Pins Drop

[Savvy]

Location: Jedi Outpost Kira II Asteroid B219
Time: 0430 Local

It is easy to feel restless in stillness. Thought is a persistent firing of neurons, and that firing never stops. It may rest, fall low in slow rhythms but it never stops. That momentum is life, the very Force itself breathing constantly and seamlessly through every thing that exists. Yet without conscious thought that Force is chaotic, unfocused. If we are to be anything more than savages lost to the passions of temporal desires we must pause and consider with a design greater than ourselves. It is not easy to still the mind, to hear the urges and needs of flesh and remain unbidden by it. To feel the world around you and find yourself indistinguishable from it. To serve others without expectation. To have something without owning it. Yes these things are difficult, my unfortunate student, but this is the way of the Jedi. The path of light. If you want to do what is right, this is the path you will find yourself upon. That is, unless...

Eyelids fluttered with the long awaited exhale. Time between them unknown but mattering very little. As light solidified to shapes, and then to a surrounding Savora's reality fell back into place around her. Not that it had ever left, or rather she it. There would always remain a fragment of consciousness tethered to the mindful anchoring of her surroundings, but without any outward stimuli or sensation to create a ripple in the surface awareness her meditation would contine unobstructed.

But there was a ripple. On such a space station there was already little in the way of sentient life around, so when discord and confusion fell into her pool of attention Savora couldn't help but turn her emerald eyes toward it. She didn't have to look for it. It just seemed to flow off the stranger.

Hello.

 

[Fen Vel]

For space it was certainly noisy. Vibrations from the reactor make the deck plates tremble, the buzz of the lights that were the only source of light besides the stars. Time, that had always been a given before for her, day would be light, night dark, here time was completely meaningless. All this along with the drastic change her life had gone in the last few days meant that Fen couldn't sleep. She had tried, laying alone in a dark room looking at the ceiling, it wasn't her ceiling. Not that sandstone slabs, smoothed and dappled, not that any of it was hers. Since that day she had been asking herself frequently, why was freedom so bitter?

Calico, he'd helped her, at least as far as to realize she wasn't alone in being lost and confused. That she certainly wasn't going to be safe left alone in the outside world, that she wanted to help people if she could. He was why she was here, and the coin he had given her was the only thing she owned. So she was going to try to learn to be a Jedi, because what other choice did she have really? At least there was nothing to lose by trying. It was her first night here, somewhere other than the ship and her old home. Unable to sleep, fed up with thinking she had taken upon herself something she had never done before, she wandered. Dressed in a burnt orange cotton gown with a brown leather belt cinched at her waist with a pair of ankle boots, the light red skinned half Zeltron seemed smaller than before. She certainly didn't exude the aura of confident mystery and cool menace she once had. Her hair was the same at least, several beaded braids falling into her shoulders, the remainder of the purple mass pinned up against the back of her head before tumbling back over itself. If let down it'd reach half down her back, she'd not done that in such a long time.

One hand on the wall, as if at any moment she floor might disappear or the gravity turn off she walked overly carefully. For all she knew, both were possible at any moment, space was far from her friend. Past the commissary where the food had been different from what she was used to, the dorms that seemed mostly empty. When she met a person she offered a meek and uncertain smile politely, normally returned. Despite the striking red tatoos on her face, all seven of them, she didn't leave any impression of strength on anyone she'd met so far. Towards the training rooms now, adrift on her feet. Fen was used to work, she worked almost every minute of every day she wasn't asleep or eating. Since the former was impossible, the latter unappetizing. Reading or watching seemed the correct options. To learn more about what Jedi were, what she should do, maybe watch someone else doing those things. Anything at all to take her mind off homesickness, worry and fear of dying sucked out into space.

