Stormhelm

Genesis darted down the hill after his Padawan as he reached out into the Force to slow his rolling and inevitably stop him. He hadn't expected Noto to grow unaware so quickly and this little set back was completely unsuspecting. Still, there was some humor to be found in watching the Krevaaki tumble. "Are you alright?" Genesis questioned as he reached out his hand to help the young Noto up, a small chuckle upon realizing that it hurt his pride more than it hurt his form. "One must always expect the unexpected. Still, I should have gave you more of a warning. Forgive me." Shifting his gaze upward, Genesis noticed the sun was past its peak and was beginning to wane upon its setting axis across it's western sky. There was a second reason that Genesis had chose to come out here to the slums, and he shifted a bag of supplies to Noto. They would disperse them as they made their way back to the transport. "Come. We should head back." Genesis spoke. "We'll deliver these supplies to the village below and then head back toward our room for the evening. We can pick up tomorrow after some rest."

Genesis smiled. Noto was coming along rather well. Though he still held a need for a focus point, a mantra he either spoke aloud or to himself, he was accessing the Force with strength and tranquility. He had the bearings of a fine future Jedi Knight, and Genesis couldn't help but see himself somewhat in the young Krevaaki. "Excellent." Genesis applauded Noto, increasing the speed of the remote. "We're going to kick things up a notch. Don't be nervous. Just focus. Let the Force guide you." As Genesis spoke, the remote darted about over Noto's head, the gears of it's sphere shifting horizontal and diagonal. Prods humming with the low voltage electricity, it darted in at twice the speed and struck at the Padawan twice before retreating once again. The intent of this exercise was to develope muscle memory within the natural flow of the Force as well as increase Noto's affinity to it. If he was to grasp the next part of his training, his bond within the Force would need to be strengthened and familiar. Genesis had faith in the young Krevaaki though, and knew it was time to begin the push.

The sphere retreated after it struck, it's orbital shape shifting as it hovered overhead and preparing it's next strike. It's purpose and programming were traditional, rising the bar as the Padawan progressed and it's prods able to produce more than electricity when and if Noto chose to wield a Lightsaber. But for now, it only held one program running, and that was to train Noto to expect the unexpected and feel it's intentions. "Good. Relax Noto. Grow to know the Ocean that is the Force as it swirls around you..." Genesis spoke as he saw his Padawan relax and focus his mind. "It surrounds you, invisible, but ever present. Let your mind explore it and let it react accordingly." As Genesis words concluded, the remote would strike at Noto again, it's electric prods angled with just enough voltage to tingle the skin. And Genesis held confidence in his pupil. For all Sensitives are born with the knowledge to wield the Force. That's the very definition of being sensitive to the Force. It merely takes Focus and Training to hone what is given naturally. "Don't force it. Allow it to come naturally." Genesis spoke again. "Your mind holds the knowledge. You simply have to allow it to understand."

Genesis smiled internally as he watched his Padawan mentally and physically prepare himself. Noto was confused, nervous, and a bit out of his natural sense of safety. But this was what training was for. To place one outside the safety nets they were used to and place them in a safe and secure environment meant to test their reactions and allow them to become used to the moments that would count the most in their futures. And yet, even with this training, it could never truly prepare them for the real thing. "Calm yourself Noto." Genesis spoke as the nervous words rambled from his Padawan's chitlin mouth, a sense of serene and calm aura carrying a somber tone. "Trust in yourself and in the Force." The sphere began to swirl upon activation, it's silent hum echoing around them and in between the trees as it's prods shifted and whirled around it's form. All was quiet except Genesis as he spoke. "Remember our talks of the Force and it's flow. Like the currents of a stream flowing toward the river and flowing into the sea, it connects all and all is a part of it." Genesis spoke solemnly as his tone remained serene, barely a whisper a over the reverberation of the training sphere. "And like the currents of the sea, the slightest anomaly can change it's feel and path. Focus on the sphere, listen to it's humming, follow the path of it's circuitry and understand it's intended current." Confident in his Padawan, Genesis activated the probe's programming as it's prods tingled with electricity. Whirling, it struck out at the awaiting Noto.

Genesis smiled. Noto's excitement was warranted and welcomed. But his training was merely at the beginning. He had barely begun to sense the Force, and wielding it would come with time and training. Still, Genesis hated to disappoint. "Now that you've got a grasp on sensing the Force, let's see how well you do against this.." Genesis spoke playfully as he pulled out a small training remote and tossed it into the air, the small sphere coming to life with small electroids protruding from it's form as Genesis tossed Noto a piece of cloth. "... While blindfolded." "Don't worry. It cannot harm you as the electroids produce minor electricity, barely enough to tickle you." Genesis explained as he stood up and positioned himself away from Noto against a boulder. "But since we're training you to sense the Force, we may as well work on your Jedi Defense." After Noto had blindfolded himself and Genesis' remotely activated it's programming, Genesis would explain it's concept. "Droids are harder to sense in the Force as they aren't living creatures. But they, like everything else, are made up of and bound by the Force. From the metal that encases it, to the electricity that courses across it's circuitry and out of it's prods toward you, all is a part of the Force. Sense it, and avoid it's attacks."

