Lehon - Jedi Temple

[Drunken Corellian]

Scorpius ponders long and hard on Darex's words, yet his demeanor does not diminish. "Cannot words do the same? Cannot Philosophy and Belief present us as who were are? Cannot the Force aid us in our defense? Cannot my gauntlets hold the blade of a lightsaber?" Scorpius holds up his Crush-Gaunts. "A Jedi should be symbolized by his actions and beliefs, not by the blade he carries upon his hip. And my wish is to never pick up a blade nor blaster again. I have considered your words wisely and just, with the respect a Master deserves from his pupil, yet I must stand by my own beliefs in this. The Force will be my only symbol and ally as a Jedi."

 

Stooping down before Darex's child and offering him a piece of candy out of his satchel, Scorpius eyes briefly leave Darex's own before returning. "A man is nothing without his beliefs, nor is he one without standing firmly behind them. I can defend the innocent with or without a blade."

[Darex Trevelian]

Darex held Scorpius' gaze for a long few seconds. "Very well, padawan." He respected Scorpius' strong sense of morality and his determination to keep his word. It would serve him well and help him to become a great Jedi.

 

He motioned for the ginger-haired man to follow him and scooped up Jax, who was succeeding in making an absolute sticky mess of himself eating the candy that Scorpius had given him. The trio made their way through the temple until they reached a central courtyard. Sunlight trickled through the leaves of the trees, and a quiet bubbling brook meandered softly through the area. Darex took a seat cross legged by the trunk of one of the trees, and released Jax to go play by the brook, privately thinking that when Jax inevitably wound up wet from head to toe it would at least get rid of the stickiness.

 

He then turned to face Scorpius, keeping an eye on Jax through the Force as he usually did. "Knight Platt has filled me in on the things you have covered since your arrival on Lehon," he began. "But now your training will begin in earnest. And we start with the Force. A Jedi's connection to the Force is the one of most important and fundamental things I can teach you. For a Jedi, using the Force is almost a misnomer. We surrender to the Force. We let it fill us, pull us into its current, and direct our actions. It controls you, but it also obeys your commands. It's a fine balance, and one that can only be mastered through practice and experience. Open yourself to the Force now. Let it fill you, and become you. Feel the connection with the life around you, for life creates the Force and magnifies it."

 

He paused, monitoring the younger man. "Listen to the world around you. Listen until you can hear no more, and then tell me what you heard."

[Drunken Corellian]

Scorpius nodded toward the Jedi, following in suite as the two made their way toward a central courtyard, the newly anointed Padawan quietly letting his fingers brush nearby bushes and flower petals as they went. Since his arrival upon this planet, despite the few mishaps dealing with his seemingly unknown past, he had grown to enjoy it's beauty. It was a peaceful planet, and even though it held present danger at every turn, Scorpius could understand why the Jedi settled upon this planet. It held a certain balance to it, chaos of life as well as peace of a singular moment. Moments like this. A child oblivious to the Galaxy that he was born into, a Jedi watching the innocents of youth, and an war veteran finding solace away from a past he chose to leave behind. Having finally felt such a moment, he finally understood what a simply term as 'peace of mind' could truly mean. As the Jedi settle at the base of a tree, his mind still pondering the revelations of the calmness he was experiencing, Scorpius sat beside him.

 

"I believe I understand." Scorpius began. "It's like the wind upon the wings of a fighter. Even with the thrusts of the engines, without the currents of the wind, it could not fly. The fighter must rely upon the updraft for lift and landing, but not alone. By using the control stick, we create the tilt of the wings to control turns and maneuvers, yet, which we could still not do without the wind"

 

Closing his eyes like before, Scorpius opened himself to the Force. Yet, this time he did not fear it, but instead, chose to control where it led him. He listened closely to the distant chirping of crickets and other insects. Going a little farther, he listened a felt the innocence of Darex's child, experiencing the joy he was tangled up in as he splashed about in the shallow stream as well as the sugar rush from the candy. A smile crept upon his face, and a humble chuckle erupted before Scorpius pushed out even farther. Balancing the current's pull and his own control, Scorpius let his mind wander, first the humble crabs upon the nearby shore before bouncing about the minds of other training pupils. Some pulled away from him, yet others welcomed him and shared in their peacefulness. It was an amazing feeling to know others felt very similar experiences, an almost euphoria of peace. With a calm sigh, Scorpius retreated back within his own mind and opened his eyes.

 

Turning toward Darex, Scorpio met Darex's gaze with a smile. "The easiest term I can put the feelings in to words as is 'Life'. I felt a community of similar experiences, each connected, yet not entirely the same. Yet it all came down to the same feeling. Each was experiencing life in their own way."

[Darex Trevelian]

"And what did you sense about the differences between the lives you felt?" Darex probed. There was a point he was driving at, of course, but he wanted to see if Scorpius would come to it on his own. "You say that each is interconnected. Explore that. Describe what you mean. How would it affect the overall sense if one of the pieces was missing?"

 

Darex had had decades of experience; he had been a Jedi since before his new padawan had been born. And yet the intricacies of the Force still amazed him. It was always revealing to him new things--about himself and the universe. Scorpius was just taking his first steps into an adventure that would last him the rest of his life. Darex remembered those days well. He had been so youthful, so full of energy and ideas and determination. He had changed much since then. Life had taught him many valuable lessons. Scorpius might not be as bright eyed and bushy tailed as Darex had been when he had begun his training under Skye Organa, but in this area, this area of experiencing and learning about the Force, they were identical.

[Kaldor Draigo]

As Kaldor continued to study the statue of the long dead Nikto Jedi, he heard soft footsteps approaching and turned just slightly to present attention to the arriving acolyte. Within a few seconds he had taken in almost everything about the young Human before him. His clothing and the lightsaber at his waist seemed to indicate he was on the path to becoming a Jedi, much like Kaldor himself, but his age and youthful expressions seemed to indicate he had not yet finished his studies. The Nikto wondered how long the young man had been studying to become a Jedi. He seemed just slightly older than Kaldor, but yet had not completed his training. That simple fact weighed heavily on the former slave.

 

How long will my training and studies take before I assume the mantle of Jeedai?

 

Listening to the acolyte speak, Kaldor nodded and followed the human to his own quarters. While he was used to living in Spartan conditions as a slave on Nar Shadda, he was surprised to find similar conditions here within the Temple. A simple desk with datapad placed on top, a bed with basic furnishing, a chest at the foot, a wardrobe against the wall, and a hanging weapons rack were the only items in the room.

