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Offering Help 2/11/2022
Hadaza — 02/11/2022
By day 3, Hadaza is starting to feel the absence of her chosen family. The restlessness has set in, as has the boredom with the current layout of the training bay. To fill time, and work off pent up energies, she re-arranges the course, increasing difficulty in the optimistically belief that, when they return, Durro and Astra will be up to the challenge.
Her body, however, is not the only thing that is restless. Her mind is a dervish of thoughts about these folk and their futures. She can't help it. Studying people, knowing them, unravelling them, helps her to move forward with confidence.
She's noticed that Tesara has withdrawn. The loss of her master on board, possibly for good, is weighing on her. Jeg er sikker på at jeg ikke hjelper saken heller, she thinks as she puts the finishing touches on the room.
Turning off the music, she grabs her gear and heads off to check on @Tesara Anerin
Tesara Anerin — 02/11/2022
Tesara is in her room, sitting on her bed, meditating when Hadaza comes to the door. It is open. She has been searching the Force for Durro and Astra for three days and gotten nothing but jumbled images and static-like whispers that make her feel ill. She is trying very hard to keep her fear under control. She glances up when Hadaza enters, having heard her footsteps in the hallway. "Hello." She says quietly.
@Hadaza
Hadaza — 02/11/2022
"Lærer," she says softly.
She steps to the threshold, but not inside. Tesara's distress is clear and she will not intrude unless invited, and that has not happened yet. It may be that she desires the peace of solitude over company during this time, which Haj will honor. But she will not go another day without at least looking in on her friend and mentor.
"I could feel your distress. Is there anything?", she leaves the rest of the question open, the double meaning hanging in the air.
@Tesara Anerin
Tesara Anerin — 02/11/2022
Tesara looks embarrassed and swings her legs off to sit on the bed and motions for Hadaza to come inside. "I didn't realize I was being so loud." She says. "But I will say that I am pleased to know you felt it. That means you're paying attention." She smiles, but it's a bit sad. "You've been at the course in the cargo bay?"
@Hadaza
Hadaza — 02/11/2022
She drops her things inside the door and sits in a chair. "I have. I'm restless. Between being caught in this great metal cage simply hanging in atmo and the waiting ... it builds pressure. I don't suffer stillness, as you know. So I put it to good use."
She runs her hands over her hair, linking her fingers at the base of her skull behind her head, which she drops in dispiritedness, but only for a moment. She's not here for herself.
Looking up to meet Tesara's eyes, she says earnestly, "You have been shouldering a lot these past days, @Tesara Anerin. I want you to know that you have ... that I am ... ". For the first time she can remember, she is at a loss for words to fully express the depth of feeling that she has for the woman before her. She wants to help, yet feels helpless to offer.
Without words, she simply reaches out to Tesara, leaving it up to her teacher to decide.
Tesara Anerin — 02/11/2022
Tesara smiles, stands, and goes to Hadaza for a hug. "This might help." She says. "I've been trying to not give any power to my fears, but it is a formidable challenge."
@Hadaza
Hadaza — 02/11/2022
Haj hugs her tightly. She desperately wants to take this woman's fears just as Tesara had taken on her own not long ago.
Releasing the embrace, but holding her arms, she says to Tesara, "Not giving power to your fears is not the same as not giving them voice. You taught me that. And fears shared have less power."
She places Tesara back on the bed and sits down next to her cross-legged. "Talk to me, @Tesara Anerin. If nothing else, it helps to ease what's in your chest. Believe me, I know whereof I speak."
Tesara Anerin — 02/11/2022
Tesara settles back on the bed and sighs. "Durro always talked about the dangers of attachments. I can understand why. In theory, allowing attachments can lead to caring so much that you allow the Dark Side to take hold. But part of the reason I work so hard on NOT allowing that to happen is because I have attachments. I love my family and my friends so very much, and would lay down my life for them. The idea of not being there for them and not hearing from them now for three days is hurting me. It has been all I can do to stop myself from requesting the professor allow me to use one of his pods to head down to planet's surface to start searching for them. I know I cannot do that. I have to trust in Durro and Astra to get back to us safely, and trust in the Force that its will is being followed." She sighs. "I'm so far away from Ava and Nova and Jack, Ryan and Mishka, all of these people mean so much to me and I cannot be there for them right now. I am feeling heavier and heavier with the weight of it all." She admits.
