Mist Order Academy Grounds and Entrance Hall

*Aerandir observed Morgan's interactions with Serrin, and as expected the girl was quite excited to see her and the two had their own cheery exchange. Aerandir smiled; Serrin it seemed was quite good with children. Serrin herself though... he couldn't place it, but something seemed somehow different about her. It was a very subtle sense, however, one that didn't seem to disrupt the feelign that, in very which way, this was still the same Master Roma, he admired.

Michelle, meanwhile, had already picked up on the fact that Atlantis preferred to forgo titles much like her brother, though hadn't expected him to ask her to drop the usage of "sir" even; her brother seemed to not mind being addressed as sir, so perhaps they weren't entirely alike, but close enough.

As, Aerandir assumed, the scans were accepted, Atlantis they had access to "ninety percent" of the building. His eyebrows briefly flicked upwards at the number, though he supposed that more sensitive areas didn't actually take up as much room of an establishment as he thought; he'd never really stopped to think about just how much larger the rest of both the base on Felucia and the academy on Belkadan were compared to the restricted areas.

Not that he'd come to Umgul to learn about floor plans.

Aerandir made mental note of the basic facilities he'd have access, as well as the fact that the residential building was actually adjacent to the Academy, and he and Michelle offered their datapads so that the map data could be uploaded; that would be quite handy. Atlantis then explained that weekends were usually quiet around the Academy, which, come to think of it, the area was pretty quiet right now, but that made sense. What didn't make sense was Atlantis's cryptic comment about how some might not come back at all. He visibly furrowed his brows, and he could sense Michelle too was eager to ask why this was, but they were both cut off by Atlantis's query as to whether or not they were hungry. Which, well, they were. Or at least he was, and if he was, most likely the girls were too. Unless they'd been hiding stashes...

He'd save his query for later and merely nodded.*
Long trips usually tend to make one hungry, I mean there's usually food in the ship but I'm sure you know plenty of better cooks than I.
*He smiled with humor, Michelle grinning and looking up at him.*
Hey, your cooking's not that bad!
*He responded by playfully nudging her and replying with a stage whisper.*
Hush, Michelle, not even Jedi turn down free food.
*He shifted his eyes back and forth several times then grinned, Michelle giggling at him.*

Playfully looking as deep in thought as I can when Morgan suggests that there is little she can do about the fact she has not yet finished growing while I almost certainly have, I nod sagely and concede her point, "You may have a point at that, and then smile as, while we walk into the academy, she tells me that Mother Felucia has been well, and that she has a great deal of fun with Her since she is often in the jungle; something I might find worrisome were I not aware of the unique, strong bond between Morgan and the planet. You must be sure to tell Her, when you return, that I send my regards, I tell Morgan, and that I should very much like to visit Her again someday." My last visit to Felucia was made when on a mission, and as such I had little time to enjoy the beauty, dangerous as it often is, the world has to offer, and I would truly like to return someday when I might have an opportunity to learn and see more of Felucia.

Nodding with a playfully secretive look over my shoulder as though to make sure our conversation about the pool party has gone unheard, I kneel down to get a closer look at Lokay when Morgan introduces her sand dragon, telling Lokay cheerfully with a smile, "Well, hello there. Aren't you a handsome little fellow? He's marvelous, I tell Morgan, confirming that I have not met him when I tell Lokay, It is a pleasure meeting you. Hearing that Aerandir and Michelle both sound hungry, suggesting that Morgan may be as well, I tell Lokay, It sounds as though you may have a chance to get some bacon soon, and then smile as I stand, holding out a hand for Morgan as tell Atlantis with a smile, It sounds to me as though hunger is winning out over tiredness for the time being, so I suggest we make the next stop on our tour the, I glance at the handy map that Atlantis had downloaded to my datapad when providing us all the means to learn how to navigate the academy without a guide should a guide be unavailable, dining hall."

While we begin to make our way to the dining hall, I ponder what Atlantis might have meant when suggesting that some of the local students might not return when the weekend break ends, tentatively concluding that he believes the public allegations made against him, and by extension the Mist Order, might be believed by some of the students or their parents. Not knowing enough, however, about the views the general public of Umgul may hold where the Mist Order or the Jedi that founded it are concerned, I know that I may be incorrect when guessing, and so wait to learn more of that cryptic comment, as well as of the situation that has brought us all together here, when Atlantis has an opportunity to do so.

Speak of the devil . . . And he, himself, shows.

