Road to Recovery

[FallenKeeper]

Quils sat alone in one of the temple's training room's. The padawan's emerald eyes gazed intently on the lightsaber resting inches from his feet. Light glared along the side of the weapon's silvery hilt and reflected back onto his face. Some time had passed since he had last held it and though the saber was his it seemed alien to him. Ever since he had been returned to the order everything seemed that way. He had been kept drugged and separated from the Force for some time. When he had finally regained himself it seemed as if the entire universe whispered to him at once. Dreams seem to hold meaning and emotions seemed to hit him from those around.

He had been training to be a Jedi prior to his abduction and now that he was returned and rehabilitated it was time to resume. Today he would rejoin his Master, Haloburner Lamb, after spending weeks gathering himself, conditioning and catching up on current events. Quils was indeed a bit nervous and despite losing the addictions he still found his mind weakly coaxing him. He hoped that one day the thoughts would wane to nothing.

 

[Padmé]

When news finally reached Jedi Knight Haloburner Lamb concerning her former Padawan- Quils Kugen, her heart sang. In addition, her constant fear and dread about perhaps a bad news concerning is disappearance was quickly resolved. For once, in a long time, Lamb also renewed the hidden she had, knowing that Quils Kugen's safe return would perhaps cause Jedi Knight James Tag'ap-alag to also reemerge. Unless, in his case he was really dead.

Though Zebitrope IV Jedi Knight Haloburner Lamb remained very much involved with training new Padawan son Tython. She had to, as that was one of the many avenues Lamb saw herself giving back to the New Jedi Order. Training also served as an avenue for her new son, Speravi, to acquire much needed interpersonal skills. With two of Lamb's Padawans (Dimash and Novan) knighted, the female Knight now can afford the time to really focus on Kugen.


With a quick flick of her dominant hand, the female Knight would summon her new Padawan. While Lamb would rather focus her time on the orphanage at Zebitrope IV she also realizes the need to properly train new initiates, as war was at hand….

"Meet me in the lobby,
-Halo"
Message now sent, Haloburner, along with her son Speravi will exit the chamber to meet Padawan Quills Kugen.

“Come along Speravi, we must not keep him waiting,”
Lamb uttered to her son.

Lamb Hand in hand the pair took the long way to the Tythonian temple. Per usual the temple beamed with life. Padawans going to and from training rooms, and others sparing along the gazebo area. Haloburner was adorned in a simple Jedi robe with the tool do the trade dangling on her hip. Her son had on a simple youngling robe, and his favorite kiddie cruiser. Moments later, Lamb and Speravi found Quills perched on a nearby by bench. His demeanor spoke of one ready to train.

“Quills Kugen.”
The female Knight called out, shortly upon closing in on him- while yet maintaining a healthy distance.

“Pleasure to see your safe return. You know, I was terribly worried about you, but figured you'll return if and when you wanted to. Clearly my thoughts were spot on-”
She added while turning a knowing look on him and then back to her son.

“My name is Speravi. It means hope, in case you’re wondering. Nice to finally meet you. Mom told me all about you-”
Uttered Speravi, with a broad smile while releasing his grip from Lamb’s hands.

“We will be training in room D-15. Shall we?”
Lamb finally concluded while pointing the way to the training room.

 

[FallenKeeper]

Quils stood up slowly, leaning oddly as he picked up his lightsaber, and turned to face his master. The once brilliant gleam of his emerald eyes had waned slightly, jaded by recent events. With a nod he smiled at the Jedi and then to the youngling. "I'm Quils," he replied as he shifted his weight back and balanced on his heels. Twinges of emotion echoed in his mind. There was happiness... Or was it relief? The Hapan was uncertain. Instead he ignored it and turned his focus on his master.

"D15, got it." Quils clipped his lightsaber to a brown woven belt on his hip. Against his plain white slacks the weapon was a sore thumb. "I wish I knew what had happenex exactly," he said, addressing the matter of his absence, "I think back and all I see is a blur. Almost as if I never existed in that time."

 

[Padmé]

At the sight of Kugen's weapon of the trade, Lamb sighed a sigh of relief. The mere fact that Quils Kugen had his original lightsaber and appeared to be ready to engage confirmed one more thing in Lamb's mind.

"Nice to finally meet you. You do look like a model. Mom told me."
Came Lamb's seven year old boy's response.

"Come along son, you'll have plenty of opportunity to talk to Padawan Kugen, just not this second."
Lamb's soft voice and eyes turned to Speravi.

Seconds later, the pair turned to head to said training chamber. Haloburner could read Quils' apprehensive emotions. The blur, the relief, the uncertainty, all of it written on the man's face like a panoramic holoscreen.

"You'll figure it out. One day at a time. I'm just glad you're back, and safe. We'll pick up from where we left off before you-"
A sudden pause stopped Halo from speaking, wondering if she was being too insensitive.

"Before we do, you have the choice of sharing anything you feel led to. Do know that I will keep anything you share in uttermost confidentiality. My son won't be present, just so you know."

 

[FallenKeeper]

Quils' smile broadened as the boy inadvertently fueled his vanity. A bit of his old self rose from the depths and he posed regally. "Glad to know I make a lasting impression," he started as he began walking with the two. The small journey made him think back on his first session with the knight. They had covered abilities he, at the time, did not know and also lightsaber techniques. The memories had made it easier for him to reconnect with his training and his life before the blur.

When Halo stopped and approached Quils with the topic of his absence, he smiled. "When I remember things I'll talk about them," he said softly, "I was kept drugged so much is a haze. Apparently I was being used as a living statue. Considering everything I've read in the archives, it could have been worse."

Truly he would have divulged what he could but for the time that chapter of his life was as good as unwritten. Instead of dwelling he turned his mind towards training. "I would like to work on my force abilities first, namely my empathy. I am worried that I've lost what I had started to foster."

Quils hefted his hilt in his left hand and thoughtlessly rotated it in his palm with the Force while he awaited response.