Lehon - Jedi Temple

[Ads-Gop Flif]

"I will be open to instructing you more in a one on one scenario, teaching you special ops and other abilities the Jedi Order, the Mandalorians and others had shown me that led me to where I am today."

 

Ads couldn't help but smile and give a quick nod, giving a wordless "all right!" in response to Joreel's offer. When he heard what came next, his day only got better.

 

Finally, he thought, I won't have to wait for and frozen, catatonic masters to train me. I'll be a knight, and then I'll get to receive even more training. Sounds awesome.

 

"Sounds awesome!" he vocalized, realizing that it wouldn't really do any good for him to continue standing silently. When they were dismissed, he made his way back to his quarters and watched holovids until he simply couldn't keep his eyes open anymore and he drifted off to reenergize over a very restful night of sleep.

[Adrian Makaryk]

Adrian Makaryk had a bad feeling. A very bad feeling.

 

It wasn't just that Adrian very much doubted Joreel's denial concerning Halo--though Adrian's eyes drifted to follow her as she found a tree to seemingly shelter her from the storm of feelings, accusations, and denials swirling about her. Though the elder padawan quite frankly had no clue how telepathy worked, nor how to sense its presence, he ultimately deferred to the victim concerning what thoughts she did and did not 'release' through this 'telepathy.' But Halo, having withdrawn to that tree, seemed too embarrassed by the spectacle for Adrian to press the matter further at this time--he could wait for the initial passions of the moment to cool down before asking Halo if Joreel's blame-the-victim denial had any merit whatsoever.

 

No, as troubling as that whole row might be, that wasn't it. That wasn't the source of the bad feeling.

 

Perhaps the other two students, having been here a while, were ready for what Joreel proposed. But Adrian had only arrived pretty kriffin' close to yesterday. Having come from a profession that required years of training--even nurses required well over a year with overloads and the barest of curriculums--Adrian Makaryk found the notion that he might be fully trained as a Jedi during a quick field trip around the galaxy quite disturbing. Earlier, Joreel had mentioned the Jedi usually tried to take candidates and train them starting in childhood, before they could develop such preconceived notions of what Jedi training should be like or how extensive it should be. However, Adrian couldn't presently know that millenia of Jedi training history generally gave basis to his concern.

 

The tall padawan looked quizzically at his master, mouth agape at the audacious shortcut master had proposed. "You would reduce the entirety of Jedi training to a short field trip? Jedi training should be the same duration as a vacation, really? I certainly did not learn medicine in a week, and even nurses take well over a year to train..."

 

...even by Onderon's admittedly abbreviated standards, the eldest padawan left unsaid. This particular padawan would not suffer the rushed training that he thought he was going to get. Not at the expense of finely practiced and honed mastery of whatever he needed to learn. No, not at all.

[Ads-Gop Flif]

And then Ads continued to sleep.

[Padme]

Upon hearing her master's final instructions, Haloburner simply collected her belongings and left. She wanted to say more, but decided against. Knight Joreel knew best, and if he felt the two day training would merely suffice then so be it. Shortly after reaching her chamber, she attempted to read her favorite holobook, but then sleep beckoned her.....

[Ary the Grey]

A small yet powerful ripple of the Force was the only indication to anyone nearby that the clone in the vat had become active. It had been a long time since Aryian had been able to take physical form again, at least as a whole, the way he was meant to be. The Sith had torn him in half, had used and abused his darker side to sow death and destruction, and finally the Jedi were able to put a stop to it.

 

As the naked man emerged from the cloning vat, dripping with Kolto, he paused. It felt good. Good to be back, good to draw breath once again. Memories swirled in his head like a violent hurricane of knowledge, some meant to be known, some never meant to be revealed. But Aryian brushed them aside. He knew what he knew, what was important to know, and nevermore would he seek that knowledge again. It was that knowledge that caused the opportunity the Sith took advantage of, it was his inability to let go of the search for it that had caused the deaths of thousands, if not millions. Now more than ever he felt like another leaf in the breeze, like he belonged. Despite his achievements, his power and accomplishments as a Jedi Master, he was little more than dust in the wind. And though it was a sad thought, he knew that's how it was, that's what was meant to be, and because of that he was satisfied.

 

He took some robes from a nearby locker and got dressed. Funny how a little thing such as clothing himself could have brought the smallest smirk to his face, but the rich irony didn't escape him. He didn't look for lightsabers, or weapons, or any other items that might be lying around for the Jedi to take advantage of once they had cloned and came back from the grave, he didn't have need for anything else but to look civil.

 

Quietly he left the medical facility, rubbing some of the leftover Kolto fluids out of his hair. It took a little time to orient himself, as this temple hadn't been around the last time he'd been alive, and he had to use a map from a nearby terminal to find his way to the hangar as well as send a short comm message redirected through public channels. The nighttime suited him well, as there were few people walking the halls, fewer people to question who he was or recognize him. From the few memories he retained from his other half, he was glad Ares hadn't made his identity too terribly public.

 

As he reached the hangar, he sat down on a cargo crate, waiting. There was only a skeleton crew on duty, and one of the techs who was moving various parts around the hangar stopped, leaning on a nearby wall and sparking up a conversation.

 

"Long night, huh?"

 

Aryian grinned slightly, not making eye contact, just staring out into the night through the open hangar.

 

"Huh. You have no idea."

 

"That bad?"

 

"No, not bad...not really. It's just been a long time since I enjoyed a nice cool night."

 

"Sith have you guys on your toes more and more lately, I get it. You guys deserve a little R&R what with gallivanting around the galaxy trying to stop slavery and terrorism and whatnot."

