The Elder [Jedi Mission]

[Raydo]

Relos stepped off the small transport freighter and pulled the hood of his cloak up to provide some cover from the growing sand storm that was beginning to rise. The Jedi Knight scanned the crowd who was scattering in search of shelter from the coming storm.

He lowered his head again and began making his way to a small one room home that Jedi were using as safe house / staging area for operations on the planet. It only took him a few moments to arrive, but the time it took him to find the place the storm had brought his visibility down to nothing and sand stung as it pelted against his skin.

He ducked inside and shook himself slightly. As the door closed, he was met with the mostly silent room. There was not much here, a couple cots, a few chairs and some storage space. He sat down and ran his hand through his hair knocking a good bit of sand free.

For now, there was nothing to do but wait for the other Jedi who would be accompanying him to seek out a former Jedi who had been causing a bit of commotion for the Jedi operations in the area.

@Toasty

 

[Toasty]

Whoever made sand was an asshole, just straight up, it gets everywhere and nobody likes it. Ken blamed the dirty Sith. Since Sith and Sand both started with the letter S and were dirty. It made sense to him, and his rich guy attitude, and nobody could argue with the man about it. Ken would just talk over them and be very enthusiastic about how both the two crappy creations of the universe sucked. Wrapped around in, ugh - civilian clothes, the new grandmaster was very dedicated in telling him about how important it was to not just throw loads of credits at the head of this whole fiasco. This would need to be diplomatic she said, more like boring.

Speaking of boring, most of the buildings around the place were boring, just like the stupid sand that whipped up and made a mess of everything. Now that Ken thought of it, there was warnings about how rough Jedha got with it's sandstorms. No wonder the temple here got devoured by the crap. Speaking of sandstorms, there was one beginning to edge it's humpty dumpty stupid butt over to where the Jedi were meeting. Great. Stuck in a small hole in the wall with another person. Kenny sighed under the heavy cloth wrapped around his nose and mouth, opening the door to that hole in the wall and seeing the other Jedi had already arrived, well that was nice. Closing the door behind him, Ken maneuvered the cloth from his face and addressed the other man.

“Sand sucks.”

 

[Valen Pelora]

Valen sighed as the Puddle Jumper came into view. He needed a bath and meditation. The ordeal with the Guardians had taken a greater tole than he had anticipated. It was surprisingly difficult to watch Clovis join the Guardians. He knew it had been the right choice. The Jedi needed the Temple of Jedha reopened, the Guardians held the keys. With the Guardians accepting the Jedi home they could finally start restoring the ancient Temple. He missed his days traveling the Outer Rim, only worrying about the small problems before him. It was a selfish, but true, thought. Valen caught sight of the Puddle Jumper’s ramp lowered. The mousy figure of Alara waited at the end. He waved and Alara came running over.

“General, ah, um, I’m afraid the work isn’t done here.”

He furrowed his brow. “What?”

“General Garfield is addressing another of Jedha’s unique denizens, he was accompanied by another who is now unavailable. The information was passed to us.”

He hadn’t seen Kenny since Kessel. He wasn’t particularly interested in staying on Jedha but it would be nice to see his fellow General. The Jedi needed the Temple, and it made sense for the Generals to be involved.

“I’m going.” He did an about face and headed back towards the Holy City. “Better hurry General, a storm is coming.” He looked at the horizon. Alara was right, a sand storm of brewing. The storms of Jedha were notoriously brutal. He would not want to be stuck outside. Valen quickly made his way to the location indicated by Alara. He made it to the little hole in the wall right as the storm was hitting. He burst through the doorway and slammed it behind him. He was covered in sand. He smiled as he saw the sour look on Kenny’s face.

“What trouble have you caused this time?” Hopefully they could leave Jedha before they both were more sand than man.