 

“This will be your quarters during your stay among us. The life of a Jedi is one of simplicity and humbleness. Your quarters and dress will reflect that during your training here. Now if you please, change into the attire provided and I will escort you to a training group. There just so happens to be an open space available in a beginners class.”

Giving a brief bow the acolyte stepped from the room allowing Kaldor to inspect his room for a moment. Removing his pyronium swords and other weapons, the Nikto ran his fingers across the blade of a training blade. For many years he had only wielded the pyronium blades he had forged himself. It brought a knote to his stomach to realize that for the first time, he would be wielding a weapon he had not brought to life himself. Moving to the wardrobe, he pulled out robes similar to the ones the acolyte had been wearing. Expecting a rough fabric, he was pleasantly surprised to find the undertunic soft against his leathery skin. The Nikto removed the rest of his weapons and clothing and quickly changed. Deciding against wearing the heavy brown robe, Kaldor stepped from the room and joined the acolyte in the corridor.

 

“Your training here will be difficult. You will be pushed and tested in ways you never imagined. To become a Jedi is to make the deepest commitment. You must be willing to give all of yourself to your training, and to the Force. Here is the class, I spoke of. I realize most of these other students are younger, but age does not determine skill or talent here. Focus on learning from Master Kada, not on the age of your fellow students. I bid your farewell.”

 

The Nikto looked over his fellow trainees as he approached the class. Most were in their lower teens, judging by their species. There were a few in their mid to late teens but by the looks of things he was the only student here who had entered their 20s. Although some of the species presented he was unable to tell for certain, judging by the ages of the ones he could read, young was a fair guess. He nodded to several as he joined their loose gathering and was about to speak when what he guessed was a Jedi Master entered the room. Just by entering the room, Kaldor felt a cool calm wash over him, almost as if the blue skin of the Twi’lek seemed to wash off him and bathe the group.

 

“Emotion, yet peace…

Ignorance, yet knowledge…

Passion, yet serenity…

Chaos, yet harmony…

Death, yet the Force…”

 

The students all seemed to understand what the Master was saying as they each recited the words back to him. Kaldor was the only one who remained silent, unsure of what the words represented, or ever having heard them before.

 

“These are the tenants of the Jedi Order. Our code, our beliefs. Yet they are more than that. They are our way of life. To truly become a Jedi, one must learn the words and embrace them. Embrace them in mind and in heart. And most importantly in spirit. Your first lesson, meditate on the words of the Code. Nearly all sections of the Temple are open to you. Find an area that speaks to your soul, to your spirit. Calm your and mind and think on the Code. Once the you have discovered their meaning, return to me.”

[Drunken Corellian]

Scorpius sat there, his face still mostly covered by the hooded cloak he adorned, his face gazing into the grass as he contemplated on Darex's word. "Take the pupil over there, for Instance.." Scorpio spoke. "She was abandoned as a child, yet here she is finding peace and closure as she so openly shared. And the student next to her, a Senator's son, though slightly egotistical, finds his own peace in knowing that he makes his parents proud. Yet, little do they know that they are cousins, memories of her uncle, his father, proving this when she allowed me in and shared her life."

 

Scorpius paused a moment, remembering his own life. His life was very much like her's, and although she had yet to learn that she was abandoned by her mother because her father had denied her existence, she had found peace that would overcome any grief she would have when it finally did come to light. This truly made Scorpius look at things in a new light his own self. "However, if she had not come to the Jedi as a child and been raised in the belief she shares with us all, when her story does come to light, rage and anger vwould take hold of her and her balance would be destroyed forever."

[Darex Trevelian]

Darex nodded. "Good. You will find that some minds are more shielded than others. You were able to glean these details because the students let you in and have little training to prevent you from doing so. Later, I will teach you to shield your own mind. This will help you keep things hidden from anyone who might be prying, as well as add some layers of protection. Taken a step further, it will help cloak you, hiding your Force-presence for when there are times you may need to remain unseen and undetected."

 

He turned the subject back on the exercise. "For now, though, you have been focusing too much. Relax. Open yourself more to the Force. Feel the life around you, and become part of it. Don't focus so much on the larger lifeforms. Even the insects beneath our feet have lives and urges and purpose."

 

Once Scorpius was doing as asked, Darex gave him a few minutes to get more closely attuned with the plants and animals in the glade. Then he moved his foot and crushed an ant colony under his boot. If Scorpius was fully attuned to the exercise, he would feel each death like a part of himself was dying. Darex knew he would, because that's what he himself felt.

[Drunken Corellian]

"I see." Scorpius replied. Taking a deep breath Scorpio opened himself up again. He felt a little weary about letting the Force take total control and simply guide him, but the young Padawan did as instructed. At first, it was a little difficult, mainly due to the common belief that most are mindless creatures who act purely on instinct. But as Scorpius delved farther, he begin to understand Darex's words. And amazed he truly was.

 

The cricket didn't chirp out of instinct, nor as a warning of distant storms approaching. He chirped simply because it sang to his heart. And the worms, who did not simply eat dirt to fertilize the soil, but because they felt pride over the plants that grew from the soil and how their singular purpose meant life for everything from the plants to those who eat them and onward to the carnivores who ate them and right back to the carcases who returned to the soil and whom they themselves feasted upon. It was as if everything knew their place and felt content within it. Even the ants as the marched in straight lines bringing food to their colony knew they had a place among the galaxy and found bliss among it.

 

But suddenly Scorpius felt pain, a sharp pain that shot throughout his body and mind, as if death it's self had came to stake claim upon him. Looking over, he noticed Darex's foot upon the Colony, but before he could speak a singular word, he drifted away into a darkened abyss. But outside, his gaze glowing turquoise blue stared angrily toward the Jedi Master, and before Darex had a chance to react, felt an invisible hand grasp tightly upon his throat. Inside, Scorpius fought to regain control, but Mage was too powerful, and as he squeezed even tighter, Mage simply chuckled.

 

"Stupid Jedi. There was a reason I left the Sith, and you just proved my point. We humans have for so long thought the life of others, even those of insects, were beneath our own. The Sith toss aside the weak as if they are mere mosquitoes, and then those weak fools do the same to the even weaker like the mosquito. What they fail to see, is that even though the weak may be weaker in some areas, they are quite deadly in others. Remove your foot Jedi, and feel the bite of revenge as the surviving ants attack you... Or die here and now by my hands. Your choice."