 

"You could say that."

 

Aryian turned, arms still folded across his chest, giving the young man a once over.

 

"You're new around here, aren't you?"

 

"Uhh...yes...yes sir, I am. I didn't mean any disrespect."

 

"Relax, son. Just making an observation. I know this is a quasi-military environment, but I've never been one for the 'yes sir' treatment."

 

"Heh...alright then. Yeah, I'm new here, just signed up last spring. I'm not really sensitive enough to begin training, but I'm good with my hands. My sister joined up two years ago, she's an adept on one of the other temples hoping to be accepted for training soon, but her midichlorian count is, umm, kind of low. The're not much hope to hang onto, but she enjoys working with the Jedi anyways."

 

"Despite the danger."

 

"Uhh...yeah."

 

"Being a Jedi, or even being affiliated with them in these times, can be a dangerous thing. Don't discount what you or she does, it's all important as well. The Jedi stay on the front lines because of people like you and your sister."

 

"Ah. Well, uhh...thanks, I guess. Never really thought of it that way."

 

"Anytime. A lot of people forget that Jedi are just regular people as well, under their training and Force abilities, and we make regular choices and react regularly just like everyone else. It might seem like the Force sensitives in the galaxy were chosen by a higher power for some higher purpose, but there is a burden that comes with all the benefits. The reality is we're not so special."

 

"Are...are you a Master or something? I've never really heard any Jedi say stuff like that before."

 

"I used to be."

 

Aryian paused, realizing fully what that meant. Someone doesn't simply stop being a Jedi Master, and there were bound to be a million questions in the young man's head as to what he meant. But before he could ask them, Aryian continued.

 

"The truth of the matter is, I simply learned to see the Force differently than most Jedi. I came to understand who I am and who I was meant to be. You could say I was really lucky, as most Jedi never see beyond the tip of their own lightsaber, so muddled in the Code and the Order that they forget what it means to be themselves and simply live out their lives in blind duty. I'm not suggesting the Sith are any better, most of them can't see past their own lust for power and passion. There's a bigger picture out there, and I'm one of the fortunate few to have seen a larger portion of it, and more importantly, my place in it."

 

"Wow. That's pretty deep stuff. You really are...well...were a Master, huh."

 

Aryian chuckled, remembering how he was at the young man's age.

 

"Yeah. Yeah, I was."

 

"Sooo...if you're not a Master anymore...then what are you?"

 

"That's a good question."

 

Aryian sighed, turning back to the open hangar, letting the slow, cool night breeze wash over his face.

 

"That's a good question indeed."

 

The young man seemed to take the hint, and stood back up, grabbing his hovercart.

 

"Well, I'd better be getting back to work. I don't need the tech chief yelling at me again for taking too long of a break."

 

"What's your name, son?"

 

"Aryian. Aryian Turgan."

 

"That's...an interesting name. Don't hear it that often."

 

"Yeah, my mom named me after some famous Jedi who saved our apartment building on Coruscant from a Sith attack."

 

"Huh. Well...I'll let you get back to work. Don't mind me, I'm just waiting on a ship."

 

"Um, alright. You have a good one."

 

"You too."

 

The young man walked off, leaving Aryian sitting in silence on his cargo crate. Small galaxy, indeed.

 

----------------------------------------------------------Edit, about an hour later---------------------------------------------------

 

Some time later, the Blur popped out of hyperspace above Lehon, and began its descent. Immediately its IFF was identified as a Sith ship and an escort was scrambled to meet it and escort it. Some explanation later, Aryian was allowed to board his vessel and leave, after confirming that both he and his ship were disarmed. As soon as was feasible, Aryian punched in the coordinates for Dac, and left the system.

[Joreel Ordo]

"Medicine requires a stockpile of knowledge to deal with individual circumstances. The Force, Jedi training is a different kind of training. It is instinctual, it is a power and knowledge and skill-set already within you that must be unlocked. Once it is, then you will be ready to move forward exploring all the possibilities the Force presents to you." the Jedi Knight began toward his eldest pupil as the other two did as he instructed and left to rest before their trip.

 

"Ilum is not a place for a vacation either Adrian, it is one of the harshest environments known in the galaxy, with the best crystals for building lightsabers and other weapons in the galaxy. Surviving here would be the hardest part and it will require everything I have taught you and more to even travel to the location for these crystals. This is going to be more testing than any Warzone on Onderon ever was, and I wouldn't take you there unless I thought you were ready."

 

The Jedi Knight then bowed hurriedly to his padawan and departed from him, heading down to the enclave and into his room where he prepared for the arduous journey ahead of them all.

[Ads-Gop Flif]

When it was morning, Ads woke up and got ready for the day ahead. He got dressed, ate breakfast, and then went to wherever the padawans and Joreel were meeting. Luckily, he went to the correct place, because he did not know where to go because he hadn't been told. To be honest, Ads had probably actually slept for too long, because he slept for a really long time. But luckily, with all of the advances that had been made in the last 25,000 years since FTL travel was pioneered and the Republic was started, that didn't matter at all because even sleep wasn't necessary because I mean, come on, they'd had FTL travel for 25 millennia, there's no way they hadn't figured out some sort of drug or something that rendered sleep unnecessary. But everybody still did it because, come on again, life would drag on for waaaay too long without spending a third of your life asleep. Especially given all of the advances in medicine in the previous thousands upon thousands of years, because lifespans must have been increased by a bunch. So, yeah.

[Adrian Makaryk]

No. Just no. There was no point in arguing with this man.

