The Hangar

They were waving the ship off when the small voice piped up nearby. Na'an turned quickly so that her body was between the child and the bottle and her hand, still beaming. Leigh turned more slowly, her blank dome gleaming coolly--if such a thing could be said.


It was unsettlingly difficult to tell who Leigh was looking at when her hologram was off. Of course, it was entirely possible that she was looking at Morgan and Na'an, both. "She said that, did she?" she remarked, the droid's tone as cool as her empty dome. As she spoke, the comm on her arm beeped. Checking it, she saw the frequency for Adelle's private correspondance, and turned it in to play privately. 


She'd heard Adelle's voice like that once before--on the verge of a panic attack. "Na'an, I'm being sent for by Ms. Bastiel. It sounds urgent; when you saw her, did she seem--"


"Ah."

Na'an had started and flushed at the name Bastiel, her smile tightening into something closer to a grimace. The droid dropped her arm, the dome hologram snapping on for the first time in days to glare at Na'an.

Leigh knew that look. Her eyes narrowed.

"What did you do--"

Before Leigh could get going, Na'an cut her off with a grunt and a shake of her head. Morgan was still there, looking up at Na'an with wide eyes. They couldn't have it out now, or everything Na'an was holding in would come out now, and now was too soon. She forced her mouth into a composed line.  
"We'll talk about it in a bit, okay?" she said.  "We're almost done, I just have to report." With a quick look at Morgan, she stepped forward to close the gap between her and Leigh  "I'm almost done, then we'll talk about it," she said again, this time in a fierce whisper. "Please."

For a second, Na'an wondered if Leigh would push the matter anyway. Their eyes met and held--Na'an pleading, Leigh glaring as if she could read minds and already knew what Na'an had done...and then Leigh huffed. She turned, and  pushed her way out of the hangar, her footfalls booming just a bit louder than usual. 

Na'an winced, watching her friend's back retreat into the crowd. Then, exhaling a breath she hadn't known she'd held, she  rearranged the wide grin she'd worn for Malora and crouched to meet Morgan's eye.
"You're sweet, kiddo, you know that?" she said brightly. "Tell you what, maybe you can help me out. I, uh, need to report to your daddy before it gets late. Where's the best place for me to wait for him?"
Her hip pockets were large, and flared when Na'an bent her legs this far; she took the opportunity to slip the bottle of tihaar into one of them, sight unseen.

"I'd like that." The bottle rested against Na'an's hip as she stood, heavy and sloshing slightly. She bowed a little, as if Morgan Calmcacil were a Knight or a Master herself. "Lead the way, m'lady."

*Felucia... a world quite unlike Deralia at all, at least from what Maggy knew from history and could see from the shuttle ride to the surface. Belkadan had been more similar in that it its surface was grass and trees, but the vegetation of Felucia was... fantastical, to say the least. Not the kind of world that she would have expected to be the new home of the Jedi Order, but... she could sense the Force was strong in this world, constantly moving, in perfect balance. She could sense it almost like she could a person... and indeed, it felt like the person was... sensing her? Not only that, but the impression Maggy got was that it somehow recognized her as well...*

"Hey, what's up?" *Shari asked her, snapping her out of her focus.*

"I... don't know," *Maggy answered truthfully.* "The planet... almost feels like a person, and it recognized me. Somehow." *Shari frowned at her, equal parts stunned and confused. Maggy frowned, then asked,* "Did you feel anything?"

*The Hapan girl shook her head before replying,* "Well, I do, but nothing quite like that. The planet's very strong in the Force... but it isn't sensing me or anything."

*Strange... Maggy didn't have much time to contemplate this however, as they were making their landing within the hangar now. Maggy and Shari both gathered their belongings and made for the aft of the ship, intending to follow directly behind the two Masters until the pair of students from Belkadan eagerly followed in pace behind them. Maggy hadn't had much interaction with them beyond learning their names; they'd seemed to understand that Maggy and Shari needed some time to recuperate and were respecting that.

When Maggy set foot in the hangar, it was for a moment all too foreign... but that moment passed when she saw their welcome party, and a sea of familiar faces before them, waiting to greet them, faces she hadn't seen in years. Bix McDouglas, one of the Masters, and his younger sister Shells. Cassie, a Knight, and her daughter Kayla standing beside her. Tom Klanzo, a wandering Gray Jedi who had come to the aid of the Deralia Jedi many times. The twins Michelle and Annabelle, acquaintances of Maggy, the former renowned for being an exceptional student. Morgan, a small-yet-powerful young girl. And of course, at the center of them all, was Aerandir Calmcacil himself, waiting to greet them with a mixture of relief and sadness.

Despite this, it was almost an overwhelming sight emotionally, of such familiar and important people in her life just after the turmoil at Deralia. She leaned into Shari's side as she tried to keep herself composed, the latter responding by putting an arm around her compassionately.

There were a handful of new faces as well, an infant girl in Cassie's arms, a young blond girl standing close to and slightly behind Aerandir, and a boy who looked exceptionally similar to Morgan. She was curious about these... but they could learn more later.*

"Welcome to Felucia," *Aerandir greeted, looking upon all of them with a sad smile as he took a step forward.* "It's good to see you all again, I just wish it could've been under happier circumstances."

*Maggy found herself nodding, albeit wanting to say it was good to see each other at all. However, it was Master Terry that replied,* "Indeed, but any joy we can reap from this is worth it."

*This was met by a scoff from Master Dionne.* "Joy, right."

