You've Got A Friend In Ni

[Jaden_Starchaser]

Jaden's brows furrowed as he was in thought. He remembered Master Pru Hul discussing Henoch in passing once. Something about being an advocate for lost causes. Jaden noticed the forced smile on Ni's face and offered his own apologetic look. "I'm sorry for asking you to relive that," he said to her. However he knew there was more to the story. Why she saw Henoch instead of the convicted man. "Your master," he began, "was Henoch right? On Alderaan?"

[Gar]

Ni looked away, unable to hide her troubled expression. "Yes..." She answered quietly, "Part of the reason why I left the order was because of what happened to him...The memory I experienced was finding Master Henoch on some outer rim planet, tied to the stone wall of a dusty town..." She blinked away the tears and cleared her throat. "How do you know about him, Martyr Boy?"

[Jaden_Starchaser]

"It was a few years ago when I still was padawan to Mas..." The word died on his tongue as he reminded himself of the actions the traitorous man had committed. "To Pru Hul," he spat the name out with just a hint of venom. He continued, "I overheard him and Master Dooku conversing about him and that Pru Hul believed he was making a mistake. I couldn't hear exactly what this mistake was, but Dooku told him that it is Henoch's to make."

[Gar]

Ni's face fell. "A mistake..." She said sadly, tears welling up in her eyes again. She pressed her hand firmly over her face and sat in silence a moment. Then she wiped away the wetness on her face and cleared her throat. "Well, Martyr boy, this is no fun at all!" She laughed hoarsely, a smile returning to her face, "I'm really sorry you had to see that."

[Jaden_Starchaser]

Jaden saw it all and despite her earlier warning took her into a gentle embrace. "Don't take stock in the thoughts of old men set in their ways," he said soothingly. "It's bad enough Zeltron get a bad rap across the galaxy, but that doesn't mean they don't deserve respect and the chance to prove themselves. I don't think Henoch made a mistake when he took you as his padawan. I don't think you're worthless to our group. I think you're finding your niche just like I am. I think that despite all of the negative experiences that you've endured you are a caring and compassionate person."

[Gar]

Ni's body immediately stiffened when he brought her into the hug, however, she gradually relaxed and gave in, laying her head on his chest and hugging her arms around his waist. "Those are very kind words, Jaden," she said softly, "but taking me on as his Padawan was actually a very, very big mistake..." she pulled away from him, laying her hands in her lap once more. "Master Henoch was stripped of all honor, titles, and respect. He..." She hesitated, grimacing as she finally said, "He was given the shameful death of a criminal...After he took the Oath and was banished from the Core Worlds...I suspect someone in the outer rim found out he had been convicted of child rape..."

[Jaden_Starchaser]

Jaden looked at Ni with a very shocked look on his face. "Convicted of child rape? What? When?" He couldn't form any other words besides those as his brain processes what was said.

[Gar]

Ni looked back at him with a tortured expression on her face. "What do you think happened, Jaden? I know you're already coming to conclusions in your head."

[Jaden_Starchaser]

Jaden shook his head and looked at her. Took in the tortured expression. "Oh Ni," he simply said.

[Gar]

Ni appeared shocked for a second, then smiled in spite of herself. "Amazing... you actually think it was consensual," she said with a sardonic smile, shaking her head, "Not what I was expecting. But your pure thoughts are very refreshing..." Ni sighed and looked up at the sky, "The truth is that nothing happened. The only thing Master Henoch did wrong was become an obstacle between the school board and my expulsion."