atardisofourown | Open to All TLV style post

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barge!verse

Open to All TLV style post

[Network; Video]

[A young man with violet-blue eyes, blue-black hair tucked away in a bun, dressed in green tabards with orange embroidery in somewhat organic patterns, over indigo tunics appears on the network. He solemnly tucks his hands into his sleeves, and bows toward the screen.]

Hello, Barge. My name is Ezra Bridger, and I recently arrived, as a warden. [A tiny pause, and only the momentary effort to put up a smooth, diplomatic front keeps him to wrinkling his nose a little, but one might perceive the hint of trepidation in his tone.] I haven't accepted a deal. At least not yet.

[He shakes his head slightly] Because I know there might be some here who at least know stories, I guess I should say that I am a Jedi Knight. Born at the same time as the rise of the Empire, on a planet named Lothal. I'm happy to answer any question anyone may have about that.[Some of the formality and calm even to his tone begins to fade.] But I haven't been in my home galaxy since I was 18, over three years ago, for me now.

I've traveled through several - I've taken to calling them nexuses? Experienced things rather like the floods and breaches, here, among other...well the last place I was called them Trials.

[His expression suddenly blossoms into a full, bright smile, as something occurs to him.] Oh! Are there any people here who do Jewish observances? I grew up Reform, in a life; I like to keep up with holidays when I can.

[A little more soberly-] And how well is the infirmary staffed? I have some medical training. Including mental health topics.
***
[Action]

DECK - Anyone who knows anything about the Jedi won't be surprised to find him folded into crossed legged sitting on the floor of the deck, hands in green cloth gloves on his knees but palm up, and eyes closed, in meditation. Any psychic, or the like, may notice that his mind is open, yet attentive, letting everything he senses flow around and through him.

Although - If someone's attention lingers on him for long, or he picks up a sense of urgency, he murmurs, without opening his eyes, yet, "Can I help you?"

OR

ENCLOSURE - Of course there's also lightsaber practice in the Enclosure, in varying landscapes, on different days, with his green blade. Anyone who knows much about Jedi lightsaber forms might notice Ezra's personal style is a core of Form III, with some Form IV, and Form I - in other words, a mostly defensive style. Anyone very familiar with the styles of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, or Ahsoka Tano might spot some specific influences.

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[He acknowledges this with a hum. So Ezra and he are from the same branch of the proverbial tree.]

I was not aware you cared much for my preferences.

[It may come off a little petulant, beneath his dignity. Thrawn's purpose in asking might be considered snotty but the sentiment IS genuine: he wants to know if the situation between them has shifted. If Ezra is willing to give ground, if the three years between them have at least changed that.

He hopes so, and answers back before Ezra can manage;]

'Thrawn' will suffice.

There is no Imperial presence here.

[his words are carefully chosen; yes, it means he doesn't wish to be associated with his former title, yes it means there are no other Empire-era people here.

It may also mean he too is interested in change.]

[Ezra actually laughs, a little, breaking the formal mask for a moment to crack a joke.] Well. That's teenagers for you, right?

[More dryly-] And not to put too fine a point on it, Thrawn, in my view, what I saw as my duty then took priority by a long shot. [To fight the Sith and the Empire. To aid the Rebellion. To protect Lothal.]

Here, as a Jedi and as unpaired warden, I see myself as owing some measure of care and as much decency as I can muster, to all onboard. [He would say compassion, but that can so easily taken as pity.]

I know your point of view. I also know that in war, one must ensure complete victory before allowing the other side to rebuild.

[Translation: Don’t blame him and he won’t blame you. They both played their parts as best they knew how based on their own sense of duty, and Ezra totaled his side. As he would have done to Ezra.]

So your priority has shifted to the protection of the people aboard this ship?

[He is not interested in arguing about what it takes to win a war, and who was right or wrong, not at the moment. So he simply mentally makes a note and moves on.]

Hmm. Yes. Although I can hope physical protection won't be needed often. Truthfully, it's been years since I've been a soldier.[He shrugs slightly.] I don't know what sort of aid I'd be best suited to, here, yet, exactly. I've been a farmer and a teacher and a healer-in-training, since I left the galaxy.

All very different careers.

[and all very different from a warrior’s path, he has to note]

Interesting that the Admiral would see fit to offer you this opportunity only after you had acquired this diverse skill set.

Who did you teach, and what was the subject?

[A brief grin-]It is interesting, isn't it? [Another shrug.]

Oh, some of it was very informal, and varied. There was an orphanage in one town I spent nearly two years in, so gardening, cooking, music, crafts, a mix of thing I thought would be fun and useful. I've assisted in teaching the general Jedi arts to other Force sensitives in training, when there were other trained Jedi around. I haven't been brave enough to try to take a padawan. [Over a year into his Knighthood, that still seems like a daunting task.]

