[Layne Hoshin]

"I'd considered waiting until we hit the next theatre... but I worry that might be too long. What do you think, doctor?"

[Vasir Rexa]

“I will trust your judgment, master Jedi. I know I am excited to see it, but it has waited this long it can wait a few more weeks if you feel it wise,” she said honestly.

[Layne Hoshin]

"I'll make arrangements, then."

[Dapper Dog]

The Doctor nodded and then ended her communication.

[Layne Hoshin]

Layne sat there for a while, thinking. Then, assuming her communicator had the range to reach her ship and relay out into the galaxy through there, she would try and contact her new master. It had been some time since they'd spoken after all, and maybe he'd have some insight.

[Dapper Dog]

Jedi Knight Balos Tyl-small.png (56.7 KiB) Viewed 12445 times

It looked like she caught her master while he was training. Sweat on his forehead as he answered and said, “Padawan, you are looking well. How goes the humanitarian mission on Bankor?”

[Layne Hoshin]

"Humanitarian mission implies we're just here to drop off water bottles and medicine, master."

Since Nar Shaddaa, she had slowly and reluctantly gotten around to referring to him as master without that feeling weird, icky, or anger inducing.

"This is a war, and I think that in many ways the Mandalorians are more vicious than the Sith would've been in their situation. But we appear to be pushing them back."

[Dapper Dog]

“War or not, the primary mission for the Jedi should be in helping the people and setting the example of compassion. I expect you to do your part in helping the people, fight the battles that need fighting, but don’t neglect the people. We are not strong because we can fight but because we fight for the benefit of others. You will do more good handing out a bowl of soup than simply cutting down a Mandalorian,” he responded.

“Still be safe all the same.”

[Layne Hoshin]

"I can never quite tell when you're joking," she said, resisting the urge to facepalm. "But about fighting for others... I've got something lined up in that regard."

She had never openly told him about what she was chasing... but she'd always assumed he'd figured out the general gist of things. You can't tutor an apprentice and not pick up clues after all, can you?

"But I'm not sure how to proceed. My instincts are telling me someone is setting a trap for me."

[Dapper Dog]

“Trust your instincts then. Spring the trap, and be prepared, set your own trap… or take the unknown third choice,” he responded thoughtfully.

[Layne Hoshin]

"I don't know what the third choice would be."

[Dapper Dog]

“That is why it is unknown, trust the Force, and more importantly trust your instincts to find it, if you need it,” he responded.

[Layne Hoshin]

"I tried just moments ago," she said, "I meditated and touched the Force. Asking for answers. And I felt my old master, heard him call out to me. But before I could answer, I got a call from the person I suspect, saying that we could move forward. What do you think that means? Was that really Baras? Is this person connected to him? Or am I just being paranoid and it was coincidence? Was it the Force telling me to trust her? The more I try to listen, the more confused I become."

[Dapper Dog]

“I would be wary of your connection to the Sith, Baras will use it to twist you up. Be mindful of that connection. As for the vision… the Force is fluid, it isn’t intelligent in the way we are, things that seem random to us are just as the Force needs them to be, that does not always mean what they seem,” he said honestly.

“As a Jedi Knight I have learned things may happen for a reason but that reason can still be a mystery to me. Destiny… Fate, those are sentient constructs. The galaxy is larger than any one of us. The Force is larger than any of us, the best we can hope for is to do what we can with the information and training we have in the moment.”

[Layne Hoshin]

"So I should just roll the dice and go with it. That's what I used to do when I was a Sith, but I guess it wasn't wrong."

[Dapper Dog]

"That is one way to put it," he responded.

[Layne Hoshin]

"Well, if you don't hear from me in a couple of weeks, tell the council the Emperor is going to snuff out all life in the galaxy with some dark ritual that can devour entire planets. I should've left a copy of my research in my room in case there's any questions."

It was so like Layne to drop a bombshell like that as if it were nothing...

...and when nobody could stop her from going to Bankor anymore.

"And maybe send the entire republic navy to come rescue me too. Just in case I got stuck under a rock somewhere."

[Dapper Dog]

“Doubt I can get a Navy, but if I don’t hear from you I will come drag you back here myself,” he replied.

[Layne Hoshin]

"Uhuh. Just please, don't make me serve more soup when you do."

She stood up, shaking the sand from her robes.

"I should get back to base."

[Dapper Dog]

“May the Force be with, Layne,” he said and end the call.

[Layne Hoshin]

With that, Layne began the long trek back.