Adenna Alluyen

It felt good to be picked up by a man and to be teased again. So much of her life over the last year had been either survival, brutal combat, grueling politics, or black evil. To finally have something playful and even a bit tender was a welcome relief and reminder that the life of a Jedi didn't always have to be one of suffering and hardship. She chuckled a bit at his playfulness and played along. He challenged her to punish him, and that was good. She had a Cheshire smile on her face when she leaned in and whispered into his ear, "Oh, you shall be punished, my dear, just not when you expect it. As much as I would relish meting out that punishment and having a drink, I must see the Council about their support. You need to stay here and sober up. A major change is coming to your life: it would be very wise to be completely at peace with it before you decide which path you take. I will return as soon as I can with news." She downed the last of the bottle in her hand and set it down. Though she clearly wished to stay, she turned and headed out toward the where the Council was meeting. The nanites in her stomach and blood had been taking care of the alcohol, so she wasn't affected, though part of her wish she could be simply so she could enjoy the carefree moments with Tobias. Regardless to her personal desires, she knew she had a duty and duty came first. When she arrived outside the Chambers, she left word that she wished to speak to them about Jedi support for the Remnant mission into Hutt space.

Adenna took another gulp of liquor and pointedly eyed Tobias' still full bottle. While she wanted him to finish the bottle, she would also enjoy his punishment. It took a bit of focus to deal with the alcohol, but once that was in place, she could answer his questions. "I am very glad you feel no need to prove anything to the Council. Their opinion is important, make no doubt, but I believe we answer to the Force above all: the Council only attempts to interpret the Force and the Light. Sometimes they are right, sometimes they are wrong. We are all fallible: only the Force itself is infallible." She playfully punched him in the shoulder. "I have no problems with you being a master, you have earned it and proved it with how dexterously you have handled the work building the Jedi fleet. It is the Council that has failed to recognize that and the need to take an active stand against the Sith and such a position makes me question a lot about what their goals are." Tobias approaching drunkenness was quite amusing, and it helped lower his defenses. She thoroughly enjoyed this side of him and wished he would simply relax more instead of place his guard up. The irony of that was not lost on her. She wasn't exactly supremely relaxed or open herself. It was something she probably needed to work on, at least around him. With a quick smile, she lifted her nearly finished bottle and slowly started lifting it to her lips. "You had better hurry up, if you can even stand after this, I just might have to put you on your backside myself."

Adenna offered no resistance to Tobias' kiss. She even gave him a good slap on the backside after he let her go just for good measure. She had nothing to hide and it was sometimes good to let the non-Force using workers who helped the Jedi know that not all of them were emotionless machines. She took another good few gulps of the liquor and was relieved to discover that her mouth and throat had gotten a bit used to the burning torture she was forcing it to endure. Now, she began to experience the taste and feel the warmth it gave her. Though, that last part may be simply due to the kiss. The tech returned with the two requested bottles of even more Wookiee liquor. She placed the fairly empty bottle and one of the new bottles on a small strut at head height and opened the third bottle. She took the open bottle down off the strut and offered the fresh bottle to Tobias and again said, "Drink it all before I finish what is left in this bottle or you will regret it." She arched her brow slightly as if playfully (or maybe not so playfully) daring him to defy her. "There is nothing wrong with pride in the right things, but don't let it take you over nor become the end goal of your endeavors." She took another drink of the liquor nodded as it burned its way down. She was really coming to like this stuff, though it was far from the pleasant dry wines she preferred. Still, if she had to drink something strong, why not the strongest? She kept her voice fairly light, though the alcohol made her voice a little smokey. "I want you along because you are quite a bit of fun when you aren't brooding. This is also a good chance to show that you are truly worthy of being a Jedi Master and that it wasn't simply a fluke or mistake. I don't care what the Jedi Council things, I think you need to believe you are worthy."

Adenna listened in supporting silence as Tobias described the Council meeting. She enjoyed him holding her hand and could tell it brought him a measure of calm. When he finished, he asked her questions about her time. "Hold that thought," she said and turned to flag down one of the techs that often assisted the Jedi in maintaining and servicing their ships. "If you would, please acquire another two bottles of this." She gestured at the liquor Tobias was holding with her free hand then reached into a pouch on her belt to pull out two moderately high denomination credit chits that would surely more than cover the cost. "Buy something for yourself and your friends with the change." The man quickly nodded and, knowing that following the orders of one who was clearly a Jedi would exempt him from any sort of trouble at temporarily abandoning his post, was quick to go off and carry out the request. She turned her attention back to Tobias and indicated she wanted another swig. After downing another mouthful and recovering from the burning sensations, she passed the half full bottle back. "First: drink the rest of this, I think you need it." There was no room for negotiation on this. "Second, yes, the general and I did have a small chat. She wants me to help in ridding Hutt Space of slavery: something you should know is a dream of mine. I am going to request the Jedi Council send many more Jedi and resources to assist on this. "Third, the Jedi Council is what it is, there is no point in fighting over it. You did your duty as ordered with great skill, if they do not wish to honor you for it and release you from your responsibilities, then so be it. A Jedi does not serve for glory: that is what the Sith do. In the end, I hope you will continue to help serve the Galaxy and combat evil, just in a different capacity. As for who killed Grandmaster Kirlocca, I think we all know it was the Sith. There is no point in investigating now because we will deal with them sooner or later. I ask that you consider joining me in Hutt Space if the Council sanctions a mission there. The operation would stand a much greater chance of success if you are there and I am not ashamed to admit that I would feel a great comfort at knowing you were at my side."

