Lehon - Jedi Temple

[Drunken Corellian]

Scorpio did just as he did the first time, slowly clearing his mind and letting Jaren's word's echo within, letting the soothing tone take hold and guide him. He had done so much in his past, unspeakable things, horrific by normal standards. But this was his path of forgiveness, his way of redemption, and Scorpius would do whatever it took to succeed. As his mind began to meld with his surroundings, Scorpius heard the chirping of the morning crickets, followed by the croaking of distant frogs. As fearful as he was, he kept pushing forward, letting the waves he felt take hold of him and find relaxation in it just as one would by laying and staying afloat upon the waves of the sea. Expanding his mind farther, Scorpius could hear the sounds of the distant waves, the grunts of mating rancors upon the beach, even feel the wind across the face of far off birds. It was indeed a peaceful feeling to know creatures at such an intimate level.

 

"I feel it, Master Jedi," Scorpius exclaimed as much as he could with his morbid nature. "It's almost as if i am one with all. Mesmerizing feeling. I can even see the fleeting stars as the sun rises to the east."

 

But unrest would soon follow as Scorpius' mind drifted farther away, flowing along the current as it took him. Fear once again settled within him, as if one floating on a river notices the roaring of a nearby waterfall. He could feel the stinging of a vibroblade tearing the skin of an unknown being, the distant mourning of a mother having lost her child, even hearing the screams of men as a cannon blast tears apart a hull and the vacuum of space envelopes their lungs and ceases them. Yet, despite the fear emitting from Scorpius, he does not run from it. Rather, he feels sorrow as he continues floating down river so to speak, hoping and praying his form floats away from the falls and back to a harmonic stream.

 

"So much pain, so much death in the Galaxy..." Scorpius questions. "Is this why you choose to void yourselves of emotions?"

 

Scorpius, remembering Mage's words, digs deeper into himself. Refusing to back down, he pushes farther, determined to find peace amidst the chaos. More death, destruction, and pain follows, but soon recedes as he feels joy of a family receiving a newborn into their world. Focusing upon that feeling, he feels his strength growing. He feels as if his hands seeming guide the river, like the fins upon a fish guiding it's body through the water. He feels his mind returning to Lehon, to his physical surroundings. And so does his focus. Mats begin to hover about, and even Jaren feels the Force around Scorpius spreading outward. He can feel the peace Scorpius managed to find, and soon feels Scorpius' mind lift even his own form as well as the mat upon which he sat. And for a brief moment, Jaren caught a glimpse of a distant memory of the one he knew as Mage. It was a battle upon Haruun Kal, Mage facing a being bearing the emblem of the Black Sun, the Force seemingly void upon the planet, and yet Mage nearly defeats the man once known as Piccolo. But why would Scorpius hold such a memory? That would be his question. Suddenly Scorpius opens his eyes, unknowing of the memory he had just shared or that it even existed.

 

"I felt it. I felt the force flow through me." Scorpius spoke. "I felt myself guiding it. Was this my task?"

[Onderin Starlisk]

Jaren sat, meditating and observing Scorpius thoughtfully in the Force. He felt the calm, then the disturbance and anguish, then the return to the serenity that the man progressed through. It was a remarkable experience, as Jaren had long ago learned to turn away from the suffering to the point where he was out of practice at finding it. But it was humbling as well, because it was important to be able to feel what was wrong with the galaxy--without knowing the evil and danger that still lurked, where could a Jedi receive purpose?

 

"You have done well," he finally said when Scorpius made his way back. The telekinesis was a nice touch, too, but it was uncontrolled. "When you draw on the Force, it will obey your commands. A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense. As long as you draw on it passively, with a clear mind, you may command it. Sometimes, especially in battle, you will find it controlling your actions as well, if you allow it. This will be an important concept when you start learning about lightsabers, since some of the basic feats we learn are impossible for someone without the Force."

 

He paused. "You started to perform a little bit of telekinesis. That's the best thing to practice to start learning control," he said. "While you are drawing on the Force, focus on an object and visualize it moving around.

 

"Here," he said, producing a blue plasteel ball from the bag he brought with him. "Trying picking this up with the Force and bringing it to your hand."

[Adenna Alluyen]

A Jedi shuttle reverted from hyperspace above Lehon and began dropping into orbit. On board, Adenna contemplated her recent mission to the deadly planet of Haruun Kal without much pleasure. The Jedi enclave there was a wreck beyond being worth salvaging. The Mandalorians had ended up massacring each other and, from what she gathered from the Mandalorian whose alias was Saberforce, did so under the influence of a Force user almost certainly a Sith. Apparently, the Sith had been given enough time after their defeat on Coruscant to regroup and strike out. They weren't yet strong enough to hit any major Jedi facilities nor were they able to field their own armies just yet. That meant co-opting someone else and Mandalorians, from what research she was able to do on the flight here, were perfect soldiers to work with. If the Sith were now turning outsiders to their cause by force, then the Jedi needed to be careful.

