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anchanted-one · 2 years ago

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Legend of Vajra Chapter 40: Kira’s Birthday

https://archiveofourown.org/works/43208574/chapters/111314482

I can’t believe I’ve reached chapter 40! And miles to go still. I am posting these here, but I hope everyone is able to go to AO3. It’s easier to read there, I find tumblr posts not to be the best for my 5000 + word chapters

Tython

Vajra and Kira were immediately ushered into the Council Chambers, where several Masters were waiting for them. Master Satele’s fingers drummed a rapid tempo on the armrest of her seat. Master Kaedan gripped his Lightsaber so tight, his knuckles were white. Master Braga paced up and down the aisle. Jasme sat off to the side, chatting with Master Gnost. The chief archivist’s voice was unnaturally loud.

“Ah, you’re here at last,” Master Satele said tersely. “You put us on our guard when you requested a full audience. Especially after your last report.”

Master Kaedan grunted. He still looked mad about how they’d been lectured by two young Jedi.

“There’s bad news,” Vajra said, as he took the center stage. “But also some really good. Still, it’s all quite important, at least in my opinion.”

“Give us a minute,” Master Braga said. “The other Masters should be standing by to transmit.”

It didn’t take long for all Councillors to join the meeting. Most looked nervous too, no doubt as worried as Master Satele.

“Why is everyone on edge?” Vajra asked. “This Council gets bad news on a daily basis, doesn’t it?”

“Perhaps so, but your mission right now is one of the most critical,” Master Satele replied. “Shutting down superweapons while fighting Darth Angral’s puppets… we always expect bombshells with you.”

“Bombshells. I see what you did there.”

“Just get on with it,” Master Kaedan grumbled. “Time is life, you know!”

“Apologies. To preface; around ten hours ago, we received word from Major Var Suthra that Admiral Hacklin wanted to defect. He’s one of Angral’s most trusted subordinates. He wanted to rendezvous on Peragus, an abandoned mining facility. And he wanted Kira to be the one who brought him in. Supposedly, he was impressed by her bearing when their paths crossed.”

“Having Hacklin would have helped our cause greatly,” Master Braga said. “But I suppose the opportunity proved too good to be true.”

“That’s right, Master. Instead of any Admiral, we faced a Sith who called himself Valis. The Title he gave us… was ‘Child of the Emperor.’”

The Council stirred as one. Master Gnost dropped his datapad and cursed, stooping to pick it up again.

“Go on,” Master Syo said, staring at Vajra intently.

“I believe it’s my turn to talk, Masters,” Kira stepped forward. She shook like a leaf, but tried to stand with her head tall. “You see, there was a reason why they asked for me, personally. They knew who I was. I was born… I was born on Dromund Kaas, and was one of many taken from my parents when I was a kid. We were all taken to a secret facility on Korriban, where we were raised as the Emperor’s sleeper agents. We were raised as Children of the Emperor.”

A moment of stunned silence met the proclamation. More than a moment. Even Jasme had a horrified look on her face.

Master Kaedan was the first to recover. “What!? What did you say!?”

Kira squirmed under his thunderous gaze. “That I was taken to become a child of the Emperor.”

Master Kaedan leapt out of his seat and advanced on Kira with his Lightsaber drawn. “All those times when you introduced yourself with ‘I’m secretly evil…’ you were laughing in our faces! Hands where I can see them, girl! Don’t resist—”

Vajra placed himself right in the human’s path and drew all four of his Lightsabers. “Stop right there, Master Kaedan. Sit down, and hear what Kira has to say. All of it. And if you try to attack her at any point, I will tie you to your seat!”

Master Kaedan looked stunned. “You—you’re on her side? A Child of the Emperor? She’s a danger to us all, boy! Who knows how much info she’s leaked about Tython… about the Jedi!”

“Think for a moment,” Vajra countered. “If that were true, why send Valis to pick her up? If ever there was a book titled ‘How not to break your cover,’ this incident might get featured on it.”

“I still don’t trust her,” Master Kaedan snarled. “I’ll hear her out… but she will be restrained! Put down your Lightsaber, Padawan! And you too, boy!”

Vajra stopped Kira from taking her Lightsaber off her belt. “Not ‘boy,’” he whispered. “Knight. And woe betide anyone who tries to lock my friend away, after what she’s been through—”

“It’s horrible, I’m sure,” Master Kaedan allowed. “But that’s irrelevant. She! Is! A! Danger! She’s an agent of the Emperor! Of the Dark Side! Now, step aside, youngster, or I will strike you down!”

“The only one acting all Dark here, is you. You wear your fear and anger on your sleeves!”

His eyes glittered, but Master Satele pre-empted him, having finally regained her ability to speak.

“Jaric! What do you think you’re doing? Put away that Lightsaber, now!”

“She’s right; you’re out of line here,” Master Syo stood, approaching Master Kaedan cautiously.