 

Even if everything that Joreel Ordo said held true, and Jedi training consisted merely of unlocking some innate potential that the doctor-cum-padawan had yet to comprehend, Adrian Makaryk would find that his Force sensitivity would not refine to passable standards of Jedi training in a day, or a week, or a month. For years had the Force remained silent, creeping into the doctor's fingertips only at the utmost end of need, quietly acting as a medicine of last resort when all other medicine had run out, when the last respirator gave out, when all other forms of medicine should fail--though the Force had acted on its own, independent of its wielder's knowledge, only unwittingly shaped by his will. For some years had the padawan quietly and unknowingly shaped and melded his connection to the Force, and after he had arrived, crumpled and collapsed upon the Jedi Temple's spaceport floor, too exhausted to pass through its door--when his own need was dire--only then did he consciously unlock the Force's potential, after he had awoken. The Jedi had seen this.

 

The young doctor was entirely aware that this instilled an unrealistic expectation within his master. He had shown some seemingly innate ability to recover his metabolism from the ravages of starvation, to heal himself, yes. He'd even manage to chuck a rock across a considerable distance. But though the padawan had only unlocked the Force a couple of days ago, he had used it, thereby forging and shaping his connection to it, long before. That connection had been cast into the mould of a surgeon long ago--even his display of telekinesis was aided greatly by his attunement to the energy found within natural biorhythms, even as he used it to heave an abiotic object. His Force affinity already had a specialty, of sorts. That was why, as Joreel had said earlier, Jedi preferred to start training their students near the end of infancy.

 

If the Jedi simply ran around the galaxy healing people, then yes. Joreel would be correct, and the doctor's training could be accordingly accelerated as his master seemed to think proper. But Adrian Makaryk knew in his heart that was not the end of what he would be called upon to do. The Jedi existed for more than simply mending the broken; they existed for defense, that lives might not be broken in the first place. Yes, yes, as Joreel had seized upon, the surgeon had performed his early work dodging blaster bolts during a civil war. But even then, Adrian had done very little fighting. There were few who dared to attack a doctor, when they might be on the receiving end of said doctor's medical care days later. Adrian had avoided the conflict for which he was not skilled by avoiding the taking of sides. He triaged by medical need, not by allegiance. Now, on the eve of his Jedi training, and with a master that had spent his own life as a warrior, Adrian knew he was set up to fail. His master had extrapolated his medical proficiency, and use of the Force therein, to combat, where the padawan still required much training. From the beginning. Not this "power and knowledge and skillset already within" him, but actual combat technique, which still must be taught, that he may learn to defend those who could not defend themselves as a Jedi.

 

And yet, Joreel cut the conversation short and quickly departed, having not fully fleshed out his student's objection. The student might have considered that a metaphor for the rushed training he felt about to receive, on account of such master's lopsided and misinformed expectations.

 

But Adrian perceived that there was little point in summoning the man back to argue with him. His master must be left to discover his own folly, when he would not allow it to be explained to him. Adrian--no, he was not ready. He knew this. And his master insisted upon throwing him into his trials before properly readying him.

 

As Joreel turned away, his six-and-a-half-foot padawan could do little more than shake his head and let out a sigh. Though he remembered that Joreel had also rubbed Halo the wrong way, too, having used some kind of mind-reading technique on her and then blaming it on her alleged profligate, more or less openly broadcasted emotions. Adrian had tried to stand up for her, but his effort had only served to embarrass her further (or so it seemed) so he desisted, resolving instead to inquire about it later, privately. Perhaps now was the time to do just that.

 

Thusly, Adrian Makaryk slowly wandered back to the Temple grounds, seeking Halo's room (and, as always it seemed, food). By the time he was able to sort through the various directories and find it, the gloaming had gradually dimmed the natural sunlight the Temple received through its various skylights and courtyards; orange hues cast upon the masonwork gradually faded as the sky grew darker shades of purple before finally giving way to the black of night. Adrian wandered about the halls, illuminated now by various combinations of torch or florescent lighting (depending, it seemed, on proximity to meditation rooms). By the time he finally did find Halo's room, he stood munching on a stick of nerf jerky, having spent at least three hours searching. Oh, dear, the man had been forced to skip dinner and make do with various forms of protein snacks instead!

 

But that could wait. For now, Adrian just wanted to make sure that Halo was alright after having been mentally intruded upon and then blamed for it. At her door he stood, wondering what that button next to it was for. The poor man had never seen nor heard of a doorbell, for such niceties were unheard of on Onderon, where doors were oft little more than slabs of cut wood and people announced their presence for free--by knocking.

 

Therefore, if Halo was there, she would hear three sharp knocks on her chamber door.

[Padme]

"We are going to be leaving Lehon soon and heading to a few planets for your trials to begin. I feel each of you have the necessary skills to get you through these trials aside two things. The ability to use the Force to make you more agile, as in jumping large distances with ease, and massive speed of movement. Then lightsaber combat. I feel we can accomplish both at the same time. But for tonight, rest, and in the morning we begin the last part of our training."

 

The words of her master hang deep inside her even while slumber overtook her. Unlike the rest, Haloburner had skipped supper, and went straight to her chamber. The events that transpired before fleeing the scene in as much hurry as she could, still weighed on her. Joreel had apologized, but Halo wasn’t keen that the man had an understanding of the ripple effects he’d caused. Unknowingly or not. The Naboo Jedi contemplated on speaking to her master right before resting, but decided against it- least she be viewed as concocting/inviting a scandalous deed.

