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Aira Cadan

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Everything posted by Aira Cadan

  1. Aira Cadan

    Ilum

    In the scheme of things, it didn't take Mjan long to complete his lightsaber. Some people took hours, others days. I was pleased that I had judged the time correctly; I didn't like the idea of being trapped in here overnight. But those concerns were moot now, for with a twin *snap-hiss*, Mjan ignited his double-bladed weapon. "Excellent, Mjan." I took a deep breath. "With the completion of your blade, your final trial is complete. I, Aira Cadan, have trained you as a Jedi to the best of my ability. You have passed every test needed to prove that you have learned well. By right of the trials you have faced, I name you Mjan Sadow, Jedi Knight." My eyes crinkled as a brilliant white grin split across my dark features. "Congratulations, and welcome fully to the Jedi Order." Impulsively, I stepped forward and hugged him. "I'm proud of you," I told him. It felt strange. How had time flown by so quickly? Suddenly I had trained not just one but two Jedi to knighthood. And yet inside most of the time I still felt like Onderin's padawan. But time passed, relentless, ever forward, and I had chosen my path a long time ago. It was a path I was dedicated to, and a better one I couldn't imagine. I hoped Mjan would feel the same in the future. "Well, then, I guess we'd better get off this frozen planet." I picked up the discarded sack of unused parts and slung it over my shoulder. "Can I give you a ride somewhere?"
  2. Aira Cadan

    Ilum

    Mjan's crystal was beautiful--simple but radiating peace and calm through the Force. I handed it back to him as he questioned me about something he had seen. "I wouldn't be the least bit surprised," I replied. "Much of Jedi lore and tradition is steeped in secrecy, and the Temple Guards are among the most mysterious sects of our Order." I paused in case he had a follow-up question. Then I walked over and picked up the satchel I had retrieved from the ship and handed it to him. "Now that you have your crystal, the next challenge is to create your lightsaber. You'll find a variety of parts in the bag, and you'll need your crystal obviously, but other than that, I can offer you no assistance. You must feel what to do. Let the Force guide you. Without the Force, your lightsaber will fail--which can be rather painful," I added with a trace of humor. My tone turned serious again. "Making a lightsaber is one of the most reverential acts a Jedi does during their life. And I think you'll find that as the Force molds the lightsaber, it will also mold you." I said no more at that point, and instead, gestured for him to find a place and commence.
  3. Aira Cadan

    Ilum

    Things weren't going the way I had planned. I was jerked out of my meditation the moment I sensed Mjan claim his crystal. "Well that was...different," I said aloud. Either I had missed something training Mjan, or the Force just had a sense of humor. Former experience tempted me to believe the latter, but I was humble enough to know that the former was also a possibility. I rolled my shoulders and stood up from where I had been sitting cross-legged on the ice. Mjan would be on his way back now, and I was glad for the opportunity to rub some feeling back into my numb limbs. I glanced at my chrono and made a decision. Pulling my coat around me tighter, I headed back out into the storm. Once back at the ship, I grabbed a satchel I had brought with me from Borleias, as well as some ration packs, and headed back. The cave's quiet and relative warmth was almost more welcome than it had been a few hours ago. Blinking snow out of my eyelashes, I set down my bag and started to munch on a ration pack's contents. Mjan, I expected, would be there momentarily.
  4. Aira Cadan

    Ilum

    In the stillness and holiness of the crystal cave, I found peace. It was as if a burden I hadn't known I was carrying was suddenly lifted. The weight of sorrow, of helplessness, of darkness that had been on me the past few months faded. The pain was still there, but the quiet seeped into my soul and make the burden easier to bear. I waited, slipping in and out of meditative trances, monitoring Mjan's progress through the Force but keeping my metaphorical distance. This was his journey to undertake. I believed him ready. I only hoped that I was right.
