The Flow of Love

[Unna Hi Chaanu]

After investigating the cloaking ship that Trista had stolen with Gadeon, Ashla, and the female techs, Unna informed the members of the party that she was going to take her own leave. She was going to stay at the temple in Baku to work with and learn from Master Stephen and would plan to return at least a day before Jayden. She did not invite members of the party to accompany her, because she was going to explore leads on her own past and future and she felt like this would be a great time for other party members to take leaves or explore their own paths for the next month. 

Unna then departed to head to Baku once again, which was in a great state of transition. She spent most of her time within the Temple, yet she would frequently leave to visit The Garden of a Thousand Fountains. There, she would select a different fountain to contemplate beside each time she visited. She could not easily mediate here, because thought would flow through her head like the waters through the fountains. Unna selected a more secluded fountain this day, for she had much to contemplate. It was a large fountain that she could sit on the edge of. There were red flowers all around that matched her eyes. She looked into the water and placed a hand inside and she whispered quietly, thinking of her dear deceased friend, "hello, My Lady..."

[Gar]

A soft giggle answered Unna's words as the familiar Zeltron nimbly stepped out into the open. "Who are you talking to down there?" Ni asked with a hint of amusement, the same grin and twinkle of mischief in her eyes. She was wearing something more elegant today, a mahogany cloth dress that hung just past her ankles, with leathers strapped around her waist and upper arms. One of these leathers was a belt that hugged her hips, her Jedi weapon hanging from it. "I tell you what, being left to man the ship while you guys had all the fun was really not nice. I just adamantly loathe spectator sports, so to soeak," her eyes wandered over Unna before lifting up to her gaze again, "But I guess this is the kind of spectator sport I could actually warm up to."

[Unna Hi Chaanu]

"What?" Unna looked up suddenly, her concentration broken. "Ni?" she was genuinely surprised to see the Zeltron standing in her presence. Unna pulled her hand out of the fountain. "I was talking to someone who can't hear me. I come here to do my thinking, but I always say a few words to a dear friend who is no longer with me. It's just chatter to myself." Unna placed the wet hand on her neck to cool her body. She had been blushing from being caught by surprise.

"I assure you that there was no fun to be had, aside from the discovery of some interesting video footage that was found. I can show you all of that though, aside from a disk that I destroyed that nobody should ever see. However, I am sure more copies exist though. I'm sure it was more comfortable and fun on the ship, where there are many friends to be made."

Unna noticed Ni's eyes moving over her body. It was as if she could feel it. Unna began to look over her own body to make sure nothing was out of place. Her flowy turquoise dress seemed to be fine and without stains and there was no mud on her shiny silver shoes that matched the crystals that covered her horns. "So, Ni, what brings you to Baku?"

[Gar]

"I don't know," Ni shrugged and casually walked forward to close the gap between them, taking a seat next to her friend, "I think I would've had a lot of fun bringing Haze to his knees. If you ask me, I think you all let him off easy, compared to the crimes he committed against so many innocent people. But I can't say I'm surprised, what with the Jedi code being what it is..." Ni's thigh slightly brushed Unna's as she turned to her friend, "You ever wonder why that is? Why the Jedi play by the rules, even if it gives the so-called evil-doers the advantage?" She sighs and glances up at the rustling leaves, chuckling to herself, "that is something Master Henoch and I would always argue about. It used to get him so mad... Anyway, to answer your question, I was curious of where you went every time you came down here, so I decided to find out!"

[Unna Hi Chaanu]

Unna scooted a few inches away from Ni and her body stiffened a little as she sat up straight. "We simply did what had to be done. I am sure he is being interrogated about what he has done and how he evolved that disease. I would personally like to participate in that interrogation, but what he has done is in the past and I'm sure the Republic interrogators are more effective than I am. Last time I interrogated an individual, I unintentionally silenced him for good." Unna showed no signs of guilt, although she insulated that she had killed the interrogation suspect. She shrugged it off, questioning Ni, "What would you have done?"

