Private Teaching Resilience (Elpsis)

[Phylis Alince]

Elpsis Kerrigan

Pyre glared at Nyssa a little. "That's not how diplomacy works, Nyssa," she said stiffly.
"You know, put in her usual blunt way it's not that far from the truth, hmm," Phylis said thoughtfully.
"Really, Master Jedi, I thought you'd see more than that."
"Diplomacy is about getting people to compromise enough to agree that they won't get everything, but will get enough. So she's broadly correct," she said.
"I suppose that's one interpretation," the Chiss said primly.

As they headed out, Phylis looked down at the box. "I'll go get this somewhere safe, then see you back at the palace. Do you know where Elpsis is now?"

xxx

Ixzuma looked worried when Elpsis initially came after her, as if she was afraid of being punished for her joke earlier.
She looked up at Elpsis, a little defiant. "I don't have one. Sometimes Miss Lalax lets me stay in the home when there's room." She looked ragged and a little dirty. She was used to sleeping rough clearly.
Zhaleh came over. "Would you like somewhere to go?"
"I can look after myself," Ixzuma said stubbornly, but there was a very clear misting of her eyes. She clearly wanted to be convinced.

"I wonder if they are the same, your 'Ashla' and Kashara? I was never a very pious woman, but this situation has made me rethink that. I hope that it's true. Maybe the Goddess will not find me wanting. I'll take any prayers you can give at the moment."
Javana fell silent after that, evidently thinking about things.

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Phylis Alince

For her part, Nyssa winked at Pyre before following Phylis. She shrugged at the Jedi's query. "Grinding her teeth at the fawning from the Sio cultists? Too obedient to Firemane to say no. If they're smart they'll show her some 'poor Xio' with a sob story. Girl never found a 'good cause' she didn't want to throw herself at." Her cybernetic fist clenched. "One day it will kill her."

xxx

"You can," Elpsis agreed empathically. "Girl strong. But you want what?" Pointing at herself, she added: "Grew up on streets, too. Poor, alone. Harsh life. Want to help. You earn better life."
Zhaleh coughed slightly. "Ma'am, I think you mean 'deserve,'" she said, using the correct Xio word.
"What?"
"'Deserve' a better life, ma'am."
"Yes, that."

"You shall have them," Diona responded solemly. Respecting Javana's privacy, she said no more. Instead she busied herself with gathering up the dirty bowls and spoons so that they could be taken away to be cleaned.

 

[Phylis Alince]

Elpsis Kerrigan

Phylis raised an eyebrow. "You sound both, hmm, disdainful and concerned. She's in a tricky position, and perhaps some of that is of her own making. She chooses to charge into the hardest battle when she could be standing back to deliver on her charitable intentions. I respect that...but there's only so many times one can fight in the maelstrom before it claims you."
The Jedi considered this a moment, walking in silence. "Such a paradox, yet I respect her...even if I know it is likely one day I will hear the sad tidings of her fall."

She continued out, and after exchanging last words with Nyssa she would head for the hanger.
As she entered Six-Nine appeared, beeping at her. "Yes, I know, things got busy. I'm sure you're able to handle things here." Heading down into the base of the cargohold she entered a code and made subtle passes with her hand over the door, causing it to pop open. A collection of items were stored within and she swiftly pushed the casket inside and made to close the door.
"You really should take the crown up, Jedi. It'd make you great. Or at least less boring. You need to get some style." The spectral voice was conversational, seemingly emanating from a gem in the safe.
Phylis sighed. "I'm not going to ask how you know what's in there. And don't talk to me about style. I really need to introduce you to a pureblood I met. I'm sure she'd love to chat. But for now, I have business elsewhere."
"Do tell. Introduce me to this pureblood. Wait...going so soon? You know we really must-" Its words were cut off as the safe closed and sealed. The last ghostly tones were a very bad series of curse words in ancient Sith.
Phylis ascended from the cargohold. "Just what we needed, another egotistical enchanted item. I really need to offload these soon."
Six-Nine beeped curiously.
"Nothing, Six-Nine. I'll be back tomorrow. Make sure Nibbles gets fed for me." Orders given she started to head back down towards the city.

xxx

Ixzuma looked up at Elpsis. "Well...alright," she said cautiously. "But I don't want to clean floors all the time. That's what the last big lady got me to do and was very mean." She pouted.
"Don't worry, Miss Elpsis is not mean or cruel. But don't make fun of her hair and everything will be fine," Zhaleh assured her, saying it in Basic too. "People who do get turned to ash!" she declared with a small smirk at Elpsis. She was on the whole a generous and kind soul, but she did like some light fun at times.
Ixzuma opened her mouth, covered it with her hand. "It's very pretty, Miss!" she declared. Indeed, red hair was something she would have never seen in her life.