 

Adrian was, as usual, silent beside her. She did not interrupt his brooding, but allowed him to keep his thoughts. The first thing she needed to do was to report her findings and suspicions to the Jedi Council so that they may deal with it appropriately. This was something beyond her, especially if the Sith were involved. CoreSec also needed to be put on alert. Without them, the entire Coruscant operation would have failed and the Sith had as much a reason to hate the police force as the Jedi.

 

As soon as they landed, she bid Adrian farewell and went off to file her report. When that was done, she began catching up on the news that had happened since departing to Haruun Kal. Fortunately, there wasn't too much going on that directly concerned the Jedi. The Sith had been busy licking their wounds and rebuilding which meant that the Galaxy had been at relative peace. There was something about the Bothans seceding, but she wasn't sure how that was going to play out.

 

She was most displeased to find that Kirlocca had been exiled. If any of the elder Jedi could be considered a friend, he was the one. He had looked after her on the derelict Death Star and helped her learn to fight. Her mind, only now recovering from the devastation wrought upon it by Geki, was still too busy processing that information to make a decision. The Council had failed her once, and this was a decision of monumental proportions that she didn't know if she could sit idly by at watch it happen.

 

First things first. There was a message for her from CoreSec. A blue skinned alien she had seen a few times in the lobby left her a brief message informing that Jazce had returned had asked for her. That news was of great interest to her. He had been out on a mission of sorts when she left Coruscant and she had not heard from him since. That he was back and asking for her gave her hope that perhaps not all of her drug and coma induced delirium was imagined.

 

It didn't take too long to find a transport to Coruscant. She didn't have much to pack and eagerness to reach her destination drove her. Just an hour and a half after landing on Lehon, she set out once more.

[Drunken Corellian]

"Lightsaber?" Scorpius' tone turned serious as his gaze shifted toward Jaren's hip where there undoubtedly sat his own. "Forgive my rudeness, Master Jedi, but i shall never forge a lightsaber. While i realize that the lightsaber is symbol of a Jedi's rank, i swore to myself when i left the Wilds that i would never pick up another weapon, let alone forge another. That is a promise that i intend to keep." Scorpius seemed unease with his words, his mind drifting off momentarily as he contemplated what he had just said. But in all reality it was the truth. He had came to the Jedi for one simple reason besides his promise to learn the Force, and that was so he would never have to use another weapon again. His only goal in his endeavor was to learn to defend himself and other's, not take the offensive. "I may use the Force to defend myself, but a weapon is beyond the question."

 

Frustrated, Scorpius turned back to the matter at hand. Opening himself once again, he let the current take him as it would. But something quite strange occurred this time, something unprecedented in such a newfound hopeful. Rather than struggling to focus, Scorpius mind simply teathered it's self to the blue plasteel balled and yanked it clear out of Jaren's hand without little thought. In fact, Scorpius had yet to notice it until he noticed the feel of it within his gaunlet as his gaze shifted toward it in surprise.

 

Something truly was out of place here. First, his resemblence to Mage. Secondly Mage having called Scorpius by the name Tenshu Karagari. Even the name Scorpius had mentioned, Yue, was a name Jaren would have recognised as Sith, though he hadn't been seen since before the days of the Gala conclave. But most importantly was the glimpse Jaren was shown of the Battle of Haruun Kal when the Black Sun declared war on all Force Users. And now, Scorpius' ability to use the force suddenly without thought, it would surely make Jaren wonder who this young hopeful truly was, if Scorpius even knew himself.

[Onderin Starlisk]

Jaren gave Scorpius a dubious look when the man said he didn't intend to build a lightsaber. This particular hopeful needed a Master very soon. He personally didn't think it was practical at all to go unarmed, especially given that the Jedi had enemies who would provoke a fight on sight; additionally, the Jedi were called to keep the peace and defend innocents from harm. There were simply some situations where force needed to be met with force, even for someone determined to resolve a conflict peacefully.

 

But that wasn't Jaren's job. He wasn't the combat instructor.

 

He raised his eyebrows in surprise, however, when Scorpius easily called the sphere to his hand. He had seemed to do it with the same ease of an experienced Jedi Knight. Jaren blinked. "Can you do that again?" he asked. "See if you can float it around you or something. I haven't seen telekinesis come that easily to someone in my whole life."