Adenna smiled slightly, but she knew something was wrong when he spoke in nervous, grandiose sentences. Still, she wasn't going to press the issue just yet: he was who he was and she respected how he tried to misdirect with humor when things were serious. "Of course," she replied lightly as she took the bottle. Not knowing exactly what it was but supposing it probably wasn't going to be pleasant to the throat, she took a large gulp of it. Now wasn't the time to play things cautiously and the liquid didn't disappoint her expectations. The liquor burned its way down to her stomach where it detonated like an explosion. She coughed slightly and her eyes watered, but she didn't waver. After pausing a moment, she took another deep drink and enjoyed the same experience. "Good stuff," she said with a nod of her head. Passing the bottle back, she asked, "So, what did the Council say?"

((apologies for delay, back from my trip now)) Adenna considered the Imperial's offer. She was still dubious, but this woman seemed open and genuine. Further, there was an air of gravitas about her, weight behind her words, and a deep sense of conviction to take action that she hadn't felt in a long while. "Thank you for the explanation," she said, a bit less cool this time. She did notice that the other appeared to be quite busy judging by the number of subordinates that fluttered about. "I will consider your words and confer with my Jedi superiors. If your mission is indeed to free slaves, then I will see about gaining the support of the Jedi and adding to this coalition as I did before on Thalassia." She gave a quick bow, and withdrew, leaving the Imperial to her business. She left to focus on another issue, one that was, at the moment, more pressing. The part of her that was shared with Tobias had been aching and full of reflective sorrow tinged with remorse and bitter resolve. Clearly, the Council meeting hadn't gone well for him. She sought him out and found him away from the others. The sense she had of him was a bit blurred, something she sometimes read from those who had imbibed a bit of alcohol or other intoxicants. His attention seemed to be focused away from her for the moment. Something told her that it might be best to wait just a moment until he was ready to acknowledge her.

It didn't take too long after relaying her concerns to the young Imperial Force user that one who radiated a great deal more power, control, and confidence approached her. Adenna's initial caution immediately turned slightly sour at both the mention of Jidai Geki and the woman's calling her a "master," a highly insulting term among Thalassians and a position she had not earned within the Jedi Order. That, and being an Imperial didn't help the woman's cause, but she was willing to give her a chance. She lightly probed the woman with the Force, trying to get a sense of her. She was glad to sense that there were no blocks and that the Imperial Knight was open to her. "I appreciate your Order's interest in someone like me. I am also always interested in anything that works toward eliminating slavery in the Galaxy, though I find it hard to believe that the Empire is the one to take charge." Her left hand subconsciously rubbed the scar on her side where an Imperial blaster had charred her body and caused a great deal of harm. "The Empire has not typically been friendly toward the Jedi nor have they ever had a problem enslaving or slaughtering innocents. Why should I trust that this whole mission isn't simply designed to capture the Hutt's slaves for your own benefit?"

Though she was content keeping to the edges of conversations for now, it seemed that someone here needed her. She had spent a lot of time in social settings on Thalassia where those with power and those who wanted power or influence gathered to try to aggrandize themselves. She grew to hate those events and much preferred a quiet meeting among a few people. At least here, the Jedi and Imperials weren't too bad: there was even a sense of family among some of them and camaraderie among most of the others. She was approached by one of the Imperials and told of the new operation they were planning on embarking on to liberate slaves in Hutt Space. Hearing how the Empire was going to save slaves initially stirred a sense of great joy and hope within her, but she quickly tempered it with a healthy does of suspicion. The Empire made slaves, it didn't liberate them. Surely this was some sort of trap. Maybe the Empire was trying to simply take over the Hutt's slaves to use for their own purpose. She would absolutely love to see the slaves in that vast system of misery see the freedom she helped bring to her small corner of the Galaxy, but that was simply a dream she had all but given up hope on. Surely, if this were legit, the Jedi Council would have supported it. She couldn't image the Empire conspiring to recruit just her without asking the Jedi leadership. She had to keep her hopes in check to make sure this was genuinely what was advertised and said as much to the Squire. "I would love to believe you, but how can I know the Empire isn't the larger monster? If the Empire is serious, let me speak to someone with authority so that I may sense them in the Force and learn the truth." She wasn't sure it was possible, but she knew there were some high ranking members of the Empire here, if she were able to talk to them and get the sense of their intent, it would go a long way toward confirming whether this was something she wanted to be involved with.