Javana retreated to the depths of Diona's subconscious. All the former Jedi would 'hear' was the occasional tune of an old Qadiri sailing adventure song. Even that would fade as the dining hall emptied out leaving the outsiders and Ixzuma alone with the matron.

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Phylis Alince

Nyssa snorted. "She shouldn't be anyone's martyr. Not of Firemane, not of mewling crybabies who want someone to wave a magic wand and make mana fall down from the sky for them. She...frak...all the qualities that make me want to tear her clothes off, claim her as my consort and duel anyone who is so impudent to challenge me for her hand piss me off about her!" she declared hotly.

Then she affixed Phylis with a stare so hard it could have been carved out granite. "Not a word of this to her," she said flatly. Then without a further word she spun on her heels and walked away while Phylis boarded her ship to put the talkative artefact away.

xxx

Elpsis glared at her subordinate. "What's wrong with my hair?"
"Nothing, ma'am!" Zhaleh said quickly. "You're the first red-mane I met."
"My subordinates are going to be a bad influence," the Kerrigan scion muttered. Getting up, she stretched out her hand - her flesh and blood hand - to Ixzuma. "Come on, kiddo."

 

[Phylis Alince]

Elpsis Kerrigan
Phylis had merely raised an eyebrow. "Not a word, I promise," she said, hiding a smile. A lot more things made sense now.

The Jedi Master returned down into the city, pondering as she did. It was not long before she found herself back near her hotel. Unsure where to turn, she was about to head towards the palace when she saw a familar figure approaching; Ximal.
"Mistress Jedi, are you lost?" the Seeker asked cheerfully.
"Perhaps a little, I'm seeking Lieutenant Kerrigan, do you know where she went?"
A slight frown. "I believe she's with the...uhh...Daughters."
"Ah. Not your biggest fans?"
"Maybe, but I don't mind them that much. Their religious zeal for their Karishzar is a little puzzling, but I'm not as opposed as some!"
"How did you go though? Did you get in trouble?"
"No raking over the coals, literally or figuratively," Ximal said with a smile. "We came to an understanding, but I think a lot of it will come down to what the final result is. If the ghost leaves the human Diona that'll be very different from if she has to be exorcised. So...I'm hoping and trusting in the Light," she added piously.
"Hmmph, you're hoping you are not punished for it."
A smirk Phylis did not know how to interpret. "Indeed, Mistress Jedi. Now, I'd best get going, I'd better put my best foot forward or the Commander will be mad."
"May the Force be with you, Vara'Ximal."
"My the Light show your path."

Phylis headed through the streets. She knew vaguely where the Daughters were based, but as it turned out she came across Elpsis just after Nyssa had rejoined her, and the redhead was exiting, little Ixzuma in toe.
"Lieutenant, all well?" she asked Elpsis. She waved to the little Xio. "Good day, little one, are you well?" she asked in Xio.
Ixzuma looked surprised that a human could speak her language and shyly waved, holding onto Elpsis' hand. "I...am well."
Not really good with children, Phylis looked back to Elpsis. "Matters went well enough in the palace. Hmmph, only one evil sentient artefact discovered so far!"

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Phylis Alince

Sensing her nervousness, Elpsis gave Ixzuma's hand a squeeze. "Phylis a friend. She nice," she said in bad Xio. Sadly, she didn't know the Xio word nerd otherwise she'd have called her that. She glanced at the Jedi. "Good to know. Hazani behave herself?"

"It was dull," Nyssa suddenly exclaimed as she approached the group with an swagger. "I told them to fight it out. I could've been persuaded to be the Xio's champion if she'd been less of a cold fish," she looked at Elpsis, smirked. "Where are your worshippers? Who's that? Trying to make up for Siobhan lazing around in bed by adopting more kiddos for her?"
"Were you in the sun too long?" Ixzuma asked innocently.
"What?"
"You're all red."
"What are they talking about?" Elpsis asked.

 

[Phylis Alince]

Elpsis Kerrigan

"Hmm, well things got a little animated there." Phylis glanced at Nyssa. "But mostly in order. I arbitrated as fairly as I could, but not everyone will be happy with everything. That's how things work. Pyre is helping with the next batch, though I'd rather not spend the next month here between Hazani and the Xio antiquarian."

