It's been a while

[Kana Truden]

It had been a long time since last. With the move to Ruusan the time for a one-on-one with [member="Corvus Raaf"] had decreased significantly. Light-years separated them at this point, and all because the lack of healers the reclaimed enclave on Ruusan was experiencing.

At first it had been a hard turnover. There was a distinct lack of black haired, purple eyed sister-figures around the new temple grounds. Granted, Kana still visited Ossus on occasion to help teach a few of the padawans there in things that Kana had lost all interest in, mainly Makashi and Barrier, but there were other things.

Here she was simply the nurse. Not a teacher, not a headmaster, just a nurse. It was nice.

With the Grandmaster’s arrival imminent she was firmly aware that there was that one stop that would stand out in Master Raaf’s schedule: Kana’s infirmary. It felt rather obvious, they had known each other since forever, practically sisters and now one of them had moved. In a sense it’d be like having a relative come to visit.

The last few patients were finished in a hurry. The excitement on the healer’s face shining like a flashlight in the dark of night.

“Is all okay, Master Truden?” The voice of a youngling snapped her out of her dreamworld.

“Huh? Oh, yeah! Better than new. Just like you.” Kana proceeded to push the boy out of her office in order to truly clear out the last remaining ‘customers’ of the day. “Now stay away from those rocks until you’ve grown a bit taller, you hear?”

The boy looked at her in surprise as the door closed in his face.

Corvus was coming, this was so exciting!

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Ruusan – more of a first home than a second home of late. Yet despite being in the same place so often, they’d not met properly – which felt not so much odd as plain wrong. But Corvus’ diary was no longer her own. Meeting upon meeting was added and unless someone had an allocated time, she could even smile at them.

But she understood the need to be available for anyone and everyone that wanted to chat. So she did the only logical thing – she made a formal appointment to see her best friend. But at least it blocked the time out of the diary. So she landed and rushed to the ever expanding infirmary that Kana had built here. For she had certainly done that. She wasn’t just a ‘nurse’ as her friend most likely saw herself as. She was a leader that just so happened to nurse people. And so Corvus had a question for Kana. Maybe having seemed to have lost interest in teaching more generally, she might say no. Corvus wouldn’t object. She’d be disappointed, yes, but she wouldn’t hold it against her.

She considered binging a present. A house-warming gift. But her ability to shop on-line was still in its infancy and she didn’t trust herself to make an informed decision. So she’d brought a plant. But not just any plant. It was a pommwomm plant – used to hot-worlds, it could be used to create eight different exotic medicines.

She was thinking about it when a Youngling practically ran into her. He looked close to tears and she wondered if she’d startled him. Bowing she said, “Greetings Youngling. I’m sorry for walking into you there. Is your face…OK?” She indicated by pointing to her own face she was referring to the scabs on his.

The boy nodded, “I fell jumping from some rocks.”

Corvus smiled, nodded and tousled his hair. “Well I’m sure Master Truden has sorted you out. And if you take my advice, you’ll stay away from those rocks until you’ve grown a bit taller, you hear?”

And he was away. Corvus wondered if it was something she'd said? Facing the door to the infirmary, she knocked gently on the door. “It’s OK, Master Truden, I have an appointment.”

[member="Kana Truden"]

 

[Kana Truden]

“Corvus!” The healer thrust herself around her friend. “It’s good to see you.”

She let go of her friend in a smile that could outshine a sun. “Come in, come in. Welcome to the smallest infirmary you'll ever see outside of a ship in a good while.” An arm stretched out to let her friend to take in the sights.

It was not much to see. Along the walls stood something very similar to three cushioned slabs in a row, each of them equipped with minor robotic arms in case some more delicate chop shopping were to take place on a patient. Luckily they had never really been necessary, but at least they helped scare away the unlucky few who came to the doctor with minor problems. Coughs and colds, that type of thing.

“Like I said, it’s not much to look at,” Kana shrugged. “But it’s home. Except for the room just a little bit further down the hall which is my actual home.”

At the very end stood a solitary bacta tank gathering dust. Use of such things hadn’t really happened since the Netherworld event, or so Kana was told. Her move to Ruusan had after all only happened a few months ago.
“How have you been?”

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus took the hug in her stride. This was a different Corvus now. She rarely gave cuddles and wasn’t comfortable with just anyone hugging her, but her best friend was certainly OK to be in her personal space.

