, the weight balanced by a small handle on top of the bag held with her right hand. It was roughly mid-day, and she was going straight for it, ignoring anyone that might have gotten in her way if they were Mandal. For the Hapan, and other occupying forces she gave way, but only for them.
On the way, she'd pass by a assistant's desk. The woman who was there was unusually tall for a human woman. Well over 6 feet tall, with long blonde hair. The look on her face, maybe even temperament, said she had resting bitch face... But she nodded respectfully to Ja'eeth and hit a button to open the doors to kel'dan's office for her... Inside his office, he sat behind the desk. He was going through documents. There were piles of boxes stacked almost to the ceiling in some places... There was clearly lines on his face that indicated stress and tiredness that was much deeper than physical... He had a smile, though, and did not look up as she opened the door. As soon as it cracked open before she'd even stopped into the room, he said, "Welcome back."
"Counting down the seconds were you?" She was taking in the state of the office as she entered, and once fully inside with the door closed Ja'eeth was taking Kel'dan in. "You look like fodder. I'm rethinking my stance on you staying sober for this...." While he showed signs of stress and fatigue, Ja'eeth didn't look all too much different than she normally did, all except for the Corellian style of clothing she wore, which was all done in earthy tones.
"No," he said, looking up. "I can feel you. And other specific people I have a connection to... My brothers. The kids. You. Sadhric... A few others like Ti'ya." he shrugged. He hadn't ever told her much about what he could do with his force sensitivity, but unlike most, at least she knew." When it's someone I'm not close to, it feels like tension. I know when they're coming, usually. But don't know who it is until I lay eyes on them."
"Ti'ya...is....?" Eyebrows up expectantly, Ja'eeth waited for him to tell her.
He nodded with his chin towards the door. "My assistant."
Moving toward Kel'dan's desk she began the task of bringing the strap of her bag up over her head so she could put it down, "What jobs do you have her doing? She looks rather bored out there."
"Mostly, she plays referee and keeps people out who demand to see me without an appt... Abd makes it hard for people to see me who I don't want to see... She's a social bodyguard," he muttered.
A nod, "You wont be needing me to vet your daily planner, then?"
"You can if it makes you feel better," he said with a small smile. "I maintain my own schedule... But it's so busy and I don't sleep much." He sighed and leaned back in his chair, studying her intently. Then he rubbed at his forehead as if he had a headache. "Like I said before... I'm more of a beurocrat now than anything else."
The bag was set down right next to her, and when she rose Ja'eeth placed her hands on her hips, "Then I'm here to....? You said you needed me, Kel'dan. So I came. Why am I here?"
The look on his face was very frank. "I need you to help me keep my sanity... To help keep me honest. To help me stay in touch with our people... I don't really need you in the sense that I need you to do things for me. But I need you here."
"So you want me to be a decoration? --Arm candy. That's what I'm here for?" Her tone was not as angry as her words may have been. Her presence was more prodding. What was it he was expecting from this?
He shook his head. He stood up from his desk and walked around it to look down into her face. "You can do whatever you want, Ja'eeth," be told her quietly, gently. "But I need someone here that I care about... I am *alone* with the weight of everything on me... I am doing everything I can to keep my shit together and I'm barely holding on" he told her. He held up his fingers, holding thumb and forefinger about an inch apart. "I am -this close- to breaking, Jaeeth... And sometimes I wonder if that's exactly what -he- wants."
Her hands dropped from her hips, arms loose and dangling, "It probably is," she smiled, though, and then reached out to take his hands in her's, "But you can't let that happen, Kel'dan. You can't let him, or anyone else break you. I wont have a broken man as my husband, that is one thing that will not do in my life. So if you need something to hold it together for, do it for me. Do it for our child so we can all get through this and one day he might be able to come home."
His hand tightened around hers and he looked down. "I feel like he wants me to fail... So he has a reason to destroy us," he muttered. Then he reached up to touch her face very gently. "You'd really take a nameless, clanless beurocrat for a husband?" he asked with a slight smile.
Both at Kel'dan's words and his touch her smile slowly widened, "Kel'dan, we are Mando'ade. Failure has been, and always will be, death. We've nothing to fear from Sadhric Tlin aside from total annihilation. And that's not so bad if we can go down with our heads held high knowing we went at this with everything we've got. And as for the name...." her smile grew sly, "You could always become Kel'dan Va'lor. Kind of has a nice ring to it."