[Darex Trevelian]

Scorpius' response was...a bit stronger than Darex had been expecting. The change in tone caused Jax to look up from his play with a puckered brow. However, as Darex found his windpipe being slowly restricted by the dark apparition that had taken seed in his padawan, he didn't bat an eye. I do not need to justify my actions to you, Sith, he spoke with his mind. Release my padawan. He didn't think this Sith would be able to kill him; call it arrogance, but the Force was telling him that it was not yet his time. He also spoke a word of reassurance to his son through the Force, and he went back to playing.

 

Reaching out, Darex caused something bright and flashy to catch the edge of Scorpius' vision. The distraction, combined with Scorpius' own efforts, was enough to cause the Sith's attention to waver for a split second, and in that moment, Darex freed himself. If this had been a normal duel, he would have used that moment to turn a mental assault onto the Sith's mind. But he could not ignore the fact that this was his padawan, and that a Force assault would be potentially damaging.

 

So instead, the Grandmaster kept his guard up, and waited to see if Scorpius would be able to control himself.

[Ashley Jade Skywalker]

As they descended through the atmosphere toward the complex below, Ash watched the navicomputer as it progressively updated their course to the surface below. She'd realized with some relief earlier that whatever this emergency Jedi beacon integrated into her ship was, it was paving their way down to the Jedi base, assigning them a docking berth and highlighting their trajectory.

 

Looking over at the still-sleepy child sitting next to her, Ash smiled and reached over to tousle Tirzah's hair. "Ready for this, kiddo?" Ash guided the Blackstalker down to the pad, setting it down with just a slight bump. A few flicked switches ran the ship through its shutdown, and Ash stood, taking her daughter's hand in hers. "Well, sweetie... here we go." The boarding ramp lowered, and the two of them walked down it together, unsure of what to expect.

[Jaina Jade Skywalker]

Tirzah braced herself, riddled with anxiety and doing her best to follow Mommy bravely, to smile and go along like she'd been asked. But too many experiences with unfamiliar spaceports had taken their toll on the child, and Tirzah's lip quivered violently as she attempted to stem the threatening tide of tears. Every disembarkment meant a new crowd of unfamiliar people, a hostile environment, and Tirzah had nearly forgotten the experiences after the respite of life on Endor. Overwhelmed with emotion, she did the only thing she could reasonably think to do: she collapsed on the boarding ramp in a heap of tears.

 

"M-m-mom-my, I-I-I ca-a-an't go-o-ooooooooo," she hiccuped, words hopelessly muddled by her sobs.

 

And yet, she noted in the back of her mind, in the place where the Little Fairy danced, where she would normally find wave after tidal wave of sheer consciousness, dashing against her senses, blinding her ability to See, there was only the gentle lapping of a vast ocean, welcoming and refreshing and inviting. The soothing sound of a gradual tide was such a contrast from the usual barrage of sensation that the girl forgot to cry in her surprise. The Little Fairy whispered to her, as clearly as she hadn't heard for a long time.

 

Welcome home, Tirzah.

 

Astonished, the girl let out a tiny laugh, her little heart leaping for joy. Here, there were friends. Here, all were family.

 

She looked up at Mommy as she stood up, her face glistening with the remnants of tears in the afternoon sun. Her visage was calm, and eerily, the wisdom in her face outshone her tender years, giving a rare glimpse at the old soul within.

 

"Mommy," she said, breathless with wonderment, "who are they?"

[Ashley Jade Skywalker]

Tirzah's tantrum ended almost as quickly as it had begun, and Ash breathed a sigh of relief, mentally berating herself for not even thinking about the consequences for her daughter that usually came with disembarking in a strange place. But the look of wonder and joy that came across Tirzah's face brought a smile to Ash's, and she placed an arm around her as they made their way across the landing pad.

 

"They're the Jedi, sweetie. And hopefully... they'll be able to help us both. So..." Ash knelt in front of her daughter, wiping the remaining tears from the little girl's face and straightening her disheveled hair. "Let's go see if we can go find some people, 'kay?"

[Drunken Corellian]

Mage chuckled manically. Reaching out into Darex's mind, Mage replied. "Let's see if the child can swim." For Darex had failed to notice Mage's own attack on the boy playing amongst the stream who Mage had grasped the moment he felt Darex's release and was now dangling over the deeper and more raging part of the stream. A man could survive, but could a child? This was the question that Mage had truly asked. And yet, before he released the child and retreated into Scorpius' mind, a glimmer of Mage's own past shown through. And a face that Darex would know emerged. It was the Sith Master known as Faust.

 

Mage went by a separate name then, as Darth Armegedus. It was Faust that had chosen him as a pupil. Yet, even in his chaotic evil perspective, Armegedus cherished his teacher and his maniacal ways. Traps for Armiena Darkfire and her husband. Constantly toying with the Jedi. For a time, he enjoyed it. It wasn't until his homeworld of Tatooine was destroyed and the Sith fought back along side the Jedi to face this new threat that something within him began to change, and seeing it as weakness, Faust struck him down. After revival, Armegedus went into exile until he came across Scorpius and their paths led to the point. What his intentions were, not even Mage revealed, only that he knew the man more than he let on.

 

But as Scorpius regain control, he sprung into action. Without thought, he grasped unto the Force like a leech and before the child reached the water, he laid kicking in the young padawan's hands not realizing that he was safely upon the other side. Putting the child down, Scorpius gaze regretfully upon Darex on the opposite side. Why was Mage doing this? Was he even safe to be around? If he couldn't gain control, who else would be in danger? Still gazing upon Darex, his need for aid more apparent his eyes than ever, he waited for the man's reaction, haven't yet to ponder the speed he displayed. Yet, surely, he had lost his teacher this day.

[Serpe]

An E-Wing class starfighter entered orbit around Lehon. Locking on to the last known coordinates of the Jedi Temple, Moon navigated her crochety old starfighter into the planet's atmosphere. She flew low, finally catching a view of a landing pad in the distance. This is where Moon would be redeemed.

 

She brought her ship to a standstill, and engaged the landing gear.

 

It's been so long... Will they even accept me back? Even after falling to the Dark Side?

 

The starfighter landed with a slight bump, and the cockpit sprung open as Moon leaped out, only to find two other persons on the landing pad. She made her way towards them, noticing quickly that one was a child and the other was either the caregiver or the mother. Moon wasn't sure which, but for some odd reason, she cared about these two people. She hadn't cared in over two years. After Kautra Nadio's death, and her fall to the Dark Side, Moon lost all notion of empathy. But it was slowly returning. Finally, it was returning. All hope was not lost.

