These Shattered Stars -- Logs

Freyja looks at the Mandragolan interestedly, then murmurs, "Thank you, Dhaasul, for clearing that up." She looks back at the other two, "Well? If it could possibly happen, does this behavior seem Verg-like -- or maybe increasingly Verg-like?"

Vakkal grimaces slightly. "As I'd said, Padawan Freyja... Verg was a complex person. It is... entirely possible that he's influencing Methel-ssa. It would be in keeping with what you have said of her.

Fhazil nods. "And we were speaking about how she was being pressured." He lets out his breath, shaking his head, then looks to Vakkal. "Abomination."

Vakkal nods, "I would agree, Brother. No Sith likes the idea of possession."

Freyja says, "Hm." She considers for a while, then says slowly, "Is this sort of thing something you can help someone throw off?" She blinks, then says a little wistfully, "Wouldn't it be nice to have a Sith lord that might do you a favor?" She thinks for a moment, and her expression fades fairly quickly into wry humor, "Better yet, wouldn't it be smart to stay far away from the crazy Sith lord, and not get squashed like a bug before I even get close enough to open my mouth?"

Freyja grins ruefully in spite of herself at that image.

Fhazil wryly smiles, while Vakkal says quickly, "It's usually better not to find a Sith lord in debt to you. Some take such debts serious. Some so seriously they'd rather never have to pay it off. I do not know what sort Methel-ssa is. It is possible that she may already consider you in her debt for ambushing the Oath of Fire.

Zero says, "Then we'd be even for pulling Verg off her back, wouldn't we."

Freyja laughs softly, "Oh, I have no intention of getting anywhere near her, him, or it -- the last time we saw... that entity, it was screamingly angry."

Vakkal thinks for a second, then nods to Zero. "There is that."

Fhazil nods, grimacing, to Freyja. "If you knew where she was, I'd recommend those cruisers zooming around overhead provide some orbital fire support."

Freyja says, "If she's struggling with Verg, then I'm sorry, but I don't trust her any farther than I could throw her. I won't be coming to her aid any time soon, neh." She gives Fhazil a curious glance, "You're... suggesting lobbing orbital fire at her to stop her?" She blinks, adding slowly, "That's... your Sith lord you're suggesting this about, hai?"

Zero shrugs and leans in the doorway, casually leaning out into the hallway now and then to watch for approaching overcurious Jedi.

Freyja smiles at Zero in greeting, then looks back at the Sith curiously for their answers.

Fhazil makes a bit of a face. "Well. Yes, it is. But if she's being influenced by Qatto Verg, or worse, possessed, then what happened yesterday will only be the beginning. If there were some way to abolish the spirit of Qatto Verg, then I'd suggest it, but only the darkside theurgists back on Ziost know anything about doing that sort of thing. Maybe the Jedi do, I don't know. Either way, she's becoming increasingly dangerous.

He adds, "Even if she wasn't possessed or influenced, then she'd be responsible for doing exactly what she was told not to do in coming here: to take Marnaas from within, and subtly. Blowing up a good part of the spaceport doesn't count as 'subtle.' I couldn't in good faith obey a Lord who broke the trust placed in them that wildly.

Freyja gives the Human Sith a long, thoughtful look. She finds it very interesting that where Vakkal apparently simply obeys his lord, Fhazil seems to reserve for himself the right to disobey.

Freyja says slowly, "So... you don't consider her your lord any more, Fhazil Taas?"

Fhazil says, "Look, if she did this on her own, she's violating her orders. And in a really outrageous way, too. War doesn't want to have anything to do with someone who'd do that. And if Qatto Verg is in the pilot's couch, then it isn't really her, either."

Freyja says, "All right. So what is your position in regard to her, then?"

Fhazil frowns. "My position regarding her? How do you mean?"

Freyja says, "What responsibility, if any, do you have towards her? Are you going to return to her? Try reasoning with her? Try killing her? What? I'd like to know... if you don't mind my asking."

He thinks for a moment, then shrugs a little. "Well. That's a little tricky. Methel-ssa is a lot more powerful than I am. While we of War pride ourselves on taking care of our own, there's a limit. If I found her and told her that she was breaching our instructions, I don't think she or Verg would hesitate to kill me. She might not even wait for me to find her, for that matter, if she knows that she's failed. She knows I'd have to find some way to kill her or hold her for a Sith Lord."

Freyja straightens a bit, with a slightly shocked look on her face, "Wait. You're saying your sworn lord would try to kill you -- to cover up that she's failed?!"

Fhazil says dryly, "I don't suppose it would help at all if I said she would if she were deranged, and that it isn't common practice?"

Freyja just stares at Fhazil for a few seconds... then turns to Vakkal and asks in slow bemusement, "How about you, Vakkal of Khar Valos? If you met Methel-ssa, and the first thing she said was, 'I'm Qatto Verg -- kill him!'" she points to Fhazil as she speaks, still watching the big dog-Sith, "...what would you do?"

Vakkal shakes his head and says simply, "I cannot kill my Brother in War."

Freyja says, "So... you'd die at the hands of your lord, hai?"

Vakkal rolls his eyes a little. "I'd do my best to avoid that sort of fate, Padawan Freyja."

Freyja just stares at the two Sith for a long, bemused moment... then finally says in uncomprehending frustration, "What is it about the Sith, that they're all insane?! Why don't you two pick good lords -- lords that understand you're supposed to care for your people?!"

Fhazil and Vakkal exchange another look. Finally, Fhazil sighs. "Did you pick your master, Freyja?"

Freyja blinks, "Well, of course! And he picked me."

"For that matter, do the people of the Republic choose who gets to be masters?"

Freyja says, "Certainly. If you don't like the government of a world... move!"

Zero says, "It's not always that easy."

"I mean... do people of the Republic choose who gets to be Jedi masters?"

Freyja says, "Oh, that. No, it's not something we can affect." She thinks about it, then amends, "Yet, I suppose."

"And is every master perfect? Are they as good and kind-hearted as yours?"

Freyja gives Fhazil an amused glance, "Please... try a better argument than that one. I did point out there was choice involved. Not everyone wants thoughtful masters. Some just want to be told what t- er..." Her voice trails off a bit as she looks back and forth between the two Sith, and she finishes slowly, "...what... to do... oh... I see." She sighs softly. "Well... that certainly explains why you thought I wouldn't trust you to come back, despite my trusting you to keep your promise here... here I was just worried you two would get hurt, since neither of you are in any condition to be gallivanting about the countryside getting shot at." She sighs again, a faintly disappointed note in her general demeanor, "Ah, well." She considers for a moment, then shrugs unhappily, "Not my business, I suppose. So... I take it the general consensus is let the Sith or the Jedi, whomever arrives first, deal with Methel-ssa's insanity?"