@Toasty

 

[Toasty]

Well, this day was getting more fun. Sand everywhere and now another thing to grind on his sobriety, the symbol of no alcohol himself walked in the door and addressed him immediately. "There is sand - everywhere. That's the trouble." Kenny hadn't lied, he was still patting it off his shoulders and shaking it down his trouser legs onto the floor. Looking towards Relos, the General sighed and squeezed passed the man, then pressed a hand into a hidden stone which in turn opened a single person wide hallway into an adjacent meeting area. What was beyond was a mystery to Ken, but that was sort of the fun part. Mystery, something you can't throw money at.

Looking towards the two men, Ken gave a slight shrug as he grabbed a hold of his saber. "Which one of you is coming with?" He spoke before marching on into the darkness.

"First a giant angry lizard warlord, now peace talks with old men on a sand planet. Great."

 

[Valen Pelora]

Valen smiled at Kenny’s predictably crabby response. His fellow General was rarely content unless he was surrounded by the opulence of wealth. Kenny was anything but a traditional Jedi. It was a carefully crafted façade. He had seen the strength of Kenneth Garfield on Kessel. They had stood together against a true horror. Warlord Szebat had been captured at the hands of the two Generals and fateful ally. He’d gladly fight side by side with Kenny. There were few people who had his trust in the galaxy, the man that stood across from him was one of them.

“I couldn’t let you face an old man alone.” Valen’s smile grew wider. “Not sure you can handle it.”

The door to the adjacent meeting room slid open. He took one deep breath and walked through the door. He knew they would face staunch opposition. The Guardians may have relented but the ‘Elder’ would not be easily swayed. He found it difficult to blame the mysterious figure. He did not agree with the methods, inciting unrest did little good. The beliefs fueling the unrest were justified. The Jedi had left Jedha. They had abandoned the Holy City and the Temple. The people had every right to demand more of them. The ‘Elder’ spoke for many on Jedha. If they could convince him they would be one step closer to returning. Valen quickly scanned the room.

It was an austere circular room. A simple carved chair had been placed across from them. There was no other seating. The symbolism was not lost on him. The Jedi were not in the room long before another door grinded open. A clocked and hooded figure strode into the room and sat in the chair. He recognized Force sensitive immediately.

“Jedi.” Valen was uncertain what to say.

“My name is Valen Pelora, this is Kenneth Garfield. We have come to discuss the Jedi returning to Jedha.” He tried to keep his face neutral, this was already starting strangely.

@Toasty

 

[Toasty]

"Jedi." The old man said in a monotone which hinted at irritable bowels, and a frustration that there was indeed light side force users standing on the planet.

"Old man," Kenny retorted, five parts sarcastic, ten parts abrasive. For all the things that were terrible on the planet already, understanding fully why the Jedi of old left this force forsaken crap heap, there was something just absolutely lovely about being berated for holding a lightsaber. "We've come to bargain."

Ken held his head high, looking upon the hermit-y 'Elder', there was something inside Mr. Garfield that wanted to punch the old guy in the face and end it there. But the act of diplomacy was needed for such an occasion, which would contradict the want for punching. There was something to be said for a Jedi General who faced the Warlord of the Imperial Army and survived to withdraw the need for punching. The Jedi ways were mostly lost of Kenneth, but not all of them. The Knight who taught Ken, Tamaren, made sure to instill some of his good-nature into the then hot-headed young man for the now present.

"Here's the deal, we come and you stop being angry about it. Your people live awesome peaceful lives full of sand and peace, and we reinstate the wonderful Jedi Temple on this planet then go fight the big scary Empire trying to kill everything good in the galaxy. Sound good?"

"No."

Ken sighed, looking to Valen with waning patience. There was indeed much sand in Ken's trousers, and there was less and less time for pleasantries from the Corellian.

 

[Valen Pelora]

Valen could sense Kenny’s frustration. He didn’t blame his fellow Jedi. The Elder had agreed to this meeting but clearly had no interest in participating. Why agree to meet if there would be no resolution? There had to be a purpose behind summoning them. The Elder’s words gave him perilously little to go on. So far, the former Guardian had spoken all of two words. Valen had been part of some contentious negotiations. He had found solutions for families with decades of blood feuds. He was a capable diplomat but he could not convince a man who had no desire to change his mind. It was as effective as arguing with a bantha. Kenny was approaching the situation less than diplomatically.