  5. Aira Cadan

    Ilum

    The moment we dropped out of hyperspace, I heard Ilum's call. The planet sang, weaving a seductive tune like a siren drawing travelers to a watery grave. It was hard to ignore the song, and for a moment, I didn't try, but rather, sat there quietly, my gaze transfixed on the white-and-blue planet below. The song spoke of welcome, whispered of danger, hinted at change, and trumpeted destiny. It was intoxicating, and it was beautiful. Mjan's voice snapped me out of my trance, and my lips twitched. "You'll be fine. Take us down to coordinates 199 by 39278." My padawan obeyed, and soon, the shuttle landed with the hiss of jets on an open plain bordered on the west by icy mountains. The wind was howling in a blizzard, and the white-out conditions meant that we could see only a few feet in front of us. Nevertheless, I motioned for Mjan to follow me closely, then lowered the ramp. The wind struck us with a vengeance, shooting daggers through my clothing and taking my breath away with the sheer cold. The Force lent speed to my feet as I darted down the ramp and headed towards the mountains. It was only a five minute run, but it felt like we were out in the blizzard forever. Finally, my outstretched had touched solid ice. I sent a wave of the Force out, and suddenly, eerie blue light lit the scene. The color shot up the mountain of ice, forming an intricate patterned doorway. For a moment, it glowed brighter, and then it split in two. The door ground open, and we darted in. It closed behind us with a thud, and suddenly, everything was utterly silent. The sound of the wind howling outside was completely cut off, and the air grew significantly warmer. We were standing in a round chamber that stretched hundreds of meters up, the walls formed of ice and crystal. Etched into the floor in the very center of the room was the emblem of the Jedi Order. The illumination in the room was provided by the crystals, which glowed in all the shades of the rainbow. "Welcome, padawan," I murmured, "to the Crystal Caves of Ilum. For millenia, Jedi have come here to choose their lightsaber crystals, and to face the test of the caves. Today, you will follow in their footsteps, joining this great tradition stretching back through the years. This is a sacred place, whose secrets we have jealously guarded." I crossed to a step carved into one wall, and with the Force, tripped the interior trigger, revealing that it was actually a storage compartment containing winter coats. I handed one to Mjan and slipped into the other one myself. "Your goal is to enter the caves and collect your lightsaber crystal. Not just any crystal will do: the Force will reveal the correct one to you." I said nothing about the tests that he would face, though there would be many. "I will monitor your progress from here. But take care: return here by planetary sunset or we will be sealed in overnight, and even these warm jackets won't prevent us from freezing to death." I placed a hand on his shoulder. "I believe in you, padawan. Now go." ((OOC: I want at least three posts. As per tradition, you'll have to face some kind of spirits/ghosts who will test Mjan--this will be the Trial of Spirit. But I also want you to incorporate illusions, tricks, or traps of some sort--for the Trial of Insight. Have fun!!))
  6. I nodded. "Then our time on Borleias has come to a close." Rising, I brushed dirt off my pants. "If you're sufficiently recovered, we'll leave in the morning." I gave him a little wave. "Goodnight then." Turning, I headed back to my tent. I was pleased with how our time had been spent here: Mjan had learned much, and we'd been able to help a good many refugees. There was always more work to be done, but I knew that the best way I could help the people of the galaxy now was to give them another well-trained Jedi Knight. And the path to that was laid out clearly before us. I slept well that night, and rose with the dawn. I had kept a shuttle from the fleet, and after pinging Mjan with it's location, headed there to get the engines warmed up. Preflight checks were in full swing when I heard the sound of his boots on the ramp. I was in the lounge slicing up some local fruit for our breakfast. "Wanna get us out of here?" I called out to him. "Take us up, and set course for Ilum."
