Research Time (Siobhan)

[Galina Kerrigan-Alcori]

The young redhead nodded, "Extremely unpleasant, but I think I can do that." A part of her seemed to at least somewhat trust Phylis at this point, though she still wasn't entirely sure. It was getting better though, just slowly. Baby steps in the right direction.

Galina took a moment to calm herself completely. "We can try again whenever you'd like. I think I can do better this time." Hopefully.

[member="Phylis Alince"]

 

[Phylis Alince]

[member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"]

Phylis looked again into Galina’s eyes, then nodded. The girl seemed to be honestly wanting to try. Calling on the Force again she gently reached out with her mind to Galina, gently probing her.

If Galina used her skills combined with the ring she should be able to resist.

 

[Galina Kerrigan-Alcori]

This time Galina felt the prodding against her mind, but was a fair bit calmer. It certainly wasn't a feeling she liked or enjoyed in the least. Reaching into the force, she tried focusing through the amulet before pushing back against Phylis' pressing against her mind. Anything to try and keep her out, from going further within her mind, pushing back seemed the natural option, and this time her reaction was a little more precise, a little more skilled and far less instinctual, but not entirely perfect.

[member="Phylis Alince"]

 

[Phylis Alince]

[member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"]
Phylis retracted her mental probe easily when pushed.
“That’s the way! Good girl!” Phylis said enthusiastically. “Don’t be afraid, think rationally and use that to push out the influence. Never panic, that just makes things worse.”

She patted Galina on the shoulder in a friendly way. “Want to try again?”

 

[Galina Kerrigan-Alcori]

Galina breathed a sigh of relief as Phylis withdrew. It still was entirely too odd to her to feel that, and the vulnerability of it did frighten her, more than she wanted to admit to.

The teen managed a nod, glad for the praise. At least she'd done something right, and didn't panic as she had done before. "Right, I think I can manage that. I only hope I can keep my head straight when it comes to the middle of such an assault, if ever it should happen." The girl worried that she'd not be able to resist the urge to panic should someone ever attack her mind. It was easy to do things under controlled circumstances, with a person who had no intentions of harming her. But things weren't always like that.

"Yes, I do." Practice did make perfect, after all.

[member="Phylis Alince"]

 

[Phylis Alince]

[member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"]

“Hmm, yes, often the most important thing of all is for you to remain calm. Not always easy when a Sith Lord is trying to eat you for breakfast. Still, practice it enough and it becomes second nature, just like breathing and, hmm, walking.”
She rose. “You’ve got the general idea now, is there anything else you’d like me to teach you?”

 

[Galina Kerrigan-Alcori]

Galina nodded, "No, I would imagine it's not. But I suppose you are right, just need practice."

The young woman frowned for a moment as she thought about what Phylis had asked, "I don't know." Truthfully, she'd never looked into the force beyond Tempest's lessons, which left her a little blind to the thousands upon thousands of skills out there. "I don't think so. Then again .... It's not like I truly know all that much. I haven't had a large desire to learn really. So beyond lessons with Tempest, I haven't looked into it honestly. Nonetheless I appreciate the offer."

[member="Phylis Alince"]

 

[Phylis Alince]

[member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"]
“The offer remains open, Galina. I’m sure Tempest is a good trainer, but everyone can offer some different perspectives or skills. If you’re ever interested in learning more about healing or the Light…well, your mother knows how to contact me. I’m sure she wouldn’t protest me being around more,” she added with a sigh.

Siobhan’s pursuit of her, up to and including embarrassing mail, had become a known factor to her, to be played like a game.

 

[Galina Kerrigan-Alcori]

The redhead nodded, "She is." However, Phylis' mention of the light, of healing actually did pique her interest. For the last thing she wanted was to end up falling into the darkness and becoming what she feared so much. "Actually, I am interested in both. If I'm to avoid becoming like the Mages on the planet I came from, such things would be needed, necessary. And healing, never hurts to know. Never know when one might need it. Do you think you could help me with this?"

[member="Phylis Alince"]

 

[Phylis Alince]

[member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"] [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

Phylis smiled, pleased at this last request. She had not expected anyone in this family to be interested in the Light, so it was a pleasant surprise.

“We can go into it a bit more now if you wanted,” she offered. From her hand she summoned a small ball of golden light and let it shimmer and hang in the air before dissipating.

 

[Galina Kerrigan-Alcori]

Galina managed a small smile, though a sigh soon followed. She still held her uncertainties about the force. Even now it felt almost wrong to her to hold any curiosity or desire to learn of the force.

Galina's eyes widened for a moment watching the display. It certainly wasn't what she was used to. "I would like that, I think." Truth be told, she didn't sound all that sure. But there was no better time than the present to at least try to learn more of the Light side of the force. The side of the force that she could agree on being alright to use, even if she didn't entirely like it. "Where shall we begin?" She asked quietly, almost timidly.

[member="Phylis Alince"]

 

[Phylis Alince]

[member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"]
“I’m not sure if Tempest has taught you how to meditate yet. It’s the best way to calm one’s mind and body, and prepare it for focusing your mind. Though it is easy enough to learn the direct applications of the Force, the more spiritual aspect requires a greater calmness and focus.”