Zero says, "It doesn't look like anyone else is properly equipped. I don't think you feel comfortable letting Roakkana do it, and he's the only one strong enough at the moment." He folds his arms, and shakes his head. "Personally I'm in favor of the orbital bombardment approach."

Freyja nods quietly to Zero, still morosely re-adjusting her inner point of view on the Sith apprentices. She's both startled, and a bit disappointed. If Sith feel this way, she's not sure she can trust one to take such a radically divergent approach to the Force as that of joining in with her and Zero in a triat. And... if the Sith can't be trusted to be individual enough to do that... then what of the triat? She's not willing to expose Zero to the fate Inspector Shang had mentioned -- being consumed by the Light.

"I don't think you do see, Freyja. Every Master and every Lord is different. In the Sith Hierarchy, an apprentice is exposed to a number of Lords, to show them a wide range of persons and leadership styles. Vakkal and I were lucky; we managed to stay with Lord Ghang for quite a bit longer than is normal. He is a good lord, and any being sworn to him would die for him because they know that he would do the same. We'd have been perfectly happy to spend our entire apprenticeship with him. But what would that teach us, aside from the belief that every Lord is like Ghang?

"The dark side of the Force is power, like any other, and power corrupts. Sometimes, there are lords whose goals are purely self-centered. You do not elect a Lord, any more than you elect a Jedi master. There are years of study, years of research and concentration and devotion involved. That should be enough to weed out the purely selfish, but sometimes it isn't. Just like with Jedi. I'm not a philosopher, but I know enough that, yeah, darksiders tend to have emotional control problems. That's the nature of the Dark side. The purely lightsider folk have their own problems, at least from what you showed me in that library out-take. There's a spectrum. And just like the Jedi try to curtail the extremes of their spectrum of leaders, so do the Sith. Sometimes the very bad ones are found quickly, sometimes they aren't. I'd already said Methel-ssa had a reputation for quiet subtlety, and Vakkal said that Qatto Verg was very good at hiding his allegiance with the Oath of Fire."

"Better than he was at hiding his hatred for the Jedi," Vakkal interjects.

Fhazil nods. Then he shakes his head. "Is the Empire perfect? No. I never said it was. That's why I said I wanted to make a difference in the Empire, curb the excesses, show what it means to lead. Move? Why move, when I can someday change it for the better?

"I don't know what answer you're looking from me or Vakkal, Freyja, or what kind of acknowledgment of... incompetence or foolishness or insanity you want me to claim. I don't even know what it is exactly you're looking for! But whatever it is, well... here I am. I've told you my view. I'm not looking for your approval, in fact I don't expect your approval. But you asked, and that's my answer."

Freyja considers Fhazil's words for a long moment, then smiles slowly, although it doesn't reach her eyes, "Neh, I don't look for you to admit anything. You are, by your own and by Vakkal's admission, an unusual Sith. I must say, while I respect the desire to try to repair a broken, um... system or hierarchy from the inside... I still find it hard to understand people who are not considered mad, who prefer destructive power to creative power." She sighs softly and shrugs, "I don't know, Fhazil Taas... I don't understand why you and Vakkal seem... well. I guess I should just say I don't understand Sith." She rises quietly, her face completely expressionless, and paces silently for the door as she says, "You should both concentrate on healing. I expect you both have a difficult and dangerous path ahead of you."

The room is pretty much silent as Freyja walks out.

Zero pushes off from the doorframe and touches his temple on the way out by way of parting gesture.

Freyja heads for Roakkana's rooms, waiting until Zero is there as well, before she says simply, "Master Roakkana, I'm sorry, but I have no idea how to chose a potential Dark mantle. I think they're all insane."

She almost absently she adds, "Oh... they think it's a good bet Methel-ssa's being influenced by Verg, too... and they think it's wisest to let the Sith or the Jedi, whomever arrives first, deal with her growing insanity."

Zero says, "I'm afraid I have to agree with that. None of us can certainly handle it. Believe me, if I thought we could remove her I'd do it myself. Unfortunately... I think it best if we leave this to more qualified individuals."

Freyja nods.

Zero sighs, a little unhappily. "I hate leaving a job unfinished."

Freyja nods as well, although her face is carefully expressionless still. She's struggling with her apparent failure to be able to accurately determine trustworthiness... and it bothers her. A lot.

Roakkana arches his eyebrows slightly. "I see," he says quietly. "Well. That makes the formation of a triat, at least according to Inspector Shang, difficult." He pulls himself upward, smiling quietly. "An alternative will present itself, then, in time. Methel-ssa would seem to be a more important problem."

Freyja nods silently at Roakkana's commentary, unhappily pulling her legs up, wrapping her arms around them, and resting her cheek on her knees. She wishes she felt better about this... currently she feels like she's missing something dreadfully important. What it is, though, she has no idea.

Zero just rubs his eyes a bit and tries to remember the last time he slept completely through the night. This is starting to remind him a little too much of home. War, he thinks, Feh. Roakkana stretches a little. "I would only ask this, child. Why do you say they are insane?"

Freyja sighs, raising her head, and says unhappily (and a touch frantically), "I just... I don't understand them! I don't understand why they'll work for insane Sith lords, and -- and sometimes they do and sometimes they don't and I can't tell when that changes, and bad ones are just something that happens despite all the destruction they cause and sometimes the lords are willing to just kill them and they seem to expect this and that seems okay to them and... and..." She pauses, running out of air, and takes a deep breath, gathering herself. Finally she says softly, "I'm sorry, Master Roakkana. I don't feel qualified to make a decision that, if I mess up, will hurt not just me, but also Zero, you, the Silver Path... and possibly, according to Inspector Shang, even the Jedi Order itself." Her voice is small and miserably uncertain.

Roakkana nods quietly. "I understand, child. In this case, trust is vastly important. I would imagine that in any sort of merger such as the triat, be it a Templar manus or even the small gestalts that we may perform, nothing can be done without trust." He smiles quietly. "However, did you know that there are some Jedi who consider me insane? And yet you see to understand me quite well. At least when I don't start rambling."

Freyja blinks, rather shocked, "They what?" She uncertainly adds, "Do they not understand Shyriiwook?"

Zero adds quietly, "He did entrust his lightsabre to a random youth with a bad reputation he picked up on Coruscant." He grins.

Freyja says, "Yes, but you're obviously trustworthy to him." She hesitates, then adds a bit shamefacedly, "He saw it before I did, I admi..." She blinks, then turns to the Wookiee excitedly, "You're good at telling trustworthiness! Why don't you chose?"

