Padawan's Quarters - Crew Quarters B

She looks surprised, then glances away. "Oh, no, that's alright. I don't really have a lot of ideas," she flushes, looking uncomfortable. "So," she tries to change the subject, "what do we do now? What do you think a padawan should do to become a knight?"

"Well, that's right kindly of ya. I just didn' wanna be rude 'cause y'seem like a alright guy." He glances into the room, turns on the lights and on the bed is a collection of bags and . . . luggage? Jedi are not supposed to have material possessions but this Padawan seems ready to move into a college dorm. "Well, here's hopin' y'just quietly give up. I am -not- emotionally prepared for'a repeat'a my last master." He looks away but his features darken in irritation. His presence in the Force couldn't be said to darken so much as 'complain', like a cat being forced to take a bath.Glancing back out into the corridor, Ian spots Alyx with Knight Kaine, bringing a mischevious twinkle to his eyes. Giving Zatee a friendly grin he goes to clap him on the shoulder. "So. Good talk but if it's all the same, I'd like ta get settled an all that stuff." Is he trying to dismiss his master? Yes. Yes he is.

Alyx nods, looking a bit skeptical of his description. "Okay, that sounds like a memorized phrase," she points out. "But sure." She gives a sideways frown, bored with the idea of "lightsaber training" when she's already pretty good at it. "Juyo would be interesting," she admits, "but I'm more interested in why the Jedi aren't doing more to help the galaxy as a whole." She looks up from the ground and gives him a flinty blue-eyed stare.

"B'cause," a familiar, gravelly voice says from the doorway of one of the Padawan's rooms. "The Jedi've more or less abandoned their roots of itinerant wanderin's an instead focus on one'a influence within the Republic." The Padawan slips by Knight Zatee and inserts himself into what was -clearly- a private conversation. "Now, some merit may be granted ta such a policy. While it is true that'the Jedi of current times are less independent than Orders past they have traded that independence for'a chance ta change policies on'a galactic level, hopin' that the Senate will b'come as dependent upon the Jedi as the Jedi have b'come on them." He gestures at the ship around them, as if their presence on a Republic vessel, dispatched entirely for their convenience and use, makes his point for him.

With a sigh, then a smile, Alyx gestures. "Ian, this is Knight Kaine. Master, this is Ian Maxwell. He's good at stirring things up. But he does have some good points." The tiny brunette looks between the two men. "I guess I'm in the middle. I think that you're both right. But the Jedi should exist to render aid where the Republic can't. And I've yet to see much evidence that the Jedi are very concerned about the suffering outside of Republic space."

Alyx gestures to the comfortable chairs and low tables of the lounge area they are standing in. "Why don't we sit down and we can talk about it?"

"yeah, i don't know," Alyx shrugs, looking uncomfortable. "I just feel like, if the Republic is doing so well that the Jedi can afford to sit around and make pottery or whatever Knight Koppel does all day," she snerks, "then maybe we should be helping people not in the Republic."

The door to the Padawan's quarters slid open. A thud was heard followed by a hiss. Errad walked through the open doorway rubbing his head with one hand and reaching out blindly with the other.

"I hope I found the right place this time" ,Errad said, the strip of leather still blinding his eyes, "I thought that crewer was going to have my hide. I heard the steam; I thought it was still the engine deck. Who'd have thought I had walked into one of the refreshers."

Errad stopped walking and cocked his head. He could hear other beings breathing. He sighed.

"Now, I've been caught talking to myself. Great..." ,he muttered before speaking to the room, "if I've walked into another refresher, bunk room, or private quarters, I sincerely apologize. My Master is making me walk around like this and I have not quite perfected the exercise. If you would please be kind enough to tell me where I am, I would be grateful. If I am not supposed to be here, I will leave directly. There is no need for violence."

Clearing his throat quietly, Ian pitches his voice as high as it will go, which is not very high, sounding surprised and angry he calls out, "Hey! What the hell are you doing in the women's showers! You pervert!"

"What?! Oh, kriff. Sorry!"

Errad spun quickly and bashed his face into the wall hard. He stumbled back and fell in a heap. Blood leaked from his nose. It ran wetly down his face. He crawled back into the hallway.

"That's it. I'm done!" ,he said, yanking the leather strap from his eyes, "what kind of kriffing training is this?! It's kriffing torture! I can't take this...anymore..."

Errad collapsed into frustrated sobs. He did not care who saw him. He had reached the end of his endurance.

He thought he'd been doing well. Sure, he ran into a few walls, but he thought he was getting it. He was sure he'd been getting it.

Nothing like this had ever happened before. Everything at the Temple had been easy. All he'd had to do was apply himself and he'd been rewarded with praise and encouraged to do more.

This was different. Despite putting everything into it, he'd still gotten lost. Not only that, but he'd embarrassed himself and his Master. Nothing could make this right. Nothing.

"Ian just agrees with whatever position will make you more angry," Alyx warns. At least until he trusts you, she muses to herself. "In any case, I hope you're right. I'd really like to help some people who really need it. We in the Republic are truly blessed with a great deal that we take for granted. We Jedi deprive ourselves by choice: but there are many that are starving to death because they are enslaved, or their resources are being stolen from them by pirates." Her voice rises as a harsh tone grows. "Even on Coruscant, there were poor that the Republic was ignoring, and we Jedi were not allowed to help them. Instead we were invited to meetings and diplomatic parties, to act frivolous, and mediate stupid disagreements."