[Drunken Corellian]

Scorpius, surprised himself, found himself speechless, mouth wide open and jaw dropped. He hadn't even thought about what it was that he had exactly done. So when Jaren asked if he could do it again, all he could do was shake his head "no". He was too dumbfounded at the moment. "I'm not even sure what i did myself," Scorpius finally spoke up. "I only thought it, and it happened. is that even possible?"

 

Nevertheless, Scorpius opened himself once again, concentrating heavily upon the plasteel ball. At first, it rocked side to side, rolling around in circles within his gauntlet. Delving deeper, allowing the Force to flow through him like water over his body, he focused even more. Slowly, it began to shake, slowly leviatating mere centimeters above his hand. Sweat pouring down his brow, he watched it raise higher and higher until it floated level and steady in mid air. Frightened, Scorpius broke concentration and watched the ball fall to the floor. "Master Jaren?" It was all Scorpius could mutter.

[Onderin Starlisk]

Jaren smiled encouragingly. "You seem very gifted in telekinesis," he said. He put up a hand and floated the sphere back to himself off the ground. "Some Jedi find certain techniques much easier than others. Ah, the other students are arriving."

 

Sure enough, there were a group of other hopefuls approaching. Most of them were the same group from the previous night, but there were a few extras. A couple of them threw smiles Scorpius' way--after what had happened last time, they were glad that he had decided to persevere and give it another shot. "Welcome and good morning, students," Jaren greeted them. He opened the bag and withdrew several of the colored spheres, laying them out in front of himself in an arc.

 

"Today we're focusing on telekinesis..." He proceeded to give some basic instruction, then turned his attention back to Scorpius once he had finished. "Let's test your control. Catch the ball with the Force," he instructed. Then he picked up one of the soft spheres and tossed it toward the young Jedi.

[Drunken Corellian]

Scorpius felt a slight sense of pride at Jaren's praise. A small smile crept upon his face just as the other's began to show. It didn't make much sense to him that Telekinesis would be his strong suite, but perhaps there were other reasons behind this. After all, Scorpius swore never to pick up another weapon since he left behind the Wilds, vowing to never take another being's life ever again. So perhaps this was the Galaxy's way of helping him keep such a vow. From what Scorpius knew of the skill, one could easily disarm and disable another with it without the loss of life. Perhaps it would be a skill he would focus more upon. Or perhaps there were other, unknown reasons that had yet to be reveled. Only time would tell.

 

Giving a gentle nod, Scorpius readied himself for Jaren's test. For the first time, Scorpius felt completely at ease, his determination at discovering this skill apparent, as he opened himself up. He even went so far as to remember back to a game he played as a child, a game called "catch" where one would throw a ball to the other, catch it, and throw it back. A simply children's game, but none the less calming. This simple thought allowed him to open completely as Jaren tossed the ball toward him, catching it mid air with little ease, encircling his form, and tossing it back. However, unbeknownst to Scorpius, an odd sight would unfold as he touched the Force, revealing a rather oddly momentarily turquoise shimmer to his cyan eyes as he caught the ball before returning it.

 

A subtle smirk crept upon his face as he stared a Jaren. "Now it's your turn."

 

((Is Onderin open for a Padawan?))

[Onderin Starlisk]

((I would train you, but Onderin currently is training Ads-Gop Flif and is trying to juggle a bunch of other things on top of it... ))

 

Jaren was once again impressed with the ease with which Scorpius caught and returned the ball. As he caught it back again, though, he didn't fail to notice the shimmer in the man's eyes when he drew on the Force. He frowned, returned the ball, and waited to see if the hopeful's eyes would do it again. When they did, he caught the ball and didn't send it back right away.

 

"Your eyes seem to be behaving oddly when you draw on the Force," he said. "I've never seen anything like it."

 

There was something very unusual about Scorpius Tenshu, that much was certain. Jaren wondered just how involved he should get.

[Darex Trevelian]

A shuttle arrived over Lehon and transmitted the proper codes to the Jedi Temple. Once it landed, the hatch open and Darex strode out, Jax following him. The Jedi took a deep breath of fresh salty sea air. He hadn't been at this temple since he had first opened it to full Jedi use, and he was looking forward to his stay here, however brief it might be.

 

He turned around and scooped up his son. "C'mon Jax, let's go inside."

 

The Grandmaster didn't waste any time. He was here for a purpose, and that purpose wasn't just sightseeing. The Force showed him where Knight Platt was working with the current hopeful class, and he turned his steps that way. He came up behind the hopefuls; they wouldn't see him at first, although he didn't doubt that the more perceptive ones might soon sense his presence in the Force and look. It would be interesting to observe, since Platt's recent update hadn't said anything about training them in the knowledge of Force presences and signatures.

