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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ankh-Morpork Guard" data-source="post: 3826068" data-attributes="member: 10079">Chapter 530: ReturnSomehow, it was surprisingly reassuring to see the New Republic fleet still in orbit around what was left of Fondor. Sure, the New Republic had won, but the cost was terrible. Fondor’s shipyards were so horribly damaged that they likely would be out of commission for long enough to cause even more problems. Of course, getting off of Thyferra had been rather interesting.    It seemed like a foolish thing to try, but Commodore Nok still attempted to get the shuttle Tokarr had taken working. For lightsaber-related reasons, it didn’t work. But instead of bothering to walk all the way back to the spaceport, he sent a quick message to the local authorities, who begrudgingly flew a transport out to get the survivors...and the bodies.    The entire trip back, Tobias refused to leave Venda’s side. He continually swore that she was still alive, despite the fact that there were no real life signs. If she was breathing, it was barely happening at all, and if her heart was beating...it was so slow that none of the others waited long enough to hear it. But even if Tobias was wrong and she was dead, none of them could say anything.    The young Alraxian, who didn’t bother to morph back to a human body, seemed to be in a rather dangerous position. He seemed at least partially crazy, and the whole mind-reading wasn’t helping anyone at all. There was a silent hope amongst the three pilots that Tobias wouldn’t just snap during the flight like Tokarr apparently had. But Tobias didn’t really talk sense anymore, the few times he bothered to speak to anyone.    So, arriving back at the fleet and being greeted by both medics and marines was a nice change for everyone. Where the three pilots had quickly headed to their quarters aboard the ship to change out of the fatigues they wore, Tobias, Venda, and Tokarr’s body were taken to the medical ward. There wasn’t any comment on the fact that Tobias didn’t look the same as how he’d looked upon leaving, but it was likely due to the fact that barely anyone knew him. Besides, having the marines as escorts turned away any suspicious looks from the busy members of the crew still working damage control from the battle.    He looks terrible. What happened?!    Tobias turned carefully to identify the origin of the stray thoughts he was still inadvertently picking up. It wasn’t much of a surprise to see Master Ral sitting up in one of the medical beds, his white, feathery hair blending into the cream coloured walls around. The pale blue of his face, though, showed a concerned expression to go with the thoughts.    But then, suddenly, Tobias heard nothing. At least, nothing from Master Ral. Not even a feeling...    “What just happened?” he asked, walking over to the Jedi Master without even bothering to ask how he was doing.    “It is not polite to pry into another’s mind, Tobias,” Master Ral said in that familiar soft, yet pointed voice. But it shifted again, a hint of concern slipping in, “You do not look well, Tobias.”    Toby shook his head a few too many times and had a seat next to the Omwati Jedi Master, “I can’t...I can’t stop it. I just keep...” he looked over his shoulder to another patient, then back to Master Ral, “She wants to get out of here. But she’s the only one. The others are so distant...barely alive. But they still won’t go away...just quieter. And you just...I can’t...what did you do?”    “Stop,” Master Ral raised a blue hand, “Calm yourself, then think, then speak. Do not try all at once. Once you can do that, try again.”    Why that worked was beyond Tobias, but it did. There was no hint of the Force in the Jedi Master’s voice, but the calm way he spoke just managed to cut through all of the insanity of the voices Tobias could hear. Right away, Tobias began to slow his breathing, focusing on that and trying to ignore everything else around him. It took a few minutes, but slowly, Tobias started to calm down. His tail stopped flicking around, his breathing slowed, and his heart stopped beating at the speed of light.    When he opened his eyes, Tobias saw a slight hint of a smile on Master Ral’s face. But when nothing was said, Tobias knew he was still being waited on.    I can work! Why do they have to stick me in this damned bed?!    “They won’t go away!” Tobias nearly yelled, resisting the urge to pound something. He then realized Master Ral was giving him another critical look, and then tried to explain it again...but more coherently, “I’m not doing anything, Master. I just...ever since...when Tokarr died...it just started. I keep hearing it all. So many voices and I can’t make it stop.”    “Calm down.”    Two words, and yet, again, they caused him to stop. Tobias didn’t seem to realize how much he was working himself up until after they were spoken. A few more deep breaths later, and then Master Ral said, “Close your eyes. Continue to focus on your breathing. When you are ready, reach out with the Force. Feel the room around you. Feel everything you can here, see it all through the Force. Then pull inwards, remember what the walls looked like and build them around your mind.”    It was the most direct explanation of what to do, regarding the Force, that Tobias had ever received. Though it was still slightly abstract, it made perfect sense. Knowing, despite everything that was literally driving him mad, that this was a direct kind of approach he would likely never find again, Tobias latched on and did exactly as he was told.    Eyes closed, he focused on his breathing for at leat ten minutes. Then he found the Force and began to slowly reach out around him, feeling the outlines of the living beings the first, almost like bright lights in a dark room. But then, the bright lights formed outlines of sorts and the rest of the room began to fill out, though very dimly and hard to see...but it was there. Next, still trying to hold onto the Force-vision of the room, Tobias tried to pull the image inwards.    And then he heard nothing at all.    Tobias opened his eyes a few moments later, then looked to see a calm expression on his Master’s face. Seeing this, Tobias decided to very carefully ask a question, “What would...cause that, Master?”    “I cannot say, Toby,” shaking his head, Master Ral then looked over Tobias’ shoulder, “Keep your mind sharp and focused right now. And when you are ready, tell me everything that happened.”As a heads up...going to be gone this weekend. Should be able to pick up on the updates again starting Sunday, though.</blockquote>

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