Sopher phone home

[Allyson Locke]

Sciath stood at the base of the temple. It had been a long road to get here, he was surprised he still remembered how to get here. He stood there just watching in awe as night had fallen before he could arrive. He had lost everything, the girl he loved, his master, and a beloved friend. There was no one left for him. He clung to the darkness, hoping that it would consume him and create a creature that could no longer feel his plight. Yet, it never came. The only thing that made sense for him now was to return home.

Tired, he lurched forward feeling the steps of the temple under his feet. Lightsabers fell from his legs and they clinked while they rolled down the steps. Its seemed the secluded and quite temple was asleep like the rest of the world. A heavy fist hit the door, over and over again. Through the force pain resonated from him. Would he be allowed back? Could he be saved?

[member="Hal Terrano"]

 

[Hal Terrano]

Hal Terrano frowned.

Ever since Manaan he had been caught in a situation of having to cook for himself. It had turned out that insulting the cook garners no broth, and after telling Avalore that her nyorks were undercooked and giving him issues upon the toilet the healer declared that she would never cook for them again. Thankfully with profuse apology he had managed to change that never to a sometimes.

That still left him in a position where the Knight had to return to the kitchen...

...where he was proceeding to steam the living daylights out of everything, the fish, the vegetables, even the rice was over-steamed, leaving his dish to be pale, rubbery and tasteless.

Right as Hal had sat down to eat, the echo of loud knocking swooped in as a thankful distraction. Oh well, he'd have to eat it later. What a pity. However his relief turned to concern the closer he got to the temple entrance. This wasn't the Avon'ika lady, there was a presence stained by darkness here. Suddenly Hal was on alert, pale brows furrowing with a hint of concern.

He opened the large front door, and a glacial blue stare came to met the ragged man that was waiting outside.

“Can I help you?”

[member="Sciath"], [member="Sabena Shai"]

 

[Sabena Shai]

While on Cato Nemoidia, Sabena had been instructed to assist [member="Hal Terrano"] at the Jedi Temple by her Master. She obliged her Master and soon found the SPOKESMAN FOR OATS and assisted him in many of his archival duties. In the process, this allowed Sabena to gain access to more material to do research in topics of her interest. Hal would have had to opportunity to know at least two: human psychology and persons of interest due to the war against the One Sith.

Instead of eating with Hal, Sabena had been busy with other tasks. She was in the foyer of the Temple when she noticed Hal rush for the door. The curious young woman decided to follow. The sun had begun to set on this side of Cato Nemoidia. Sabena’s eyes caught the glare of it, thus she reactively pulled up a hood that shadowed half of her face. When she moved toward the threshold of the Temple doorway to see [member="Sciath"], only the lower half of her face and a few locks of hair could be seen. She stood to the side of Hal and a little behind.

Slightly pink lips in a relaxed position greeted Sciath. She opened her mouth slightly at the sight of the man - as if surprised by his ragged appearance. Golden, blonde hair could be seen draped in front of her collarbones.

Sabena did not speak. She appeared to think that Hal thought the wisest words that could have been said, especially in the presence of a man that looked suspicious.

 

[Allyson Locke]

A man answered, despite Sciath knowledge of Diana’s death he still expected the woman to answer. This place was her frequent home away from home, but the more he thought about it was his as well. Regret started to formulate inside of him, a common struggle he felt as he continued to live. Diana wouldn’t answer the door to Cato anymore, Daella wouldn’t be there to give him the stern look when he was doing something moronic, and Evelynn wouldn’t be there when he needed someone to just be there. His lips moved, but no words formed between the rough groans. Looking towards Hal, the man’s face was oddly familiar – possibly they had passed in the halls back when Sciath was a Jedi.

He stared at the man for a small amount of time, trying to come up with the words that he needed to express. Sciath caught something from the corner of his eye, it put his guard up as he assumed it was going to turn into a fight. As the figure moved closer, blood shot eyes zeroed in on the blonde hair and the soft features that were visible enough. His first thought was to call her by Evelynn’s name or Daella’s, but the sight of the girl returned him to his senses. Both were gone. Looking back towards Hal, he struggled to speak, “Home. I want to come home. Help me.”

