Open to All TLV style post

[ezra_of_lothal]

[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.

Comments

[artistinexile]

Perhaps this is where a portion of personal and galactic history intertwine.

I did not believe the Empire was ever a force for justice. But I know that there are worse threats, even now encroaching on parts of our galaxy, that either the Old or the New Republic had no hope of defeating.

When faced with two evils, one significantly worse than the other, I chose to ally myself with the lesser evil. At the very least, the Empire is far quicker when dealing with threats and its heavy-handed methods, while overkill, certainly get the point across.

And understand that I had no intention of joining the Empire when I first arrived. Being told I was to be made a Lieutenant was not in my plan when entering Imperial space.

[ezra_of_lothal]

[Ezra puzzles over that response for a while. Worse threats than the Empire, that held trillions upon trillions in its grasp?

On the other hand, if there's one thing his travels have taught him, it's that there's always a bigger fish somewhere. But then, none the bigger fish he's ever come across would truly be best addressed by military might.]

I guess I'll have to provisionally try to accept this mysterious bigger threat, for at least the sake of the conversation. Although I'm really not convinced supporting the Empire as the best option follows, even with that in mind.

What *was* your plan, then?

[artistinexile]

To remain on my exiled planet until I could seek an audience with the Emperor, then leverage my previous friendship with Anakin Skywalker to convince him it was in his best interests to let me study Republic and Imperial weaponry, and return to my corner of the galaxy. We would have let each other alone, with my species providing buffer space between the Empire's planets and the enemy I have mentioned, but with significant technological advantage.

I was meant to stay perhaps a year, no longer.

[ezra_of_lothal]

Ok, so far makes sense to me. Gather allies, exchange knowledge.

But Anakin probably didn't want to even acknowledge that he knew you, and a lot of his flexibility and willingness to listen how gone out the window, am I right?

So why stay?

[artistinexile]

At what point should I have left? I came to the Emperor as a prisoner. He called me a gift.

[ezra_of_lothal]

I can't truly say, because I wasn't there. Plenty of Imperial officers left. Admittedly, you stand out. I was told by someone I trust that an Inquistor got away, about ten years into the Empire, but I don't know how long she survived after that.

I know I'm coming across as judgmental. I'm sorry. I'm not stupid enough to think that if the Empire had found me before Kanan did, that I wouldn't have either died, or adapted and become one of them. I was lucky.

[artistinexile]

Indeed. I could have left with my life, having nothing to show for it, and also left my team, my crew to fend for themselves. I found the idea abhorrent. Unlike plenty of Imperial officers, I took pains to know my subordinates, to cultivate and appreciate each of their unique talents.

And I had a larger reason to survive: I needed to bring a message back to my people without being found out and killed. Imperial transmissions were easily tracked, and finding a signal strong enough when I was already suspect for not being human was a challenge I had difficulty in conquering.

I began to realize I could start sending my own officers out to both Chiss and Rebel space. Doubtless a few of them are in your ranks now.

[ezra_of_lothal]

[Huh.]

Interesting.

Well, now you're out. And if the Admiral usually lets up keep our memories of being here, I gather - not guaranteed, in other venues, by the way.

You have time. What will do with it?

[artistinexile]

I will plan.

[ezra_of_lothal]

An observation - I did a lot of that, when I first landed somewhere outside the galaxy. I won't say it was useless; I picked up a lot of skills and information.

I am not remotely doing now what I thought I would be doing, back then.

[artistinexile]

What would you have me do, Warden Bridger?

[ezra_of_lothal]

[Ezra isn't sure what to make of Thrawn going with Warden, when he specifically said his preferred title is Knight. But, Ezra supposes, he should get used to that title, too.]

Well, I don't think I'm telling you this *as* a warden - I'm not you're warden, after all - and I'm not sure how well this advice will land given you're a career soldier in a way I never was, and never wanted to be.

My suggestion is to try not to think of your tenure here as a military campaign? Or stay too focused on what you're going to do when you get out. I'm pretty sure we *all* could stand to learn from other perspectives and ways of life while we're here.

[artistinexile]

You ask me what I will do here and yet your suggestion is not to ruminate on future ideas.

I wonder how one is to graduate without taking into consideration any hope for a future.

Regardless, if I am not to think of this as a military exercise, what shall I think instead? That the Barge is extended shore leave?

[ezra_of_lothal]

Hope for *a* future is probably necessary. But where that future takes you may be beyond your wildest imagining, right now.

Are military campaign and shore leave really the only options, in your mind?

[artistinexile]

How little you must think of my powers of imagination.

You are not seriously suggesting I turn my pursuits to civilian matters?

[ezra_of_lothal]

At the moment, you apparently can't imagine yourself in a non-military position.

Are Chiss strict caste by vocation or something else I'm missing?

[artistinexile]

You have no idea what’s coming and I have no desire to engage in scenarios that will never happen.

Regardless, my military expertise must be allowed to continue if my people and yours are to survive. If you wish me to be a scientist, a farmer, or a fisherman, it does not matter: if I am not ready, everyone will perish.

That is the way of it. So I suggest you engage with a more useful topic.

[ezra_of_lothal]

[Oh, Ezra doesn't need a hint from the Force to think breaches are gonna be...interesting for Thrawn. Or maybe not, maybe he'll just flatly reject those experiences.]

What I'm really suggesting is - your life here is also a life.

[artistinexile]

If you have suggestions as to how I can best serve my people, I should like to hear them.

However, I will not accept what so many here seem to do: run to other, less complicated parts of the galaxy and start a life free from previous obligations. I should rather like to stay here forever than to turn against those who need me by “living my life.”


Do you understand?

[ezra_of_lothal]

I think I do.

What do you think I threw myself into planning, when I first found myself outside the galaxy?

[artistinexile]

[Thrawn waits in silence for Ezra to elaborate, not in the mood to play guessing games]

[ezra_of_lothal]

[It takes Ezra a little while to realize Thrawn is not simply busy.]

Should I take your silence to mean you are down with the conversation, or did the rhetorical angle of the question fall flat?

[artistinexile]

I am awaiting your rhetorical end to your question.