The smile that came was genuine and loving. "You never cease to amaze me," he said very quietly. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a hug, kissing her cheek. When he pulled away, he rubbed at his face. "We need to show the people that we're united in the cause... And being alone, I've been struggling with that a lot... I could use your input for how to handle this."
The hug was returned, and held until Kel'dan let her go, "Why you tell me what's going on? Start at the beginning, I want to know what I've missed." She took a step back when she was released, but only to motion toward his chair on the other side of the desk, "And for the love of your mother, sit down before you fall over!"
He chuckled and sat down in his chair,. "I'm not - that--tired." He sighed as he thought about where to begin... And then began the tale. (Do wen need to RP That out or can we skip that? I think we've discussed what's going on and the sentiments as a generalize thing?)
He began... At the beginning. "Well... As you know... I rallied for support as Mandalore... Got most of the clans to agree to it. It was a temporary designation, as per the agreement... But I impressed upon them the need to accept this deal Sadhric was offering us or that we'd be destroyed... They believed me, they agreed we-- as a nation-- had dishonored ourselves by participating in the war as we had... I told them this was a way to win their Honor back. And I still genuinely believe that... And then Sadhric came along and changed his demands and everything else and I was..." He shook his head." Still am... Angry about that... There's been a few challenges for leadership. I accepted them and won, but I told them that I wasn't Mandalore when I accepted it... Some people seem to think I'm still the Mandalore and Sadhric has me wrapped around their finger. That his title is just for show... But it's left up to me to make sure that they respect his standing and his title and not to disrespect it. And if they do, it'll be both me and them that's punished for it... I'm - sure--there's dissent, but it's been quiet and on the down low and I haven't heard much about it... Not that they'd let it get back to me, " he said, shrugging. " The Hapan occupation has changed a lot and people are wondering how to go about their daily lives without dealing with them... And the truth of the matter is-- they can't."
She waited for just a moment after he had finished, having positioned herself on top of a stack of crates while he spoke. The position had her leaning forward slightly in a minute slouch, "How are you handling the other clans? Are you bringing Sadhric's orders to them as if they are independant, i.e. Sadhric says.....blah...., or are you bringing them from a place of authority from yourself? 'We've agreed, Sadhric and I'?"
"I bring them from a place of authority as Sadhric's right hand man... I make most of the decisions with how to handle things and I deal with the clans, but there's a lot of distrust. 8 tell them the decisions and orders come from the Mandalore. Because they do. Not directly, but they do. Because I don't dare to step on Sadhric's toes and I-- and they-- know that I fuck up, Sadhric's probably just gonna fire me and who knows what will happen then."
"So they are waiting for you to stumble, then they'll be able to move in. Do any loyalists remain? People who listen faithfully to what you are saying? And don't count me. I'm rather biased and compromised in this situation."
"Most of the clan leaders are loyalists. They follow me... But the dissent lies in the younger ranks among the clans, I think... It took a lot of rallying and silver tongue maneuvering to get them on board, but once I had them on board, they were100% with me... And I'm pretty sure I still have the majority of them. But... I can't tell where the line blurs, you know? I'd say I still have three quarters of the clan leaders. But that doesn't apply to the majority of their clans. Their sons, daughters, cousins.
"What have you done to win the young ones over? The older generations remember the glory that Clan Akir brought to our people. That's why they are loyal. You need to bring something to them, show them you are with them, that you understand. Become their leader, Kel', and they will follow you, and they will follow Sadhric because you follow Sadhric."
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. " I haven't really tried to win them over... I don't know how."
"Well, I would say start working with them. Be seen out there, spend time with them -- hell, train with them if you want. Let them knock you around a bit," she shrugged, "there's no relationship now, nothing for them to build off of. So, start one."
He nodded, looking thoughtful about that. "I'll have to delegate some of my other responsibilities to other people... And if you're willing, you can help with that... But yeah. I already have one trainee. Maybe we can make a... Class... Out of it."
"Mm," to that Ja'eeth shook her head, "Don't teach them. You start that way and you'll lose them. If they wont accept you as right hand man to the Manda'lore, what makes you think they'll listen to you as a teacher. You need to not be an authority roll to them when you start this. That respect needs to be cultivated."
He nodded again, still looking thoughtful. "I have one trainee, simply because Sadhric asked me go teach him... His family was 'training' him by beating him senseless."
"Who is he? What's his clan name?"