 

While Darex might have been content to stand at the back and observe however, his position was given away when, after looking around the room curiously from his father's arms, Jax spotted the ball that Platt was tossing back and forth to one of the hopefuls with the Force. "Ball!!" he suddenly shrieked with excitement, and the blonde haired toddler started squirming in Darex's arms.

[Drunken Corellian]

Scorpius' subtle smirk quickly faded into confusion at Jaren's mention of his eyes. "What do you mean, Master Jaren?" Scorpius questioned as he turned to gaze upon his fellow hopefuls, noticing their own curiosity peaked. He had the slightest idea himself of what Jaren mentioned, as he had never gazed upon his own face while using the Force. All Scorpius had known was the intense feeling that overtook him, the calmness he felt wash over him, his ability to grasp telekinesis so quickly. Did his Miraluka bloodline have anything to do with what Jaren saw? Not likely. Surely if it was, Jaren would have noticed that small detail rather quickly. Then what was he noticing? "What are they doing?"

 

Before Jaren could reply, a voice came ringing excitedly from out behind the group. If Scorpius hadn't noticed the voice as that of a child, his natural instincts would have been to pounce defensivly. But, although startled, Scorpius turned to gaze upon the new arrival. He had the look of a Jedi, but the child he held, so intent of reaching the ball they had been tossing back and forth just seconds before, said differently. Last he had heard, Jedi were forbidden to love, let alone have children. Perhaps adopted, as some were known to do outside the Order... like Mage.

 

Without saying a word, he acknowledged his arrival and turned his attention back toward Jaren.

[Onderin Starlisk]

Jaren smiled when the child reacted with such delight to the training sphere. He took the ball and stood up. "You should try looking in the mirror while performing telekinesis," he suggested. He addressed the class momentarily. "Continue practicing, students. You seem to be making excellent progress."

 

Then he gestured to Scorpius to stand as well and headed over toward Darex. He handed the plasteel sphere to the Master's son. "Welcome, Master," he said. He gestured at Scorpius. "Scorpius, this is Grand Master Darex Trevelian. Master, this is Scorpius Tenshu, one of our promising new students. I'm sorry to hear about what happened with Master Kirlocca.

 

"What brings you to Rakata Prime?"

 

Jaren was hoping that Darex had come to take a padawan--in fact, that was why he had invited Scorpius to meet the Jedi Master. But he didn't want to put words into Darex's mouth.

[Darex Trevelian]

Darex smiled at Jaren. The two were old friends, even though it had been some time since they had seen each other. But Jaren, it seemed, was still an expert at reading people. "I've been giving it some thought and it seems as if the Force is calling me to take another padawan for training," he said, not beating around the bush. "Since all of the Order's hopefuls are here, that is what has brought me here as well."

 

Jax took this opportunity to throw the ball at his father's head. Darex snatched it out of the air after it had rebounded off his left temple. "Scorpius Tenshu, right? It's a pleasure to meet you."

 

As he spoke to the hopeful, he was reaching out with the Force, trying to get a read on the man. He carried himself with almost military posture, and his mind had the rigidity of a soldier. But he also sensed a deep weariness in the man that was intriguing. "Forgive me. I don't mean to interrupt your lessons. By all means, continue." He paused. "Scorpius, when the classes are finished for the day, come speak to me, if you would."

 

Darex set Jax down, handing him back the ball, knowing that his son would be distracted enough by the sphere to entertain himself for a few minutes, leaving Darex the ability to watch and listen to the Force.

[Drunken Corellian]

Scorpius said not a word as the two began their conversation, his mind still slightly lingering on Jaren's mention of his eyes. No one spoke of them before, at least until now, as he let the Force guide him. So it had to be a new occurrence. He would have to do as Jaren suggested and see for himself. For whatever it was, it seemed to alarm the Jedi a bit. He found himself quite curious.

 

Settling back to reality as Darex addressed him, Scorpius nodded his head and politely replied in return. "As with you, Master Jedi." If he had been listening to the first half of the conversation, Scorpius would have known what it was they were speaking about. But instead, Scorpius found the man quite familiar, almost as if he had met the man, like a moment of deja vu. And as the man excused himself, Scorpius couldn't help but wonder if he had met the man among the reaches of the Wilds. He acknowledged Darex's request that he would, and as he walked off, turned to Jaren.

 

"I know that man from somewhere, but i can't put my finger on it."

[Onderin Starlisk]

Jaren was somewhat perplexed by Scorpius' words as they returned to the other students. "Master Trevelian has been something of a public figure for a while. It's also possible that you met him during the war," he guessed. But there was something that was bugging him about Scorpius. The flash of color in his eyes, the ease with which he had picked up telekinesis, the appearance of the spectral Mage, and now these memories. This was not the average hopeful that came to the Jedi Order. That was why he was hoping Darex would take Scorpius on as an apprentice... which looked like it might just happen.