 

Thus rest she took- with book in hand. Not too long thereafter Halo heard and sensed a presence. One akin to the elder Padawan’s Force signature. Merely moments later, she was awaken by a rather loud (almost thunderous) knock on her chamber door. Glad she hadn’t changed into her night attire; she pushed the book down, and went to the door- wondering who in the kraff that was. The chamber door does after all have a doorbell installed. A functioning one too!

 

Moments later, the young female Jedi opened the door only to discover the elder Padawan/doctor with enough nerf jerky to feed an a dozen people. Okay, perhaps not a dozen.

 

Does he ever not eat? Halo thought silently to herself.

 

“Next time use the doorbell. See-“ came Haloburner’s words while pointing to the door bell, and completely ignoring the strong meat odor permeating from Adrian’s stick of nerf jerky. “What part of the Galaxy do you hail from?” How can a doctor not know how to operate a simple necessity as a kreffin doorbell, Halo completed- this time in her head while heading back to put her shoes back on. Seconds later, she emerged out of her chamber, shut the door and then started walking down the hallway. An impromptu leisurely walk would follow. Not the set of instructions Knight Joreel had prescribed, Adrain would need to follow suit….

[Adrian Makaryk]

Halo answered the door, but she didn't even say hello--nor give Adrian the chance to say hello either! Adrian blinked in utter confusion as the young woman scolded him.

 

"Wha--wha--what's a doorbell!?" Adrian exclaimed, his eyes peering down at Halo before realizing she seemed to be pointing at something. His eyes drifted to the button-type object to which Halo seemed to be pointing. "Why, I've never seen nor heard of such a thing before! What does it do?"

 

Adrian's look of embarrassed shock belied his lack of exposure to the nicer amenities of the galaxy, even amenities considered basic by the civilized parts of the galaxy. It was true. He'd never encountered such a thing as a doorbell before. On his home planet, he'd been considered wealthy just to have refrigeration, and HoloNet access before war managed to cut the connection line in its indiscriminate destruction.

 

"I...uh..."

 

The man's brain seemed to freeze up for a minute, for he clearly hadn't expected a lecture on using something he had never known existed before. Had Haloburner asked him a question? It took his mind a moment to register that, let alone begin to articulate why he had come here.

 

"Umm..."

 

The man shook his head as Halo, who by now had started putting her shoes back on. As he'd never left his home before coming here to Lehon, he still remained ignorant of how much ignorance the answer to Halo's question might explain. "I'm from Onderon. I've never seen one of these so-called 'doorbells' before..."

 

This was all so kriffin' embarrassing. Right then, a reddish hue started to sprout and spread across his cheeks. He hadn't even arrived at the reasons he had come yet, and already Adrian Makaryk had begun to blush.

[Padme]

The young Jedi didn't utter a word, he simply walked- heading nowhere in particular. Haloburner assumed the elder Padawan was catching up to her. It wasn't until the man exclaimed "Wha--wha--what's a doorbell!?" that she turned to face him. "A door bell, is the oval thing on the chamber door. The thing I pointed to after I opened the door, Doctor Makaryk." Turning to resume her leisurely impromptu walk Haloburner would interject- "Onderon or not surely you've heard of a door bell," and then keep walking.

[Wookiee Jedi]

Carefully from a distance, a young Rodian Jedi Knight by the name of Koovo followed behind two padawans whom seemed to have a very awkward interaction around the quarters. Koovo watched the two as he followed after them, but spoke up with a louder voice designed to halt both of them.

 

"Excuse me young padawans, but what it the nature of your hurry?"

 

Koovo was interested in their interaction that they just held, but felt that they needed a quick lesson within the beauty of the Force. For even in the slow moments, the Force was present to hold a teaching moment.

[Adrian Makaryk]

"Halo--"

 

The young woman continued to walk down the hall, away from poor Adrian, who for the moment continued to stand there, muddled in his confusion. Halo still had not bothered to explain what a doorbell was for, what it did, instead seemingly preferring to leave the elder padawan confused and embarrassed as she made certain unwarranted assumptions about the experiences of others. The doctor hadn't been lying. This was, in fact, his first-ever encounter with a doorbell.

 

About this time, a Rodian whom Adrian had never seen before intervened. Adrian deduced from the lightsaber hanging from his belt (he had seen one of those before, clipped to Joreel's belt, though he had yet to see one activated), as well as the Rodian's ease of access to the area, that he must be another Jedi, even though the Rodian didn't really bother to identify himself. Adrian stopped, not that he had gone very far in the first place. Unlike Halo, who seemed to be running away from the poor confused man.

 

"Uhh--I'm not in a hurry," Adrian managed to stammer. "Not at all!"

 

But with Halo by now several fathoms away from him, and still no proper explanation of a doorbell's purpose, nor even a certainty of whether Halo would return to answer the newcomer, Adrian had but one choice to resolve his state of utter confusion. At least, his state of confusion regarding the button-like object that awaited a few feet away from him. His confusion regarding Halo's antics would remain--even though he had originally come to see if she was alright after the day's earlier events.

 

If Halo would not explain what a doorbell was for, Adrian must find out for himself.

 

Sheepishly, and with a secretly-burning desire to burrow underneath the stone floor like a mole, Adrian walked the few steps back to the door whence he had knocked, and pressed the button-like object adjacent to it. A sound, not quite as rousing as a knock, but nonetheless sufficient to attract attention, arose therefrom. So that was what a doorbell was for--at last, Adrian's confusion over the button-like object mounted next to the door dissipated.