“DON’T YOU NUMBSKULLS GET IT?!” Master Kaedan roared so loud, everyone jumped. Vajra clapped two hands to his ears. “THIS GIRL IS A CHILD OF THE EMPEROR! HIS SLEEPER AGENT, BY HER OWN ADMISSION! HOW MUCH HARM HAS SHE CAUSED US WITHOUT US KNOWING? AND SHE HAS ALREADY WRAPPED HER MITTS AROUND OUR MOST PROMISING KNIGHT!” He glared at Vajra. “She could be the death of the Jedi—”

“No more than one of our Councillors, whose grip on his emotions seems… iffy at best,” Vajra replied, deliberately speaking softly.

Master Gnost stirred. “Kaedan, if you attack Kira, you will fight alone. We will not intervene.”

Kaedan snorted. “I like those odds.”

“I suppose that means basic math is not a subject you need to learn to become a master,” Vajra retorted. “Good to know!”

“What did you say?”

“Jaric, please,” Master Satele said. “Will you defy my authority here, any more than you already have? Sit down. Let us hear what Kira has to say. Even unrestrained, it’s not like she can fight us all.”

Vajra decided not to mention how the Emperor could seemingly take over his Children’s bodies.

“Fine, I will hear her out,” Master Kaedan relented, but glared at Vajra. “But even you can’t deny that there’s darkness in her!”

“But I can deny that she’s acted on anything darker than… um. Pranks.”

“Pranks…” Master Nikil repeated softly. “Pranks.” He jumped. “Wait! Padawan Carsen, are you the one who installed a buzzer on my chair?”

“No, that was me,” Vajra said, trying his best to look sheepish. “In my defense, I was trying to put it on Master Satele’s. But it was so damn dark after lights out!”

“This doesn’t seem the time for jokes,” Master Syo said amusedly. Behind him, Master Satele hid her chuckles behind her fist.

“Which is what makes it the perfect time, I think,” Vajra replied. With effort, he placed his Lightsabers on his belt and moved his hands away from his body. “This revelation got to everyone. You’re scared, I understand that. But you shouldn’t be. Kira is no threat to us. In fact, she proved to me that she’s already a better Jedi than I can ever dream to be. If I’m ever proven wrong, you can lock me up right alongside her.”

“Everyone: please return to your seats,” Master Satele ordered. Master Kaedan complied, so reluctant he seemed to need all his strength to get his body to obey. His expression told Vajra that his cheek would not be forgiven easily.

Why had his mouth gotten so loose lately? This was the second time he’d gone and insulted someone far above his station. Today! Was this what humans meant when they talked about raging teen hormones?

He decided to stay as submissive as possible for the rest of this meeting.

Kira resumed her story, feeling reluctant and embarrassed at having caused such a ruckus. She recounted everything that had happened in her childhood, and in greater detail than she had with Master Vajra. She talked about the training, the tests, the psychological torture, and her successful escape.

She ended with an emphasis on how many Children there were out there. “That was the main reason why I wanted to come clean today,” she said as she looked around intently, at everyone except Master Kaedan. “Even though I knew that there would be some who didn’t take it well.”

“It took courage to take that step,” Master Gnost said first. “I commend your bravery, Kira.”

The next to speak was Jedi Master Syo Bakarn. Crossing his legs, he rubbed his chin in deep thought as he spoke up. "This is troubling. We have heard rumors of these "Children of the Emperor" before, but you finally confirm their existence."

Master Braga spoke next, voice expressionless. "Troubling that we never Sensed the truth before, when Master Kiwiiks brought her to us."

Master Kaedan finally exploded. "Troubling? Are you serious!? A possible sleeper agent was in our midst and we didn't sense it, and all you can call it is "troubling"!? Worse, it seems that the Emperor could have reached out at any time and taken control of her; does no one understand the implications of what that means! My first instinct was right! She's especially dangerous, and cannot be allowed to roam free!" The look in his eye suggested that he was ready to leap forward again.

"As her current Master, Vajra should have a say in this." Master Satele said gently. "What do you recommend?"

Kira looked at her Master, nervous despite herself.

"As I have already told you. The Emperor tried to take possession of Kira, and she was able to fight him off. She broke his hold over her for good—"

"So YOU say," Master Kaedan interjected, and Vajra seemed to fight the urge to retort unkindly.

Instead, he inhaled deeply again, and continued. "She has broken his hold over him, and at the least, she has proven her commitment to the Jedi. In fact, she has proven herself ready for Knighthood. The feat she pulled off was superhuman, and if you never agree with me on anything else again, I WILL see that you acknowledge this, MASTER Kaedan."

He and Master Kaedan glared at each other.

The Kel Dor spoke again into the silence. "Setting that matter aside for now, I wish to hear about your confrontation with the Emperor, Vajra. For you are the first I know to have done so as an enemy, and emerged unscathed. I want to hear every detail."

Shuddering, Vajra recounted his brush with the Emperor.

Kira listened along with everyone else, awed by what she was hearing. She had heard all this before, heard what her friend had faced—but it hadn’t quite registered at the time. Now she felt a deep sympathy for what he’d been forced to face, alone. Where she had been effectively knocked unconscious, Vajra had faced the full might of the Emperor's oppressive presence. And without even any prior warning.

