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Post by Binary the Great on Jun 16, 2006 7:51:36 GMT -5
(( Just so you know, this is a private thread. Please don't post without permission from either myself or Nik. ))
The soft sound of grass crunched under boot filled the still air of the monument, resounding within the relatively small enclosure. A number of small stones were arranged neatly into rows about the grass. Darkness flowed easily through the still air; neither moon nor breeze was seen within the area. Woe itself clung to the air within the enclosure, its purpose to serve as a remembrance of great loss. In the darkness, a single figure drew up to one of the small stones, a particularly special marker, and quietly halted.
Commodore Vasage made it a yearly ritual to return to this place of sadness and loss. Each stone upon the earth held a name and two dates. The one before his footpaws read a name that brought a tear to his eye: Echo van Dozier. The raccoon wrestled with the grief daily, but this day was always especially difficult. It carried the same month and day as the second date on his beloved’s marker; it was the anniversary of her death.
The flag officer carried with him a small, oblong box, which he opened. Inside was a single flower: a jade rose. He recalled how his dearest had been fond of them ever since she saw one on Coruscant, and he made a point of leaving one for her every year. He carefully placed the lid beneath the bottom of the box, so the flower was visible. “For you, my love,” he whispered softly, kneeling down before the stone and setting it just below. He swallowed, trying to ignore the dull pain centered about his heart and the gaping hole left by the tragedy of loss. “Rest easy, Echo,” quietly said Daniel as he straightened. He adjusted the cap between his ears, adding, “I’ll make sure you’re murderers and their compatriots are brought to justice.”
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Post by Nik Vecto on Jul 10, 2006 15:07:03 GMT -5
The sound of the Commodore's voice resounded in the small clearing, with an intently listening figure huddled behind an old tree, its great branches long bereft of life. It was only by chance that he had come here, watching the Imperial recount his sorrows.
He had come to this planet seeking the rare AlfunBerry, indigineous to Agamar, and had spied the familiar shape of the Commodore's Lambda-class shuttle touching down outside the marketplace. Unusual a sight as it was, the Jedi Master known as Nik Vecto quietly followed the Commodore to this dreary, forgotten spot.
After hearing the Commodore's last remark, Nik scoffed inwardly. The Commodore had long been a thorn in the Alliance's side, with his own ruthless acts to account for. Angrily, Nik looked around. There was no one in sight, no guards to protect the Commodore....
And so, standing erect, Nik spoke out. "Imperial Justice is a unique point of view, Commodore Vasage."
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Post by Binary the Great on Jul 17, 2006 8:02:26 GMT -5
Commodore Daniel Vasage turned quickly and quietly to his left, finding himself facing Jedi Master Vecto. His paw, through training and instinct, found its way to his blaster, though he kept it holstered in prudence; he knew full well that the Jedi could easily rend him to pieces before he could squeeze the trigger. Frowning, he decided to refrain from any hostile physical actions, though words would be more than sufficient for him.
“And what would a Jedi know of justice?” he countered, continuing to maintain the frown. “You were above the law with the Old Republic, and your coup d’etat failed.” He inhaled before continuing, “And now, you hold your weapon with those responsible for this.” Holding back a mixture of anger and sadness, the officer motioned back towards the sea of markers.
Daniel sighed softly before shaking his head. “No matter,” he stated, “for what has been done cannot be undone.” The raccoon paused, looked at Echo’s grave marker, then back to the Jedi. “Mistakes have been made, and too much blood has been spilled here already.”
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Post by Nik Vecto on Jul 21, 2006 6:02:20 GMT -5
Nik stood rigid, confused by the Commodore's actions. His hand, halfway reaching for his lightsaber, did not move an inch; Any textbook Imperial would have shot at him on sight, regardless of the battleground.... But, Nik remembered, Commodore Vasage is no ordinary Imperial....
Nik looked over the area himself, eying the seemingly endless field of headstones. "Oh, Commodore.... Things are not always as others intend for us to believe...." His gaze turned to the Commodore. "There was a lot of misinformation on both sides near the end of the war, Vasage...." He scoffed again. "If only you knew what really happened."
