3-3 HALLS OF HEALING

“I’d like to go and see, if that’s not too much trouble for you.”

“Very well. It’ll be fine. I’ll just have to go a bit slower.” Master Corr gives you a small smile, then turns and calls out to a medical droid which trundles over. She pats it on the head saying, “this guy here will do fine. Now git! Be back as soon as you can, though. We’ve still got a lot of work to do!”

“Yes, Master,” you say, then hurry off.

The floor of the Halls of Healing are supposed to be multi-colored — toned with delightful tones of blue, green, and pink: a variegated splash of whimsy and fun. It’s a place of healing. A place of peace. It’s been a while since you’ve been able to see it in full color what with your brief sessions of data recording being done in isolated corners, but you can still imagine it. However, as dressed up as it is, you cannot forget its true purpose: to house and heal the injured. Blood stains the floors, pooling around the beds before being swept away by the legions of helper droids. Jedi healers and MedCorps assistants speak and work with urgency, doing their level best to save the countless wounded. It’s a noisy place, not just to your mind but to your ears. Even so, the elevated sounds of an argument still reach you, and the curiosity streaming across the psyches ahead make it easy to pinpoint the source of the problem: a young woman speaking with Chief Healer Vokara Che.

Wary of the pained minds around you, you hold off from casting your own mind ahead to see what’s going on, instead striding forward as fast as your short legs can take you. You don’t want to miss this in case it’s important. And, if things get heated, perhaps you can do something. Though, you’re not sure what one tiny Initiate can do that an entire wing of Jedi healers cannot.

The two of them stand in a chamber just off the path, but the door lies open, allowing healers and patients alike to hear their discussion. You can see several apprentice healers slowing as they pass, eavesdropping with undignified interest. Well, you’re about to do the same so you can’t exactly blame them. Then again, Master Corr specifically sent you to do this, so you at least have an excuse.

You suddenly notice a familiar presence in a nearby room. A man sits up, his ears ever so slightly twitching as he listens to the voices from the neighboring room. He shoves himself upward out of his chair, then staggers forward, supporting himself against the wall. You rush forward, ducking into the room with him and push yourself underneath his arm in an attempt to support his weight.

“Master Obi-Wan? Are you alright?”

“Who—?” he asks, exhaustion creeping into his voice.

“It’s me, Xena.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t remember.”

You don’t blame him. He’s probably got other things on the mind right now — probably related to the argument just one room over. Not only that, but he currently looks absolutely dreadful. Though he wears a fresh tunic, you can see the burned and shredded remains of what was likely his old one sitting in his bag on the floor. He’s wounded, still unhealed despite the multi-day journey from Geonosis.

He really needs to rest.

You open up your mind just the tiniest of fractions, then speak into his, It’s me. We met at the Archives when you were looking into Kamino.

He stiffens at the intrusion of your thoughts, then peers down at you. You pull down your blind fold and blink open your eyes. His eyes widen in recognition, so you return it back to its place.

“What are you doing here?”

“I’m helping Healer Corr. I have a little bit of training with healing stuff.”

He looks at you, impressed but tempered by weariness. He then nods and pushes lightly off the wall, relying on you more so to support his weight. Your legs shake at the sudden shift, but after you adjust your stance, you’re fine. Just barely.

“Xena, was it? Please help me over to that room. I need to talk with Padmé.”

You don’t recognize the name, but you nod anyway. You’re here to help! You shuffle forward, slowly bringing Master Obi-Wan out of his room. You turn one corner, walk haltingly a few paces, then turn again to see two women arguing in a well lit room. Thankfully, Master Obi-Wan takes this chance to lean against the doorway, taking some of his weight off you and allowing you to catch your breath.

You really need to get stronger… You’ve built up some muscle during your training over the last couple months as well as gone through a bit of a growth spurt. You’re a full centimeter taller than before! Even so, supporting the weight of an adult that significantly outmasses you is rather difficult.

The women are angry. Frustrated and tired, the both of them. A poor combination in any case. Healer Vokara Che is stressed, annoyed that “Padmé” refuses to listen to her when she has so many other, better, things to do. Padmé, on the other hand, burns with passion and impatience. She wants something, and what exactly that something is is quickly revealed by the conversation.

“— Skywalker is not your responsibility,” Healer Vokara Che is saying. “He is a Jedi, and he is home. He’s with his fellow Jedi, who know precisely what to do for him. Please, let us treat you so you might leave the Temple in good order. Indeed, I must point out that it’s not entirely proper for you to be here.”

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“And where else should I be?” Padmé replies, raising her voice beyond reason. You wince at the volume, frowning under your temporary mask. This woman, Padmé, seems to be rather attached to… Skywalker.

You don’t have to look upward at Master Obi-Wan; you can tell exactly how he feels by the heavy disappointment in his heart — a combination of apprehension, senseless guilt, and something else weighing within him. Anakin Skywalker, the Chosen One and Master Obi-Wan’s apprentice…

This Padmé… you’re starting to realize who she is now. She’s the Senator! That’s her name: Padmé Amidala, the former queen of Naboo! She’s the one Master Obi-Wan and his padawan were protecting. You look at her again then softly shake your head in confusion. Why is she so attached to him?

