In search of "Madd Skillz" (Open to a trainer)

[Sejah Haversh]

In his time at the order, Sejah had seen many newcomers nearly fly through training, and gain promotion. Most all of his friends he had made when he came had already been knighted, and he was beginning to feel left behind.

His skills were lacking as a Jedi, having only really learned how to lift objects, and not very safely at that, as well as some limited precognizance. Telepathy was a locked door to his kind, which ruled out that capability, and his mindset from his life of fencing made it difficult to grasp new concepts.

In reality, he was losing heart. The night he returned from home, bruised, beaten and humiliated, Marcus had said he would meet him on the next day after he got out of the medical ward. Sejah's master never showed up. It was some weeks later that Helenias called him to the council room and explained that she was now going to be his master instead. And she was a good master, but her schedule with other padawans and her Senetorial duties made her very busy, with little time for him. That, and they did nit seem to see eye to eye on hardly anything, which made trainign immensely difficult.

So there he was, having been at the order for almost a year, and still truly a novice in the way of the Jedi, and the powers of the Force. The brown mongoose stood, leaning against a pillar and looking out the large bay window at the cityscape from a wing of the training center and sighed. To be a Jedi wasn't his first goal, and he had been reluctant to come. But now that he was there, and had made a consistent effort, he began to feel lacking compared to many he knew. Deep down, he was envious of many of them; envious of their skills, of how they had gone on more missions and had defeated enemies when he himself had never faced a Sith so far. Envious of their rank, and how easily it seemed to come to them.

Feelings of envy were not ones common in Sejah's heart, but they had taken a root, and were starting to grow. If only there was a way he could learn more, then he would show them he wasn't just a low-level padawan, but really a Jedi, and maybe they would accept him into their circle again. But, with Helenias so busy, it would be some time before that would happen.

Pushing off from the pillar, Sejah started to walk down the hallway, his wooden practice sword swinging slackly from his right paw as he went. If nothing else, he would just go excercise.

[Helenias Evenstar]

There was a woman in a dark cloak walking the halls at the same time. Not seeking training or enlightenment, instead she was of heavy heart and of troubled mind.

Oh who was I kidding. I was again ill, lost and emotionally screwed up. I was walking the halls as they were different to the medical ward. Even that was a problem for my strength was only just starting to return. I walked slowly, keeping the cloak wrapped around my torso to stop getting cold.

Too much stress. Too much to do. something had to break and it looked like it was me. Sadly I walked down the hall not really looking where I was going. Thence, I managed to walk straight into someone else and get set back on my backside, hardly strong enough to look up.

"I'm sorry... I wasn't looking where I was going" I managed to get out, struggling to get a hand under myself to help myself stand again.

[Sejah Haversh]

Sejah found himself broadsided by a woman in a cloak, and his empty paw jsut barely missed grabbing her arm as she fell. Had he not been in such a funk, he more than likely would have caught her; not to mention avoided the coLlision in the first place.

"I'm sorry about that!" he instantly sad, taking the blame out of habit. His wooden sword was set aside as he bent down and extended a paw to take her hand and help her up. It was only then that he realized that it was his master, Helenias, and his pink eyes went wide. He had just knocked over his mater, it was not a good day already...

"Oh, geez, I'm sorry, Master Evenstar, here, let me help you up. You okay?" he pestered her with questions as he helped her to her feet. "I didn't see you coming."

[Helenias Evenstar]

"Oh, Sejah... please, give me a hand." As he helped me get to my feet, I nearly fell over again. Maybe leaving the medical centre was a bad move. "Please... help me to the seat over there"

[Sejah Haversh]

His right paw hald her hand and his left wrapped around her side to steady Helenias as he led her to a seat and helped her sit down. In the time he had known her, Sejah had never seen Helenias in a bad way, and right now she was scaring him.

Sitting beside her after picking up his wooden sword again, Sejah asked, "Are you okay? What's wrong, Master Evenstar? Should I call a medic for you?"

