Fwurg

[Fecta Trigiel]

"it was good talking to you. Avé Nathan." And Trigiel left as well.

[T'Sal]

T’sal goes to the meditation garden to look for some peace. After her mission of retrieving the teaching she needed some time to relax. She has not studied the last days and hast just finished her steamer model with electric measuring equipment and steering system built in. It is made in scale except for the afterdeck; there is the coal driver steam engine which needed to be larger so she could feed it. She walks to the pond to test is. S4 is with her and he carries a bag full of small coals.

It is late in the evening and it is now quite at the pond. Only a few duck swim around. T’sal puts the 80 cm long ship down and starts up the engine. She has put quite some time in this model. There is a lot of detail as the ship is completely furnished and includes some dolls of people. T’sal should be celebrating lifting the “Takov Ko-te’kru” but joy has left after getting her first taste of war.

After building up some steam the boating goes into the water. S4 is steering and monitoring it. The boat moves gracefully between the water lilies and circles around. T’sal climbs into a willow overhanging the pond and takes a prime seat. The bag of coals next to her so she could uses her telekinesis power to put it in the loader. T’sal stares to the pond and her mind slowly drifts of.

((OOC: Looking for some help and guidance so drop by.))

[Nathan Miodrass Asillion]

Nathan was just about to step out of the Gardens when his sensors detected smoke.

Thinking there is a fire he immediately turns around and starts running in the direction the smoke is coming from to confirm it.

When he gets closer he sees T'Sal climb a tree and sees her ship model soon after. Realising there is no danger he slows down.

After looking at the boat a moment he decides to try to talk to the small girl.

"You should watch out with that thing, little lady. For a moment I thought there was a fire going on."

[T'Sal]

“It is just steam. I am also an engineer so you do not need to worry. I made this model steamboat and it runs on coals. S4 is monitoring and steering it.”

[Nathan Miodrass Asillion]

"So you do have a fire going." Nathan said in jest.

"I assume S4 is that drone?"

[T'Sal]

T'sal sits up strait and takes another look at Nathan. She has not been on a mission with Nathan so she does not know the cyborg well; she had just seen him in the light saber championship. T’sal puts another coal in the oven and then jumps out of the three.

“Yes there is a fire going on in the kettle but there is no smoke. But I think we have not formally been introduced to each other. My name is T’sal and I am a scientist. That there is S4N8, my class 3 science servant droid. It is nice to meet you.”

T’sal makes a bow and the Hiocan greeting.

[Nathan Miodrass Asillion]

Nathan snapped to attention and gave a salute to the small Hiocan.

"Nathan Miodrass Asillion. Marine." He relaxed. "A pleasure to meet you too."

((OOC: On an unrelated note. Most of what comes out the chimney from a steam engine is smoke from the fire.))

[T'Sal]

After Nathan introduction it becomes awkwardly silent except for the puffing of the steamer. T'sal does not know much to say now, she is not really in the mood for it. She waits to see what Nathan does.

[Nathan Miodrass Asillion]

When the small person in front of him remained silent for a while Nathan wondered if something was wrong.

"Everything all right?"

[T'Sal]

“Yeah, I just got some things on my mind.”

T’sal starts thinking if maybe she should tell Nathan what worries her. He is a marine and maybe he has military experience. Bottling things up would not do her any good. A little unsure she starts the conservation.

“Do you have real combat experience?”

[Nathan Miodrass Asillion]

"Some, yes. Nothing on a grand interstellar scale, but I do have combat experience."

[T'Sal]

Some did not sound as much experience. T’sal frowns and sights. Better get thing this with and ask it directly.

“How do you cope with killing and slaughter?”

[Nathan Miodrass Asillion]

"That's a question every soldier asks."

Nathan sat down in the grass on the side of the pond.

"The truth is that you can't. There is no method that will make the horrors of war go away. The best you can do is to learn to live with it.

You just have to believe in the side your fighting for. You do what you must to survive on the battlefield. Things like honour or fairness don't exist. Just keep in mind that the enemies you face are fully aware of the risk and have chosen to fight regardless. That's about the only thing that helps me sleep at night."

Nathan stared into the water while he spoke.

"Why do you ask?"

[T'Sal]

“Because I had my first experience with war. What started as an archeological expedition ended up in a fight. I had never killed somebody and now I have plenty. Mowing through the enemy hordes, soldiers shooting unarmed scientist and killing themselves to prevent being captured.”

T’sal is thinking about how much she may reveal to Nathan about their mission. Counselor Gri’pan had not given her any restrictions on telling about it but the information is delicate. So she keeps it at a general picture from examples without the details.

“I am a scientist and not a soldier. But being a Jedi means becoming a soldier. I know that mentally but emotionally I do not.”

[Nathan Miodrass Asillion]

Nathan wasn't really surprised by T'Sal's answer. What she spoke of was the exact reason why the STF Marines had a mandatory year of therapy for all personnel that had been in active combat, minimum.

"Did any of those scientists survive?"

[T'Sal]

"Yes there survived quite some. The enemy left after making their point."

[Nathan Miodrass Asillion]

"Then there's your justification. If you didn't kill them they would have killed you and the rest of those scientists.

You have to convince yourself you did the right thing."

[T'Sal]

“I know I did the right thing, but it does not feel that way.

Why do they have to fight to make their point and not peacefully discus things? Why all the cruelty and suffering?”

[Nathan Miodrass Asillion]

"If every problem was solvable by peaceful discussion there would be no need for armies, fleets or even jedi. That's just the way it is."

Nathan stood up, turned to the hiocan padawan and looked her straight in the eyes.

"Hold on to that feeling. Hold on to it like your life depends on it.

So you will always try to look for a way without killing, the moment you stop feeling like that is the moment you'll go of the deep end."

[T'Sal]

T’sal is surprised by his short answer, but then again he is a marine soldier. Soldiers do not discuss thing much so that is why Nathan is probably quite direct . Telling yourself is one thing, but when another is also saying same thing you feel more secure. 'I should not over think things, get your head clear and focus on the things you have to do now'. T’sal does this and takes a big breath. She looks a little livelier now.

“Thanks Nathan for answering my question.”

T’sal makes a small bow. She waits a few seconds and looks around. The steamer is still circling in the pond.

“Do you want to join in my experiment?”

[T'Sal]

As Nathan does not seem interested T'sal continues testing her steamer until late and then goes home.

((OOC: Wrapping things up. So the floor is clean.))

[Nathan Miodrass Asillion]

Nathan roles his shoulders.

"Well I have a few things to do, so I'll be going now." Nathan bows his head. "Have a nice day."

He turns and leaves the Gardens for real this time.