A Lesson in Serenity

[aipsylon]

Gadeon found Auto with Nines on the bridge. Closing the door and heading up to him, he took a seat in the copilot's chair. Things were much calmer now than they had been those few hours ago. " Auro, I'd like to apologize for failing you." His gaze did not look to Auto at all, instead, he was looking forward to the hyperspace blur of stars. "I don't know how toy think. It is my failing. The reason we have come to physical conflict twice now. Half of it anyway. You are convicted, it is a good thing, but as i must learn what your reasoning is you too must learn to listen. Not just to me, but to all of us. Remember Unna's comment from the room below, when Cordelia and her brother were there. "It is the same for us. We discuss and then the alpha's decide." You need not listen deeply to understand the subtext of what she is saying. That whatever it is there is something about the discussions that she feels she is less than valued in. You need to talk with her about it to understand what it is she meant by the comment."

Gadeon let out a heavy breath as he finished. There he had said it. No came the easy part. "Can you tell me what it was that compelled you to stay so strongly that you were willing to come to blows with me over it? I am not criticizing you, I know you have done that yourself by the look on your face. I just want to know how I can better express myself next time. I would like us never to need to conflict physically again." He had other questions, but he knew that often Auro would focus on one part of a topic and thought things were too important now. He could tell that something was wrong with Auro's self worth. That needed to change by the time that they dropped out of hyperspace. what he would not give to have Ashla's gift with words.

[Auro Syrdash]

When the bridge doors hissed open and Gadeon entered, doors closing behind him, Auro paused for a moment. Looking up from oiling Nines' joints, he acknowledged Gadeon with a slow nod. As Gadeon situated himself in the co-pilot's seat, Pablo-Jill greeted the Xexto with a friendly tail-thump from his position on the pilot's seat, remaining focused on the doors.

Meanwhile, Nines' chirped out a satisfied bleep blurp bloop and rotated his dome swiftly as Auro chuckled. "Anytime, old friend," he replied. Closing his tool kit, he stood and made his way over to the pilot's seat. Pablo-Jill jumped down to make room for Auro and made his way over to take up a new post beside Nines, sitting alert and at the ready.

Glancing over at Gadeon, Auro noticed that he was staring out into the swirl of hyperspace. He had not anticipated the apology Gadeon offered, nor the acceptance of a share in the blame that followed. Still, as Auro listened on and Gadeon continued, the Vurk Jedi had a troubling feeling that he had heard Gadeon say the same thing in similar words before.

Nonetheless, Auro patiently heard Gadeon out as he eventually offered him his signature version of an olive branch. He asked Auro what had caused their misunderstanding, assured Auro that he wasn't attacking him, and concluded by sharing his hope they not fight in combat.

As was his custom, Auro responded with the truth. "My intention was to track the pirates through hyperspace," he said. "I was concerned that if we left our position before we isolated their ships' hyperdrive signatures, we'd lose them entirely. I feel they have something we missed."

Auro shook his head as he recalled the chaos. "When we clashed, our attackers had only just dropped out of hyperspace and not yet attacked. I saw the opportunity to seize the moment being subverted by someone who has voluntarily agreed to follow my lead as a commander. There's a difference between guidance and mutiny, Gadeon. I've been striving so hard to listen and accept guidance, from each one of you. And you're right; in that moment we failed one another." Auro admitted.

"Each one of us has a destiny to fulfill, and we're in this together," Auro mused aloud. "If we can't live together, we're going to die alone."