“We understand your concerns. The Jedi left once and left Jedha vulnerable, you have every right to be disappointed in us. We are here to set things right. To make amends for the mistakes of our accentors. We need to be given the chance.” The Elder started blankly at them. Valen forged ahead. He saw no other option. “The Guardians have agreed to let us return. Let us show you what we showed them.” He waited for half a heartbeat.

“No.” Valen couldn’t keep the frown from his face. He was beginning to think the Elder had called them here just to embarrass the Jedi leadership. “Please, listen to what we have to say.” He kept his voice neutral.

“I have listened. It is the same as before. You will come. You will use Jedha and her people and you will leave. You will bring the Sith and your war with you. You preach peace and the light, but the stench of death hangs off you. The Jedi have not changed at all.” The Elder’s tone was laced with contempt. Valen sighed. At least the man was talking more.

@Toasty

 

[Toasty]

Kenny scoffed at the old man. The stench of death he spoke of, but little did he know it was not of atrocities the Jedi had committed. Surely many with sensitivity in the force could feel as the entire population of Tython, nonetheless the entire planet, scream out in terror as their lives were snuffed out nearly in an instant. The stench was not of any atrocity the Jedi could ever commit, as they were the ones battling for the balance of natural life and death, the question of if the old man knew of what happened to Coruscant was prevalent in Ken's mind. As the old man held onto his misguided disinterest in what the Jedi said, Ken walked full force into the man and grabbed the Elder by the robe, bringing their faces close as Ken leered at the man.

"You know nothing. Nothing of the terror of what the Empire did to Coruscant, the lives stolen by the Sith when their most powerful beings stood together and obliterated Tython. If death is poignant on our persons, then it is the weight of all the lives destroyed that rests on our shoulders to bring them justice. The Sith stand on mountains of corpses to build their power, while we give opportunity and life to dead and dying planets like Jedha."

Finally releasing the elderly man, noticing he had picked up the old man into the air and pretty much dropped the man on his ass, the frustration still held but Ken extended a hand.

"Valen already provided relief to your people. We'll wait while here while you get off your high horse and go listen to the people talk about how kessing awesome we are."

The elder extended a hand in dead silence, retreating into his passageway, leaving the pair in silence as they waited. Ken hadn't looked towards Valen, instead sitting in his anger with arms folded.

"Too dry here. I'm better when I have alcohol in me."

 

[Valen Pelora]

The meeting went from bad to worse. The Elder’s incredulous tone had struck a nerve with Kenny. Before Valen could intervene Kenny was inches from the Elder, a grabbing a fistful of robes, and berating the man. He didn’t hear everything Kenny said. His mind was busy whirring through ways to set this right. If he stepped in the Elder would know they were not united in their beliefs. They would never convince the man the Jedi had changed. If he did nothing the Elder was likely to never speak to them again. It was a choice without a choice. The decision was made for him.

Kenny unceremoniously dropped the Elder and stalked off. His pride wounded, the Elder scuttled away into the passageway. Valen could feel the Elder’s stark surprise and disappointment in the Force. Righteous anger poured from Kenny. The General wasn’t wrong. He knew Kenny felt strongly about his convictions. The Jedi were the only force in the galaxy holding the Empire at bay. The Republic was tumbling over the brink, descending into chaos. He had killed Sith and Imperial troops in the name of the Light. He would do so again. The Empire was a plague that had to be burned out. A part of him still detested violence, but he knew they had no choice. The Sith gave them no choice. Valen didn’t walk closer to Kenny, he merely spoke.

“You’re not wrong. You know I feel the same. We are all that is left standing against the Sith as the Republic crumbles.” He sighed. This was not as easy as he had thought it was going to be. “But the old man is not wrong either. We have become something different to defeat the Sith. I worry what we will become when there is no war left to fight. There are Jedi slowly slipping. That’s why we need to come back to Jedha and we can’t come back without the Elder’s blessing. The people will never accept us if he doesn’t. We have to make this right, as painful as it is.” He wished there was another way. He did not know how they would make amends with the Elder, only that they had to.