And she beamed. “Great to see you too.” And never had she said anything so true. “And yes, it’s not the biggest infirmary. Which is something we should discuss but first…” Corvus pulled the plant from behind her back and presented it. “It’s practical and…well, OK it’s not much to look at, but it’s practical. Did I mention that?”

As Kana showed her around, Corvus nodded and hummed in all the right places. “It seems…practical. But if this Academy gets to be as busy as Ossus, then it’s not big enough is it? We definitely need to talk about that.”

“And as for me? It’s been a funny old time of late. Cularin is still playing heavily on my mind and I’ve had mixed fortunes in my time here. Militant Jedi, a dressing-down from a fellow Master and then there’s my sister. Good news but premature if I share it. But tell me, how are you? How’s life as a full-time healer?”

[member="Kana Truden"]

 

[Kana Truden]

The plant was appreciated more than [member="Corvus Raaf"] probably realized at first. A careful grab and equally placement upon the clinic’s only counter ensued before focus set upon her best friend again. Beaming smiles all around she couldn’t help laughing for a bit. It was a practical plant, certainly took away some of the sterility the room thrived off of.

“Heard more from Mellorie, eh?” Wait, no, Mellorie didn’t ever feel like good news lately. “Oh wait, you mean the other sister.”

Right, Kana’s life as a full-time healer. “It’s… Weird.” Kana shrugged. “I spend all my time in or around the infirmary, taking care and talking to the ones who go out there doing the actual peacekeeping. Don’t mean I don’t feel important but I’ve hardly had enough time to keep up with the saber practice I used to put in.”

“I had the Chief Healer come visit before, but that’s not important right now.”

“Speaking of Cularin.” She raised her eyebrow. “Need me to take a look at your injuries again?”

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus’ smile at the grateful receipt of the plant was short-lived. Her sister’s name spelt more trouble than Kana could ever imagine. “Yes, the other one. I haven’t heard from Melori since she left and don’t expect to. She’s calmed a little apparently, but I shouldn’t hold out any hope for a birthday card any time soon.”

But she picked up when the subject changed to talk about her best friend. “You suit being a healer. Even looking back, it makes sense now. Your patience and caring attitude. That tough-love approach when it’s needed. And you’re vitally important, but I hope you know that. But I suspect we need to give you a helping hand. If you’re to keep up with the saber practice, you’ll have to share the load. If this Academy grows as we expect it to, there will be more patients to deal with. So…I’ve spoken to the powers that be. At least the ones that hold the purse-strings. I’ve been given the green-light to replicate what we have at Ossus here. The lab, some nurses, a regular doctor, the whole shooting match. It’ll mean more work for a while as you’ll have to coordinate it, but the Republic have agreed to the funding indefinitely.”

“And to be fair, I wouldn’t mind you taking a look at my ankle. And the Lightning scarring on my back too.”

[member="Kana Truden"]

 

[Kana Truden]

They were expanding Ruusan? Kana nodded at the news. While it was great news it was still just the tiniest bit of heartbreaking news. There was something about being in a smaller enclave that made it all so much more cozy, comfortable. Like the songs used to say: Sometimes you just want to go where everybody knows your name. As much as melancholy was worth it’s own weight in gold, which was a really weird saying considering it had no weight, there was no point in denying the future. Instead Kana merely nodded along as Corvus told of what was to come.

“I’ll see what I can do.” She motioned at her friend to take a seat on the bed. “I want to say that you’re right but, I mean, me co-ordinating? I haven’t done proper logistics in…” Kana counted her fingers. “Eleven years, but sure, I can do it.”

She knelt down and grabbed her friend’s ankle before giving it a twist. “Well, at least they had the common courtesy to let you keep your foot, huh?” She grinned back at her friend. “Luckyyyy.”

Because self-deprecation was totally an appropriate way to go about the potential for missing limbs.

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

“Of course it’s early days, but if recent events taught us anything, it is that having all of our learning in one place was a risk. Plus we have a site here that should be used. Its exact function still eludes me. I’ve taken counsel but few have given anything constructive back and I’m open to ideas. What are your views on this place? More of the same or a specialism? And if a specialism, what sort?”