"Arlos Tovar... His brother was beating him. Sadhric came upon it and put a stop to it... I'm training the kid and his brother is not to participate in any capacity. Sadhric's orders."
Ja'eeth nodded, "Does the family have any connections you could take advantage of?"
"I'm familiar with the clan in name only, so I haven't really explored it as a possibility."
"Talk with Arlos, then, find out who he knows, and who they know and so on. Get names and get to know the families."
"Talk with Arlos, then, find out who he knows, and who they know and so on. Get names and get to know the families." (Reposting for Lissa in case she didnt see it
Kel'dan looked at her sidelong, giving her a small smile. He nodded. "Thank you... I've been stressed out. It's messing with my rationality, it seems."
"You're welcome," Ja'eeth said, returning the smile, "And whatever you need me to take care of for you, I will. I have no restrictions placed on me aside from needing to be given clearance to leave. I'm at your disposal, Kel'dan."
"And I appreciate it," he said, holding out a hand towards her. There was a heaviness to him that couldn't really be described, but it seemed a little lighter than it had a few minutes ago. "For now... I jus want you tostay right here."
Rising from where she sat, pushing herself gently off the stack of crates, Ja'eeth made her way for the desk and reach for Kel'dan's hand, "Alright, but I need you to do something for me in return, okay?"
He looked up at her with a tired expression. "I promised to quit drinking already and I did. But he gave her a tiny smile and kissed the back of her hand... "What do you need?"
She smiled as sweetly as she could while Kel'dan kissed the back of her hand, but as he asked his question she moved as quick as she was able to turn that light touch into a vice grip, her hand squeezing down as much as she could muster, "I need you to man up, Kel'dan. Right now you are bleeding out all over this office, and you are writhing in it. They can all see it. Sadhric can see it." (Pausing here for his reaction
He took a deep breath as she squeezed his hand... And he looked up to meet her eyes. There was a micro-expression of shock, followed by a deadpan look that was that look... Right before violence erupted... And then there was something... something... Before he smiled at her. He didn't say anything, but that smile said he was pleased. He hadn't tried to break away from that vice grip. Hadn't moved. The only thing that had moved was his eyes and his face when the emotions had displayed across it.
It had been there for just a moment, the expression she was looking for in Kel'dan's face and then it was gone and replaced by....he looked pleased...her hand tightened just a fraction before she let go with a frown, "You've been stuck in this office too long, Kel'dan. You've forgotten who you are. No more talk of affection until you remember. -That's- what you can do for me."
His smile faded, but that pleased looked look didn't fade from his green eyes... He stood up slowly, then looked down into her face. "That's exactly what I needed... That's why you're here."
Her arms came up, crossing over her chest, chin high so she could look up just enough to meet his gaze, "I'm only saying that once Kel'dan. Right now, and no more. I won't baby you into this. If you need to hear it again don't come to me."
The smile he gave her was one of gratitude. "Thanks... I think I only needed to hear it once," he told her gently.
Her arms dropped, Ja'eeth shaking her head as she turned to pick up the bag she had come in with, "Let's hope so. If that will be all, I'll see you at home."
He turned to watch her go. "I promise not to stay gone too late," he said softly.
She stoped by the door, back toward him, "Good. I'm not in the mood to hunt you down and drag you home by your ears. Besides, I think that would be rather embarrassing for the Manda'lor's right hand man." And then she slipped her free hand out, pressing a button on the panel by the door. It opened by way of answer and she was stepping through and out of Kel'dan's office
* * * * * * *
.
Later that day, whenever he'd gotten home from his office, he'd find that Ja'eeth had meant her words when she'd told him that she'd see him at home. She had her own place, but it was currently left vacant while she chose to make herself at home on Kel'dan's sofa. Her gear wasn't so spread out, but she had made a bed of the piece of furniture having plumped her soft sided bag up to use as a pillow while a thermal blanket was bunched up at the opposing arm rest from where the bag sat. Ja'eeth, herself, was sitting there and leaning back into the sofa with a comm unit in her hand, several voices filling the space all at once from the little device. Were they singing? Shouting? ...It was hard to say with the amount of overlap that was going on.