How alone he must have felt, faced with that terrible void! How tiny!

Even Master Kaedan seemed cowed.

"...But when Kira and I found each other in that void-- when it started to break-- I realized that the vast majority of that cloud was an illusion." Vajra recounted. "He certainly is much more powerful than any of us could have imagined, but he isn't immune to fear. He’s not invincible. He has certainly dabbled in arts Darker than anything we have seen, but his greatest weapon is in pretending to be the endless storm. I believe that so long as a Jedi can hold on to a shred of hope—and not give in to despair—they may survive what I encountered."

"Survive," the Kel Dor pressed, expression hidden behind his mask. "But not win?"

"Safe to say, someone that powerful will have other tricks up his sleeve. And even without his façade, I thought he was absurdly strong."

"But this still makes him infinitely less invincible than we had feared yesterday," the alien insisted, and Vajra inclined his head.

"I suggest that Vajra record this in depth, for our archives,” Master Gnost said. “This is a key event that will need to be remembered."

"I've already started preparing for it," Vajra bowed. "Gathering down my thoughts and memories in a coherent fashion, and the like."

"But back to the matter of Padawan Kira," Satele said.

"Again, I think she is ready to be a full Jedi Knight." he said.

"So you've said," Master Kaedan grumbled. "We cannot ignore the threat she represents to our entire Order! It's inconceivable that we allow her to remain a Padawan, let alone Knight her!"

"Is it?" The Kel Dor master spoke up. "We first heard of the Children from a Sith turned to the Light."

"Master Braga speaks the truth," Syo Bakarn said in his gentle tones.

"She should have told us the truth sooner!" Kaedan said.

"Perhaps she feared your exact reaction," Satele pointed out.

"And with Knight Vajra's staunch attestation of her loyalty, I need no further proof that she belongs here," Master Braga said.

"Agreed. I think that the best course of action is to leave her where she is." Master Satele turned to Vajra. "We acknowledge what you said about Kira's readiness, but I would like for Master Kiwiiks to be here on that occasion, as Kira is her Padawan."

"Thank you, Masters!" Kira said enthusiastically. She was going to remain a Jedi! "I promise, I won't let you down." She avoided looking at Master Kaedan.

TeeSeven beeped encouragement as he rolled next to her.

"Very well then. You've both suffered through quite an ordeal. Choose your rooms, take some time. Recover. Healers will be available should any complications arise."

Kira fought the urge to dance on her way out. Master Kaedan's suspicions notwithstanding, the ease with which the Council had accepted her continued presence after hearing about her past had greatly boosted her spirits.

This is what it felt like, she thought. To have friends, family, who are there for you even through the worst of it. And Vajra's insistent support for her had also touched her deeply. Never had she felt so at home as she did now.

She felt a thump on her shoulder, and turned to find, predictably, a very happy Jasme standing there. Taking Kira’s hands in hers, she danced excitedly, squealing all the while.

“Jasme, can you please take this outside the Council chambers?” Master Satele requested. “We’ve already had one major breach of etiquette in here today.”

Jasme stopped at once, though it wasn’t clear if she was obeying the Grand Master. “Come on,” she said, pulling both her friends. “Tea in my room. Now!”

Master Vajra resisted long enough to say “I’m really sorry about the buzzer incident!” before allowing Jasme to pull him out.

Jasme filled their cups with exaggerated elegance, as though she were a hostess in a tea ceremony. One hand daintily holding up the kettle from below, the other pinched lightly around the handle, she tilted the nozzle forward, and “—sonofabitch!”

The lid fell off, dumping the contents of the kettle onto the table. Vajra responded quickly, using the Force to stop the boiling hot liquid from spilling on his robes. Kira almost fell over laughing.

“A for effort!” she gasped. “F on execution!”

“And an ‘S’ for the hilarious expression afterwards,” Vajra joined in, and Jasme turned her pained expression on him before thumping him playfully a few times.

“Meanie!” she wailed.

“Ouch! That’ll leave a bruise!” he cried, holding his arms above his head.

“Aww, thank you!” Kira smiled sweetly. “We need more of that initiative, please!”

Jasme dropped the act and laughed with her friends before looking for a rag to clean the mess. Vajra beat her to the punch, allowing her to focus on trying again.

“By the way, there’s something I keep forgetting to ask you,” Kira looked at Vajra. “Who’s Urana Kiel?”

Vajra looked at her blankly. “Who?”

“That’s what I’m asking you. Okay. Here’s context. While we were on Taris, you received a message marked ‘Very Urgent’ from a sender who identified herself as Urana Kiel. Hey, I don’t read all your mail, just ones marked ‘Urgent.’ She apologized for kissing you out of the blue—and marking that mail as she did—but asked if you’re willing to… get with her while you were on Taris. She promised you the best sex of your life. You still don’t remember her, do you?”

Vajra shook his head, but T7 piped up.

“WHAT?!” Kira roared.

“Oh, now I remember her,” Vajra recalled. “Yeah, she kissed me when I saved her. I almost messed up big time there.”