Genesis smiled. Noto was beginning to catch on. His gaze drifted off toward the spaceport near where they were staying and saw as more ships began to pour out. He inner thoughts conflicted, and he turned his gaze back to his Padawan. "Excellent job Noto." He professed. "It must become second nature for all Jedi. For we see, feel, and hear the will of the Force. And through it's will, our own senses become more attuned to it. It augments our own."

One of the things he enjoyed about Noto the most was the child's intellect. But it also came with a fault. Secluded and deprived of an interactive life, Noto seemed to rely more on verses and paragraphs of a book rather than of life it's self. Wasn't a bad thing, but it did hinder his understanding slightly when it came to Genesis' own parables. Genesis chuckled. "Some have called it precognition. Others have called it an inner voice. But in truth, it's a simple thought process." Genesis spoke, tapping at his head with his forefinger. "You've felt the Force and it's flow. And simply being aware of the Force has a tendency to heighten one's sense to their surroundings. I, however, tend to feel through the Force similar to how I see through it." "For Miralukians, even hybrids like myself, seeing through the Force is a construct that hard to describe in words. Some describe it similar to echolocation while others have described it similar to seeing shapes within the whitenoise of a holovid. I have described it as both multiple times since describing it is impossible with words. It's like looking at your reflection in the water as it ripples, or being blind but knowing what's in front of you, a hard thing to grasp for those who cannot fathom it." Realizing that he was making things more complicated by diverging down a separate talk, Genesis scratches at his chin as he formulates the words. A fish in the water is alert to it's surroundings by feeling the water. If it shifts or ripples, it becomes alerted by it's flow and adjusts accordingly. A Force user does the same as the Force flows around them and through their surroundings similar to water with a fish. Even the slinging of a Blade, or the malice intent behind it can signal red flags to someone attuned and grant them forewarning enough to react. Meditation and focus only strengthens your bond with the Force. In combat, you have to listen and feel with the Force."

As Noto spoke of his twin hearts, Genesis smirked and reeled in his mind, letting the moment of it flow outward away from his conscious as body and mind once again became one. He smiled as his gaze fell upon his pupil during his dip. "Then you will have twice the work." He jested as he looked into the Force and saw Noto's understanding grow and ripple within. He was beginning to catch on. But he would need more confidence. He needed to be more sure of himself. "Try not to overthink it, but recognize it's nature as well as your own. You are a Padawan now, and as such, are my equal. I may be the Master, but we are both students of the Force. I only have more experience." Genesis allowed this to linger and seek in, attentively watching his pupil's presence and emotions as he spoke this humbling truth. Noto may have only recently began his training, but neither would ever stop learning. And like Noto, when Genesis first began the path of a Jedi, was just as timid and was weary of voicing his concerns. It was Armiena's mother, Misal Draygo, who gave him the courage to voice himself, and the reason Armiena chose to bring Kakuto along during the Battle of Kuat. Albiet, the mistake it was and the treachery it became. Still, it was a lesson bought and learnt. As Noto's gaze opened to meet that of his own, Genesis clapped as a sign of congratulations and nodded his head in his success before shifting his weight and repositioning his seating. With a big smile, he spoke. "The water flows serene through you with little ripples. Well done." "Your presence within the flow is but a natural occurrence. A hard one to detect without training, but we all are present. We can use this ability to find one another no matter the distance, or to notice the emotions and actions of those around us. Like the fish of the sea, even the subtlest of changes within it can alert us of potential dangers or those in need of help. And through this, we can attune our senses to notice like second nature, a living sixth sense." Looking off into the distance, Genesis watched as the outflow of Bothawui traffic began to grow greater than the inflow, signalling that the politics of the Government had began to deploy. It had began. The evacuation of those deemed above the rest while those below would barely hear the word by the time the battle would likely assume. It was tragic, but it was the will of the Force. And one that Noto would not yet understand. For the life of the Jedi was sacrifice. And sometimes, witnessing such sacrifice. As one of heart, this was something that Genesis himself had to struggle with. He could easily warn those he came across of the potential doom heading their way, but it would only cause hysteria and mass chaos, deferring the course of the evacuation to become unstable and do more harm than good. But he wasn't just out here to watch either. If it came to it, he was prepared to act. But only as a last resort should the darkness encroach. "I'm glad the city is calm." He spoke with a foreboding sadness as he focused his gaze back to Noto. "But it may not be for long. I hope that our Intel was wrong, but should the Sith Armada show up to take Bothawui, I need you to focus upon those subtle changes. It will aid you more than any blade, allowing you to react more quickly."

Genesis smiled. He figured that Noto would have trouble focusing through the strain of exhaustion. But this was the life of a Jedi. To find one's limits and overcome them, to not only focus the mind, but the body as well. He hoped by giving subtle hints, Noto would pick up on this for future reference. But he also understood that as a child, Noto wouldn't always be as sharp as an older youngling. "Try to focus without the mantra, Noto." Genesis spoke as he sat upon the ground, the overwhelming city like a painted canvas in the distance. "The mantra takes the breath that you're trying to catch and only hinders your breathing. Even thinking it will hinder your true focus and it will become a crutch you need to stand with." "Focus your mind instead to the beats of your own heart, and try to slow it down to your breaths" He spoke, his voice serene and calming as he spoke slowly between breaths, continuously getting slower and slower until his voice was but a whisper on the wind. "And then breath. Deep and slow as you inhale and exhale. Your heart and your breath must be in tandem, or you will use more energy than you need. The same could be said about the Force, your body and mind." Genesis fell silent as he let his words linger on the air that swirled around them, carried through and across the branches of the trees and down the trail they came up on and into the distance. And just as his words flowed outward, so did his mind as it traversed the same. Only this time, rather than echoes of words distancing, his mind echoed the thoughts and hearts of those it came upon, whether fauna or sapient. "Drop a stone into the flow of the water, and it ripples. But dip a cup in it, and you capture a part of it." Genesis spoke, his presence traversing the area between them and the city as he gauged both Noto and the preparation for the evacuation as it was beginning to take place, distributed in secret as those with the knowledge he presented acted upon it first before others began to receive word. It wouldn't be long now before chaos would ensue as it grew closer to public knowledge. Such was politics. "As the currents of the Force flow through us and around us, it fills us. We are the cup. And yet, as we use it, it depletes, needed to be filled again. Only through focusing, can we determine how much is used and how. This is why focus is important."

