Private Doing Time

[Nouqai Veil]

In the small cell of the facility, the days went by slowly. Time was an odd thing, especially when she was disconnected from the force with the anti-serums administered bi-daily. The 17-year-old seemed like an unlikely patient in a mental institution that also served as a criminal penitentiary. For security measures the location she was kept within was withheld from her, despite knowing she one of the many azrael asylum, having studied about it during her time as jedi.

And for her own safety, she was not allowed to interact with other inmates. But everyday there were Jedi, psychologists and psychiatrists coming in to talk with her as part of her rehabilitation. Falentra remained rather withdrawn, the progress slow, keeping what she felt was personal close to her heart. The sith apprentice had fought on the other side on Jedha, but she did not think she deserved to be imprisoned here with the mentally deranged, the worst of criminals and murderers simply because she lost a fight.

However, on that day, as the automatic door open, she had expected to see another doctor or her counsellor Rik Perris , not the familiar wookie knight. But she was not surprised that he was here, it made sense. Falentra stood as soon as she saw him, immediately closing the gap between them giving her ex-master a tight hug. Even if she had fallen, she did not at all hate him. In fact, she missed him dearly. "Did they call you here to speak with me, Darth Assimilus ?"

There was the surfacing shame of having disappointed him, and caving into the pressure and call of the dark. She had been content with that new life and purpose, but the greed had gotten her here, in this cell. "Look, just know that I haven't killed anyone Grrwun - not intentionally. But if you're here to berate me, I think you should leave. I've heard it all already."

 

[Darth Assimilus]

Azrael Asylum is no place for....Nouqai. There was hesitation in my thoughts as her name came to mind. She used to be my apprentice. Can I call her that anymore? Grrwun lacked the words to describe what he felt for Nouqai now. Apprentice used to mean something more to him as a Jedi but now it was hollow to him. Because she was no longer there. The Council had tried to "replace" Nouqai Veil for the sake of completing Grrwunhoooll's own trials for the rank of Master but thus far it only proved to be more painful and rendered a hinderance.

He was plagued by his own inner critic and ridicule over a fall that was never his own and yet it was...somehow. He did not understand it in any spoken terms but his heart knew the feeling all too well, No thanks to the medical trail that the Wookie volunteered for. An experience that had somehow bypassed his training as a jedi and forced feelings that would otherwise remained dormant and suppressed to fly to the surface. To fly right in his face. Emotions that had gotten the better of him and thus here he was. Or at least that is what I keep telling myself.

After being escorted to Nouqai Veil 's cell and entering inside. It came as a welcomed surprise to be embraced by Nouqai in full. She had grown since last he had seen her. I made sure to return the embrace with one of my own. I let the feeling sear my memory in that moment. It was present moment that I did not want to let go of.

"Did they call you here to speak with me, Grrwunhoooll Agaburry?"

There was the surfacing shame of having disappointed him, and caving into the pressure and call of the dark. She had been content with that new life and purpose, but the greed had gotten her here, in this cell. "Look, just know that I haven't killed anyone Grrwun - not intentionally. But if you're here to berate me, I think you should leave. I've heard it all already."

The knight let out a long cry. One filled with joy and sorrows. There was no translation for what was said in his native tongue of Shyriiwook. The cry was more akin to a poem or short ballet. Looking down and exhaling, Grrwun smirked slightly and shook his head negatively for her question. " Grrrwwwaaannnhah Argguwaabarraaahaaa." He stated in Shyrriiwook. I came here of my own sound mind. As the moment went on he continued with his speech and trusted that Nouqai still remembered how to understand him.