She knelt on the floor, indicating Galina should join her. “Relax, don’t think about anything, don’t use the Force, just let your mind drift. I’ll ask you some questions, answer them with your first instinct. Don’t think about your answer.”

“You are hurrying for an important meeting, but you see someone beside the road who needs help. Do you stop? Why?”

 

[Galina Kerrigan-Alcori]

A slow nod came as Galina slipped from the bed and knelt in the floor, in front of Phylis. She cocked her head to the side for a moment, considering the Jedi's words.

The girl closed her eyes and breathed in deeply, trying her best to relax. Which for a teenager with a million things running through her mind was easier said than done. A part of her mind wanted to stop, and think about the question. It took some effort on her part to quash the more logical side of her mind that wanted to weigh the risks and benefits of such a choice. But life rarely afforded anyone such opportunities. You had a choice, and fractions of seconds to react.

"Yes, I'd stop." The why, at first she wasn't sure. "Someone once stopped for me. Saved me from a horrible fate. If I can help, and ease their burden help change their fate in a single moment small or large? Why wouldn't I? Sure there's a billion risks, a million possibilities of traps, dangers, unexpected events but those always exist. Of it all going horribly wrong, but I can't ignore someone's need for help. A meeting can be rescheduled, but that person needs someone to help in that singular moment. And that moment won't come again. It could be the difference between life and death. Or set off a ripple of events and people reacting, acting on instinct, that leads to a world changing."

[member="Phylis Alince"]

 

[Phylis Alince]

[member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"]
Phylis nodded. It was an easy enough question. In such circumstances, with no stakes, most people would choose the ‘right’ path.
“Focus your mind. Think of someone who has hurt you, wronged you. Imagine if it was them you came upon in the last scenario. Would you stop for them if they needed aid, or leave them to their fate?”

 

[Galina Kerrigan-Alcori]

That wasn't as easy. Sure there were many who had wronged her along the way. Tried to kill her and so on. But they were back on Sigma. Far from her mind. Still leaving them to their fate, whatever that might be .... If that was more pain or death, that hardly seemed right to adorn such things with more pain and death. She knew too well, such events you never got a second to think about. You simply had to react on a baser instinct, already there. Now, if the poor sap was just asking for directions, she'd probably walk right on by.

"The answer stands. I won't have them on my conscience, not their pain, certainly not their death. I may not be able to stand them. Wish them much pain at some point for trying to harm me. But, that isn't how I'd react in the moment. Things slip away, grudges, past pain in moments like that. You have fractions of seconds to determine how an event plays out. I can say for certain, they would not be wasted thinking of past harm, past grudges. Only getting them out of harm's way," She said firmly. "In those moments, a grudge or past pain is hardly important. Life is but not that.."

[member="Phylis Alince"]

 

[Phylis Alince]

[member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"]
Phylis nodded. “Though some might say it is easy to make such a declaration now, I think it is important. I feel the sincerity behind your words, Galina.”

Phylis reached into her bag and produced a small, sterile needle and gently poked it into her own finger. A bead of blood appeared.
“Now, focus your mind, Galina, look at this small cut and feel that desire to help others. Channel that feeling into the cut, envision it closing and the pain passing. If you wish I can join your mind briefly to show you.”

 

[Galina Kerrigan-Alcori]

Galina sighed and nodded. "Perhaps, but that is what I choose."

The redhead's eyes followed as Phylis grabbed the needle to prick her own finger. Her eyes widened not quite understanding what was happening until the woman spoke. And while the idea did frighten her of anyone in her mind, Galina somehow felt she may just need it this time. With a calming breath in, she did her best to relax, to focus. "I .. I think, I'll need a little help." She said quietly, not exactly liking to admit when she needed help. "Please, show me."

[member="Phylis Alince"]

 

[Phylis Alince]

[member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"]
Phylis nodded, moved to stand behind Galina. She placed gentle hands on the girl’s temples and focused.
“Relax, Galina, let me show you.”

She did not push her way into Galina’s mind, waited until she was admitted. Then, taking one hand from the girl she held it out before them.

‘Relax, Galina, let me show you how to focus on my hand. Feel the threads of the Force, concentrate on them. Wind them into a bandage for the cut. Imagine it, and it shall be.’

 

[Galina Kerrigan-Alcori]

It took Galina a moment or two to relax enough to let Phylis into her mind. The idea of someone else being in there with her was a thought that still was quite uncomfortable. Perhaps in time, she'd learn to adjust.

Breathing in and out once more she finally opened up and allowed Phylis to cross into her mind. She stiffened slightly hearing the words within her mind but soon pushed herself into relaxing and not letting it get the best of her.

Her brow knitted together as she reached out slowly to find the strands of the Force. It took a great amount of focus for her to even begin to work with them. This was an entirely new task to her. Healing rather than defense or attack, it seemed a better way. With a heavy sigh she finally managed to will herself into grasping the strands of power. With great effort, she started to wrap them into a bandage for the small wound.

[member="Phylis Alince"]

 

[Phylis Alince]

[member="Galina Kerrigan-Alcori"]
“There! Good girl!” Phylis said as the Force bound and healed the tiny cut closed. “Now you know the method, it will take practice to make yourself skilled.”

She patted Galina on the shoulder, smiled. “You’re a good student, dear. Keep up with your focussing exercises and you’ll be great.”