 

However, his embarrassment over the matter, and his confusion regarding Halo's antics, remained.

[Guest]

Koovo just simply watched as the young man stammered over his words to explain that he was not in a hurry and then moved over to push a doorbell upon a wall. With a grin, one that might not even be picked up on by the young man, the Rodian moved forward towards him, allowing for the second one, the girl, to walk off into the distance.

 

"I am Koovo, one of the Jedi trainers here at this facility, appointed by both Grandmaster Darex and Grandmaster Kirlocca. You seemed to be a bit on the lost side. Maybe I could help you with something?"

[Adrian Makaryk]

"Well, uh..."

 

The explanation for recent events actually seemed quite simple. If embarrassing. But it appeared Adrian Makaryk would not have the chance to have the discussion he had intended to have with the young woman. Not this day. Instead, he found himself answering someone completely new, someone he had never seen before.

 

"I came here with the intention of talking with Halo about something another instructor did earlier in the day," Adrian explained, after taking a moment to gather his nerves, yet not wishing to reveal too much for concern of Halo's privacy. "I knocked, and she responded by yelling at me to use the doorbell and walking off. But I'm from a planet that doesn't have doorbells. I'd never heard of, nor seen one, before this night. On Onderon, you see, no one can afford things like doorbells! Except maybe the Mandalorians who run the place, but they would probably rather spend the credits on various armaments. So we just knock. Knuckles are free."

 

Silently, Adrian hoped Halo heard that, from all the way down the hall. Because someone owed an apology for embarrassing the poor Jedi student...

[Padme]

She didn’t miss him. No. Lighterre watched – through her peripheral vision- as a Rodian Jedi Knight approached the pair. However she chose to look the other way on account of fearing that the man was sent by her master. Knight Joreel did after all instruct his Padawans, including the young female, to eat dinner, rest, and meet him the following day. Clearly Haloburner (and it appeared the elder Padawan as well) chose to do otherwise. Chuckling, Lighterre watched as the Doctor attempted to use a door bell. ‘ahh if only he’d done that in lieu of knocking on my chamber door’ she thought, quietly to herself.

 

Now levitating –albeit cautiously- the teen Jedi would slowly land closer to the three men. Lighterre would pause- until such time as she felt the group were ready for her to give her account. Shortly after landing, the elder Padawan gave a telling of his account, Halo closed in on them- though she was careful to leave ample room- and then uttered: "Pardon me, Knight-" she paused for a second. The second man had had introduced himself as Koovo, but Haloburner was not quite certain on the proper name to ascribe the Rodian, well save ‘Knight.’

 

Continuing, she added “… I had assumed Knight Joreel had sent you to fetch me. You see, I am technically supposed to be, however as you can clearly see, slumber is far from me. Forgive me-” Halo added completely forgetting her manners. With a slight bow, she would turn to face both men- though careful to bow slightly lower at Rodian Jedi Knight. Seconds later, she straightened her shoulders while simultaneously completing her account. “…So yah, the name is Haloburner, but you can call me Halo. the Doctor-” she paused to point to the elder Padawan, as though he was some sort of a prize. “…Yes, the Doctor… Well we were just having a leisurely walk/conversation. That’s my story … Pleasure to meet your acquaintance.”

 

The teenage girl was quite certain she’d uttered one too many words. The sheer sense of awkwardness raging in her mind could match her red roots! With a sly but yet somewhat sincere look, she smiled at the three men while awkwardly awaiting the Rodian Jedi Knight’s response while still yet pondering on the elder Padawan's account from moments ago. Random thoughts about the Doctor also crossed Halo's mind 'Kriffin doorbell.,,, Oh dear, the man must be at least a century behind....Lost in primitive time- of sorts.'

[Guest]

Koovo took a step forward to acknowledge the young girl whom addressed herself as Haloburner. She then in turn addressed the other as the Doctor. Whatever that meant. But now he couldn't help but noticed that neither really addressed his question. Halo came close, but she didn't really answer his question either. Once it was clear that all of them settled down, he spoke up with a hint of amusement.

 

"I'm glad to meet all of you, but you haven't really answered my question young ones? What can I do to help?"

 

In his mind, Koovo already thought of a few ways to get them all to know each other better.

[Ads-Gop Flif]

While, Ads was asleep, had this totally awesome dream where he was doing something...something really cool, but what was it? He'd never remember after he woke up. How sad was that? Especially because he hadn't been dreaming. His mind had actually entered a different dimension and was appointed King of Everyone because everyone loved him because he could do awesome things and was the coolest and best-looking and most-liked person there. It was a shame that he would never remember his dream because it was all that ever existed of a separate universe. And it all actually happened.

 

Probably.

[Adrian Makaryk]

The Rodian seemed...a bit off. As in, slightly annoyed. No one had really answered his question, but when he repeated it for emphasis, Adrian's mind backtracked to what the newcomer had said a moment ago. The doctor's thoughts immediately fixated on one word.

 

"Darex?"

 

Yes, yes, the Rodian had said that Darex had sent him here, had he not?

 

The One Word immediately shifted the doctor's demeanor. Whatever embarrassment the doctor had exuded in the moment before immediately faded away. Adrian's posture grew more rigid, and he immediately fell quiet as his mind conjured up uncomfortable memories of his own failings--and those of the Grandmaster. But these were no mere personality foibles--like Halo, this Darex had made certain unwarranted assumptions, the consequences of which were far more severe than mere confusion over doorbells. When the doctor did finally speak again, his voice was firmer. Much firmer.

 

"Halo is not the only Jedi to make erroneous assumptions about that which I may or may not have."

