Masters's Quarters - Crew Quarters A

Merrick found himself in the quarters set aside for the Master's on the Boundless. He felt the ship rumble and then the slight dip as it lifted off. No dampers made could completely eliminate that feeling.

Despite it all, Merrick was excited. Zambar seemed like a fine lad. He took to his task with vigor and without complaint despite its difficulty. Enthusiasm was something he could work with.

Where was Dynnyana? He had seen her at the meeting, but then lost her before he could speak to her. He had hoped she had come here to settle into her quarters.

Merrick sat down to wait in the common area.She would have to turn up at some point. He let his body relax and opened himself to the Force.

Although used to isolation, it still gives Dynnyana a sadness that is hard to escape. She had found a quiet spot in a rarely used hallway, and meditated on it, trying to become one with the Force and not feel like a failure who didn't deserve a padawan.

Eventually, she finds herself in the crew quarter area for the knights, and blinks in surprise to see Merrick in the common room. "Merrick," she pauses, before heading towards him. "I thought you would be with your padawan." Through the bond that they had shared, he can tell she has no jealousy towards him, but there is a bit of wistful sadness in the sensation that she was standing alone, watching her friends and compatriots continuing onward without her.

The blonde sits down across from him at the low table and smiles. "It's good to see you again, Master." If happiness by proxy is the closest she can achieve, she is more than willing to accept it. She is too practical to begrudge anyone their success.

Merrick opened his eyes and looked at his former apprentice. She had definitely changed since the last time they had spoken. The fire was still there, but it was tempered and focused.

"It is good to see you too. My padawan is busy with a task I set him on" ,he said, smiling mischievously, "I trust you remember the memory game.A starship is no replacement for an actual landscape, but we make do with what we are given."

Merrick directed his focus to her and the bond they had shared. He sensed a sadness that he could not quite pinpoint.

"Why the sadness, Dynnyanna? From what I have been told, being assigned to this project is a great honor or something like that. When they called me back to Coruscant, I expected an expansion of my duties in Hutt Space. The former Watchman, Master Corlis, met with an unfortunate "accident" at the hands of some so-called "mercenaries". My connection on the Hutt Ruling Council had given me some leads, but I was not able to follow up on them due to being recalled. I hope whoever they choose to replace Master Corlis knows what they are getting into."

Merrick came back to the present and really took her in. Time had been good to her. It had smoothed her rough edges, but had not weakened the steel in her spirit.

"I must say I am surprised to see you; pleasantly surprised. When we parted company on Nar Shaddaa, I was not sure what direction you would go. I hoped what I passed on to you would serve you. Apparently, it has. I apologize, but I am rambling. How have you been?"

Dynnyana smiles. "It's good to see you, as well. I suppose," she frowns thoughtfully, "that my sadness is just that there are so few Jedi who understand what being in the real world is like. It's difficult to find connection when your origins are so polar opposite. I was hoping that perhaps I would be paired with a padawan that was similar to how I had been, so I could pass along the lessons that you taught me."

The one thing that always bothered Dynnyana, Merrick knew, was feeling as if she was accomplishing something. Having a "job" was often the only thing that had driven her forward when life had seemed desolate and her future uncertain. Though he had helped her a great deal to find purpose and peace in the Force, she couldn't stay satisfied being idle for long. Some things are just impossible to change . . .

"As for your duties on the Council," she reveals her concern and a bit of surprise. "A Master was assassinated? That is very troubling. I assume there were witnesses," she asks. As a Master, he no doubt had become one with the Force upon death. It was a blessing, but also a curse: investigating the murder of a Jedi was far more difficult without the body as evidence. "Is it possible someone put a bounty on his head?" she asks, alto voice an urgent whisper. "Or even upon the Jedi in general?"

Merrick chewed on that a moment. He had put the murder out of his mind since being given this assignment. Now all the holes in the case came flooding back to him.

"That was my first assumption" ,Merrick said, "you know how the Hutts feel about Jedi interfering in their business. The more I looked though, the more the pieces did not add up. Something is moving and I can't put my finger on it. Now, I likely won't have the chance. I have a padawan..."

Merrick had a hard time keeping a bit of bitterness out of his voice. He did not balk against being a teacher, but with Master Corlis's death and the vacuum that had left in Hutt Space, he thought his abilities were wasted here. There were so many others better skilled and more willing to teach than he was.

"Don't take it too hard, Dynnyanna. You would most likely have been paired up with a padawan the exact opposite of you. Don't get me wrong, Zambar seems like a good kid, but his nose is in his datapad so much I am surprised he doesn't trip over his feet."

Dynnyana nods thoughtfully. "Still, there might be a chance to investigate after all. There are a lot of spirited youngsters here who would be interested in helping."

She sighs, though, and her hopeful expression dims. "But you're right... I thought maybe I would be given Padawan Maxwell to train, since he's been very difficult. But I guess the council is afraid."