One thing Fen could note, was the complete lack of signage anywhere, struggling to find, whatever she was meant to find in the Training rooms she opened a door to what she assumed was a study room. It was empty, dark and not empty. As her blue-green eyes adjusted to the darkness, inside was a figure, one that spoke. Fen wasn't afraid that it was someone that might harm her, more that she had interrupted someone. Clearly she had the wrong room so nervous more than anything she stood a little taller, "I'm sorry, I have the wrong door." Her voice quiet, timid and wavering. It would be rude to pull away, much as she wanted to let whoever it was get back to what they were doing. For a moment the girl waited in the lit hallway, with the buzzing lights and the grouchy reactor vibrations.

 

[Savvy]

Where are you going? Perhaps I could help you find it.

Her tone was warm and attentive as she rose from the floor and turned to this new person, and as she moved the lights in the rather dull, furniture free room slowly bloomed to life in a series of sconces around the walls. Arms twisted in front, then above her as her back arched and her legs pushed against the floor until she moved onto the tips of her toes, stretching like a cat awake from a fresh sunspot until propmtly falling back down into a normal stand.

I was told being still is how we open ourselves to the Force, but doing so for so long still leaves me stiff.

She continued through the joints, rotating head to toe everything that could move. It was a little post meditation ritual she formed to prepare for the next part of practice. That would have to be set back until we found wherever it was she was looking for. As she turned to attend to the girl, Savora found she had retreated to the hallway. She must have felt she was intruding on Savora. The thought and consideration made her smile.

My name is Savora. I haven't been on this station very long. Sort of just... showed up looking for answers, I guess. It feels like ages since I've gotten to talk to anyone... She stopped to giggle at a thought. Well, solid.

 

[Fen Vel]

It was certainly an odd thing to say, talking to people that weren't solid, did she mean holograms? As for Fen, well she hadn't talked to a lot of people in forever. She had talked at people, asked questions, given answers but talked, there were only so many points in her life she could even consider that she had talked, to anyone. Having watched the woman unfold and feeling guilty, Fen had waited and tried not to watch. Stiffness was part with the course for Fen, a straight back and never slouching, an early lesson as a child, one involving a cane. So, confused, she did end up watching, still startled.

There was one thing that endeared her to Fen though, this strange flexing woman, that she was looking for answers. Put into words, that was exactly what Fen was doing herself. To find out more about this place, what she was meant to be, what that even meant. There was something she had learned already, just now, that you can sit in a dark room to, open up to the Force. Or at least try, what the Force was, Fen was hazy on. Some sort of energy that filled living things, that you could manipulate and control, or sense in her case. That was far from the detailed answered she wanted however, it was hardly tangible to her. There was far more to learn, a talk with someone else might be enlightening.

Bowing her head the girl answered, "I am, Fen Vel," Saying that still felt alien, talking of herself, "I was," Answer honestly, "Looking for somewhere to study." Honest it was, by omission anyway. Her voice was quiet, polite and uncertain in the extreme. Rather than probe on the meaning of, being solid, Fen let that go for now to focus on what was in front of her. A race she did not recognize in a now lit room, instead she added, "I arrived last night, to here," hesitantly she reiterated, "To the Jedi. I mean, to study to maybe be one." That was a hash, sheepishly she looked as uncomfortable as she felt, this was not going as she had planned.

 

[Savvy]

As Fen fumbled, Savora couldn't stop the wave of empathy that washed over her. Perhaps it was just coming out of meditation. Or...or maybe being secluded for so long and opening up this new sense and finally giving it a sensation outside of herself to interpret. Whatever it was it was...intoxicating. The fear, longing. It ran deep into Fen's heart. If Savora wanted she felt she could simply...

Breath caught in her chest and she drew in sharply, awareness snapping back like a broken spring. What the hell was that?!

Her eyes blinked rapidly a second as Savora strained to focus on the sense of normal, with your eyes vision. When Fen regained form Savora reflexively smiled wide.

I'm sorry. Still adjusting, I think. From what I understand my training thus far has been rather unorthadox. Some lessons are meant to be learned at a slower pace.