Kashyyyk was quite the interesting place. Adenna had not been here before and was fascinated at the living planet. She had always admired the forests, mostly due to not having ever actually been in one until finding the Jedi, but also because they were so full of life. She had even made her lightsaber out of lacquered wood because it was a symbol of nature and peace. Despite all of the other Jedi and even Imperials here, she found the trees themselves much more interesting. There were quite a few people here, but they were clustered in little groups all over, catching up and mostly trying to keep up with the constant flow of new faces that they needed to catch up with. She knew a few of them, but mostly as old acquaintances that had faded away while she was away. After parting ways with Tobias and Sandy, she exchanged a few pleasantries with some of the Jedi she recognized from her time in various Temples or on the raid against the Sith Temple on Coruscant, but mostly she spent her time on the fringe where it wasn't too chaotic. She was not entirely comfortable around Imperials: maybe it had something to do with being shot by one on their final Death Star. It could also be because of the nervousness some of their offices were giving off for being so close to a bunch of Jedi. There was a part of her that was connected to Tobias, so she focused a little on that. He was getting a little revved up, but so far, nothing threatening. She doubted that there would be anything more than disappointment and frustration on his part, no actual danger. The Jedi weren't like the Sith who turned on one another with violent hostility. The Jedi may disapprove and may oppose his intents, but she didn't fear for his safety. Instead, she was far more interested in how the other Jedi would receive Sandy. She didn't want to smother the young woman or appear a protector, but she did keep an eye on her from a distance while between chatting with various people. There would undoubtedly come a time when someone would need to speak to her to figure out what to do with Sandy or how to deal with Tobias or even simply to debrief or reassign her. She had no actual purpose or plans right now other than to ensure Sandy's official ascension to Knighthood and to support Tobias wherever she could. If the Council had other ideas for her, she would deal with it as it came. Until then, she waited on standby for something or someone to need her attention.

"She severed the nerve in my arm during a sparring match- causing it to hang limply and to drop my weapon," Tobias answered. "Sandy is... not a great fighter- but she is very competent. Anyone looking at her will see a pale, petite, young girl. They don't see her for what she really is- a Jedi. Not in the way I would have done it, but you achieved what both of us wanted to see in her- Sandy Sarna has risen to the rank of Knight. She's earned it, the others will see that as well." Adenna smiled at that. "Combat is a necessity for the Sith, the Jedi have many more options available to them." Her voice was light and bemused. Though she had started as a sheltered girl and even had some failures in combat, the last few years on Thalassia had seen her combat skills grow exponentially, and that was well after being made a Jedi Knight. "Her frail appearance will be invaluable at enabling her to achieve surprise and survive when threats approach. That will make up for the lack of brute strength that physically stronger Force users such as yourself utilize. It is what has saved me many times." Tobias continued, "I don't know what to say to you about being named a Master, and given a seat on the council. I know Dahar was going to appoint you, but... That was awhile ago. I want you to know I didn't ask for this, but I rose to the challenge, and the responsibilities. You started me on this path, and you're the last person I want to offend. Tell me if I do, please. Preferably before you kill me." That was a surprise to her. She had no qualms with Tobias being on the Council: after what she had seen and read of his work, he was quite capable and a valuable asset to the Jedi Order. The other part was what took her unawares. To think that Dahar would consider her as a Master was quite a surprise to her. It gave her a sense of pride that her own teacher would consider her in such a way, though it also made her wonder what happened to him to cause him to turn from the Light. When the time came, she would have to find out exactly what happened and either bring him back or end his suffering in the Darkness. "Do not fear," she said softly as she pressed his hand close to her cheek. "I have only ever had to kill one man I have been with and he was given ample warning." There was a hint of teasing in her eyes that indicated she was joking with him, but also enough there to leave the door open to the possibility that she was not speaking in jest. Nobody else would be able to catch even that last part, but she was no longer as closed off to Tobias as before. "Kirlocca did mean much to me, but he is now one with the Force and in the embrace of the Light. I wish justice for him, but the Jedi serve the living, not the dead. I would not see the Jedi crippled by mourning or loss, nor would I see vengeance taint us and cost many lives. The Sith need to be destroyed because they are evil, not because they killed Kirlocca. I will go to stand in solidarity with our fellow Jedi, but I will not break down nor let it shake my resolve to walk in the Light."