<<" I am not here as your accuser nor a Jedi. I am here to see how you are doing. If you would have me.">>

 

[Nouqai Veil]

Falentra had not heard Shyriiwook since they had went their separate ways, the language held a special place in a heart, a reminiscence of her youth when she was still under his mentorship. Yet there was doubt wether what he said was the truth - if he had came here on his own accord. They had fabricated the story of the death of Nouqai Veil so that he could return to the Jedi council without shame brought upon him of having a defected padawan. They believed it for a while, as she'd been informed by her bestfriend Balun Dashiell . But now, it come to light that she was still very much alive. Had they exiled him off the order for that lie?

All she knew was that they had a lot to catch up on. The teen merely nodded, taking a seat at the small table, gesturing for Darth Assimilus to join him, the chair tiny compared to the bear-sized sentient. "I've been alright." She paused. Where were she to even begin. She sighed. "Safe and unharmed. More or less content... until recently. I pissed off one of my Jedi friends, Raphael Gallustrade , while battling them on Jedha. I lost... and they dragged me back to the order. Can't blame him. They've been trying to talk to me to turn away from the dark. "

 

[Darth Assimilus]

All she knew was that they had a lot to catch up on. The teen merely nodded, taking a seat at the small table, gesturing for Grrwunhoooll Agaburry to join him, the chair tiny compared to the bear-sized sentient. "I've been alright." She paused. Where were she to even begin. She sighed. "Safe and unharmed. More or less content... until recently. I pissed off one of my Jedi friends, Raphael Gallustrade , while battling them on Jedha. I lost... and they dragged me back to the order. Can't blame him. They've been trying to talk to me to turn away from the dark. "

The wookie looks at the chair with a blend of amusement and confusion. His deep-set amber eyes scan the surroundings, seeking an alternative, but there is none. The chair before him is comically undersized, more suited for a humanoid than a being of his stature and width. His lips pull back slightly in what might be a Wookie grin, revealing sharp teeth and a silent commentary on the absurdity of the situation. The chair. His is not about me though. Reluctantly, and with exaggerated caution, he lowered himself into the tiny chair. The furniture creaks and cries under his weight, struggling to support his massive shaggy frame. Shifting his weight gingerly, trying to find a balance, the effort felt futile. the material groans and wobbles, looking perilously close to collapsing. But the chair remains to hold.

Somehow.

Grrwunhoooll straightens his back, shaking his head and letting out a hearty nervous laugh. A series of soft and gruff vocalizations. He was being a drama king by complaining but there was no denying the humor in it.

<< " I've heard the news. The report I'll say.">> He paused and checked the chair he was in again before looking at his former apprentice again. A action that disquised his own shame and thought of the Jedi Council. Almost feels normal to be near Nouquai. Almost. << " If there is anything from my training that I have seen rub off on you, It is my stubbornness and skills in combat.">> he winked and smiled again briefly. << " I can only hope that they are respecting your choices as well as I do." >> As well as I try. He thought to himself after speaking Shyriiwook.

<< " How did you lose?" >> The Jedi Knight felt strange asking the question and he was not sure why. Thats a lie. I knew why. It was pride.

Nouqai Veil

 

[Nouqai Veil]

The silence between them made it even more comical. As Darth Assimilus took the seat, the furniture groaned against the pressure, but surprisingly kept intact. Her webbed hand came up to her lips, in an attempt to hide her chuckle and the smirk on her lips casually, and keep the seriousness not matter how hard it was. It felt like old times.

That smile faded when he told her he heard about what happened. That was no surprise, but how much did he know exactly? There was the apprehension of saying something that might disappoint him, even if he was no longer her master. Falentra had not respected Raphael Gallustrade 's choice, she had wronged him by drying to draw out his darkness knowing his trauma. Perhaps she had her own reasons at the time or that her own darkness had manifested greatly in the midst of battle and chaos, but there was only was regret now.

It was because she drew that power from him that she lost. He'd sent a power burst of force her way after she carved runes into his neck against his will. It had broke her suit. "His force burst broke my suit, started losing moisture. I suffocated." She kept it short. Jedha was a dry desert plannet. Grrwunhoool would know her unique needs and physiology. How she respired through the moisture on her amphibious skin.