 

"Erm, excuse me!" She shouted from the distance, waving her white hand in the air. The lightsaber at her side wobbled with her hand, and because her robes were replaced by a full-body crude black leather armor suit, it was exposed. Her hands and forearms were bare, but her feet and the rest of her body was covered. She hoped her Rattataki appearance wouldn't offend anyone. She was a hairless female, after all. Bald women are sparse in the Galaxy.

 

Moon noticed the slight tap of the lightsaber against her left thigh.

 

I don't deserve to carry this weapon.

 

"I'm looking for a Jedi. Could you help point me towards one who can help me?"

[Darex Trevelian]

After the incident, Darex was silent for a time, his lips covered with the ghost of a frown. This had changed the whole game. The memory of Faust's face and distinctive ice blue eyes was concerning as well. Somehow this Sith had been connected with the Hunter. Darex was one of the few people in the galaxy that did not fear Vladimir Faust, but his experience with the Sith Master had taught him that he was never to be underestimated. If he was still having some influence over Scorpius, even by extension, more caution was going to have to be exercised.

 

He could sense Scorpius' regret and fear, and the padawan's look was apprehensive. Finally, Darex spoke. "Scorpius, clearly the situation with this Sith is more serious than we originally expected. The fact that he can take control of you whenever he chooses is dangerous. He could cause you to do anything--even kill yourself, or betray the Jedi Order. You've proven you cannot control him when he chooses to intervene." He paused. "I'm not sure there is anything I can teach you if he intervenes during the most basic lessons. You must learn to control him before you can continue in your training." As much as Darex hated to say that, he thought it was the way it had to be. The Sith wasn't going to let Scorpius learn what it even meant to be a Jedi; how much more would he not allow Scorpius to begin to act like a Jedi?

 

Darex rose to his feet. "I want you to go to the archives and do some research. Look for Jedi in the history of our Order who have dealt with similar issues. I'm sure you are not the only one, although I can't think of a specific Jedi at the moment. The Jedi Order has existed for millenia. I want you to research these Jedi and how they dealt with this dark aspect inside them. Compile your findings into a report. Then I want you to spend some time alone. Work on building mental defenses against the Sith. The Force will guide you, padawan." He laid a hand on the younger man's shoulder. "I will meet you in the cafeteria tomorrow morning for breakfast."

 

He took Jax's hand and the Trevelians strode out of the courtyard and back into the temple proper. Darex was relieved to see that Jax wasn't any worse for the Sith's interference; he hadn't realized his life had been momentarily threatened. Not that he had ever been in any real danger of anything but a thorough soaking; Darex wouldn't have let anything happen to his son. "C'mon Jax, let's get you dried off," he said.

 

They made their way back towards the Grandmaster's quarters, but were stopped by an adept on the way. "Grandmaster," the adept said, bowing, "there are several new arrivals to the Temple. We checked the records, and the two adults were identified. Both are former Jedi. The older woman was stated as lost some time ago, and the younger woman's file said she had fallen to the dark side before dropping off the grid. There is no file on the little girl with them."

 

Darex nodded, interested. "Thank you. I will greet them."

 

Once the adept had left, he tousled Jax's blonde curls. "Guess we'd better go say hi first, huh?" He picked Jax up and they made their way towards the landing pad. Once they arrived, Darex saw the woman and the young child, as well as the Rattataki, standing fairly close together. He approached them. "Welcome to the Jedi Temple on Lehon," he said once he was within earshot. "I'm Jedi Grandmaster Darex Trevelian. How can the Jedi help you?"

[Serpe]

Jedi... Grandmaster?! Oh no, I don't look presentable. What do I do? I've never been in the presence of a Grandmaster!

 

Moon immediately stoppped in her tracks, leaving the woman and the child in between herself and the Grandmaster; and instinctively bowed, as close to ninety degrees as her humanoid body would allow her. Her hands fell flat to her sides, rigid with her stance. Her left hand brushed the lightsaber at her side, and she began to blush - simultaneously from the undeserving feel of the security of a lightsaber at her side, and from the presence of a Jedi Grandmaster. The blush was all the more visible on her pasty white skin. It's almost as if her entire head had turned into a red balloon.

 

"G-Grandmaster, sir," she started, her voice stammering. "Mo- Luna Bajjas." Moon introduced herself formally as she rose and didn't even dare to stick out her right hand to greet the man. He was in no way intimidating, but his presence in the Force almost threatened to crush her. Whoever this man was, he was deserving of the title of Grandmaster.

 

"I- I left the Order," she began, stuttering again. "The death of my late Master drove me in my weakness to the Dark Side. I'm seeking redemption. Will you help me?" Moon's face was still just as red, and now she began to tear up.

[Jaina Jade Skywalker]

As they crossed the hangar and entered the Temple, the little girl felt a hush from within that dampened even the most curious of questions. It was quiet, here. Every once in a while, there was the echoing sound of a half-whispered conversation, or a muted laugh, or a far off snap-hiss that sounded like some kind of electrical current. Unlike so many of the other places the girl had visited, the sentient beings here didn't clog or obscure her Sight with their presence. Rather, it felt amplified, like she could See to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. So she tried.

 

She stopped in her tracks, unconcerned about where she might be or who was present. Turning her face up as into the morning sun or an afternoon breeze, she set her thoughts on Endor. Pinpoints of heat seemed to brush past her, the things that Mommy called stars, whole worlds full of people seemed to pass by, until she was there, flying in from the sky like a mynock, floating down next to the lake, and there she Saw him. Dika was climbing the long branches of the trees over the lake, as the two had done many times, spear in hand, ready to skewer one of the fish below for breakfast. In that instant, she longed to reach the short distance it would take to bury her fingers in his fur, to tackle him into the lake, and in a moment of mounting panic, feeling her Sight slipping, she tried to do so.

 

"Dika!" she cried out, her hands grasping empty air, but he was gone. Finding herself again standing in the Quiet place with Mommy, Tirzah sniffled loudly, the ache of separation filling her gut. That's when she noticed them: a female, non-human from the way she felt to Tirzah, filled with anxiety; a man, brimming with the dance of the Little Fairy in his mind; and a smaller, but seemingly connected presence, both of whom were approaching her.

 

Impulsively, she ran forward and wrapped her arms around the littler one, and recoiled suddenly with a shriek when the immediate sensation, instead of the warmth she was expecting, was quite soggy and cold. Frowning, she looked down at the boy, oblivious to what the man, likely his daddy, had been saying.

 

"I'm Tirzah. Who are you? Why are you all wet?"