It wasn’t long ago when Mace made a mention of him. It wasn’t long ago either since his sister told Mace about a few things and while she clearly had no want to fight, nor argue, she knew that it was just inevitable.

“General Honoros Aestrea . . .” Spoke Mace flatly as she came to a halt and looked at the Guardian standing there a few meters away. “I see you have come alone.”

“Spare me the pleasantries, Vos. You very well know why I am here.” Honoros replied with an annoyed tone before glancing at both his sister and Ayla who seemed to be holding onto her shoulder, but Horsea was holding onto what seemed an official file. For that brief moment, something just made him reconsider why he had been here at this precise instant, of course he was here to discuss Forcias’ case, but from the looks of it, there clearly was something else going on, beside that situation occurring in Umgul currently.

“. . . And spare me your lectures, Aestrea. Get to the point.” Came Mace’s emotionless reply. She had really no will to argue and this whole thing, that whole stupid thing that got Honoros so wound up, Mace saw that as completely ludicrous, there were graver things in life, graver ongoing things and Honoros was just so bent on following that textbook when it concerned Forcias and Lucine. Together.

Honoros kept on standing his ground, and kept on looking at the trio impassively; he knew this wasn’t an argument he was going to win here and now, and that perhaps he should wait for Forcias to come back and carry out that order of sending him away permanently.

“Don’t you dare!” Having caught drift of his train of thoughts, Mace’s voice boomed out louder than she would have preferred. “If I ever caught wind of that, General, best be prepared for a fight, because I won’t tolerate you, or others,” She obviously meant the rest of the Guardians, “Tearing them both apart, won’t change a thing, Forcias Kes is already in too deep that relationship and deeply cares for the Lieutenant.”

“What aren’t you telling me? That Kes is— . . . “

“In love?” Rhetorically finishing Honoros’ statement, she looked at him with an expressionless stare. “Discharge him, if you want, but that won’t change the fact that Forcias has always been your best pilot and it won’t change the fact that he has sweated enough for each and every one of us. Major Forcias Kes stays here on Umgul and will not be sent away.”

While Ayla seemed to have a relaxed posture a foot behind her cousin, Horsea didn’t seem to be comfortable in this current situation. The latter’s loyalty did reside towards the Guardians as a whole but primarily she stood, and would always will stand by Mace’s executive orders.

“Honoros, please . . . He is like our brother.” Pleaded Horsea in a softer tone as she looked at her brother contrite. She knew that if it weren’t for her, in a way, Forcias might have never gone to seek out Lieutenant Lyn, nor would he have made a step in that direction. But she was the primary reason why now this had come to be. “You have always told me that my happiness was important, why can’t it be the same for Forcias?”

“You very well know, Horsea.”

“Why? Because he was in Kiffex prison? Because he was a criminal younger?” Ayla knew the replies to all of those question, but she also knew that it wasn’t because of those things. “Or is it because you cannot stand the fact that you are going to lose control and that one of yours finding happiness with someone else is a situation you would want not to happen with the others?” Ayla dropped her hand from her shoulder and looked at Honoros meaningfully. “We are no longer governed by Kiffu or Kiffex laws, what I do and who I follow is by my own volition, and I have decided to follow my cousin, till the very end. A promise you have made as well, Honoros, and one that your sister did too, just like Major Kes.”

Lifting her hand, Mace just wanted to stop this argument, this debate that had been the same for a while; she really did not want this situation to come to this, to where they were now.

“Now, that everything has been said about that matter, think about it Honoros, and when you have finally come to your senses, then we can talk again, for now I have no wish to have a dispute with you again nor have your mind plague mine with Forcias’ situation.” Mace did not want him in her vicinity and she wasn’t inclined to be in his either. What will happen, will happen but for now, she preferred to keep that matter there while she had other matters to attend to.

Glancing over Horsea this time, Mace arched her eyebrow dubiously; “Earlier you wanted to tell me something . . .”

Knowing that he was now unwanted, Honoros turned around and exited the premises of the Academy while Horsea updated Mace on a few things concerning the Vice-Governor and the new added presence in his office . . .

“I see, thank you, best you return to your duties, I shall speak to you later.” Inclining her head as a thanks, and seeing Horsea taking her leave as well to head back to the Intelligence department on her speeder, Mace turned to look at Ayla and took a deep breath before looking at her shoulder. “My fault, I will help you out, considering that it’s not something you are inclined to heal with the Force . . .”