Zero says, "Absolutely right. But that's the point. You two have known me for quite awhile. The people that think I'm absolutely untrustworthy, and that the Master here's insane, just don't have all the data. It's very possible, Freyja, that you haven't got all the data yet either."

Freyja looks back at Zero, opening her mouth to retort indignantly... then pauses, thinking.

Freyja sighs, deflating. "Oh, all right, I guess I should quit trying to evade this, shouldn't I." She sighs again, then says morosely, "Still... how am I supposed to tell? They're pinned down in the infirmary by their words -- which so far at least they seem to be keeping well enough... which, um, now that I think about it would indicate trustworthiness, wouldn't it..." She considers, then says slowly, "Still... I'm open to suggestions."

Zero says, "They'll be up and around before two weeks pass. The real test of their worth will be what happens when they're not incapacitated... and what happens between then and our deadline."

Freyja nods slowly, considering... then sighs, "All right. I'll be patient."

"It has nothing to do with whether we speak the same language, child. Voders do well enough to translate. It is about understanding. My interest in pre-Syncretic traditions, and my belief in the emotionally 'loose' and 'dangerous' concept of the Balanced Force, I am considered by some to be insane. Or at least touched. To many Jedi, expressing emotion is to open a door to the darkest recesses of the soul, and they would spare the universe around them that danger. Some may even know that it damages them emotionally to do that, but they see it as a worthy sacrifice to make. They don't understand because they have never allowed themselves to see more of me than my stated beliefs.

The Wookiee shakes his head. "I'm flattered you consider me such a good judge of character, child, but I will not be the one looking at them from across the Sabre's Edge in the triat. You and Zero have to be comfortable with whomever is the dark-mantle.

Freyja nods slowly at her Master's words... then says with increasing firmness, "I'll... just spend more time around them, that's it. If I keep them talking, eventually something has to shake out, surely?"

Roakkana tilts his head to the side. "'Shake out?'"

Zero nods. "The situation's constrained right now. What they do when they're free to move about... that'll be what tells you how trustworthy they are." He winces. "It's a figure of speech, Master."

Freyja grins at the Wookiee, "Like a rattatosk bouncing up and down on a tree branch to knock the nuts loose, Master. Shaking something good out."

"Ah, I see." He looks curiously to Freyja. "So... are you trying to shake out something that will prove one of them trustworthy, or something that will prove one of them untrustworthy?"

Freyja grins wryly, "Yes, Master."

Zero says, "Brace for the worst, hope for the best, or so they say."

Freyja nods solemnly at Zero.

"Well, at least you'll be looking for both. If you were looking for one, you could easily miss something pointing to the other."

Freyja nods just as solemnly at the Wookiee.

The next several days pass fairly quickly. Despite the Siths' beliefs, Methel-ssa is very quiet, and barely anything comes up, but for one point when Roakkana looks out to the city curiously, as if listening. When asked, he replies only, "I thought I heard Methel-ssa... crying." He cannot elaborate.

Jiosch remains under sedation, and the apothecary becomes increasingly distraught. He knows the necessity of keeping the murderous fallen Jedi under sedation, but a body can take only so much, even Jiosch's. The reptilian man slowly begins to deteriorate.

The city is slowly rebuilt, and any sentiment against the Jedi of the monastery subsides a little. There are still occasional subtle comments, but they are stifled quickly; news that an entire company of Jedi warriors is coming to take care of the Sith Lord is welcomed with good cheer by most of the population; in public, the government is likewise cheering the news, but their words carry an undertone of concern and caution.

Much less welcome is the news that the Malice, spotted at Myrkr but a week before, is bearing down on Marnaas and is expected to arrive at the same time as the Republic taskforce. This is made all the more tense when a message arrives from the Republic fleet carrier Vylos, informing Roakkana and the Marnaas government that they have been pulled from hyperspace by a Sith gravwell ship and a flotilla of gunboats; their arrival might be delayed by upwards of half a day.

On the day the message from the Vylos arrives, Fhazil and Vakkal are just starting to feel well enough to stand and walk, carefully. They've healed well, and are almost completely able and hale, though mindful of the promise they made they are not making any attempt to escape.

Freyja is quite frankly astonished at Roakkana's comment about Methel-ssa. She's silent and thoughtful for a large part of the day, and later she comes to the Wookiee and says, "Master Roakkana, it occurs to me that if our belief is correct, and Verg -- or Methel-ssa -- woke Jiosch and Vakkal to cause mischief and damage... then there may well be some... sign, some leftover reaction or feeling in the Force or something, from the Sith lord's presence in the infirmary. So... maybe I could farsee, and check if such a thing was actually present then? If it was, that might explain why Jiosch was so murderous... and maybe awakening him without that presence there might help to persuade him to not attack others while he and they are healing?"

She wonders... did Methel-ssa successfully throw off Verg, but realizes her plans are shattered anyway now... and thus the tears?

Roakkana arches an eyebrow slightly. "Or awakening him might just make him as murderous as before. You may try, child, certainly.

Freyja nods and sighs, "I... have to try, Master. His body will start deteriorating otherwise." She settles cross-legged and sinks into meditation... then a little deeper. The infirmary... a day or two ago... what happened that morning?

She feels herself reaching back, back through the days, mindful of what Roakkana had said not more than a week before, how the Force doesn't know words like 'time' and 'distance.' Events, sounds, scents, all assault her, a dizzying panoply as she finds herself drawn to that point in time where Jiosch awoke....

There... closer... almost there....

She finds it coming into focus, bit by bit, that morning in the infirmary. Jiosch and Vakkal lie there quietly amongst the others. Slowly, bit by bit, black tendrils reach into the room. They dance around a little through the room, lightly touching, caressing almost sensually each of the occupants.

First is Dhaasul -- or rather, the tendrils of dark energy start to move towards him, then draw back quickly, seeking the others.

Next is Fhazil. The tendrils do touch him, a light dance upon his brow and cheeks, and he twitches slightly, restlessly in his sleep The tendrils draw back sharply, and Fhazil's sleep returns to normal.

Then to Vakkal. Again, as with her own touch the night -- no, a week ago, Freyja senses the canid's consciousness snarl and leap, growling at the touch, seeking to sink ethereal teeth. Unlike with Freyja, however, the canid does not relent. The tendrils draw back, then lash forward sharply. With a surprised, mental yelp, Vakkal's consciousness draws back, but instead of simply cowering the Sith actually begins to rouse.