 

"Let's practice a bit more telekinesis," he suggested to Scorpius and the rest of the students. "This training time is for your benefit, so ask questions if you need to. You can leave whenever you're ready. I hear Knight Zaran is starting Form I lightsaber lessons soon..."

[Drunken Corellian]

"I see. It's highly possibly." Scorpius said looking back toward Darex at a distance. But that wasn't the feeling he had gotten from it. He had seen this man in his past, as if he had been there during a pivotal and crucial moment in his life, yet could not focus it. Deeply Scorpius searched his memories, staring onward at Darex attentively, focusing on that sole escaping memory. And it was in that moment that Scorpius eyes glimmered turquoise once again for all to see, rolling across his irides like the sun's reflection upon a distant rolling wave. And it was in that moment that Scorpius unknowingly murmured a name not heard for quite a long time within the Jedi, yet a well known name nonetheless.

 

"Ara..."

[Darex Trevelian]

It was surprising how quickly things could change. Darex had come here with one idea in mind, but now it seemed that perhaps the Force, as often happened, had other plans for him, plans it had not revealed to him.

 

As Jaren and Scorpius turned away, Darex overheard what was being said. Jaren's words were similar to what Darex himself might have said, but Scorpius continued to stare at him intently, like he was trying to place his face. Then suddenly, his eyes changed color, flashing a greenish blue, and he spoke, his voice saying the name of a Jedi Master whom had long since passed into the Force. At the same time, Darex felt an odd stirring in the Force. He had no idea what to make of it.

 

A frown crossed the Grandmaster's face. There had been very few times when he had been in the same place as Master Kaipi; they had generally moved in different circles. The few times they had been together had been very serious situations indeed. For this hopeful to have a flash of memory that connected Darex and Ara-Lai was concerning. Clearly, things were going on that had not yet been revealed. And then there was the man's eyes. He had seen manifestations like this before, but again, only in the most serious of situations.

 

A nugget of concern grew in him when he grouped the two clues together, but he didn't voice it. Instead, he moved forward again. "I'm sorry to interrupt again," he said, addressing the class. "But something has come up. This class is dismissed until tomorrow."

 

Once the room was empty of everyone else, he turned to Jaren and Scorpius. "I think you need to fill me in on what has been going on. Clearly, Scorpius, you are not your average Jedi hopeful." His tone was serious, but he tried not to sound too severe. For all he knew, Scorpius was just as confused by all of this as he was, and it could be a frightening thing to deal with. Force knew that Darex had experience in that area himself.

[Onderin Starlisk]

((Not sure if you were waiting on me. Darex, I assume you have read back through this thread to where you left off?))

 

Jaren turned to the class. "You heard Master Trevelian," he said. "Class is dismissed. Feel free, of course, to pratice on your own."

 

He then returned to Darex. "Maybe you should get the full story," he said. He then outlined a few points of interest about Scorpius, including a brief summary of the encounter with Mage's apparition, the ease with which Scorpius was using telekinesis, and the phenomenon with his eyes. When he was done, he shrugged. "Scorpius seems very gifted, and he needs more attention than I can give him."

[Darex Trevelian]

Everything that Jaren told him increased Darex's concern, but he let none of it show. "You're right," he murmured once Platt had filled him in. "He does seem gifted. Thank you, Knight Platt."

 

The Grandmaster turned to Scorpius. "What do you make of all of this, my young friend? Tell me about yourself, and about your past. I may be able to help you figure out what all of this means."

 

For Darex's part, he wasn't sure that this man was all that met the eye. He was reminded of the ancient tale of Darth Revan. After she had been captured by the Jedi Order and her memory wiped via the Force, she had been plagued with dreams, visions, and strange memories that hadn't seemed like her own. She also displayed amazing skill in her initial Jedi training. If something like that had happened again...Well, Darex would have to be careful. At least Revan's story had a fairly good ending; she hadn't, at least, turned back to the dark side.

 

Of course, he could be letting his own feelings cloud the situation. Reaching out to the Force for clarity and for it to confirm what Scorpius was going to tell him, he waited for the young man to speak.

[Drunken Corellian]

Scorpius comes to, shaking his head, wondering what had just happened. One moment he had been trying to place this Jedi, then nothing. And in truth, it frightened Scorpius quite a bit. This Force business seemed to be way out of Scorpius' comfort zone, and it only seemed to be further realized at the request of everyone's departure save for they three. But Scorpius kept quiet as the two conversed, listening to the details Jaren gave to Darex, and although frightened by it, grew curious himself. Mage had always spoke of his being special, that his destiny was a trial in it's own right. But what did it all mean? The turquoise eyes, the ease in using the Force, the seemingly black outs that Scorpius was having. What was it that Mage had put into motion?