  7. Mjan's question caused me to chuckle. "A whirlwind," I replied. "When Master Starlisk took me on, he was the Admiral of the New Republic, and it was during the heart of the war. Most of my apprenticeship was spent traveling from one engagement to the next. I learned to be an officer long before I learned to be a Jedi. Master Starlisk had another apprentice at the same time as me, Gren, and he and I both claimed all of Onderin's free time--and a good portion that wasn't free time." I turned wistful. "I don't mean to make it sound like my training was half-hearted or not thorough, but it was hardly traditional. Most of what I learned was in the field, pushing myself, testing my own limits. Onderin was there to guide me but not always." I blinked as the smoke from the fire started to waft over me and scooted off to the side a bit. "The war was...painful. You've experienced what it's like to feel the suffering of those around you. Now magnify it by a hundred. Death everywhere, on both sides, and sometimes it was hard to see how war could ever be the will of the Force. I know Master Starlisk had some regrets later in his life, but I don't think he ever regretted participating in the war. He'd often tell me, 'There's no good in war, but there is good in why we fight them.' I suppose I've lived my life by that tenet, even though we've had a few years of peace. It's put me at odds with some members of the Order, as it did for him. But despite all the loss, the death, the pain, the sorrow that the war brought on...I know that the peace was worth it." I sighed. "That's what makes the renewal of hostilities so disheartening for me. It was such a short-lived peace. When Raven and I called for the cease-fire, I know we both envisioned the beginning of a new era. But we were mistaken. For in that time of peace, the Sith grew in strength and number. And now they've struck and we're right back where we started. But this war..." I grimaced. "I get the feeling that it's going to be worse. Much worse. The Empire may have been cruel, but the Sith are ruthless. The Empire at least cared a little bit for the lives of civilians. But in this war," I gestured to the camp behind us, "it's going to be the civilians that suffer the most." Abruptly, I shook my head. "Sorry, you asked about my apprenticeship, not my dire predictions of the future. The war shaped my apprenticeship, for sure, and many of the lessons and skills I learned directly applied to it. It was my classroom, for all intents and purposes. There were definitely moments I felt like just another soldier, but there were other moments where I was clearly a Jedi. Like the time I sensed the presence of hundreds of Jedi souls trapped on the planet below...that wasn't something just any soldier would detect. I was grateful that Onderin had given me some authority in the fleet, otherwise people like Admiral Slaughter would never have listened to me."
  8. I listened quietly. Some of what he had said, I had gathered from his Force-aura. But he also didn't say some of the other things I was sensing. It didn't matter; the fact was I was proud of the Jedi he was becoming. "There is no death, there is the Force," I said softly. "Now you understand." Silence fell so that all that could be heard was the crackling of the fire, the call of the night birds, and the murmur of conversation rising from the camp behind us. I searched the Force for confirmation of my own thoughts, and found a steady comfort and peace. "You have passed the first test, Mjan: the trial of flesh. Remember the lessons it taught you." My voice turned a little wistful. "You'll be a full Jedi soon."
  9. The next few days continued in the same pattern as the last ones had, but they felt different somehow. More meaningful, in a way I didn't understand. Perhaps I was simply putting myself in Mjan's shoes, but I sensed a change in the atmosphere. Towards the end of the third day after his return, I had just gone to my tent to settle in for the night, bone-weary from the day's labors, but content, when I sensed Mjan approaching. I turned as he pushed open the tent flap, and didn't hesitate when he asked to talk. Instead, I motioned for him to follow me, and we moved out of the tent circle to an abandoned fire ring. Maintaining my silence, I quickly built a small fire. Once the wood was crackling away, and the sun had begun to set in earnest, I took a seat on the ground. "Tell me," I invited.
  10. "Lie still, Mjan," I said as my apprentice began to pull things from his rucksack and hand them to me. But it was mostly out of reflex; it wasn't as if he was seriously injured. And I trusted that he knew his boundaries. When he pressed the items into my hands, vocalizing a desire for me to give them to their owners, I bit my lip. The awkward thing was, I didn't remember who he had chosen to help all those months ago. A small smile touched my lips. "I can if you'd like, but wouldn't you prefer to give them to them yourself? Besides, I honestly don't know if I could pinpoint which specific family you're talking about." Silence fell again between us. I wanted to know everything--where had he gone, what had he done, and more importantly, what had he learned? But I knew from my own experiences that it might take time for him to find words to process everything he had gone through. And he'd only reach that point with some serious thinking and reflecting. I rose to go, and brushed his mind affectionately with the Force. "I'm glad you're back. I never doubted you." Calm flooded me. "And when you're ready to talk, I'll be here."