She joined Fen in the hallway, wiggling her arms until the massive sleeves of these strange robes wove around her arms into something managable.

It is quite rare to be sensitive enough to the Force to control it as Jedi do.

A thousand ways to direct, only one chance to choose. To talk small would do neither of them any good in such a vulnerable moment. Both lost and confused. Of course, Savora would never let it show.

How is that sitting with you?

 

[Fen Vel]

Odd was certainly the word she would still use, never the less friendly odd was nice it seemed. It was hard to make out the age of an alien that Fen didn't know, but she wanted to say older than herself if not taller. That she had already trained in some form of Force use, Fen found that impressive given that her training in anything had been exactly zero. Being further along or learning things quickly, she had nothing to mark them against in her mind. That also meant it was a given that this person knew far more about being a Jedi than she did, even if they were newly arrived themselves.

Standing upright and keeping her hands together in front of her Fen thought hard about the question that was put to her, both in meaning and answer. Her answer had been one tempered with indecision and choice, given that her first interaction with Jedi was vile it had to be. That they were rare, that she was one of that rare number, in the end that made the choice easier. Smiling softly and bowing her head slightly when she spoke, "That is why I want to become one, to make the best use of myself." Leaving out the security, place to live and fact she didn't want to kill anyone as further reasons she tilted her head very slightly as she thought, beads in her hair clacking slightly, "Why did you come here?" It seemed only fair to ask, she hadn't given anyone else's reasons for being here much thought until right now. Maybe her own paled into useless stupidity compared to theirs? It would be an idea into what made Jedi at the very least.

 

[Savvy]

There was a note of hesitation in Fen, but Savora didn't take the bait. You can't expect strangers to be completely open. It isn't the way of the galaxy, sad to say, to let down one's guard. But there were countless ways to put up walls.

I came here to serve.

Silence encircled them as the word sank in and she tried a little harder to mean them.

Or figure out how I can. If I can, even. Hell, I'm not even sure what I can do. I mean, I know what I can do now, and I know that if I continue training I can do more but... How can I... Savora, botanist, scientist, simple girl with less rings than a sapling be a Jedi Knight out of legend?

Her brow furrowed, her face fell pensive, her open warmth fading for a brief moment in distracted introspection.

I suppose I am just being impatient. Rushing will only serve to hinder progress.

The thought calmed her and returned her soft smile.

Well, you said you were looking for somewhere to study. What were you going to study?

 

[Fen Vel]

That didn't bode well, that even one with more skills did not know what that would mean to serve or how to do it well. Then it also dropped that this, Savora was also a scientist, that was something beyond Fen. If this was the caliber of people they normally took to be Jedi then she was far below that, yet here she was. She had learned a lot about different aspects of different dead cultures, been a Spy Master in the underworld. Maybe not so far behind, or so she hoped. Before Fen could come up with any form of answer to the question poised the woman answered it herself. Fen's answer was different, tempered. Maybe because her own goals were not so lofty as to become a legend, becoming an acceptable Jedi came first. Not wanting to ruin the thought she answered, "Legends make themselves, those in them don't get a say one way or the other." They also tended to be vastly over blown or miss the important details entirely, or so Fen found.

The other question, she had been giving thought to for the last half an hour, "How Jedi train, or more about the concept." That was vague but then so was her picture so far. Fen knew, or at least thought she knew what she wanted Jedi to mean. To help people, be it big or small, not too much, enough. Though that was more of a morality than a list of actual things, that was what she needed to work on. As it was she had no conscious control over the Force at all or any training in any form of physical moment. When she thought about it, she didn't even know how to run properly. That list was suddenly becoming enormous. Yet she was certain if she could come up with some sort of plan, one day she would be able to help people properly. Small ways first, like the help she found herself all but asking for right now.

 

[Savvy]

What an unexpected gem of wisdom.

That was quite wise, if it isn't too bold of me to say.

They walked in silence for some time, the gaps in early morning lighting blinking awake in anticipation of their imminent arrival.