@Hadaza
Hadaza — 02/11/2022
Haj listens silently to the confession. She can feel the love, pain, sorrow, worry, all of it, crash over her, through her. She knows these feelings well, though they taste different to her now that they are not her own.
"There are two of us now to carry that burden, if you will allow me the honor."
She uncurls slowly and sits closer to Tesara, holding silence, allowing the space to be a safe place for @Tesara Anerin to continue to unburden herself, should she choose.
Tesara Anerin — 02/11/2022
Tesara leans her head on Hadaza's shoulders. "When Durro came to me he said many things that I never thought he would. His trust in me was something that made me feel as if a gift had been given to me. I try hard not to let things get to me but this is." She stays there for a while in silence, just glad of someone else to be in physical contact with. She is aware Hadaza doesn't sit for very long without needing to move, but she gives it about two full minutes before she pulls away and wipes her face. "Thank you, Haj."
@Hadaza
Hadaza — 02/11/2022
Against her nature, Haj remains soft and still as Tesara pulls away, with one exception. She moves her hand to stay in contact with the young blonde who is currently carrying more than her share of other people's years. "I won't ask you what he said. That's none of mine. But he is, as as you are.", she says quietly.
Tesara can see Haj's mind at work before she says, " 'Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration'. Not so little, it seems, when one knows nothing else. Time stops and hope departs. Obliteration."
She squeezes Tesara's leg and rises from the bed. "The best way to counter obliteration is with life. C'mon. Let's go."
@Tesara Anerin
Tesara Anerin — 02/11/2022
Tesara wipes her face again, wondering where Hadaza came up with that quote. "I need to put shoes on!" She protests, digging in the trunk for them. As soon as they are on, she looks at Haj. "Where are we going?"
@Hadaza
Hadaza — 02/11/2022
Feeling Tesara's limp form against her own reminds her that her teacher has more under those clothes than she lets on. The training has helped to define the muscle, but not the warrior.
It also reminds her that Tesara's greatest strength is not in her muscles, but in her heart. She watches as the former Jedi flails about in the trunk, all but engulfed by it's contents. Its discomposing to see her own saviour seem so lost. She doesn't have Tesara's steady bearing or solid heart. But, then, neither did Tesara right now. She wanted to help Tesara find her way back to that place. She only knew of one way. She hoped it was the right one.
"Exploring", she says simply.
@Tesara Anerin
Tesara Anerin — 02/11/2022
"Ahh." She puts her hair up and takes a long, deep, calming breath. "Maybe we'll find another droid or a long lost manuscript he started and never finished?" She smiles. It is obvious she is already feeling better having had a few calm, peaceful moments to speak her fears out loud.
@Hadaza
Hadaza — 02/11/2022
They step into the hallway. Hadaza takes a quick look to make sure that their adventures aren't going to be impeded by anyone, or anything, that might look unfavorably on their excursion.
"We've been to the library. And while there are fascinating things to uncover in there," she says, thinking about Durro's discovery of the romance novel, "it seems a little to subdued for what I have in mind. Med bay is boring and unnecessary. Ob deck is out. And, strangely, I don't feel like taking you to the training course."
She points back at Tesara's room. "We could always just 'stay in', but I think that would be awkward for both of us," she says as she winks at Tesara.
"So, that leaves tech - blech - or the lab. Hey, didn't Durro bring those Swarm carapaces on board? Let's go get up close and personal with we're up against once the whole team is back together." And she takes off down the hallway, the injury she received earlier finally healed enough to take the lead.
@Tesara Anerin
Tesara Anerin — 02/11/2022
(((I don't think the carapaces are on board, but we could try finding Handyman to see what he is working on (those tube things) )))
Tesara chases after her. "We could try finding Handyman to see what he is doing?" She calls out
Hadaza — 02/11/2022
(((ooops, yer right)))
Haj turns around and jogs backwards so that she can carry on her conversation with Tesara "That judgmental metal drittsekk hates me, if such a thing were possible. Still, if he can point us in the right direction, it would be worth the bother."
She stops running and calls out over the commlink, "Handyman, location."
