Samnak's Training

[leunat]

The boy sat silently in one of the many halls of the temple, attempting to focus after his failure of a lightsaber sequence. His mind drifted back to the training room where he had been working. The scene began to replay silently.

He swung to his left and parried a bolt towards the remote. The little device flew a foot higher and fired off three more in quick succesion. He dropped low and rolled to his right, before bringing his training saber up to the front and knocked one blast to the ground. Weaving right and left to close the distance with a number of flips and swift blocks, Samnak took a step, and let the force guide him over the droid. It was an excellent run, until the droid rotated upward, and shot him in the back.

The rattle of a nearby bust shook Sam from his reverie. He sighed and quietly berated himself. "I need to control myself. Letting my emotions control me will only make me more frustrated. There is no emotion, there is peace." The boy settled back into a meditative stance and began to recite the Jedi code, hoping to find some solace from it. It reminded him of his goal to become a knight.

A second later, Sam slumped in defeat. It also brought to mind he had yet to be chosen as a padawan, yet again distracting him from his meditation. He had over heard a rumor from the other hopefuls, of students being considered for apprenticeship, and his name had been mentioned, but the empty gossip of the younglings meant little to him without guidance. Realizing the self destructive course his mind wandered, the young hopeful decided to use a focal point in the room to empty it. Turning to face a small fountain of water in the room, he slowly began to attune himself to the Force.

 

[Demiurge]

Athena walked through the central courtyard of the Ossus Temple. It was late afternoon. Not quite near the evening hours, but late enough for the beams of light emitted from the setting sun to shine through the courtyard fountains.

The Miralukan Jedi Master walked up to a young hopeful in meditation. Although he appeared at peace, Athena could empathically sense a faint aura of ambiguous disappointment, possibly a relieved feeling of frustration.

"Samnak Sa-jasra," said Athena, "My name is Athena Venirè. I am to be your instructor on the Jedi arts." Athena then turned around, and walked towards a hallway. "Young one, come, and we shall begin."

 

[leunat]

Just because the boy was reaching out with his thoughts, did not mean he felt everything. In fact, the statement made by the jedi master caused him nearly to fall off his perch and into the nearby fountain.

The realization of what she said hit him like a ton of permacrete. All thoughts of frustration disappeared and were replaced with joy. He reflected that perhaps there was a hint of truth in anything and he would do better to at least investigate next time. "Yes...master!"

He jumped to his feet, nearly stumbling in his excitement and caught up to Athena before falling into stride at her side.

 

[Demiurge]

Athena put her hand on a panel which opened a nearby doorway. The doorway led into a long, wide hall, with glass walls that showed the forests of Ossus. The hall resonated with beams of sunlight, making the hall appear to have a golden glow about it. To Athena, it was impossible to not find peace here.

Athena approached the end of the hall and opened the door there, which led into a large meditation room. Like the hall, the room had glass walls, and several round stool seats near the end of the room. Athena telekinetically lifted two of the seats, and placed them near the center of the room. After that, the Jedi Master went onto the first stool seat, and crossed her legs in a meditative fashion.

Athena then turned her head towards Samnak, and held out her hand in the direction of the other stool seat. "Young one, come and sit here."

 

[leunat]

Bowing respectfully, he did as she instructed and sat across from her. He'd heard of Athena around the giant temple, for she was well known and respected. He found it odd she had picked him, but thanked the Force she had.

Taking in as much detail of the surrounding beauty as he could, the young man settled into a meditative position and shifted until he was comfortable. He glanced again, watching the stillness of the trees and blinking against the light sifting through their branches. Quietly he found his voice and spoke. "Please Master Veniré, teach and I will learn."

 

[Demiurge]

Athena smiled at Samnak's eagerness. A truly willing mind was a difficult thing to find. But of course with determination, anyone could achieve knowledge. Athena then closed here eyes, and breathed in deeply, and slowly.

"Before being taught, your mind must be as open as possible. For a brief moment, close your eyes, ignore the walls around you. Clear your mind, ease your thoughts. Listen to the Force."