You aren't really asking about how a Jedi trains though, are you? You want to know what this great whatever called the Force is, right?

It was such an impossible question, really. How could you put something so big into such small words, into a single conversation, ten thousand conversations? The Ghost hadn't the words either, but Savora couldn't quite take his lead and simply take Fen by the hand and show her the vastness. Could she? Should she? Maybe it was as simple as showing Fen what she did to find it.

I could try to put it into words, sure. Tell you about an energy field that cannot be read by machine, that fuels and is fueled by all life, thought and action. I can tell you with certainty that this massive and awe inspiring Force does exist, and people sensitive to it like you and I are able to sense and control it. It can restore flesh or incinerate it, calm a frightened child or tear apart a lifetime of confidence and willpower with a calous thought. The Force can give us strength or feed into our most selfish desires. It gives life and takes it with equal repose. It is the energy that drives and connects all things, and with it you can learn to master the galaxy. But as powerful as it is, it cannot give you mastery over yourself. Only you decide who has that. You or another.

Further down the hall and other Jedi are waking for their daily routines, all of them knowing where they should be going and what they should be doing. It was alienating in a way, to feel so without direction in a place so full of it.

Or I could show you.

 

[Fen Vel]

Fen smiled at the compliment, she did not get many. As for the interpretation of the her answer, it was partially right. The answer she got was more comprehensive and encompassing than she had expected, a far better answer than she had gotten so far and rather more intimidating. The Force could be used to do a great many things, that much she knew but this, it seemed too much. That was not the sort of power she wanted to have, certainly it was not the sort that she felt she should be thinking about. Then at the end, she hadn't thought of that. There was a lot to learn there too, about control over her self, her own choices. Self control she felt comfortable with, even easy, she had a lifetime of that, leading herself, there she was only just starting to find the meaning. Then, then the offer.

Fen paused, thinking hard about what it meant. For a moment, a long moment she weighed it up. To be told what direction to go, to see what she could end up with, to know what she had to do to get there. That alone was enough to say yes, such a comfortable path, one that seemed natural to her, the one she wanted yes. The word came, in gratitude, but silence. Her own brow furrowed, "No, but thank you." This might be the path she wanted, but it wasn't right. Knowing all that, in truth, she wasn't that strong. She'd be impatient, driven to get there yes but, what if she wasn't meant to? Already she was starting to see that the Force itself had a different meaning to different people, shouldn't she learn for herself? There was so much for her to learn before she got there, there was also no rush to get there. Why take the risk?

Taking a breath and starting to walk again she smiled, trying to defuse her refusal, "I think you are right, I have to learn myself before I can learn the Force. I know it is there now, I am not ready or I would already know, wouldn't I?" Loath as she might be to do so, there was something Fen had not considered. On the topic of running, she needed to learn to control herself physically. She had seen already what could be done, learning towards that goal, seemed a more attainable start. Where to make that start exactly, she was still mulling over. She knew that people exercised to improve their fitness but she had never paid it any particular attention.

 

[Savvy]

Fen thought long and hard about the offer. It was good she put thought toward her decision. Maybe she was scared like a rabbit, frozen between moments where every decision may decide your fate. Uncertainty filled her thoughts but certainty was found in the words. It was like a layer of language under language that showed a dimension previously unknown. Savora couldn't quite focus these sensations, but she knew of their origin and refused to let unfamiliarity shake her. Steady she drew in breath, thinking only of the count as she maintained a calm rhythm observing Fen under serious consideration. When she finally did speak up the bustling crowd of padawans grew and migrated around them, clearing the hall almost as quickly as it filled.

You make a mistake in seperating the two. You are the Force, little sister.

She smiled again. Couldn't help it. Things felt so vivid since Dagobah.

Come, I want to show you something.