  11. When I wished my padawan luck and sent him off, I had no idea just how long he'd be gone. As the days passed, I fell into a routine. There had been no news of Knight Alluyen's plan to rescue the Empress, so I didn't push it. Either they had gone without me, or the Force was leading them in a different direction. And while I hoped the best for my friend, I was growing in quiet confidence in the Force's guidance. Day by day, I mediated, seeking direction, and every day, I knew my role was to stay. So I threw myself into helping the refugees on Borleias however I could. Some days it was as simple as setting up new prefab shelters, while other days I spent hours in a form of the battle meditation my old master had taught me, linking all the other Jedi at work here and bolstering the spirits of the refugees. Occasionally, I'd return to the fleet to take care of business, but those days were few and far between. I grew stronger and calmer as the days turned into weeks. The burden of despair that had come over me after Coruscant's destruction slowly dissipated. I sweated and ached and wept alongside the refugees, but I also encouraged them and built hope back into their lives. The Force flowed more strongly in me each day, and I became possessed of a quiet contentment. For however long this lasted, my soul felt at peace. At the end of the second month, however, I had to admit I was starting to wonder if Mjan would ever return. I knew that he was still alive--I felt confident that I'd sense it if he died--but I had no idea what he was learning, or even where he was. I searched the Force with more urgency each morning, and found only the reassurance that he was on the right path. It would be my choice if that was enough for me. A few days later, however, I sensed a change. Danger was lurking. I could tell that it wasn't directed at the camp itself, but that was all. Uneasily, I ordered a patrol of the surrounding jungle, then forced myself to do something else to get my mind off it. Two hours later, however, the patrol returned--and they weren't alone. I saw them pull up to the hospital shelter and I quickened my stride, knowing I was supposed to be there. As I approached, I knew why. Mjan lay on a stretcher, unconscious and emaciated. The medical staff hooked him up to an IV and after some efficient checks, left him to tend to patients in more dire straights. "He simply needs time to recover," one told me on her way out. "It's just starvation and dehydration." I nodded, then when we were alone, pulled up a chair to his bedside. This was my place until he awoke. I felt a little bit guilty--he could have died--but the feeling quickly faded into the Force. Things had turned out exactly the way it had desired, and I knew Mjan's experiences would be crucial in shaping him into the Jedi he was destined to become. For now, then, I'd make sure that mine was the first face he saw when he awoke.
  12. "Indeed, I'm sure they shall," I replied. But even as I said the words, I shook my head. "This task, however, is yours to complete. Be on your guard, let the Force guide you, and use what you have learned, and you will not go astray." I reached into my satchel and pulled out a training lightsaber. It wouldn't put Mjan at risk of losing his limbs if it was miswielded, but it would still offer him some protection in case he needed it. I handed it to him. "I'll be a comm call away if you need me. May the Force be with you." I crossed my arms then and saw him off. I had no doubt that he would succeed, and more than that, that he would learn something new.
  13. Mjan's answer wasn't what I expected, but then, the Sith continually surprised me. He continued my metaphor, expanding it in a way I had never considered. "An excellent way to put it, padawan," I praised. We continued walking. I sensed we hadn't yet reached our destination. "It's not easy to be a blade of grass," I stated, almost abruptly after a long silence. "The life of a Jedi is about forgetting oneself, always putting oneself last. The needs of those around us trump our own needs or desires. Even to the point of self-sacrifice. We always have to be willing to do whatever it takes to save, protect, or help. Well," I hesitated, "not 'whatever it takes'. There are lines we cannot cross. Anger, aggression...the lure of the dark side will always be there. But we have to be willing to sacrifice everything in ourselves to achieve peace." I didn't think I was explaining myself very well. "Anyway, that's why a Jedi should always be slow to attack. There's almost always a way where the price is shifted to us and not others. It just requires some creative thinking sometimes." I still wasn't quite satisfied with the way I had put it, but I hoped Mjan would understand. Suddenly, the sensation I had been getting in the Force clarified. I grabbed Mjan by the coat sleeve and pulled him to the side. "See that family over there?" I gestured with my chin. "I think you can help them. And I think you're supposed to help them. Go. Let's see where following the leading of the Force takes you." ((OOC: The details are up to you, but I'd like it to take a few posts, and I want it to require procuring something hard-to-get, requiring you to go outside the camp.))
