The Long Awaited Return - 10.115

[Rognan Dar]

So much has changed, Rognan thought as he looked out of the view port of his transport ship. The old junker of a vessel he was flying was basically only good for the simplest of travel. No weapons, no shielding, crappy thrusters. It's a wonder that it can even go into hyperspace. But the old girl has served him well and got him to his destinations as needed. Plus it was a junker and most people don't pay attention to little crappy ships.

"Please verify identity and passcodes."

A unknown voice said, bringing Rognan's attention back to the present. He had spent the last couple years away from the Alliance and Jedi trying to seek his purpose in life again after the war. His thoughts constantly juggled from the war and his recent time with his family. Family, the one good thing still left in the galaxy and the only reason he is here today. His family were the ones that convinced him that he still had a job to do. It wasn't that they wanted him to leave, they just saw a greater purpose in him that he himself had lost site of.

"Rognan Dar, Jedi knight, requesting permission to land," he replied back to the security officer. "Sending passcodes now."

"Permission granted. Welcome back, sir."

Rognan closed the communication and began his landing pattern. Once again he looked out the view port to the new base that the Jedi and Alliance had constructed on Ossus. It was his first time to actually see the building and it pained him to see how the once beautiful Jedi order has been turned into a military outpost. He knew it was necessary, but didnt mean he liked it. As he came about and got in closer he could see the many defensive turrets and troops out and about doing their duty. He landed his transport ship with a slight jolt. Expert pilot he was not and with this old rig it wasn't any easier.

The cockpit opened with reluctance and Rognan stood up and stretched briefly. He turned towards the base and saw that two Alliance soldiers were walking towards him, one was even waving at him. Not waiting for a ladder to climb down Rognan climbed up on the edge of the cockpit and jumped down to the ground. One who was paying attention would have noticed that he didnt just fall to the ground. In fact it looked like he almost floated down, landing lightly as his black coat flapped slightly from the air drag and once again resting in place behind him when he landed. It wasn't just his long coat that was black, his whole outfit was black, from head to toe. It was a very nontraditional outfit for a Jedi.

As Rognan looked up and started walking towards the guards and past them into the building he noticed that the soldiers suddenly looked very uneasy. They had noticed his black outfit and may have even caught a glimpse of the blast that was strapped to his left hip when he jumped down. They pulled their blaster rifles up and aimed them at him. It didnt take an expert in Kinetic Communication to see that his unexpected appearance and weaponry had agitated the two men.

"Halt! Don't move!" One trooper yelled at him. "Call for backup," he said over his shoulder to his partner.

Of course this would happen to me, Rognan thought as he raised his hands into the air and watched as the guards continued to get themselves worked up over nothing. The last thing he wanted now was for those defensive turrets to be pointed at him and even more soldiers to get freaked out thinking that perhaps an Imperial or maybe even a Dark Jedi had gotten through all the outer defenses. So before any communication could be transmitted, making this situation worse, he rotated his wrist towards the guards and the blaster rifles were yanked from their hands to float several feet in front of them. His hope was to stop them from shooting him and at least have a moment to talk to them. But these soldiers were well trained, more so than Rognan had expected, for almost instantly they were already going for their side arms. And by the look of their faces and body positions they were not going to ask questions first. They were intent on killing him.

[Serena Laran]

"Stop!" It was a commanding word, spoken forcefully, and the Alliance soldiers blinked and slowly took their hands off their weapons, the Force suggestion overriding whatever paranoid delusion they were suffering from. Serena Laran strode forward from the nearby communications building. "Knight Dar, it pleases me to see you have returned."

The soldiers looked at each other, and wandered off. Whatever was going on here with this man in black, a Jedi master could surely handle it. "I had hoped you would find your way back to us."

[Rognan Dar]

Rognan was preparing to make another move to nullify the soldiers when the single word was spoken. It came from a voice that he recognized immediately yet had not heard for a long time. Even though he was not as susceptible to the Force suggestion, there was a sense of command, respect and power behind that voice that also drew him up short. Releasing the weapons he had taken from the men back into their hands he lowered his own hands with relief. The guards moved away going back to their regular duties as Rognan walked forward, smiling as he came face to face with one of the leaders of the Jedi.

"Master Laran," he said as he bowed deeply to show his respect. "It also pleases me to finally return. I have been gone for far to long and it brings me much joy to finally see a friendly face." For he was indeed overjoyed to be back with someone who had helped raise and train him. "Please forgive my absence, Master. I had much to deal with and needed time away."

[Serena Laran]

"There is nothing to forgive," she said, returning his bow with a nod. "Will you be needing a place to stay?" The unspoken question being, are you going to leave again?

Serena turned, gesturing for him to walk with her as they made their way through the Alliance buildings, few as they were, toward the Jedi encampment, Sanctuary One.

[Rognan Dar]

"Any room you have available would be nice," he replied, falling into step with her. "I intend to stay and be of assistance where needed. That is if you have need for me."

His gaze was constantly shifting from Serena to the surrounding structures as they walked. Everything was foreign to Rognan as he surveyed it for the first time. He felt out of place. Not only had he been in isolation for some time but there was no longer the war that had preoccupied a majority of his life. He was unsure what he could possibly do now to help the Order and rebuild it to a beacon of hope and protection.

"If I may ask, what has been the latest development?"