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Post by Binary the Great on Aug 29, 2006 9:14:49 GMT -5
Commodore Daniel Vasage raised a brow before folding both arms behind the small of his back. "I did not care for Palpatine's or Vader's leadership either," he admitted softly. "They, too, acted above and beyond the very laws they sought to enforce." The raccoon turned back towards the markers, holding back every emotion unbecomming an officer. "With all the faults of the Old Republic, this would not have happened under it."
And he paused. A slight smile crept upon his expression for a moment before the aura of the area consumed it. "Prey tell, General Vecto, how fares General Starkiller?" he asked. "I was only a young ensign fresh from the academy at the time, but I still remember the romaticism of the time. Leading entire armies from front; charging into the enemy with your saber held high," he said prior to turning around. He hoped to have caught the Jedi off guard; that had been QUITE a long time ago for both of them.
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Post by Nik Vecto on Aug 31, 2006 7:02:31 GMT -5
Nik gave a slight smile himself; He had never considered the Clone Wars to be anything other than a pathway to death and turmoil, much less romantic....
"General Starkiller is well", he replied, "And continues to lead others into battle for the cause he believes in." The Master thought back, and held his smile. "His skills have greatly improved since our last foray with your fleet. I am very proud of him."
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Post by Binary the Great on Sept 4, 2006 2:16:14 GMT -5
"Line Captain Beale was in over his head the moment you Jedi were sent out to meet me," Commodore Daniel Vasage stated. He had started to wonder when the 'New Republic' was going to send a credible threat to his operations, and it pleased him somewhat that he would have a chance to strike back at such a visible sign of the illegitimate regime. "Further," he stated, knowing that the information was not tipping his hand any more than a fair tactician could know, "I cannot afford to throw any resources away. This includes people, as suprising as that may sound to you, Master Vecto." He sighed softly, turning away slightly from the Jedi. "Most of my men have families that they would like to be able to visit again some day. I will not ask the needlessly sacrifice their lives as other officers would."
Daniel's thoughts once more returned to Echo when he made mention of families. He knelt down again beside her marker, carefully ensuring that the flower was perfectly placed. "She and I were going to wed, you know," he stated softly. "We'd been together since before I earned my comission. Even before the academy on Rathiel. Throughout the Clone Wars, I did my best to bring the war about to an expeditious conclusion." The raccoon officer rested a paw on her marker; his entire body sagged under the invisible wieght of sorrow. "My request for leave to marry her had been granted not more than a week before her murder. I am uncertain what you, Master Vecto, would know of the joy of love, but her death has since broken my heart. She gave my life and career meaning; without it I could do nothing but ensure that it did not happen again. Obviously, my efforts were insufficient," he concluded dryly.
Commodore Vasage was not as mentally stable as normal. The memorial, as well as the anniversary date, often dredged up supressed emotions and memories. It adversely affected his usual calm demeanor. An empath would have been rather overwhelmed at the rate he switched between despair and rage. It could have been easily said that he held deep an outright hatred of the New Republic and the 'methods' it had employed to secure dominance. The hotbed of turmoil that consisted of Daniel and his memories, however, did not cloud the raccoon's judgement for very long; he was no fool. Despite his desire to end the Jedi's life for his allegience to those condoning murder and terrorism, he understood that he would not leave alive this monument if he acted on those desires.
"Master Vecto, the amount of time I can remain dwindles, and I am certain you wish not to strike down someone as me in a situation like this," he said, figuring it was correct from what he'd heard of the Jedi prior to their necessary elimination. He rose and turned towards the path he had taken into the memorial, starting towards his shuttle. "If I don't return soon, you may have to butcher several soldiers in the prime of their life. I do not wish to force their blood upon your paws." Adjusting his cap, the raccoon turned on a heel and rendered unto the Jedi Master a salute. "Keep your ears open, General," he said with a smile, "for I have many ways of communicating undetected. I do not doubt you and I will speak again with time a non-factor."
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