As the transport lifted off and headed to the Outskirts District, Genesis took seat beside the entrance and away from other passengers. Silence filled their immediate area as he searched for the right wording to express his meaning to his Padawan. His movements, his facial expressions, his presence, all spoke of it as he made brief movements before withdrawing only to do it again. Finally he got it. "Remember when I spoke of how a Jedi allows the Force that flows through them and around them to aid in defense? How we never use the Force against its own will, but rather make ourselves it's extension?" Genesis briefly questioned his Padawan. "Same goes with Politics and Governing Bodies. Nor can we Force the people to think how we do. We are Keepers of Peace first and foremost, Advisors second, and Defenders lastly. We do not govern. That is not our role to play." "Think of it this way:" Genesis spoke more, still trying to simplify his point. "If a Jedi stepped forward and warned a planet of potential doom, mass hysteria would break out, whether the governing body was prepared or not. It would be like Coruscant, what you saw in your vision. This is why we assist the military, whether it be Soldiers of the Rebellion or local militias. And evacuating an entire planet takes time. It takes precise coordination. And we rarely have the luxury of the Sith showing up late." Genesis chuckled a bit to lighten the mood of the potential threat looming ahead as the shuttle made it's approach. When it landed, Genesis stood up and disembarked it, stepping out and gazing at the looming mountains that shot toward the sky. Out here in the Outskirt Districts, poverty was high and malnutrition ran amuck. This is where the lower class citizens were pushed, no matter the city nor the planet. It was the path of society in any given era. And if an evacuation was called, these would be the last to hear it. Genesis' life on Dantooine before joining the Jedi was very much like this. Genesis said not a word as he began the trek into the forests bordering the mountainside, the desert winds blowing across the peaks turning the area humid and tropical. He had chosen this place for a reason. He wanted to test the child's stamina. To test his resolve. And when the child would grow tired as they trekked pathways through brush and over inclines, Genesis would stop and turn to the child for his next lesson. "I told you that today would bring lessons, and I meant it." Genesis spoke with a serene smile as he sat upon the ground and crossed his legs, taking in a deep breath and settling himself in the nature that surrounded them. "You've showed your potential to focus and hone the Force, but now comes the taxing of it. You are tired. You're legs are likely stiff and sore. And even you're breathing may be heavy. But the Force can aid you. It can grant you strength and endurance. It can grant you speed and agility. But first you have to expand yourself and know it's own. Open your mind up to the Force, relax and take deep slow breaths, focusing on your breathing as your mind reaches into the Flow of Life and of the Force here around us. Be a leaf upon it's stream, and travel it's waters." "Tell me what you see...."