[Ashley Jade Skywalker]

Ash's first attempt at answering the Jedi standing before her was cut short as Tirzah cried Dika's name out, arms outstretched. She frowned, wondering what was going through her daughter's mind, as she was entirely sure that Tirzah was aware that they'd left Dika behind on Endor. But as she reached for her daughter's shoulder to comfort her, the little girl immediately brightened, running forward and throwing her arms around the water-logged little boy standing with the Jedi.

 

Ash chuckled at the sight of Tirzah's recoil as she came in contact with the boy's soggy clothes, finally looking back to Darex and extending her hand. “I'm Ash... That's my daughter, Tirzah.” She paused for a moment, trying to think of a way to relay her next thought without sounding completely insane. “I'm here, mostly, for her. She's blind, but as you can probably see,” she said, “she has a knack for being able to do things she shouldn't be able to do. I'm almost positive she's Force sensitive.” Eyes on her daughter's antics, Ash's next words came out somewhat absentmindedly. “And I think, at some point in the past, I might've been a Jedi." With a smile, she pulled her gaze from Tirzah once more. "I was hoping I could find some answers."

[Darex Trevelian]

Each of the three people responded very differently to Darex's approach. Setting Jax down, he straightened as the younger woman came up to him first. She seemed almost on the edge of tears, and extremely nervous. Darex smiled warmly at her. "Of course I will help you, Luna," he said. "The path back from the Dark Side is difficult, but if you are sincere, you will be successful. I will help you in whatever way you feel you need it." He would be interested to speak with her further in the future. Watching someone return from the darkness into which they had fallen was one of the most rewarding things, and a rare precious occasion.

 

The other woman had come up now and introduced herself and the young girl who was currently embracing a startled Jax. "Good to meet you, Ash," Darex replied. "Yes, the adepts here at the temple looked up your profile and identified you as a former Jedi, one who dropped off the grid. We had no idea what happened to you." Darex didn't think he had ever met her when she had been a Jedi; he didn't recognize her face anyway. "Regardless, if you're looking to find yourself again, you have come to the right place. If you need anything--advice or just someone to talk to--by all means let me know. I can't guarantee all the answers, but I might be able to at least help." He was interested to get to know this woman as well. There was something haunted in her eyes. It was the look that Darla had worn for some time, and it was the look that now Scorpius wore. All three were people who had lost memories. It was a disconcerting theme, but it was a situation that Darex was willing to do much to restore.

 

While the grownups were talking, Jax had shyly replied with his name. "Jax," he said. He held up three fingers. "I three." In response to her question, he thought for a moment. "Water," he ended up saying, unhelpfully. It was strange for him to be suddenly embraced by this strange girl; he had never been around other children besides his sister.

 

Once Darex had finished with Ash, he glanced at the children, and knelt down to their level. "Welcome to the Jedi temple, Tirzah." As he spoke to her, he reached out through the Force. A quick gentle brush of her mind was all it took for him to ascertain the truth to Ash's conjecture. "Your mother was right. You have a wonderful gift. Here you can learn to use it."

 

He smiled at the girl and then rose to address all three new guests. "Come inside. If we stay out here much longer we'll all get sunburns." He turned to lead the way into the cool of the temple. "This is my son Jax, by the way," he said as they passed through the arched colonnade. "You are welcome to stay in the temple as long as you wish. Rooms will be assigned to you, and the dining hall is right through there." He motioned to a large graceful hall off to the right.

[Jaina Jade Skywalker]

"... and we go swimming in the lake, and sometimes I make him fly, and he made me a hat like they wear but Mommy says I can't wear it in the house so I only wear it when we play clan leader outside. Do you have friends? I've never had any friends like me, only Dika, and he's a lot fuzzier and shorter than me, and you're like me except little, and you're a boy, and I've never played with a little boy before because they only let me play with girls at the orphanage but they didn't like me so me and the Little Fairy played by ourselves. Do you See the Little Fairy? I'll bet you do. Your daddy does. What's it like to have a daddy? I don't have one. You don't talk much, do you? That's okay, it's cause you're little. Someday when you're big like me you'll talk a lot more."

 

Tirzah prattled on to Jax, neither pausing for air nor for any responses such that the little boy might want to offer. She had never had such a captive audience before: most of the conversations Mommy had with adults, Tirzah was expected not to interrupt, and sometimes at home she got the sense that Mommy didn't want to talk very much. In a flash of inspiration, she reached forward to where the Little Fairy told her Jax's hand would be, and clasped his grubby, wet fingers with her own.

 

"We'll be friends now, okay? Best friends. I'll teach you everything I know so that when you're Four you'll be big and smart and nobody can tell you what to do because I'm Seven and that means I'm big, so I'll take care of you."

 

The atmosphere in this place was so thick, it felt to Tirzah like a superconductor of Sight. Not only could she extend herself far away to where Dika was, she could almost see an imprint upon the atmosphere, what felt like a stale remnant of the Little Fairy's activity. She could See Jax playing by a stream not far off; and there was another man sitting there who was making him fly the way she made Dika fly, only the way the man was doing it frightened her, and she couldn't quite figure out why. Turning her Sight away from the moment, she felt another rush of energy from the air of the Temple. Suddenly she found herself in a different moment, and Saw before her a young lady who seemed like her. She was saying something, asking about trials, about a search for Jaina, and that's when Tirzah realized: this older girl wasn't like her, it was her. The sheer surprise jolted her back to the present.

 

The entourage was pausing, and from the other side of Jax, Tirzah heard his daddy say something about a dining hall. Turning her white-pupiled and sightless eyes upward, she looked toward Jax's daddy. "Do they have fish for dinner? Dika liked fish. He lives on Endor. I can see what he's doing. I can see the man who pushed Jax in the water. I can see me and you and I'm bigger and I have a Danger Stick on my belt like you do. You're going to teach me to use it, aren't you? You're going to teach me how to find Jaina."

 

It wasn't much of a question to the little girl. The Fairy in her mind had shown it to her, and had never yet been wrong.

[Kaldor Draigo]

“Padawan Draigo, please stay behind a moment.”

 

Kaldor was shocked to hear the first words of Huttese since arriving on Lehon. Although he had despised his time with the Hutts, the language of the species seemed to bring a pleasant feeling to him. Perhaps the familiarity of the words, or the knowledge that perhaps the time he spent amongst his wormlike masters was shared by another. The young Nikto gave his response in the same language and returned the several steps to rejoin the Jedi Master.

 

“Yes, Master Kada.”