The little girl looked awed and perhaps a little frightened at Nyssa.
"She thinks that Nyssa has burnt because she's red. I don't think she's seen a species which is not at least a little like those here on Tygara," Phylis explained. She knelt down in front of Ixzuma, switching to Xio. "Nyssa is from the stars, her people are normally that colour. Just like, hmm, Vash are more pale, and Xio are more dark."
"It must be very hot there then!" Ixzuma pointed out proudly.
"Hmm, I'm sure Nyssa could explain the coloration, but she's meant to be like this. She is not a flayed one either, she has all her skin."
Glancing up at Elpsis she smiled. "Where to now? Did you want to get a meal? We might be able to do some more training later or tomorrow depending how you feel."

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Phylis Alince

"In a bit," Elpsis responded. "Ixzuma doesn't have a home. Gotta help her so she's got somewhere decent. And there's, um, petitions to deal with." She was quite certain she heard Zhaleh chuckle and glared at her. "What's so funny?"
"Um, nothing, ma'am!"

"It is hot on Korriban. My ancestors hail from there," Nyssa smirked at Ixzuma. Standing over 6'0 tall with a ripped physique, she was a truly imposing sight. "To be on Korriban is to walk on a graveyard world of ancient tombs, red sand and canyons filled with manifold beasts and ghosts, all beneath a blazing hot sun. It is a world of history, and of dangers. The weak don't last long."

The Pureblood bent down, and suddenly scooped up Ixzuma. The cybernetic fingers of her left hand would feel cool but she held the girl with surprising gentleness and care. "But you don't look weak. You've known hardship, haven't you, little one? Not like those pampered, lazy brats who always go to sleep in beds with silk sheets."

"Nyssa," Elpsis said warningly.
"What? I know how to deal with kids," the Pureblood responded indignantly in Basic.

 

[Phylis Alince]

Elpsis Kerrigan
Phylis nodded understandingly. "Ah, I see! Did you have somewhere in mind, Elpsis? I know there's orphanages and group homes in the city, but if you're looking for something more permanent we could see if there are adoptives we could make use of?" She frowned. "You weren't thinking of adopting her yourself were you?" Siobhan had a habit of adopting waifs and strays, and Phylis did not think it unreasonable that this had passed down the adoptive line.

Ixzuma let out a little squeal, but then settled when it was clear that the giant flayed one wasn't going to eat her raw.
She looked a little defiantly at Nyssa. "I've survived," she said stubbornly. "I've had to manage on the streets, but I've never begged to be rescued. If Lady Firemane wants to find me a home I'm thankful."

Curiosity overcame her defiant stubbornness. She reached out to gently touch the spurs on the Sith pureblood's face, tracing along them.
"Are these like tusks?" she asked excitedly. "Are they going to get big and pointy when you're old?"
Phylis stifled a giggle at the thought of Nyssa with tusks.

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Phylis Alince

"No. They are not tusks, they are tendrils that are a mark of my heritage!" Nyssa declared indignantly. Having made her point, she seemed to settle down. "I like you, girl. Never let anyone tell you you're helpless and need a human saviour. Most of the toys they love so much weren't even invented by them. Remember who you are and what you survived, and you'll make it."

She patted the girl on the head and gently put her back down. "You know other child of the streets?" Zhaleh asked in accented Xio once Ixzuma had firm ground under her feet.

Elpsis, meanwhile, shook her head. "I've got two sisters who are pissed at me for not being 'home' a lot. Hard to connect with them," she admitted. "But I've gotta do my duty, I can't play mother. All that ugly villa does is warp and twist you. I want her to get a place where she'll be looked after and not treated as a burden. Or fed propaganda BS non-stop."

 

[Phylis Alince]

Elpsis Kerrigan
Ixzuma giggled at the reaction. "Tuuusk," she said in the annoying way children did when they'd found a string to pull. However, she realised this was a revelation not to use too much lest it anger the Flayed One.
"I will remember, I will be strong!" she declared proudly.

"I know some others, yeah," she said suspiciously to Zhaleh. "I have friends."
"We won't hurt them, we can help them," Phylis said with a smile. She switched the Basic. "That is the plan, right? Give them a home somewhere and education?"

Hearing Elpsis she nodded slowly. "They're a lot younger than you too. I think in ten years when they can make their own choices you will be able to connect better with them. I'm not exactly qualified on child rearing but I'm hoping they are both being raised to understand the value of people, money and items. Hmm, it will be hard I know. My sincere hope is that they will learn to be responsible and independently minded...but experience with royals shows me it's hard to break away. Sensible people," a self-deprecating smile, "tend to choose the easy paths in life. People like us choose what we think is right, not what is easy."