@Tesara Anerin @TheTraveler
Tesara Anerin — 02/11/2022
"He's a droid, he can't hate. He has no emotions to his words whatsoever. And zero filter because of it." She says, waiting for Handyman to answer.
@Hadaza
Hadaza — 02/11/2022
"Hmmpf!" is the only reply that Tesara gets. She knows that Hadaza has few filters herself, but unlike Handyman Haj has plenty of emotions ... and this one is dismissal of Tesara's assessment of the droid.
While waiting for the metal menace to reply, Hadaza takes a moment to stretch and to continue her conversation with Tesara. "You've mentioned a name, now, a couple of times - Jack. Who is he? Another member of the crew? I thought I had met everyone."
@Tesara Anerin
Tesara Anerin — 02/11/2022
Tesara's face softens at his name. "Jack. Colonel Pacey, to be formal." She says, looking past Hadaza but not truly looking. It is obvious she is recalling him in her mind. "He's on Ava's executive team. I met him at one of her meetings. He's handsome in his own way. He's kind of gruff and a bit oblivious at times, but..." She sighs. "I fell in love with him despite that. He has saved my life several times now. And oddly every time he did, he grabbed my butt." She laughs, and Hadaza can see the amusement there. "I'd give anything to have him grab my butt right now and distract me from the fact that Astra and Durro are not back and being inside this ship is making me crazy. UGH...I need sunshine and a river." She sighs
@Hadaza
Hadaza — 02/11/2022
Hadaza grins impishly, leans over, and grabs @Tesara Anerin's butt ... then waits unrepentantly for the ensuing slap.
Tesara Anerin — 02/11/2022
Tesara jumps and laughs. “Thanks for the reminder.” She glances around. “You should try that on the Professor.” She says.
@Hadaza
Hadaza — 02/11/2022
Haj flusters and blusters and blushes up to the roots of her braids. "I beg your pardon! What makes you think I was thinking about anyone but you right in this moment?" She waggles her eyebrows in a mock suggestive parody.
"So this Commander of yours ... how long since you last saw him?"
She stays on this train of thought because it brings a smile to Tesara's face and allows her to talk about seeing him again, energy she wants to make sure that Tesara holds not only for herself, but also for Astra and Durro.
@Tesara Anerin
Tesara Anerin — 02/11/2022
Tesara smiles at the deflection. “Colonel Pacey.” She says. “ it’s been about six months since I’ve seen him I think. Ava told me she had rescued him and that he was alive. So if we can defeat the swarm, I can go back to Baklid and see him.”
TheTraveler — 02/11/2022
Handyman walks in, "I am sorry, was I summoned?
@Hadaza @Tesara Anerin
Hadaza — 02/11/2022
"Why do you have to wait until the Swarm are defeated to see him again?", she says curiously. "I saw the Governor in one of the meetings that was held to discuss the Swarm. If Jack yours wants to be with you, why does she not send him here to fight by your side? It could do nothing but encourage you both to fight harder, give you both hope for the future?"
Haj's question, for all of it's bluntness, is delivered with a gentle hand. She, like Tesara, is feeling the absence of those missing. But the hope of their return holds her while Tesara's seems more distant. She wants to bring it closer, make it more real and immediate.
@Tesara Anerin
Hadaza responds, "Finally! Handyman, location."
@TheTraveler
Tesara Anerin — 02/11/2022
Tesara begins to speak to answer Haj’s question but Handyman interrupts.
TheTraveler — 02/11/2022
He tilts his head, "we are in a hallway on the main deck."
Tesara Anerin — 02/11/2022
“Ah, he must be just around the corner.” Tesara points and begins walking.
Hadaza — 02/11/2022
Hadaza follows, a bit disconcerted that Handyman's answer includes the word "we", but keeps her silence. An adventure, after all, is what they were after.
TheTraveler — 02/11/2022
Handyman waves from down the hall, "hello organics..I am right here."
Tesara Anerin — 02/11/2022
“Handyman.” Tesara greets him. “It’s nice to see you. What have you been up to while we’ve been in hyperspace and in orbit above the planet?”
TheTraveler — 02/11/2022
Tilting his head once more, "I have been answering your summons," and on that note, he turned to Hadaza. "Can I help you?"