The tendrils study Vakkal briefly, almost self-rebukingly, then come to the last. The dance of the energy upon Jiosch is almost disturbing to watch, as they seek and probe throughout his ethereal form. Then they draw back, and in an almost sickening display leap forward and plunge into the body. Jiosch's back arches, and he takes in a sharp, enpained breath, eyes widening.

The tendrils withdraw quickly, but a presence continues to watch -- no, that must be Freyja. Freyja watches as Jiosch slowly, grogilly gets his bearings, standing slowly as he looks about. His eyes fall on Dhaasul, and the reptilian man goes over to him

Then Fhazil awakens, as a startled, "What the--?!" comes from across the room. Jiosch growls, a dark summoning of energy sweeping around him and aiding his shattered body, as he used the Force to throw Fhazil out the door.

The vision fades, and Freyja is left in the moment within the Force, watching as the scene disappears slowly into the mists. And then the voice from beside her comes crashing out of nowhere: "Did you find what you were looking for, little one?"

In this state of consciousness, it isn't proper to say that Freyja actually turns to look, for she has no body proper. Her perception, however it is put, focuses sharply on the presence which addressed her. And it is most certainly not Roakkana's.

It takes form, in the blink of an eye and over the course of hours, into something that Freyja can more quickly recognize: grey-green skin, a mane of platinum hair which billows in unseen wind, depthless black eyes flecked with shot of gold. Methel-ssa.

Freyja starts to flash away reflexively -- then pauses. It's probably really, really stupid... but... she looks, even as she's quivering on the edge of throwing herself out of the Force and back into Roakkana's room. She has to know, if at all possible. Is this the same darkness as was pushing Jiosch? And (oddly more importantly to her) -- why would a Sith lord cry? Can she help?

On closer inspection, the presence before her is indeed the tall, almost Duros-like being she caught a brief glimpse of on that first day on Marnaas, and a few days later at the spaceport. In this state of mind, the sithstain is almost a visible thing, lying at the core of the presence of the Sith Lord and surrounding her like a cloak. It writhes slightly, and every once in a while a tendril snakes out, seeming to peer briefly at Freyja before snapping back.

The creature looks steadily at Freyja. "Well?" she asks, seemingly with infinite patience. "Did you find what you were looking for?"

Freyja takes a deep mental breath, reminding herself (a touch nervously) that dying is just moving to another plane of existence... then she bows politely and says extremely carefully, "No, Sith lord. I was trying to tell if Qatto Verg was causing some of the behavior which your apprentice said was anomalous for you. I..." she glances at the writhing Sith stain, quashing a faint feeling of nausea, and finishes, "I can't tell, I'm sorry." She looks back at the entity's face... and decides not to try asking a Sith lord if they're all right.

"Qatto Verg? Indeed, now. Qatto Verg is dead, killed by his own hand, which your master at least can attest to."

Freyja just nods silently. Should she leave now? The Sith lord isn't angry yet... so is that a better time to stay or go? Go... no, stay... what, is she mad? GO! No, wait... why'd the Sith lord turn up, and not attack her immediately? There surely must be some reason... maybe? She says cautiously, "Is... there some message the Sith lord wants delivered... or something?"

Methel-ssa's presence circles Freyja slowly. She doesn't seem to hear Freyja's question, or ignores it. "You poor dear. Such a hard life you've led. It's fortunate that Mater Roakkana found you. You've put all that unpleasantness back on Balmorra well behind you."

Freyja abruptly changes her mind. Yes, leaving right now would be good!

Except Freyja can't seem to.

Freyja sighs, murmuring, "Well, sheisse." She tries calling for help through the Force, "Master Roakkana?"

She's broken out of trances before -- sometimes gently and smoothly, sometimes abruptly, as the situation called for it. But this time she can't seem to do that. Her perceptions, the way she views herself in these trance-states, shifts slightly; one of the black tendrils is wrapped about the silver cord she views as the link between her and her body.

Methel-ssa says quietly. "Don't fear, little one. I'm not going to hurt you, I assure you. Only to talk with you. It's so infrequent that I may simply talk to someone in this state. It's really quite liberating."

Freyja quietly wraps herself in serenity, imagining a soft, warm cloak... that smells a bit like Master Roakkana's fur. She's not sure what the Sith lord is after, isn't sure she believes her, and isn't thrilled with being toyed with like this. Wryly she concludes that working on being serene should give her something to occupy herself until she gets squished like a bug.

In the room where Freyja is in a trance, where Zero and Roakkana wait patiently. Roakkana opens his eyes startledly. "Something is wrong...?" He closes his eyes. "Zero... I may need your help shortly." He murmurs something, a single mantra as he exhales.

Zero crouches down a little by the doorway, "Let me know..." Something on a low, instinctual level makes him uncomfortable. The bad-craziness is coming, he can feel it.

Freyja feels a faint surge, seeking her from the waking world. It is her master's presence, she recognizes it when she was helping to direct his defense of the monastery against the mortars. But something is blocking it.

"Freyja Rigg... don't be alarmed. I know what you felt. You had to escape your life before. I had to, as well. My father, a smith on Korriban, one of the greatest of my people, the Hkkal. And my brother, praised as a rising star beneath the Lords of War. Every missive home brought more praise for him, more accolades, another presentation of a coronet from a thankful Lord of the Sith. When Marka Ragnos himself presented my brother with a battleship in his own personal fleet, I could take it no more, and I studied our ancient arts... free me...."

Roakkana reaches out immediately, his eyes still closed. "Zero, come here, please, and sit beside me. Something has gone very wrong."

Zero kneels down near the bed. "I can feel it too. Tell me what to do."

Freyja keeps her cloak of serenity wrapped close about her. She's calm, she's the Light, she's not afraid... and she doesn't think her life was that bad. At the time, yes... but after hearing what people like Vakkal and Zero have gone through, she's almost ashamed to say her life was at all difficult in comparison. She's not going to be flattered into believ- er, what? She turns her slightly startled mental gaze to the entity, "Pardon me, Lord? I'm-" she remembers Dhaasul's words -- one of this lord's former retainers, in fact, "-I'm just a little Humanling Padawan. Free you how? From what?" And... are you pulling a fast one even now, Dark Lord?

If you are... I can too. Let's just keep talking, shall we?

Methel-ssa pauses, briefly, and in the flickering instant Freyja thinks she feels Roakkana -- but, no, the instant passes. "Oh, I know how you must have felt, little one," the Sith says, in a gentle voice, ignoring the question. "You may be a Human padawan, but your destiny is before you! You can overcome it, that painful little thorn of living under your family's shadow, as I did. You will become a great Jedi someday, despite that thorn. Never forget it, keep it in mind, and you will achieve truly great things. You will overcome it in your own way, just as I did."