 

"I truly don't know, Master Jedi." Scorpius spoke as he turned to Darex. "My past isn't much of grandeur. I was born out of wedlock between a merchant and and his mistress. I was forced to make my own way in life, which led me into the Wilds. It was there that I enlisted in a few militia groups in order to survive it's harsh worlds. And it was there that i met a former Sith who called himself Mage. He was the one who told me of my sensitivity and made me promise to seek out one of the Orders in order to train in my gift. I chose to seek out the Jedi, which led me here. I'm as oblivious to the rest as you are."

 

There were some parts Scorpius left out, such as his true name. But to Scorpius, they were of little meaning.

[Darex Trevelian]

Scorpius' story was nothing particularly remarkable. A former soldier who had discovered his Force sensitivity and decided to join the Jedi. Darex had honestly expected nothing less. Clearly this man had no idea why he was having these weird occurrences happen.

 

"Well, then," Darex replied. "There are two ways I can think of to proceed. One is that we can push forward and hope that with time, the Force will reveal the reasons behind these odd happenings. However, we have no way to know for sure that will happen. These things might only increase in number and frequency, leaving you more confused than ever and with frequent black outs." Darex didn't think that was necessarily the wisest path, but it was an option. "The other choice is for you to let me enter your mind and dig down deep to see where this is coming from. If there is some physical reason for the blackouts, I should be able to heal it. And if it is a psychological phenomenon, I should at least be able to identify it. I have some experience when it comes to mental blocks and lost memories. I could help you be able to put things together and figure out why this is happening."

 

He looked the young man in the eye. "It's your choice. But if you choose the latter, know that you will have to open yourself completely up to me. You will have to trust me, a perfect stranger. But I feel strongly that I will be able to help you."

 

Whatever Scorpius chose would show his character. If he was truly dedicated to the Jedi and felt that his home was now here with them, then opening his mind to the Grandmaster wouldn't be as intimidating. But regardless, Darex respected that he had the right to choose.

[Drunken Corellian]

Scorpius listened closely to what Darex had to say, weighing each option as he presented them. The first he agreed with. It would take too long for it to pan out, whether it be physical or psychological. Something was definitely amiss here, and the sooner they found out, the sooner Scorpius could find out what it was. ANd in truth, within the recess of his mind, Scorpius couldn't help but feel that Mage had his hands all over this. He felt a sense of betrayal now, sensing that this may have been the reason Mage sent him to train in his sensitivity, or even perhaps why Mage had taken him under his wing so long ago. And that sickened Scorpius.

 

However, Scorpius didn't like the idea of another invading his mind, learning all there was to know about Scorpius. There were certain parts of his past that he would like to keep buried, actions that he held regret and sought redemption over that he didn't feel comfortable revealing to a complete stranger. He was not proud of things he had done, was ordered to do. And he didn't like the idea of possibly being judged for such things. It was a time of war, and in war, sacrifices were made. Or so he had always forced himself to remember and believe. But nonetheless, Scorpius knew he needed to find out, and despite what Darex would learn, Scorpius was willing to take that chance to find the knowledge behind the unknowing. With a sigh, he answered.

 

"I will allow you to enter my mind, Master, and search for the answers." Scorpius spoke, his voice echoing of his hesitance. "But i must warn you that my past is a very dark one. There may be things you see that you may not approve of, nor that I take pride in. War does many of things to men."

 

Little did he know of what Darex would truly find within.

[Darex Trevelian]

Darex nodded. "I understand. We all have baggage." He took a breath. "Prepare yourself."

 

The Jedi Grandmaster opened himself to the Force, letting it fill every pore of his being. In it, he lost himself, immersed only in the flow of the light side, and became everything else around him. Then, smoothly, gently, he reached out to Scorpius' mind.

 

On the surface, he felt the man's hesitation, his confusion, and his regret for actions he had done that he knew Darex would discover. But Darex didn't care. He was incapable of judging or caring when he was immersed in the Force like this. His own opinions were nothing; only the will of the Force was manifest.

 

Unlike some other types of mind influencing, Darex didn't plunge into the man's brain. Instead, he slipped easily from one thought to another, and let the natural flow take him deeper and deeper. Until he reached a barrier.

[Drunken Corellian]

((Sorry for the wait. Been pulling doubles at work the last few days.))