“What do you mean?” Jasme asked.

“When I saw what the bandits were doing to her, I broke cover without thinking. That endangered not only her, but the other villagers too. I had to shake em up a bit, hurl them around like ragdolls, in order to resolve it. Still, I did manage to save her. And her village.”

“No wonder she wanted to fuck you then,” Kira snorted. “Some of the terminology she used… I was worried it would hurt your sweet, innocent eyes. She definitely reads more erotica than I do”

Jasme chuckled incredulously. “I don’t blame you for losing your cool. Damned bandits!”

“But how did you manage to forget her? Was her kiss that forgettable?”

Vajra thought back. “No… it was because of what happened right after. I encountered a woman working with Watcher One. Her name was Bea Kendricks. Designated Cipher Twelve. I caught her watching me from afar, and thought I could capture her.”

“Oh yeah, I remember you mentioning it.”

“The encounter drove this girl, this… Urana, from my mind.”

“Poor Urana,” Kira chuckled. “Still, you should reply to her. Let her know that her unfortunate labelling made someone else open the letter. Who knows, maybe you can take her up on her offer?”

Vajra was annoyed with himself at feeling slightly tempted. “Speaking of action, I thought you were looking for some before your twentieth birthday. Did you find any?”

Kira’s face fell. “I thought I’d get plenty of chances on Nar Shaddaa, but I was almost never in the right frame of mind. Like…” she glanced at Vajra. “There was so much happening over there! And when I had two days to catch a breather, I was worried sick coz you were watching that horror show footage.”

“Yeah, that was stupid,” Jasme admonished him. “And now you know that you’re the reason Kira didn’t get laid. I hope you’re happy!”

“I’m sorry,” Vajra said, voice oozing with guilt. Everyone laughed.

“Jasme, help a sister out? Anyone interesting drop by recently?”

“Depends what you’re in the mood for.”

“I need a man. Our age. Ours as in, yours and mine.”

“I really wish I could throw Theron into your lap,” Jasme blew out her cheeks. “You could beat some sense into him for me! That jackass sent me a greeting today. Nice to know he’s alright, but it’s been three months since the last one! Other than him though…” she thought for a minute. “There’s only been one new man. He’s one of the Order’s top pilots, goes by Seraphim Abbot. He’s here to be assigned a Padawan though, so chances are he might want to set a good example at the start.”

“Oh.”

“No harm in trying though,” Vajra nudged her. “Besides, he doesn’t have a Padawan yet.”

“In addition, Devel Nirol is back,” Jasme said. “Returned right before you did. Interestingly, he was on Nar Shaddaa too.”

“I don’t think he’s interested in women.”

“I don’t think he’s interested in living people.”

“Then why mention him?” Vajra asked.

“Sometimes, it’s worth meeting new people. And he’s a rising star. Extraordinarily powerful in the Force, from the sounds of it. Wise, and quick to pick up new Force techniques. I mean, he was dubbed ‘Barsen’thor’ after all. He’s just five years older than us, but he’s sure to be named Master before his next birthday.”

“I’ve a feeling the Boss will be Master by that age too,” Kira said confidently. “But Devel… he’s a nice guy, but he’s just not built to be social. On any level. I bet he’d appreciate being left alone.”

“You’d be wrong. He does like being talked to. And few do, given his unfortunate love of lecturing. But that doesn’t make him a bad guy.”

“I’ll seek him out then,” Vajra nodded. “If only because your recommendation has made me curious.”

“Right. And… there! Tea’s ready. Let’s try this one more time.”

As Vajra and Kira got ready to leave, Jasme surprised them by asking Vajra to stay back. “Sorry about this Kira. It’s a Raudraksha thing.”

“Hey, no sweat. I know you love me.”

“As much as breathing.” Once Kira left, she locked her door.

“What’s this about?” Vajra asked.

“I have some… news,” she said, gesturing he sit down. “It’s about Raudra physiology. I’ve been looking for the right time to tell you, but I needed to do this in person. And in private.”

“Okay…” He shifted in his seat. “You’re making me nervous.”

“Vajra… you should think carefully before going to the Council with this,” Jasme said. “Or anyone. There’s a reason I asked Kira to leave. If she doesn’t know, she doesn’t have to lie for you.”

“I understand.”

Her expression said ‘No you don’t!’ but she went ahead. “The main reason I went to Raudraksha wasn’t to tell your people about your exploits, or to see the world for myself. It was so I could learn about your people. Your physiology, I mean.”

“I see.”

“There were some interesting tidbits in there. For instance, Raudra can regenerate lost organs and limbs over the course of a few months. Broken bones mend in a few days, thought they need to be set within a few hours of the break. But the most incredible characteristic was the innate resistance to diseases. Even the most infectious germs stand only a small chance of infecting one of your people. I don’t want to test this, of course, but even the Rakghoul plague shouldn’t be too much trouble for your immune system.”

“That is fantastic!” Vajra exclaimed. If only he’d known while he was on Taris! “We have to tell everyone immediately!”