Roakkana's hand rests lightly behind Zero's neck. "I am sorry, this may hurt a little. But Freyja needs us both right now." With that, he touches certain points along Zero's upper back, a flash of light fills Zero's perception, and suddenly, there is a sense of... discontinuity. No senses except -- no, not merely no sense, but all? It is confusing, it's nothing Zero's experienced before unless there were ever any hallucinogens at any time in his life. But even the moment's disjunction is nothing compared to the... the massive presence beside him. Massive.. and yet infinitely gentle. "Forgive me," Roakkana says. "Methel-ssa has Freyja bound in her trance. In this state, even the vaunted lightsabre is of no use, only one's mind."

Zero doesn't make any noise. Pain... he's used to. He slumps forward a little, until the 'down' sensation seems to fade and he gets his bearings again. Such as they are... "Show me where to go."

Freyja closes up warily. Sounds just like those pseudo-sympathetic jerks that wanted to get close to my sister through me. Forget it. She doesn't want to be freed... she just thinks I'm a gullible little fool. Well, she can think what she likes, and her apprentice may laugh at me, but I'm not- hm... Cautiously she checks, checking around her mentally. She's reached Fhazil, Vakkal, and Zero... can she reach any of them again, with a message to Master Roakkana that she needs help?

There is no sense of motion for Zero. There is no sense of time. Roakkana's presence takes him up gently and before them is what to Zero's perception is a... a barricade, a sheaf of concertina wire, of darkness. A barrier that is not unlike those that were on the wall of the compound in his youth. Oddly, the barrier is as he remembers it... looking outward, for something to come in the mad rage of an attack. "She is behind there. Empty your thoughts, Zero, focus on the moment, use what you have learned of the mind of battle which stood you in good stead in the waking world and which may help us all here...."

Freyja, as she sends off the message, feels -- vaguely -- that it was received, before the tendrils squeeze ever so slightly upon the silver cord; the sensation is not unlike a wet silk cord being snugged around one's larynx. The presence of Methel-ssa becomes... indistinct, hard to view again. It de-resolves into a mere presence in this oddworld of thought and perception.

Methel-ssa senses the closure of Freyja's mind, and her voice pitches slightly. "Oh, dear. Yes, you still carry that hurt. There will be no drawing it out. I'm sorry. You will have to learn to use it as best as you can, little one." Oddly... no, the Sith's voice isn't modulating oddly. Is it? "Free.... How I wish I could make you understand, little one... free.... That you can use that pain. If it is to be with you forever... FREE...! then you should use it... FREE! ... to your own advantage--RELEASE ME, BLACK-SOULED SCUM!"

Freyja blinks, watching in awed fascination, remaining carefully wrapped close. If she had any idea how to help -- or even any idea if she could -- she'd try.

Zero forgets what he can, leaving everything else behind for the moment, focusing simply on getting inside. On a point somewhere beyond this barrier.

Freyja blinks again... and with the courage of desperation she suddenly leaps forward, drawing all the Light, all the creative brightness she can conceive of, all the Living Force her small form can focus -- and throws herself on the Sith entity. If Truth or the Living Light can help disrupt the dead -- this is the only thing she can think of to do.

Zero chokes off the urge to hurry, and simply empties his mind. He pulls himself together, slowly collecting himself. It takes awhile for things in his mind to quiet down completely. When it's perfectly silent, something clicks and he finds the center, perfectly balanced. "I'm ready."

Roakkana feels Zero reach that state, the goal of the ancient swordsmen, and gently he guides the Human forward. Zero feels some resistance in the barrier. It licks and lashes at him unwholesomely as he pushes his way through the barrier. Someday, he may look back on this, and realize what the barrier was throwing at him: fears, buried years ago, uncovered and used as weapons against him. Images, that time the natives almost -- almost! -- came over the wall with blades gleaming in their hands, the roar of shot and shell overhead, a crashing symphony of fire and pain.

Zero thinks, for just a moment, that he can taste metal and blood again, but the thought never has time to really catch hold. Something is pushing him forward. Years and years rise up behind him, and he realizes after a moment that it's his own will to survive... no, not anymore, his will to protect, and he's riding on it... He's coming to stand by his charge, and he will not stop until he gets there.

Freyja's lash strikes the formless presence, illuminating it in her perception of light and truth and life. The... presence... writhes, shrieking, a cacophony of Methel'ssa's voice and other atonal harmonies that wrack Freyja's brain in pain.

The presence which had been Methel-ssa shudders, trembles, then simply goes away, evaporating, as if the ocean had risen up and cleared the beach of an irritating footprint.

But what remains...

The presence of the Sith Lord disappears, but the core, the sithstain, remains, the cloak of tendrils remains. And still that awful shrieking can be heard. The cloak coalesces briefly, wrapping itself around the stained core, then explodes outward, seeking to wrap itself around Freyja. From the dark energies, a face is formed: youthful, hairless, yellow-eyed. Those yellow eyes focus on Freyja, and the face smiles, relatively benignly.

It is then that the eyes become black, hollow pits, and the smile widens to an impossible degree. "Hello, Jed-i," Qatto Verg hisses.

Freyja blinks -- then simply turns and flees. There's no reasoning with this!

She yells for help down any connection she can make, but concentrates mostly on getting back to her body!

The tendrils miss her widely, Qatto Verg's voice hissing softly. "It is almost too easy," he says... words heard by Zero and Roakkana as they pierce the last inch -- yard? mile? -- of the barrier.

Freyja sights the familiar mental forms of her Master and fellow Padawan -- and veers abruptly to head for them, as fast as she can mentally fly. Her relief is almost a palpable thing in this strange mental universe.

Zero doesn't stop. He projects, as best he can, "Keep moving!" Sure that... whatever it is, it'll give chase, throws himself forward. It wouldn't go to the trouble of trying to snare her, he reasons, just to give up on her like that. The leading edge of the crest of will he rides on slips a bit ahead of him, and he gathers it up like a shield. He pulls up every shred of determination, of stubborn refusal to die, to give up, to leave the things he's chosen to protect... and falls on Verg with it. He prays it crushes him... but hopes it gives them all the necessary seconds-- moments? Minutes? To flee, or to distract him long enough for his master's massive presence to strike.

Qatto Verg turns his attention to the new arrivals, and... well, 'spits' is the best sound that it can be called. "Jed-i--ack!" The impact of Zero's will distracts the ex-Sith, confusing the being for a few moments. It recovers, however, snarling. "Jed-i! Revenge, revenge will be mine! The Scion of the Red will be mine! You will be mine! I--"

And in that moment, a terrifying and bright light fills the perceptions of the two padawans, and there is a horrible, awful scream... and it's hard to tell from whom....