[Helenias Evenstar]

"Ahh well the medics is where I came from. I wanted to get some fresh air. As for what's wrong, it's a toxin in my system, or so the medics think. No-one is really sure"

Liar, I thought. I knew quite well what it was. It was toxic allright. Pierce knew what it was an where it came from. I wasn't sure I trusted Sejah enough to say what it was - knowledge of the poison and who did it was not something I was willing to divulge. Not yet anyway

"Let me sit for a while, I'll be allright after that. Doing too much ran my natural defences down I believe."

[Sejah Haversh]

Leaning on his wooden sword like a cane as he sat, Sejah nodded and trusted the words of his master. He had no reason to doubt her.

"Well, if there is anything I can do to help, let me know. I can escort you back to your quarters if you like, too," he offered, even though he was almost sure she would decline. Looking back ahead, and then down to where the wall met the floor, he vended a deep breath and let silence hang in the air for about a minute before he spoke up again.

"Master Evenstar, I mean no offense, but, I feel my training ahs been lacking. I have been here nearly a year, and yet all I know how to do through the Force is move objects and locate items. Oh, and sometimes sense danger. I realize that you and your husband were busy, but still, I have seen many newcomers train far faster than myself. Do you think me not ready to learn, or incapable of these other powers, or do you doubt my heart? I am left to these thoughts for the lack of my training. I have tried my best, Master Evenstar, have I failed you somehow?" Sejah asked, his voice at the end almost offended and desperate at the same time. They were questions he had been wanting to ask for some time, but never had the nerve to. But finally, he asked for he needed to know.

[Helenias Evenstar]

"No Sejah, it is that I am not a great teacher. I don't find it easy to train, I tend to lead by example. I am at heart a warrior and even if I have defeated mnay Jedi Masters by my abilities in contests of arms, there is much I dont know of myself. Tell me though, when it comes to throwing rocks and jumping around like a Tatooine womp rat on glitterstim, why would you be worried about that? Being a Jedi is not just about that. Being a Jedi.... is something inside you. It is your attitude, your compassion and caring. That, you do well with"

[Sejah Haversh]

"But what good is compassion and caring if I am not able to get out and use them? I have only been on a few missions, and usually made a fool of myself because of my lack of other skills," he countered, finally getting to vent some of his frustrations.

"It is in my best interest to know as much as I can as a Jedi, wouldn't you agree? What if someday I were to be found by a Sith? Would it be enough for me to use compassion and caring to get away safely, or wouldn't it be beneficial for me to possibly know how to Force boost my running capability, or possibly some other skill to have to protect myself, or possibly others? I know it is best to be nonviolent and work with compassion, but I have had my best friend die in my arms when I was fourteen. Don't you agree that it might have been better for me to have been able to do something to have prevented that from happening rahter than having to grieve and to console his parents as well?"

The mongoose was beginning to fidget in is seat and he looked back away. "Who am I helping by remaining here as I have? I exposed Loki to harm when I took him with me to Nehantish, and I sure didn't do a remarkably good job on anything else I've tried to do to help out around here. I feel like I'm walking in place here; not making any headway or getting anywhere. There were times I've wanted to ask to be released to go back home, but I can't even do that anymore. Almost a year of my life has gone by with little to nothing to show for it."

[Helenias Evenstar]

"I, not long ago saw a being disarm some mercenaries with nothing more than her words. The ways of peace can be more effective than any physical ways if you know how to weild them"

Lets see now. This was going somewhat better than my first attempt to get this into Sejah's head - I already had an opening to work with.

"Tell me Padawan - have you heard of how Lord Fire Blade managed to defeat the entire Jedi Order - and don't divert off topic please, this I feel will be important for you to hear this"

[Sejah Haversh]

"No, I do not know this story, nor do I know who this Lord Fire Blade is, either," Sejah replied. "How long ago was this? Back in the days of the Old Republic? I haven't gotten to much of the Jedi history in my reading yet."