[Serena Laran]

"The dormitories should do for now. I'm sure we can find a room away from the most rambunctious padawans." Serena smiled. "As you can see, we've been able to put down roots (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6-XSqps7s0CQnJqY004OEo5cWc/edit) on Ossus. We just finished a permanent medical center, and the work at the Library continues."

A group of padawans raced by as they neared the cantina and restaurant, running up the road toward the Med Center. "We are continuing to grow - it seems like more Force adepts arrive every day, looking for training. Truly, a blessing to have so many, but it leads to some interesting logistical issues. We have instated group lessons, pairing them with masters when we can." She looked at Rognan. "It is not an exact process. The only model we have is the old Order, and it made ... mistakes we wish to avoid. We do what we can with what we have."

[Rognan Dar]

It surprised Rognan how much had been accomplished so far on Ossus. Most things looks basic and simple yet they filled the current needs. There was nearly an endless potential to this place, even Rognan started having ideas and hopes for what this place could turn into.

Most shocking of all was the number of children and young ones around. He had not seen so many little ones since his time of the convoy ships. But even then there were few. After he left the convoy he saw next to no children at all. A hope for the Jedi Order that had been stifled by all the death and warfare was beginning to rise once again in Rognan.

"I did not expect to see so many young adepts," rognan said as the children ran past them laughing and talking all the way. "I can see how the sheer mass of them could be harder to handle. I'm not great with children but I'm willing to help out if needed."

In that moment Rognan remembered something crucial. "Do you still have it?" He asked Serena intently. What he was asking for was his light saber that he had left in her care when he went out on his own. He had left it here where it could be safe. There was still plenty of people out there who wanted to kill Jedi. However, if he didn't have his light saber it would be harder for anyone to identify him as such. It was a gamble to go on without his weapon, but as it turned out he was not bothered much during his travels.

[Serena Laran]

"I do," she said. "Walk with me, we will retrieve it."

Serena tucked her hands into her sleeves as they traveled up the road. The two suns were past their zenith, but there were many hours of sunlight left. "If you were willing, we do have a need for a qualified person to teach telekinesis. After you get settled, perhaps?" She smiled, and stopped walking in front of the Council building. "This is where the Council meets, and I have your lightsaber inside."

She started up the steps. "You can come inside if you wish, or wait outside. It's up to you."

[Rognan Dar]

Rognan gestured for Serena to lead the way inside and followed behind her. It had been far to long since he had held his lightsaber. He did not expect to miss it as much as he did. When he handed it over he was thinking logically and so the sting of not having it was not as strong. Now, after the span of time that has passed without it, he almost longed to have it again.

"You would like me to train padawans?" He asked with amazement. Indeed he had been honing his telekinesis skills while on Yavin, trying new things that he had never been taught before. "If you think me to be the right choice I will certainly do my best."

[Serena Laran]

Serena walked into the chambers and then through another door into the private office the Council members shared for private consultations or deliberations. There was a securely locked safe within, where things like the Healing Crystals of Fire were kept. She let the biometric lock scan her retina, and then opened the door, reaching in and pulling out a cloth wrapped cylinder.

She turned and handed it to Rognan. "Knight Dar, I have full confidence in your abilities to teach.But we can start with two months of classes, and see where we want to go from there. A probationary period, if you like." She smiled.

[Rognan Dar]

Rognan took the wrapped cylinder and unwrapped it. Inside was the weapon of the Jedi, a light saber. It was slim and smooth with a black grip and chrome everywhere else with a slightly protruding button. He handled it experimentally checking its weight. "It's heavier than I remember." Not that there was much weight to a saber to begin with, he thought.

Stowing the cloth in a pocket he activated the lightsaber and with a snap and a flash the blade appeared. It was a pale white beam that gleamed and hummed. It moved with ease as he waved it back and forth. After a moment he turned it off with a satisfied expression. "Thank you very much for holding onto this for me. "

"Very well, I will help in the traing of the padawans. Just give me a couple days to get my barings for this place."

[Serena Laran]

"Take the time you need," Serena said. She put a hand on his shoulder. "I am glad you have returned to us."

[Rognan Dar]

He smiled back at Serena. "Thank you, master. I, too, am happy to be back where I belong. If you could show me to my bunk I could use some rest."

[Serena Laran]

"Of course." They walked outside and she corralled a Rodian padawan. "Drax, please escort Knight Dar to Knight Rhianna. He's going to be staying in the dorms for a while."

Serena smiled at Rognan. "Rhianna will get you assigned a room. I will see you later." She waved as the two walked off down the road toward the dorms.

[Rognan Dar]

"Thank you for your assistance, master."

With a quick but respectful bow Rognan turned away and looked to the young Rodian. "Lead on." He followed the padawan until they came to the dormitories where the Rodian took his leave, giving him quick instructions on where to find Rhianna. He had a brief conversation with her, trying to quickly explain who he was and why he had been looking for her. After listening to his story and he said that Serena had sent him here she smiled and showed him to a room. Inside was a simple room with several bunks filling the room. She lead him to a specific bunk near the entrance that looked no different than the other.

"You can sleep here," she said. "The footlocker is yours as well, just need to input your own lock code. If you need anything let me know. Welcome back." And with that she exited leaving Rognan to himself. He sat on the bed and looked around. So much has changed, but some things never change.