Genesis listened attentively to Noto as he spoke, watching his emotions and hearing his thoughts on each matter. He hated that his Padawan showed disappointment, but felt the child would receive the day better by action rather than words. Reaching into his satchel, he pulled forth a datapad that he had retained since his own Apprenticeship under Master Armiena, including skill sets, knowledge and information on Lightsaber builds, construction, and Forms, as well as details on Katarr, Miralukians, and Mandalorians. Pretty much anything a Padawan needed to know for the foreseeable future and a few things that drew Genesis' own interests during his days as a Padawan under the current Grandmaster. And now it was Noto's. "Here. This Datapad was given to me by my Master and it retains information that I was able to gather as her Padawan." He spoke as he presented it Noto. "And now it's yours, as my Padawan. Come." Genesis motioned for Noto to follow, first exiting the room and eventually the Hotel as the two turned onto the streets of Bothawui's busiest district. The two went about their merry way amongst the millions, if not billions, of sentients that graced this fair planet at any given time, not a single one noticing them nor acknowledging them. Genesis smiled as he turned his gaze to Noto. "There are as many benefits to not carry a Lightsaber as there is to carry one." He poised to his pupil as they meshed into the life flow of their surroundings, a blot on the map as any other, a presence amongst many others. "I'm sure there are some who carry the Lightsaber as identification, but most only carry out of necessity. And not all who carry the Lightsaber is a Jedi. All of which are simple choices, like any aspect of life. And like life, each choice has both it's benefits and consequences. These choices are what define us." Genesis stopped and turned into a tea shop, taking a seat near one of the patios that overlooked most of the city, offering for Noto to do the same as he order two cups of Jasmine Dragon Pearl Tea, a blend of white and green leaves that smelt pleasantly of the jasmine flower it was brewed with. Once they arrived, Genesis took the lid off of his and let the cool breeze whip at it's rising steam. His gaze looking out across the vastness of this world, toward the distant mountains that separated them from the dry deserts, Genesis took a sip and spoke again. "As for me, I've made my peace with the consequences of my past and have made choices that reflect that." There was a brief glimpse of hesitant regret, like someone still dealing with a bitter memory, as he sat down the cup. "As Jedi, we are held to a higher standard than most. But the truth is, we are as fallible as anyone else, just with bigger consequences. And we are tempted by the allure of the Darkside every day, as even the slightest give could be all it takes to turn into the very thing we stand against." Genesis pointed toward a man across the way. The man, a thin Human with tethered robes and hair that barely clung to scalp, sat crosslegged across the way with a sign that read simply 'Creds for a weary man' as passerbys dropped credits as they went about their way. "Watch." Genesis instructed, and after about roughly fourty standard minutes, the man disappeared into an alley way. "He'll be back here tomorrow. Don't worry." Genesis spoke after he filled his mouth with the remnants of his tea and rose, leaving behind a healthy tip. "Think of the Force similar to spice. Used correctly and as defined, and it is a healthy and manageable medicine capable of helping those in need. But use it recreational, and it's a hole you will inevitably drown yourself in." As Genesis and Noto boarded the transport to the Outskirts District, Genesis finally answered Noto's question. "I have given into the Darkside before and taken lives indiscriminately. I wasn't much younger than you, in fact. It was the day I became an orphan, a chance I didn't give those in the womb of the one who took away my Parents. And because of that, I do not wield weapons." Genesis turned his gaze to Noto, a smile gracing it in reassurance. "It's not to say I fear falling to the Darkside again. No. That was a lesson well bought. I simply choose not to carry weapons or use them, especially blades, because I fell. And that is a part of my past, something I should not dwell on. Nor should you dwell on it. I am your teacher, and I have the knowledge to teach you the tools you will need. The choices of how you use those tools will be your's and your's alone."

Noto actually gave Genesis a better idea than what he had prepared for, and after a brief moment, smiled at the thought despite now having thought about it before hand. They could indeed to both, outside of the city and within, scouting positions of weaknesses if they could get themselves high enough. And if it included a little outside the box thinking, it would only help Noto for the better. As for the idea of handing a weapon over to Noto, Genesis stayed in reserves. It wasn't that he didn't trust his Padawan with a weapon, only that he felt it may be too soon. The Force would provide better defense, and it was needed in training with such a weapon as a lightsaber. "I actually don't wield a Lightsaber." Genesis spoke to Noto, lifting his jacket to reveal no weapons. "Only the Force." Genesis let his jacket fall and allowed Noto to process the revelation before he continued. "I can train you in the art of Lightsaber Combat." He replied. "But that will come later when you're more trained in using the Force. A weightless blade is hard to control, and I'd rather not having you lopping off any of your limbs." Genesis chuckled to ensure Noto didn't misread his intentions. "No. For today, I actually like an idea you've given me. " Genesis smiled, offering for Noto to stand before him. "We can train and explore. I originally reserved one of the training grounds, but the city would offer the same terrain while allowing us to observe potential weaknesses."

Genesis listened attentively to Noto as he ate, noting what he had already suspected with Noto having previous knowledge of his sensitivity and the roots of it's revelation, as well as his 'witnessing' of Coruscant despite not having been then, and let his mind roll over the information as it came. In silence, Genesis pondered the possibility of his own resurgence of his memories from that time, perhaps the two of them bonding and melding subconsciously within their sleep. Or even perhaps, that Noto foresaw through Genesis own sight, as the echo of the world rippled outward. Numerous possibilities with no real and true answers. "No. It's fine." Genesis gestured as he wiped the sweat from his brow and motioned for Noto to sit back down and enjoy the rest of his meal. "In truth, I simply had trouble sleeping this morning, so I went out and inspected the training grounds. You needn't worry Noto." A few moments of silence passed as Genesis finished his meal and sat it off to the side, leaning back on his arms and letting his food begin the digestive process as well as his mind process Coruscant. When he sat forward, his boots touching the floor, his usual smile had crumbled into a saddened frown. "There was many horrors we faced on Coruscant when Hesperidium fell." Genesis began, his mind replaying the memory. "Master Armiena and I faced such a dilemma ourselves after it struck, criminals and citizens alike facing off with CoreSec forces in the evacuation. It was all we could do to attempt to maintain the peace. My Master even lost most of her arm over the atmospheric instability that followed. It was utter chaos." Genesis turned now to Noto's discovery of his own sensitivity. "I've never really heard of a Sensitive's mind fracturing due to such an event and them ending up in a coma, but the Force has its own will. Perhaps your mind connected deeply with a ripple from the moment and resonated with it, feigning a living coma. This would explain why you experienced the moment so vividly in the original dream. You would have literally lived the dream." But in truth, this was just one of the many explanations that crossed Genesis' mind, and felt the most realistic possibility. As he gathered his plate and Noto's to be set aside for the housekeepers, Genesis' mood perked up. He turned to Noto with a grin. "How does training sound today? Or we can go explore Bothawui? You're choice."