 

In Halo's case, that referred to the doctor's experiences; namely she had assumed that he would have a passing familiarity with doorbells, which he had not. In the case of Darex, about which the Rodian had unwittingly reminded him, the assumption referred to a baseline standard of material wealth, whereby everyone would have the ability to send a message halfway across the galaxy. Darex had handed Adrian a comm frequency to contact him, little realizing Adrian lacked the resources, considered the most basic in the civilized galaxy, to make use of it. The consequences of such ignorance eventually assured Adrian had to be hospitalized himself upon arrival at Lehon. However, out of respect for the Jedi, Adrian had thus far refrained from bringing the matter up publicly.

 

The Rodian had been hoping to use the confusion as a teachable moment to both padawans, and even though Adrian lacked the skill or training to sense as such, through happy coincidence of the Force, the interests of both the Rodian and Adrian Makaryk were at least similar.

 

"This Grandmaster Darex--I know of whom you speak. I came across him working my shift in the ER once. He asked to see me at the end of my shift. In hindsight, I should have denied him, and told him to wait until right before my next shift, when I would be most rested, but sixteen hours in and patient backlogs growing, I had not the time to assert myself, nor the initiative to deny the Jedi Grandmaster his request. I was in the moment, my thoughts too far from what state I would be in thirty-six hours later, when I could finally end my shift at the hospital, when Darex would finally have his meeting."

 

"I suspect it would surprise neither of you that he offered me Jedi training. But I could not leave my work on the hospital, for the number of fully-trained medical doctors on Onderon could then be counted on one hand, even now, it only would take two hands to count them. Exhausted from working in excess of fifty hours, I expended the very last of my energy defending the interests of my patients, assuring the Jedi would send replacement medical personnel to free me to make a clear decision on accepting Jedi training, clear of burden upon my conscience for leaving my home's teetering healthcare system to ruin."

 

The doctor at this moment looked straight into Halo's eyes. Though a teenage girl might well find a lecture about how Adrian had come to be here irrelevant to her general interests in mocking his unfamiliarity with doorbells, the look in Adrian's eyes would tell her that "Teh Lecture" was about to become deeply relevant.

 

"It was at this moment when this Jedi Grandmaster Darex handed me a piece of flimsiplast with his comlink frequency inscribed upon it, instructing me to contact him when I had made my decision. Yet, contrary to the Grandmaster's implicit assumption that surely any doctor in the galaxy would not find sending such a transition any major imposition, the primitive comlink that I had for work only has a fifty-kilometer range. It is primitive, weak, and cheap, yet all the hospital could afford to issue. Worse, in that moment I was at my weakest, exhausted, too depleted of energy and stamina to even muster the words, 'I don't have offplanet comms.' "

 

"And so after I had my rest, and Darex had long gone, I was faced with having to pay to use a signal repeater. As the hospital had recently missed payroll and I had had to empty my own savings to restock scarce medical supplies, I could not do this. The Jedi had assumed that a surgeon would be well-off enough to make that return transmission. As it was, I stopped buying food so I could scrape together the funds. I ate only what I had on hand at that moment, and what I could forage in the jungle on my off-duty day, until I could send that transmission. My metabolism fell into ruin, and I arrived here at the Temple nearly three weeks into starvation, collapsing only a few steps off the ship that bore me here."

 

Here, the doctor paused for a moment, the point so far unspoken, nonetheless there. Adrian momentarily seemed unsure of whether to continue, but eventually decided to go ahead.

 

"Beware making unwarranted assumptions about what others may or may not have, Halo, experience or otherwise. For there are consequences when those assumptions turn out to be incorrect that are far more serious than mere confusion over doorbells."

 

Adrian still hadn't answered the Rodian's question. He thought about it...but maybe he would let Halo respond first.

[Padme]

There were so many things Halo could have said to the elder Padawan and the other two men, but nonetheless, the Naboo Jedi held her resolve. She felt as though the events from the class session –merely hours ago- were been repeated. Now thoroughly embarrassed, due to a misunderstanding, Lamb offered a response- of sorts to the Knight Koovo.

 

“Well, it appears, by all account, that Adrian, Ads, I would perhaps need a new master. The one we had is well, albeit off to put it gently. Twice we were dismissed to bed, but yet this same master thinks we are ready for our Knight trials. I speak for myself when I say I need a new master.”

 

With that the young Padawan turned her gaze away from Koovo.

[Guest]

Koovo looked at them with what could have been a greatly mistaken glare, minus for the part that his posture spoke very loudly otherwise. With a step taken within a direction of the training halls, he spoke very gently to both.

 

"Perhaps maybe it would be best to wait your time out with someone who very well could help you gain some more training as you wait. I am after all, one of the Jedi trainers here. Maybe I could fill as a teacher until the Jedi Council finds a few masters for the masterless."

 

It was a simple offer, one that he was sure both would jump on, if only to pass the time.

 

((Sorry for the delay Adrian.))

[Padme]

'Perhaps maybe it would be best to wait your time out with someone who very well could help you gain some more training as you wait. I am after all, one of the Jedi trainers here. Maybe I could fill as a teacher until the Jedi Council finds a few masters for the masterless."

 

As those words fell on Haloburne's ears she couldn't wait to give an affirmative 'yes' to Koovo's suggestion. "I can't speak for the others- Ads and Adrian- however, you just got yourself a new Padawan, Knight Koovo. When can the training commence?"