Hadaza — 02/11/2022
Haj bristles at his use of "organics". She feels distinctly as though the droid were judging them somehow for not being solely logical creatures, even though she knows that impossible. Given her state of mind, she waits for Tesara to answer the damnable droid
@Tesara Anerin
Tesara Anerin — 02/11/2022
Tesara looks at him, waiting on his answer. Was it possible that because Haj summoned him, he wouldn’t answer her?
@TheTraveler
TheTraveler — 02/11/2022
Handyman stood there looking at Hadaza clearly waiting for the answer to his question he asked of her
@Hadaza
Hadaza — 02/11/2022
Refusing to be put out by an in animate object, Haj takes a breath before responding calmly, "Handyman, you said 'we we are in a hallway'. Who is "we" and what were you doing before you were summoned?"
She looks at Tesara with a pointed glance, as if to say, "you see, this damnable can was programmed to frustrate me"
@Tesara Anerin @TheTraveler
Tesara Anerin — 02/11/2022
Tesara is also a little baffled, but droids are still a new thing to her. She just shakes her head at Hadaza in confusion.
TheTraveler — 02/11/2022
He tilted his head sideways as Hadaza spoke but remained silence until her complete statements were completed. "We, Definition: I and the rest of a group that includes me : you and I : you and I and another or others : I and another or others not including you —used as pronoun of the first person plural"
Then then turned to Tesara, "Prior to being summoned and to answer your questsion. I was investigation an issue with the central Navigation Computer. There appeared to be a slight Disturbances in the transfered conditioning. The issue was resolved with the discovery of a Rattus related genera was discovered and dealt with."
@Hadaza @Tesara Anerin
Tesara Anerin — 02/11/2022
“Oh. All right then. I’m glad you know what that was as I certainly don’t!” She actually giggled a little.
@Hadaza @TheTraveler
Hadaza — 02/11/2022
Haj rolls her eyes at the pedantic droid and wishes that she could punt the irritation from the ship. The ramifications of that, however, would prove detrimental, and she holds further comments that would be lost on the metal menace, or, worse, irritate her further.
She looks to her teacher to ask the question of the droid that, were she do to it, would most certainly return some less than helpful answer.
@Tesara Anerin @TheTraveler
Tesara Anerin — 02/11/2022
This are clears her throat. “What else have you been doing Handyman?”
TheTraveler — 02/11/2022
Handyman nodded his head, "I could explain how I have been working on the Professors' Heisenberg Stabilizing Grid with a Bi-Spatial Bearing. Though I and starting to suspect that you are seeking specific information regarding a particular task that I have been assigned."
He turned back to Hadaz, "unless you would like more information on the rat I caught in the transit conduits for the Nav-Computer."
@Hadaza @Tesara Anerin
Hadaza — 02/11/2022
Hadaza leans close to Tesara and whispers, "I hate this thing. Think we can convince Kenobi to reprogram him as a kitchen gadget?"
She turns and says nastily to the droid before her, "Thank you, I would prefer more on the tubes that were brought on board by Durro Thel-Tanis and anything you may have learned about them or what the plans are for them."
She thinks for a second. "That is", she says, "unless you have, or can find out, more information on a certain Colonel Jack Pacey and his current status."
The gesture is well meant and honest, a way to try and give hope to her friend and teacher that she will one day reunite with her Beloved.
@Tesara Anerin @TheTraveler
Tesara Anerin — 02/11/2022
Tesara gasps a little at the bold request but she can’t help but feel a rush of hope. She looks anxiously at the droid.
TheTraveler — 02/11/2022
He gazed at Hadaza with a blank expression, "The Professor is aware that my talents would be wasted as a Kitchen Gadget"
He paused a moment, "Colonel Jack Pacey is a Level Four Licensed Private Contractor for SunCo. He has carried a numerous missions for the Republic including the rescue of hostages on Gla'ia III and counter assassination in the Zalem Sector. His current whereabouts are unknown at this time. However his employment recorders as of last year reflected his continued employment at SunCo."
"Sadly, I know far less about the items that Durro has brought to me to analyze. However I have learned that one cannot use plasma torches or Rizan coated cutting wheels on them."
@Hadaza @Tesara Anerin
TheTraveler — 02/11/2022
(OOC: I rolled a nat 20 on his INT Check for Pacey lol)
Tesara Anerin — 02/11/2022
((Nice!))