“No, we don’t,” Jasme grabbed his shoulders. “Listen… yours isn’t the first species to be found with these kinds of traits. But every one of the others were poached into extinction by unethical blowhards like Czerka and the Hutts. Nigh-immunity alone is a big demand in the market. Regeneration? That’ll mean your people become prize targets for Bounty Hunters everywhere.”

“We can limit who knows—”

“Secrets have a way of getting out. You said so yourself, remember?”

“Oh… yeah.”

“Keep your bloodwork to yourself. Never let others know about them unless you are forced to. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“Good. Then I can get to the main part of this thesis.”

Vajra blinked a few times. “Wait, there’s more?!”

“I’m afraid so, and it gets personal from here. See, diseases aren’t the only thing you’re resistant to. It’s toxins and venoms as well, all but the most potent.”

“That’s why Bengel’s tranquilizer didn’t work… or the poison in the Twi’lek village.”

“Exactly. But there’s a different instance you should be more worried about. The time you came in contact with a certain type of fungus.”

It took Vajra a minute to get what she was saying. “No!” he exclaimed, sitting bolt upright.

“I’m afraid so.”

“The cave… the Trial…”

“Exactly. You were immune to whatever psychedelic toxins were in the air. You never faced the Trial of the Mirror.”

“Oh my goodness… Son of a… kriff, I can’t believe this!” he rubbed his hair. “I—I—”

“Don’t say your Knighthood wasn’t deserved,” Jasme requested. “Because you’ve done some great things. Like fighting off the Emperor himself. You saved a trillion souls on Coruscant, and saved thousands on Taris and Nar Shaddaa.”

“But if I didn’t pass the trial—”

“Yes. I’m aware of the conundrum. But you can’t tell them about this, not now.”

“Why not?”

“Because it will discredit not only you, but anyone else who gets made Knight early. And the Council too. Which isn’t a bad thing during true peacetime, but it’s heating up out there. The Republic just got kicked off Balmorra yesterday.”

“I thought we got kicked off years ago?”

“Well, we left soldiers behind anyway. To help the resistance. You know how it goes. But the Empire managed to not just defeat the Resistance stronghold, they coerced the leader, Grand Marshal Cheketta, into admitting that the Republic was complicit. That means the Empire now has casus belli to reignite the war. Now is not the time to undermine the Council.” She coughed. “Especially since that jerk Master Kaedan is doing such a good job of it by himself. Pulling out his Saber and threating a Padawan… seriously! And the others can’t even afford to oust him for the same reason!” She shook her head. “Anyway, it’s something I promised to look into on your behalf. Most of it is just useful to know, right?”

“Yes…”

“But even if I had it in me to hide this from you, you’d probably figure it out yourself. The bigger message here, is that you need to keep this a secret for the time being. Got it?”

“Alright.”

Jasme hugged him before opening the door. “Come on. Let’s not keep the birthday girl waiting too long!”

“No, wait, I got a message from Kira,” Vajra focused on his datapad for a moment. “Ha! Looks like Kira won’t be needing us to stave off boredom after all! She says she’s gone looking for Seraphim.”

Jasme laughed. “I guess that means we’re free for now! Want to hang out?”

“I have an idea, actually!”

“Oh?”

“You said you’re going to respecialize as a field archaeologist, right? You also mentioned that combat training is part of the curriculum now, since there’s a risk of bandit attacks, or even Imperial one. So, what would you say to learning how to use the Lightsaber? Working with Kira has taught me how to teach my one skill, so…”

“I really hate to burst your bubble here, Little Brother,” Jasme interrupted kindly, her expression regretful. “But Kira already knew the basics of Lightsaber combat. I don’t. I have to start from scratch, while you have to leave soon. It can’t be helped, but lessons with you will have to wait until much later.”

“I understand.”

Jasme rubbed his hair. “Don’t feel so bad! I just mean I can’t learn right now. But in the future… I will take you up on that offer someday.”

“How about I give you your first lesson anyway? I promise, it’s something you can do by yourself.”

“Go on.”

Vajra fished the remaining gems out of his pocket, and gave her the yellow one. “This is one of the crystals I got from the Keleth vault. Their song is clearer, somehow, than other crystals.”

“How fascinating!” she whispered, eyes wide. She took the gem and turned it over in her hand before holding it to her collarbone.

“I want you to practice hearing them. And dancing to them.”

“Dance?” she barked a laugh. “I’ve got two left feet over here!”

“You don’t have to be good at it, just… dance. Learn to move to the rhythm. It’s what my fighting style is based off of. It’s how I’m training Kira to fight too.”

Jasme contemplated before laughing with restrained delight. “Alright, but if I’m going to learn to dance, you’re going to be my first partner.”

“I’d be so happy to!” Vajra smiled.

“Oh, he thinks I want to make him happy!” Jasme’s smile turned mischievous as she led him to a training room. “No, I just want you to suffer with me!”

“I can never suffer when you’re around.”

“Still such a charmer!”

Kira found her quarry sitting in the gardens.