[Helenias Evenstar]

"Ah well, listen then! Lord Fire Blade was an Imperial Royal Guard, the best of the best of the Imperial troops. This was not long ago, only a few years. This Jedi Order was once quite deal bigger. It was strong. It had all the Sith and Imperials in check, it's leader was Darth Turbogeek. Odd name for a Jedi Master, I know. Well, the Imperials tried to attack the Jedi Temple. The Jedi were resisting and resisting well, their defences were too strong. For some reason the Imperials were going head on, which is useless against strong beings. Lord Fire Blade decided not to do that, but thought about the defences, He examined them, probed for a weakness, then when he found one, used one small bomb to bring the whole lot down. Caught the Jedi completely off guard and made them easy picking. Oh, what a day that was, seeing the Jedi run before me like that! "

"Ummm, running before you?" Sejah interupted.

"Well... yes. I was Lord Fire Blade. You see, I wasn't always like I am now - I fought Jedi Masters and won. Not by strength, or skill even but by simply using the one thing Jedi seem to forget they have and what I know you have in abundance"

I reached over and gently poked my Padawan's head for emphasis with my index finger.

"Your intelligence. Your potential control. Your self will. You have these in abundance. Look at me - I'm not much of a Jedi. I dont think I ever will be. Yet, I have defeated them all by the simple application of the mind and thinking of a solution. So you can too. I know you can. Dont rely on your sword Master Haversh, it can break. Forge you mind instead, for that is a greater weapon"

[Sejah Haversh]

Though he respected her, and knew her story was supposed to be to help teach him, Sejah could not help but see one glaring problem with it, and he was not going to hold back anymore.

"So, you would teach me using the instance of your destruction of this order as a good example of using one's head? If that were to make any sense at all, it should have been that you protected it. To destroy is easy, Master Evenstar; every being knows that. To build and to protect is hard. Your lesson has a hollow value in that sense because it only tought me that to use one's mind allows for one to be able to destroy things," the mongoose spoke firmly.

He could tell that Helenias was about to try and correct him, but he held up a paw and continued, not going to be silenced until he was ready. "Of course the mind is a greater weapon; even the dumbest of brute wrestlers can tell you that. Without thinking, you can't hope to win. But what if I used a different story? What if, say, a mother and her child were caught in the path of a rockslide, and the debris was too much for me to telekenetically move out of the way? Sure, I could try to push the two of them aside with the Force, but I would risk possibly killing them with my focus so poor as it is. No, I need to run in fast and get them out. Force boosting as it is known. My mind tells me that would be the best course of action, woudln't you say?"

His courage now fueling his words, Sejah stood up from the bench and too a stand in front of her, continuing. "Intelligence without knowledge of practical application is useless uinless you are an architect or designer. But we are not those things. The rank of knight signfies action, not just design. And you call me intelligent when I do not even know of the story you told me before this encounter? For all I know it could be a lie, and you might be takign advantage of my lack of intelligence. I've never gone to school, and I read like a child. Common sense and intelligence are two seperate things entirely. Where I have come to develop the former, the later I know I am sorely lacking in, so do not tell me my intelligence is an asset right now because it is not. Swords may break, but they can be bought or forged anew. I'm sorry if I seem to be arguing with every statement you make, but I cannot see value in all of them. I came to this order to make a difference, and for nearly a year I have not even remotely done so. I feel little more prepared to hold up our cause now than when I first joined, though I have seen many newcomers rise to knighthood and truly make a difference for good.

"To tell me to train my mind is good adivce, but I cannot continue to buy that advice for it has gotten me nowhere in this last year. I am not a credit to the Jedi, for I have done nothing to better our reputation or to help others. You spoke of my potential control, and I wish to develop that, but you are never there to guide me in it. I have cause more destruction around here than I am comfortable with trying to develop it on my own, and I need some guidance in it. Guidance in practical application, not theory. If you want me to be able to do something clever in a pinch, then teach me how to actually do things instead of just think about them, Master Evenstar."

