Nar Shaddaa

Ashla brings five children into the Jedi Enclave and requests a meeting with Satele Shan.

She also sees if Vatou can make it.

Satele seems a not distraight but definitely not serene. She is talking toa holo of a Republic officer when Ashla finds her. She turns and says, "Oh, Ashla, how can I... help you?"

Today was going to be a day... a real terror of a day.

"Hello little ones," she says kindly to the children and then gives the young Jedi a look of 'Explain, now'.

"O-oh my." Vatou stepped forward and looked to Ashla. "Where did you find them?"

He looked to Satele and then ushered the children to follow him. "Here, let's not get in their way..."

“Well I am not one to chide a single mother but five at once dearie seems a little much,” Resmi says with a light laugh.

“Vatou bring them to the kitchen and make sure they are fed and cleaned.”

"Oh. I fed them. I took them to Kidaja Burger before coming here."

After they leave, Ashla turns her attention back to Satele. So, this was a mistake on so many levels. "So, I went to Jo's Slave Emporium to see if I could find any Force Sensitive children. I think I found one. Jeebu. And well, I had extra money and.... the look on the kids faces.... I just wanted to save as many as I could. I figured Vatou could take them to his orphanage. Well, except Jeebu. If I'm right, he can come back to Corsucant with us to be a Jedi." Ashla then makes sure she's out of immediate lightsaber reach. Ashla was clearly hiding something.

Deception: 2eA+1eP+1eD+4eC 6 failures

Vatou nodded. "At once, Master Thun." He hurried the children away as fast as one could with five brand new kids.

Ashla Vyliis wrote:"Oh. I fed them. I took them to Kidaja Burger before coming here."

After they leave, Ashla turns her attention back to Satele. So, this was a mistake on so many levels. "So, I went to Jo's Slave Emporium to see if I could find any Force Sensitive children. I think I found one. Jeebu. And well, I had extra money and.... the look on the kids faces.... I just wanted to save as many as I could. I figured Vatou could take them to his orphanage. Well, except Jeebu. If I'm right, he can come back to Corsucant with us to be a Jedi." Ashla then makes sure she's out of immediate lightsaber reach. Ashla was clearly hiding something.

Deception: 2eA+1eP+1eD+4eC 6 failures

Resmi sighs and says, “Child one day you will learn to stop lying and just come out with it. You did a good thing but it’s not just to do a good thing, is it now deary? Don’t sass me now, and just tell the truth.”

“I’m pushing a century now so I have heard more lies then I care to remember.”

Satele rubs her temple and adds, “Go on.”

Ashla looks down. "I admit my reasons were selfish. My dad was Ruvrass Vyliis, the serial killer. He had a type. It wasn't species, sex, or even age. It was this feeling they gave off. And even when I was young could tell who he would want to kill. Now that I am becoming a Jedi, I think I was detecting Force Sensitives....." Ashla is silent for a moment. "I just want to know if my dad was crazy or if he was targeting Force Sensitives. I mean, he was crazy either way, but you know what I mean." She looks to Master Thun. "But believe me, I was never going to harm the child or let harm come to him. I was always going to let him free and choose to become a Jedi if he wanted."

Ashla continues. "But like Master Maaka says, intent and deed must be pure. I know I was being selfish. And I feel bad about it. When I saw those children's faces..... You know.... It shouldn't be about me. My dad is dead. Why he killed.... I still want to find out, but saving those kids should have been my priority. I don't regret what I did. But I do regret my purposes for doing it."

Ashla pulls something out of her bag. "Here's the slave collars control chips. I didn't want to throw them away in the garbage where someone else could use them."

Satele sighs heavily and says, “You want to understand your father?”

"Yes. But don't mistake me. I don't want to emulate him or carry on his work or anything. I'm not crazy. But what if I can find out why? What if I can stop the next serial killer? Then..." Ashla looks at the ceiling. "Then, maybe his life would have been something more than just being a monster. He was my father. I love him. And I want his life to be worth something."

Ashla looks back to Satele. "I believe it's worth looking into, but I realize where I errored. There is no emotion, there is peace. I let myself become wrapped in my emotions for my father. I should have sought council with my Master or a senior Jedi first, so they could make sure I didn't let myself become ruled by emotions. I don't want to become a Sith."

“Then his life was worth something deary,” Resmi says.

“Even awful people can do good things, no one starts bad, that’s a journey of decisions. He was your father and that won’t change but trying to find meaning in his decisions is a fool’s errand. The only meaning his life should have is that he was your father.”

She places a hand on Ashla and says, “You can’t give his life any more meaning than that. You ain’t got to try and make up for what he did. That isn’t your burden. He did what he did, and that ain’t changing. Love him but let that burden go, your carrying two times too much guilt, child.”

Satele says, “I agree with Resmi, in spirit. Though I think in this case, you should see to these children. I will have the force sensitive child moved to the Enclave, and you will be his tutor, Ashla. You will be his role model.”

Ashla tried to fight back the tears. Was that what I was doing? Do I feel guilty? I played with the corpses. I always tell myself I don't but I lie to myself a lot, don't I? Then, she tilts her head down and repeats the Jedi Code a couple of times until she gets her emotions in check. When she speaks, her voice is quiet, "Thank you, Master Thun."

When Satele speaks, Ashla snaps to attention. "Me? I'm not really the best role model for anyone."

Satele says, "You will find a way."

I guess he is my responsibility now. Poor kid. Ashla nods. "I will find a way." I guess I should start taking this whole Jedi thing seriously, huh. "Somehow."

Satele smiles and then says, "This will help you grow."

The doubt shows on Ashla's face. But she says, "I will trust your wisdom Master Sat- Shan." Because Ashla sure as Hell doesn't trust herself.

"Master Satele is fine, we all live with a bit of uncertainty in our actions and choices," she says in reply.

So, she doesn't trust me? Well, that's good. Ashla nods. "I see. If I may, I will go see Vatou to check on the children and make sure arrangements are made for Jeebu."

"May the Force be with you, Ashla. I am proud of you today," she says to the young Jedi.

Ashla didn't feel she earned that, but she nods. "Thank you. May the Force be with you both." Then, she goes to hunt down Vatou and Jeebu.

Vatou was much more lively with the children. He waved to the togruta with much enthusiasm. "So, how'd it go with the Masters?"

"Honestly? A little confusing. But that's normal, right? Master Satele wants me help get them situated and begin tutoring little Jeebu."

The Selkath blinked and looked down to the kid. "I, okay, that's weird. Really... weird..."