“Because keeping it niche will keep it smaller and that might suit some. I’m genuinely open to suggestions. And if you can count to eleven without having to remove a boot, you’ve got the coordination job.” She smiled and then winced. There was something about having your ankle twisted when you weren’t expecting it that will do that to you.

“Yeah, lucky I guess. I don’t know what it is about Vornskr, he has a thing about ankles – or mine at least.”

[member="Kana Truden"]

 

[Kana Truden]

“Well,” Kana rubbed her hands together and placed them on her friend’s foot. “If we’re looking to expand this place we’re going to have to find more than just jedi guardians. The valley is being patrolled by a strict set of rules and patrols. Most dangers are the wildlife, but that’s where I come in.” Letting the force seep in to deafen any potential pain she gave it a brief moment to let her friend adjust to the temporary fix. “I will need a second healer and as for specializations it’s always good to let the academy run like the one on Ossus. In case something happens it won’t be as much of a ‘culture crash’ as it could be.”

“Oh and, I always figured there was something about the Sith and a foot fetish, but we’ll keep that between you and me. No need for the padawans to start wearing phrik-weave socks or something.” She chuckled before motioning at her friend to lie down on her stomach along the cold doctor’s bed.

Kana ran a finger down the marked veins. It was horrible to see on a friend, but as a doctor you had to get used to the sight of blood, muck, vomit and other illnesses. Besides, the grandmaster was seemingly more than eager to see professionalism at work.

Didn’t mean Kana couldn't lace every word with humor though. “Tell me when it hurts the most, Grandmaster Raaf.”

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus listened. It was an easy listening as opposed to an enforced requirement to hear someone that often came with the job.

From reticent planner to dedicated coordinator in the matter of a minute or so. She felt the soothing effect of the Force in her and from her more rudimentary application of the Ability had an appreciation for what Kana was doing but also an admiration. This was certainly her calling.

“A second healer, right.” Was her voice slightly slurred? Was she relaxing so much she was in danger of falling asleep? “And a replica of Ossus makes sense, why make it any different, huh? Mmmm…”

The mention of a foot fetish brought her back to the here and now. Did she mean the Sith or Corvus? She needed to pay more attention. She turned over as instructed. As she felt the gentle hands on her legs, the words jarred. “What do you mean, hurt the most-“ Corvus suddenly understood. Sometimes healing was about a couple of backward steps before she could take a leap forward. Although the way her ankle felt now, even a backward step was going to be a challenge.

“Most of it hurts to be fair,” she said, her voice slightly strained. In truth a Jedi was used to pain and endured a lot worse. Plus to injure the same ankle twice in a row was simply unfortunate. It wasn’t like she would do it again in the next duel was it. Was it?

“So…I’m about to call a Council meeting. If I were to nominate you as HeadMaster here, what would you say?” Despite the discomfort, the attention her lower leg was getting was making Corvus sleep again. So she closed her eyes for a second. Just to rest them of course.

[member="Kana Truden"]

 

[Kana Truden]

The slurred words before pain, it was nearly a guilty pleasure. The people letting their guard down before the pain struck true. The wincing as she struck a nerve on the leg followed by the grunt of pain. Once more Kana rubbed her hands together before placing them on top of the injury, smirking all the while.

“Of course it all hurts. Pain hurts, that’s how it works.” The procedure was allowed to go on unhindered as [member="Corvus Raaf"] took the pain like a champ. In a sense it made her wish all patients took the treatment this well, but then again there was that lack of trust there that had been given years to build up.

Then the reveal. Headmaster Truden. “Huh.” Kana blinked as the treatment stopped. “I don’t know.” Hands began moving again; probing for more pain. “The current workload keeps me plenty busy with taking care of students and masters alike around here.”

“What about Sera or Master Alince? I mean, they’d have to relocate but it’s not so bad, is it?”

It wasn’t a fear for authority, just unspoken worry that she wouldn’t be enough. “I don’t want it to get in the way of what I am doing already. If that makes sense?”

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus could endure the physical pain all right. Force Whips to the face and saber blows to the body were common-place. Plus she was in good physical condition – which all helped. And it was Kana too. She trusted the pain would be worth it in the longer run and that she would endure no more discomfort than was absolutely necessary. Well, almost zero more. There was probably an element of fun to be had from Kana’s perspective – but never, ever anything malicious.

“Pain hurts…go figure. Maybe that’s why they call it pain, eh?” Corvus grimaced rather than smiled, some of her words forced out through gritted teeth.