For Genesis, the night of sleep did not go so well as it usually did. Perhaps it was the upcoming battle, the sensitivity of his pupil, or his own nerves. He didn't know. But as he laid there within the realm of dreams, Coruscant as well as Borleias and Katarr ravaged his mind. So much so that he awoke before the sun had even risen in a cold sweat, flashes of the worlds still playing across his thoughts as he focused his mind. He knew acceptance was the key to peace, but he was still mortal all the same. Shifting his gaze toward his sleeping pupil, he let the Force flow through him and into his student, allowing it's peace to aid the boy in these troubled times. He remembered what it was like to be that age and alone in the Galaxy, even if he had never been to an alien world himself until he was much older. Satisfied that Noto would not wake anytime soon, Genesis removed himself from the room and went exploring for a potential training grounds for the new day. He knew the training grounds would provide adequate terms, but he wanted to see them for himself. Noto was a beginner, and although he would learn well enough today to defend himself, his skill would be adept at best. With time, experience and level of control would come, but not in a single day and there was much preparation to be done on both their parts. After all, outside the basics, Genesis was but a novice himself. He had to train and hone his own skills. Walking in on the training grounds after a brief escort by Imperial Guards, and reservation of use, Genesis activated a nearby training droid. As the crimson bolts began to spring to life, Genesis thought back to his departure from Nar Shadaa and the words he was left with. Twisting the Force that flowed through him locally, Genesis began to move the makeshift shield about his body toward the strikes. And as he became familiar with it's rhythm, sank into his meditative state, allow his mind and body to separate into two separate collectives. Sweat beaded down his brow and his body tingled with the bolts stun setting by the time he brought himself back from his meditation and noticed the sun had risen. Gathering his things, he felt satisfied with the results of his own training and what this training ground would provide for young Noto. When he returned, Noto was just beginning to stir. Offering a plate of food from the gallery he had collected on his way in, Genesis sat across from him and ate as well. "Sleep well?"

It was just as Genesis had suspected. This child was well gifted with the Force and was adapt at comprehending it's flow. He smiled, motioning for the child to enjoy his snack. He had seen what he needed to see and knew where to begin Noto's training. It may have set him on a more advanced path than most Younglings his age, but Genesis was confident that he could handle it. As the child finished the chokolate bar, tossed a protein bar his way. "An excellent try, Noto." Genesis praised as he uncrossed his legs and let the circulation of his blood resume it's usual flow, the tingling of his legs causing a slight tickle. "As we've discussed, the Force flows through all things, and as Sensitives, we are privy to it's currents. We can alter it's flow as well, just as you've proved. But we do not manipulate it." Genesis pulled his own protein bar from the satchel and took a bite out of it as he tasted the wheats and oats and his mind briefly drifted back to Dantooine. His mother's fresh loafs, the smell baking in the kitchen, and the sun rises he barely remembered. But tastes, he never forgot the tastes. Silently, he swallowed. "There is a fine line between altering the flow of the Force and manipulating it. To alter it is to simply use it momentarily and let it resumes it's course. But to manipulate it is to alter it's entirety before unleashing it. This is the basis that separate the Jedi from the Sith. We only alter it for a moment. They will alter it entirely." Finishing his bar, Genesis discarded the wrapper in the near by bin before standing up and pulling back the covers. The sun had set not too much earlier, but after traveling and the events of the day, Genesis was tired. As he covered up, he looked over to Noto. "Today was taxing. If you wish, you can stay up a little bit and contemplate on our discussions or practice your focusing and grasp of what you've learned. Tomorrow we will look for a proper setting to begin your training. Rest up as best you can Padawan." With that, Genesis smiled and looked toward the ceiling before crossing his eye with his arm and closing it. He knew Noto was excited, just as he was. But sleep and meditation were a big portion of training as well.

Genesis nodded his head at Noto's request to try again, his gaze in the Force focused on the shifting of the Force flowing in and around his pupil, it's ebb becoming a current like water washing into a stream from the shore as Noto focused himself. A humble smile crossed his face as he watched and listened to the child's attempt. Was this what Armiena experienced with his own Apprenticeship? He wondered about this quietly in his mind, naturally reacting to his pupil nearly falling from his position. "Correct." Genesis praised Noto with a fanfare of claps before settling back into his position. "But before you pick it up, let's try something else." Genesis winked. Now that he had gauged his pupil's skill in his ability to focus the Force, he wanted to see if he could use the Force in application. Plus, for Noto, he wondered if this would be more exciting than to simply pick it up and eat it. For some, it may be menial and a waste of time, but even the smallest tasks aid in mastering the overall concept. Genesis motioned for Noto to return to his previous position and close his eyes once again. "Now that you know how to focus your mind in the Force, let's try applying it to a task." Genesis spoke, his tone mellow and resolved. "Your mind was able to discern the type of nut within the Chokolate using the Force, but did you notice how the Force flowed through it? Follow that course and see if you can call the candy to you using only your mind within the Force." With that said, Genesis watched attentively.