Continuing down the hallway, Savora made the first right she could and continued at a brisk pace. Quick enough to get your heart pumping but just shy of jogging. At the end of the metal corridor lay a half spherical window with a short catwalk extending into it to a ten by ten platform. She slowed coming to the catwalk and stopped just off center of the platform. Her breathing was calm, steady like she had been walking. And her eyes drifted to the stars.

 

[Fen Vel]

It was certainly hard to think of ones self as part of an all in compassing force. It was akin to a blind person starting to be able to see in her eyes. She had been able to make out shapes at very best but now she was given the prospect of seeing everything and more. What the woman said was true, yet that just make what Fen had said more so. That she had to learn herself, as much as she did the Force. One aspect she could understand and to her, that was how to develop the direction in which to take herself. It also would not hurt given the antics that she had seen other Jedi get up to in the last few days to be fitter anyway. Yet, before the true meaning could be contemplated, Savora seemed to rush away. Rushing seemed to be a theme with Savora, one that Fen did not share and it was much harder for her to keep up than would really be reasonable.

Pressing hard on her chest to steady her heart and breath Fen was not helped in the slightest by the sight in front of her. Oh it was majestic for sure, it would make a lovely painting. On a planet she might have stood and looked up at the stars now she had a chance to, however this was not a planet. It was less than a foot of metal plating between her and a vacuum that was bent on trying to kill her at all costs. That would be bad enough, except right there was as huge window, barely an inch think, taunting her with its fragility. Clinging to the door frame Fen flat out refused to go any further inside. When that glass broke, she wanted to be the right side of the door. This was her line and she would unhappily remain there, no further.

It was big, dark, empty, despite the light, a few huge bodies of rock nearby made it worse, not better. Space was no place for organic creatures, that was for certain. Timidly and from the doorway Fen finally spoke up, "It's wonderful, but please come back inside." Her voice displayed exactly how worried she was, the first person she had really met here was certainly going to be sucked out into space at any moment. Finding her breath she felt compelled to hold it.

 

[Savvy]

Lost to the stars Savora didn't notice how long Fen stood motionless at the doorway on a hair trigger of rocketing backwards. When she finally did speak her words only echoed what her body was screaming. Fear. A fear Fen felt quite appropriate.

No, no. This must be now, while the fear runs deep in you! It is a moment when the Force flows strongly. How it does so depends entirely on the one feeling the emotion. A practitioner of the Dark side would take the path of least resistance and let that fear boil inside them, frothing out as fury. The Jedi, however,

She broke her stare out the window to look back at Fen and smile, not at all concerned if the frightened thing would join her out on the platform. It was her emotion to sooth when she was ready to sooth it. Things were much different here than on Dagobah. With only herself to look after, Savora had learned to feel herself and her surroundings, the living things around her, and only at the end of her long journey stretch far enough to hear the whispered song of the nearest star. Yet since she has stepped foot on the station, Savora suddenly found herself bombarded by thoughts and feelings of any not consciously preventing against such projection, those she had learned knew of many techniques to keep yourself to yourself. She had spent much of her time on station thus far to meditate just silence the persistent white noise. Now seeing this girl, so green and shaking like a leaf, Savora could feel her anxiety and fear and wanted to ease it away until all that remained for Fen was the stars. Short of that, Savora could only convey calm through a smile.

The Jedi believe that by controlling our emotions, and trying to understand the why of them can we find peace and harmony with them. In this peace we find knowledge, wisdom, courage, compassion, the things that make the world we envision possible. The things that nurture the Light side and helps it grow. Without them, all we have is darkness.

She returned to the stars and knelt down, folding her legs as if to meditate. It seemed like it was all she could do anymore, but without control she would serve no one capably. As her focus shifted between the bright stars to the infinitely dimmer abyss surrounding them Savora's tone fell solemn, her eyes distant like recalling a memory to lay out before her like a holovid.

Fear is a terrible thing, little sister. It buries itself deep. Makes you protect it with lies and rationalizations. Makes you do desperate things to sustain it. It will not let you think outside of it. It will deny you opportunity, fulfillment, even your own life to ensure it is the very last thing in you that dies. Yet in all this, it is afraid you will suddenly wake up to discover that the only power it has ever had is that which you willingly give it.