“Padmé,” Master Obi-Wan suddenly says. You snap back to the present, realizing you’ve missed a bit of the conversation. Similarly, both Senator Amidala and Healer Vokara Che twist to look at Master Obi-Wan at the same time, just as startled by his appearance as you were.

“Master Kenobi!” Healer Vokara Che cries, striding toward the two of you, worry flashing across her. “What are you doing?”

Her eyes dart toward you, then dismiss you in less than a second. She at least remembers you from when Master Corr brought you before her for an introduction. For Padmé however, your own appearance is also rather staggering, what with the blindfold and medical garb. You pull your tail behind you, trying to keep the silly ornamentation on its tip out of sight.

“I’m sorry, Vokara Che, but I need a moment alone with the Senator.” Master Obi-Wan lets go of you, leaning more heavily against the doorway. Healer Vokara Che reaches him at that moment, grabbing him and pulling him upwards in your stead.

“I don’t think that’s wise. You are a whisper away from collapse, Obi-Wan. You should have been healed by now! I sent—”

“And I sent her away. I need to see my Padawan first.”

Healer Vokara Che frowns with annoyance. Her attention flicks down to you again and you back away, afraid of drawing her ire. She clicks her tongue as she looks up at Master Kenobi, then says, “You’re as bad as she is. Very well, you have a moment.”

With that, she steps out of the room, allowing him to slide in and close the door, shutting the both of you out.

“Child, forget what you saw and heard.”

You tilt your head. You were mostly confused back there without any context. However, you did at least understand the annoyance she must have felt at the interruption to her work.

“Is… I didn’t really know what was going on.”

“Good. Now, don’t grow up like those two. And especially don’t grow up to be like young Anakin. He’s even worse.”

“Yes, Healer. Um, I think I’ll be on my way now. I need to get back to Master Corr.”

“Alright then. Farewell, Youngling. Work hard and stay out of trouble.”

≡][≡ ⬦⬦⬦ ≡][≡

“I’m back,” you say without fanfare as you walk up to Master Corr.

She and the medical droid seem to have already extracted all of the shrapnel from the poor man and they are now working to sew up the last of his wounds. The only acknowledgement you get is a blink of one eye, so deep in concentration that she is. Deciding that you should probably just wait and watch, you settle in.

Master Corr works quickly and efficiently, sliding the hooked needle in and out of the flesh smoothly despite her webbed digits. It takes you a moment to adjust to such a disturbing sight, but you’re soon distracted by what else you see: the Force.

Master Corr isn’t just suturing by hand. No, she’s pulsing the Force alongside the swoop of the needle. She enhances her dexterity with tiny, highly accurate inflections of Force — a use of telekinesis at an impressively small scale. Not only that, but she’s also applying Force Healing as she works. She could just sew up the man like a normal medic, then pump him with anesthetic and antibiotics. She could also just use Force Healing to cure him all the way. However, she does neither, and both, at the same time.

She’s conserving her energy by limiting her use of the Force. She’s saving time by using it when needed. She is… incredible.

It’s unfortunate, though, that you’re not able to keep track of everything she’s doing. You just can’t take it all in at the speed she goes, and your lack of knowledge regarding standard medicine practices being almost nonexistent makes it worse. In no time at all, she’s finished and you have to hold back from asking her to do it again just so you can see better. Instead, you busy yourself with your own tasks, recording the injuries of the soldier and the treatment he received.

You’ll pay more attention the next time around. You look around the room, then flinch guiltily. Yes, there’s plenty more opportunity.

It’s certainly not a good thing.

Master Corr packs up then moves on, dragging you along with her. As you go, you wonder to yourself: is this really what you want to do in the future? Sure, it’s good work — necessary work — and it’s very useful to at least learn healing arts from Master Corr. However, you’ve resolved yourself to become a Navigator, whatever that really means.

Is this really going to push you toward that?

Perhaps. Perhaps not.

≡][≡ ⬦⬦⬦ ≡][≡

“Xena, you have an opportunity.”

“Sorry, what?”

You look up at Master Lasah and place your spoon down. As you watch, she sits across from you, placing her own tray onto the cafeteria table. You’re surprised she’s here. She’s rarely here at this time — you’ve certainly never seen her in the cafeteria before.

“Do you remember when I asked you to help me with my work? That it would be a chance for you to prove yourself?”

“Yes!” you say, your excitement sparking.

“You have your chance now. What with so many Jedi presently… occupied, more hands are needed for work. I am currently assisting CorSec with some investigations. I would like your assistance with one of them. If you agree, I will bring you out of the Temple with me for the job. I hope this is agreeable to you.”

A chance to leave the Temple? A chance to finally prove yourself? The chance you need to become a Padawan?

“Of course!”

“Good. Are you ready?”