Old Letters

[Kaytren Li]

Coruscant > Restored Jedi Temple > Jonan-Li Family Quarters
~ 223 ABY
———

The Healer sat on the wooden deck of the small patio that led out from the back door into the garden that was shared by a few family apartments. Keto was away, though she expected him back any week. She'd been tending to her kitchen plants and flowers first, but after that had stretched out her senses in the Living Force to gently check over the whole length of the yard and garden area.

Several yards away, her three youngest were engaged in their own play. Nomi had persuaded Zhi to leave his garden patch alone to come and play 'Wild Dogs,' so the two younger of the four year olds were stampeding around the grass with a chorus of woofs and barks and yips. Pax was along the side of the home investigating the garden tools, although he looked liable to join in with his brother and sister at any moment.

Ashlin was off with Jarod on whatever their latest mission was. Kaytren didn't know specifically what her sixteen year old was so excited about just now — She wasn't even absolutely certain that she wanted to, but the woman felt her daughter's brightness and enthusiasm humming against the edges of her mind across the bond they shared, and she felt a deep, quiet pride.

As for Kaytren, she sat with her satchel beside her and her datapad out. She'd been reading infirmary updates and checking over the observations and journal entries from Luka and another of the healing students. After a while though, the memory of a different letter stirred softly in her thoughts and she set down her datapad. Reaching into an inner pocket of her satchel, Kaytren gently pulled out a slightly worn envelope with no script but her name on it. The subtle firelight behind her brown eyes flickered and burned with soft steadiness while she unfolded the letter and read through it once again. Master Li, I trust this letter finds you well…

Master Li,

I trust that this letter finds you well. I will admit that I have not really been keeping tabs on galactic developments, and so I cannot comment on anything in particular or ask how you have endeavoured in any of your particular goals, so I hope it will suffice that I can simply say... I wish you well.

Much has transpired in the time I have been away, and more has transpired still since my return from the unknown regions. I had hoped that I would be able to discuss all of it with you in person, but it seems that this was not meant to be.

I sit here in the old archives on Bakura, awaiting the results of a search I am running - in my time away from the charted regions of the galaxy I have slowly begun unraveling the threads of a mystery I have long pondered, and I am embarked on a voyage from which I may not return - but more than any other time in my life it is absolutely crucial that I must succeed.

I cannot write any more about it at this time. Perhaps if I learn more in my travels you will receive another letter from me.

May the Force Guide You,

D. Jinn™

“You too, Jinn.” Refolding the letter into its envelope, she set the paper in her lap for a moment and rested the back of her head against the wall behind her.

(My Ashla… Keep him well, wherever he's at. Lend him peace and strength enough. And don't let him feel without family. Keep us all.)

She thought about the letters again. Not Darwill's, but hers. There was the one she'd been slow at penning so many months before that; after that heartache of a trial. That one had been halting and painstaking. In hindsight she wondered if it had made any sense, but had held onto it anyway. And then there was her non-reply to this one, which she'd been wanting to finish for what felt like a year now. She'd started it over four times and kept hoping and intending to finish it, but every time—there seemed always to be something in the way. Kaytren wondered if, maybe, she'd have been a little faster at it if she'd actually had a destination of any sort to send her letters to. But in her heart she understood that wasn't the point. Someday they'd cross paths again… And if she didn't have a letter or two or three finished at that time, the Healer knew she'd be disappointed in herself.

Reaching back into her satchel, Kaytren pulled out a cherished cube and neatly tapped one of its surface, activating the recorder. She might copy it to written form later, she supposed, but she'd always favored spoken journals herself.

223ABY
Renewed Temple, Coruscant.
Entry# 1938
Subfolder: "Notes and Memos"

::Dear Jinn,

How are you? Have you crashed any new ships recently? I have so much news from all the past months that I can't even think where to start. I usually can't with you, it seems; and that's part of the problem. Ashlin is well and growing beautifully. Keto is well, as am I, and the three that I haven't managed to have you meet yet are... Oh for the Force's... did you even know about them at all? I mean you must, I would guess, but I've no idea. Pax, Nomi, and Zhi. They're nearly three, and right now I'm watching them gallop in circles 'round a tree while I do my best to get this written in some way.

I've realized I've become a terrible correspondent, by the way. I used to be markedly better, but time, and maybe an increase of children and galactic busyness seem to have made it much… harder. ...That, and I admit; I've got no idea what to tell you.

Other than to… Be, Well. You are cared about, dear friend. I don't… want you to feel outcast. I hope you find what you need. And get done what you have to. Don't break yourself too much on the way. You usually know how to find me. Just let me know if—::

Up until this time in the recording, any light background noises had been for the most part screened out automatically. Suddenly however, there was a rather wild chorus of shrill giggling and high pitched cries that ran along the lines of “HEY! That's my shovel!”, “Nomi, I think—”, and “PAX STOPPIT NOW!”

::—Nomi Joi, my love—and Pax, please mind Auntie's painting with the hose... Oh—Beth, you can end that message for now. Thank you.::
~Kayten

And with that, letter, datapad, and journal cube were all slid back into the Healer's satchel. Kaytren was already crossing the yard. The corners of her lips were fighting to keep from grinning while she rescued the current work on her friend's easel, then turned her focus to the breathlessly excited and squealing trio of toddlers.

All was well here.

[Darwill Jinn™]

The letters came sporadically across the years, and often out of order. They came by courier - often children on the streets - and Kaytren could be anywhere in the galaxy. It didn’t seem to matter. Those delivering just seemed to know.

The next such letter was scrawled on extremely worn parchment. It was clear that Darwill didn’t care whether he received a response, or if there even were responses to receive.

Master Li,

I last wrote to you about {paragraph of illegible text} grave concerns. I don’t yet know what it means, but I am certain that it is connected with the situation developing on {illegible text}

I am certain that you and the Jedi have it in hand.

Despite everything, I feel that I am making progress in my search. It’s less about what I’m finding along the way, as there are no texts or even people who really remember what came before. But the Force is clear. The closer I get, the more certain I am that {illegible text}

It looks as if the document had been dropped in a puddle after this point. Ink stains covered the lower half of the parchment.

In the Force, the parchment feels faintly like … concern? Or is it something else?