 

Scorpius took a deep breath, calming himself, and allowing Darex entrance. Despite the man's reassurance, he still felt regret and dishonor, emitting his need for salvation and redemption even more that he allowed another to gain access to his memories. Yet, as Darex entered, allowing the Force to guide him, Scorpius felt the calming power of the Grandmaster. It was peaceful, like this planet. Powerful, yet tamed and gentle. And for a brief moment, Scorpius allowed it to take hold and send him into a peaceful bliss as Darex explored.

 

At first, Darex was allowed to view memories of Scorpius' past, mostly of his childhood and years later the hurt and anger of war. His life was full of pain, distrust, and misguidance. He would even view the time Mage entered his life and how the former Sith had taken the young lad under his wing and for the first time, felt the belonging Scorpius had ever felt. But then it turned back into sadness as Scorpius was forced to slay Mage for treason when the Sith used the Force to strike down their commanding officer over raping the daughter of an enemy soldier. Darex would be able to tell the troubled soul that belonged to this miraluka human hybrid from what seemed to be birth until the present.

 

But something would fell wrong about most of the earlier memories, and as Darex delved even farther, memories of another begin to emerge. Most were memories already shown to Jaren as well as Darex just earlier. The battle at Haruun Kal where a young Knight gave his life in an attempt to end a war before it begun, fell at his own hands despite the void of the Force that was forced upon the planet the life of the then leader known only as Piccolo. Then the memory of the same Knight fighting a Sith by the name Yue upon Manaan's Eternal Vigilance in which the darker side of the Knight began to emerge. And finally a single quick memory of the Jedi Master Ara as she used her powers upon the Knight to calm the unique Sith Poison.

 

Suddenly Scorpius' eyes shot open, glowing vibrantly turquoise as a voice other than Scorpius spoke from within. "Stop! It is not time for him to remember this. You have dug too deep Jedi." And just as quick as it came, Scorpius fell limp and Darex was forced from his mind before his eyes returned to normal. Without a word, only fear in his eyes, Scorpius gazed upon Darex. He saw as well and felt it this time. He was more confused now than ever.

[Darex Trevelian]

The young man's life streamed before Darex's eyes. He had had a difficult one. Pain, anger, war. The man had known little of peace. Darex was also intrigued by this "mage" who had taken such an interest in the hopeful. In Scorpius' memories, Darex could identify him as a Sith of some sort, but that didn't explain why he had reached out to Scorpius without making any overt moves to tempt him to the dark side.

 

But there was something...fake about the man's memories. Perhaps fake wasn't the best word, but it was as if they were a screen, a shade being pulled over something else lingering in the hopeful's mind. Once Darex saw it, he delved into and through it. Behind it were the memories he was searching for. Recognition stirred in Darex's memory at the sight of the Jedi Knight. He knew that this was the man's true identity. He moved back towards the surface and began searching for a way to gently remove the screen, thereby reuniting Scorpius with the memories of who he truly was, when something intervened. A dark presence brushed against Darex's consciousness and spoke before mustering a considerable amount of strength to push him away.

 

He let himself be pushed from Scorpius' mind and withdrew back into his own body. There was fear in the young man's eyes, and Darex immediately spoke. "Don't be afraid," the Grandmaster said. "Fear is an emotion that can easily come to control us. I believe I have some answers for you, but not, perhaps, as many as we were hoping."

 

He rubbed his beard. "The Jedi you saw, is, I believe, who you truly are. Or used to be. However, your identity has been buried. This can happen in several different situations, most of them having to do with some great trauma. But then, there is another aspect to this all in your case. There seems to be another essence inside you. Whether it is the spirit of another or a darker side of your own psyche that has splintered off of your mind, I do not know. However, he seems determined that you are not to know the truth about your past, yet. I'm concerned that unless you face this...consciousness...you will never fully remember your true past."

 

Jax came toddling up just then and reached up, arms outstretched. Darex picked him up. "The confrontation is, I believe, inevitable. However, that does not mean that it is imminent. It could be many years before you fully recover your memories. I will not be able to restore them to you without doing considerable damage to your mind since this other consciousness is protecting them." He paused again. "But I sense that he does not mean you any particular harm. And I see no reason why you cannot continue on your path. Become a Jedi if you wish. It is your choice."

 

He felt confident that his former concerns were for nothing. The man was troubled, perhaps, and a bit mentally fragile, but that didn't mean training would be bad for him. Indeed, it might help him to learn to control his mind. But it remained Scorpius' choice.