[Helenias Evenstar]

I could contain myself no longer. This wasn't a discussion any more, I had been flat out insulted.

Wait. Do not respond in kind.

"I was told of a man once" I stated calmly "That called to God, asking what He would do to end suffering. He demanded God answer. God did. God asked of the man, what are you doing? The man walked away with a bowed head"

"Do not blame your short coming on anyone else" I continued, "But yourself. You, in the end have only yourself to blame, not myself, not Marcus, not anyone else. Only you can in the end make a difference to yourself. You did listen to what I said, not what I meant. A detirmined being shall not let any adversity get in their way, they will accomplish their goals no matter the task. I don't blame anyone else for what I lack. You should not either. If you are truly serious, you would not let the lack of time I have prevent you in your learning. You ask me what am I doing, I ask you in return, what have you done? The greatest Jedi the GJO has ever had, had no Master at all. Do you really want to learn? Then dont just wait for me"

"You have no patience either. You claim you have only come a small way in a year? Well, in the days of the Old Republic, that took much longer. You would have been decades before being Knighted. You might think these Knights are learned in the Force, but they lack much in wisdom and knowledge. You also seem to think learning is intelligence. It is not. I have seen people learned beyond what their intelligence can cope with. The ones who call themselves wise are but fools compared to the simplicity and straight sight of a child"

"And one more thing" I said, standing up with a bit of difficulty, "You accuse me or hint I would be deliberatly dishonest to you again, I will not think twice about slapping sense into you. A Master / Padawan relationship is based on honesty and trust. If you can't trust me, then I can not train you at all, ever"

[Sejah Haversh]

"That would be fine, since you haven't done a lick to train me at all yet," Sejah countered, not about to let her reply go unchallenged.

The mongoose stood before her, not angry, but angered that she presumed to know so much about him.

"You quote about God, of Garfife as I know him. I know that quote all too well. And my answer as that man is that I have been doing as much as I know how with little to no guidance from my masters!" He shouted, then went on. "I don't blame them on someone else, but I do point out that when I ask for help, I am ignored, or looked down on! I have valid reason for concern when I do not see my master for months at a time, and then are treated as if I should ahve progressed well under their tutilage. That is an attitude taken by those who love power but refuse to take responsibility."

Sejah was quickly becoming more animated, and he grabbed up his wooden sword, using it like a pace stick to emphasize his points. "If the old days, Jedi were recruited as infants, and much time was spent teaching them the basics of life. This is not the Old Republic, and we cannot do such things anymore, at least not yet. I realize that training takes time, but one thing must happen before a student can learn: the master must take responsibility for their student!

"I was a fencing instructor for ten years, Master Evenstar, I know what it is to teach. Though the subject may have been different, the concept remains that the master must spend time with their pupils and guide them. Your husband, while he was still here at the order, managed a few training sessions, but even he seemed disinterested in training me. You have given me about one hour of your time and I still am not sure of the reason for that meeting. I have made every attempt to learn and grow, but with no one available to guide me, what am I left to? Books that I struggle to read? Where is the wisdom in that? It is like taking a man from the street and expecting him to learn to live like a gentleman simply by giving him the clothes. It does not work like that, Master.

"You ask what I have done, and I reply that I have been reading, speaking with other Jedi, and observing as much as I can. I try to ask for help, but many other masters are busy with padawans of their own, or cannot help me with my questions. I have been making the effort, Master Evenstar, that is what I have been doing. My only break from it was to go to my world to compete in a competition there. One that I had to be rescued from by Master Anbira and Loki, I might add. I haven't just been waiting for you, Master Evenstar, for that became folly long ago. You have no desire to teach, but to sit on your lofty perch and look down on others. Well, it doesn't work like that. You've tried to give me an out, a way to get another master so I will not bother you with my opinions on things, but it won't work. I accepted Marcus' offer to be my master because I thought he would be there for me, and show me the right way. By default, you earend that trust from me, and I will not break the oath I took to him with you. No, that would be dishonorable.

