The Girl, the Frog, and the Droid. [TSF]

[Wit]

She could feel the droid glaring at her, even with her face firmly turned the other way and staring out the viewport into the hypnotizing vista of hyperspace. He found his face very unsettling when he glared, not that his face looked any different when he wasn't, and all he seemed to do around her was glare. What else did she expect from a so called loyal servant of the family, he hated Jedi almost as much as the people he had served for years, and now he was hers.

I told you to stop that, no more glaring.

The droid titled his head to look at her with clearly evident contempt on its face. Again, she had no idea how he did that with a face that was basically a solid piece of metal. As Mistress must know, I am incapable of glaring. Are your eyes not operating at optimal efficiency? I can list a number of procedures that can fix that. A lobotomy perhaps?

Vin just huffed and turned away once again, just as the consoles in front of them lit up again, indicating the ship's imminent exit from hyperspace and arrival at the Champala system. Vin's eyes lit up as the planet appeared before them, her irritation with KR3CH forgotten. She had spent her entire life on Onderon, and most of that in a small hut in the middle of nowhere. And now within the course of two days she had visited two planets. That thought sobered her up, because the only reason she was here was because she had failed on Jedha. The Order had turned her away, making her make the trip to Champala in search of her Master's teacher.

From the little she had managed to learn about the planet, Champala was as full of seas as Onderon was with forests. It was a beautiful world, a pristine blue marble floating in front of them. But as they approached the planet and began their descent Vin realized that it wasn't as pristine as it seemed. Landing on the outskirts of a city in ruins, Vin was shocked to see the level of destruction. She had heard about the war, but only now did she understand what it really meant. This is the war?

The droid turned to her to speak, but she was in no mood and held up a hand to forestall him. He might hate her, but he was compelled to obey her. Taking in a deep breath, she set off towards the ruined city, in search of a man she had never met. All she had was a name, there hadn't been time for more. But she was a Jedi, a name should be enough for her.

 

[Malon]

The state of Champala dismayed the tiny Jedi. Decades had passed since the invasion and the subsequent battle to free it, but the Chagrain were still picking up the pieces of their wounded planet. Their pain and suffering echoed through the Force and Wyck was unable to continue his hunt for the lost lore of the Jedi Order. This world demanded healing and so, though small and seemingly insignificant, Wyck came to its aid.

Size matters not, the little Jedi reminded himself as he rose for another day's work.

A century and two decades of life had put a limp in Wyck's step. He still did not need a cane—his species could live for centuries and he was nowhere near elderly. Still, age had its drawbacks. But there were also perks. The people of Champala were wary of Jedi, as was most of the galaxy these days. The Great Jedi Civil War, they were calling it, had caused billions of innocents lives and worlds like Champala had sustained structural damage as well. But Wyck's age and wisdom had afforded him some degree of respect, especially combined with his willingness to help.

The tiny hut that he had fashioned for himself for the duration of his stay sat on the outside of one of Champala's most affected cities. Despite the destruction he saw when he walked through the curtain he was using for a front door, the air still smelled fresh and the Force was strong. "Another day with little rest, hm. For the Jedi, never finished is the work."

Moving slowly, the tiny Jedi Knight set out towards the city wondering what adventures the Force might bring to him today.

@Wit

 

[Wit]

Vin's mood was become progressively more sombre as she walked through the ruins of what seemed like a once beautiful city. She didn't know how much time had passed since the war hit Champala, but it seemed like enough time had passed to allow people to get used to what was left behind. People walked with a familiarity that only came with time, with having seen the same ruins so many times that it didn't hurt to see it everyday.

But the children, the children seemed to have recovered where the parents had failed. They ran around freely among the ruins, playing their games just as they would if the city had been left untouched by war. That brought a smile to her face. She could sense the fear and resentment from the adults, but the children were just happy to play their games and the ruins were just a new playground. Maybe if there was hope for the future after all.

She was pulled out of her thoughts by the droid suddenly mumbling next to her. Filthy little Jedi, always complaining.

Hey, she retorted immediately as she turned to look up at him, Didn't I tell you to drop the insults?

The droid looked at her with what could only be disgusted pity, Mistress told me not to insult her, I believe she said nothing about others.

She was about to ask him what he meant when she sensed it, the presence of another Jedi. Everything else forgotten, she turned around to run her gaze through the people around her, running off in the direction of the Jedi. Coming to a skidding stop before a diminutive green figure, she let out a bark of a laugh. She'd actually done it. I finally found you! Fey didn't make it easy, giving me nothing more than a name. Do you have any idea how many different things Wyck means on Jedha? It took me..... She was brought up short as she finally got a good look at the elder Jedi, this being her first time meeting one of his race. What are you?! The words came blurting out before she could stop herself, and she was left staring in horror at the man she had come to for help.