Seraphim Abbot was exactly the sort of treasure she was looking for, on the subject of looks alone. His skin was the color of caramel, and his sharp eyes were bright emerald. His ashen hair was tied in a ponytail that reached his shoulder blades. His brown-and-blue robes were closer to a pilot’s jumpsuit than Jedi robes. His gloves and belt were placed neatly on the table in front of him.

He noticed that someone had locked onto him—his inner pilot, no doubt—and watched Kira approach calmly. “Well, well…” he gave a thin-lipped smile. The sibilant hiss of his voice gave her goosebumps. “What do we have here? Should I call the bomb squad? Unless I’m much mistaken, I’m looking at a human-shaped warhead.”

Kira’s giggle was a little higher-pitched than she’d intended. “Not bad. You get a lot of points for delivery.”

“Thanks,” the man’s smile widened for a moment before fading.

“Name’s Kira Carsen. I’m secretly a saint.”

“Mine’s Seraphim. Secretly an abbot.”

“Does that mean you’ve taken a vow of chastity?”

“Hmmm. Why don’t we find out the hard way?”

“Hard can be good sometimes,” Kira allowed, overtly looking down at his crotch.

He gasped theatrically. “What a bad, bad girl!” he said as his own eyes travelled to her chest. “Well-endowed, though!”

She sat down next to him. It was no problem. The garden was empty, but for the two of them. “I have a few other gifts too.”

“I can see some of them,” Seraphim nodded, his stare locking onto her eyes now. The eye contact made her unexpectedly shiver. “Kira Carsen, eh? Jasme Shan told me a little about you. Anyone she’s so close to can’t be too bad. Even if she is a self-proclaimed saint. So, what can I do for the gifted, human-shaped warhead?”

Good old Jazz! “I’m kinda here on her recommendation too, to be honest. I’ll be straight with you. I’m looking for a good time, but I don’t know how long we’ll be here. Me and my Master, that is. It’s been… quite a ride lately. I feel like I’ll be shipped off again within the hour.” She bit her lip regretfully. “I’m sorry for getting so direct.”

“Don’t be,” he patted her upper thigh. “I’m a Jedi too. I know how it goes. I’ll see what I can do.”

“Great!”

“On one condition.”

“Go on…”

“I’d like to stay in touch. Try to get to know you. Maybe give us a chance to get serious. Well. As serious as a Jedi can get, anyway.”

“Buddy, you got yourself a deal!”

“Good girl. Come on. We can have our little party on my ship. I’ve got some nice wine stashed there. And DC’s a good cook.”

Kira found the brief walk to the nearby landing pad to be unbearably long. Any other time, she’d have gasped at Seraphim’s magnificent Flamberge-class Thunderbird. Perhaps insisted on a full tour.

But today, she was eager to get this party started.

She followed Seraphim up the ramp eagerly, her arms locking around his body as he punched in the code to access the ship. She tiptoed to kiss his neck, then kissed his ear.

“Eager little bombshell, aren’t you?” he chuckled. He let her in, then re-sealed the door behind them. He began kissing her at once, his lips locking onto hers with practiced ease. Kira felt her lust ignite at the smooch, and she turned the liplock into a fierce wrestling match. Seraphim picked her up in his arms and carried her to his cabin, with Kira squirming the entire way as she wrestled off her clothes.

About an hour later, Kira slumped exhaustedly against the bulkhead. She gasped harder than she had in years. Seraph collapsed on top of her, tiredly cupping a nipple with his mouth before depositing himself on the bed next to her. He was also panting hard.

“Had fun?” he gasped.

“Had fun,” she moaned. “Hot damn that felt good! I do hope we get to do this again! I needed this. My soul needed it like my pussy needed the pounding you just gave it.” She kissed his chest. “Promise me we’ll do this again!”

“That’s the idea!”

“Soon. I want to do this again soon.”

“I’d like that. Really. Fucking you was fun.”

“You’re gonna be having a Padawan in here next time we meet.”

“No, I’m not. Apparently, the last available Padawan got picked up by one Devel Nirol. We’re woefully short on new blood.”

“Maybe that’ll encourage them to lift restrictions,” Kira suggested with a kiss. “Ask us to breed a little. Fill out the ranks.”

“As fun as that sounds at first, that has a ‘And so, it has come to the triarii’ vibe.”

“I’ve no idea what that means.”

“If the Council tells all Jedi to have babies, it would mean we’re desperate.”

“Ah. Right. Where’s that saying from?”

“I could tell you… or we could kiss some more.”

“Oh no! Decisions are my weakness!” She accepted the kiss.

“Cmon. DC probably has that meal ready.”

“Can we have it in bed? I’ve found me a cozy little spot.” She nestled against his chest after one more kiss before she found herself lulled into an unexpected sleep.

It was dark out when Kira wobbled into the Garuda.

“Hey there, stranger. Didn’t expect you to be gone the whole day,” Vajra grinned before looking her over. “Hmmm. Someone looks ready for a training session.” The pleading stare she gave him made him laugh. “So how was it?”

“I may or may not have to pay for the bed we broke,” she joked. “I needed that. Really needed that. Speaking of. Did you get to see Ranna?”