"Go ahead, slap sense into me, yell at me, correct me! For crying out loud, Be my master like you say you are! Do something to equal the effort I have put in to serve under you!" Sejah yelled, his normally pink eyes flaring red and his muscles tensed. "I have done much, Master Evenstar, and I have a great desire to learn more from one with a reputation such as yours. But if you so wish me to seek out others instead, even though you had made a promise to me when you took me in, I will do so. If it validates your theory or only proves mine, I will learn. But I will not leave your tutilage, and it would take your disownment of me to cause such a thing to occur."

[Typhoon]

He was whistling as he walked by, pushing a handcart with the tools of his new trade - GJO Janitor. Vash also waved to the pretty lady and the furry being as he went on his way.

Maybe donuts were near? He could smell them.

[Helenias Evenstar]

I was clearly not amused.

"Ha ha. Have you finished you diatribe, or do you have more? Well, if you have finished, you can have a lesson, right here and now. Find out who the frell that guy in the red coat is first"

Which, I had to admit, I wanted to know too. I had never seen him before in my life.

[Sejah Haversh]

"He's the new janitor," Sejah replied, "I've seen him around the order."

Bringing his wooden sword down in front of him and leaning on it like a cane with both paws, he looked right into Helenias' eyes and shook his head. "I have more, but I was hoping for some sort of reply from you instead of being brushed off and the subject changed on me."

[Helenias Evenstar]

" Just do it" I snapped. "You'll see why soon"

[Sejah Haversh]

Kicking lightly at the bottom of the wooden sword he leaned on, Sejah swung it up over his shoulder and ambled off in Vash's direction without a word.

"Excuse me, sir," Sejah called out once he was within earshot of the new janitor. Stopping next to him, he continued, "I don't mean to be rude, but, could you tell me who you are? My master desires to know."

[Typhoon]

Okay, seeing the furry thing next to the pretty woman was one thing. Have what he thought was a pet come over and speak to him was quite another.

"AAAGHHHH!!!' he screeched, leaping in a very comic way behind the cart and peaking - slowly around the corner to look the furry thing over .

"You... you can speak???" Vash squeaked from his hiding place. "Dont hurt Vash, please!"

[Sejah Haversh]

Sejah was quite surprised at Vash's reaction, and he stood nonplussed until the man peeked out from behind his cart again like a child who had done something wrong. Leaning to the side to see him better, Sejah smiled lightly and spoke in a soft, nonthreatening tone, "I won't hurt you, sir. And, yes, I can speak."

Moving ever so slowly to the side, the Nehantite tried to show the new janitor that he meant no harm, and he continued to speak, "Come on, stand up, pal. If you want to keep that job, you'll probably need to get used to seeing new races a lot. Now, might I ask who you are?"

[Typhoon]

"V.... Vash"

what was this thing? He was awestruck.

"You... really can speak? It's not a trick?"

[Sejah Haversh]

"I can stand on my head too, but that would be more of a trick than just talking, Mr. Vash," Sejah grinned.

Passing his wooden sword into his left paw and holding it by the middle slackly, Sejah extended his open right paw in a handshake manner and nodded, "I'm Sejah. If you're going to be keeping this as your regular job, we'll probably be seeing each other around a lot."

[Typhoon]

Vash looked at Sejah's hand liek it was a dead fish. Slowly tho, the tall human reached forward and shook hands.

"Hello Sejah. Yes, maybe. depends on the guy I came with here, when he's all fixed. I would like to keep this job, it is sweet! I get to sweep floors and stuff! and donuts! They feed me all I want! That makes me so happy I can satnd on my..... head!!!!!"

which Vash just so happened to do, with a big goofy look on his waaaaaaay too happy face.