  14. I nodded. It was difficult to define something like the dark side without resorting to poetic language, yet Mjan did a good job of grounding his in the harsh reality of the situation around us. "Tell me this, then," I said slowly. "How does one fight against the dark side? If it's a pebble thrown into the water, how does one prevent the pebble from causing ripples? Is darkness not inevitable? Won't there always be chaos, war, strife, anger, somewhere in the galaxy?" I gestured broadly to the beings around us. "Despite the best efforts of the Jedi Order, these people still lost everything. We tried. The best of our Order gathered, gave it their best effort, and yet they still failed. And failure is not an isolated incident. As a Jedi, our capacity for failure is greater than others', because of our power and because of the situations we find ourselves in. If failure is, at some point, in many situations, inevitable, and even our successes don't drive back the darkness completely, what, then, is the point of trying?"
  15. Mornings onboard a ship arrived with the chirping of an alarm. I rose a little grumpily; I liked being on ships, but I always preferred waking up on the ground, a planet's sun or suns rising and streaming in through the shuttered blinds on the windows. Space was always just dark. At least, I thought, crossing to my viewport, there was the beautiful sight of the swirling blue-and-green world looming large beneath us. The planet's magnificence dissipated my grumpiness and I dressed with a renewed energy to tackle the day, choosing a set of grey-and-cream Jedi robes that I rarely wore. I tamed my hair and performed my other ablutions, choosing to skip a full breakfast in favor of an energy bar and a cup of caf in my quarters. At the designated time, I headed down the hall to the training room. Mjan was already there. "Good morning, padawan. I hope you slept well." I jumped right in. "So I've rethought today's lessons. Let's head down to Borleias." We made our way through the halls to the hangar, where we waited for an opportunity to make the brief trip to the surface. It wasn't long before an opportunity arose, and we claimed spots on a supply shuttle. As we boarded, I handed Mjan a data chip. "Here, you can read up on the lightsaber forms, as I promised last night." Half an hour later, we touched down. The cargo door opened with a hiss, letting in the warm air of the planet. I smiled and inhaled deeply. I have breathed the air of a thousand worlds, I thought, quoting the line from one of my favorite poets to myself. We had landed in one of the refugee camps. The Jedi were doing what we could to make the camps habitable for a longer term. It was going to take a long time to find permanent homes for those displaced from Coruscant. We made our way through the camp. I wasn't sure what I was looking for, but I knew the Force had led us here. So I turned to Mjan as we walked, and posed a question to him. "Mjan, what is the dark side?"
  16. I was happy to be back at my quarters. "Lights at 60%," I said, and the lights dimmed to a soothing yellow as the door slid shut behind me. I headed into the refresher, and after a moment, drew a bath instead of taking a sanisteam. Once the tub was full, I undressed and slipped into the soothing warm water. For a moment, I wished for some pleasant-smelling foam or oil to add to the water, remembering the luxurious baths I had had as a teen, but then I let it go. Both the Jedi and the military didn't approve of frivolity. In fact, I remembered Onderin giving me a hard time once about my numerous hair care products, but I had put my foot down on that one. I was out of the water before it got cold, drying off and dressing in a simple long-sleeved under tunic and soft woven pants. The ship was honestly too cold to wear that without my warmer outer tunic, but I wanted to be comfortable and was feeling too lazy to pull on the outer layers. Heading out of my room, I made my way quickly and quietly down the hall into the mess. I grabbed a simple meal--a sandwich with some kind of meat and a salad of local greens, packed it up, and brought it back to my room. Once back, I kicked off my boots. Unfortunately, there wasn't a nice soft chair I could curl up in--another example of military and Jedi spartan philosophy--but I was comfortable enough on the soft rug that covered the floor by the bed. Lastly, I set the computer playing some quiet classical music. I had discovered that listening to music often helped me clear my mind, and since that discovery, I'd been trying out various pieces from composers around the galaxy whenever I had the opportunity. Tonight's piece was Valachord Cantata in G Minor by a Nautolan composer. I leaned back, eating my meal and enjoying the music, my mind slowly processing through the events of the day, and then clearing bit by bit. The music, the dim lights, my contented fatigue and full stomach all combined, and my relaxation slipped into meditation. As I relaxed, the Force flowed through me, washing away my anxiety and sorrow, replacing them with calm acceptance and faith. After a long while, I rose, disposed of my trash, and got ready for bed. Sleep came quickly after I slipped between the covers, and I slept long and deep above Borleias.