Is it a moment which passes? Or a day?

When they open their eyes, the padawans see similar, but different, sights. Vakkal peers worriedly down into Freyja's eyes, while Fhazil is concernedly leaning over Zero. Fhazil looks up quickly. "He's coming around, Brother."

Vakkal nods, "As is she. How is the Wookiee?"

Fhazil smiles a little to Zero, resting a hand briefly on the other Human's shoulder, before leaning over and checking the bulky pile of fur beside Zero. Yet a muffled, humorous chuffing emerges from it. "I am well, Sith, thank you for your concern."

Vakkal provides quickly to Fhazil, "He said he's well."

"Uh? Oh! Good! Thank the Force.... Are you all right? Zero, Freyja, Master?"

Freyja unghs softly, trying to make her eyes focus, then mumbles, "Mas'er Roakk... uh... Vakkal?" She reaches a bleary hand up to check, then grins slowly, "Furry..."

Zero seems to have passed out sitting up on his knees. He squints a bit. "Ow."

Freyja blinks slowly, then mumbles, "What're you doin' 'n Mas'r Roakkana's quarters, Vakkal...?" She rolls her head carefully to look around. Last she recalled she was in the Force... blinding light... urgh. Does she have a headache?

Vakkal blinks, a bit startledly. He reaches up to gently take Freyja's hand. "Ah... yes. Er. We... felt the call for help, and came here, hoping to find Master Roakkana. But he was also in... a trance. As was Zero Satau."

Fhazil will help Zero, but will not force that help, to sit up, and not be in that painful kneeling position.

Zero groans. He feels like his knees are broken. He makes a note; stretch before you go into psychic battle. He tries, carefully, to stand on his sore knees; "He's alive," he murmurs, "Verg's alive..."

The two Sith grimace. "I was hoping we were wrong." Fhazil mutters.

Freyja says, "Ungh." That's about as clear as she can get just now... she feels utterly drained and exhausted. She tries to remember... "Oh... I remember. Was her. No, him, I mean... uh, in her, but not in her now." She tightens her fingers around Vakkal's, orienting on physical sensation as she closes her eyes, and murmurs, "We whacked him. He was really annoyed. Head hurts. She left. Said she was like me... or was that him..."

Zero stands, with a hand on Fhazil's shoulder, and shakes his head. "I hit him... but it didn't do any good... at least I don't think so. I hit him and then there was... a flash? Gods below, what was that?"

Roakkana takes a few deep breaths, and straightens. He rumbles a little. "Fhazil, Vakkal, would you be so kind as to -- no, actually, on second thought, sit down, the both of you, right now. Before one of you bleeds all over the place. A moment, I shall get some tea." He stands, stretches a little in a distinct pattern, then calmly ambles over to the kettle set on a table nearby.

Freyja tries to remember further back... "I tried to call for help. Oh... that must be it. Did you hear me call?" She tries sitting up, trying to use the big dog-Sith's grasp on her hand for leverage... and sags back on one elbow, "...ow..." Force of habit kicks in as she says, a touch wearily, "Who's bleeding? Who needs help?"

Zero frowns. "Horribly, I think I feel... great."

Freyja grins tiredly at Zero, "I hate you."

Zero says, "It's worrisome... I feel like I could leap the battlements. What happened back there?"

Vakkal blinks to Roakkana, then seems to remember, and winces, sitting down carefully. "Rest easy, Padawan Freyja. Don't try to stand yet. You're incredibly drained right now, why I cannot tell, but the Force flickers within you dimly. You must rest."

Fhazil's expression is a little more clearly sheepish as he sits down; indeed, the tunic of his chest has albeit a very small, slight discoloration where his wound is. "We heard you, Freyja. We tried to find Master Roakkana. But.. he was also in a trance."

Roakkana returns, seeming only a little the worse for wear. "That would have been me, Zero. Thank you. You distracted Qatto Verg long enough to let me enter the... pocket. Area. Place. Wherever we were. He would not have otherwise permitted our entry, and you breached the barrier for us." He hands the tea cup, tiny in his hands, gently to Freyja. "Here, sip it gently, it's warm."

Freyja sags back carefully, curling up slowly against the warmth of the furry dog-Sith, who vaguely reminds her of Roakkana.

Zero grins wanly. "Just like a Wookiee to crash right in wherever he goes."

Freyja accepts the cup carefully, not sure if her hands will shake. She feels like a strong gust of wind would blow her away at this point. "Thank you, Master..." She takes slow, careful sips. It tastes astonishingly wonderful... like the sunshine on her face after the fight in the spaceport where Qatto Verg was supposed to have died. She has a few more sips, then murmurs tiredly to the two Sith, "Thank you for trying to get Master Roakkana... hope I didn't yell too loud?"

Roakkana also provides teacups to Zero, Vakkal, and Fhazil, in that order, before retrieving a small teabucket for himself. He settles into a chair with a rumbling sigh. "Well, my people are generally known for not taking 'no' for an answer," he says, smiling to Zero. He seems terribly amused by the almost embarrassed Vakkal's current position, but sobers. "It seems Qatto Verg is indeed alive, and somehow riding on Methel-ssa."

Vakkal shakes his head, and Fhazil says, "No, not at all. It was enough to get our attention."

Freyja grins at the Wookiee, then smiles at the Sith... then looks at the Wookiee again, "Um... well, is he still? She was fighting him when she was there, I know that. I... couldn't leave, didn't know if I'd reached anyone, and couldn't think of anything else to do, so... ah, I kinda jumped on them both, and tried to throw all the Light I could into them. I figured it'd hurt the dead thing more than her, and maybe she could escape then? Um..." her voice gets a little small, "I... it seemed like the right thing to do at the time...? Er... well, until she left and he turned to me..."

Zero finds someplace to sit, stretching his legs out in front of him, and takes a deep breath. He sips the tea quietly, trying to will away the fading headache... part of it seems to be from whatever Roakkana did that caused that tremendous flash, and the other part seems to be the lingering pounding of blood that hounds his use of the battlemind. He's got to get better at that.

Roakkana nods quietly. "You seem to have done something, child, to make him reveal himself. It seems that in your attempt to see that morning that Jiosch came to, Qatto Verg sensed your farsight in the Force, and entrapped you."

Zero mutters irritably, "Making a lot of trouble, for a dead man."