[Sejah Haversh]

Sejah couldn't help but chuckle at the man's antics, and he shook his head, grinning. "So you can, Vash, so you can."

Once Vash was back to a stand, Sejah was going to let him go about his way, but something he had said intruiged him. "You said something about coming here with someone? Who is it? And, how badly was he hurt that he needs fixing up?"

[Typhoon]

"Oh, I have no idea who it was. But he was hurt bad, real bad. I dont think he lived."

quite abrupty, Vash leaned over and his voice went from idiot to low, calm and soft. His face changed also, going suddenly to serious as well.

"That lady over there, she's worse hurt. Not physically, but her heart is broken. You said things to her that make that hurt worse" Vash glanced up where the pretty woman was, head bowed and sitting on a bench... "Not intentionally, I know. I can tell, because why else is she there and asked you to come here?"

Vash glanced down again.

"I hear from the hospital pretty lady is dying. No... stay here. For now anyway"

[imported_J'ktal Anajii]

--Edit--

Gah, stupid cookies...

[Sejah Haversh]

The Nehantite wasn't quite sure what to say. He knew that Helenias was not feeling well, that much he could see, but inner pain was somethign he had not yet learned to detect.

But, even though he had just been told what he said to her made her feel worse, he did not feel sorry for it. They were things that needed to be said, needed to be brought to light.

"Dying?" Sejah questioned. "Do you know any more than that? Anything more specific?"

[Typhoon]

"Some sort of disease. I dont know, I'm not a doctor. But allow me to state something - If I understand, she is your Master Jedi. I see this now. I heard what you were saying. She is clearly ill and yet you did not have compassion and think for others. Even I, someone who only really knows how to sweep, knows that the right thing to say is the wrong thing at times. Control doesnt just mean... say control over your broom. It means control over yourself. It means that you avoid confrontation. If she feels guilty, then how will she train you willingly? True control is not raising your hand or voice in anger, even when the other person deserves all the anger you have"

"I am sorry if this is lecture you dont want, but you cant win this by fighting. You can win if you choose the right way to handle it"

[Sejah Haversh]

"There will be no winner here, Vash," Sejah replied flatly.

"And I did not raise my hand in anger, only my voice, and it was because all the other ways of getting through to her had not worked. Trust me, a fight is not what I wanted," he shook his head, though defensive still.

Lifting the wooden sword so Vash could see it, he explained, "I was a fencing instructor for over ten years, sir, and if one of my students was having a problem, and I could not seem to see it, or find his calls for help, I would fully expect him to come to me and speak to me jsut as I did to Master Evenstar. It would not be the student's fault he had to resort to that, but the fault of myself for not seeing the need that was there and adressing it beforehand. I am not angry at my master, but disappointed that I have been left no instruction or guidance."

Lowering the practice blade once more, he looked back over his shoulder at Helenias, then back at Vash. "You have tried to give me wise counsel, and under other circumstances you would be correct. But this goes far beyond what you ahve jsut seen here now. Do not tell me the honorable way; I know it all too well, and when its boundaries have been broken."

[Typhoon]

"Pride and honour. Ahhh, I'm am aware of them well. I have neither. I have... a broom. Some tell me this is demeaning and that a droid should do it. Why should a sentient do it? They ask me, dont I have any pride in myself?"

Vash closed his eyes for a moment, before a smile came to the tall human's face. A look of contentment.