*Aerandir grimaced.* "Well you're here now, and we're gonna be sticking together." *He took a step forward and placed a hand on Master Dionne's shoulder.* "You're gonna bounce back from this."

*Master Dionne seemed like he was resisting the urge to throw Aerandir's hand off of him. He finally looked up into his fellow Master's eye, then gave a reluctant nod.* "I will, but right now I ain't gonna feel good."

*Aerandir shrugged and released him.* "Fair enough." *He then walked past him and Bruce, toward Maggy and Shari. He smiled down at them and Maggy's heart skipped a beat; she had lost track of how long it had been since they had last spoken face to face, the man who'd rescued her, the man who'd showed her a whole new world in the ways of the Jedi...* "I'm glad you're safe," *he told them.* "We'll take care of you here. Are you alright?"

*It was a question for both of them, but Maggy could sense he meant it mostly for her. She nodded, still pressed against Shari's side, and answered,* "I will be." *Suddenly remembering how Jedi tended to conduct business when there was an issue, she stood up straight and added,* "I'll tell you everything you need me to."

*Aerandir's smile once more became sad, and he nodded.* "Of course. But when you're ready. I'm just glad you made it out."

*Hearing those words... it lifted her spirits. Someone cared about her, even besides Shari. Aerandir had always believed in her ability and her potential; in that way, he was almost more of a father to her than her own father. Maybe that was why she had been so eager to be reunited with him, to see him after the recent events...*

"We'd better go somewhere more quiet so we can catch up," *Aerandir then said.* "It's been a long time. Any 'official' debriefing can wait. We can also figure out your living arrangements."

*At this, even as Aerandir turned to lead them away, Shari piped up.* "M-Master Calmcacil!"

*Aerandir stopped and turned back, speaking mid-turn.* "'Aerandir,' Shari. What's up?"

"S-sorry. Um, Maggy and I can share a room, right? We have for a while, and it'd be better for both of us so we have each other to cheer up!"

*Maggy knew Shari was blushing, but now even she blushed at the request, not that she protested of course. Aerandir seemed to be no fool, as his smile seemed to at last turn genuine before he shrugged and nodded.* "I don't see why not."

*He then again turned away, leading the large group away from the hangar, even as Shari hissed a soft "yes." Maggy grinned, though still blushed; funny, why was she blushing now when she didn't mind the suggestion on Belkadan? Relationships were funny things... or so she heard. Quietly, she followed the group, barely registering the greetings and small talk exchanged between them. In a weird way, she almost felt like she was at home here, in the presence of familiar people, and the planet itself seeming to keep a watchful eye over her... though that one would definitely take some getting used to, if she thought it was right.*

The old but sturdy Blastboat gets clearance to land and finds its place in the hanger. The old gunship was covered in a wide display of paint colors. Green, pink, red, blue, every visible color and some in the infrared, not that the pilot could see it. IT had been far too long since he had been in the company of other Jedi. THough he was doing this more out of a sense of obligation than thinking anything could be solved. That was his main reason for doing most things, duty and obligation. In the cargo hold he held many of the only things that could bring him anything that remotely resembled happiness. Small presents for children, it seemed anymore that the only thing that could put a smile on his face was a smile on theirs. He figured it was because they reminded him of a time when he didn't know how little the galaxy really had to offer, how hopeless things really were.
The old jedi gathered his gray cloak and draped it over his lighter gray tunic. And headed outside of the ship. He sniffed the air. Yep, definitely a moist forest world, that's not a smell I will get used too.

The old jedi had his typical gruff expression until he saw what looked like a little girl come spinning towards him, the sight made a small smile crack his lips. As she spun he felt an emptiness in the Force where she should have been. I was surprised when this revelation didn't take the smile off the corners of his mouth. He really was a sucker for kids, apparently even droids made to look like kids. His gruff and gravelly voice spoke to her. Well hello there dear, yes I am new here. I am Master Mir-Atash Delphi, and you are miss?

That was a great question. Why was he actually here. Cause it was a duty, cause when the galaxy is going to hell you gather smart people and talk about it. Thats just the way things were. Nothing really would come of it, but that is what people did. None of this he could tell to the HRD. Somehow she still had the innocence that real children had about her. That was why he was so taken by them, they didn't realize how hopeless the galaxy was. This unwilling but constant hope and joy was the one thing that still could make him smile.

Well my dear Lana. I am here to talk about grown up things, with people smarter than this old man you see before you. And what are you doing here?

The line of questions brought a genuine chuckle to the old man.
Well that is simple my dear, I need smart people because I am not that smart, well not as smart as I used to think I was.
I want to meet everyone I can, especially if they are the smartest person EVER! He mirrored the little HRD's excitement perfectly. But i will have to judge that for myself, I have met some smart people.
But no need to rush, tell me about you little one.

The Old Jedi watches the battered old ship come into the hanger. Instinctively he reaches out in the Force and insects the ship and its occupants. He feels a ship hanging onto dear life, and and old pilot. Mir reaches out his hand and steadies the ship with the Force while it lands.
As the man exits the ship, Mir is surprised. The impression Mir got from the Force didn't fit the information his eyes were giving him. The Force told him this man was worthy of respect and someone very capable and old, older than Mir and that was saying something., He eyes told him that he was a confused kid trying to look a part. When his eyes and the Force disagreed, Mir had learned to trust the Force. That habit more than any others was why he was as old as he was.
Hello there. How are you today?