. . . You’re really sure about that ? Thought Mace as she glanced at her cousin’s shoulder brace. Often times, she and Ayla would have a non-verbal conversation due to the fact that not only it was easier for them, sharing a bond, but also because it had been what they were used to doing.

“Yes, besides it’ll only be for a few days.” Replied Ayla verbally, and even if healing was a mastery she had, even if her cousin had offered, she would still say no, she preferred not to take the easy way out, it wasn’t as if there was an impeding threat, right here and right now. “Though, I am very sorry for hindering your sparring session, you’ll just have to find another candidate to dislocate his or her shoulder . . .”

“Ha . . . Ha . . .” Mace looked at her cousin with a humorless and jaded expression before shaking her head and rolling her eyes.

“Work on the mist. Though, do it outside and not the training room.”

Mace knew why Ayla had suggested that, and she very well knew what her working on the mist implied, heck everyone here knew that, at least the Councilors of the Mist Order, as for the rest, there had been some previews, so to speak, but no matter, she knew she still had to perfect that, just like Atlantis had found a way to make it work for himself.

“I’ll be in the dining hall,” Finally said Ayla before turning on her heels and heading in that direction . . .

Mace briefly watched her cousin walk away, but before even going to her intended destination, she grabbed her gloves that she had tucked at her belt and put those on, it was just an automatic reflex and she preferred not to take any chances anyways, same for entirely cutting her connection to the Force, though she knew that someone was there in the gardens, not needing to know in the now who it was, Mace just walked in that direction, knowing that she might be interrupting something.

Considering though that her signature was perpetually hidden, and that she often walked soundlessly, Mace was in fact hoping to begin with that her voice and her cousin’s had been enough of a warning for Serrin to let her know they were there if not, then that was going to be awkward. For really she truly wasn’t good at interacting with people so to speak.

Preferring to use one of the routes between two Force sensitive, Mace opened herself up to the Force and slightly brushed Serrin’s mind with her own, not showing intent of aggression but welcoming intents. Welcome back to Umgul and welcome to the Mist Order Academy, Master Roma . . . She already knew that Model Face had already done and said those things but, Mace had not said it before or ever.

And considering they weren’t technically on a first name basis and there was no way, she’d call Serrin by her name, since also technically this was the first time ever they would be talking to one another, despite what had happened a while ago back at the Misty Lodge.

By default, Mace was usually that big of a talker . . . And by default, she usually did not share that much, not because she didn’t feel like it, but because for a long time she had never been asked to speak more than necessary and a part of her was because she wasn’t fond of oversharing anyways. There were also some stories that weren’t hers to tell and there were some stories that she wasn’t supposed to know about. Currently though, she was more focused on the current of the Force, she was more focused on the person right there before her, but not intrusively, but more out of respect and politeness.

Whatever might have been going on with Serrin, Mace had no idea whatsoever nor was she inclined to pluck it out the Twi’lek’s mind, that wasn’t Mace at all and besides, she still respected sentient beings’ privacy one way or another especially when they were friendlies and not here on business so to speak . . .

Sensing Serrin’s communication and what she had wanted to convey, Mace smiled warmly and advanced towards Serrin’s sitting form right there by the pond. In that brief exchange, and perhaps one that was more agreeable for them both, it was highly agreeable to her after all, for Serrin that was perhaps the most agreeable form of communication as well, but Mace wasn’t going to assume, for now, she just sat there on a boulder that was slightly aside but still right in front of Serrin.

Serrin, then . . . Finally replied Mace with a faint grin on the corner of her lips, though her eyes did show some humor and warmth, Only if you do the same for me, then we have a deal.

Chuckling lowly and shaking her head briefly, Mace took a deep breath and looked briefly upwards, this place often comforted her, it also was often the place where she would come and meditate and try to clear her mind one way or the other. But that was another thing entirely; that she often did alone and currently she wasn’t alone, no, Serrin was here and perhaps she did want to commune with the Force but perhaps there was just something holding her back, for having too many things on her mind.

Some would say it was a coincidence, but Mace rarely found things coincidental for two people, but anyways, for now she was appeased, despite that “argument” she had here previously with Honoros.

You will always be welcome here, though I find it to be a pity that we’ve only spoken with one another now . . . Closing her eyes briefly and opening them again to look straight at Serrin, Mace finally used her own voice this time. “If you’d rather we communicated orally, please let me know, for I can do both, despite what my cousin would say.” Said Mace with a knowing smile chuckling at the thought and glancing at the interior of the Academy where Ayla was cooking no doubt.