  17. "Hmmm," I mused, "that's an interesting statement. I've never heard that said before." I placed the sticks back on the rack as I spoke. "I suppose I'd say that that both oversimplifies and overcomplicates the issue. Yes, to a certain extent the lightsaber is an extension of our will, of our thoughts and desires. I'd say it's more like an extension of our body, a tool. But that statement puts too much emphasis on the idea that it's the Jedi controlling the lightsaber. Like in every other area, our actions should always be only what the Force wills. If our minds are at peace, and our wills surrendered to the Force's, then they become one and the same and we can act without hesitation. Knowing the will of the Force will, ideally, become second nature to you. That is what I believe true mastery is. You're empty of yourself, and there is only the Force." My tone had grown misty, and I shook myself. "As far as others being attracted to a lightsaber, that's also sort of true. Many beings will recognize you as a Jedi because of your lightsaber. Their response then is usually one of two things: wariness and antagonism, or relief and respect. Even if you don't draw the weapon, sometimes its mere presence is enough to end a dispute--or start one," I added. "Anyway, each Jedi is slightly different in terms of how often they use their lightsaber, and why. But honestly, most of the time Jedi only find themselves needing to draw their lightsaber as a last resort. Most situations can be diffused without it." Or at least, hypothetically, I thought. My experience had been a little different. But I was still a Jedi Knight myself, not a Master, and training Aelyn and Mjan was showing just how far I still had to go. "In terms of defense, yes, there are forms more focused on deflecting blaster bolts and the like, particularly Form III." I fell silent then. I was tired, and I had done a lot of talking today. What I needed was a shower, another meal, and a good nine hours of sleep. Plus, I needed to recharge by being alone for a bit. Mjan was great, but I was kind of people-d out. Tomorrow would be another day, and if I was right about the nudges I was feeling from the Force, would require much from both myself and my padawan. I smiled tiredly at him. "Okay, I'll see you in the morning. 0800 hours, back here, okay?"
  18. "Good," I encouraged him. "You'll have time to keep practicing on your own, and now that you've got the basics down, you'll find many new applications as you live your life as a Jedi." I handed him one of the bamboo sticks as I spoke. "Now, perhaps you've already had some training in using a blade as a weapon in combat, but a lightsaber is different. There is no weight beyond that of the hilt, which takes some getting used to, and of course, it's as much a defensive weapon as an offensive one." I took a stance in the middle of the room, my weight balanced evenly between my two feet, my bamboo stick raised perpendicular to the floor at an easy guard. "Obviously, these sticks have weight to them, but they're a good starting point to work on your form." I went on to explain about the six zones of defense, and the three rings of awareness. Following that, I showed him the first few postures of Form I. "There are seven forms in all," I continued. "I'll send you an attachment to some data files so you can look them over, and once you've mastered these basics in Form I, I'll teach you everything I can about whatever form you wish to learn about. Most Jedi end up focusing on one form that they become masters of; I myself prefer Form VI. The Order currently has masters of almost every form; if I can't take you deep enough into your desire to learn a particular form, then we can surely find another Jedi to teach you more." From there, I went on to explain about the precognition the Force granted us, and how it was useful in combat. Once I had exhausted both my knowledge on the subject and my student, I made Mjan work through more of the basic formwork. Several hours passed until we were both pretty wiped, and I was satisfied that he had begun to really grasp Form I. Once the lesson had finished, I collected the bamboo sticks. "Next time, we'll use training sabers," I smiled, wiping sweat from my brow. "Good work today, padawan. The rest of the day is yours to spend as you see fit."
  19. I grinned. "You're a fast learner. Now, as I said, the use of something like this is mostly up to your imagination--the principles are generally the same. You can jump, slow your fall, flip. But you can also push air molecules away from yourself and so run faster than any normal being can." I didn't demonstrate, figuring he could understand without it. "Try a couple things. Get the hang of it." As he did so, I crossed the room and picked up two long and light bamboo rods. Our next task would be one I guessed he'd take to equally as well.