 

“I have asked you to remain behind for a couple reasons. While Clan Bantha, most of the students here have been under my study for several weeks. They have already touched the Force and begun to learn the truth behind the Code. I know you have been here less than a day, but the life of a Jedi is hard work, and the training to become a Jedi must be equally as difficult. Thus it my desire for you to quickly catch up to your peers. Alongside your lessons within the clan, I will be training you separately. I sense the Force strongly you in, Padawan Draigo. “

 

Kaldor narrowed his eyes as Kada spoke of his connection to the Force being strong. While surely he was sensitive to the Force, or else the Jeedai would not have taken him in. But could his connection possibly be strong enough to warrant special attention such as this.

 

“Before you begin to meditate on the Force, I must first tell you of the Force. The Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us; it binds the galaxy together. There are those who take a scientific view of the Force, believing it speaks to special cells in our bodies. And while there is evidence to support such a claim, my view of the Force is much more….mystical.”

 

“There are two sides to the Force. The light side, of which the Jedi are practitioners, is aligned with happiness, joy, love, and benevolence. While these emotions serve to fuel the strength of the light, Jedi believe that a calm mind and serenity of spirit can truly commune with the Force. To this end, we Jedi meditate to clear our minds and focus our spirits. “

 

Kaldor nodded slowly as the Jeedai Master spoke of the Force.

 

“That is enough speaking for now. Come, meditate with me. Together we shall clear our minds, and attempt touch the Force.”

[Serpe]

"Of course I will help you, Luna..."

 

Though the words didn't seem surprising - due to her time as a Jedi and learning their very accepting, tolerant ways - they still shocked Moon like a quick jolt of Force Lightning. She did expect them to help, but at the same time, she didn't feel she deserved it. The way she had murdered slaves for fun? The way she jumped on their heads, using the Force through her feet to crush them beneath her? Not a very deserving of redemption, in Moon's eyes at least. Moon had fear, but she knew that the first step back into the light was to let go of that fear. She would have to tell Grandmaster Darex everything. She tried her best to replace that fear with hope; hope of his acceptance, hope of the love she experienced as a Jedi. The Force gave her a warm, fuzzy feeling in her stomach, as if everything would be all right. That reassured her. While the Sith and the Jedi had both lied to her, the Force never lied.

 

Moon for the first time noticed the energetic little girl beside the trio, playing with the Grandmaster's little boy. Tirzah and Jax, they said their names were. Children were always adorable. Children always cheered Moon up. Tirzah's frantic talking to Jax brought a slight smile to her face, and washed the sadness from her mind. She felt... clear. Clear, for the first time in what had seemed like ages. She took a deep breath, channeling the Force into her body, and let it flow out with all of her negative emotions as she exhaled. Master Nadio had taught her that technique. Thinking of it, that was only the second time she'd used it.

 

Moon made her way into the Jedi Temple, outside of the sun as Darex had suggested. She held out her hand, this time to Ash. "Luna. But I prefer to be called 'Moon'. What's your name?" She said, in almost a childlike manner. Her mind tingled a bit when Tirzah reached out through the Force, but she couldn't tell what for. She didn't let the child's action distract her; however, it was good to see a Force Sensitive child. Beautiful, in fact. Another young mind to teach, to scullpt into a Jedi. She'd make a good Jedi, a good Jedi indeed.

 

Moon was excited to be at the Jedi Temple again. Although it wasn't Gala, where she had trained, it was still a bastion of peace, of courage, of serenity. She was even more excited when she learned that she could have residence in the Temple. Perhaps it was time for a little rest and relaxation after all she's been through. But she knew she would have to talk to Darex, and she would have to talk to him soon - but this thought no longer troubled her.

 

...AND FOOD...

[Darex Trevelian]

Jax was clearly a bit intimidated by Tirzah's talkativeness, but after some initial shyness, he warmed up to her. His instincts told him that she was a friend, and at his age, all he had were his instincts to go on. He followed her in awe, not saying much, but drinking in her every word.

 

When the little girl turned her attention onto Darex, the Jedi Grandmaster smiled down at the girl. "I believe they do have fish, Tirzah. Do you like fish?" When she continued talking, telling Darex about all the things she could see, he smiled, impressed. "You have incredible talent, Tirzah. Yes, I will teach you. For now you can learn some basics, and then when you grow up, I will teach you more." Indeed, she was clearly very strong with the Force. It was rare that someone so young learned how to actively use the Force. It would be important for her to immediately learn some methods to guard her mind.

 

He cocked his head. "Who is Jaina? Why do you want to look for her?"

 

As he asked, they arrived in a small hallway that branched off the main one. Doors lined it, and Darex opened two of them that were right across from each other. "Moon, this will be your quarters while you are here on Lehon," he said, gesturing to the one on the right. "Ash and Tirzah, you two can stay here." The one on the left was a larger suite with two bedrooms, designed for a master-apprentice team, but perfect for the woman and her daughter.

 

A ripple of hunger passed through him and he checked his chrono. "Tell you what. We'll go get Jax cleaned up and go grab some dinner. Feel free to join us if you wish, or if you'd rather rest after your travels, one of the adepts can bring some food to your rooms."

 

He bowed to both of the adults and shook Tirzah's hand respectfully. Then he continued down the hall, Jax reluctantly tearing himself from his new friend to follow his father. "Bye!" he called back.

 

Darex smiled. Having another kid around would be great for his son. "C'mon Jax, let's get you out of those wet clothes."

[Drunken Corellian]

Scorpius hung his head in shame, but nevertheless, did as Master Darex had instructed. What the man had stated was true. Mage seemed to have possessed him to a degree that even Scorpius had no longer felt himself. Leaving opposite of the others, Scorpius headed toward the Temple's archives. It was a long walk, although tranquil and peaceful, Scorpio felt differently this time. He felt alone again. He felt shunned. But more importantly, he felt anger. Walking up to a woman, he questioned where he could find a few holocrons on Jedi who had fallen as well as a few who had faced corruption and survived. She seemed to want to question his reasons, but Scorpius simply told her that Master Trevelian had assigned him some research and she quickly pointed him in the direction of his requirements.

 

Surprisingly, it was a rather vast collection. Most were on Revan and his fall to the Darkside and Redemption, as well as those who had followed him, notably one known as the General. But it only began there. It covered many over the millennia, ranging from Jedi who had fallen in love and became angered against the laws that forbade it, all the way to Jedi who simply did not agree with the basic principles and simply chose to walk their own path. But very few spoke of Jedi who dealt with possession save for one of recent days, classified as lost for the last five or so years. Scorpio began studying the file, noticing that most of the information had been erased or encrptyed as classified information, including the Jedi's name. Only information that the Jedi was born on Tatooine, began his training upon a Jedi Submarine on the planet of Manaan, was trained by a Jedi named Nom, and eventually went missing about a year after an attack on Manaan by a Sith named Faust.