“Master Alince? I suspect she’s too wrapped up in her studies and research to be an active HeadMaster. She’s eminently qualified for sure, but is this her thing? Maybe not.”

“As for Sera, it’s not a bad shout – but I wonder if she’s too active. Would being camped at one site suit her best? Maybe – you know her better than me.”

“But you didn’t say no. So I’ll take that as a maybe. Having said that, never say yes because you’re frightened of saying no to me. Your healing comes first. If it’s a no, not now – because now is not the right time, we could postpone a decision. If it’s a no, not ever, then I’ll have to rethink.”

“And I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t think you were capable, you know me well enough for that, right?”

[member="Kana Truden"]

 

[Kana Truden]

It all boiled down to Kana because of the others’ activities. Alince who had been the first one Kana would have turned to was, of course, not available. Seraphina was probably too busy teaching her students much like Kana should have been doing at her age. Still, too late to change that now. Perhaps with Damian things would be different, at least hopefully.

“I am not sure, Corvus. I am already left pretty exhausted at the end of the day from my healer duties alone. I could sign up to be an overseer and send you short reports on activities, but not more than that.” Kana stopped the procedure in order to shrug properly. “Besides, this place would still be pretty small. I wouldn’t count on Ruusan becoming the primary choice for Padawans around the galaxy anytime soon if going by the transfer statistics.”

They leaned heavily towards the more populated academy, Ossus. Kana took a break to sit down in her chair again. The process of healing was a slow but rewarding one. After all, healing wasn’t done in an instant. No, it merely sped the healing process up and with someone with markings as widespread as [member="Corvus Raaf"] it would take a bit longer.

“I ever tell you about Damian?” Kana closed her eyes to find her center again. “My new padawan?”

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus knew the current pain would subside and the benefits would far outweigh the negatives she was currently feeling.

But her focus was on Kana and the Academy rather than her ankle. She listened to her best friend’s reasoning and simply nodded her accord. “Understood. Maybe it’s too early – as you say. If you could just let me know what I need to be aware of that might be all that’s needed.”

“And this place might yet blossom, you never know. Or we could send all our difficult Padawans here.” She smiled at the gentle ribbing she was giving Kana. She glanced around and saw her friend sitting down.

“Have I worn you out? And Damian? No, you haven’t – but I’m not going anywhere quickly, so tell me all about him.”

[member="Kana Truden"]

 

[Kana Truden]

“Well, it’s a weird story that involves wetsuits, robberies and pirates.” That if anything would be bound to grab the grandmaster’s attention. “Do you remember that favor you called in before? The one about the cruise out of Lianna?”

Kana had been asked to cover for a vanity trip a senator had issued with the senate. More specifically the newly appointed senator of New Holstice. Holding itself true as the only real safe passage to Ossus there was times when the administrators wanted to get handsy with their power. In this case a jedi had been asked to come along and oversee a VIPs safety. In reality it was a move for the man to show his pull in the senate, but the Order had agreed nonetheless, they had no choice.

“Well, there I was in the bar in need to take my mind off of things the only way you can in a bar or lounge. Then I meet this kid who spills my drink and tries to mind trick me. Me being in no mood for it I promptly walked over to the bar again to order a new drink.” Kana chuckled. “It was spiked, some sort of elixir of infatuation. The kid steps in, saves the day. Says he felt I was in danger and he had to help.” Oh yes, Kana had been in quite the trouble. “Turns out we have a force bond, somehow. He helps me get rid of the drug by letting me crash in his suite.”

“The next day I wake up and he explains everything. Eventually pirates attack and he lets me in on the fact that he too was going to rob the ship but that I had made him change his mind. I did what any sensible jedi would do and offered to take him with me, he accepted but only after we helped someone named ‘Sasha Santhe’ reclaim what was stolen from her.”

“I could get into details, but frankly that elixir made it all the more blurry.” Except not really, at least nothing uncool happened. “He’s out there in the galaxy somewhere running errands for me. Helping people, probably planning to steal his old grandfather’s ship back but I keep preventing that one way or the other.”

“So what about you? Have any news you want to share?”

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

“Wetsuits, robberies and pirates? Not something you hear about every day – especially all together.”

Corvus listened. “So…let me get this straight. Someone spills your drink, the one you get to replace it is spiked with a love potion and to save the day, the same person allows you to sleep in his room and your recollection of events is…blurry.”

