Back to meditations [ME, D10]

[Layne Hoshin]

Layne was back in her spot... relatively open and public as far as the insides of the compound went. With everything that was going on, the Jedi probably had too little time and resources to do much more with her than let her stay at the enclave. Perhaps they'd even have let her keep her weapons. Though perhaps there'd also be a guard or two nearby, just in case.

She was back to meditating. Having adopted the lotus position, Layne had closed her eyes and used the force to slowly levitate a bunch of rocks and pebbles around her. It was a simple trick that forced her to concentrate and drown out distractions.

[Niall Organa]

With the Republic compound destroyed, Niall had been forced to stay at the Jedi Enclave. Luckily, he didn't find that too onerous at all.

He was still dressed in the uniform he wore that day, looking a little worse for the wear. His face looked fresh though, clearly recently shaved. He carried a bag as he walked quickly towards the refreshers.

He slowed a bit at the sight of the floating rocks. But it was the sight of Layne that truly stopped him. His jaw dropped. "Errr... good evening." He said, surprise evident in his tone.

[Layne Hoshin]

She did not immediately respond. But then she suddenly opened her eyes and the rocks and pebbles fell to the ground; her eyes piercing into his own. One might be quite unsettled by it, if one were so inclined.

"Hello," she said simply.

Whatever the reason was that she could be found here, it seemed to have made her too tired to mock or insult or otherwise test his patience.

[Niall Organa]

It was somewhat unsettling. But Niall managed to avoid shifting uncomfortably. Much, anyway.

He cleared his throat. "Do you mind if I join you for a few minutes? Just to talk? I'll admit, I'm a little surprised to see you here." His lips twitched. "But not that surprised. And not displeased."

[Layne Hoshin]

"If you want," she said, not fighting the offer.

Upon closer inspection, he might notice light-saber sized hole in her armor, right around where her gut is.

[Niall Organa]

Niall nodded, and sat down next to her. 'Next to' being a fairly relative term; he was a respectful distance away.

"So... according to Darth Baras, you're Magpie." He nodded towards the hole in her armor. "I'm guessing that's not anywhere close to the true story of what happened."

[Layne Hoshin]

"I have killed many people," she said... truthfully.

[Niall Organa]

"Well... yes." Niall said. "I've seen you kill a few. First, on the security cameras. Then when we were tracking down that lead with the kidnapped children. And then at the freighter assault." He shrugged. "That's definitely more than me, but I've killed, too. I think the why matters more than the what."

[Layne Hoshin]

She did not feel like arguing about it. Did not feel like engaging in her usual antics. She could've taunted him about what he had seen represented only a fraction of her kill-count. Or how she enjoyed it all. Or didn't care one bit why she killed.

But instead she just shrugged.

"If you say so."

[Niall Organa]

"Okay." Niall said. He sat there for a few moments, not saying anything.

Finally, he spoke again. "So what do you think will happen next? With you, I mean."

[Layne Hoshin]

"I'm going to be a Jedi," she said.

Under any circumstances it would have sounded ridiculous. Layne had always looked and acted about as Sith as you could get, hadn't she? Yet there was not a hint of humor in her words.

[Niall Organa]

"Okay." Niall said again. Again, he sat there a few more moments, not saying anything.

Finally, he spoke again. "Good." He gave her a nod. "Although it doesn't sound easy."

[Layne Hoshin]

"I already have most of the training," she said, confident enough. "And I know more about the light side of the force than some Jedi I've met."

[Niall Organa]

"Really?" Niall's lips twitched. "Is that so? You think it'll be easy, then?"

[Layne Hoshin]

"Yes," she answered, annoyingly stubborn. "If I could do the kind of things I've done as a Sith, then doing them as a Jedi will be simple."

Although she *was* concerned about the Jedi perhaps ending up being a bit... stifling.

[Niall Organa]

"I see." Niall said, his lips twitching again.

"So... how do you feel about peace?" He raised his hands. "I'm not trying to be rude, here. I just think there's more to changing from being a Jedi than putting your robes through the wash with a lot of bleach."

[Layne Hoshin]

"The Jedi and Sith are just two sides of the same coin," she said, all guru-like. "Many Jedi have become Sith. And some Sith have become Jedi. Obviously it can't be that difficult if it's so common."

[Niall Organa]

"Okay." Niall said, yet again.

He shrugged. "I suppose I'm not in a position to contradict you, here. It just seems like there really ought to be more to it than that." He looked at her. "I hope you're okay with being wrong. It happens sometimes, doesn't it?"

[Layne Hoshin]

"I expect the main difficulty will be with the stricter rules the Jedi seem to follow. Some no doubt have their value. But others are obviously flawed, and yet allowed to continue doing the opposite of what they're supposed to do."

She looked away, as if in thought. "The rest will be simple. There is no fundamental difference between the dark and light sides of the force. And the lightsaber forms are more or less the same between the Sith and the Jedi."

[Niall Organa]

"Really?" Niall said. He tilted his head, his expression interested. "And what rules do you think are obviously flawed." A moment passed. "And I don't suppose you've already mentioned this to any of the Jedi?"

[Layne Hoshin]

"I pointed out to the masters that the way they teach their students about the dark side of the force is part of why so many Jedi turn into Sith. You can not teach children to be afraid of something that feels good, and then act surprised they reject your teachings once they get a taste of it. They should be more afraid of their padawans falling to the dark side than me."

[Niall Organa]

Niall shrugged. "Hmmm. Maybe."

"So how would you teach padawans about the Dark Side? Speaking as someone who's been there."

[Layne Hoshin]

"I would teach them what it is. No judgement, only truth."

[Niall Organa]

"Hmmm." Niall said. "I can certainly see the value in that. I understand that in many cases, it's better to give, uh, youths all the tools that they need to come to their conclusions."

"But does that work here? I understand that the Dark side is rather... is addictive the right term? Once you've begun to use it, it's difficult to stop, or so I understand."

[Layne Hoshin]

"No more addictive than the barrel of a blaster. Having power makes things easier than when you don't have it, and the dark side delivers power quicker than the light side."