“How nice of you to finally join us,” Amalia said coolly, her brown eyes darting to Toryn. The JedI Master had never seen the figure before, yet the man presumed to know her.

“You would do wise to lower your tone with me, soldier. I may be on the verge of darkness, but I am still a Jedi. Do not dare presume that you dare know the fate of the innocent. Today is a day of war, casualties will be lost, innocence taken, disorder among people. These are all signs of war. Look around you, soldier, we do not live in a perfect world. Nothing is spared; there will always be a price to pay for war, always.”

It was very evident that the Jedi’s rage had grown, yet not near its maximum capacity.

“Yet…it boggles my mind to see you standing here when you could be out with the rest, trying to save whatever innocence might be left. Instead, you stand here, asking me question, questions that you have no right to ask me, questions that you should be asking yourself. If you care for the dying, then what are you still doing here?? Save them, save what matters to you and leave the rest...”

Had she actually uttered such words?? Save what matters to you and leave the rest?!

Indeed she had, what was more puzzling, is that she seemed to question what she had said, and not it’s context of morality. A Jedi true to form would not say such a thing.

Amalia’s eyes parted from the soldier to glue their attention onto Kenshin, whom she addressed next.

“I believe that it is a sign of my future, yes,” she said softly, her rage receding.

“..However, it is not all of my future, just a minor glimpse of what is to come.”

Silently the woman watched as Kenshin addressed the soldier

Though Amalia was addressed yet again, she did not publicly give a retort this time around, instead she simply addressed the soldier privately.

How can you dare question what will become of me if you yourself do not know what I am?

If Amalia really spoke of what was on her mind, she would have told them all that she did not know who she was nor would she be able to tell them of what side she belong to. Yet through the darkness, her heart always came up with the same answer. She belonged to the light.

For now, for now the Jedi was without answers, without truth. It would be through all of her trials and tribulations that Amalia would find the truth and her place. She would find where she truly belonged.

Until that day was to come, she would not allow anyone to question who she was nor what she was, not anyone.

Though he was made to wait much longer than the rest, Amalia finally took notice of Jensen. A cool gaze swept across the woman’s features as she looked onto him.

“Is it?”

Her lips twisted into a light smile and she nodded her head up and down meekly.

Do you know what I see, Jensen??…I see that that vision has already set itself into motion. Search your own feelings young pad wan, and you will see what I mean. You are drifting….

As Amalia’s words found their conclusion, her gaze was made to move about once again, falling onto Kenshin.

With quiet reflection the woman stood staring at Kenshin, not saying a word as he addressed the other padawan.

Perhaps Kenshin had forgotten that there was a Jedi Master present, or perhaps he himself assumed that Amalia was too far gone to handle what had presented itself. Either way, the woman that glanced onto Kenshin was not pleased with what she had just witnessed.

Struggling to step past Jensen, the woman wobbled forward to stand in front of Kenshin, a look of disappointment creeping its way onto her face.

“Curious, Kenshin….What gives you the right to give this young padawan orders that you have no business whatsoever in giving? “

Amalia paused, giving what had just occurred more thought.

“..I see no just reason for what has just occurred. Neither I, nor any other higher-ranking Jedi has given you any sort of permission to speak to any other student in such a manner. Perhaps you may feel that you were just in your response to Jensen, but it is not something I expect to come from any of my students, I don’t care how far into the darkness I will go. You will respect my teachings and beliefs, those of your masters past, and of your elders.”

The Jedi looked deeply at him.

“I hope we both understand one another…I don’t want to see that happen again, not unless under drastic circumstances.”

Kenshin gazed blankly back at Master Amalia, however his eyes were clouded over. He wanted to understand and he wanted her to understand. But he wasn't sure if either of them understood.

"I instructed Jensen to follow what he believed in. If he believes in the Jedi Order then he should do what it requires of him.

Yet, you seem dissapointed. If I have dissapointed you, I'm sorry.

But then again, many things have dissapointed me as well. You and your darkness has scared me. The elders of the Order have confused me. Those very teachings and beliefs you have taught, those very principles I've followed diligently for so long, have troubled me.

The Order, it seems, has lost its trust in me and in turn I've begun to lose faith in the Order. I've begun to lose faith in myself.

I dissapoint me.

I did not speak to Jensen as a superior, I spoke to him as a weary human being."

Kenshin slowly turned to face Jensen and slowly bowed.

"But if you have taken offense, I must apologize. As Master Amalia pointed out, I have no right to speak to you in a superior tone. I'm sorry..."

Jensen’s face showed sad acknowledgment of Amalia’s words…

Yet at the same time privately he was still in denial.