"Your Master and you are both creatures of pride and honour. Before you can be a Jedi proper, both of you must lose that. A Jedi is truly humble. a Jedi is truly meek. a Jedi does not argue, but finds a way of peace for the mutual benifit of others. At the Jedi's core is the selfishless attitude. It is for a Jedi to put other's first at all times. It does not matter if you believe you have a bad deal or something has wronged you. You put others first and your own problems second, no matter how wrong or right that is to you. Before coming here, I saw a Jedi, a great and powerful one - he told me these things. He died to keep others alive. He deliberatly put aside his pride and died, so others could live"

"You might not like it, but that's the way of the Jedi. Even I know this. For me, I tell the truth - This is a low job, but if I dont do it with every bit of my ability, if I sweep any less than what I can do, then I have done less than the job deserves. My pride and my honour have no say. But it is not a great thing to be the best at something, even if it is to sweep?"

[Sejah Haversh]

He was right. The dang janitor was right.

Sejah was proud. His pride was one of the few things he possessed, and he had built it over a long life of hardship and strife. It was all he had to show for the tough life he had lived, that and a few scars and some trophies that meant little to anyone but himself. To lay down his pride would be to lay down everythign he had lived for, all the hard work he had put in to surviving and keeping his head out of the bad parts of the world he came from. It was his pride that kept him from sellign drugs and becoming a street kid.

Pride and honor were the two things he cared for most, and it was impossible for his mind to fully rationalize setting them down. Glancing down at the wooden sword in his paw, he thought for a moment in silence. His pink eyes came back up to meet those of Vash, and he only nodded, not saying anything before he turned and headed back to his master.

"Master Evenstar, I apologize for the way in which I spoke to you. I felt you had been ignoring me, and no matter what I did, I could not gain your attention. I should not have yelled, but I did mean what I said," he stated, standing before her, not having permission to sit on the bench beside her as an equal again yet.

[Helenias Evenstar]

I had been sitting on the bench, listening carefully, listening to the discussion as it developed - and even when this 'Vash' spoke softly, I enhanced my hearing to listen. And, I was amazed - where in the Force had this sweeper learned such a way of speaking? Who exactly had he spoken to??? And was he knowingly also directing his words to me as well? I could only conclude that he had. I ran over some of the things the sweeper had said, before coming to the final words.

Before coming here, I saw a Jedi, a great and powerful one - he told me these things. He died to keep others alive. He deliberatly put aside his pride and died, so others could live"

"You might not like it, but that's the way of the Jedi. Even I know this. For me, I tell the truth - This is a low job, but if I dont do it with every bit of my ability, if I sweep any less than what I can do, then I have done less than the job deserves. My pride and my honour have no say. But it is not a great thing to be the best at something, even if it is to sweep?"

I wasn't the strongest in the Force, but I knew a lie when I heard it. The Jedi Vash described wasn't dead. I could hear the misstep and the pause. My eyes narrowed in thought, even as Sejah came back and spoke his apology.

"I apologise too... this sickness is taking a heavy toll on me. It is not easy to work and train when your body is seemingly falling apart. Please, sit with me a while and we'll discuss what Marcus just taught us both. I dont know how, or when, but those words of the janitor are of Master Q'Dunn. I can sense it"

[Sejah Haversh]

"He's not dead, Master Evenstar," Sejah said as he sat down. A light smirk crossed his muzzle as he explained. "Your husband is far too stubborn to die, even I know that."

The mongoose let himself calm down while he sat next to his master, his tail idly swishing beside hismelf as his fingers drummed across the surface of the wooden sword he held across his lap. "Master Evenstar, why hadn't you told me of your illness? I know I have been gone for a while, but, I have been back for a few weeks now, and had only seen you twice in that time. I know that patience can be a virtue, but... well, is there anything I can do to help you?"

[Helenias Evenstar]

"You cant help me with this, Padawan. No one can. I can only trust in the Force that it can be survived"

Looking at the departing janitor, I could only help but to wonder where exactly he had come across Marcus.

[Sejah Haversh]

Sejah nodded in understanding now of her condition, hut he still had a question. "Master Evenstar, if you are this ill and I cannoy help you, then how are we to go on? I mean, as master and padawan. Must I wait for your health to return?" He asked, though it was not accusatory, but kindly and purely curious.