More formally, meditation techniques appropriate for all who are interested. I had a class my last stop, once week, drop ins welcome, brief philosophy readings and discussion from sources across universes, following by a guided meditation, in a rotation of styles.

I see.

[Thrawn’s tone is dry, maybe filtering on the edge of annoyance. He expected…what, exactly? For Ezra to be more like him? He defeated Thrawn by behaving precisely the opposite of how Thrawn would act.

And there were other Force-sensitives. Thrawn never liked Jedi philosophy but even he could acknowledge that Ezra had gifts that had only grown with time, whereas his people’s tended to diminish around Ezra’s age. That was fascinating too, and perhaps the Admiral has placed Ezra and Thrawn together at a time where each was least likely to wish to do harm to the other.

For Thrawn, the adjustment period was three weeks: for Ezra, three years. But the result was the same: a tentative peace, or at least a pact of non-violence.

All of this he doesn’t speak aloud. As he recalled, Ezra usually had no problems filling the silence by himself.]

[Ezra is perfectly capable of silence as it suits him, especially when he tell the other person wishes for it.

He's not quite sure what to make of Thrawn's response.]

I'll see if anyone here is interested in that sort of thing, I guess. [Not Thrawn, it seems.]

[A little tentative, and soft, not certain how more questions will go over-]

Have you been here long?

[Perhaps. But Thrawn knows himself and knows he would need to find stimuli in other ways. Let him into the greenhouse to garden and he would turn it into an example of productivity, but take no joy in it except as a project to occupy his time.

Akin to busy work.

He replies without hesitation, carrying on a different conversation with himself at the same time as Ezra;]

Twenty standard days.

[Ezra nods.]

Impressions you care to share? [Cheerfully-]Force knows I slept most of the first week out of the galaxy. [On account of it still being one of the worst and busiest weeks of his life, and oh yeah, getting shot-]

Oh, well - actually, is it your first stop?

Do you really wish to talk about this?

[Thrawn sounds irritated by this. Very little has changed in the twenty days he's been aboard the ship. Ezra has been out of the galaxy three years, and is now coming to Thrawn indicating that this Barge is but the first stop on a number of different treks across the universe. He aches to learn about what people Ezra has spoken to, what secrets he's uncovered and what technology he has interacted with that the Chiss has not, and yet they're sitting here discussing gardening.

How much could Thrawn have realistically gotten up to in the last twenty days compared to that?]

I conducted research, walked the ship several times over, constructed two art galleries to display pieces by the residents here, stole two wardens' items and used them to explore doors previously locked to me, tested the safety nets and the fire alarms, killed an inmate in order to understand the death toll, died by that same inmate, spoke to the Admiral about his ship, and begun compiling a list of tasks and requirements for both myself and my eventual warden.

I have concluded that most wardens are woefully un- or underprepared for their tasks. Most are eager and willing but have vague or directionless ideas about what it means to graduate an inmate, and the ship has fractured not along warden-inmate lines, but along many different pairings. Many of the inmates are prisoners here and some - primarily the unpaired - are resentful of a perceived lack of status, lack of communication, or lack of autonomy. The chief cause of all this is the Admiral, who will dangle a prize of unspeakable power in front of all, so it is no small wonder he lures in a number of well-meaning but ineffective and inexperienced people, and has them deflect the blame for what he himself puts into practice.

...

And yes. This is where I found myself after the attack on the Chimaera.

[Ezra listens with rapt attention, actually, a few micro expressions flitting across his face - a hint of a smile at the art galleries, although he does wonder if Thrawn asked the local talent if he could display their works. A pressing together of the lips at the mention of killing another inmate and being killed in return.

He's only died the once, to his memory, and who knows how much that resembles what happens here, but that experience is something he wishes on anyone. He's tempted to ask if Thrawn thinks that's end of that exchange, but well, he doesn't want to sound like he's lecturing, and they'll find out eventually, won't they?]

Yes, Thrawn, I asked because I wanted to know. [Assuming that run down is accurate, albeit almost certainly selective, it's more insight into how the man actually thinks than he's ever had before. And fractured along pairing lines, not role, that's actually interesting, as far as insight into local politics goes.

With some humor-] Partly because I assumed you'd be some sort of methodical. [A visible breath, steeling himself-]

Jumping into hyperspace on the Chimaera. That was my branching off point.

[as expected, given Ezra's initial reaction]

And does my report satisfy?

[Ah. That is - He smiles tiredly.]