@Malon

 

[Malon]

Wyck had just reached the ruined city when the young Jedi girl bumped into him. Like she had, the tiny Jedi had sensed her presence before he saw her. And, like her, he was surprised—but for different reasons. The Jedi Council (what was left of it) had permitted no Jedi to go to Champala to heal what the war had left behind. Wyck had taken it entirely upon himself. To see another Jedi... and one looking for him? A light smile touched his aged lips. "What am I?" he said with a chuckle. "A Jedi, I am. As are you, I think."

He sized her up. The girl was indeed a Jedi, strong in the Force; and there was a familiarity about her that he couldn't quite place. How quickly age affects the old, he thought with a hint of humorous bitterness. Familiar she looks, yet know where I've seen her before, I do not. But then the girl's own words came rushing back to him and another playful chuckle escaped his lips—his ears wriggled in delight.

"Master Fey, say you? Bo-dan Fey? A long time has it been since I've heard that name. Hm, yes. How fairs Master Fey? And why a young one, such as yourself, does he send to me?"

@Wit

 

[Wit]

Vin, having never encountered another Jedi before, much less one such as Wyck, was left dumbfounded by his words. Less his words and more the manner in which he spoke. She didn't realize it but she was staring at Wyck with the childlike wonder of one who has been presented a new toy. So odd was his manner of speaking that she was still processing what he had said after he was done. Thankfully KR3CH interjected to give her a precious moment to catch up.

Forgive me mistress, I seem to have too harsh on you. You're the picture of sanity compared to this one. If all Jedi are so afflicted then you should seek treatment before you end up like him. A lobotomy would should help here as well. I'm sure I could perform the procedure, should you give the command.

Vin just looked up to stare at his face, sensing once more optimism in the words he spoke. Shaking her head, wondering who was weirder, the little green Jedi or the oversized black droidm she performed a small bow towards the older Jedi.

Forgive my droid Master, he's...he's difficult. I am Master Fey's Palawan, Vin Pavan. She noticed the droid flinch when she said her name, he was still repulsed by the fact that a Jedi carried the family name. He sent me to ask for help. There's this..there's this forest. He won't tell me much about it but there's a darkness in it, and it's spreading. We can't stop it alone, so he sent me to ask for help before it's too late.

It's most probably already too late. The droid cocked his head in an inquisitive manner when Vin's head practically snapped around to glare at him. His only reaction to her glare was a simple shrug, or something close enough to a shrug. Given his condition when we left his odds of survival were one thousand, five hundred and twenty three to one. Bo-dan Fey is most probably dead....good riddance.

@Malon @Rom

 

[Rom]

In Drell Zir's experience, medi-centers tended to be the same no matter where you went in the Core and Inner Rim; the whirring hum of machinery, the sharp tang of disinfectant that permeated every room and corridor, and the controlled frantic bustling of doctors, nurses, and medical droids carrying out the immense task of healing the hurts and illnesses of their patients. It was an assault on the senses, a balm to weary souls... and then the sound of bitter tears being shed behind bed curtains or half shut room doors would remind the listener that not all who came to these places of healing would leave. In that respect, Champala was no different from the rest of the dozen or more medi-centers the sightless horned Knight had found himself in. But in other ways, it was so much worse.

The hum of machinery was accompanied by the sound of wind whistling through broken panels and crumbling masonry. The scent of disinfectant was tainted by the dust of rubble swept in by plodding feet. The flow of foot traffic through the halls continued to accelerate as the staff was stretched thin by the number of patients and the rationing of supplies. This gutted ruin of a city was not home to the worst medi-center Drell Zir Darakh had ever visited - a less than auspicious title belonging to half a dilapidated building on some nameless moon in the Outer Rim - but it was further up the list than the Zabrak had expected.

Wiping his right hand over the ridge of his brow, the rag clenched between the tridactyl digits of his prosthetic serving only to move the sweat from one side of his forehead to the other, Drell Zir peeled himself out of the press of people and knelt down beside a bench with a friendly smile on his face. The frightened gasp and surge of anxiety and fear he could feel in the Force off to his right did it's best to pull the smile from his lips, but a tentative spark of wonderous curiosity rising above the tempest of pain and exhaustion boiling before him kept his spirit buoyed.

"Hello young one; my name is Drell Zir Darakh, but you may call me Zir if you like. The healers are running a little bit behind this morning and asked me to stop by and see if I could help you. What's your name? Can you tell me what happened?"