“No, I called her over instead. Gave her a tour of the ship. She loved the showers. And the soap.”

“Nice,” Kira nodded appreciatively.

“What’s Seraphim like?”

“I’ll answer that after I get some time to know him. Today was all about sex.”

“Really?” Vajra looked at her incredulously. “But you were gone for almost ten hours!”

“Sex is tiring! We fell asleep afterwards.”

“I suppose I understand that.”

“We’ve promised to stay in touch though.”

“I hope it works out.”

“Me too. So, why’d you call me?”

“Message from Var Suthra. He wants to talk.”

“Oh, goody. What do you think the odds are, he’s offering us a vacation as an apology for the Peragus fiasco?” She asked as she followed him to the lounge. “Master… there’s something I have to say first, now that it’s just the two—I mean three—of us.”

T7 whistled happily at being included in the count.

“Go on.”

She hugged him as tightly as she could. “Thank you. You promised you’d always have my back, but the way you stood up to Master Kaedan for me…! I was moved, I really was! You’re not one to fly off the handle easily, so when you did get ready to fight tooth and nail for me, I just felt so… happy!”

“You’re welcome, Kira.”

“I mean it. I’ve been blessed with good company since joining the Jedi: Master Kiwiiks, Master Orgus, Jazz, T7… but you made me feel like family. Like I was loved unconditionally. Fiercely. Thank you.” She backed off crisply, forgetting for a moment that her legs were jelly. She fell on the sofa with an ‘oof!’ and an abashed look. “I’m okay!”

Vajra chuckled before entering the comm frequency to Var Suthra’s office. It connected after a few seconds. “Good evening, General.”

“Hello again, my friends. I’m sorry to end your shore leave so soon, but Master Kiwiiks sent out a distress signal before we lost communication. You have to get to Tatooine at once. I’ll brief you once you get there.”

“That doesn’t sound good.”

“I hope Master Kiwiiks is alright.”

Vajra keyed the ship’s internal comm. “Bridge? Can you get the engines warmed up?”

“Affirmative, sir.”

“Come on. We should have enough time to meet Jasme before we leave.”

“Can we call her here? Just look at my legs wobble! Don’t feel like announcing to the whole Temple that I just got nailed.”

#star wars #swtor #star wars the old republic #the old republic #fanfic #fanfiction #swtorhub #swtor fanfic #star wars fanfiction #hero of tython #jedi knight

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katiewattsart · 4 years ago

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Essay Plan

Does Photography need to be seen?

Matter and Meaning : This paper specifically explores Materiality within Art Photography, and how it can potentially affect the narrative which is perceived.

Introduction (500 words)

Pose the question of our reliance of sight and how we may undermine our sense of touch.

Does photography need to be seen? Visualisation is often defined as the act or process of making something that needs to be seen.

Define materiality - ‘ Materiality is how arts material qualities are sensed, interpreted and understood.’

‘Materiality can be said here to have a positivistic character, in that it is concerned with real physical objects in a world that is physically apprehensible not only through vision but through embodied relations of smell, taste, touch and hearing.’

‘PHOTOGRAPHS AS OBJECTS, Elizabeth Edwards and Janice Elart, (2004).

Break down chapters (titles, introduce artists and theorists mentioned within)

Literature Review

The Eyes of the Skin by Juhani Pallasmaa

Chapter One - Materiality (1,500 words)

Point : Argue how the physicality of artwork impacts and effects the narrative perceived through the use of materiality.

Materiality (Two Types: Aesthetic Concept & Theory)

: Aesthetic Concept

Explain:

Materiality, as an aesthetic concept, has grew from formalism, meaning that the most important aspects of a piece of artwork is its form; the way it has been created and its purely visual aspects, rather than how it connects to the world or the narrative it possesses.

Evidence

As Mills supports:

'The artwork’s physicality, those aspects that can be sensed and verified by viewers, is a first consideration; physicality impacts content and, subsequently, meaning.’

Mills, C. M., (2009). Materiality as the Basis for the Aesthetic Experience in Contemporary Art. Master of Arts Art History/Criticism. The University of Montana.

:Theory

Materiality as a theory is that artwork grounds the viewer in the corporal world and allows the senses to absorb a story, a narrative. However, the aesthetic experience may occur first through the arts physicality, then may travel through a cognitive interaction with materiality as a theory.

Evidence:

As Mills again supports:

‘Art provides a bridge between ordinary experience and concepts that transcend the seemingly static nature of the work of art’s physicality’

Mills, C. M., (2009). Materiality as the Basis for the Aesthetic Experience in Contemporary Art. Master of Arts Art History/Criticism. The University of Montana.

Artist: Andrew Myers

Point: In the context of art photography, argue how the type of material used can impact meaning.

Type of materials, focusing on texture, impact meaning (visual or implied texture & tactile)

:visual or implied

refers to the texture of art works that cannot be touched, however, portray and resemble the meaning in which the practitioner is wishing to display.

:tactile

in comparison to implied, this form of texture is not deemed to be sensed optically, rather it can be sensed haptically (through sense of touch).