His home was humble... An older home with an open layout and a small yard... Had it been anything more than that, Sadhric might not have let him keep it... His home looked like it had before the kids-- no toys, no clothes, clean and well kept. Mostly because he didn't do much more than sleep here... He was silent as he came in the door to his own home-- the only indication he was home was the subtle creak of the door. It wasn't too late-- the sun had just gone down, but it was longer than your average kind of work day... He stopped just shy of seeing her there on the sofa-- standing in the entry hallway. He was silent as he listened to the voices over her comlink. He didn't say anything, he just stood there... Listening. Trying to decipher the different layers of sound.
There was a lot of chatter to take in. Most of it was a jumble of mixed conversations, but under that was the sound of shrieks and laughter from voices that sounded much -much- younger. Above it Ja'eeth had missed Kel'dan's arrival home, but she didn't miss him when he came to a stop and just listened. With a flick of a finger she dialed back the noise, "The kids are at a party," She told him, "I was just listening in for a bit."
He stepped out into the living room area and crossed arms over his chest as he leaned against the wall. His expression was serious, but neutral. And there was a hardness to his eyes that hadn't been there hours before when last she'd seen him... But they softened as his green eyes focused on her comlink in her hand. "Sounds like they're having fun," he said. He sounded like he was happy for them that they weer still able to get out and socialize and have fun, even without their guardians watching over them...
"They've been enjoying themselves." A nod came with her words, the noise cutting off just a second after that while she motioned for him to come closer with her free hand. "How did things go after I left earlier?"
He walked closer and rested against the arm of the sofa. Not sitting on it, but leaning/resting. "Same, I guess... I had a lot of time to think about what you said."
"And, what have you come up with?" She was looking up at him, still lounging back against the sofa.
"That you're right. I've forgotten who I am," he said simply. "I need to fix myself before I can fix our people," he said softly.
"Do you have the time for that -- do -we- have the time for that?"
"No, not really," he said in a droll voice. "It'll be a work in progress... I'll need you to help me bridge the gap."
"What do you need me to do?" There was some acknowledgement there. Ja'eeth had expected the answer he'd given her.
"I need you to help me reestablish a connection with the Clans," he said honestly. "I've... Distanced myself since the begin of the Hapan occupation." He looked down at her with a small frown. "I can't explain how it feels... I really regret following Ker'dan's plan to get the Force Sensitivity in our family back."
"Then, let me suggest something?" There was a shift to her posture as she sat forward and reach for one of Kel'dan's hands.
He looked down at her, meeting her eyes... But didn't take her hand. But he nodded that he was listening.
"Bring our son home. It could be a point of contention within the eyes of the clans that you ask them to trust your word when their families are at risk while your's is safely kept elsewhere. I know the reason for removing Ja'dan and the Tekal children was to keep them safe away from any fighting, but is that really what is best for our son?"
He nodded. "I've thought about that a lot, too. But I was leaving the decision up to you... I've thought about them not learning our ways. Not following our traditions because they're somewhere else than home... And how that looks to others." He looked down at her again. "Do you think Sadhric will warn us of danger if its forthcoming?" he asked softly. "From elsewhere, not from our own people," he said.
"He's not unreasonable, but in this case he might not if it undercuts the reason for the violence. Say, for example, we do something that calls for retaliation. But I'm not talking about "them" Kel'dan. I'm talking about -our son-, and only our son."
He looked away, his jaw tightening... And didn't say anything for a good 15 seconds. "Do you think we should return them?" he asked softly. By them, he meant Marian and Medren... And he was relatively sure she knew that.
"Return them? Where? -Here-? -Keldabe-?"
"To their biological father," he murmured.
"That's not a choice I can make, Kel'dan. I'm not anything more to them than a caretaker. I have no -legal- claim to make a choice like that."
"I'm not asking for a decision, I'm asking your opinion," he told her gently. "I'm... struggling. With being Sensitive... And I don't know if I can teach them... Its a weird position to be in. He doesn't want to upset their lives. He just wants to know them... But at the same time, when that decision was made, nobody knew he'd be coming back from the dead, you know?" He shook his head. "Gods only know how I would feel if Ja'dan was being raised by someone other than us."
She sighed, letting her hand fall back down to the sofa beside her, "Then, my opinion is that they go back to their people, to their father. The situation is tough, but they can't be -here-. Its a violation that I cannot abide by. Regardless of when the original agreement had been made."
He nodded, then looked down at her... He slid down on the couch beside her. "I don't want to shock them... I think the best course of action is to bring them back here and give him time with them before he takes them... So its not a total shock, you know?" He frowned. 'Sorry, kids, we're giving you back to the father you never knew you had who just returned from the dead'?" he looked at her. "It's a bit much for kids to absorb."
