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View Full Version : A Sojourn Long Over Due (Open)



Rayna Eclipse
Feb 26th, 2008, 03:16:58 PM
Writer's note: This takes place prior to Rayna's involvement in Stricken.

Two seemingly young Vors glided by on the winds as the transport ship descended further through the atmosphere. For a moment, she wished she were a native of the planet Vortex: emotionless, unconcerned and free to let the winds take her wherever they may go. She supposed that summed up her initial training to become a Jedi, the Force as her zephyr, compass and map.

But the forces of life and the galaxy drew her out of the idealist dream. The clash of dark and light called to her and she answered, somewhat arrogantly. Who was she, Rayna Eclipse, to deem herself the ultimate decider in the infinite collision of dark and light? Perhaps the answer was rooted in the first part of the question. Who was she?

The ship slowed and entered the zone designated for extraterrestrial crafts. The beauty of the Vors in flight faded to the distance and Rayna felt saddened at the loss. No matter, this was Vortex. The Vors would surround her like the winds that moved the planet and shook the very gravitational hold of the star it orbited. It was wonderful to be there.

The pilot gave his typical welcome and departing speech, Rayna listened attentively in respect. However, she doubted the landing ramp would give her much trouble. The speech broke into the Vor tongue and Rayna took that as her cue to depart.

The winds smacked her in the face. Even without gliding wings she felt like she might take to the air at any second. The sound of loose clothing was deafening as it flapped in the wind like a spooked swarm of Mynocks. Despite her best efforts to strap down any loose clothing, the wind still had its way. She couldn't imagine what it would be like had she worn her more traditional white Jedi robes. She would be like a snowflake in the wind.

"Can't they do anything to dampen the winds here?" She yelled to a departing space port worker.

"Miss," he said in a cheery and sarcastic tone. "The winds are dampened."

"You're kidding..." She said, partially to the worker and headed for the shelter of the port complex.

The systematic chaos that defined spaceports, no matter where they were, numbed her brain. Going through the chain of formalities and checks she noticed that not a single Vor worked in the spaceport that opened its planet to the galaxy. She supposed it was due to their incredible capacity for blithe. Who needs to work when the wind in the sky and the food on the ground were enough?

At last she was finished with the dreariness of life within a spaceport, for now at least. What she needed now, on this short two day trip, was a method of transport to the legendary Cathedral of Winds.

She stepped into barrel vaulted structure and surveyed the scene. There were tiny capsules with sparkling, fabric-like cloaks surrounding all but the pointed tip. Plenty of these, but not a sign of a speeder.

"Pardon me," she said to a passer by. "But how does one get transport to the Cathedral?"

"Well if your a Vor, you fly on the winds." The snow colored man said with bulging eyes.

"So when on Vortex, do as the Vors." Said another, female, voice. A smiling face appeared from behind the man, but her neck attached to a single body she shared with the male.

She smiled, slightly startled. It was clear that the man and woman were the same person now.

"And how does one with legs fly?" She asked.

"Well the Vors have legs as well, but they use them for-" The man started to say with a spark of passion.

"What she means, Gi Kno Tru, is how does she, without wings, gets to the Cathedral." The woman side said.

"Well, you charter a passenger ship." He said with a somewhat dampened voice.

"Which I," The woman continued. "Happen to operate."

"Gi Kno Tru and Aeu Passenger Services at your, well, service." The male said and at last smiled again.

Rayna was slightly taken aback at the conversation, or was it a monologue? She couldn't say. It was as if one voice flowed through two tongues.

"Well then." She at last said. "I'd like to charter a trip to the Cathedral of the Winds with, um, Gi Kno Tru and Aeu Passenger Services."

The man's long neck stood up straight and from a smile he cried, "Splendid!"

Rayna returned the smile, with a tinge of uncertainty.

"If you've never been to the Cathedral, I assure you, it is magnificent. If you have... it is still magnificent. I never tire of going there. You see, the Vors built it centuries ago using..."

The male's voice trailed off as he turned to lead the walk to the aircraft, the female chimed in.

"Oh just ignore him." She smiled. "Gi Kno Tru will talk your ear off if you let him. The man has a passion for Vor culture and life. If he had wings, I'm sure he'd take right off. Taking me with him I suppose!"

Rayna laughed a little and did her best to swallow the humorous play unfolding before her. "Well thank you. I'd love to hear about some of the culture here, even if it is all of it."

They boarded one of the strange crafts with fabric-like wings. Gi Kno Tru continued to talk while the female seemed to be listening intently. Rayna supposed the female half never got tired of hearing it, they were sharing the body so it was logical they shared the same passions as well. However, she could have been wrong.

The flight was beautiful. The planet was coated in fields and speckled with the knots of earth and grass that provided shelter to the Vors. It looked spectacular against the deceptively serene blue sky. The world seemed at peace with itself, as the Vors were at peace with the tumultuous winds. She could see why the Force told her the Jedi were there.

The craft dipped and lifted along the winds with grace. Gi Kno Tru and Gi Kno Aeu told her of their origins. They came from a planet on the other side of the galaxy, called to Vor by a mutual fascination and passion for all things Vor. They were a symbiotic species, on their homeworld the young male with a body finds a young, bodiless female to bond to. The female becomes the second head and they live, seemingly, in happiness ever after. It was unusual, especially for a species as such to live on Vortex, but the galaxy was unusual and life manifested itself in a plethora of ways.

She gave her farewell to her transporters and made an offering of credits, but the two turned it down. On a world where nobody works, there was no sense in currency. So was the reward for never having to face the trials of decision. It wasn't surprising to her that in the long history of the Jedi and Sith, there was never a Vor participant in either.

The sound of the winds echoing and passing through the chambers of the Cathedral filled her ears. It was like a chaotic symphony that by chance had found its tune. To her, it was amazing how the Vor had channeled the greatest of resources their planet held to create such beauty. How in tune with their home they must be.

She closed her eyes, allowing the Force to guide her through the winding walkways and random paths. Despite her movements, her mind entered a transfixed form of meditation with the Force. So many Jedi in one place and a surreal harmony of people and planet... it felt like home.

NOTE: To any potential RPers, feel free to interrupt Rayna.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v302/Shone/Junk/250px-Vortex.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v302/Shone/stuff%20Ive%20made/raynasigtry.jpg