@Toasty

 

[Toasty]

Ken scoffed at the green man, speaking of how the Jedi had become something different. To Kenny, the Jedi hadn't done a transformation of the old Order into what the Army was today, it was something new - something stronger than what the Order tried to conform the Jedi into. Something Ken would never allow the Jedi to fall into while he was still breathing. "We're something different all right. The Jedi of old would have tucked tail and run, we're staying whether this sack of sand meat likes it or not." The ex-lobbyist leaned against the wall, thinking on how his life had been so straight forward until Coruscant had been taken from the Republic. How Valen was right, and that the powerhouse of peace that so many people believed in had become so weak in it's confidence. Just like the Sith recently. How even now, the subtle political maneuvers between the three forces - Sith, Jedi and Mandalorians - in the galaxy will shape it in the future after the Republic's fall.

In that thought, the Elder arrived with two people who looked like civilians, matted in sand and dirt. Removing their goggles, they stared at Valen in awe, but staying in silence behind the old bag of bones. The old man stared at Ken, who returned the glare in kind.

"My name is Oshan Garfield."

"Awh hell no." Ken spouted. "We are not related."

Ken's eyes focused in on Valen instead, refusing to look at the old man clearly decades older than Ken. "I'm from Corellia. Valen... Deal with this..."

Ken turned away to stare down the dark passageway they originally came from, fighting to contain the anger which Jedi so fervently despised. If this was some crap move to get sway over the two, it wasn't going to happen at Ken's expense.

 

[Valen Pelora]

Valen had little doubt the Army had become what the galaxy needed. What the galaxy had asked of them. The Order had become atrophied, paralyzed by indecision. Lives had been lost while the Council debated what was the right thing to do. The Army had simply done. He was uncertain what the future held. The path was not as clear, the Light fading. They needed to come home to Jedha. He had no idea how he was going to get the Elder back in the room. He offered a silent prayer. Valen’s prayer was answered. The Elder walked back into the room with two sand covered companions. He didn’t recognize the new comers.

Unsurprisingly, the Elder focused on Kenny. The tension between the men thrummed in the Force. The Elder spoke first and Valen’s jaw dropped. He shook himself to regain his composure. He closed his mouth and simply stared. He had no idea what the hell to do. He was thoroughly completely and utterly shocked. He did not blame Kenny for foisting the situation on him. If he had been in Kenny’s shoes Valen would have done the same. He tried to gather himself, turning to look at the assembled group.

“It would be best if we take a break, gather ourselves.”

There would only be one resolution to this matter. Kenny would have to work with the Elder. This was no longer a negotiation Valen could solve on his own. It could only be fixed if they figured out what truly upset the Elder.

@Toasty

 

[Zenya]

It seemed that with another mission, there was a new planet to be discovered by the young Jedi Knight. That was how it went with the Army. Constantly moving their pawns around the board to get things done. Luckily, Lanna was totally fine with doing the work of the Army. Something about the thrill. The work was interesting, and the opportunities were well worth the dangers. That's what made the Jedi so interrsting to be around. There were on a constant edge. The work they did turned the gears of the galaxy, and failure resulted in heavy repercussions. Sometimes she felt as if she could manipulate the chain of events that would soon come from the various missions that they were constantly completing.

It was at this time, Lanna had arrived on Jedha to assist in a very important negotiation. The Jedi needed to return to the planet so that they could once again get business done in that corner of space.

General Valen Pelora, and another Jedi she had not met, were inside a big fancy room, negotiating. Lanna waited outside, leaning on the door. To her left, was a guard. She had gotten to the capital building later than her fellow Jedi Knights. So she waited, expecting them to finish their work before she had to get involved.

Unfortunately that was not the case. She stumbled back, just as someone opened the door. He brushed passed her, and she regained her footing. He looked angry.