Corvus raised an eyebrow. It remained raised for quite some time – in fact until it hurt. “Hmmmm…not what I was expecting. And I get the pirates and the robbery, but the wetsuit part? Does that get categorised under the blurry section? I mean, it’s not for me to comment.” Corvus held up both hands, palms outwards. "I said you should get back into the saddle.”

“I take it there was no saddle involved? No? Just askin’. And no details works for me…unless…well…no! No details.”

Corvus gazed into space. “I cant’ say I have anything to match that. My life revolves around training, meetings associated with the office, snarky Jedi Masters and that’s about it. The closest I came to an interesting story was when I crashed…I mean landed heavily on a planet and a pilot came and rescued me. Great guy, salt of the earth. And I ended up in one of my dresses and he put on my Jedi robes. But it wasn’t anywhere as interesting as it sounds. I’d projectile vomited in his ship. It happens to the best of us. Just me more than most.”

“And things are moving fast with Taeli, my sister. By the next time we meet, I suspect there will be some significant news to share. So…my ankle, what’s the prognosis?”

[member="Kana Truden"]

 

[Kana Truden]

Landing heavily on planets again. Kana shook her head in bemused disapproval. Some jedi died exploring the unknown, others liked to poke Sith with their lightsabers a bit too much, Corvus on the other hand seemed a real fan of letting nature do it’s thing and try to bring her down and quite literally so.

“Well, the foot is looking pretty good. Give it a few more weeks of rest and you should be fine.” She broke out of her meditation and got up from the chair. “These markings though...”

“Try to sleep on your stomach and avoid further contact with lightning.” A cheeky little smile. “Other than that? You’re good.”

“Damian is really excited to meet you, you know.” And then the procedure began. As much as Corvus might have hoped it would end the soothing touch of Kana’s hands would still mix with the pain from the bruises. “Keeps asking when introductions will be made but I have no real answer to give him.”

“What I am trying to say is, if you’re up to anything give me a shout and maybe he will come with.”

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus smiled at Kana. “OK, no dancing just yet and I’ll avoid Sith and duelling for as long as I can.”

“The back is uncomfortable but I’m getting used to it – I suspect one day all the scar tissue will join up and then there’ll be nothing left of me.”

“And you know me and Padawans. I’d be delighted to meet him too. And I’m sure there’s a mission coming up that requires two Masters and two Padawans. Something about retrieving some data from a crashed ship. But the ship crashed on Dxun – in the middle of the jungle. And its full of nasty Dark-sided creatures that don’t appreciate company. The Republic have lost a couple of squads already. They’ve asked for Jedi to go in this time. Shall I say we’re going to go?”

"And I'll even let you fly this time." The broad grin had returned - this was going to be like the old times. And Corvus couldn't wait - bad ankle or no bad ankle.

[member="Kana Truden"]

 

[Kana Truden]

“It is settled then, I will pilot the ship and bring Damian while you bring your new padawan.” Kana smiled in delight. “I am not sure how he will respond, but I know he will look forward to it.”

The procedure was done, at least for as much as Kana could help [member="Corvus Raaf"] with the pain. With time it would subside by itself, but until then there was little she could do but offer her a fresh canister of bacta to apply twice a day.

Kana held the small tank out for her friend to grab. “Apply to your back evenings before sleep and mornings after waking. Twice a day to keep doctors like me away.” A crooked smile grew on Kana’s lips. “Then again, with the rough landings and all that we can pretty much assume you will end up here anyway.”

“Just remember I will give you hell for it when you do.” She chuckled. “So maybe that will keep you away, huh?”

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus smiled at Kana. “You drive and it’ll be just like the old times. I’m sure it’s just a routine mission.”

So Corvus took the bacta and looked at it. “Twice a day, got you. And what makes you think I’ll need help with my ankle again?”

She smiled and remembered the funeral on Osus. Nyx’s funeral. Where she’d had the visions. Of her little sister and of that Sith Lord. “I don’t want hell, believe me.”

In her mind she remembered something. In some languages in the galaxy the word for devil was the same. Vrag. A coincidence perhaps – but not a funny one.

And with that, Corvus gingerly got off the bed. “Until next time doctor, and I’ll bring an apple, OK?”

[member="Kana Truden"]