[member="Sabena Shai"] [member="Hal Terrano"]

 

[Hal Terrano]

Despite his stoic tones and stern face, Hal Terrano very much held the capacity to be a compassionate man. It just wasn't in the manner in which most were accustomed. He wasn't warm, he didn't smile or was never seen to be laughing but his stunted personality was at fault there, not his kindness.

Other more vigilant Jedi would have called for imprisonment, sever the lost man's connection to the force, a few more dangerous elements might have even demanded death, claiming that those who embrace darkness can never truly return to the light.

Not Hal Terrano, he was a believer in redemption and had the patience to back it up.

A glance was spared backwards to [member="Sabena Shai"], one that suggested alertness, as if it even had to be suggested in the first place. The problem with redeeming those that fell was that not all who came knocking were seeking atonement. The Dark Side of the force always did lean upon the deceptive.

“We will help you,” he reassured, opening the door wider to suggest welcome, “please, come in.”

Inwardly Hal noted how tired this man was and thus offered a following statement.

“Lean upon me if you need to.”

[member="Sciath"]

 

[Allyson Locke]

He was willing to help, there was a stability in the force that Sciath had only felt one other time in his life. The feeling reminded him of his Master, someone he leaned on several time before here. Hal’s welcoming gesture was something he didn’t expect. He remembered the heretic speeches and the quick imprisonment of those that dabbled in the dark side. As Sciath took a few more steps forward he stood near Hal, he was grateful that he wasn’t going to be a hushed execution and that cracked a smile against his bloodied face.

Dragged feet stopped as he took a moment to catch his breath. The journey to find the temple on Cato was a blur, he couldn’t’ remember the past few months – probably shut them out due to his failures. Looking at the door then towards the two Jedi, Sciath did his best to push on using his own strength. In the end though as they moved down the long hallway towards the kitchen, Sciath took Hal’s offer and leaned upon him. The weight of the world still crashed down on his back, but he was ready to push it off, to give it back to the dark side.

As they entered the kitchen, Sciath looked towards Hal, “Why are you helping me? Most would have struck me down for the betrayal, for my Master’s betrayal.” As he spoke, he looked around the kitchen, he smelled food and he was curious if the woman had followed them. He had to keep reminding himself that his past, the ones he promised to protect were no longer there.

[member="Hal Terrano"] [member="Sabena Shai"]

 

[Sabena Shai]

As soon as [member="Sciath"] gazed upon Sabena, she tilted her head back. The top half of her face was still obscured by the hood. Yet as soon as the man announced his intention to return to the Jedi, a faint smile appeared on the young woman. Surely with that much, it might have appeared to Sciath than even Sabena would approve of him becoming a Jedi once more.

When [member="Hal Terrano"] glanced at Sabena, the woman stepped back just once. She seemed to understand the Jedi Knight’s implications with such a gesture. She turned away from the opening of the door as Sciath entered only to be the one to close it once he passed with Hal as his guide.

After the door had been sealed, Sabena followed Hal. She stayed behind Sciath and examined the weary man. His height, body structure, hair, and eyes all matched that of another Jedi that had betrayed the Jedi Order. Sabena spent much of her time learning of the individuals that had left the Jedi Order, such as Daella Apparine, Vulpesen Terrevaso, and many others. The past, at least of what was written by the Jedi, of the man before her was just at the surface of Sabena’s mind.

Once they had reached the kitchen, Sabena had lowered her hood. When Sopher looked around the kitchen, he would have seen her full face and rather straight hair. As he had already though, she would have seemed to appear just as Daella or Evelynn - and possibly even Spencer, his base. Even aspects of the women in Sopher’s past might have been apparent in Saben. She had frailty much like Evelynn. - nearly matched her height and build, too. She maintained a very calm demeanor - despite a Sith standing just next to her - much as Daella had always strived to maintain as either Jedi or Sith. Yet, there seemed to be a level of compassion the man’s Master never displayed.