Adenna relished the joy she felt coming from Tobias and allowed herself to smile as he kissed her. Even though he was sweaty, she didn't care. She let down the walls she had always kept erected between the two of them and allowed him in for the first time. It didn't take long for them to end up on his bed sans clothes but she didn't want to let the feeling pass by. She could sense many of his emotions and thoughts and did not attempt to hide her own mind from him. He wasn't a perfect man, but she wasn't completely righteous herself. Her own past was filled with darkness and tough decisions that not all of the Jedi might be particularly fond of if they knew. Perhaps that was why she had been attracted to a man with a questionable past such as Tobias. Maybe they were meant for each other, or maybe one of them would stumble and find themselves facing the other in a final, deadly conflict. It was irrelevant: all that mattered now was each other, the moment they were in, and the joy and passion they shared. After they were finished and things cooled down a bit, she vaguely recalled Sandy's interruption. She didn't much care: passion wasn't a thing to be ashamed of as long as it was fueled by love and joy rather than hatred and vengeance. She would not hide from her decisions any more than she had before. Hopefully, though, this time would not result in a pile of bodies and a not so small crater on a burning moon. She hoped that the two of them would grow stronger together and face the Galaxy's evil as one. The reversion from hyperspace signaled an end to their time, but there would be others. As she dressed, she noticed some of the metal filings on the floor. "Before we head out," she said as she put on her boots and, while reaching down, calmly pressed her hand onto the floor, "we need to discuss how ready Sandy is to be presented to the other Jedi." She felt several small bits of durasteel dig into her palm and continued to speak as she used a touch of the Force to cause the metal filings to pass through her skin into the small veins and arteries. "She is ready emotionally and spiritually, but I am not sure how much of her physical and combat skills you have been working on." After just a few seconds, the small cuts on her palm had already healed and whatever blood seeped out had been reabsorbed into her body. "Her connection to the Force is strong, but does she have the knowledge and control to be recognized as a Knight?"

Once making sure Sandy was settled and not in any sort of danger of relapse into darkness, Adenna centered herself and began catching up on some Galactic events from articles downloaded from the Holonet before they made the jump to hyperspace. She sensed that now wouldn't be an opportune time to approach Tobias, but that would come. While she studied what had happened, she pondered a great deal of things, namely how she fit into things now that she wasn't running around Thalassia. She needed to know where she fit among the Jedi, how she would follow the Light, and where it may guide her. She was confident in her assessment of Sandy's spiritual and emotional readiness, but knew the young woman needed to prove herself to other Jedi. Now, though, Adenna had complete confidence that it was no longer a matter of if Sandy would become a Jedi Knight, but when. She wished her confrontation could have been more controlled, but for it to be effective, she needed to spring it unexpectedly and when Sandy herself was at her lowest. Only at that breaking point could the young woman's true self emerge. Any planned test would have put her on guard and let her continue to fool herself with her darkest emotions. It had been a risk, but one that had paid off and left her apprentice stronger for it. Regarding Tobias: he had not immediately resorted to anger or outrage, but instead embraced the Light and sought calm and serenity. Further, he stood against his own mirrored image and stopped the Abomination and its partner. She wasn't sure what to do with them, but she did not believe it was wise to allow the Abomination to continue living. Sarah was a different matter altogether, but that was something that was Tobias' responsibility. At last, when she grew tired of reading and felt the time was right, she approached Tobias' quarters. They were steamy and needed a good airing out, but she had faced worse. Tobias was not unpleasant to look at in his current state, but that was not her purpose yet. They had a lot to catch up on and so they did. They talked for a good deal about a great many things. Many pieces of his actions began to fit together in her mind and she couldn't help herself but be a bit impressed at the skill and forethought he used in building the Jedi forces. She was glad that he was serving the Light rather than the Darkness. When they were done, she quickly admired his work. His larger weapon was quite the curiosity, but seemed to be a bit too much for her tastes. She preferred her simple wood lacquered hilt with its normal and stun settings, but to each their own. Her admiration of Tobias' handiwork eventually turned into admiration of the man's body. Still, he was quite unpresentable in his current state. Being covered in sweat wasn't exactly her thing, and the injuries on his head needed tending to. After summing up her reasoning and explaining her past with Jidai Geki and the nanites, she smiled at him. "If you wish, I can quickly heal your head. It wouldn't take much, and it might help you learn more about healing itself. When we are finished and you are healed up, perhaps a shower? If you are particularly nice, I may even continue to tend to you there..."