His eyes and thoughts drifted off…after Amalia’s explanation.

Kenshin however quickly brought him back.

After Amalia walked under her best footing toward Kenshin, Jensen’s jaw dropped in disbelief.

"Kenshin.."

Jensen slowly looked back at the fellow padawan…and he slowly made his way toward Kenshin himself…Amalia already at the destination.

Kenshin bowed to Jensen and after Amalia spoke…

He began circling his fellow padawan, he spoke casually and quietly as Amalia looked on.

"No need for bows among friends, or for apologies my fellow Jedi." He said in deep thought.

He circled his fellow padawan wondering exactly what to say.

"Kenshin what I’m about to tell you, isn’t easy."

"How long have we known each other Kenshin, three perhaps four months? I always viewed you as a friend, an equal of sorts."

He paused at his side…

"But even certain secrets should be kept among friends…"

"Oh yes…" He said gravely

"I harbor secrets Jedi Master Organa herself doesn’t even suspect. That I contend with each and every night Kenshin…”

"Remember the meeting Kahn had with the padawans in the training grounds in the wake of Amalia’s absence. Remember…how someone was absent in all of this…in that meeting about Amalia?"

He let these words hang he spoke some more…

"Has it ever occurred to you I finding Amalia out here…wasn’t just by pure chance alone?"

Jensen nodded slowly

"And the answer to your favor is a resounding no my friend. Truth is if I allow you yourself to handle this situation, it may destroy you both, I’m sorry."

Jensen wanted to tell Kenshin something else…but he couldn’t find the courage to.

Then Jensen looked at Toryn, directly into his eyes. Disdain enveloping the padawan’s thoughts.

"No, he’s old and wise enough I suppose to find his answers on his own."

Jensen walked passed Amalia…wondering about just what the order meant to him.

He looked back "I’m sorry…"

"Kenshin..."

Amalia had seen the look on Kenshin's face as he responded to her, and she wondered if she had perhaps been too harsh on him.

"...Look at me, Kenshin."

Amalia's voice was soft in response, the look of disappointment that had once been edged upon her face now gone.

She waited to speak until he had turned around to face her again.

"...There will be much that changes in the near future, yourself included...."

Amalia's gaze wavered for a moment as she thought, pondering on how she would approach him next.

"....I want you to listen to me very carefully now, and I want you to remember what it is I tell you. You have served The Jedi Order for quite some time, longer than many of the padawans that are here now. You have served the order well, not just well, but with honor. You have done me proud, and you've done the order proud, even if you can not easily see such things. It is the truth..."

"...War is at hand, and we are all going through a difficult time. I can't help you through your time of confusion, as I am sure you can tell; I am struggling with my own difficulties at the moment. However, no matter what you do, do not give up on yourself. Promise me that you won't, Kenshin, it's very important that you don't..."

Though the padawan did not know it, he himself was an easy target for venerability to the Sith. If a Sith saw his lack of faith, Kenshin would surely fall to the darkness.

"...I believe in you, I always have, and I always will, no matter how many mistakes you may make or don't make. Do not lose your courage, Kenshin..."

Toryn was not impressed by the admonishments of these 'childeren' that called them selves jedi. He had seen their self ritious sort before and he had seen them fall to the darkness more easily then most jedi.

He turns to Amalia as she begins to speak.

“How nice of you to finally join us,” ---

She makes her retort. As long as one can be from a proud jedi master. She adresses her students as well. That as is her right he lets her finish.

"And you 'Young' lady," He put emphasis on the young, "Would do well to listen to your elders."

"I am a master of my own order, of the Teras Kasi, and I have lived through more then you can ever know. I witnessed the events that led to the fall of the republic in my youth and I was witness to the cullings of the jedi order by Palpatine and vader." He puases letting the silence loam for a moment

"I watched as young jedi," He nodds at the to padawans before him, "Fell prey to the easy power of the dark side."

He looked some what somber as he spoke, "As did their very masters in the carnage of war. As the Knights and masters were turned and left to run uncheck in the out of the way parts of the galaxy. The Teras Kasi were forced to act."

He pulled a light saber from his side. His black storm commando uniform was form fitting with less armor then a typical trooper. In a shoulder hilt was a holsted blaster. And on the side opposit of the light saber were a pair of peculiar looking guanlets.

He tosses the saber at her.

"That belonged to a jedi of old, a master about your age, a dark inquisitor was going rogue trying to gain allies so that he would not be killed with the others once the emporer had no more use for jedi cullers. Some of her former padawans were trying to save her. The master her self was faltering between the light and the dark." He turns his head not wanting to show his reaction to the memory.