Freyja nods, "She ask- er, he... it? -asked if I'd found what I was looking for." She sips again, sighs in quiet relief, and adds, "It touched everyone there... but it was Jiosch it moved. I think we should try awakening him and give him the option to promise too. I... would rather not see his body deteriorate due to sedation. The blackness, I mean. That morn- um, hang on." She starts over at the beginning, slowly describing her reasoning, what she saw, and what occurred. She concludes with, "And... then I woke up, and Vakkal was looking at me. So... is Methel-ssa really a... a Hkkal? -or is that Verg?""

Zero says, "A what?"

Roakkana gives a slight growl. "Dark side spirits rarely do, Zero. Some people just don't know when to let go...."

Vakkal blinks. "Hkkal? That is the name of her people, yes."

Freyja says, "Huh." She frowns thoughtfully, "That must be why she said I was like her... her family. But... how do I tell which part was her, and which was Verg?" More pragmatically she tiredly adds, "And... does it matter? And... did she successfully escape Verg?" She laughs softly -- a small, tired chuff of sound, and adds, "I guess we'll never know."

Roakkana taps his chin. "I think it does indeed matter. And that we shall know soon. In less than a week, I imagine." He frowns slightly. "It sounds as if he... most likely he, I believe... was attempting to tempt you. Er, somehow."

Freyja rolls her eyes amusedly towards the Wookiee, "Did a rotten job of it, then. Sounded way too much like those little studs playing false sympathy, when all they're really doing is laughing behind my back about 'the ugly sister,' and all they really wanted was to dance around my sister with their tails in the air." She sighs softly, and goes back to her drink. She mutters into her mug, "I hate being laughed at..."

Fhazil makes a somewhat disgusted face, while Vakkal nods soberly. "Indeed. I suspect that Qatto Verg's hatred of you prevented him from being terribly good at tempting you."

Fhazil seems to replay Freyja's words in his mind for a moment, and looks over at her quizziacally. "The... the 'ugly sister?'"

Freyja watches Fhazil with a faintly surprised expression as she murmurs to Vakkal, "Glad to hear it, really." Her expression smoothes out to emotionlessness in a flash as Fhazil looks at her, though, and her tone is careful, "Hai. What are you asking, please?"

Fhazil blinks a bit, then just emphatically shakes his head. "Sorry, it's just... hard to believe--"

The comlink on the desk chirps, and with a slightly ironic look, Roakkana reaches over to it. "Yes?"

"Master... we've just received a message from the spaceport hospital. Jedi Kuuna... she's not there anymore. She... left, somehow."

Zero grins to Vakkal, "Hard to be pleasant when you're exploding with rage all the time. Literally. Blast it. We can't be chasing this fool all over the planet... there must be some way to exorcise him. Someone... somewhere most know something."

Freyja blinks, drawing in a slow breath, then says slowly, "She knows... Methel-ssa. She must, if she threw him out... even if I did help at all."

Zero says, "Provided she's still alive... and provided she'd help us. And provided that we can trust her help."

Roakkana shakes his head once. "Something is not right here. A possessing spirit of the dark side cannot just jump from body to body at whim. There would be no end of the blighters in the universe if they could."

Freyja nods quietly... then blinks and looks at Fhazil a touch indignantly, "Look, I didn't ask to be born first, or to have a drop-dead gorgeous sister, hai? It's not that hard to believe, surely?"

She blinks again, and in her exhaustion Roakkana's words are the funniest thing she's heard in a long time -- she starts to snicker tiredly into her mug. "B-blighters... heehee!"

Fhazil blinks and raises his hands quickly. "Er, hey, that's not what I meant! I meant I found it hard to believe that you were called 'ugly,' that's all--!"

"Enough," Roakkana says a little sharply, unusual enough coming from him. "Focus! Please," he adds more gently. "Methel-ssa's apparent madness now apparently was caused by Qatto Verg... doing something with her. How does this tie in with Jedi Kuuna?

Freyja coughs and covers her mouth with her free hand, turning her face into the dog-Sith's fur to try to stifle the giggles.

Zero says, "I suppose that hinges upon her relation to Verg?"

"Possibly. But Kuuna is Twi'Lek, not any of the Imperial races, and before that battle had never had contact with Verg before."

Freyja pulls herself together with a mental yank -- ow... I must look such a dope! Hela take it -- and I snapped at Fhazil, too, and that's not what he meant... -- and then straightens, taking a deep breath as she looks back at the room. Her face is slightly flushed with embarrassment, but she sips tea, tries to look unnoticeable in Vakkal's shadow (like she often does with Roakkana) and tries to look thoughtful and attentive.

Roakkana sighs and rolls his eyes skyward. "And the contact she did have involved Qatto Verg exploding. Oh, I am getting old and feeble of mind."

Zero says, "Rrgh. Hard to come up with anything when my head's exploding. What could-- you don't think..."

Freyja blinks again, wondering if that question was addressed to her -- then realizes her Master has already remembered the point of connection between the two.

Zero says, "Would that... be enough?"

Roakkana sighs, "It may have been. I suspect that Qatto Verg has been... within... Jedi Kuuna, using her as a convenient sort of anchor. Her body in shock from that blast, perhaps that made her susceptible. WHich would give Verg the anchor he needed in the physical, waking world to begin working on Methel-ssa."

Zero makes a face. "That's revolting."

Freyja nods gravely, "Vakkal and Fhazil said it was abomination. That's why I tried breaking his connection to her -- they seemed to think it was really bad... didn't you?" She looks at them inquiringly.

Vakkal deadpans, "In summary."

Fhazil adds, "To put it mildly."

Freyja nods again, looking faintly relieved that she did indeed do the right thing. Hard to tell, in the Force, sometimes...

Roakkana nods, and stands. "Well, then. A Lord of the Oath of Fire, in the body of a Jedi Knight. I think that he would not have a pleasant end in store for Jedi Kuuna."

Freyja nods unhappily, then looks at Fhazil, "Um... would you think maybe Methel-ssa might tell us how one goes about dumping something like- oh, dear..." She looks at the Wookiee, "The city. All they'll see is a Jedi causing destruction!"

Zero winces. "This could get quite complicated, and quickly."

Freyja mutters, "Already has, I'm thinking..."

Zero says, "It can always get worse."

Freyja winces silently... then just has more tea. She sighs finally, "Well... at the very least, we should give poor Jiosch the same choice we gave everyone else. I really don't know what to do right now about Verg." Wistfully she adds, "I wish I did... I'd do something if I knew what to do."

Roakkana blinks to Freyja. "Indeed. I think we should go to the city shortly. Zero, inform PortSec of what's going on, please. Er... try to be gentle with them. Things like 'possession' are considered superstition by many. Dealing with Jiosch... we may at least decide what to do about him now, without worrying about him behind us."