I think I've mistepped somewhere. If I've actually managed to offend you, I'd be sincerely grateful if you would at some point tell me how.

Either way, I do appreciate the information.

Not at all.

[Maybe a little. Secretly. He was ALWAYS methodical!]

Regardless, now you know precisely the amount of time between our shared jumping off point and now. And you have at least three significant advantages, potentially more.

What will you do, Ezra Bridger?

[If only Ezra knew Thrawn well enough to guess, or explain what he'd meant, but alas he doesn't. Instead, he takes Thrawn provisionally at his word.

He's silent a moment, considering his words.]

Well, first off, I will offer you what I've started offering pretty much anyone from a recognizable time and place in our galaxy, who chooses to associate with me for long. You can ask me anything about myself and what I've learned in my travels. Some things I hold in confidence, of course, so all I can say if that I can't tell you that. Other things - as I'm sure you know, when you do have the advantage of information, it's easy to lie by omission, and I have certainly been accused of it. Even when my intention as actually to try to stick to the most relevant facts, or not hurt someone.

So, I will be direct now. Anything I tell you will be what I believe to be true, even if it's not complete. If I hesitate, it's most likely because I'm not sure someone really wants to know something. So my advice is to be very certain that you do, before you ask.

Acknowledged.

[Hint: he always wants to know everything. The good, yes, but especially the bad]

I will request time to compile my list of questions and send them to you shortly.

[it's 200+ questions in a text file starting with 'Tell me everything about technology and specifically weaponry you've run into that would signify an advantage against what we already have', the middle questions becoming increasingly more esoteric about artwork, and ending with 'What have we learned about ourselves?']

You appear remarkably more forthcoming with your assistance.

[Were you always this way and just needed time to mature, or have events transpired that allowed you to become this way, Ezra? AND, can he use you to aid his people?]

I look forward to it. [He's enough of a nerd, and again curious about how Thrawn actually thinks, for that to be sincere.

More dryly-]

I like being helpful, actually. Just, you know. Circumstances. And also my ego, and lack of education. Which I guess also count as circumstances.

[As sincere as his welcoming questions has been, when Ezra actually gets the list of questions, he laughs with some internal groaning, especially as he reads the early questions. Weapons? Really? A little disappointing. Still, he sets out to answer methodically and clearly as he is capable of, sending back replies a few questions at a time, so Thrawn doesn't have to wait for him to be entirely done.

Sadly, he has nearly nothing to contribute on weapons, per se. The most powerful things he has encountered directly in his travels are more easily classified as magic, or at least technology so far beyond him, it might as well be such.

Although, he does send back a rather pointed 'Are you aware of a weapons project called the Death Star? I would hate to bore with something you may know about in far more detail than I do'

After that, he dutifully gives a brief précis on a species called the Agrii, who may or may not have been responsible for exit from his native timeline, another sets of beings called Pthumerians and the blood magic of their realm, and a creature known as the Fox or Thirteen who operated a plane called Folkmore in a somewhat similar manner to the Admiral and their Barge.

Neither is Ezra much an artist, still, for the most part. Although he does digress into fashion and architecture a little, enough for a few things to be clear, such as - he handmade parts of the clothing that he arrived in, up to an including spinning the thread on the embroidery, which he hand stiched. He's helped build and repair buildings in several settings and styles. And also that he knows a lot about a little planet called Earth that Thrawn may have heard about in the last few weeks.

And for what we learned about ourselves...Ezra concludes with:]

Self-knowledge and self-mastery, I was taught, are deeply help values for Jedi. So I suppose I should thank you for the chance for self-reflection.

What I have learned about myself over the course of the last several years would take far more time and space than I imagine even you have patience for.

As for something I have learned, or been reminded of, about myself while writing *here* - did you know, I had virtually no experience with structured writing, when we met? I wasn't *illiterate*, exactly, but I wouldn't have been capable of even this much organization. Rebel command took my mission reports orally, for the most part.

I embraced the memories of an entirely alternate life, in no small part because in that life, I had a brother. He insisted I get the best education he could manage for me. I wanted the brother, so I held tightly to memories that might have faded more otherwise. But I get to keep this, too.

Ripple effects, when you care about people - something to think about.

What have *you* learned about yourself, in this exercise?

Edited (done this time, I swear) 2024-08-01 22:59 (UTC)

[Thrawn returns a follow-up series of his own. The Death Star question gives him pause, and is warranted a reply all on its own]

I am aware of the Death Star. I suspected its construction when I was the First Weapons Officer early in my Imperial career, back when it was known as Project Stardust. I went so far as to kidnap away the director's right-hand man to stall its construction. Later I confronted the Emperor directly on how I felt it was a waste of resources and would act as a hammer where a surgical scalpel was needed. My TIE defender program was meant as an alternative, one I had hoped I could convince him of it in time. A shame your rebels blew it to pieces. I suspected your partial literacy but am pleased to know you took well to lessons. Your writing style is compelling, if a little word-heavy.