 

"Faust" Scorpius spoke silently to himself as he began looking up the name. He had heard it before. Possibly from Mage. But what surprised him the most was what he had found. Faust was a terrorist,sadistic and without remorse. But the name of one of his pupils rang a silent bell. 'Darth Armegedus'... a name he knew Mage once carried. Is he the reason Mage went into exile? Was this Faust guy why Mage became the way he was? Scorpius dug farther into the file, digging as far as he could go until he came across a picture of the Sith Master. That was when a look of horror fell upon his face, and a singular memory shot through his mind.

 

Scorpius sat in the cockpit of an unknown ship, hurtling toward a watery planet as a magnificent sub slowly begins to dive beneath it's waves. He could feel presences, both light and dark within it's confines as he and his Master drove the ship into the water and quickly docked with the submarine, his Master hurrying him along toward confrontation. There seemed to be Sith aboard this Jedi vessel, a vessel that he felt so attuned to, and Scorpius held his double bladed lightsaber at the ready. Then it flashed forward to him gazing upon a Sith Master, known as Faust, and an Apprentice, a name that shot pain into his mind and sent him hurdling backwards. 'Yue'.

 

Scorpius jumped up and ran, taking the holocron with him of the unknown Jedi. Scorpius remembered. He remembered, somewhat, of who he was. He remembered who had created Mage. He remembered almost everything save for how he came into this life. Gating across hedges and fauna, Scorpius reached out to his Master, and after finding, headed his way. Out of breath, and nearly collapsing, Scorpius appeared in front of Darex. "I... I... I remembered"

[Darex Trevelian]

No sooner had Darex managed to get Jax into some dry clothes than he felt a frantic Scorpius reaching out to him. He went and stood by the door of his quarters, and when Scorpius appeared, panting, he stood back and took his padawan by the arm. Leading him into the living area, he set the younger man on the couch. Darex himself sat on the edge of another chair across from Scorpius. "You remembered," Darex repeated, oozing calm and peace through the Force to his frantic padawan. "Tell me."

 

He was indeed interested to hear what Scorpius had discovered, and what it would mean for the young man.

[Kaldor Draigo]

Kaldor silently followed behind Master Kada as they walked through the halls of the Temple. The watched as many Master and apprentices made their way through similar halls. He noticed most wore the same robes as he himself was now clothed. But what separated most of them from himself was the item clipped to their belts. The younger ones all wore lightsabers of similar design and appearance. The Nikto guessed that these were training weapons, designed to teach how to handle the weapon before receiving one of their own. The older apprentices, as well as the Knights and Masters of the Order each wore lightsabers of varying designs.

 

Soon the pair of Jedi reached a room full of planet life and filled with the sound of trickling water. Kaldor looked around and was amazed by the variety of color that surrounded him. Although they were within a building, the air he breathed in somehow felt like the fresh air of the open plains. It was invigorating and he felt alive like not felt in years. He walked alongside the Jeedai Kada until the old Twi’lek sat down beneath a young tree of a species Kaldor could not hope to guess. Master Kada gestured for the Padawan to sit across from him and Kaldor complied.

 

“Close your eyes and focus your mind. Clear away your thoughts and think only of the Force.”

 

Kaldor did as he was told and closed his eyes. As he tried to clear his thoughts he realized that as he pushed thoughts away, even more thoughts flooded in to take their place. Thoughts of his past, his future, what was going on around him, how long his training would take, what kind of Jedi he would be. Thousands of thoughts rushed into his mind as he tried to do the simple thing of being calm.

 

“Quiet your mind young Jedi. Focus on my words, hear only them. Well, the Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us; it binds the galaxy together. “

 

As Kada spoke, Kaldor listened intently. He focused on the words themselves, allowing the sound of the Twi’leks voice to over take everything else. The sound of the water, the rustle of the wind blowing through the leaves. And then he allowed the words to echo in his mind. Just those words.

 

“A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack.”

 

Once again Kaldor played the words over in his mind. Allowing himself to hear only those words. After several moments of playing the Jedi Masters words over in his head, the Niktobegan to find a calm center; a place in his mind where there was nothing, an empty spot. Focusing on that spot, he felt the same calm wash over his body. He felt his heart slow down, beating slower, yet still as strong. Every breath felt like it could last a lifetime. His mind, although quiet, felt so sharp. Opening his eyes he saw everything in the room perfectly. Every colored flower was vibrant to the point of moving. Every sound was amplied a hundredfold yet still clear. Every thought in his mind returned with a passion but was somehow more organized and clear, as if during his absence someone had taken time to make sure he would understand everything when it flowed back.

 

“I feel…..the Force.”

[Serpe]

"Thank you, Grandmaster Darex." Moon said quietly, backing into the room and analyzing it. There was a bed in the far right corner, with a window positioned right above it. Straight across from the bed was a couch, big enough for three at least. Seated in almost the center of the room was a chair, across from the HoloNet receiver that was positioned to the left of the window. She liked the room, and it suited her well. Simple, yet her own.

 

Simple perfection. A room fit for a Jedi.

 

The thought stuck in her head for a moment. Fit for a Jedi. She was a Jedi once more. Moon was instantly distracted from the thought by the grumbling of her stomach. She reached out into the Force, trying to locate the cafeteria, as she had no idea where it was.

 

She caught on to the presences of many Jedi in the Temple. The first was the warm, loving presence of Ash, followed by the adorable and rather large tingle Tirzah left in the Force. She knew that one day, Tirzah would make a great Jedi. She hoped that Tirzah would avoid making the same mistakes that she had, and the thought that maybe Tirzah could learn from Moon directly. She hoped that she would have the privilege. Reaching out further, she could sense Darex and... a disturbance. It wasn't a big disturbance, but there was a Dark Side aura in the Temple. Not exactly a Dark Jedi or a Sith, but a tainted mind... a hacked mind, using a Jedi Ace term. She was going to keep her mind's eye on the situation, but because Darex was projecting an aura of peace and calm into the Force, she knew he had a firm grasp on the situation. Darex was interested in her fall to the Dark Side, and Moon thought that perhaps she could be of use to this dark presence.

 

Moon sensed the presence of a Master and a Padawan, the Padwan reaching out with the Force as well. She pushed her presence to touch his, to give the being the feeling of another reaching out to it. Then she sensed various presences filled with physiological hunger. That must be where the cafeteria was.