"Then that's the argument you will need to take to Sadhric when you ask him to bring Ja'dan home, isn't it?" There was a small soft smile there, just barely appearing on her face.
"Jeryndi told me that he'd promised Sadhric that he wouldn't interfere with anything here... And I expect him to keep that promise. As a Jedi-- or a former Jedi-- any actions he takes beyond his children will have consequences.... I'll talk to Sadhric about it."
"Good, now -if- he agrees who will you request goes for them? You need me here, and unless I am told otherwise I am under contract not to leave."
"If he approves, I'll go... I think the Clans need to see that I'm taking responsibility for my family."
"In that case, who will stand in your place while you are away?"
"Almost any Clan should be willing to put business off for a couple of days for me to take care of my family... And if Sadhric allows it, I don't see how the Hapans can put up much of a protest. I'll agree to a Hapan escort if that's what he wants. Its not like I'm trying to run away or shirk my duties."
"Its the -almost- that concerns me, Kel'dan. You leaving gives an opening, not to protest. I don't think they'd do that. I think they would take advantage of your absence. Or at least try to. And perhaps not all of them, but maybe enough. I don't think that, given our current situation, you should be going anywhere that doesn't keep you in sight of the clans. At least not until you've gained their full cooperation."
"Then you, then," he said, shrugging. "I think anything short of either of us, if its strangers or non-Mandalorian, that the Clans are going to see it as sympathy or favoratism for outsiders besides the Hapans."
"Alright. We need to acknowledge the possibility that we will be denied this considering it was a generous offer from Sadhric to begin with. And once we make this choice, we are going to have to live with it even if fighting does break out here. Are you prepared for our son to see that kind of action?"
He was quiet for another long moment as he looked thoughtful... "No, but its a risk we have to take," he said softly. "I don't think the honorable Clans will take action against my family. Maybe me, directly. Maybe you, depending on how involved in this you become... But not the kids." He nodded. "Either way... We will take precautions that they are safe."
Ja'eeth gave another nod, "If they come home, their care and protection will be my priority unless I am told otherwise by the Manda'lore. The Tekal children will have to remain sheltered away from the clans as much as possible until arrangements can be made with their father. There is no negotiating that."
"Hardly anybody knows that they're Tekals, but I see what you mean... There's only vague records from when Ker'dan adopted them. And even Jeryndi himself doesn't take the Tekal name... Not many people know who their father is, let alone that they are from the Tekal family." He frowned. "I'd warn Solomon this is happening, but I doubt he'd take my call."
"The only the name has to do with this is where it puts them between Sadhric and I. The clans dont need to know who they are, only that they are under protection. And as for Solomon -- the worst you can do is call. If you feel he needs to know, and as long as it doesn't buck any stipulations, call him."
"I'll think about it," he said, nodding. "I want you to know how much I appreciate you being willing to come back," he said, genuinely thankful. "You told me what I needed to hear. It's a wake up call... I've been so lost in everything else that I've lost my grounding."
"Well, what was I supposed to do?" Ja'eeth smiled full on and reached over to lay a heavy hand on Kel'dan's nearest most knee, "You've been sounding like Ja'dan with a stomach ache. I had to do -something- to knock the whine out of you."
He looked down at her hand and put his hand gently over hers. His smile was slight. "Knock it out of me, you did... I'm gonna go clean my weapons. Wanna come?"
"You always say the sweetest things...." His knee was given a light squeeze.
He stood up and offered her his hand. "I don't get to do it often anymore, but I find it relaxing. Figured you do, too." He gave her a wink.
Placing her hand in his, Ja'eeth pushed herself up from the sofa, "Nothing like a romantic evening staring down the barrel of a blaster to make you feel at home."
* * * * * * *
It was first thing in the morning... He'd slept better than he had in months. He'd stood in front of the mirror, staring at his own reflection for what seemed like forever... It was before he left for work. He'd gone through his morning routine, then settled into his sofa with his comlink... And made the call to Sadhric. He didn't expect Sadhric to answer-- it was a rare occasion that he did... But the last time he'd called he had. He hoped it would be the same this time.
It was not quite so quick as the last time, but the comm did connect. After ten seconds of Kel'dan initiating it, The Mechanic was standing next to him. The holo was not just a flawless reproduction of a living man (if one looked closely, one could spot a scabbed over nick across the peaks of two of his knuckles, tiny creases in his trousers at the backs of his knees, hints of grit in the treads of his boots, etc), but it also somehow did that representing as if he was standing in the same lighting Kel'dan was, as if he were actually there. The holo threw the right shadows, and they would move properly as the image shifted. The image itself was full of small edges of them.