It is arguably in the creators power to determine which medium they use to portray and communicate narrative.

Evidence:

As Mills argues:

‘Artists throughout history have given expression to ideas through art making as a means of expressing the uniquely human desire to transform ordinary materials into works of art or what is primarily mutable and intangible; thoughts and feelings, both bodily and emotional.'

she goes on to state…

‘In a contemporary context, materiality is particularly relevant in that contemporary art is understood to be a relic of the artist’s process of investigation into the nature of things, via objects’ materiality and artists’ work to reframe meaning through aesthetic juxtapositions’

Mills, C. M., (2009). Materiality as the Basis for the Aesthetic Experience in Contemporary Art. Master of Arts Art History/Criticism. The University of Montana.

‘The eye is the organ of distance and separation, whereas touch is the sense of nearness, intimacy and affection.’

Pallasmaa, J., (2005). ‘The Significance of the Shadow’ cited in Wiley Editorial Offices (ed.) The Eyes of the Skin. Wiley-Academy, a division of John Wiley & Sons Ltd (Architecture and the Senses). p. 46

Analyse findings (Link back to point/question)

Do we need to see photography?

Can the aspect of materiality effect and impact the narrative perceived within art photography?

Chapter Two - The Eyes of the Skin (1,500 words)

Point: Argue how the sense of touch can allow art photography to communicate meaning and narrative.

Evidence:

‘Hands are the gardeners reality. Hands carry the scars and Ingrained stories of hours in the garden, reaching, shaping and caressing both plants and soil. Feeding the brain with a stream of equally subtle and brutal tactile messages’

Monty Don The Sensuous Garden

Although this example of utilising our tactile sense refers to gardening, it could be argued that it shadows our use of materiality within art photography.

State that each and every individual is encapsulated by skin, which allows us as people to connect and interact physically with the world in which we live in.

As Haig supports:

‘When the lights go out at night, it can take a while for your eyes to addict. Touch comes into its element. With arms outstretched you search along a cold wall for the opening.’

In relevance to artwork, she goes on to state:

‘as your work your hands along different surfaces you begin to notice a lot more than you usually might when looking with your eyes, the grains of an old piece of wood’

Haig, V. L., (2001). To touch, Or not to touch? An insight into the tactile sense. Bachelor of Arts. Plymouth College of Art and Design.

Begin to argue how a pieces physicality can alter the way a narrative is communicated.

As Edwards and Elart state:

‘ argues that an object cannot be fully understood at any single point in its existence, but should be understood as belonging in a continuing process of production, exchange, usage and meaning.’

‘PHOTOGRAPHS AS OBJECTS, Elizabeth Edwards and Janice Elart, (2004).

Haptic Sensation

Two Types : Tactile & Kinesthetic

Tactile sensations are those sensations that are perceived when the skin comes into contact with an object.

Kinesthetic sensations are those that are mediated by receptors located in muscles and joints, and that are stimulated by bodily movements and tensions

Haptic Visualisation

‘kind of seeing that uses the eye like an organ of touch’

Marks, L. U., (2002). Touch: Sensuous Theory and Multi Sensory Media. University of Minnesota Press.

Artist :Kenya Hara called ‘Haptic: Awakening the Senses

Explain how the use of haptic visualisation can be considered within my own practice.

Analyse:

Link back to my point, taking into account my evidence

Does the sense of touch allow art photography to communicate meaning and narrative.

Chapter Three - The Need to Touch (1,500 words)

Point : Argue that touch is more intimate than sight, therefore affecting and gaining a further narrative.

Evidence:

‘taste and touch require contact, whereas the other senses allow distance.’

- Aristotle

Derrida, J., (2005). On Touching - Jean-Luc Nancy. Stanford University Press.

Artist: Matt Ducklo ‘Touch Tours’ - Illustrated

As Saara Hacklin states within her article ‘Affective, immersive and critical contemporary art’:

‘when touching something we, too, are being touched.’

To Touch and Be Touched - Stedelijk Studies (no date). [Online]. Available at https:// stedelijkstudies.com/journal/to-touch-and-be-touched/. [Accessed on 15/10/2020]

‘Most of the people I have photographed find that experiencing art through touch is meaningful. I do believe that touching can function as something like seeing.’

Mullaney, J., (2013). ‘Photographer Interview: Experiencing Art through Touch’. 8th February. Available at https://www.metmuseum.org/blogs/now-at-the-met/features/ 2013/seeing-art-through-touch. [Accessed on 14/10/2020]

‘People aren't just touching the ends of their fingers -- they're stroking things, they're holding things, they're mimicking. You’ve got to see touching as part of the continuum of ways in which people physically interact with objects.’

- Fiona Candlin

Analyse:

Analyse my findings

Is touch more intimate than sight? And how does that aspect of materiality affect the narrative portrayed

Conclusion (500 words)

bring forward again how our tactile sense has arguably become undervalued when absorbing narratives from artworks.

Recap each chapter heading and brief finding in each (including theorists and artists)

Leave question open to reader, after reading my findings, does photography need to be seen?

#304

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