 

She made her way towards the cafeteria, which led her through the garden - or one of many gardens, Moon wasn't sure - and she came across the Master and Padawan she had sensed earlier. A Nikito and a Twi'lek, Padawan and Master, judging by their presences in the Force. The Nikito was meditating, the Force flowing through him, and she could tell that he was Seeing for the first time. He Saw the Force and Life in all of Its glory. She was happy for him, seeing another Jedi added to the ranks.

 

Then she realized she was staring. She averted her gaze quickly, seeming to examine the garden, clasping her hands behind her back, and letting out a slight whistle.

 

Good job. Awkward...

[Ashley Jade Skywalker]

"Who is Jaina?

 

The words echoed in Ash's head, colliding and mingling with the confirmation that she had, indeed, been a Jedi at some point in her past, and she just stood there next to the bed for a while, still holding her duffle, lost in thought. She was dimly aware of Tirzah exploring their new quarters, rattling off questions without waiting for the answers and going on about Jax.

 

Ash smiled. If nothing else, she was glad that they came here for that reason. For Tirzah to finally have a friend- a human one- was no small feat, even given the age difference. Her daughter would blossom here.

 

Tirzah appeared in front of her suddenly, breaking her from her reverie, to ask if they could go meet Jax and Darex for dinner, and Ash could do nothing but smile at her daughter's enthusiasm. After spending so many years in isolation, she'd almost been worried that it would take Tirzah a good while to readjust to human company. "Of course, kiddo. I'm starved, bet you are too, huh?" Leaving the still-full duffle on the bed, Ash took her daughter's hand and they left the room, setting off in the direction that Darex had indicated the mess hall to be in. She joked with her daughter as they wandered down the corridors to the mess hall, and Tirzah giggled, the laughter ringing through the hallways.

 

And then Ash found herself on her knees, that place in the back of her head exploding with pain as the mental static started again. This time though, the images were easier to translate, as if the pathways of her mind were adjusting to them.

 

Jaina laughed, the musical sound echoing in the near-empty hangar.

 

"Come on, Ash," she whispered loudly enough so that Andon would have to try very very hard not to hear, with a wink at its intended recipiant. "We can take him on..."

 

As their giggles died down, Jaina glanced between the two of them. "Hey," she began, using her matter-of-fact tone. "How would you guys like to join me and Ish for lunch?"

 

When she regained control of herself, Tirzah was standing over her, looking torn between being scared about what had just happened or relieved that it appeared to be over. With a deep shuddering breath, Ash pushed herself back to her feet, somewhat shakily, and gave Tirzah's hand a reassuring squeeze as they continued their journey to the mess hall. "Force, I need to eat."

 

Seeing neither Moon nor Darex and his son seated at any of the tables, Ash gathered food for herself and Tirzah and guided her daughter over to an empty table to begin their meal.

[Kaldor Draigo]

“Yes Padawan, you did touch the Force.”

 

A slight smile creeped across the Twi’lek Masters face, replacing the stone face of a Jedi Master with something akin to an old man watching his grandson take his first steps. But it was a fleeting moment and soon the smile was washed away replaced with a grim expression.

 

“You have a remarkable connection to the Force. It is strong within you, but that touch was just the tip of the Living Force. The stronger your connection, the stronger the Force will flow through you.

The stronger the Force flows through you the stronger your connection. You will notice that it is a cycle. For now that is enough, walk with me.”

 

Kaldor rose to his feet and followed the Kada out of the plant room and once more through the halls of the Temple. He immediately noticed that he felt different now than he did when he entered the room. Although he was sure nearly everyone he passed in the hallways was more advanced in their training than him, he felt like he was closer to being equal with them. He felt more connected to them, to each and every being he passed, he could almost swear he could feel their presence almost as well as he could see and hear them.

 

“Padawan, you have been very silent since arriving here. Most new arrivals are full of questions? What is on your mind?”

 

Kaldor paused for a moment before answering. From his readings of the Jedi before arriving at the Temple, he knew the Jedi favored wisdom so he didn’t want to make a fool of himself. Once he had this thoughts in order he began to speak in Huttese.

 

“Master Kada. As long as I can remember my job has been to use physical force to get what my Masters wanted. When I came of age I began to absorb all the knowledge I could, and began to favor violence less and less. But what worried me was that even though I began to dislike violence, I still felt and still feel a calling to violence from deep inside me, and I know my skills in the art of war have only gotten sharper. “

 

Without realizing it, the Master and Padawan pair had entered a martial arts training area. The sound of humming lightsabers, the crack of wooden training swords, and the grunts of Jedi practicing hand-to-hand combat filled the room and soon drew the Niktos attention. A frown crossed his face as he realized that once more he would have to take up arms.

 

“I had hoped by stepping onto the path of the Jedi I could lessen my call to violence and seek wisdom through learning and study.”

 

Kada nodded and also took in the training of two young Jedi who were learning the maneuvers and the techniques of the Ataru form. He watched their graceful movements as they called upon the Force to enhance their physical prowess. Both Nikto and Twi’lek watched as the students flipped and spun around each other, their energy blades sparking each time they made contact.

 

“I understand your feelings. I truly do. Many Jedi feel as you do. Some seek a life away from violence, hoping to never draw their sabers in battle. And some of them are even able to accomplish that goal. But even the most pacifist of Jedi are skilled warriors in battle. Like your feelings, I understand your reluctance to draw a weapon and enter battle. In the heat of battle, it is hard to maintain the calm and inner focus that we as Jedi rely on to maintain our connection to the Force. But as keepers of the peace we must be able to protect those we serve. So we must train our bodies our and minds to fight well, and to keep our focus during even the most stressful of battles. Now come, lets test your focus in battle.”

[Serpe]

Relieved, the pair of Jedi seemed to ignore Moon and moved onto other parts of the Temple. That saved her some embarrassment. It also allowed Moon to focus on her more primal urges - hunger, in specific. The cafeteria couldn't be far away. Reaching out in the Force, she again felt the physical feelings of hunger. Amongst them, she also felt the presences of Ash and the tingle of Tirzah. They were far from familiar, but they were more familiar than anyone else in the Temple.

 

I think I'll head there.

 

Taking the rather long walk through the Temple, Moon finally made it to the cafeteria and found food. Her stomach grumbled audibly as she crowded as much food as possible on her plate. It looked comically large, too much for Moon to ever conceivably eat. But she was hungry.

 

She found food, and spotted Ash across the cafeteria, sitting alone with Tirzah at her side. Moon made her way towards them, struggling to keep the tray from spilling over. She stood on the opposite side of the table from Ash, not sitting down.

 

"Hey, Ash, is it? May I sit here?"