“You seem to have a lot on your mind, and perhaps I have interrupted your thoughts, and for that I apologize . . .” Mace sincerely said, they weren’t exactly close at all, and she wasn’t about to blatantly tell Serrin that if needed she was here if she ever wanted to talk, though Mace could do that and Serrin could whenever. That wasn’t a problem, but it was more of the whole wanting to respect her privacy. But . . . “Though I am sure you know, you are amongst friends and if you ever need a sparring partner, because we all know how Atlantis is at that,” Everyone knew that was a fact, and she was certain that Serrin would know that much about Atlantis not wanting to hit a woman, “You only need to ask.” Of course, Mace wanted to convey many more things, and since she was completely ridiculous at this verbal talking thing to be perfectly honest, perhaps there was a loss in translation there, but fact was, she would listen any time if needed, and hopefully Serrin would know and understand that . . .

Therein laid their differences . . . While Mace accepted Serrin’s point of view unequivocally, there were still that part of her that was leaning towards that type of conversation that Mace was more used to. Then again, it might have been due to the fact that she spent most of her time with people who knew her more than any one and that she never needed to expound further whatever she had been thinking. On the other hand, Mace definitely understood Serrin’s point and it had its merits, after all, what better way to get to know a person without tampering in the Force anyways? And she really wasn’t the type to do so while interacting with others that she usually didn’t interact with much. Telepathy was an innate ability that she had, just like psychometry, it ran in her family and surely a few people always made a big deal out of her mind reading ability but honestly, if she could help it, she’d never dwell into that ability of hers unless she was really close to people like the Kiffars here as a whole.

For now, just for now, Mace nodded briefly to let Serrin know perfectly that she understood what she meant and perhaps it would do Mace some good also to speak more vocally anyways. This definitely was going to be a good continuation. “Hmmm . . . From my own personal experience, meditation had always been my last resort.” Chuckling briefly at that statement, for in a way it really sounded ridiculous coming from a Jedi but she did not really adhere to that general thinking. “Often times, it is because I know that whatever I might be or am dealing with would never allow me to rest, let alone stop plaguing my conscience.” Whether it was because of that guilt or that because she despised the fact that she knew too much and because she burdened herself with other matters that weren’t her place to divulge to begin with, sometimes she just wanted every of those secrets to come out. But such was her position, and she accepted that, not because she didn’t have a choice, but because sooner or later she believed that there would be something good in the end for the ones that she cared about here. “Which is why I offered to be your sparring partner whenever you feel like it.” Mace always needed to be doing something, whether it was just training or exhausting herself at least enough to give herself a blank mind, or just be too exhausted to think after her workouts.

Considering though that she didn’t know Serrin that much, and she really didn’t want to impose her own mindset anyways, Mace just gave those thoughts without really imposing them anyways. Smiling faintly and taking a deep breath particularly after that pool party comment from Serrin’s part, Mace briefly looked down, and while she could have come up with many reasons why she had not gone to that said pool party, well the truth was, it really wasn’t her scene to begin with nor was it her way to relax. It just wasn’t her . . . “Yes, honest truth? Wasn’t so much in the mood.” Sincerely said Mace but it wasn’t all of it really, and it wasn’t because she wasn’t enjoying the company of the others, and it wasn’t because she didn’t have fun whenever she was with them, but pool party, again not her scene. “Plus, when you are being pulled in multiple directions because of things happening, that just can render a person completely despondent, and others around that person.” Sighing softly and shrugging noncommittally, Mace chuckled briefly and looked towards where her and her cousin had separated. “Might probably be the reason why I have dislocated my cousin’s shoulder.” Frowning at the thought before brushing that topic away, Mace looked at Serrin with a faint chuckle. “Though I do promise to not dislocate your shoulder or even injure you if we ever do spar together in the future.”

Standing up from the boulder and briefly looking at the pond there, Mace finally looked at Serrin with a meaningful expression. “I don’t suppose you are hungry and would want to meet the one whose shoulder I have dislocated?” Asked Mace with an amused tone before remembering something almost immediately. “Ah, right, apologies, you have already met her from what I recall . . .” Not that Mace was there at that time but from the reports she had got, Ayla had nudged Jesse back then when the former Lieutenant, now Major had requested Serrin’s autograph for Raan . . .

Nodding with a faint smile when Serrin had assured her that she would keep that previous offer in mind, Mace was glad, to say the least, not that she would hold it against the Twi’lek anyways if it never came to that. Preferring to move away from that matter, at least for now, as she was certain that she might be rattling some bones there, and perhaps also there were just some things she had preferred not to disclose, not that she had not previously. But still saying too much and letting Serrin know too much when it looked like she needed some peace of mind, then it was just unthinkable for Mace, at least at current time . . .