Her disgusted expression flickers when she realizes everyone is staring at her. "Anyway. It's just wrong."

"Fuck yeah it's wrong." Ian gives Alyx a nod of respect and a gentle punch of agreement before he levels his finger at Knight Kaine and Knight Ros, "Y'all had best bring yer A games if ha hope ta have'a chance at gainin' our trust." He gestures between him and Alyx before glancing over at the Zabrak girl. "Well, me at least. Definitely me."

Errad took the Master's hand and pulled himself up. He wiped his face smearing blood and tears trying to clean himself up as best as he could on the sleeve of his robes. At least some here were not completely against him.

"Thank you, Master" ,Errad said, nodding toward Zambar, "and thank you for your concern, padawan. I realize I still have a long way to go."

Errad looked back to Master Nathan and bowed.

"I will take your advice to heart, Master, and better trust my instincts in the future."

Errad finished cleaning his face. He looked at the other padawan in the room. He wanted to be angry with Ian, but his prank had pointed out a fundamental weakness in Errad's development. The prankster had inadvertently done him a great service.

Errad smiled at Ian and nodded. Then he looked at Alyx.

"I'm sorry, I missed most of this conversation. You mentioned something about the Jedi not being allowed to help people. That does not make any sense. Rendering aid is one of the Jedi's core mandates."

"Aid to the Republic," Alyx corrects him. "Unless we've been kept in the dark about missions the Jedi take outside of Republic space . . ." She looks at Knight Kaine expectantly.

"Thank you, Master," Alyx nods. "That kind of information is all that we're asking for." She glances over at Ian, then back to Kaine. "I understand that when we joined, we were all children too young to understand things. But if we're going to become Knights someday, I think we deserve to know what's really going on. I mean, who knows? Maybe we young people might have some ideas that you guys haven't thought of yet." She frowns. "I know it's been a long time since you were an apprentice, but you might have forgotten how frustrating it is to be told that you're supposed to be helping people, and yet all you do is sit around meditating and eating salad."

Errad looked from Master Kaine to Alyx. He could not believe what he was hearing. Surely that could not be true.

"But...but..that can't be true" ,Errad blurted, completely forgetting the composure he'd been trying to regain, "the Jedi would never compromise their ideals for 'resources'. That is absurd!"

As Knight Kaine turns to Errad to further explain he sits up in surprise as Padawan Maxwell cuts him off, "Hey, man," the long haired Padawan begins sharply, "The Jedi are in a mess, okay? You think ten thousand would be enough ta even do anything ta one planet? Havin' ta make deals with the Republic ain' ideal but it works. I have -problems- with how'the Council does things but at least they -act-." He points around the room at Knight Kaine and Alyx, "An you'll never hear me say otherwise."

Alyx rolls her eyes, unaffected by either Errad's gasping shock nor Ian's angry tirade. "Okay, calm down," she waves her hands at them. "Ian, I know it's been a while since you got to give a good speech, but try to breathe in-between sentences."

She smiles at him, though, and gives Errad an understanding look. "Errad, sometimes life sucks and you have to make a choice between two things you want. Maybe there are better ways to do this. But . . . I mean besides letting Jedi get married and have kids," she says offhand, giving Master Kaine a sly look, "we won't be getting a fast and flush infusion of Jedi any time soon."

Errad bowed to his Master, then remembered Master Steef did not stand on formality. He struggled to cover his bow and look casual. He failed miserably.

"Hello, Master Steef",Errad said,"I would enjoy watching a holovid with you and Master West. Is it something to do with our training?"

Errad choked. He'd forgotten to replace it after the earlier incident. He retrieved it from his robes and quickly tied it back in place.

"I'm sorry, Master. There was an incident and I...I forgot to replace it. It will not happen again."

"I am fine, Master Steef",Errad said, his shame and frustration returning a little bit, "I bumped into a wall and thought I was somewhere I was not. Master Kaine said I should trust my instincts better. I guess I am just doubting myself. I will work on it, Master."

Alyx sighs, shaking her head. "Knight Steef, sorry about Ian. He's jaded. To be honest, I was kind of feeling that way, too," she smiles and looks between Steef and Kaine. "But I think maybe we were wrong. The Force does work in mysterious ways," she says, quoting the only Master they had liked on Courescant. "A movie sounds nice. The trip is supposed to be long."

Glancing up at her master, Alyx smiles with a slight wince, hoping he will forgive her crusty attitude from before. "Are you going to watch, too?"

Errad smiled back, hearing Lark's voice. Through all of his focus being on the task Master Steef gave to him, he had forgotten about the other padawan.

"If it is alright, Master, I would also like to view the holocvid, or would you prefer I just listen to it?"

He said this without any kind venom. He had resigned himself to the exercise. He would perfect it no matter what.

Errad watched the others leave. He would do better. He would prove himself to Master Steef. He replaced the blindfold over his eyes.

"Thank you, Lark" ,Errad said, looking for the younger padawan's voice, "I would really appreciate your help getting me there. The blindfold is my first assignment from Master Steef and I am failing at it spectacularly. "