When Sopher asked of Hal’s reasoning for helping the known Sith, Sabena merely went to a little appliance on a cabinet top. She opened a drawer and procured a plastic cup - roughly twelve ounces. She used the appliance to fill it with water.

Before Hal could answer, Sabena turned around and approached Sopher. In silence, she gently stretched her arms toward the man - offering the drink.

 

[Allyson Locke]

Sciath gaze was interrupted as he was offered the glass of water. It was then when he looked at the cup, he realized how thirsty he was. Pausing, he remained staring at the glass and then glanced up at the woman. Her face soft and he quickly was drawn to the familiarity of the women who were once in his life. He remained frozen as he stared at her, specifically into her cool blue eyes. They were a heavy contrast to his bloodshot, dark tainted yellow. The corner of his mouth broke his frozen gaze as it moved upward into a smile.

“Thank you.”

He reached for the cup with his large hand, it was cool to the touch but her fingers were warm as he brushed them with his. Bringing the glass to his lips, he closed his eyes and relished in the refreshing water. [member="Sabena Shai"]

 

[Sabena Shai]

Just as [member="Sciath"] smiled, so did Sabena as she displayed a gentle, upward curve of her lips. Her eyes gazed at the dark side corrupted yellow ones of Sopher. From the woman seemingly came no judgment, yet she was constantly observing - examining - the man. After a brush of her fingers against Sopher’s, she released the glass as soon as it was firmly in the man’s hands.

Then, Sabena gave a silent, mute gesture to a chair next to him. To Sabena, his legs seemed to be weary from his journeys. A seat and some rest could do wonders in making him more comfortable. Plus, it might appear from Sabena’s demeanor and subtle expressions from her face that she wished for Sopher to relax as [member="Hal Terrano"] seemed to prepare more porridge and oats.

 

[Hal Terrano]

Perhaps he was looking for an excuse to rid himself of that plate of rubberised fish and vegetables, or perhaps in his empathy Hal knew that this man needed a good feeding. As the spokesman for oats there was only one option in his mind, and it was definitely not steamed.

A sense of reassurance filled the Knight as the fallen man took up the offer to lean upon him. Pride could be a tricky demon and Hal was glad to see that it was of no consequence here as he lead him to the dining table, and more importantly a seat.

Mind completely set upon porridge he'd actually forgotten to answer the man's question, leaving the hosting up to Padawan Shai.

Porridge oats, water (as if Hal would be adventurous enough to use milk), pinch of salt and on for the boil. Then the socially stunted Jedi finally realised that he had been spoken to. He looked up at the pair of blonde heads before him. It hadn't been a particularly difficult question posed, at least not for Hal.

“Helping those in need is a foundation of being a Jedi,” he said plainly, assuming his natural position of arms folded across the chest, “if our brothers and sisters fall, we must be there to pick them up.”

[member="Sciath"], [member="Sabena Shai"]

 

[Allyson Locke]

Taking the seat that the girl had gestured too, Sciath felt the weight of his body slump. It didn't register how tired he was or how his body was ready to give out. The smell of oats filled his nose along with the rubberized fish and vegetables. He was at the point that would eat his own shoe if it meant the gurgles of his stomach would subside. The older Jedi, the one that had brought him inside seemed determined to make the oats and to continue to provide a service, it didn't’ bother Sciath much - he had company with the girl. Rough features softened the best they could, scars along his face showing the wear and tear of the dark side bent and creased as he relaxed.

The water in the glass was finished quickly and it was Hal’s turn to respond to him. Hal was a different kind of Jedi, so was the girl who was kind and warm. They were something that he had read about when he was at the academy. They were the kind of Jedi he wanted to be, he chose his saber though and the route to punish those who had turned away. It was why he had expected to be slaughtered - at least then he’d be home with his Master, Diana and Evelynn. “The Jedi seem different or you’re just a different kind. I am grateful to have run into you two instead of ones that would rather see me rot in a cell.”