Hadaza — 02/11/2022
Hadaza leans in again and whispers nastily , "There's no way you can convince me that his programming hasn't been tweaked to be self aware."
Louder, she replies, "Thank you Handyman."
Once again to Tesara, she says gently, putting a hand on her arm, "I'm sorry there wasn't more to learn about Jack. If you can't think of anything for him, we should dismiss him. I'm sure that he has other duties."
@Tesara Anerin
Tesara Anerin — 02/11/2022
“Can we see the tubes?” She asks, doing her best to put her disappointment about no new information about Jack. “We are force sensitive and we might be able to make something happen with them.”
@TheTraveler
TheTraveler — 02/11/2022
He nodded, " they are in my shop. But I must warn you, they are extremely dangerous." He motions both females to follow him, "this way please."
As he leads them both down the hall, "actually this is perfect, I meant to run a few tests and will require a sample and control for one of my tests."
@Tesara Anerin @Hadaza
Hadaza — 02/12/2022
Hadaza looks over at @Tesara Anerin warily. Er hun klar for dette?, she thinks. Er jeg det?
She waits for Tesara to answer, trusting her lærer's judgement to know both herself and their abilities more than her own.
@TheTraveler
Tesara Anerin — 02/12/2022
“Let’s see how it goes and what it is you’re truly proposing before we agree.” She said, nodding at Hadaza.
@TheTraveler
@Hadaza
Hadaza — 02/12/2022
Hadaza's curiosity is piqued by the prospect and it does what she set out to do, which was help to give Tesara something else to focus on besides her Master and Astra's absence.
"Let's go.", she says smiling @Tesara Anerin
@TheTraveler
Tesara Anerin — 02/12/2022
Tesara follows him but stays back a pace or two to keep in step with Haj. “I’m not so sure about being a Guinea pig.” She whispers so Handyman won’t hear her.
@Hadaza @TheTraveler
Hadaza — 02/12/2022
"Yeah, I get that." She says jerking her thumb at Handyman, "But his bar for what constitutes '~extremely dangerous~' has got to be pretty low for us 'organics'. I wouldn't worry. Besides, think of what we could learn that might help in the long run. Earn our keep, so to speak."
@TheTraveler @Tesara Anerin
Tesara Anerin — 02/12/2022
Tesara nods. “I have often felt guilty about the amount of money the Professor is spending on this trip. However, I would prefer to not suddenly grow long ears and speak in riddles if I can avoid it.”
Hadaza — 02/12/2022
"Grow long ears and ... what now? Hadaza is caught flatfooted by Tesara's flippant reply. She watches, dumbfounded, as Tesara keeps following Handyman. She can't quite wrap her brain around why she would have said such a thing
"Why do you think we would grow long ears or speak in ... Tesara?". She jogs up the hall after them and quickly finds her pace beside the blonde.
"I hear you about the cost. I'm trying to live lightly on the resources, though I do owe him some remuneration for the brandy", she finishes sheepishly. "I believe he would be out here anyways, regardless of us. And it would take an army to diminish the resources that man must have available to him. I feel bad, but not so bad as to take what he says about the cost tooo seriously."
@Tesara Anerin @TheTraveler
Tesara Anerin — 02/12/2022
“Oh it’s something my Aunt used to say.” Tesara smiles. “And I know you’re right. Still, it’s something to remember. Without his generosity, we wouldn’t be here.”
@Hadaza
Hadaza — 02/12/2022
A derisive snort starts to form in Hadaza's throat. She stops it with a breath. "You're absolutely right and its unfair of me to say that. Which reminds me. I owe him something."
She looks suspiciously at Handyman as they are walking. She won't utter within his earshot anything she doesn't want getting discussed during any level of Q&A. Tesara doesn't think it has emotions, but Hadaza isn't convinced. Its made one too many comments for the possibility to be dismissed.
"Well maybe we can make up for some of it now." She says as she links arms and walks into Handyman's lab.
@TheTraveler @Tesara Anerin
Tesara Anerin — 02/12/2022
(((Mike just gave us the storyboard ending of this, Handyman shows us the tubes and asks Hadaza to give some of her life force and quips that he wants to see how long it will take to finish the life force and Tesara is like HELL NO! and that is all.)))
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