"I did not choose the dark, Grrwun. It was... an inevitable outcome. Always a part of me - you have seen me struggle against it with the trials." Grrwun hadn't witness how she struggled against it when she encountered Malum. How she almost died because she abhorred that part of her. Until she was taught how to embrace it, to accept that part of her as one, all because of Darth Malum of House Marr .
​

 

[Darth Assimilus]

"His force burst broke my suit, started losing moisture. I suffocated." She kept it short. Jedha was a dry desert plannet. Grrwunhoool would know her unique needs and physiology. How she respired through the moisture on her amphibious skin.

"I did not choose the dark, Grrwun. It was... an inevitable outcome. Always a part of me - you have seen me struggle against it with the trials." Grrwun hadn't witness how she struggled against it when she encountered Malum. How she almost died because she abhorred that part of her. Until she was taught how to embrace it, to accept that part of her as one, all because of Darth Malum of House Marr .

At first he appeared taken back but then two amber eyes darted to look above, as if something was there. Then this was followed by a simple nod of the head. <<" Jedha ah yes. ">> He commented simply as if that explained what had just happened. <<" If it were a different planet I wonder if the battle would of played out differently. ">> The wookie did his best to look stoic but let a small smile show. Yes, this feels similar and different. Grrwun looked around the cell. Trying to see the space through Nouqai Veil 's eyes. This is rehabilitation? Flaring his nostrils he groans lowly and then shock back a look.

It was... an inevitable outcome. Why?

This was not what the wookie voiced though. Instead he asked something that he was personally curious about.<< " I remember the trials. I understand your reasons and... how does it feel for you now?>> Grrwunhoooll raised a furry hand and swatted the a wall with a light roar, rear back he slowed down and slowly shook his head with a growl. A furry finger extended and pointed at her chest. Her heart. Her feelings. Grrwun's head slowly leaned to one side while waiting and ponder her response.

 

[Nouqai Veil]

There was no point wondering if things could be done differently when she was already suffering the consequences. Unfair or not, it was what it was. While she was familiar with her old master' demeanour and bestial nature, she did not appreciate that he now decided to berate her for it. There it was, the shame. It took a lot of work to embrace that part of her, the darkness, possibly breaking down a mental barrier in the process. The Jedi would not understand how hard it had been, unless she helped him see.

As he pointed to her chest she sighed, the palm of her webbed hand pressing against her sternum where her heart was. "Listen. Just listen, Grrwunhoool." Which ever way, if not by very keen hearing, then by utilising the force, he would hear or feel the muffled mechanic whirling within her chest cavity. There was no distinct thudding of a heart - once she had three, instead her life beat through the power of bionics. It was not all of her that was tech, she had a brain enhanced with a computer system - but that was another story. "Once, I had rather died than fall to the dark."

"It feels free."

 

[Darth Assimilus]

."<<" Free>> The wookie seemed to contemplate the word. Trying to imagine the feeling. He did not understand how one could feel free and be in a cell. And yet in another way he intuitively knew. Like his ancestors songs during their time as slaves across the galaxy, he could empathize with Nouqai Veil .

Yet still there was emotion within. Part anger and part sadness for the loss. THere was so much he wanted to ask and yet it would all be what she had, he assumed, heard before. <<" Nouqai. What is it about being jedi that does not encompass freedom? Please help me understand.">> He said.

Though what he really meant was...

Please give me closure.

 

[Nouqai Veil]

Everything. She wanted to say. She was liberated, no longer a servant to the New Jedi Order or The Force. She was taught to see another way, using the The Force as a tool in her disposal rather than to follow its whims. Being a Jedi kept her from that potential, so much knowledge kept from her, so much she achieved and learnt since she had left.

"It is the New Jedi Order. I've never had that freedom to explore who I was, to go out on my own, always dictated by what the council decides. It was never free. I see that now."