" My name is Maz, mister Zir... I *sniffle* was playing with my friends and a piece of wall fell on my leg." The Chagrian child spoke haltingly through his tears, the repeated shifting of cloth followed by pained whimpers illustrating that the youngling could not stop his nervous fidgeting despite the pain it caused.

"Oh, you poor thing! I'm sorry that your playtime was interrupted, Maz. I promise I'll have you up and running about causing your mother headaches again in no time." He winked and smiled knowingly at the source of anxiety hovering on his side, though the effect was mostly ruined by the strip of cloth wrapping around his head to cover his eyes and scar. Reaching out with his senses, Drell Zir hmm'd and aah'd with an exaggerated voice as the darkness he had grown used to brightened and the shapes of his patient and the hall furniture took shape before his eyes. Maz was luminous in the Force, as was his mother and the doctor and patient in the room on the other side of the wall. A small knot of dimmer light twinkled below the Chagrian boy's knee, the flow impeded by his injury. Gently resting his hand over the spot, the Zabrak Jedi pulled on his connection to the Force and added it to the boy's own essence, a soothing wave of power warmthhealingcomfort washing over the dim area until it slowly began to shine with the same intensity as the rest of him.

"Wo- mama! He fixed my leg! It doesn't hurt anymore!" Maz's joy was a rush of cool wind in the Force, the tension and fear in his mother driven away by her son's happiness and replaced with cautious acceptance and gratitude. "Are you a Jedi, mister Zir?"

Drell Zir hesitated for only an instant, the hope and wonder of his young patient driving away his usual caution on worlds that had been ravaged by the war. A content smile twisting his lips, the blind Zabrak pushed himself to his feet and executed a perfect diplomats bow, his prosthetic held over his first heart "Yes Maz... I am a Jedi. Now I have a few other patients to look after so I have to go but, before I do, I'd like your word that you'll be more careful when playing with your friends and you won't worry your mother like this again. Do you promise? A vow given to a Jedi is very important, young one; you cant break it."

Maz's promises were fervent and rapid, the words nearly incomprehensible, but the Force around him nearly sang with determination. Bidding the pair farewell, he turned to begin his trek down the corridor when a softly whispered, "May the Force be with you, Master Jedi," reached his ears. Smiling gently, Drell Zir Darakh stepped into the press of bodies and continued his journey through a world of luminous beings and hazy outlines.

It was much nicer, he decided, helping people leave medi-centers rather than putting them into one.

@Malon @Wit

 

[Malon]

Wyck paid the droid no mind. Mechanical beings, they were often victims of their own programming—or lack thereof; and, anyways, he didn't blame the thing for hating Jedi. Half the galaxy seemed to these days. Yet, that never deterred Wyck. He was singular in his mind and ambition: to heal a broken galaxy, to restore the lost secrets of the Jedi, and rebuild the Jedi Order to what it once was when he was a young Padawan learner. The first steps of which, the tiny Jedi thought, these may be.

"Hmmm," hummed Wyck, stroking his aging chin with taloned fingers. "Troubling is this news of Master Fey. Yes, deeply troubling. Saddened, I am, to hear his condition is unwell. Yet, if sent you to me Bo-dan Fey did, very serious must his request be." He sighed, big black eyes filling with sorrow. Bo-dan Fey was a good lad as a youngling. It saddened the old Jedi to hear that his student might be on his death bed. But it also motivated him to hear Fey's apprentice out. For that, he managed a smile. "Come, come. A medical center, nearby, there is, hmm. There, talk more about this forest of Master Fey's, we will. And see if I can help you, we can."

Then, with little steps that might have made him look froglike, the little Jedi began to make his way towards the center in question.

@Wit

 

[Wit]

Vin followed patiently in the diminutive Jedi's wake, glad to have the opportunity to look around and take in more of the city around her. Her entire life had been spent surrounded by trees, so a city, even one in ruins, was a very new experience for her.

As they reached the medical center, Vin considered asking KR3CH to wait outside, allowing her to speak with Wyck without his content interruptions. But she had no doubt he would end up getting himself into some other trouble if left to his own measures, and decided it was better to take him along. But as they entered the medical center he almost made her reconsider her decision. A medical center would indeed be the best place to conduct a lobotomy. I must insist on sanitized equipment, it would be more healthy.

Ignoring the droid, she turned to face Wyck and suddenly something triggered her memory. I met someone on Jedha, I think he knew you. Fennex. Hairy fellow, terrifying as hell. Are all Jedi like him? He was more fierce than what I expected.

@Malon @Rom