Blood streaked down the walls, turning what had once been a flawless white surface to one covered in red, green, and even a little dark blue. The reek of feces and human filth assaulted her nostrils, as did the cries of the dying. There were three individuals standing before her, but they were far outnumbered by dismembered bodies and two limbless victims. Even as she stood there, lightsaber drawn and lit, the cries of the dying faded away as they bled out. The three individuals stared at her without any sense of regret in their eyes. In truth, they were strangely calm about facing a Jedi in a room with no exits except the one she stood in. That didn't concern her, not in the least because though they had killed dozens of helpless slaves, their end was upon them. Justice would be short and swift and she would issue it without remorse. As the four stared each other down, she flicked the switch that turned her orange lightsaber from a low powered training level to its full, supremely lethal strength. As one, all four sprang into action, though that action was over in mere seconds. Cleavers and hatchets of durasteel were simply no match for a lightsaber wielded by one seasoned in how to use it. She wasn't a helpless, unarmed slave, she was a Jedi and had years of practice with her weapon. Two of the three slavers never even felt the blow that killed them. Pieces of them were strewn among the parts of their victims. The third, though, was no so lucky. Not at all. That third one, a Niktu, now missing both of his arms at the elbow, was on the ground atop the various limbs of the slaves he had helped kill. Standing above him was one quite angry Jedi who was not in any mood to be merciful. Instead of finishing him off with her lightsaber, she choose a different weapon. A simple gesture with her free hand froze her victim in place. She shut off her lightsaber and drew a regular knife. Without any expression, she pierced her forearm and let some of her blood flow onto the confused and terrified Niktu's face. Once several dozen drops had landed, she paused a moment to stop the bleeding and moved to her new purpose. Nanites from her blood seeped into the Niktu's pores and began their new, terrifying purpose. While she could heal and cure most all injuries and diseases with them, she could also use the microscopic machines to inflict ghastly damage and carnage. Now that her purpose was finished, she turned to leave the room. Even before the door closed, the Niktu began shrieking as the nanites began activating every single pain receptor in his body. His agony would overload his nervous system so much that he would die a slow, agonizing death that was, unfortunately, vastly quicker and more merciful than the lives and deaths of the thousands of slaves he had presided over. She felt no remorse or regret as she left. Justice had been done and there were three fewer slavers in the Galaxy. "I know of your efforts back home. The details are vague, and I would like to hear your recounting of that adventure. On Thalassia, what you've been doing these past few years," Tobias said. Adenna smiled at those words, thinking of all that she had been through and done on and around her homeworld. She smiled again at his joy at receiving a compliment from her. Oh, she was glad for it because it showed he was able to appreciate the simplicity of goodness instead of constant deceit and hatred. "Yes, it is. Many good things come from the Light, only pain and heartache come from the Darkness. I may tell you of my time on Thalassia, but not today." She heard the comms report they were approaching their destination. "We better get to the bridge." Before she got up, she leaned in and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Let's go see this new station of yours."

Adenna sat silently as Tobias explained what he was doing and why they were on this mission. For a half minute after he finished, she said nothing, but instead searched the Force for how to respond. Things around the man were quite clouded, but that in and of itself didn't mean anything. He had secrets, but then, so did she and almost everyone else. Some of those secrets had been laid bare now, but there were others. She didn't mind it so much: everyone had a right to some privacy and it wasn't as though they were married or anything. If only he knew some of the things she had done on Thalassia over the last few years, he may look at her in a different light. "I am very glad you are telling me these things," she said at last. "I agree, we need to do something about the Sith, they have been growing and killing for too long." She stood up and smoothed her robes. Her hand, while healed, itched slightly from the new skin there, but it was irrelevant. "I have always wondered why the Jedi were so content to not fight and held themselves back too much. Make no mistake, I serve the Light, but there are times when I can almost understand the mentality of 'ends justify the means.' It is a dangerous path to take and not one that any Jedi should do. Almost always, it leads to the Dark side and utter destruction. Too many find themselves becoming what they are fighting, but I don't think I have to tell you that. "The most difficult thing for a Jedi is to find where the line is and to stay on the right side of it. I absolutely believe that Jedi can go on the offensive against evil. I proved that when I brought the Jedi to Thalassia and later when I helped lead the attack on the Sith Temple. Aggression should be shunned, but attacking those who have already attacked you or committed atrocities is not aggression, it is justified action. The Sith have always been our enemies and will always be. They have attacked us so many times that it can't be counted. Therefore, any attack against them is justified and will get my full support." She sat back down and put her hand on his lap, not inappropriately, but intimately. "I am honored you trusted me with this information and choose me to help keep you in the Light. I will help you with this mission and help you navigate the boundaries so that I don't have to kill you." She smiled warmly at him and teased, "It would be an utter shame if I did, such a waste of good potential."