Athena enjoyed meditating. It kept her awareness in the Force sharp, and her senses strong. Even those who were not Jedi, only aware of the Force's pretense, would meditate through the Force. It brought one peace, which was hard to come by in the galaxy.

 

[leunat]

Sam's eyelids slid closed. The air, warmed by the sunlight filtering into the room brushed across his features. He began to feel a line of tremors in the room. It was a familiar feeling, one that normally took him longer to achieve.

Allowing that thought to linger momentarily, he decided it most likely had to do with his company as well as the enviroment. However, the padawan only took comfort in the speed at which he was achieving sensitivity, not that he was feeling his master's force signature. She was right next to him. That and she was strong and in meditation as well, most likely projecting the little flows around the spacious hall.

He attempted to reach further, following her guide to the other living beings in their proximity. It was something for him to feel individual leaves on one of the trees behind the glass. But that was as far as he could go, and there he stayed as long as he could.

 

[Demiurge]

Athena slowly as she opened her eyes. Light meditation was always the most advantageous way to begin training one's abilities. Of course, Athena meditated frequently regardless.

"Good. Now, open your eyes. For now, we will only center ourselves. Deep meditation requires a greater deal of time and concentration. As of now, you aren't quite ready for that."

"So, before we begin, please first recite the Jedi Code."

 

[leunat]

The young man nodded quickly, before reciting the code.

"Emotion, yet peace. Ignorance, yet knowledge. Passion, yet serenity. Chaos, yet harmony. Death, yet the force." He finished and looked at his master, waiting quietly for the lesson to continue. Just reciting the code was memorization. He had heard the masters and knights speak of it, and attempted to understand it to the best he could comprehend.

 

[Demiurge]

Athena nodded as Samnak recited the Code. He memorized it perfectly, though it was to be expected that he'd known it by this time. Of course, memorizing words are only half the battle. It would essentially be useless if one learned a text without knowing the actual meaning behind them.

"Now then," she began, "Please tell me how you interpret the Jedi Code."

 

[leunat]

Sam was silent for several seconds while attempting to interpret the message.

"I must not allow my emotions to take away my center. If I am to understand the Force, I must understand myself and my feelings, work through them, and allow passion and bias to be removed from the situation."

Seeing no reaction from the woman, he assumed he was to continue through its entirety. "There is no true ignorance, as even one who is ignorant of one topic will have knowledge of another. And those who are not wise will still speak and act wise when the Force guides them to it. I must always keep my mind open as I can always learn something new from any source."

"While our passions drive us to the will of the force, they should not drive our actions before we can assess the situation. Patience leads to an unbiased viewpoint of the situation at hand and brings the most even handed conclusion. If I allow my passions to control me and act rashly, there could be far reaching consequences that will undo any short term success."

"By knowing that all living things are tied to the force, I recognize that there is no true chaos. The Force flows from one end of the galaxy to another, connecting us all, and through that connection one can interpret seemingly separate actions and understand the conclusion that will come about from them."

His mind, while it grasped the concept of death, and the first layer of the phrase, Death, yet the Force, he knew his wisdom on the subject was weak at best. He attempted to express it though. "While we are connected in life, death cannot separate us from the Force. We return to the binding energy that sustains us."

 

[Demiurge]

Athena nodded and smiled. Samnak's descriptions were well explained, and reflected upon his knowledge.

"Very good, Padawan. As of now, we will shift our focus from the Jedi Code to the Force. Before we begin, however, first describe to me what the Force is. It is the first concept learned, true, but it is still important to make the acknowledgment before the practice."

 

[leunat]

Sam smiled, and answered quickly. This was an area he felt confident. Although he might not fully grasp it's true significance, he did know what the Force was. "The Force is the energy that exists in all places and beings. It gives life and knowledge to those who show restraint and control in its use. Lack of control will only lead to self destruction. And use of the Force without control will harm others as well as yourself."

He thought back momentarily to one of the small lectures he heard when he came to the temple. The Jedi master explained it simply. "I was, am and will be a part of the Force. All of you were, are, and will be a part of the Force. And because you are a part of it, you can influence it."