[Drunken Corellian]

"Me? But how?" Scorpius questioned, even more confused. How could he have another identity? Be another person? Especially with the memories he knew. Yet.... he saw and felt all these tings. Scorpius could not deny it. Rising, Scorpius dusted himself off, letting the last few moments settle within his mind. It all seemed too unreal, improbable. And to top it off, when he was being controlled, it was Mage's presence he felt, his tone he spoke. Perhaps this was Mage's doing, revenge for Scorpius having slain him. But why? Mage said he had forgiven him. Whatever the case may be, Scorpius knew this was the work of darkness, and as Darex questioned him, his determination grew even more.

 

"I will be a Jedi, Master Darex." Scorpius spoke, his tone cold and serious. "I do not know what this means, what Mage has up his sleeve, nor if this is simply an act of revenge meant to confuse me or turn me. All I do know is that I will fight this, my way, and I will not stop until I rid myself of this. Do whatever you feel is right, but I know who I am, and no one dead or alive will be able to persuade me any differently. Teshu Karagari died on the battlefields of the Wild along with his mentor Mage. I am Scorpius Tenshu, Jedi, now and forever."

 

Little did he know what the future held for him, here, nor on Tatooine.

[Darex Trevelian]

Darex nodded with a small smile. "Then a Jedi you shall become, Scorpius Tenshu. It would be my honor to train you in the ways of our Order. I will be your master, if you will have me."

 

The wheels of fate were turning. The Grandmaster could feel it in the Force. Every padawan he had had in the past had changed him, made him into a better Jedi. He was certain that it would be no different this time. Five padawans...I'm getting old, he thought.

[Kaldor Draigo]

Is this the right path for me? Is this my true destiny?

 

Kaldor walked through the halls of the Jeedai Temple on Lehon and admired all the art work surrounding him. The tapestries depicting great battles hung across the walls. He could make out several Nikto Jeedai weilding lightsabers against a myriad of foes, most prominently the Sith. Statues depicting great warriors and scholars lined the corridors, each bearing a plaque with the name and deeds of the Jeedai displayed. Kaldor stopped in front of a bronzium statue showing a Kajain'sa'Nikto like Kaldor himself wielding a double-bladed lightsaber. Being a Red Nikto himself, Kaldor wondered if perhaps he was of some distant ancestor, or if he was just another Nikto devoting his life to the path of the Jeedai.

[Drunken Corellian]

"The honor is all mine, Master Jedi." Scorpio spoke, gesturing his respect with a regal bow. Whatever past was truly his, he was never without his manners. And for such a man to offer not only to train him in the ways of the Jedi, but to aid in facing the storm ahead showed the truest of honor among men. Perhaps there was more to the Jedi Order than what he originally believed. But that thought Scorpius back to something he mentioned before to Jaren.

 

"I have only one request, Master, if you are to take me on as your padawan." Scorpius' tone turns serious despite his respect for the man remained unwavered. "When I left the Wilds, I made a vow to myself never to pick up a weapon besides my hands and mind again as long as I live. I realize the Lightsaber is a symbol of being a Jedi and have heard it is crucial to the trials. I, however, would still like to honor my vow and never pick up such a weapon. Is this possible?"

[Darex Trevelian]

An acolyte sees the Nikto wandering the corridors and gives a traditional bow. "Greetings. Are you here to join the Jedi Order? If so, it would be my pleasure to assign you quarters and show you around. Hopeful classes, which you will be enrolled in while you wait for a master, are running all the time, and you will be welcome to join in."

 

***

 

Darex nodded solemnly, but couldn't keep a small smile from his face. It had been too long since he had had an apprentice, and he looked forward to seeing what he would learn from Scorpius.

 

The younger man's request, however, was a curious one. Darex paused a long time, considering, before answering. "I understand why you would request such a thing, having experienced some of your history. It is a noble vow. However, I am unsure whether you fully understand what a lightsaber is to a Jedi. It is not a weapon. Some use it as such, but it is not. It is a tool and a symbol. There will be many times that just the sight of a lightsaber, lit or unlit, will settle a dispute. It will lend your words weight and purpose as someone will be able to instantly identify you with our Order. With it, you will be able to defend innocents against aggressors by deflecting blaster bolts and the like. And it is possible that you may one day have to face a Sith in battle. If you will not wield a blade of equal standing to what you are being attacked by, you will be hard pressed to prevail."

 

He paused again. "I understand your feelings, and they are right and just, and very much in line with the philosophy of our Order. A Jedi never draws their lightsaber unless under the direst of circumstances. It is always a last resort, and even then, we use it to defend, not attack. It is for this reason that you will find that even the most pacifistic Jedi in the history of our Order carried a lightsaber, even if they never had to use it."

 

Jax squirmed in his arms, and Darex set the toddler down before meeting Scorpius' eyes again. "I will not force you to construct and wield a lightsaber, padawan, but I encourage you to think about reconsidering."