Peering back into the room, she met eyes with Valen.

Awkwardly, she stepped into the room, turning to the General, and the Elder.

"Hello, my name is Lanna Sigh. Jedi Knight. And if you need, I can assist in this negotiation..." she said, trailing off. Then she looked to Valen. "It seems things have gotten unnecessarily heated." Though, she could not be one hundred percent sure. She had only made the judgment based on what she just saw. "It looks like we could use a break... Why don't you come fill me in, Master Pelora?"

@Valen Pelora

 

[Valen Pelora]

The negotiations had fully broken down. Kenny had stormed from the room in a fit of rage. The Force was boiling with growing tension. Valen was disappointed in his fellow General. Kenny was an unconventional Jedi but he had always seemed to be able to put the needs of the Jedi first. He wondered if the stress of war and leadership was taking a toll on Kenny. He felt the weight of their responsibility but not like this. Such anger had no place in the heart of a Jedi. Perhaps Kenny was not fit for the roll he had been given. Valen let out a small sigh, that was a discussion for another time. He had to focus. They needed the Elder to change his mind.

The door slid open, revealing a familiar face. He had nearly forgotten Lanna was part of the detail brought to Jedha. She was young but a capable Jedi Knight. At that moment, he welcomed any interruption. The young Jedi wisely suggested they take a break. A break was exactly what they needed. The entire contingent was given an out while Valen spoke with Lanna. The unhappy Elder grumpily agreed.

“Fine. 5 minutes.”

Valen kept his face neutral as he walked towards Lanna. He pulled the girl back into the hallway and closed the door with a wave of the Force. Only then did he let out a massive sigh of relief. He took a deep breath and reached for the Lightside. The Force flooded through him as he brought peace to his mind.

“Thank you.” He paused. “Things are not going well. The Elder believes the Jedi are going to abandon Jedha for a second time. General Garfield took offense and assaulted the Elder, there is a possible familial relation I am not familiar with.” This had all taken a turn for the very dramatic. “The heart of the matter is we can’t return without the Elder’s approval, and we are miles away from that.” They needed to find a way to change the entire tone of the negotiations.

 

[Zenya]

She listened closely when the General pulled her aside into the hallway speak with her. Sucking in a breath, she processed everything they had going against them. The Elder believed that his planet would not simply be left on it's own by the Jedi, but left for the second time. Of course that seemed like a logical reason to decline the Jedi's offer. And this so called General Garfield, had made a terrible impression. Luckily Lanna could try very hard, and may have been able to pull off the image of likeability. After all, it wasn't too difficult for her to make friends and acquaintances. The only thing she would have to do was settle her confidence. It would be awful to bring yet another distasteful sample of Jedi negativity to the Elder's table.

"We need to be gentle with the situation," She said, crossing her arms. "He obviously doesn't trust us."

She looked up at the ceiling, and then back down, reaching for ideas. She did have one, but wasn't sure if it would be well received.

"If he can't trust us, he needs leverage. Something he can benefit from if we back out, and something the Jedi will suffer from if we don't keep our word." She paused. "Insurance."

She looked up, hesitantly to the General. She was just starting to get creative with various tactics and plans, finding it a thrill to take charge. Still, however, she looked for approval.

"Now what does he really want?"

@Valen Pelora

 

[Valen Pelora]

Valen could almost see the gears whirring as Lanna processed what they were up against. It was rewarding to see how far the young Jedi had come. He remembered the tentative timid girl that had stepped onto the forest floor of Endor’s moon. The woman he looked at now was strong and confident. A true a Jedi Knight. He had reservations about how the war was effecting the young generation of Jedi. Umbara had only deepened his worry. What Lanna displayed now put some of Valen’s concerns aside. Lanna was succeeding where Kenny had failed, miserably. It was heartening sight. He took a pause to consider what they needed to offer the Elder. He simply didn’t know.