He can tell from the hurt in her blue eyes that she feels a little personally attacked: Merrick trained her, so perhaps it was a reflection of their disappointment in her... Merrick had rescued her, but the council might not have the same faith in her that he did.

She blinks, realizing that she is allowing herself to mope. She should trust in the Force... "I'm sorry for being so selfish. Probably you and zambar have much to learn from each other. I suppose this is another time to trust that the Force will lead me to where I am needed."

Merrick smiled at his former pupil. He understood her frustration with the Council. He had felt it many times himself.

"The Council is...the Council" ,Merrick said, "believe me, I don't always know where their heads are. I do know their guidance is very rarely wrong and if they have placed you here, they have a reason for it. I do not think it is for lack of faith in your abilities. Quite the opposite, in fact.

These "children", for there is really no other way to refer to them, are entering a very different galaxy than they are used to; even Mr. Maxwell despite his worldliness. They need Jedi cut from unconventional cloth to prepare them for what lies ahead for them. Things are moving out there that are beyond anything the Jedi have ever faced before. These kids need to be ready. You, Dynnyana, are uniquely qualified to prepare them for those challenges; not just one student, but all of them. In fact, it would seem that all the knights and masters they have assembled for this project are rather unconventional. Perhaps the Council has discerned this fact as well."

She smiles and nods, relief washing across her features. "Thank you, Master. I think you're probably right. I'm truly glad for your advice and your ear." Taking a deep breath, she says, "well, the journey shouldn't be too long. I think I should go and get to know some of the other padawans, just in case the Council does wish me to help the other Knights."

Going to stand, she shivers a bit and starts unwrapping her robe from her waist, actually putting it on this time. "It's always cold on ships," she smiles a bit ruefully. "Have a good day, Knight Merrick," she bows to him.

Merrick bowed in return.

"You as well, Knight Dynnyanna."

Merrick nodded to Master West in return. He did not know the man, but instantly liked him. He had a very down-to-earth manner about him that Merrick definitely appreciated.

"Interesting to say the least, Master West",Merrick said, "I was just reconnecting with my old student. Knight Catalia had the misfortune of my teaching early in her career. Thank the Force I did not mess her up too much. I am sorry that our duties have not allowed us to cross paths before now. I appreciate your outlook."

Making his way through the interior of the ship, Bevik found the primary passageways busy with ship personnel moving about. The purveying mood felt here aboard the Boundless was similar to the feeling one gets walking the halls of the Jedi Academy on Coruscant; "mild excitement mixed with calm composure" was how Bevik would describe the feeling. The layout of the ship was simple enough, and Bevik quickly found his way to the living quarters, navigating short, empty hallways to what appeared to be the lounge used by the masters as a meeting place.

If Bevik felt any anxiety at all it was to have Master Onmp's message delivered and his task complete. What other worry could he have? His mission was simple, important, and about to be complete.

Bevik walks into the Lounge...

Entering into the Master's Lounge, Knight Kaapel stops at the sight of Brevik, "Oh, hello there! I just saw a ship in the bay drop some people off and take some others away and I guess that was you?" The woman in question doesn't look like a Knight at all, she looks, at best, like a Padawan ready to take their final tests to become a Knight. Twenty would be pushing her age. Her long, white hair is pulled back into a simple ponytail, though the length of it is completely unmanageable, almost down to her knees. I'm Knight Kaapel," her voice is a pleasant, soprano sing-song though her smile is a little too broad. Not in a malicious sense but the sort of smile you'd give a small child of five or six.

"Hi!" Bev squeaked in reply to Knight Kaapel. Feeling his spine go unnaturally rigid he worked to keep his face blank. It dawns on him in that moment that he had unconsciously developed a mental image of 'aged and sage-like' Jedi Masters, like nearly every Jedi Master he previously ever had any real interaction with, but the image of the bright Knight that glided past - and actually talked to him - brought reality rushing in on the boy like a crested wave.

Bev returned a faint smile and dutiful nod, adding: "Knight Kaapel," and then turned large eyes toward the rest of the room while alert for queues as to who might be the senior Master present. Not that 'seniority' on it own mattered, but the urgency of his mission and the sensitivity of his message required maximum discretion. Bev would only relay his message when it was made absolutely clear it was prudent to do so.

To the room, Bev introduced himself: "Greetings, Masters. I'm Padawan Malviis; my master, Master Onmp, has sent me to you with all haste to relay an important message to those enroute to Arkania." Bev paused to let his words sink in. Perhaps others have yet to arrive.

Merrick looked at the boy who had just made his entrance. Interesting; the padawan was here but not the master. This mission was getting stranger all the time.

"Welcome, padawan",Merrick said, nodding at the boy gravely indulging the airs he was trying to put on, "I am Merrick Durn. Please deliver your message."