Magdalane walked slowly along the frigid path toward Aurek Base, refusing to think about anything but just getting out of the stinging ice falling. Her Jedi training allowed her to compartmentalize her thoughts, but her feelings were a different matter. She was thoroughly confused. The troops she saw in the briefing room exuded a mixture of fear and bravado, typical of men being sent out into unknown situations. What bothered her about them was the slight scent of mistrust she sensed, and she wasn't sure if it was directed at her as an outsider. It almost seemed as if they didn't trust the lieutenant. That doesn't make sense, she thought. He'd been in charge of these men for months, and she'd sensed no such mistrust in the officer. She did notice his wariness of her, but there was something else mixed in there, something she didn't often encounter. Just wearing this robe and carrying this lightsaber usually dissuaded such thoughts, since the general public knew very little of the Jedi culture and tended to be wary or simply ignored her.
Qyzen had found them quarters, and she went about getting settled in and contacting her ship for some warmer clothing to be sent down. They met for a meal down in the mess hall, and Magdalane felt some of the same things in the troops here that she'd sensed in the briefing room. She knew that the general living conditions here were austere and might be a factor in their general low morale. The food was passable, but she'd had more appealing field rations than the fare here. That would go in her final report, she thought. She wore her hood up, as she usually did when in public, so she didn't see the lieutenant enter the hall, rather she felt the change he brought in the room.
Felix didn't have to look around to know she was here. The men were all sneaking glances and sniggering about the Jedi being here, what did she think she could do here, why would anyone want to be a Jedi. He'd spent the day just trying to get his thoughts going in one direction, only to be distracted by wondering some of those same things himself. The crew working on the heating units had returned and he'd sent two to the medbay with frostbite. The other men had all returned early, the ice making any travel treacherous. He wondered if the next day would be any more productive, and felt weary just thinking about it.
He took his tray over to an empty table and discovered he was in direct sight of her. He told himself he could not look at her, could just have his meal and then go, but he knew that he was lying. Instead, he walked to her and her companion and sat, greeting them. He again felt her calm, and his weariness lifted. How can she make me feel better just sitting here? He didn't know how, but he knew he was intrigued by it. They made small talk, about the quarters, the weather, the returning troops. Then she said something that made his jaw drop.
"You know, Lieutenant, you can ask me about being a Jedi, or about the Force. I will try to help you understand"
He just stared at her, not able to form the question he wanted to ask. He began to stammer out his query, when his holo beeped. Two of his men had been attacked just outside the perimeter, and he was needed at medbay. He jumped up to leave, and was almost to the elevator when he realized Magdalane was at his heels. He didn't stop, but pulled her onto the elevator and they rushed to see how badly the men were injured.
The first casualty they saw was being treated for minor injuries, but the second was in very bad shape, having been blasted by what looked like an assault cannon several times. The medic on duty was doing all she could, but the kolto tank had partially frozen and the staff there were frantically trying to warm it into service.
Magdalane took over. She stood in front of the injured man and clasped her hands in front of her, almost in prayer. Her hood back was back and the glow she always carried intensified until Felix and the others in the room had to look away. It gradually diminished and the injured man started to regain consciousness, albeit slowly.
Magdalane smiled at him, then started to sink toward the floor herself. A healing of that magnitude sapped her strength for a time. Felix and Qyzen caught her and helped her to a chair. She smiled at Felix, a true smile that reached her eyes and caught him in its light.
"That's what I do, how I use the Force. " He nodded, unable to speak.