Her voice softened, and her smile shone only unrequited acceptance.

If it helps any, the glass has been here for quite some time. There is little evidence to suggest it will fail in this small window of time in its long and continuing history.

 

[Fen Vel]

Fen listened, she didn't like what she heard but she listened. Most of it was putting into words what she already knew. That she didn't have enough self control, not really, nor did she know herself let alone the Force. When trying to learn how to swim, the answer to her was not to dive head first into a pool filled with Marrow Suckers that had been starved for a week. Being given an extreme lesson such as this, in her eyes was just far too much. As for fear, it kept you alive. When you didn't have the skill, ability or strength to do something, fear would keep you alive. It was a problem when it stopped you developing, however right now Fen didn't see it that way. She was already pushing herself just to be near this room, to know that she was indeed, in the emptiness of the void. Her body refused to go any further even if her mind pushed it, and it did not.

Leaning close against the wall outside with just her head visible Fen watched, trying to take note. Without thinking about it, when the wave that was Savora washed past her, Fen's own mind bristled once again, defending itself. Calm, in her own way she already was quiet calm. Dangerous as it was she felt her current location far safer, bar that someone else's life was in peril things were going okay. Fen could sort of understand what she was doing though, meditating right? She'd actually never tried it, but she'd already seen it. To get in touch with the Force, well that would have to wait a while. The girl had made up her mind someone, as she seemed to often do with adversity, what she needed to do right now was learn herself, and control and find her own path to the Force, and herself. It seemed the only way to her mind that she could ever really understand it, being shown would leave her always in doubt that it was not her own path she was finding.

Never the less it was nice to talk at least, awkward as it was and she was certainly learning something. Letting herself slip down into a seated position she responded coolly, "I'm quite fine here thank you." Out of eyesight but clearly still there, thinking in her own way.

 

[Savvy]

In...two...three...four....five...
Hold...two...three...four...five...
Out...two...three...four...five...
Hold...two...three...four...five...

Fen wasn't coming out, and that was fine. She'd face it eventually. And there had been enough talk. Not just aloud.

Her breathing had began to fall into the rhythm, inhale and exhale just as long as the pause between. In, down to her center, out, up through the body. As the rhythm circled Savora could feel the warmth growing in her stomach, spreading outward with every slow, methodic exhale.

Fen was eager to learn. That much was plain to see, but she had her limits. Savora could almost feel eyes upon her. Maybe she'd notice the technique and try to replicate it? If not, Savora could try to answer questions. That was if Fen could figure out which ones she wanted to ask.

 

[Fen Vel]

Fen sat, and Fen felt. She listened to the movements of the metal, the rock, the reactor, the shields. Each of them had a sound that she already knew, as more time passed she was able to pick up more, the sounds to tiny impacts on the surface, a cleaning droid, the flow of water somewhere. Closer still she could hear the sound of controlled breathing, her own having reached a controlled lull of mostly equal pacing. What she did not think she felt was anything remotely like the Force, beyond the echoing mass that filled the entire station. That Force she could feel, she had always been able to feel and it was how she was able to tell when most people were lying. Yet the Force within herself, nothing, as if she was blind to it. The ebbing flow from people, it was muddied here, heavy and thick. Enough that she could feel it, not so much that she could tell whose was whose., just there.

In her self, she could take stock. She was afraid, of a great many different things. She was tired, hungry, slightly cold, her knees still hurt a little from a few days ago. She was worried for people that were gone, and now people that were here. There was freedom, loss, nerves, there was a great deal inside her, most almost brand new. Her new life came with new emotions, saying what they were was easy, what they came from not so much. The girl was kneeling at the end of the corridor, by an open door. Hands in her lap with her eyes closed, back against the bulkhead. Right now she did not feel rushed, yet she did feel sooner rather than later she should begin the training she was starting to map out for herself.