Genesis simply smiled and acknowledged Noto's apology, waving it off for the moment to let his pupil focus on the task at hand. Whether or not Noto found himself easily distracted was of little consequences, especially in the presence of Genesis. He wanted the child to be himself and only himself, to allow himself to focus and hone himself through the training without faltering from his own thoughts and processes. This wasn't indoctrination. This was growth through trust and understanding. Just as Genesis himself had been. "Is it a nut?" Genesis questioned behind a closed eye, his attention turned toward Noto's presence and intuition rather than the Chokolate its self, his mind flowing upon the Force that flowed within Noto. "Or was it processed along side nuts? It's important to be exact, to focus on what you see rather than think." Genesis intent was just what it seemed. He wanted to test Noto. He knew he was sensitive and could feel the Force, but he wanted to find out exactly how deep the child could delve within it's flow. With the war coming to Bothawui soon, he didn't have the time he wanted to in order to properly train the young Krevaaki, but perhaps he could teach him enough to survive. It was a familiar feeling he had in his own training, but back then, he was where Noto sat. "To think leaves open too many variables, like giving a friend this bar without knowledge of his allergy to nuts." Genesis continued, his tone soft and friendly despite the strict wording. "This is why the focus has to be exact. You have to know with certainty, granting you the ability to give the right dosage of medicine when the reaction begins to attack him." Genesis smiled.

Genesis let his head and form fall backwards in a fit of laughter at his Padawan, a moment of serious study turning quickly into a moment of relief, a moment that both likely needed to break the mold that the Commander had placed them in. And indeed, Genesis laughed and laughed over the course of the moment until his ribs hurt with strain and his eye cried with tears as he laid there staring toward the ceiling in bliss. Despite the upcoming war, Noto's innocence was enjoyable. As he calmed himself down, Genesis wiped his eye and sat upward. "Thank you for that Noto. I needed it." Genesis spoke through a lessening chuckle without very much explanation behind his abrupt fit. "To be honest, I may be half human, but Miralukians are human in essence. And I've never really had Chokolate myself. I grew up an orphan, so such luxuries weren't common. We were lucky if we were able to eat every day." Realizing he was bringing the mood back down, Genesis quickly changed the subject. "You can have it, if you want. But first we need to focus on your training. Attempt to calm your mind against it's distraction, your desire to have it, and see if you can feel the Force that flows through it. Resist your urge to eat it and discover what it is made of and the mixture of it's ingredients. Tell me if you can." Genesis spoke with a smile, his gaze focused on Noto. "Do this, and you can try it for yourself."

Genesis smiles at his pupil's analogy, bringing his hand back to the forefront and settling back into his cross legged position. "One could use that analogy if they wished. There are many analogies such as that in nature. You could view the Force as a healthy ocean, crisp and full of life. But I would consider the Darkside like that of red tides, pollution of Chaos that causes an unbalance that inevitably corrupts everything it touches. Chaos only breeds the Darkside, bringing our hearts out of Balance and shifting to our darker nature as sapiens. Endure enough darkness, and you will be consumed by it." Shifting his position to keep the flow of the blood in legs flowing, Genesis regards his last questions. "This is why the Jedi exist. We fight the Darkside and it's corruption in those who would use it to create more Chaos. Not just with our Blades or our fists, but with our learning and understanding. We come to know the Force and those who corrupt it, to see the reasoning in the chaos. And if there's no other alternative, uproot the chaos before it spreads. To use one's blade to end the corruption of Chaos should always be the last choice. This is why I do not carry nor weild one." "Coruscant was one such example. It took one weilding the Darkside to set the world on fire, and in the midst of the chaos that followed in the hearts of those that were there, it's corruption spread like the flames of the world's breaking crust and magma. Fear became panic and panic became desperation. And in their desperation, friends became enemies, neighbors became obstacles to overcome, and survival was the only goal. A subtle stroke of the canvas can turn simple people into ravenous creatures. And in that, the Darkside wins, if not for those of us who stand against it. I was there, as a Padawan. And it was a terrible truth to witness." Genesis reaches out into the Force and places a small bar of chocolate that laid upon his pillow onto the floor before Noto. "This isn't to eat, yet. Attempt to calm your mind against it's distraction, your desire to have it, and see if you can feel the Force that flows through it. Resist your urge to eat it and discover what it is made of and the mixture of it's ingredients. Tell me if you can."