  20. I nodded, showing that I appreciated Mjan's encouragement, but didn't comment further. We made our way to an office where Mjan could formalize his enlistment as a member of the Jedi fleet. It wasn't a long application, much different from my application process to the GA fleet when I was a padawan, but there was still a level of formality that I always thought had been a smart move by the Grandmaster when the fleet was formed. A fleet never worked well when people couldn't take orders, and that was traditionally one of the weaknesses of the Jedi, given that we were trained to operate independently. Once everything was squared away, Mjan officially became a lieutenant, and was assigned some kit should he desire to use or wear it. "Let me just say," the officer helping us added as he stood and shook Mjan's hand, "that you're the first ethnic Sith to ever join this fleet, and I say it's a good omen. Congratulations, Lieutenant." We then headed to the officer's mess for some lunch. I insisted on making it a celebration, so I kept the conversation light, and tried to introduce Mjan to as many other officers as I could, as well as just getting to know him better. Towards the end of the meal, I grabbed two slices of cake. "Do you like cake?" -- Eventually, the two of us found ourselves in an empty workout/training room with high ceilings. "Alright, Mjan," I said, getting down to business. "So you've learned the basics of telekinesis. Those basics have a wide variety of applications. This afternoon I'd like to focus on applying those principles to your own body." Readying myself, I suddenly leapt straight up, using the Force as a springboard, until I grabbed some pipes in the unfinished ceiling. Then I dropped to the floor, landing as lightly as if I had simply stepped instead of fell twenty feet. I then threw myself into a backwards leap, twisting several times in the air and staying up just a hair too long to be normal. "One of the lightsaber combat forms, Form V, uses these applications frequently to allow quick movement on the battlefield and fast evasion of an enemy's attacks." I gestured to him. "Give it a try. You're only limited by your creativity."
  21. I paused. "No, I wouldn't say that. Good question though. I guess I'm not really sure, but I would say that the Jedi would be protectors even if the Sith did not exist. For it's not just against the Sith that we fight. It's against injustice, cruelty, chaos, anger, strife. All kinds of evil, whether easily visible or more subtle." The officer glanced up then. "Ma'am, I'm having trouble raising the admiral. His ship was at Coruscant, and subspace there is filled with tons of interlapping signals. Even our own internal systems bring no answer. The only thing I can tell you is that the fleet there has suffered a great number of losses. It's possible the admiral was one of them. The last sighting of his ship showed it in serious trouble." The news made me ache to jump into a ship and race to the city-planet, but I knew by the time I got there, it would be too late to do any good. "Thank you, Lieutenant," I replied soberly. "Will you please alert me as soon as you have news?" "Yes, ma'am," the man replied with a salute. I nodded and motioned for Mjan to follow me out of the comm center. Every time I thought about Coruscant, my heart hurt. I couldn't help but play the mind-game of 'what if'--what if more Jedi had been able to get there on time? What if we had caught Faust before all of this was triggered? But I was an experienced enough officer to put those thoughts aside. A good officer thought through the what ifs to be better prepared for the future, not to dwell on the past. I suddenly started, realizing I had lapsed into silence. "Sorry, Mjan. Well, we can't really do much until we hear from the admiral, so let's get your commission squared away, grab some lunch, and then we'll work on some more practical applications of the Force. Beyond just lifting marbles."
  22. A wry smile touched my face at Mjan's confusion. "Well first off, let me just say that it's no surprise that you struggle with those last two tenets. Every Jedi struggles with them. Even older, more experienced ones." The lift hissed open and we stepped out, heading down the hall. "But I'll tell you what I've learned. There is no chaos, there is harmony. Obviously there is chaos in the galaxy, but there shouldn't be chaos in the heart of a Jedi Knight. He is always at peace, calm of mind, and sure of intent. We don't make rash decisions. It also refers to how we operate together. We work in harmony, as much as it depends on us, with everyone, and don't let things like personality differences get in the way. We also work to calm chaos. Note that it doesn't say there is no chaos, there is order. That is how some people apply this line of the code, and I personally think that's one of the issues at the heart of some of the disunity among the Jedi and Imperial Knights." I shrugged. "Not that I know too much about their ideology." An officer saluted me as we passed, and I saluted back habitually, then continued to speak, slower this time. "As for the last line...death is a mystery, and it happens to everyone eventually. No living being is truly immortal. But this line of the Code speaks to the fact that the Force is beyond even the realm of death." I bit my lip, trying to explain. "This is the reason that among Jedi, we often refer to death as 'becoming one with the Force'. Jedi can merge their remaining life force with the Force at death, and so, at times, retain the ability to influence events. We often refer to them as 'Force ghosts'--spirits of the dead whom we can communicate with. Is it really the person's spirit or soul? No one can say for sure. And it seems as if, though every Jedi has the potential to do this, not many actually do." I thought for a moment about my old master Onderin Starlisk. If I could speak to him again, what words of wisdom would he be able to offer? His experience was sorely needed as the Jedi turned to war again. "Anyway," I shook myself, "this belief means that death doesn't have to be something we dread. Instead of being afraid, we can trust that we will still fulfill the Force's purpose, and that in turn frees us to take the risks we sometimes need to take to save others." We finally arrived at our destination: the comm center. Here, signals were sent and received from halfway across the galaxy, with boosts powerful enough to cut through even low level subspace jamming in a pinch. I stepped up to the officer in charge. "I need to get in contact with Admiral Bruce Slaughter of the Galactic Alliance." The man nodded. "Just a moment, I'll try and locate him."