“We must remember, we have given him no reason to trust us. All we have done is confirm what he thinks is true.” Kenny had done that part masterfully. “The Guardians of the Whills had similar reservations but were mollified when one of our own joined them. I doubt such an offer will appease the Elder.” He turned to stare at the door to the negotiating room. They needed something to offer. What could the Elder possibly want?

“You’re right we need to give him something. A reason to believe we won’t leave again. Our word is not enough.” He paused again. Fighting off an exasperated sigh. He was tired with constant politicking. “I don’t know what he wants. What he is truly looking for. What could we possibly offer him?” He had known Lanna too long to not be honest with her. This was not a teaching moment, they needed results. He put on his ‘General’ persona for most of the Jedi. Right then, he was simply Valen, and he was lost.

@Zenya

 

[Zenya]

At first, Lanna was flattered. The way Valen had been open, and complimented her by agreeing whole heartedly to her suggestion of insurance. She felt a bit of pride well up inside of her, bringing a spark of something positive to her eyes. The feeling however, was short lived when she realized Valen had no idea how to utilize the information, himself.

"Hmm.."

He seemed the slightest bit frustrated. and honest. She almost wanted to laugh in the moment, thinking it was actually pretty humorous to watch the Jedi Master she looked up to, so uncomfortable under pressure. In fact, she did crack a smile, raising an eyebrow.

"What a disaster," she said, covering her mouth. "Okay, okay. What about money? We could take an amount of money, and put it in a special place that can only be accessed if the Jedi leave Jedha. That way, they won't lose anything if the Jedi leave. Of course, the money doesn't really have to even exist, because the Jedi aren't going to be leaving anytime soon."She cracked her knuckles, continuing to think. "Or maybe we can just offer him money personally. To him or his children."

She leaned back on the wall behind her, and messed with the hem of her cloak.

"Or we could scrap the idea of money and figure something else out...?"

@Valen Pelora

 

[Valen Pelora]

Valen listened carefully to Lanna. She found his frustration amusing, he had half a mind to scold her. He refrained. He had not asked Lanna for her help because of a teachable moment or to act as a mentor. He had asked for her help because he needed it. Yet, every moment of their lives was filled with ways to learn. The young needed those moments more than ever. He had nearly forgotten just how young Lanna was. Nearly. Her suggestion they put aside credits or offer the Elder money quickly reminded him. Valen knew the ideas came from a good place, but that Lanna didn’t have much experience in these situations. This was about more than hurt pride and a disgruntled old man. The Elder’s convictions ran deep.

“We will never leave Jedha again. Our ancestors made a terrible mistake, one that we are paying for now. Unfortunately, we can’t literally pay. Money won’t change the Elder’s mind. This is old and runs deeper than we know. This is personal to him in a way we cannot understand.”

There wasn’t much information on the Elder. His true name had been hidden until it’s recent explosive revelation. The only thing they had known was the Elder had once sat at the head of the Guardians of the Whills. He had forsaken his duty to rally the Holy City against the return of the Jedi. The source of the Elder’s contempt had to be identified.

“We have to go back in. We have to pull from him why he looks at us like we look at the Sith. Only then can we unlock what is hiding in that old man. Only then can we offer him want he wants. It will not be easy, General Garfield did tremendous damage. We have to work fast, smart, and together.”

He headed back towards the door and placed a hand on the hefty stone. “And Lanna, I am trusting you. Fully. General Garfield has let the Army down. We cannot do the same.” He pushed open the door and walked back into the room. So, it began again.

@Zenya

 

[Zenya]

Lanna let out a long sigh when the General denied her bribery suggestion. Not bribery. Insurance.

They went back into the room where the Elder stood, and the young knight composed herself so that she could effectively speak to the elder with a mature, kind demeanor. Stepping forward, she was surprised to feel a firm grip on her arm. She looked up, at a masked guard, who halted her pace forward.

"Is everything alright?" She said, looking from the guard to the Elder.

"I'm afraid your visit has expired," she elder said, with a plain frown.

Lanna narrowed her eyes, processing what he had just said, before the guard began to lead her and the General, back out the doors, and down the hall.