Genesis pulled his legs up onto the bed and crossed them as he listened to his pupil speak, an ever present smile upon his face as he enjoyed the youthful persona of such a youngling express himself and his belief in the Force, noticing the emotions and duress of the child as he focused upon his words and struggled with his speech. To see the Force through innocent eyes was very pleasing and to see the ripples of such through his Miralukian heritage was mesmerizing. To put it into words, it was like seeing life blossom upon barren soil, and smelling the pollen as it flowed in the breeze. When Noto had finished, Genesis nodded his head. "You are academically correct... Partially." Genesis spoke, his words slightly teasing as he winked. "The Force, as a whole, is a symbiosis of both the Living Force, which is the Life Force of all living things, and of the Cosmic Force, which binds the Life Force of all living things to one another through small cells known as Midi-Chlorians." "These simplistic and small cells are what live and reside within each of us, and for those of us who are sensitive to their presence, can perceive their messages, which we Jedi call the Will of the Force. As such, this is why we Jedi do not believe in coincidences, because we know that everything happens for a reason and that life is preordained. To follow the Will of the Force is to follow the will of nature and accept that the Force's will is beyond our true comprehension as well as our control and upon death, those very same cells resend themselves back into the Living Force, therefore growing the Force as a whole and keeping the flow of Life in balance." "It is a simple symbiosis." Genesis spoke with a humble chuckle. "Through the Living Force, we live. And through the Cosmic Force, we grow as does the Living Force, and in return, our life force becomes one with the Force, ensuring that the Circle of Life continues." Genesis face turns slightly stern as he begins to bring up the opposing subject, hinting at his own brush with it. "But there are those out there who fight against the nature of the Force, whether it be against the natural order, misguided attempts to change their fate, or simply for power. These are those we consider the Darkside. Through their ill intent and misguided corruption, the Force becomes wounded and twisted, leaving behind unnatural festering tears between the symbiosis of the Living and Cosmic Forces. And if the wound is large enough, it will begin to affect the very fabric of nature within and around it, creating a nexus of the Darkside." "The Darkside is corrupting." Genesis speaks plainly, his gaze softening as his eye drifts off to a memory where he claimed the life of a Kath Hound and her pups as well in a fit of anger. "It can start with good intentions or bad, but develops like an addiction, some to the point where redemption is impossible. The more you draw upon it, allow yourself to know it's touch, the harder it is to find your way back into the Light. As Jedi, we must understand this truth as well. We call the Sith our enemies because of their misguiding teachings, but the truth is that they're simply fallen from the Light or never knew it. It's their ideology that is the true enemy, not the sentient themselves. I tell you this truth because it will paint the picture more clearly once you encounter one." "The Darkside corrupts the Circle of Life, deafens one to the voice of the Midi-Chlorians and the Will of the Force, and wounds the Life Force of the user. So, no, they aren't our enemy. They're simply blind to their fate, blinded by fear, rage, selfishness, and they only become more lost to it the more they fall to it's allure and inevitably destroy themselves completely. So you see, it's their corruption of the Force that they wield and the wounds they incur upon the Force its self that is the true enemy. Corruption only breeds more corruption. And with enough concentrated corruption, life becomes corrupted or even destroyed. That is the truth we all must understand." "Don't get me wrong, we Jedi aren't infallible as some like to think." Genesis speaks with a chuckle, attempting to lighten the serious moment. "As none of us are truly perfect. And we are tested consistently, the allure of the Darkside a subtle thing. It takes many years to Master ourselves and even then, we aren't impervious. Thousands of years and countless wars have taught us this lesson very thoroughly. But if we don't stand against the growing corruption, then the symbiosis and the Force will end and Life will be born from Chaos instead." Genesis raised his hand to the back of his head with an embarrassed smile, ruffling the fluff of his long red hair. "Forgive me. Sometimes I ramble like a senile old man. You haven't fallen asleep on me, have you?"

Noto Saar... Genesis devoted the name to memory as he stood up and patted the child upon his head. It was still hard to believe that just a few days ago, he was raised to the rank of Knight. And now he had his first Padawan. His gaze didn't leave Noto's form, a smile on his face as he listened to the child's words, memories of his own childhood coming forth like waves. It seemed an eternity ago, and yet, not so far off in some aspects. Now he was a man in his twenties, but Dantooine was simply a yesterday in his mind. And the child he saw before him, although his life differed, resembled his own. Genesis was orphaned as a child a few years younger than Noto, his parents killed by Kath Hounds on the plains of his homeworld. Because of this, Genesis was forced to resort to scavenge to survive, to steal to eat. But he could not harm another. Could not think of ending a life even for the sake of his own. At least, not until Katarr. Katarr had been an eye opener, to see the death of Life, to walk amongst the lifeless colonies and see them suspended in their last moment of breath. That was the truth of the Darkside and why it had to be fought, even if it meant killing the fallen. But only as a last resort. Looking at Noto, and hearing his words, he hoped he could prevent the child from ever having to. But on the off chance he would be forced to... "All I ask is that you stay true to yourself, Noto Saar. Become the Jedi that you see yourself as." Genesis spoke, letting his voice break the thoughts of the looming war clear from his mind. "And please, it's Genesis. Come. It's time I check us into our room." As the two departed the Starport, Genesis made sure he slowed his stride for Noto to keep up. He typically walked with his arms up and tucked behind his head as he looked up toward the sky, new worlds a pleasure he had gotten accustomed to through his own Padawanship. But he never dropped his senses down, even on Nar Shadaa, a defensive measure that he had held long before meeting Armiena. Albiet, back then, he relied heavily on his Force Sight. Now, he could feel the Force and the movements of it's current. After checking in, having to upgrade their room to two beds, and reviewing the communication from Armiena privately, Genesis plopped down on the wooden bed atop a feathered mattress and turned back to Noto with a somewhat higher mood. "Tell me what you know of the Force and of the Jedi. Let me assess your knowledge and see where it is best we begin. With war coming to Bothawui, we have very little time to to prepare ourselves."

Silence hung in the air as Genesis' gaze remained upon Commander Godfrey, his worry having said too much or went too far with his comments weighing down in him in the moment. But both sides can sit here all day and blame the other for whatever reason. Genesis was the one who showed up at the behest of his former Master, Grandmaster Draygo-Darkfire, an extended olive branch from the Jedi to the Imperial Remnant of the Rebel Alliance. They all knew too well what would happen to Bothawui should the Sith grasp a win here. So the silence that lingered was no more than bitter grudges. "When you are ready to speak more on the defenses of Bothawui," Genesis spoke, finally breaking the insatiable silence. "I'm staying at a local inn not too far from the Starport. You can find me there." With a formal bow, Genesis's hand reached from the child's head and ushered to his back as he motioned for their departure. As soon as they cleared the corridor, Genesis turned his voice to Noto. "He is right. His knowledge and experience far outweighs my own despite what Ive witnessed. But with that knowledge and experience comes stubbornness and the inability to see it from any side but his own." As the two neared where they originally met, Genesis stopped and knelt down to meet the child's own eye level. "So you came in search of the Jedi, have you? Timing isn't perfect, but the Force has a way of placing you where you need to be. My first mission as a Padawan was Coruscant, and well, I wasn't exactly ready for it. The dream of being a Jedi and actually being one are two totally different realities. Are you sure this is the Life you wish to have thrust upon you?" A chirp resounded from his satchel, signalling a received communication, but his focus remained on Noto. "If so, then I, Jedi Knight Genesis Stormhelm, would like to offer you the position of my Padawan, my first."