"You have my list already?" Sadhric Tlin asked as if he knew it wasn't so.
He wore grey layers with accents of flat black pleating and copper metal, with black knee-tall boots that were for the most part clean but looked fit for crossing a swamp. It was a far more elaborate getup than was normal for him. Even the polished copper seemed to reflect the apartment Kel'dan occupied rather than wherever Sadhric was. His Lenses, a smoky dark tint, seemed to do the same: Kel'dan's face was in them barely.
"Not quite," he said, eyeing the holographic image... He was taking in Sadhric's appearance. Noticing the cuts and scrapes... and the fact That he could see himself in Sadhric's Lenses was not lost on him, either... "I called for an entirely different reason... A request of permission."
One eyebrow twitched slightly, and so did one corner of Sadhric's mouth into--briefly--something smile-like without actually being a smile. "We may someday reach the hidden limit of my generosity. What do you require, Kel'dan?"
"I would like permission for Ja'eeth to go and fetch the children and bring them home."
"Ah. That 'someday' may be this day. Explain this to me. You are suddenly unconcerned for their well-being?"
"I am very concerned for their well being... But I am trying to win back the Clans. It is not fair for my family to be tucked away nice and safe while everyone else constantly worries what will happen to theirs... I need to make a show of faith that I am not above them."
"I think what you're really tired of is looking gelded."
One corner of his mouth upturned, but not quite a smile. "That, too." then he looked up, his expression growing dead serious. It was a kind of steel in his eyes that hadn't been there in a long time. "There is a second part to this request."
"Ask."
"I'd like permission to put Trander up in temporary residence here in Keldabe.... To make the transition of giving him back his kids a little easier." He didn't like saying it.... But he had already made a, decision.
"That requires no permission," The Mechanic said flatly. "Keldabe is a free city, occupation or no. The warning, however, is this: the more complicated this web becomes, the higher the chances that there will be blood. Do you understand? You add more variables, more considerations, and you are adding weight to the side of the scale that, once tipped, includes all manner of drastic consequences. And not just from me, Kel'dan. Consider the value of simplicity in a time like this. Of the clarity it can offer."
"Figured I'd ask... Or, at the very least, explain... He told me he made a promise to you not to disturb the goings on here... I'm well aware that allowing him to come here may cause even more tension... And how thick the tension is right now. Violence may come at any time. I understand that... But I am not equipped to train them," he said softly. It wasn't something he wanted to admit, but it was the harsh truth. "When that agreement was made-- for them to be adopted-- nobody thought Ker'dan would never be here for them. Or that Trander would come back... There was no way to know. I respect that he doesn't want to upset their lives, but they are safer in the long run with him than they are with me. He can teach them what I can't."
Keeping his opinions of Ker'dan to himself, and avoiding commenting on Trander's rebirth, Sadhric said: "Our task is to prevent that violence. But you come from a violent people, who often reject and sneer at other methods of problem-solving. You say you want to win back the clans. Get me my list, Kel'dan. It is the compromise between me marching out to them in full armor to introduce myself and nuking them from the sky. The. List."
He nodded. "So we can bring Ja'dan home?" He asked. He gave a meaningful glance to where Ja'eeth was in the house.
The holo's head turned, following that glance. The stance shifted slightly. "Is this going to become common? This... nibbling for favors?"
Elsewhere in the house, a room removed from where Kel'dan was talking with Sadhric, Ja'eeth was laid out on the sofa of Kel'dan's small house, still asleep and taking advantage of what quiet she was afforded for the moment.
He arched a dark brown brow at the Mechanic. "No. But I have done almost everything you have asked me to do. To the point of extreme fatigue and no thought for my own well-being... And I have often asked myself if you are just hell-bent on breaking me, personally."
The 'No' would have been enough. Since Kel'dan went on... Sadhric's eyebrows rose. "Could you repeat that last part?"
His chin lifted a little. "I ask myself... If you're bent on breaking me."
A sharp laugh barked out. "That may be the single most stupid thing I've ever heard you suggest."
