You've Got A Friend In Ni

[Jaden_Starchaser]

"A split second after I did think that he forced himself on you," Jaden truthfully answered. 'Especially after what Amerax did to Trysta,' he thought to himself. He looked up at her in confusion and asked, "What do you mean by that? An obstacle between the school board and your expulsion?"

[Gar]

"Still, your first assumption was not that I had seduced him," Ni says, smiling with gratitude, adding softly and emphatically, "you have no idea how much that means to me."

The Zeltron nervously picked at one of the leather straps on her thigh as she began the story. "Zeltron Jedi are very rare, and Zeltron culture is very different from Jedi ideals. As you already know, our race does not have the best reputation regarding self control, and I guess its for a good reason," she shrugged, "That is why the Alderaan academy wanted to get rid of me. They thought I could never make it as a Jedi because of my..." she struggled with the word, "my 'handicap'...They only allowed me into their school because they didnt wish to offend Zeltros. But they had no intentions of allowing me to graduate and stain their prestigious reputation with my...'Zeltron antics'."

Ni frowned, crossing her arms. "They expected that it would be easy to expel me, due to Zeltron behavior. But what they didnt expect was a Master willing to teach me and stand by me..." she grimaced painfully, "Master Henoch was patient and determined to help me succeed. I was a terrible, no, awful student, but he would always find a way to guide me to grasp a concept or ability regarding The Force...He was dedicated to all of his students that way..."

The Zeltron seemed lost in thought for a moment. She stirred and continued, "Apparently, by the time I turned sixteen the school board began to get desperate. I started to notice a pattern of always being in the wrong place at the wrong time..." She sighed, "Back then I did not know how hard Master Henoch fought and advocated for me to remain in the academy. And I admit I didn't always make it easy for him, as it became more of a challenge to keep me on the straight and narrow ever since I reached puberty. I was struggling with intimate urges towards my fellow classmates..." she smiled sadly and shook her head, "I wish he hadn't have tried so hard. Casting his lot with mine was the worst mistake he ever made..."

[Jaden_Starchaser]

Jaden could only nod empathetically as Ni told him about her plight with the Alderaan academy. He frowned when she told him that they expected her to fail because of her heritage. The frown only deepened as he listened. 'That's not right at all. The Jedi should be encouraging all force sensitives to reach their full potential regardless of race. And they DEFINITELY shouldn't be trying to get rid of a student like that. Soren was right about how Zeltron were treated, but I didn't know it was that bad,' he thought to himself so very strongly that Ni could sense it. He looked at her with a pain filled expression and said, "They got fed up with you so they took your Master away. They made the claim of him being a child rapist and the Jedi Council banished him."

[Gar]

Ni shook her head, her tortured expression deepening. "No one would have believed those accusations. Master Henoch was loved and respected by both students and colleagues alike. The lie would have been too obvious..." her hands clenched into fists in her lap, "But...a Zeltron padawan using her biological whims to manipulate her Master..." she said bitterly, "that was a story that none would doubt."

[Jaden_Starchaser]

Jaden couldn't hide the purely pissed off expression that made its way onto his face. "Of all the...how fucking low can you get to use a person's heritage like that?! Yes, let's use the Zeltron people's reputation to say that she seduced and fucked her Master! Then we can use that to shame and get rid of the both of them! How fucking low do you have to be to even think of such a thing?!" Jaden vented his anger about this for a little longer with several choice words being thrown out. Once he was done he was taking deeep breaths in order to calm himself.

[Gar]

Ni smiled sadly and placed a hand on Jaden's shoulder. "Easy there, Martyr Boy. All that righteous anger can't be healthy," she teased him half-heartedly, trying to lighten the mood, "If you've been in the Core World, then surely you've seen similar effects of corruption. It is all just a part of the galaxy we live in."

[Jaden_Starchaser]

Jaden's frown returned back to his face. Truthfully that was one of the biggest culture shocks he saw during his time on Coruscant. "You're right about that. Growing up on Naboo was different. Did you know the Starchaser family is one of the richest and most politically influential families on Naboo? But even despite that my father stands apart from the other families. He goes out of his way to avoid the corruption that comes with that much power and uses our influence to help those in need. But when I came to Coruscant? It was so much different. I will never forget my father's words to me when I shipped out to the Academy. He said, "My son no matter the experiences you have or the things you see please try to remain the kind person you are that cares for others." That's how it should be. You take care of others."

[Gar]

Ni looked up at him thoughtfully. "Now I see where you got your pure thoughts from," she commented with a gentle nudge, folding her hands in her lap once more and staring down at her feet. "Anyway, the school board thought they had won. They had recordings of Master Henoch and I talking, cut up and twisted as evidence against us. They even had several 'witnesses' of us being intimate..." Ni rolled her eyes, "I suppose, after so many failed attempts, they wanted to be sure that I couldn't wiggle out of this one..." she smiled bitterly, "I knew we were both innocent and Master Henoch couldn't hide the truth of all that had been happening from me anymore. I was only a few days away from graduation when they made the motion to expel me..." The Zeltron paused at this, hesitating to tell the rest. It was clear that whatever was next was a very painful memory.

[Jaden_Starchaser]

Despite her earlier warning Ni found her hands enveloped by Jaden's, his face one of compassion. "Ni, you don't have to say it. I can see it clear on your face that it's very painful. If you choose to continue I can guarantee you one thing. You won't be alone. I will help you face that pain to the best of my ability," Jaden said to her softly and soothingly.

[Gar]

Ni squeezed his hands and shook her head. "Someone needs to know the truth," she said brokenly, her eyes glistening with tears, "The council listened to Master Henoch's alleged confession. And the Zeltros officials accepted my Master's story with open arms. But no one listened to me...If you could hear the truth, it may help ease this heavy weight that I feel..."