 

Inwardly Halo hoped this will be an end- of sorts- to her long wait. In the few months that she'd been with the Order, she'd been through the tutelage of two masters. She needed some form of consistent training. Though Koovo made it clear his offer would simply be a fill in- she hoped it will perhaps be the end to her long wait for the right Jedi training. Time will tell- she thought while waiting for the man and or Adrain to speak.

[Adrian Makaryk]

Perhaps it should not have surprised Adrian that after receiving such admonishment, the teenager would promptly change the subject. But Adrian was in for a bit of surprise nonetheless, for Halo changed the subject to the same reason he had bothered to come here in the first place: Joreel Ordo was in too much of a hurry, and somehow believed that a padawan who had only arrived days ago was now nearly ready for Jedi trials.

 

The doctor's facial expression immediately cooled to one of thoughtfulness, for he himself seemed just a little eager to leave his tale behind. Silently, however, he hoped Halo had observed the point of it all, but now seemed a poor time to press that further. If this Rodian Jedi would offer more thorough training--even as something of an itinerant master--Adrian Makaryk would most certainly take it.

 

"Yes, yes. That is why I had come," Adrian nodded to the Rodian. Before Halo distracted me by ranting about doorbells, he added, but only in his own thoughts, biting his tongue before that damaging little bit could come out. "The instructor who found me upon arrival seems to believe that I am nearly ready for Jedi trials, only days after first arriving here. I feel such a rush is dangerously shortsighted, so if you are offering to train me or help me find a different master...I'm listening."

[Ads-Gop Flif]

Ads realized that he was actually awake? Because he could have sworn he had been asleep, but upon taking a closer look, he realized that he had actually been awake for a while. So he stepped into the hall, where three people were talking.

 

"What'd I miss, guys?"

[Dahar Raikanda]

A shuttle blasts out of the depths of hyperspace and into the Lehon atmosphere. The Jedi Master's mind is brought to a sharp attention. The contrast of space against a planet of Force users is unquestionable. Dahar opens himself and allows the Force to enter into him. It shoots through his body like an intravenous injection. Every midicholorian in every cell lights up as the natural conduit that is himself is electrified by the living Force.

 

Dahar had never been to Lehon but still had a loose familiarity with where he was. The temple had been built by the Jedi and therefore would feel like a home to him.

 

The Jedi Master made a transmission to the temple to alert those who would need to know of his arrival. He would require very little in his quarters but wanted to make sure the meditation room set aside for masters was ready to go. As a member of the council he was hear to serve, not to be served.

 

Surely there was work to be done. Dahar had mentored pupils before and looked forward to seeing what kinds of needs would meet him.

[Guest]

Koovo admired the fact that both seemed to be energetic when it came to an opportunity to be trained. All though, both did come with some issues as he could tell from the start. A third one came out from his own quarters to talk as well. It seemed very clear to Koovo that the Jedi on Lehon needed his presence here to help them keep the young padawans active.

 

"Not to sound too critical, but being ready shortly after arriving is somewhat of a long shot. Even for the gifted. But either way, it's not for me to decide who is ready. And to answer your question Halo, training begin now. Let's head down to the facilities to begin. On the way, you cane tell me what you guys already know."

 

Koovo motioned for them to follow him towards the training room.

[Avenger Jedi]

The light was just beginning to fadeover the horizon as a silhouette nearedthe surfaceof the water. Schools of fish quickly turned and fled from his presence as his arms quickly broke the surface of the water. His form was perfect, especially for a man not raised near water. The spear held in his hand barely slowing him down, the fish caught on the tip, even less so. Within minutes he was back on shore, the streams of water running down his chest breaking apart with each muscle they encountered. After a short walk into the jungle, Aven'Ger plunged the tip of the spear into the wet dirt and proceeded to clean the fish he had caught. Asthe fish slowly roasted over the fire, the Rattataki did a qick inventory of his equipment. His armor and weapons were exactly how he placed them, the power cells to his vibroswords were still buried in the ground in a small bag along with his other items. Quickly eating the fish, The former slave installedthe power cells to both blades and pulled them close as he laid down to sleep.

 

As the first rays of the morning sun brokeover the water, Aven'Ger shot awake. His eyes wide as an electric tingling sensation swept over his body. It felt almost like every cell in his body was being energized in a way, as if someone had hooked him to the main engine of a starship and ignited it. Yet, it was far more pleasant than that experience. It felt like he could take on anyone, that there was no way he could be defeated. He could only remember one time feeling something similar. It wad during his last fight in the gladiator pits, right before he escaped. The moment he slew his last opponent, and right before he slaughtered the household where he was held. But there wasa difference even then. That experience was more about rage and hatred. Hatred over things he had been forced to do. It was like a shot of adrenaline coursing through his veins. This was more......just more. His mind was clear, his senses sharp. And he could feel a pull farther down the beach. Deciding to follow this new sense of purpose, Aven'Ger donned his armor. The Clone Wars Era armor had seenbetter days, but he kept it clean and strong. Pulling on his bracers he thought back to the day he acquired them, the day when his hatred reached new heights and his plan for revenge was born. Sliding his hunting knife into its boot sheath, and blaster pistol into its hip holster, all that remained was the vibroswords. When he left Rattataki, he had purchased a customzed sheath. Its length was the same as a single sword blade, but slighly thicker. Both blades were sheathed from different ends, only sepereated by a this piece of metal inside. Deciding to leave the spear behind, he made his way down the beach.