Though she remained completely motionless, inside, Adenna was pleased at her apprentice's efforts. Frustration was often a foil of students, but Sandy kept hers in check and both completed the task at hand and trusted in her teacher to guide her. She kept most of that emotion sealed off, but allowed a very small part of it to bleed out where her student could sense it. What was next could not be conveyed in words, but had to be shown. Though it wasn't as easy as using the nanites that coursed through her blood, Adenna still remembered how to heal the "natural" Jedi way. Making sure to keep their shared connection in the Force strong so Sandy could sense what she was doing, Adenna's attention went not to drawing cells and sealing off the wound as Sandy had done, but to reaching out to the very cells near the wound to stimulate their cellular division. In a matter of seconds, the cells near the cut were reproducing at astronomical rates spurred on by the Force. These new cells formed fresh skin and fat while reconnecting severed muscles and blood vessels. Throughout the process, she gently guided the cells, but most of it was left to the Force and her own body's natural instinct to heal. Within a minute or two, the cut was gone replaced by a slightly pink strip of new flesh that would, over the next couple of days, blend into the rest of her hand without so much as a scar. When it was finished, Adenna pulled back from the shared Force connection and took a deep breath. She loved healing, it was one of the most purely Light things that anyone could do, even if it was to herself. "I do not expect you to master that just yet, but I sincerely hoped you watched and learned the basics. In the mean time, I want you to read upon the technique and let the experience guide you with those words to a deeper understanding of the skill. We will practice again this evening." She got up and rested her hand on Sandy's shoulder. "You did well in controlling your feelings. Tonight, I will let you do the entire healing if you can." Adenna went to where she could sense Tobias in his quarters. Though she had been focused on the healing, her situational awareness had picked up some very odd things from him and she was curious about what he was up to. She didn't want to just barge in, though it seemed as though a droid was taking interest in her desire to talk to its owner. "Yes, I would like to speak with him," she told it.

Once her and Sandy's packs were stowed in one of the cabins, Adenna took her apprentice to the small common area and sat down with her legs crossed on the cold floor. She could tell Tobias was rather busy, so she would let him do his work and see what she could do to begin Sandy's training. "It has been some time since we last met," she said, "and I can feel that you have learned much of the Force." Calmly, she reached to her belt and pulled out a small knife. "There are many ways to hurt, maim, and kill in this Galaxy, so many that it is an easy thing to do. Far more difficult is the ability to do the opposite: to heal injuries and sickness is a far more noble, complex thing. "I did not choose to focus on healing, but the Force had plans for me regardless. Due to my terrible injuries suffered at the hands of Jidai Geki, I was cursed and blessed with nanites that I can use to cause harm of healing. It comes at a cost, so it is not entirely a boon. I will not inflict that upon you, but I do believe it is time for you to learn how to heal others." Without blinking, she ran the sharp edge of the knife along her palm, slicing through skin and drawing blood. The pain was easy to shunt away and ignore: it was nothing compared to some of the injuries she had suffered. In a calm, serene voice, she started her instructions. "You know the basics of healing, it is time for you to learn to take that and build upon it to learn how to affect that on others. To do so, you need to look at me through the Force. Sense the flow of my body and sense where that flow is disrupted and in chaos. Your job is to bring that discord into balance by stretching out your own essence through the Force and merging it with mine. Once you have done that, you can more easily control what is happening in my body. Just as you do with your own body when you are in a healing trance, you need to stimulate my body's own natural healing abilities. You need to use the Force to promote a renewal of life, a rapid repair of my tissues, and a rebirth of cells. "You won't instantly heal my cut, but you should be able to stop the bleeding and get me well on the way to a rapid recovery. In time, when you are able to do this in others, I can show you how to combat disease and perform more complex healing. If you truly excel at healing and wish to take it further, I will be honored to show you how to heal and cure at a molecular level. Those results can be quite impressive, but for now," she said as she extended her bleeding hand, "I need you to start with my hand. I will guide you some of the way, but you must learn to do this on your own."

Much to her approval, Sandy was rather quick at responding. There was something to be said of a good apprentice who responded with haste while being prepared. "Of course things are alright," she said, "though please call me Teacher, not master. We are going on a small adventure with an old friend, Tobias Vos. It seems that our time with him helped plant a seed of Light that sprouted while we were apart. He has some tasks that need completing and I feel it may be a good opportunity to learn on the job. This time, though, please do as I say and don't go wandering off too far. You have learned much and grown well, but that doesn't mean you are fully ready to face the horrors that this Galaxy can offer. I only hope to be able to show you the goodness among those horrors. Even though recently released entertainment media may provide the sense that hyperspace travel is near instantaneous, it actually does still take some time so we will be able to continue your training." Though Sandy was well prepared, Adenna was not expecting a trip so soon. They had to return to her room to pick up her own bags. The process took about three minutes since she had barely unpacked since arriving so they were soon on their way to the landing pad. All told, less than fifteen minutes after she and Tobias parted, Adenna and Sandy were on his shuttle and ready to leave.