[thrawn, you did not just accuse someone else of being wordy]

I have learned to expand my expectations of what you are capable of. While I always believed you had the stubbornness, Force talent, and raw intelligence to succeed, this is the first opportunity I've had to witness your ability to learn and grow from your mistakes.

[Thrawn isn't the first person to accuse Ezra of wordiness. Ezra makes a face at his screen.]

I'm mildly impressed, and surprised you weren't executed for that stunt. He must have been convinced of your usefulness.

I see why you think destroying the TIE defender program was a mistake. If the Emperor were actually reasonable, I guess it might have been. Not that I could have known that. I was going after the threat I had solid intel on. [But he has wondered - if he'd gone with Saw Gerrera, despite their differences, might they have unraveled the Death Star before it went operational? It's not his fault. But still, he wonders.]

But I think you have some mistakes in your understanding of the Emperor. Palpatine - Darth Sidious - is not trying to hold an empire together with the most skillful means he can acquire. Not really. He just wants the power of the hammer. I have been told by people who came from versions of the future, that the Empire will use it on Alderaan. The Death Star will nearly instantly be destroyed, after that - by another Jedi in training with the Rebels, incidentally. Despite the Death Star being a glass canon, the Emperor has another built.

By that point, I believe, too many people's trust in the idea of the Empire and wisdom of the Emperor will be shaken. The Empire fragments. And Vader kills Sidious for reasons that have nothing to do with politics. Although does also stem from forgetting fear is a terrible way to control people, in the long term, I guess.

It's really sad, because Sidious is clearly *capable* of skillfully manipulating people to his viewpoint. He orchestrated his legal election, and the entirety of the Clone Wars to keep amassing political power and good will.

But there's no satisfying his desire for power, I don't think. He wanted me to try to gain power over *time itself*. What is a nice Tie fighter, compared to that?

Edited 2024-08-07 17:43 (UTC)

He tolerated me but let it be known that his tolerance only went so far. A fact that became more clear to me the longer I remained in Imperial space. Unfortunately my lack of foresight prohibited me from seeing the truth; that he wished for terror, not conquest. By then, I was far too ingrained to remove myself without placing a rather large target on my back, so I decided to rise instead. The Emperor was old; he was not destined to live for much longer, even without Vader's influence. I was on hand as one of twelve Grand Admirals to keep the Empire together and transform it into something else entirely. A shame that too never had the chance to come to fruition. Incidentally, do you know what happened to Vader after the Emperor's death?

[Ezra bursts into mildly hysterical laughter. Thrawn thought he could outlive the Emperor and makes reforms. Amazing. Incredibly stupid, in his opinion, and infuriating, but amazing.

He lefts that sit for a while. Goes and does some katas to burn off the tangle of emotions at this revelation. Comes back.]

I genuinely don't believe Sidious had any intention of dying and staying dead. That seems absurd, I'm sure, but he is a Sith Master. I've heard accounts of two different versions of the future where his spirit lingered, and attempted to return to a body - with varying degrees of success. I'm afraid I don't have many details. He doesn't restore the Empire to its former strength, in either version, at any rate.

For the record, I've also heard accounts of Sith in the old Empire living a very, very long time.

I hope at some point you might be willing to tell me more about your actual long term aims.

Vader died the same day as the Emperor. He took lethal hits in his attack against his master. I was told this directly from Vader's son by blood, the same Jedi who destroyed the Death Star, who was there for the confrontation.

Sidious tried to persuade Vader's son to join them. When he refused, Sidious decided to kill him instead. In that moment, desire for his son to live trumped Vader's fear and loyalty.

Why do you ask?

Perhaps. Recall that I too have heard these stories. I also know stories of what befell some Force wielders out in the Unknown Regions. Speaking of any long term plans is something I rarely do even with my most trusted allies. Are you my ally, Ezra Bridger? A shame. When I was a young man, I knew him once by a different name. He was a cunning warrior and a good friend. I believe I also met his wife.

I wouldn't go that far yet. Which is why I said I hoped at some point. Although, I'm not sure that I can sincerely fully ally myself with someone who hides their goals so carefully. Surely if they are worthy goals, they are worth sharing, to rally people to them?

I don't know much about the Unknown Regions, much less stories about Force users out there.

You knew Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala?

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