 

[Savvy]

Time seemed to matter little in the endless transition between in and out. While her mind would occasionally fleet away to something troubling her heart, anything from her parents, her future, even this new, lost friend, but Savora would redirct her attention back to breathing.

You cannot expect a mind to be calm and empty yet aware at all times. When would you ever have a thought? Do not worry when your thoughts prove difficult in quieting. Will and focus are like any other muscle. They must be exercised to grow, and will develop differently depending on how it is used. Through practice we turn conscious action to reflexive action. In time...

Fen.

Silence shattered as a thought broke the cycle, her voice almost a whisper to avoid startling the girl.

You seemed out of breath after our hurry over here. Would you like to learn a practice I use to help increase my lung capacity?

 

[Fen Vel]

Fen heard the voice, even as a whisper thunderous, compared to what she had been listening to. Surprised and with a small start she opened her eyes, taking an inward breath. Her tongue tripped over itself as she seemed to be taken off balance, "Well, I , um, maybe." Blinking and tilting her head around the corner the girl offered an uncertain smile, "I mean I'm sure it'll help, I just haven't run, at all, before this week." Hands fidgeting with themselves, "I don't think I can make much use of it right now, I guess."

 

[Savvy]

Nonsense. Only the dead have no use of breathing.

Her voice was still little more than a whisper, eyes still lingering between the stars.

Live the white, know the black.

This, from all she took from Dagobah, was the thought that troubled her most. But for now she would redirect herself to attend to Fen and try to help her find some measure of peace if she could.

Standing, she turned from the platform and headed back toward the door. Fen remained on the other side of the bulkead, her head poking around the door looked so adorable in her uncertainty.

Don't worry, it is very simple.

Savora moved through the door and knelt next to her new sister.

Our bodies automatically take in only as much air as needed. If we maintain only minimal activity out breath is short and shallow. But if we take over control of our breathing we can send that breath deeper.

She paused to give an example. As she drew in her abdominal muscles expanded while her shoulders remained still, lifting only when the lower portion of her lungs filled.

The act of breathing isn't a single thing with a single group of muscles. Our entire torso is wired with a network of muscles. The ones we commonly use for breathing are in the chest and shoulders, lifting to expand the upper half of our lungs. It is a shallow breathing, but is enough to sustain us in most activity.

Savora paused to give another example, this time emulating the short breath she spoke of.

For deeper breathing we use our abs and lower back first, drawing air down into our center of gravity and continue up to the upper lungs. The more you consciously direct your breath deeper you will begin continue it unconsciously.

Another deep breath. If you weren't paying attention it would seem Savora remained completely still.

Do this until you do it without thinking.

 

[Fen Vel]

But that wasn't, Fen let out a slightly frustrated breath. It didn't matter, she listened and she tried to followed what seemed as natural to her as breathing underwater. She couldn't remember being told, or a lesson about it but she knew the effects. To have a straight back, to give your full attention at all time, step softly and move silently, breath softly as if you didn't. No master wanted a slave who was noisy or interrupted, or was even a distraction in a quiet moment. To make as little of an impression as possible was the point and how she had lived her entire life. So being told to breath differently was no simple feat. At first she looked at Savora like she was a little bit crazy, after all having not run she had never had a reason to lake a deep breath, except. Trying to put the words into a context she knew an idea struck, swimming.

When it came to aquatic races, even the slave baths were huge. So she had learned to swim and hold her breath. So it was like swimming, while standing, but not gasping it seemed. She took that deep breath, her insides feeling slightly uncomfortable. Then she did it again, trying to keep time and almost working. By then she was starting to feel somewhat fatigued, forcing this with muscles she rarely used was hard. Though she tried and seemed to have some success, "Do you, do this all the time then?" When Fen did it was far from subtle, was it what other Jedi were doing all the time without her noticing? One thing was for certain, she'd forgotten they were inches away from death.