Freyja nods, starting to sit up -- then winces and sags back against her backbrace, the ever-patient Vakkal, "Um... slowly, though?"

Zero nods and rises. "I'll do that now."

Freyja nods and concentrates on rising a bit more carefully, "Gimme... erg. Gimme just a moment and I'll come along..."

Roakkana nods with a ghost of a smile to Freyja. "Thank you, Zero." Shortly the cavalcade makes it's way to the infirmary, Vakkal and Fhazil assisting as requested.

Freyja is walking very carefully and slowly, and is more than happy to let other folks handle the actual handling of Jiosch. She'll stick to just talking, if possible.

Once everyone's in the infirmary again, Freyja slowly and tiredly checks Fhazil (since he was apparently the one bleeding) and makes sure the two Sith go back to bed.

Freyja murmurs with quiet embarrassment to the Human, as she's working, "Sorry I snapped at you earlier..."

Fhazil and Vakkal are naturally reluctant to so, once they learn that Jiosch is to be awakened. They settle for being wide awake and alert in bed during the whole time.

Fhazil says quietly, "It's no problem at all." He smiles a little bit. "I think I see now why you didn't want me to call you 'lady', Padawan Freyja. I'm sorry if that rankled you."

The apothecary, a little hesitantly, applies the necessary medication that counteracts the sedative, rousing Jiosch. Slowly, groggilly, the reptilian man comes to, giving a long, low moan as he squeezes his eyes shut, reaching up to grasp his head. As he opens his eyes, they slowly focus on the room around him, and he gives a bit of a sigh or grumble. "The monastery...."

Freyja looks relieved, but simply says, "Hello, Jiosch. Can you tell me the last thing you remember?"

Zero stands off to one side, hands clasped behind his back, and mostly out of sight. Just in case they've all been wrong about Verg's manipulation.

Jiosch's gaze slowly focuses on Freyja, and he grunts a little. "Y-yes. I was about to kick Fhazil Taas in the face when someone shot me."

Freyja flushes slightly, but replies steadily, "All right. Could you feel Verg inside you when that was happening?"

Jiosch blinks then, frowning. "Verg? No. What are you talking about?"

Freyja nods slowly, "All right, let's back up further. Do you know he's dead?"

From across the room, Fhazil rolls his eyes a little at the 'kick in the face' comment.

Jiosch is silent for a few long moments, his eyes closing. "I... I did not know that. How...?"

Freyja draws in her breath slowly as a sudden realization hits her... if Jiosch has been "possessed" once... could he be possessed again? She takes another breath, then says, "He... blew himself up, in an explosion of black bile. We are awakening you because we'd like you to be able to heal while not under sedation. So... I'd like to ask a favor of you, please..." She relates the same promise to Jiosch as she did to Fhazil and Vakkal, adding that the other two Sith have made the promise.

Jiosch seems to take the news of Verg blowing himself up -- somehow -- with odd interest. To the promise -- to not harm anyone while he was there, and to not try to escape -- he grimaces. "No. I cannot make such a promise. Just be glad that I told you that outright. I'm too weary to try being subtle."

Freyja nods tiredly, "All right. Thank you for being honest, at least." She nods to the apothecary and steps slowly and carefully away from the bed, still terribly weary.

Jiosch doesn't fight, only looking at the apothecary unnervingly as he's put under again. Jiosch manages to mutter, "Won't be hypocrite like the... damn... Council and... Temp...," before unconsciousness claims him.

Zero says, "It would be less cruel for me to just kill him."

Freyja sighs, looking at Zero, "Probably... but it's not our decision to make unfortunately." She looks over at Vakkal, "So... who's the Red, and its Scion?"

Zero says, "I doubt it'll matter. He won't live to see the Council."

Freyja says, "Really? Why?" She looks back at the unconscious Jiosch. She's not happy to realize she was right... the "hypocritical Jedi" to Jiosch are modern-day, not some ancient oath.

Zero says, "He'll die before he ever gets that far. It takes at least two weeks to make the hyperspace route to Coruscant. He won't last three weeks under sedation."

Vakkal looks over to Freyja, his ears flat, before he turns to Jiosch's still form. "Valsha," he says quietly. "Valsha Redcloak of Bandomeer."

Freyja shakes her head wearily, sinking down onto the edge of the bed nearest Jiosch's, careful not to jostle whomever is in it, "Zero... I don't know. I wish we had a better way. Maybe the Jedi will get here first, and they'll have a way to handle him." Bitterly she adds, "Maybe the Templars will be struck by a bolt of reason. Maybe I'll learn how to fly." She sighs, rubbing her face tiredly, then looks up at Vakkal and nods, "I knew the Scion was Valsha... but who's the Red, please?"

"I don't know. All I know was that Valsha was exceptionally strong in the Force."

Roakkana provides quietly, seeming somehow very subdued, "Some people believe that Force-awareness is inherited. This isn't entirely true, anyone can become awakened to the Force. But some bloodlines develop... affinities, links, strengths with certain aspects of the Force."

Freyja nods tiredly again, "Ah. Redcloak... poor girl." She sighs again, and wonders if the person in the bed behind her would mind if she just curled up here and fell asleep for a month or two... whose bed is this anyway? She looks around slowly.

Dhaasul is looking at Jiosch, thoughtfully and quietly, and when Freyja looks around, his eye flicks over to look at her briefly.

Freyja hms inquiringly.

Dhaasul shakes his head, looking to Jiosch. "Just... considering, Padawan Freyja. My sister, too, would not have made such a promise. But she would have been... somehow, nobler about it."

Freyja tilts her head, considering... then smiles tiredly, leaning to put a small hand on the Mandragolan's clawed one. "I didn't know her, Dhaasul... but she sounds like an honorable woman." She squeezes gently, then struggles to stifle a yawn, "Ooogh! Excuse me... I think I better go get some rest, or I'm going to fall over on you and smoosh your bandages or something..." Her voice trails off as she slowly rises and heads for the door, "Rest well, all... yell if you need anything..."

Zero yawns softly himself. "Yeah... best idea I've heard today." As they're leaving, Zero's voice carries back faintly, "So, when we're on board ship, are you going to sleep in that...?"

Freyja's reply is a bemused, "Huh...?"

Zero says, "...nevermind."

A minor chorus of good-byes trails after the Jedi, and perhaps can be heard a short interchange:

"I can't believe you worked with that creep."

"I cannot believe you're still trying suicidal feats."

"..."

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Last modified: 2002-Jul-16 16:14:54

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