  23. I sighed. "Unfortunately, you're probably right. It shouldn't be that way--a Jedi values all life, and every life is just as important as any other life. We are called to risk and sacrifice ourselves for the lowest as well as the highest. But we're also fallible beings, and fallible beings can make good decisions for the wrong reasons." I paused. "Now, I'm not saying that Alluyen is making this decision for the wrong reason. I don't know her thought process. But I'm choosing to focus on the fact that regardless of who Raven is, we're rescuing her because she is a being that deserves dignity and respect, and because it's our call to try and save her." We continued down the corridor. "As to if this mission would be taking place if she wasn't the empress....the truth is, I don't know if we would have known about it if she wasn't. If we had, I would hope that we would still make an attempt to save her. But I don't doubt that Alluyen is willing to risk more than normal because of Raven's position." I sighed again. "I don't agree with that. Raven is my friend, and I want to help her, but we are at war, and in war, sacrifice is required. We have to make smart choices with our resources." I shook my head. "And that's exactly why Jedi are bad at war. The Code teaches us that we should hold all lives equally, but war demands ruthless calculus." I hated it, but I couldn't see another way. The Masters, the Council, perhaps they could. But that wisdom was hidden from me. I took a deep breath. "Anyway...speaking of the Code, you were reading up on the basics of it, weren't you? What did you think? What questions do you have of me?"
  24. Adenna left fairly abruptly--she was like that, I remembered, never lingering when she had said all she had needed to say. Others considered her rude at times, but it didn't bother me. Better brief and considered rude than long-winded and considered boring. I turned to Mjan just as he mentioned some reservations he was feeling. "Hmmm," I nodded, "what do you mean by political rather than rescue? Is it merely because she is the Remnant Empress?" I didn't pause, but continued. "Of course, that will bring politics into this, no doubt about it: a Jedi is a negotiator, a diplomat. But we aren't politicians." Sometimes it did feel like it, though. I had spent the last few years being what was essentially a political liaison between the GA and Jedi, a role that I could have done just as easily as a non-Jedi. But it was good for the Jedi Order to have a Jedi be their spokesperson, and it was a role I was willing to fill, even if it wore on me sometimes. But I was interested to hear what my padawan was thinking. I motioned for him to follow as we headed into the turbolift and I sent us hurtling down towards the hangar deck.
  25. I immediately nodded. "I know many in GA leadership. But I think our best bet at this point in time would be to try and contact Admiral Bruce Slaughter. Last I heard, he was essentially the fleet commander. And he's an old...friend of mine." Okay, so he wasn't really a friend--the man mistrusted Jedi too much for us to really be friends--but I had worked with him a lot during the war, and I highly respected him. "Do you want me to ask if their intelligence has located Raven? Excuse me, the Empress? Or are you more interested in fleet support from them? I'd like to know exactly what you wish to propose to him before I try to make contact." I paused very briefly. "The Remnant is likely our best source regardless, though. They will have the most motivation to find her as well." Meanwhile, I was pleased that Mjan had been bold enough to speak up. I reached out and spoke through the Force into his mind. "Never be afraid to express your thoughts and opinions, padawan. They are always welcome."
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