Adenna remained standing still, watching Tobias as he ascended the stairs he had so unceremoniously slid down earlier until he was gone. As she did so, she opened herself to the Force, sensing all she could and trying to determine the best outcome for the future. She would go where things took her and deal with whatever the Force put in her path. Now, she needed to find her Padawan. Using the link between them, she sent out a summons to Sandy as she started walking at a brisk pace to where she could sense the girl. The Temple wasn't particularly large so she was fairly confident that she would track down Sandy fairly quickly.

"A search for knowledge is not to be considered shameful, but be careful that you do not go down into the seductive but forbidden roads leading to the Darkness," Adenna warned. "There are things that nobody should know, things that only bring about evil, death, and corruption." She didn't really need to use the Force to see that Tobias was more than happy to have her holding his hand. She wasn't exactly disappointed with that fact or his interest, but she was still too cautious to give into it. She had learned that the Galaxy was a complicated place. While she had her share of flings in the past, she had learned to guard against them until trust could be built. "That depends on where you are going," she said to answer his question. "Teacher Dahar charged me with training one of the Padawans, and coincidentally, Sandy Sarna is here right now. I still believe in hands on teaching, so as long as whatever you are doing isn't going to be too insane for a Padawan to join us, I should have no problem with joining you." She flashed him a large, genuine smile and radiated a small bit of bemusement at the thought of how she may have dashed some of his not-so-subtle dreams of getting her into a shuttle alone. There may be time for that sort of fun if things unfolded that way, but she was a Jedi first and had responsibilities.

Adenna's features softened once more at Tobias' response. She wanted, no, needed him to understand that she could and would end him if he returned to the Darkness. "Of course I will help you," she said quietly. "I made the offer before and it is still there." She reached out and gently took one of his hands in both of hers. "I need you to know why I said that. I wouldn't kill you out of vengeance or hatred, but out of compassion. Those who know only the Darkness and have had no chance to experience the Light deserve pity. They know no better and thus can be pitied for their ignorance while being given a chance to come to the Light. That is why I worked with you even though you embraced the Darkness: you deserved a chance to know the warmth of the Light." With a deep breath, she continued, "However, those who knew the Light and fall to the Darkness do not deserve pity, but compassion. Those people fall into evil while knowing better and it destroys them far worse than those born into the Darkness. I would kill you to spare you that terror and hatred and corruption. It is compassion for your soul that I would kill you and spare whatever was left of your soul from further degradation and damnation. That isn't to say that I would act if you briefly touch the Darkness again. Everyone does that now and then, myself included. Only if you embrace it and let it consume your soul would I strike you down." She stared at him with her piercing blue eyes. Her voice good a more grave, almost desperate tone, "Please tell me you understand what I am saying. I need you to understand that before I can join you on your journey, wherever that may take us."

Adenna listened with both her ears and the Force to what Tobias had to say. She wasn't entirely sure what to make of the man because there was far more going on with him than was on the surface. There was a lot he said that she was very glad to hear, but even he admitted things were complicated. She wasn't quite sure if she could embrace him as a fellow Jedi, but she felt that she could at least stand beside him as an ally. As he said, she would have to see how he really was to believe him fully. "I am glad that you have come to see the Light and are trying to do some good in this Galaxy." She had heard something happened on Gala, but wasn't too sure of the details surrounding it. She had no idea what this monolith that Tobias was talking about was, but if it scared him to the Light, then it had to be truly terrifying. "You are seeing what I and other Jedi have always seen: that there is true evil in this Galaxy that must be stopped before it destroys everything." She smiled faintly and let a bit of warmth into her voice. "I sincerely hope you do stay on the path of Light and do not waver. I cannot tell you how glad I am when I sensed you here no longer completely covered in the Dark." Any trace of softness vanished and her eyes grew hard and cold, "If you do fall back into the Dark and take the Jedi with you, I will kill you myself without remorse."

As she kept heading toward where she sensed Tobias, Adenna was pleased when she realized he had picked up her presence and came her direction. She was not, however, expecting him to slide down a banister to greet her. "Hey there, beautiful. How's it goin?" The sight of him behaving in such a genuinely childish manner contrasted greatly with the seemingly mature and controlled man she saw up in the Council Chambers. She found that she wasn't quite sure how to handle such a response, though her time dealing with politicians taught her to show as little as possible while stretching out to sense what she could. He was nervous, and that was an interesting thing. She wasn't exactly the picture of complete serenity herself, but she wasn't nearly as nervous as she believed he was. She was not quite sure if his words were genuine or if he was attempting to throw her off and keep her off balance. Feeling ever the old mother despite being fairly confident she was younger than Tobias, Adenna cocked an eyebrow and crossed her arms across her chest. "I appreciate the compliment," she said evenly as she fixed him with a blank stare. "Though I was more interested in discovering what you have been up to in the last few years than trading compliments. I am particularly intrigued as to how you went from rejecting my offer to learn the Jedi way to being a trusted friend of the Grandmaster."