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. His voice was calm, as was his body language. Unlike his usual tired and borderline angry demeanor these last few months. "I'm aware that I've strangled myself... I've forgotten who I am. I understand why you did what you did. I agreed to your terms and I did not really think I would struggle with the personal consequences of those terms.... So I'm at a point where I can't tell what's what. I don't know what you want from me. Besides the List... Every time you show up, it adds something else to the pile that I'm already struggling with... I can't tell if you're punishing me. I can't tell if I'm punishing myself... All I know is that I hate what I've become and I wnat to change it."
Sadhric heard all that out. It might have touched something. But his voice was low and hollow-sounding when he asked: "What are you that I should punish you?"
He shook his head. "I don't have an answer for that." He looked up. "Can I be candid?"
"I'll be candid first. You told me you needed help, and requested that the demolitions expert be recalled. I granted the request. Before that, you told me that you wished for the children to be out of harm's way. I granted the request. Just now you have said you want Trander's children to have the means for a smooth transition to be with him; I did not stand in the way. You want Ja'dan back; I grant the request. If your mind is managing to scrape a pattern of personal persecution out of these things, that is not my problem. If you continue to hold such a warped view, despite evidence to the contrary, it will be your problem, because I will find someone else to fill your role."
His lips twitched slightly, but his expressionwas still serious and hadn't changed. "No... Not because of those things... You have been gracious in that regard... I know that and I am grateful for it. I was under the impression you were giving me that benevolence to inspire me to perform at optimal levels," he said. He leaned forward, lacing fingers together. "I can't say where I can put the difference... But I'm different this time around." This time around. Also meant the last time around... Meaning the cloning cycle to get that one precious thing back... "It changes how I see things. Not in a bad way? But I think it contributes to me being... out of sorts... I'm aware of more than myself. Its... Not something I can describe.. And I'll be honest-- I regret participating in the whole damn thing." The whole damn thing being the cloning cycle to begin with.
The holo turned its head to eye the clone askance. Behind Lenses, eyes narrowed slightly. The Mechanic could not read minds. Given that, the meaning did not crystalize with certainty, though there were hints that pushed Sadhric toward a correct guess as to what Kel'dan was referencing. His eyes slid to focus on the direction of the unseen Ja'eeth. "She knows, does she?" About the cloning, if the cloning was the right topic.
He nodded once.
"I tire of repeating that my business with you is not personal. If you are unfit, you will be removed as anyone would. You say you are out of sorts. Are you unfit? If this is too much, you have to bow aside, Kel'dan. I will succeed here. There is no room for failure."
He shook his head. "I believe I am up to the task, but I would like to have some of my duties placed elsewhere... This beaurocratic stuff..." He shook his head. "It takes up precious time that would be better spent amongst the people," he said honestly.
"I never said you could not delegate tasks," Sadhric told him, watching him again now with a sigh. "But you will delegate them to Hapans."
He nodded slightly. "I don't think I was willing to do that befor,e" he said softly. It was a tired kind of truth... He'd had a lot of realizations the past day or so. "But its necessary. I understand that now. I can't do it all myself."
Sadhric knew why not. "Do not misuse your free time."
He shook his head. "Ja'eeth will stay here and take care of the children while I see to the Clans... I have a question for you, though?"
Ja'eeth: babysitter. He wondered what she really thought about that. With a startled little laugh, he said: "Most people just ask their questions. You don't have to announce them every time."
"When you finally get the list and go speka to the Clan leaders... Will you do so in person?"
Ah, yes: that. "Your job is to compile it. My job is to make it worth something."
That was to say, he was not going to discuss his physical presence before he had a strategy for protecting himself.
He nodded slightly. He wasn't sure if that was a yes or a no. He looked thoughtful... And he looked significantly less stressed than he had in recent interactions... He looked well-rested for the first time in a long time. Having Ja'eeth there had made a difference in a big way already. "I'll see to it... I'll try to have it done by week's end."
"Appreciated."
He gestured to Sadhric's appearance. "Do I want to know?" he asked, meaning the decorum and the scraped knuckles.
Following the gesture, Sadhric glanced down at himself. "Mm." It had a growly rumble behind it. "Hapans."
He smiled slightly. "Well, I'll let you go... Thank you for answering my call. I'll send Ja'eeth to get the children later today and call Trander... I appreciate your indulgence in the matter."
The holoimage conveyed a nod. "We do not chase shadows, Kel'dan: remember that. Let them chase us, if they can. If they will."
"I will. And I'll get it done," he promised. He was sincere in that promise.