"Wait! We weren't finished!" She called back, struggling a bit as they led them down the stretching corridor. She considered using the force to keep the guards away from her, but refrained. Instead, she tried to pull one of her shoulders out from the man's grip.

It was then that she paused, to look at a large portrait above her, on the wall. There was the image of a young man. He looked to be in his late twenties. It looked familiar.

"Oh!" She exclaimed.

She had forgotten such an important piece of information she had stored away in the back of her mind for if she ever needed it. This was a perfect time.

According to the information in several articles and documents she read, the Elder's grandson was weak as an infant, and his lack of health was catching up with him. The force had its limits, but maybe it could help. It was worth a try.

"We can heal your grandson!"

The guards continued to move them along for a few more moments, before the Elder stepped forward, and told them to stop.

Lanna brushed off the firm hands of the guards, and slowly turned to the elder.

"I know your grandson is ill, and has been for several years. He's getting worse, but Master Pelora and I might be able to do something about that." She swallowed. "If you give us a chance, that is."

@Valen Pelora

 

[Valen Pelora]

This is what Valen had feared. There were no apologizes or words that could repair the damage that had been done. There was an old saying, actions speak louder than words. Nothing they said would reverse Kenny’s choices. The Elder had made up his mind, the Jedi would not be welcome on Jedha. Valen admired Lanna’s steadfast attitude in defeat. She held her head high, shook the Elder’s hand, and tried to change his mind. There was nothing she could have done. They were being impolitely shoved towards the door. He stumbled slightly as he was pushed in the back. He pulled the Force around him, steading his body and mind. Lanna was resisting their departure rather vehemently. He turned to tell the young Jedi to leave peacefully when he heard the Elder. The pushing stopped and Lanna made her promise. He kept the frown from his face, a promise they might not be able to keep.

“Others have tried. Doctors, Guardians, even Jedi. No medicine and no working of the Force has healed my grandson. What makes you think the two of you will be any different.” Valen could sense the small flicker of hope in the heart of the Elder. This was a man who had hoped before, only to have those hopes dashed. Lanna had given them a chance. They needed to seize it.

“I have dedicated my life to healing. I purged the poison on New Ithor and purified the waters on Ryloth. I am the greatest healer the Jedi have had in a generation. With Lanna’s help, we may be able to heal your grandson.” He had never been a prideful man. He rarely espoused his own virtues but the Jedi needed this. If that meant he appeared conceited, so be it. His ego would recover.

“Fine. You may see him.” The Elder beckoned for them to follow. The old man turned and shot one last look over his shoulder. "But Jedi, this changes nothing.” Valen nodded. They would see about that. The small group headed down another hallway. A true challenge awaited the Jedi.

@Zenya

 

[Zenya]

Relief flooded the girl's system, and she settled down. It had worked. She actually pulled something successfully out of the back of her mind. Then, they were ready to proceed into their next challenge. Healing the Elder's Grandson.

Lanna was more experienced in the medical realm of healing, then force healing. Luckily she knew the basics. And even better than that, she had Master Pelora. His skills were much desired in this situation. It could be the determining factor of their success.

They were escorted down the hall to a room on the very end, where the Elder opened a wooden door that was intricately carved to let them in.

The room was dimly lit, and the outline of a bed was easily visible. Lanna almost held her breath as she stepped inside, as if she would be washed over with disease, otherwise.

Of course that didn't happen. Whatever his Grandson had, was a result of his own lack of health. It was a shame really. They all approached the bed, slowly and hesitantly peering over. The Elder had turned on some faint lights that added a glow to the room, and exensuated the young man's pale features. He was thin and weak looking.

Lanna's eyes widened as he opened his own, and faintly looked up at the ceiling. They were drooping, and glazed over.

"We better get to work then," she winced.

Carefully, then pulled down the heavy blanket a ways to expose the man's dying body. It was worse than Lanna had read about.

She rubbed her hands together, and cracked her knuckles, readying herself. Looking up at Valen, she gave him a slight nod.

"I'll follow your lead."

@Valen Pelora