When Dahar approached her, Adenna's stomach knotted up in anticipation of her punishment. To her surprise, instead of punishing her, the leader of the Jedi praised her work and promoted her to the rank of Master--a title she wasn't exactly thrilled with but a position that she admired. She wasn't sure if she deserved it, but she would not question her teacher. Even more importantly, he was sounding the call to take action, something she had long wanted. She was tired of seeing evil overrun the Galaxy without checks. It was time for things to change, for things to start going the way of the Light Side. "I thank you," she whispered as she bowed her head in respect. "I wholeheartedly support your desire to see justice reign and to wage war against evil. I did it on Thalassia, I helped do it on Coruscant against the Sith Temple there. I will give my life to fighting the Sith and their supporters. As for Tobias Vos, he is changed, that much I can see. I will trust your judgment about him. I will also do as you said and finish what I started with the girl Sandy. She knows some, but has much to learn before she can stand on her own." She bowed once more and retired from the Council Chambers. There were so many things she wanted to do. So many Jedi were here that it felt like the Force was humming. It took a little to analyze what she was feeling and focus on two sources: the thread that took her to Sandy, the other that took her to Tobias. She paused briefly, unsure what path to take, then choose. She sent a small pulse out to Tobias, letting him know she was seeking him and to find her someplace with a little more privacy than the Council Chambers. She had business to finish with him and had a feeling that, between the two of them, they could find some sort of purpose for her and Sandy to take part of.

Adenna was still quite surprised at seeing Tobias here, but realized she needed to see what was going on before making further judgments. Instead of asking direct questions which could only corner him, she instead stood back a bit and contented herself on watching him interact with other newcomers. She recognized a couple of them, but not many. When Tobias introduced her, she smiled in acknowledgement, but knew enough to defer to the other, more prominent Jedi. She was surprised to see how open Tobias was with them, and how he genuinely seemed at ease. It was a far cry from the furtive man she knew in the past, a welcome change. Whatever had been happening to him, it was definitely for the better. She wasn't sure quite how to deal with that, but she was interested in seeing how it turned out. A good bit of her wanted to talk to him in private, but she didn't have time to do that. The Grandmaster had summoned her, so clearly he needed to speak to her and she was at his call. After a little time watching Tobias, she went over to Dahar and asked, "What is it you wish with me, Teacher?"

When Adenna entered the Council Chambers, she was relieved to hear her teacher Dahar greet her warmly. He didn't seem to be angry with her, so she wondered if maybe he was going to let her off lightly. It seemed that the Jedi had been fairly disorganized of late, so maybe he would just be grateful to have Jedi returning. "Thank you, Teacher Dahar," she said with a Jedi bow in return. "My path, though distant, has allowed me to grow." So wrapped up in her anticipation of punishment, she didn't realize there were others in the chambers as well. One of them approached and caught her attention. She realized that she knew him from somewhere, though where exactly didn't hit her until he spoke, "Well, there you are. Welcome back, Adenna." Her first and most immediate instinct was one of shock. A few years ago, she would have allowed that shock to freeze her into place, but not after all that she had been through. Her hand went to her lightsaber as her mind struggled to process what was going on. Her mind managed to override her instinct as she realized what happened. Instead, she stood upright and slightly on guard, ready to spring into defensive action but not threatening attack. Instead of immediately responding, she paused to consider the situation. She had been so expectant of safety in this sacred place that she had not even considered that there would be a threat within this room. That was a failure, one she would never have made back on Thalassia. The second thing that occurred to her was that she should have been able to sense Tobias Vos long before entering this room. She had been distracted, but there was more to it. As she stood there, she reached out to sense the man's presence. He was, as usual, drawn in upon himself, but he couldn't hide everything, not in this place and not to her. She hadn't sensed him because he had changed quite drastically over the last few years. The darkness hadn't left him entirely, but he was far farther along the path she had sensed when they first met. If he had still been a threat, she doubted that Teacher Dahar would have allowed him access to this place. She trusted her old teacher's judgment on this matter and relaxed slightly. After several long seconds of staring at Vos, one corner of her mouth perked up slightly. She had planted seeds and watered them, but sometime over the last few years, the tendrils of light had rapidly began to replace the rot of darkness in him. She was very glad to see that he had made the choices needed to end up here. "Here I am indeed," she said. Despite the realization of his choices, the surprise of the situation kept her voice from being too warm. She didn't quite know what all he was about and would reserve her judgment until she could speak to him further.