Notes from the Medical Symposium Tour
Day 1 Arrived on Coruscant for a lecture at the University. As I suspected, Galactic City still screams at me. Still, Sedryn was right when he said that I did need to face this eventually. Given that I've been asked to deliver various of my papers here, now seems as good a time as any. Day 3 My paper on the treatment of lympatic conditions went over fairly well. I think I made a joke without meaning to - there was laughter but it was not at me, specifically. Not in a mean way, in any case. Though there was bewilderment when they found out I was serious about the cinnamon buns and tea available after the lecture. I'm not sure why anyone's surprised; I thought hospitality was always well-received... Day 6 Currently on Alderaan. More lectures to give, though Maetra Greystorm insists I come visit the family residence for at least one night - dinner and some kind of ball. She was disappointed that Corporal Harridin didn't join me on this expedition, then grumbled something about how odd it was that the Jedi adoptee was likely to be the first to provide her a son-in-law, if no grandchildren ... unless we adopt. ...help... I will also check on Edvar, who is currently doing well in his own herbalist's stall in one of the nearby townships. He is also disappointed that Corporal Harridin didn't join me on this expedition. He grumbled something about making sure he's 'doing right by my sister'. Does family always involve so much grumbling? Day 7 I did not pack ball-appropriate clothing. This was a mistake. When I arrived at Maetra's estate, three tailors descended on me like a pack of hungry nexu. I cannot breathe in this thing and every time someone asks me to dance they are so much taller than me that it looks ridiculous. Currently pondering hiding under the buffet table. Day 9 Seven days on Taris running eighteen different workshops on the treatment method I developed for primary stage rakghoul plague. This is going to be exhausting. Day 12 The only way I get decent food on Taris is if I cook it myself. This has made for several very happy squads in various outposts. It feels good to help morale as well as dealing with solely intellectual matters. Thankfully I thought to bring supplies, and then there was Alti, who apparently got shaken by Mae when she felt my mental grumbling on the dearth of decent cooking and turned up with a cargo hold full of supplies I think she mugged several Hutts to obtain. Good to see that her experience at the hands of Vyennis has not unduly changed her. I sent her back to base with a list of tasks for Ozakif to see to. It won't be said that I'm neglecting my padawan. Next time I do this tour - if there is one - I take him with me. Day 16 My escort insisted I take a day or two off. Suggested Zeltros. We landed there, but as soon as I stepped off the ship I stepped right back onto it again. These people are not shy about their empathy and thus 'stepped' was more like 'staggered'. Note to self: no Zeltros. ...except maybe with Corporal Harridin for what I believe Lieutenant Sortek calls a 'wild weekend'. Day 17 Comms call from Voss. The mystics at the Shrine of Healing are interested in sharing knowledge about my more Force-related healing techniques. I have a few days spare before my next lecture. This is not an opportunity I can pass up. I meant to speak to them the last time I was on Voss but was overtaken by events, so ... I am flattered that they even remember. Day 21 Arrived on Polis Massa and it was all I could do to stay on the planet. There's something here, and it feels very similar to the mask we found when we confronted Vyennis. I spoke to the archaeologists here and I theorise that they may have unearthed it enough to sense while searching for remnants of the Eellayin civilisation. It likely says something that the team in the sector I indicated agreed to move their excavations elsewhere until I could return with a Marran team. I am not going to approach the area, and I am certainly not going to attempt to deal with this alone. It took three of us with the Flames to destroy the mask. This feels ... stronger. I will speak to Primatrix Alasha immediately upon my return and proceed from there. If there is more than the mask, it might not just be this item either. Her research ability will likely prove invaluable here. So I will sleep with my head under a pillow. I know it will not block out the feel of the Dark Side or the fact that it's ... almost trying to call me. At least that's easy enough to resist because the taint is enough to set my teeth on edge. Anyway, I know the pillow will not block it out but as a placebo effect, it's the best I have without breaking into the bottle of whiskey that Arbiter Nyomi gave me to 'deal with my padawan'. Suddenly very glad I did not bring Ozakif along on this trip. He's only just started fully reaching out to his surroundings through the Force and I do not think that he would benefit from a head full of this. Day 23 Finally home. Speaking to Primatrix Alasha will have to wait one more day because there's a Nake-induced biohazard in bay three and I have various injuries to treat after three separate occasions of tripping over furniture that she apparently moved because "it's better, honest". Plus I have to tell the med techs not to let people move things anymore. Then Mandalorian Night at the bistro because it's been nearly a month, and nerfburgers and time with Rilus. It's good to be back. Biohazard notwithstanding.