She listened to Ni speak of the Jedi code. "I do not subscribe to the Jedi code. It is my belief that the Jedi code is the undoing of many Jedi, for it seems impossible to follow such a straight and narrow path for all ones life. It is easy to stray, which creates a vast expanse of ways to go astray. Of course, those who stick to that path are among the most virtuous of all beings, but is that really the best way? Dark and light are two extremes, but there is everything that is in between that the Jedi seem to forget. Become the slightest big tainted..." Unna shivered at the word and paused momentarily, "and it is urged that you immediately scrub yourself clean from even the smallest spec of dirt on your soul."

"The code strives to maintain that perfection at all costs..." Unna dipped her hand into the water again. "The friend I speak to in the fountains..." Unna paused as her mind silently replayed the vision of insurgents destroying the speeder that she and her friends were seconds from boarding, along with Lady Baku. "Her life would have been the price for me to keep myself pure, as well as the lives of the very Jedi who paid more attention to the fact that I had tarnished that light, rather than what was spared. That is why I believe those toward the dark end of the spectrum have the upper hand."

Unna had more thoughts on the matter, but she wanted to give Ni the opportunity to share her own. She wouldn't have asked such a question if she hadn't already contemplated the answer.

[Gar]

"Oh, I would've had him pay for his crimes in blood," said Ni matter-of-fact-ly, smiling up at Unna in spite of what she just said, "You see, his actions may be in the past, but the past does not make things disappear; it only makes things evolve. What Haze did will echo into the futures of those he maimed and enslaved--of the family of that one soldier who died in vain. While his victims pick up the pieces, he will be sitting comfortably in prison. Doesn't really seem fair, does it?" she sighs, "But in the Jedi world you can either choose purity or justice, you can't have both. And most of the time it seems purity will win at all costs...but can we really call that a victory?" she raises her brows, "Even at the cost of this war..." she leans toward Unna, "That is why I've decided to watch over Gaddy. He reminds me a lot of my Master Henoch..." She twists her waist to stare up at the fountain, "You see, someone has to make the tough decisions for people like him, or else their strong sense of duty and honor will become the noose upon which they hang themselves..."

Ni pauses for a moment to think upon this, then blinks and clears her throat. "Well! I'm not sure how our conversation so quickly devolved into such a dramatic subject!" she giggles and removes her red leather shoes, spinning around so that her feet can dangle over the water. Her eyes twinkle with anticipation as she dips one toe in to test the water. "Anyway, on Zeltros we only have one rule: do what you wish as long as it does not impede other's freedoms. I think its a good rule to live by. Don't you?" She gazes into Unna's eyes with unbridled joy.

[Unna Hi Chaanu]

"You asked about the Jedi playing by the rules..." Unna shrugged, "but perhaps I provided more information than you had intended for me too."

"When I say Haze is in the past, I mean he is in the past for us. Unless the interrogators need my assistance, then my energy is best spent on my current endeavor. He is still imprisoned and surely being subjected to interrogation. When you make someone pay with blood, there are other prices we pay. His knowledge of where the physical and metaphorical bodies are buried would die with him, along with any other secrets or potential cures. That knowledge could save someone and taking payment in the form of blood would also be the death of the hope that could have come from that knowledge. Besides, I have visited friends who were being held in a holding facility at the academy. They were suspended by their hands and feet with no measures of comfort. I had to sneak food in and feed them..."

Unna's eyes suddenly showed pain and horror as she watched Ni put a toe into the water of the fountain. "Ni," Unna pleaded. "If you would like to swim, I can take you to the pools, but I have to ask that you not get into the fountain. It could encourage others and the city had a huge issue with that recently. They were desecrated and it took great efforts to restore them to the beauty you see now. Besides, these fountains were built for my friend. That's why I talk to her in the fountains." Unna looked to Ni with hope and anticipation that she would understand and respect the passionate request.

[Gar]

Ni frowned at this but spun back around, sighing as she lowered her feet back into her leather shoes. "If it means that much to you," she said with a smile, "then I will humor you. Would you show me to the pools? I'd love to go for a swim with you..." she beamed a smile up at Unna.

[Unna Hi Chaanu]

"Thank you," Unna sighed with a relief and smiled. It looked like a light bulb went off in her head. "Would you like to tour some of the fountains first and maybe hear about my friend?"

[Gar]

Ni tilted her head to side curiously. She swiftly stood up and offered her hand to Unna. "Sure! I'd like a tour."