“Not only it would have been but just one innocent party-goer, but others would have been sucked in as a whole,” Began Mace thoughtfully with a wry smile, and even if she knew Serrin had been joking, there was after all some truths in that statement, needless to say, if she had vented to one of them, probably Atlantis on this case, a lot would know, whether it was Andros or Franz, or even Crystal, and with what they were facing currently, that was just out of the question. “Therefore yes, I took the easier route, I am guessing, for the rest of the day.” Mace was not at all afraid to say things as they were, or how they might have been perceived, in the end really she didn’t really need to justify herself to any one, at least not right now, at least not when her integrity wasn’t into question. She just chose the lesser of two evils in this case. But that aside, it was always because despite nothing happening in the surface of things, deep down, very down, it was the contrary, and she’d know because despite her she was in the middle of it all.

“Tea, it is . . .” Said Mace as she let those thoughts actually echo in her mind for a moment, knowing that Ayla might be picking it, if not then it won’t be a problem, she’ll fix that out when she and Serrin reached the dining hall in the residential building. “Perhaps you will find my cousin a much better conversationalist, but who knows . . .” Chuckling at the thought while Mace leaded the way towards the dining hall . . .

Instead of replying to his message via text, or whatever, Mace was currently at the Academy after finishing up a few things. Currently leaning against the entrance as she noticed Atlantis approaching. "Cordially invited for tonight at the lakehouse for a party, eh? Why not." Said Mace with a nonchalantly shrug, it would be a nice change of pace, and quite frankly sometimes she needed to hit that pause button.

There were things she preferred not to be in the middle of, and some things that she preferred to not even look into but there was still that pending issue concerning the report that Forcias had given to her while on Naboo. It was starting to be somewhat terrifying the more she delved into it, and the ties, all the ties, connections, she had seen enough to last her several lifetimes.

"Have you decided yet, or too soon?" Asked Mace with an arched eyebrow mentioning that only because she also knew that Atlantis despised pending things that took long but at the same time, she couldn't blame him at all, as this concerned the perpetrator that caused this recent chaos. "I am guessing you can be advised by the lawyers?"

Saoirse nods when Atlantis mentions the fact that they are both from Coruscant, "And we're both from the Underlevels too. Small universe, huh? she asks rhetorically with a grin. Smiling when Atlantis says he is glad that she and the rest of Coruscant's citizens were liberated by the First Order, Saoirse agrees, Me too, then tilts her head to the side as she adds, Not everyone feels the same way though, in a way that makes it clear she has trouble seeing how others might not see things from the same perspective she and Atlantis do. I've gotten into a few debates with other students about whether it was more like an occupation, or how the First Order is just like the old Galactic Empire. But, she shrugs, clearly not one to let the differing opinions of others make her abandon her own, they weren't there, you know? They didn't see how things changed for the better after Emperor Delvardus IV came and started enacting economic reforms and . . . she laughs, realizing she is almost making a speech and probably repeating things Atlantis already knows on top of that. Anyway, things are way better on Coruscant now."

Saoirse nods a bit pensively when Atlantis says her coach had told him about her scholarship, reminding her of her earlier thoughts about how the fact that she is able to use the Force might mean she cannot play bolo-ball anymore and will lose the scholarship. Before she can dwell on that possibility for long, Atlantis moves on to explain that her theory about why she hadn't been discovered is flawed, in that an experienced Force user would have been able to easily sense her using it no matter how strongly or not she did, pointing out that he done just that when watching her game earlier today. Guessing that it may have something to do with a lack of Imperial Knight presence in the Underlevels, Saoirse speculates jokingly, "Maybe Imperial Knights don't like bolo-ball?"



While she had been impressed with how Atlantis had pushed the mists back before, that pales in comparison to the awe Saoirse feels as he does so now on a much larger scale to reveal that they have reached their destination and she gets her first look at the academy. "Whoa. . . is all Saoirse manages at first, the sight of the mists surrounding the bubble of clear terrain and sky that the buildings and grounds comprising the academy is nestled in taking her breath away. Moving closer to get a better look at the buildings and grounds of the academy, Saoirse sees what looks like a decorative garden and even an open courtyard in one area. It's beautiful, Saoirse says, then grins and adds, Looks like there's plenty of space to play Limmie too."