So much has happened over the last few years. I joined a group, a cult really, within a secret Order styling itself as a group of fraternity. It is laughable really, to fancy the Brotherhood as what they call it. There is little sense of fraternity between the Clans, but given the events of late that is a story unto itself.

Looking back, even before my days as a Sadowan, I really never fancied myself anything like a family man. There was always too much going on. Family brought with itself a sort of collateral I never felt I could afford. Yet, here I find myself now as both a husband and a father.

I act as both Patriarch of a family, and as a Proconsul over the Clan. There isn't a lot of time to spend with my wife, so I was glad to see she came to Sepros. She even brought Lyna'Vel with her. The Consul gave me a couple hours to spend with them both.

"Hey kiddo." A chuckle escaped my lips as I stretched out my hands toward my daughter. She began to babble as I rocked her in one arm, smiling before I turned my attention to Tasha'Vel. "So, how bad is it?"

"What are you talking about, Bentre?"

"Oh, come on. Do you really think we can keep her safe on Ryloth for so long? I find it hard to believe that you enjoy shuttling between Ryloth, Tarthos and Sepros this often. Maybe we should look at cutting ties for a while. We can burn the bridge before-"

"No." The word came out as a sharp rebuke. The Twi'leki Sadowan's stare was harder than permacrete. "Why would we abandon our home estate?"

"We need to protect our child. Which is more important, Tash?" I held up a hand to interrupt her before she could object. "Failing that we need a way to protect her." I motioned my head toward the child in my arms. Concern marred the normally picturesque visage of my Tasha'Vel as she mentally chewed over the idea.

"What would you propose we do?" The question was tentative, and I could hear the concern. "There is only so much we can do, sweetheart. Are you suggesting we leave her in the charge of someone in the Clan?"

"Well," my voice faltered as a smile cracked the illusion of calm I strove to maintain, "something sort of like that. I was perusing the notes of our beloved Mad Alchemist, and I believe I might have a solution." This statement earned me a glare of suspicion from the woman of my life. I didn't expect she would go for this, but it was worthwhile to consider. "He did a bit with the child of our Clan's own Teu."

"Oh?" I could see a bit of genuine curiosity now. Macron had trained with her in Echani, he and I had compared notes concerning Alchemy and of course he patched up my eye after my little encounter with that worm, Ventus. So needless to say, we both considered him a friend of the family. Hopefully I would be able to bank on that for what I wanted to propose.

"Well, he managed to, shall I say, add some years to the child's life." This statement prompted a bit of confusion. I was going to have to prod a little differently. "He found out how to bottle experience to be applied at a whim." Her expression returned to one of suspicion and annoyance now. I had to suppress a chuckle as I contemplated how to next rephrase it. "Hell with it, Tash. Macron accelerated the child's growth. Imagine, the ability to pass years of development to see the glory of our prodigy. With a more developed frame, we can teach her Martial Arts, Alchemic Arts, and we can assure she will be able to defend herself! It would be glorious as both a solution and oh-" I shuddered slightly as I let a few chuckles slip, "it would be such an experiment! Given her parentage, she could even be trained to be a great Sith one day! Don't you see what could be?"

I had never seen something quite like the expression upon my wife's face just then. It was like betrayal, then sorrow, each emotion flashing by before settling into something like contempt. "This is our Lyna'Vel, and you want to use her as a," her voice curdled, "test subject for your labs? How could you ask such a thing!?"

"I only want what is best for her." I spoke the words in near deadpan.Obviously, my wife did not see the wisdom in this path. "I only-" I started to repeat my statement, but she scooped Lyna'Vel from my arms before turning on one heel and storming down the hallway. I stood there for several moments before letting out a long sigh. It went as well as I could have expected. I might have to take things into my own hands to ensure her safety. It is a father's duty, after all to protect his offspring.

Not my finest work, but serviceable, given the prompt. Enjoy. :)

It had been a very busy few weeks since Hyle's arrival on Kiast.
Most of that had on introductions, to this new life, to his new companions and this clan,
and to the ways of the Force. The vision that had haunted him for years seem to have
subsided somewhat thanks to the medidation. Somehow learing it from a person
rather than a book or recording made it, if not easier, then more effective.