Godfrey's words stung in their bitter truth as Genesis sat in silence. He had hoped the grudges of the past had found renewed strength in the bonds of brotherhood, but there was obviously still those who harbored ill feelings toward the previous Order he had walked into as a Hopeful. Still, he was the next generation. He was the start of a new era of the Jedi. And he was former Padawan of Grandmaster Armiena Draygo. If these bonds were to be strengthened, it would be those like him who reforged them. "You're right. It did nearly destroy the Order." Genesis spoke through a choke as he fought back against the screams he has never forgotten. "And it probably should have." Genesis sat in sorrow as he let those words hang in the air, the truthful reality of the Order that was before. "I was there, you know, at Triple Zero. I was there when the Masters gathered together and melded their powers in an unified attempt to reverse Hesperidium. And I gave my all to aid them." "I was unaware the others had gone to Onderon at that time, but that's what left us in a weakened state when Hesperidium was thrown into Coruscant. So I know the travesties of acting too hastely as much as too late." Genesis turned his gaze to Godfrey with a stern eye that was filled with tears. "Needless to say, I was there when chaos erupted, when criminals and citizens became frantic in the aftermath and fought against CorSec with the sheer instinct of survival, sentience replaced with beastiality. And I could easily ask where Raven and her Imperial Remnant was during those two occasions when their allies needed them? But I won't. The blame game is pointless." Wiping his eye with his gloved hand, Genesis' chuckled past the grief. Perhaps I am too young to understand, or perhaps you are too old to see it any other way. But hope, whether it be in just or in ignorance, is a good thing. Hope is the only thing that keeps our spirits from defeat. It keeps us moving forward. Placing his hand on Noto's head and attempting to pour a sense of calm into his mind with the Force, Genesis turned his smile to Noto. "Let us prepare for Bothawui's defence."

"Commander!" Genesis spoke up with harsh but a respectful tone. "Need I remind you that he is but a child? It may not be an excuse for some, but for most, it is a precious gift to never have known war and can look at the Galaxy with an idealistic gaze and a hopeful future. There is no need to berate nor belittle him for it. In truth, the Galaxy needs more like minded." Genesis shook his head. He knew war. He knew the consequences of the Sith. He was there at Coruscant. He helped aid in diverting Hesperidium as best as the Order could under Grandmaster Trevellian. He was there at Corellia when his Master fought the Dark Lord and found betrayal at the hands of Kakuto Ryu. And he nearly lost his life at Chandrila during a time of peace at the hands of a Mandalorian. And it drove him away from the Order into self exile. He had to learn what war was before he could ever understand it, and the same would be needed for Noto. "Whether it be a Democracy or a Republic, a government is built in times of peace, not war. It's built on morals, rights, and freedom. But most importantly, it's built on Order." Genesis turned his attention to Noto, his stern face from before turning to a sincere and understanding one. "But in war, there is no Order. Morals, rights, freedoms, are all chiseled away bit by bit in the hearts of the people. And all that remains is chaos." Genesis lays a gentle hand on Noto's head and turns it to the holoscreen of Naboo with sadness in his eyes as he shows the boy the burning world. "It becomes a race for survival, consumed by greed and self serving agendas, and the people become lost in despair and poverty as their Leaders turn their backs to save their own hides. And in the end, it falls. Everything falls, consumed by the darkened hearts it leaves in its wake." Genesis turns the boys head back to face his own as he drops to one knee and looks the child in his eyes past the chitlin plates. "But there is always hope. As long as there is life, that will to live, free of oppression and the urge to protect, there will always be hope. A single spark of hope can spread like wildfire." Genesis turns his gaze upward to Commander Godfrey as he continues to talk to Noto. "It takes a single heart filled with hope to ignite a rebellion."

An encrypted comm chirped in the communication device on@ObliviousKnight's hip. Standing before Armiena was the visage of her former Apprentice, a somber look upon his face as he realized the dire facts. With a sigh, he spoke. "Grandmaster. I was unable to make contact with your contact, but was brought up to speed by Commander Godfrey d'Outremer. Latest Intel shows that these Sith have indeed attacked Naboo just as you suspected and the planet is lost. Bothawui is our last line of defense for Nar Shadaa and Corellia. He sighed. "Armiena. I hope this reaches you in well health. I've already met a potential student, but with this war brewing, I'm unsure as to whether I should. He's so young, no older than a youngling. But his spirits are high and he's so inquisitive, nothing like me. I know your faith in me is high, but I just hope that I'm ready when the time comes to truly step into these shoes of a Jedi Knight." Genesis forces a smile despite his doubts in himself. "May the Force be with us all." WIth that, the comm cut out.