 

While he was filled with a new sense of purpose, the clarity in his mind also allowed him to take in the beauty of this planet. The white sandy beaches, the crashing waves of the ocean. These were things he had not witnessed on Rattatak, and something he had not paid attention to since arriving on this planet. The cawing of the seabirds above drew his attention to the trees that hung over the cliffs edges. The gentle breeze added a beauty to the swawing limbs that could only be described as serene. He could feel the breeze against his skin, washing away the salt and dirt that had stuck to his body from his earlier days. But even more, he could almost feel the simple breeze washing away the sins and arocities he had committed. But deep inside he knew, nothing could remove those from his soul. After walking for several miles, he saw what had drawn him. Although he still qestioned the purpose, he slowly ducked inside the simple cave entrance. After walking for a mere few moments, his eyes widened as what was before him. The room appeared huge. Vast columns and arches seemed to rise from the ground and go forever. Kneeling and place his hand on the carpet, he was surprised to find it soft. How long has this placebeen here? Carpet doesn't stay soft forever.

 

Although still unsure why he was here, Aven'Ger knew this was what he had been called to.

[Dahar Raikanda]

The Jedi Master sat in silence, legs folded, on a soft cushion off to the side. He was in a state of deep mediation, taking breathes perhaps every minute or two. Over years of mastering the mysteries of the Force it took very little to sustain him. The Living Force flowed through his body and kept the pieces together. In his deep trance he was nearly invisible to anyone who wasn't looking for him. Not that he wouldn't be seen if one were to glance, but that he was so at one with the Force that he would be noticed no more than a stick is on the ground. He simply blended in with the scenery.

 

A new presence entered the room, as Dahar had known it would. This was the very reason he chose the spot. Were his actions his own or guided by the all-knowing hand of the Force? Was he delicately placed in the front hall of the temple?

 

Eyes still closed he spoke across the room to the new arrival, distant but still visible, his voice carried by the Force against the friction of matter that would stop sounds from being heard.

 

"Are you looking for something friend?"

 

Dahar opened his eyes and looked the man over. He was pale skilled, definitely humanoid but perhaps not human as himself. Reaching out through the Force he saw with his inner eye. On the spot where the man grasped the carpet Dahar began to pick out individual grains of dust. He gently lifted them into the air in a visible swirling pattern. Slowly they spun into eachother. The shape took that of a small insect. It fell to the ground, taking four or five hops off into the distance before crumbling back in to the dust of the ground.

[Adrian Makaryk]

This young Jedi named Koovo seemed a little bit...critical, even as he tried just a bit too hard not to seem like that. But there was a slight problem...and now Adrian had to figure out a way of pointing out that problem without stepping on any potentially fragile toes, especially as he had already managed to somehow pick up on a vibe of minor annoyance. At what, he couldn't tell, but Koovo's "not to seem too critical" remark seemed to vaguely point towards the doctor.

 

"I am nowhere near ready, for I arrived less than two days ago," the doctor replied...very, very carefully. These Jedi didn't particularly seem to take any form of criticism or correction, no matter how mild, very well. "I was merely referencing a comment made by the Jedi who instructed me earlier today--and he made an appraisal of my capabilities with which I do not agree. I came here because I wished to talk to the others in the class about his actions," Adrian finished, casting a quick glance in Halo's direction, as if to indicate he had wanted to discuss with her specifically Joreel's antics. Indeed, Adrian hadn't really approved of the way Joreel had regarded Halo, either, and the two of them still had that much to discuss.

 

"As far as what I have learned so far, well let's see. I had to liberate myself from sickbay to receive instruction in much of anything, so my first few hours of consciousness here were spent more or less experimenting with this newfound Force to stabilize my condition so I wouldn't fall over again from exhaustion every time I walked more than three steps away from food. I believe I ended up monopolizing a lot of poor Mr. Ordo's time because of that, and I think he barely had time for a quick exercise in something he called 'telekinesis' just so the others present even had something to do."

 

It was something of a vague explanation, to be sure, but it seemed to Adrian that his long-winded explanation of how he had come here in the first place had managed to rub the Rodian Jedi the wrong way. The doctor couldn't quite seem to shake that feeling.

 

(Having just arrived, and also having been either unconscious, or in varying states of exhaustion that he had to recover from, since his arrival, Adrian Makaryk still wasn't quite sure how Jedi honorifics applied to instructors that were not themselves actual Jedi Masters...)

[Avenger Jedi]

As the words reached Avens ear, he quickly rose to his feet and searched the room.At first he couldn't see anyone making their way towards him. His eyes scanned each and every doorway. No shadows were being cast, no noise from feet moving across the floor. His palm tightened on the grip of his forward sheathed vibrosword. During his days as a gladiator, noone had been able to best him at drawing speed. Although he hadn't found much call for the talent since abandoning his homeworld, it was a skill he knew would one day come in handy. Perhaps this was that day. As he circle his former spot, a small touch of movement caught his eye. Looking at the carpet, he watched as a small patch of dust rose from the ground and formed an insect. His eyes widened as the dust-creature took several steps forward before slowly crumbling into the lifeless dust once more. Shaking his head in disbelief, Aven began to wonder about the voice he had heard.

 

Although he was certain his ears had heard the words, he began to doubt it. The words were too perfect. There had been none of the usual distortion that air gave to words as they travelled from mouth to ear. It was almost as if the words siply existed within his head. Just as he was about to give up, he noticed the individual sitting perfectly still. His breathing was perfectly controlled. Keeping a light grip on his virbosword, Aven'Ger made his way over to the seated individual. Kneeling in front of him, The Rattataki made eye contact with the man before speaking.

 

"I was brought here. I don't know why. I just felt this sudden sense of purpose. And I was led here by my instincts."