Sciath nodded a few more times to emphasize his point. “I’m sorry, I haven’t given you my name. I’m Sci--” He paused, his name was something that was given to him while in the Sith. He wanted to be a Jedi, he wanted to return to how he used to be - it took him a moment to remember his given name. “My name is Sopher.” He looked at the empty cup, he wanted more water, but decided not to push his luck he was still wary about the two despite their warmth.


[member="Hal Terrano"] [member="Sabena Shai"]

 

[Sabena Shai]

The clunk of the glass [member="Sciath"] had drank from rang out in the room. Just a second later, there was a faint thud as Sabena placed another class full of water in front of Sopher - just by where the empty glass was. She then took the empty glass from the table and disappeared behind Sopher.

 

[Allyson Locke]

Sopher smiled happily, the water was honestly the best he had tasted. Taking a sip again, he continued to drink. The refreshing liquid energized him more than he could have ever imagined. Putting the now half empty cup back down, he looked towards [member="Sabena Shai"] , fighting the urge to call her Daella or even Evelynn. Now that he could fully see her face she had similarities, but she was warmer than both of them.

"You're very quiet. Thank you...what is your name?"

 

[Sabena Shai]

After giving [member="Sciath"] another glass, Sabena had moved over to a cabinet with a bowl of fruit. She took one from the bowl and moved toward the table and Sopher.

When Sopher asked for Sabena’s name, she replied with a gentle smile as she looked at him, “I'm Sabena Shai, Jedi Padawan.”

Then, Sabena offered the fruit that she took to Sopher so that he might have something to hold him over until [member="Hal Terrano"] was finished with the oats.

 

[Allyson Locke]

The padawan’s voice finally graced the air, Sciath paused as he took in and memorized the sound of her name. His brow wrinkled as he did his best to repeat her name in his mind, matching it to her face and no one else’s. Looking towards Hal, he watched the man make the oats, something that seemed to be harder than one could expect. Looking back towards Sabena he took the fruit and smelled it. The sweet smell of the natural sugars in the fruit brought a wider smile upon his face. Though before he bit into the fruit, he looked up towards Sabena and nodded. “Sabena. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Does your friend have a name?”

Sciath nodded over towards Hal. A soft chuckle escaped his throat, as he finally took a moment to eat the fruit. Sighing with satisfaction, he held the fruit near his mouth as he relished in the flavor. This was nothing like he had eaten in the past few months, he had forgotten what it as like to eat something so sweet. Another bite was followed by a soft sigh once more, kindness was something he could get used to again. Seeing that Hal was going to remain focused on his oats, Sopher brought his leg up and rested his ankle on his thigh. Leaning forward softly, the broad shouldered man leaned an elbow on his propped leg as he looked towards Sabena.

“You weren’t scared when I arrived at the door, you seemed more curious than anything. If you have questions you should ask them I have nothing to hide especially to those that have been beyond kind to me.”

[member="Sabena Shai"] [member="Hal Terrano"]

 

[Hal Terrano]

Both legend and fable tells us that the time needed to boil your oats to absolute perfection is two weeks.

That had passed now, and as excuses go, I've seen weaker.

It was true, there were less forgiving Jedi to drop onto the doorstep of. Was it their faults that they had hearts tinged with vengeance? Hal himself had been attempting to come to terms with his own humanity. It was no simple feat. Being human meant having emotions and needs, being a Jedi meant putting those things aside for the sake of others.

There were those that could crumble entire worlds with the Force, craft weapons blessed with power near incomprehensible, lightsaber duellists so in tune with their blade that defeat, to them, was nigh impossible.

Impressive, but not enough. Absolute selflessness was the ultimate feat.

“I am Hal Terrano,” he finally spoke, looking up as his oats began to simmer. Thankfully [member="Sabena Shai"] was here to pick up where Hal lacked in conversation. Otherwise it would have silence encroaching awkward territory for Sopher.

Speaking of…

“...the same Sopher of ventilation shaft fame?”