Perhaps it was The Force that had drawn him to this region of space, or perhaps it was coincidence,
but he was here now, and he had to admit, he was looking forward to the challenge of learning new skills
to earn his keep in a new and unfamiliar environment. He couldn't remember the last time he'd spend
so long on any one planet, even if technically, The Village wan't on the surface of this planet.

Reluctantly, he cleared these assorted musings from his mind and focused, trying to establish
a connection with the Force. He wasn't sure why but he was certain someone was in the room with him.
Strange, he hadn't heard the door open or shut.

"Is this to test if I can still concentrate with distractions?" Hyle asked, wryly.
There was no response, not even the shuffling of feet, but he was sure that
someone was behind him. He was on his feet in an instant, arms up and feet apart.
There was no one there. Maybe he still more distracted by events than he'd care to admit.

He sat back down on the hard mat floor and centred himself one more.
Again there was the feeling of this presence looming over him. Although
he didn't respond, the feeling of another presence in the room was too
distracting.

Perhaps he might have more luck in more natural surroundings. He made his way to the gate
of the compound, and started ambling towards the waterfront, barely registering that it was
now night, and that the compound itself seemed completely deserted.

He sat down on the decking overlooking the lake. It was completely still, not a ripple of wind or water.

"You are looking for inner piece." A voice said, deep, sonorous, with a strange echo.
"And you're not helping."
"No, but if you let me, perhaps I will."

He hauled himself to his feet and saw the being that was standing next to him.

He (at least it sounded like a he) was bigger than any sentient being Hyle had ever seen.
In size, he resembled a collossal beast of burden, but there was comething more ape like
about the carriage and posture. There was also something else which he couldn't quite
identify. It wasn't the appearance, but there was something strange, and yet familiar.

Concentrating, Hyle reached out with the Force.
"You have questions, and you look to the Force for knowledge."
"So you know of the Force. Are you Jedi, Sith?"
"I am neither of Ashla, nor Bogan."
Those words. Ancient terms referring to the Light and the Dark.

"The Jedi and the Sith strive for order,
but their visions of order are at odds."

"Hence, conflict." Hyle said.
"Hence conflict." The creature agreed.
"But even were it not for the inevitability of conflitct, the order of the Sith and the Jedi are doomed."
"Why? Corruption? Hubris?"
"Ignorance."
"What I know of the Jedi and the Sith is that they have always sought knowledge."
"But to what end? They acquire knowledge for its use to their cause."
"So what, they're weakness is that they don't seek knowledge for its own sake?"
"Igorance is a choice. They care more for their goals than truth."
"Which is?"
"That truth must be accepted as well as learned."

"And the first to learn and accept the truth will have their vision
of order vindicated?"
"Again, you think in terms of conflict."
"And?"
"And conflict is the bane of order."
"But Jedi and Sith visions of order cannot be reconciled,
history has proven that."
"Why?"
"What?"
"Why can their visions not be reconciled."
"They are based on opposing principles."
"And in what other ways are the Sith and Jedi opposed."
"One follows the Dark Side, the other, the Light."
"And that is why their principles oppose each other,
everything they strive for is in opposition, because
their beliefs oppose each other."

"So we can avoid conflict and achieve order
by challangenging our beliefs, by learning and accepting
the truth. What truth? The futility of conflict? That conflict
is based on a false premise?
"And what is that premise?"
"I don't know, that the other premise is false?"
"So you do know."
"Wait, so Jedi and Sith are both wrong because they believe
the other side is wrong?"
"And what do the Jedi and Sith believe?
"That the turn to the other side of the Force represents
corruption? Weakness? Failure? The the other side must
be rejected? Suppressed?"

"And the choices they make?"
"Choices? Like how ignorance is a choice?"
"Yes."
"So the Jedi and Sith made the choice of ignorance?"
"Yes."
"So what truth are they ignoring? The darkness within every Jedi?
The light within every Sith? That these are a part of the force they
can never truly purge from themselves?"
"Yet they suppress it."
"So what, they accept the truth of impurity within the force, within themselves?
What then if not to suppress it or control it?"

"Control? Suppress? Oppose? Conflict is the bane of order."
"So order depends on balance?"
"So you have learened the truth. Can you accept it?"
Hyle merely grunted before asking.
"If you are neither Jedi or Sith, where did you learn this, who are you?"
"I am Bendu."