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Phylis Alince

"Yes. We help," Zhaleh confirmed quickly. For Ixzuma's benefit, she repeated it in Xio. "You and your friends are like tribe, yes? You look after one another. It is what clan does where I come from."

"Hard to get perspective when you're surrounded by lying sycophants and hangers-on who hang on your mothers' coattails to have a cushy life," Elpsis remarked disdainfully. "I sent them to Yarkul to get them away from that crap. Maybe it's helped. I gotta check up on them soon. Anyway, I suck at being a surrogate mother or 'Lady Kerrigan', but I can help some people here," she glanced at the Xio girl. "But I don't want them to get lazy and weak."

 

[Phylis Alince]

Elpsis Kerrigan
Ixzuma puffed out her chest a little. "Yes, they are my tribe, they should all get help!" she declared grandly.
"How many of them are there?" Phylis asked, turning aside for a moment.
"Four...including me!"
"Hmm, well that should be manageable. Just as well it's not a real tribe," Phylis commented in Basic with a little smile.

"If Tylania is aiding them I think they will be kept in line," she said, looking back to Elpsis. "Children...are very good at fitting into the social conventions and boundaries they are given. That is why the Jedi always tried to train children young as it gets them in an impressionable state of mind." She frowned. "Not always a great thing, but better the earlier you start."
She nodded to Ixzuma who gave her a suspicious look, knowing she was being talked about.
"Put Livia in this situation and Ixzuma in hers and you'd have a very similar outcome. What's needed is to make sure the children are engaged and able to, hmm, develop along guided paths. If you'd like I could come with you when you visit them? I'm not going to try and convert them to Jedism, but I might be able to assess if there's something you might be able to do to help them. I do need to see Tylania again. Hmmph, she gave me training and she'll be wanting to know how I went."

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Phylis Alince

"Yeah, and how many of those kids couldn't cope and 'fell to the dark side' because no one taught them simple human interaction or dealing with basic emotions?" Elpsis could not help retorting. To her, Jedi as a group would never be anything other than a failed order that wound up doing more harm than good.

"Anyway, sure you can come along. Fresh perspective can help. Last I heard, Adril wanted to play at being a little huntress, we'll see how that's gone. Let's see go see Lalax" She patted little Ixzuma on the shoulder. "Come on, kiddo." Diona gave Phylis a curious look, but said nothing.

"Maybe Ixzuma can help a bit with the petitions, ma'am. Under supervision," Zhaleh opined. "Ixzuma, you know of people who come here for aid?"

 

[Phylis Alince]

Elpsis Kerrigan
Phylis nodded sadly. "Not always a great thing. Methods of training Jedi have changed over the centuries, but finding the balance is hard. In the end I think it is, hmm, harder to do good than bad." A view Nyssa might challenge! "I'm not sure how welcome I'd be, but I'll come along for now."
Phylis glanced back at Diona, a frown. "How is your spirit settling in?"

Ixzuma proudly nodded. "I know almost everyone here, maybe not names, but their looks, how they act. Some are nice, some just pretend to be nice. Some are sneaky."

Lalax would be found in her office as before. She smiled as they entered.
"Was the feast deserving?" she asked in Basic.

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Phylis Alince

"Javana is...well. Afraid of what lies ahead when she crosses into the void. Of what has become of her family," Diona said after a moment, evidently choosing her words with care. "She is not a threat."
"Uh-huh, let's hope it stays that way," Elpsis remarked.
"She was...is a good woman," Diona insisted, tone flat.

It didn't take long to reach Lalax' office. Elpsis figured that the priestess calling the meal a 'feast' was done to translation issues, and decided to let it roll rather than act patronising. "Some people were jerks, but things went well after I kicked one of them out. Think everyone got their fill," she indicated the kid who'd joined them.

"That's Ixzuma. You know her? She and her friends don't have a home, and I wanna change that." Her eyes darted to Xilae. "How are you two getting along with sorting out the petitions and stuff?"

 

[Phylis Alince]

Elpsis Kerrigan

Phylis nodded thoughtfully. "I believe your sincerity," she said softly. Her concerns remained about what fear might prompt Javana to try, but she kept those to herself. It was something she would try to handle herself later if needed.

When they arrived they found Xilae and Lalax at work.
Lalax shook her head. "There are many of the wasteful who claim food. I disdain them!"
For her part Phylis frowned, knowing there might be translation issues. "If you want, I can translate for you," she said with a smile in Xio.
The Xio looked back at her, smiled broadly. "Ah, you are the Mistress Jeedai that was mentioned! My sky-tongue is not well composed!" she replied.
The Jedi blinked. It seemed that Lalax was a bit eccentric regardless of language.
Either way, Lalax nodded at Ixzuma. "I know her well. She is strong but does not like to be commanded," she said in basic.
As if to prove this the child pouted a bit, knowing she was being discussed but unable to understand.
"If she will toil here she may sleep below."
Phylis coughed slightly. "Work, is a better word."
"Ah, work. Yes. The sky-tongue is confusing," Lalax said with a sigh.