"She lashed out at times killing who ever was in the vicinity in a bout of temporary insanity. The Dark inquisitor did not seem to mind the killing as much in his pursuit for her he killed hundereds, the two jedi Knights trying to help her had several encounters with him. The duels between them left even more dead in their wake." He turned to face her again, "The body count was precisely 2,500 over the course of her flight."

"I had to step in to end it. The jedi had their chance on several occasions. But she refused every time. Finnally the order was given she had to be stopped." His eyes burned now.

"I met her and ended her life for her." He clenched a fist, "You hang on the brink but you have no idea of how you effect the innocent, the repercusions of how your flight effects those around you."

"My duty is to make sure that you do not kill any one and that your plight does not result in the deaths of any more innocent." He look as she picked up the saber. He knew that something of the jedi that weilded a light saber was left behind. A force signature of a sort. He always wondered what that saber would say if he could feel it.

"Anyway, the one thing that I do know is that your type of faltering jedi always attract others of the right and wrong kind. I can do more good by watching you then I could searching them out." He did not hint at it. But the Jedi woman in question was his friend and alliein the course of the Clone Wars. And that he regretted haveing to do his duty everyday of his life.

Delete.

Delete

Kenshin listened to Master Amalia with the expression of a child, taking in every word she said slowly. There was a moment of silence as Kenshin, who felt dead, looked away. The message echoed through his mind.

The moment that felt like an eternity ended as Kenshin rised his head and gazed into Master Amalia's eyes once again. He gave her a thoughtful look. His words were a whisper.

"You understand. Understanding is the first step. You are closer to your Light than you think..."

A small smile tugged at his solemn expression and a limp hand slowly rose from his side and brushed her cheek. She look so worried about him. That expression said just as much, if not more, than the words. But she should worry about herself right now.

"I promise not to lose faith in myself only if you promise not to lose faith in yourself. Don't give into the Darkness. Don't lose sight of your Light."

Kenshin then turned to trooper and listened as he spoke stating his concerns once again. The padawan gave a quiet sigh as he finished.

"You speak ill of us and yet you do the same. You chose to stay here. Do you precieve that only you can understand the situation? You point at our faults, but do you have a way to correct them...?"


Edit: Rephrase...|I

Jensen now sat on that very same log he had become all too familiar with.

He watched the events transpire before him

Kenshin…how he was trying.

Jensen believed however, the situation was just to complex for the fellow padawan or the Teras Kasi master to grasp.

He felt like giving yet another slight rebuttal to the misguided soldier bent on harassing Amalia…but he checked himself. The soldier would keep up at his raving until someone stopped him and he knew that.

Jensen pondered over the events quietly.

"Hmph" he smiled slightly…

He then watched Kenshin address the soldier, after he finished. Jensen decided to inform Kenshin of a personal decision…not that he felt Kenshin cared to listen.

"Just so you know Kenshin…I refuse to engage him."

Jensen glanced over at Amalia as he sat…still unmoving.

Amalia picked up the saber via the force by levitating the tool; it glided slowly in her direction.

Her legs felt more sturdy, her presence more alive, she seemed to be returning back to full recovery, though a bit more slowly than she would have liked.

She did not touch the saber, the thought of touching a saber brought her great pain, and she did not wish to experience such a thing at the moment, not with all those whom stood around watching her.

The Jedi inspected the tool with a keen eye as it floated up close to her.

"I am not her," she said softly, her brown eyes still gazing onto the saber as it slowly glided back to Toryn.

"I would appreciate it if you would not speak ill of me, not until you see everything there is to see..."

Her gaze slowly parted from the soldier and onto Kenshin.

Though it was hard to see, the Jedi smiled faintly at Kenshin as his hand brushed her cheek.

".... You can't always change your fate, Kenshin."

There was a trace of sadness that filled the woman's eyes as she locked her gaze with Kenshin.

I hope you will find the answers you are looking for....

Using only one hand to hold onto the cane, Amalia made her way over to Jensen.

So.... You're going to share in my world. I'll be glad to have you aboard. Though I'll still be very much alone....

Without another word to anyone the woman bent down to pick up her saber.

Grasping the tool firmly in one hand the Jedi looked to the sky, her thoughts drifted off to someone close to her.

I wish I had your strength.... Master.

Her gaze fell from the sky and onto those that still watched her.

"...Time for me to go..."

So it was that the Jedi took yet another leave to find herself a place of quiet seclusion, intending to be left alone so that she could be alone with her thoughts.