"All going well, ma'am," Xilae said. He looked a little bleary eyed from recording over a hundred petitions or more and then analysing them. "Some seem to be in genuine need, others less so but hoping for aid...and some are trying to cash in on your generosity, ma'am."

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Phylis Alince

"I'll have to check out the rooms," Elpsis said. "She has three friends. Haven't met them yet, but could they stay, too?" She ran her flesh hand through her red hair. "I want them to have a chance get an education. An actual one, not a bunch of propaganda. I'm ready to cough up the credits if it's gonna help."

"Keep it up, and you'll have an orphanage full of brats clinging to you. Might as well declare them Karrigans while you're it," Nyssa commented sardonically, whereupon Elpsis shot her a look.
"Xilae, translate for her," Elpsis said, meaning Ixzuma. She always hated it when people talked over her, and she imagined it was even worse when they were deciding your future while talking in a language you didn't understand.

 

[Phylis Alince]

Xilae translated for Lalax and Ixzuma.
The little girl looked up at Lalax. "She's nice, gives me more soup," she declared. "I'll stay here. I'll go get my friends!" she added excitedly. If no one stopped her she'd be out the door!

Lalax meanwhile waved Elpsis over. "Together we investigate. The rooms are not palaces but they are capable."
Heading down to the middle levels they found a small room tucked into the back wall of the building. Perhaps once a servant's quarters or minor storeroom...or both. Four bunk beds had been stacked in the narrow room along with a wobbly armoire propped up with a box. The beds were indeed nothing fancy but it was better than sleeping rough outside. Since the Xio had not invented springs yet they were of simple stuffed mattresses on cheap funguswood slats and surrounds with iron frames.
There was room for other kids in here too if more were found worthy.

"We can educate them, yes," Lalax said once the room had been shown. "We have teachers for many arts including the sky-tongue, writing and reading, counting and science," she said proudly. However, a frown. "We do teach them of the glorious feats of the Karishzar and her sky realm. But this is truth and not prop-aganda."
Nyssa would likely have a quip on that!

Phylis meanwhile had wandered around the otherwise abandoned rooms, noting how some had once had a more grand purpose but had been converted into storage, bunkrooms or small workrooms. As she was turning back something caught her notice. A cold draught. Puzzled, she turned and saw that an area of wall on this room had a slight gap between wall panels. As she approached she ran her hand over it, feeling the cold air coming out.
"Hmm, odd.... Diona, can I, hmm, borrow you a moment?" she called.

Elpsis Kerrigan

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Phylis Alince

"Wait," Zhaleh called to the exuberant girl before she rushed out. "Ma'am, may I accompany her?"
"Yes, go with her. Make sure she doesn't get into trouble," Elpsis ordered.
"Guide me on the path to your tribe, little one," the snow Qadiri extended her hand to Ixzuma. She had deliberately phrased it in such a manner that didn't directly say she felt the girl needed an escort.

Meanwhile, Elpsis and Nyssa followed the priestess to inspect the rooms. As expected, they were utilitarian and austere rather than the height of luxury. Being physically blind, Elpsis had to resort to other means of investigation. Namely touch. "These are fine for a start," she said after a moment getting a feel of the bunk beds. The armoire was next. "Need to fix that up. Shouldn't be too hard." She liked working with her hands.

She looked back at Lalax as the priestess explained the curriculum, frowning. I'm sure everything about the Karishzar is fair and unbiased, she thought caustically. She didn't doubt that Lalax believed it was true, but that didn't make her less uncomfortable. "Do you teach about that glorious day when the Karishzar tossed a giant skyship into a sun? She wants all her worshippers to know it by heart when she wakes up...if she does," Nyssa quipped.

"Nyssa, shut up," Elpsis said flatly. She ran her flesh hand through her hair, thinking. "Her sky realm's pretty small, y'know. She's one fish in a big pond. I can look at getting you lot some other textbooks about what the galaxy's like."

Diona had been distracted, but walked over when Phylis called for her. Her keen eyes noted the slight gap Phylis' attention seemed to be on. A cold draft came from it. "A secret room." It was phrased as a statement rather than a query. "This used to be a noble's house?" Her mind immediately went to darker possibilities.