 

[Demiurge]

"Good, well done, Padawan." Athena approved of Samnak's understanding. Granted, it was an oversimplification, but that was to be expected in one who has barely begun to comprehend its true ubiquitous and supersensual and nature.

"Now, listen well. It is a well known and established fact that beings with high sensitivity to the Force are able to manifest if in psionic abilities, tapped through each individual's willpower. These Force powers are divided into three fundemental aspects. The first is known as Control, an internal accordance for a Jedi. The aspect of Control is relative to enhancing a Jedi's physical state. This involves recognizing the metaphysical Force, and using it in harmony with one's own self. Force powers connected to the area of Control are usually defensive in nature, and because of this, training methods being with Control, though powers connected are taught later."

"The second area is Sense, when a Jedi recognizes the omnipresent Force in the universe, outside one's self. The Sense area requires a deeper feeling and understanding of the Force, and can be used by a Jedi to aquire information around themselves, be it physical, emotional, Force-related, or any other aspect. The practice of Force powers being in the Sense area."

"The third, final, and most difficult area is Alter, which is where a Jedi learns to modify the Force and redirect its energies. This allows the Jedi to influence their invironments in spectacular ways through their willpower. The Jedi are most famous for their use of the Alter area, particularly psychokinesis. Alter area is taught last."

"As of now, we will begin with the most basic ability of the Sense area, telepathy. This is a power that every Force user possesses. It allows one to transmit their will, thoughts or memories to another's mind. For example, the famous Jedi Mind trick is related to telepathic manipulation. To begin, close your eyes."

Athena then closed her eyes, and spoke to Samnak via telepathic communication. "Use the Force, reach out, and transmit your thoughts to my mind."

 

[leunat]

The view of the beautiful hall faded away as Sam began to block out as much as he could before attempting to enter the Force himself. He finally understood what he had been happening from a few instances in his life when he swore he heard someone talking, yet when he looked around, no one was.

Focusing on a feeling of gratitude, he started to follow energy of his master's mind back to her. I- th-- ----t? Sam came to what appeared to be a wall, and most of the cognitive thought was lost, dashed against the invisible barrier. Renewed with determination, he began to examine it for any opening.

What confused the padawan most was why his master would hold a barrier when she was attempting to teach him to release his thoughts to her. For an extra challenge? To give him another, yet linked task to understand as well? Still figuring out how to pass it, he put a hand against it, and knocked.

Nothing happened to the manifestation itself, but from the ethereal knock, a ripple rebounded back to his mind and began to echoed across his awareness. So the wall was of his own design! Most likely as a defense mechanism of surprise. Not that it would do much good keeping out his master. Eyes shut, a boyish grin spread across his face, and his concentration turned not to breaking past the barrier, but lowering it.

I th--... M--te? I've got --! He let out several long, deep breaths, and the wall was lowered completely. Hello Master.

The shield launched back into place, but he had gotten the message across.

 

[Demiurge]

Yes.. very good. As anticipated, the young padawan had some difficulty in interpreting his own limitations, or to be more accurate, perceived limitations, but it was expected. Overcoming it was where his achievements would lie, not meeting the obstacle.

"Excellent job, Padawan." said Athena, opening her eyes. "In time, many Jedi learn a clairvoyance related to telepathy, called empathy. With it, a Jedi can actually gain a greater perception of an individual, sensing their intent, feelings, emotions, and more. In some ways, it reveals more about a person than telepathy can, but learning empathy ordinairly comes naturally. One can be trained in it, but it requires a deeply nutured telepathic attunmenet in the Force."

"For now, we will focus on another aspect of sensing, known as psychometry. Psychometry allows a Jedi to mentally read impressions - traces of information about the object being touched and the events that have surrounded it. Using psychometry, a Jedi could view events as if they were there, including the sights, sounds, and feelings, both emotional and physical, that the wielder of the object experienced. Jedi who regularly aid the Republic in investigations utilize this power to the point of specilization."

Athena telekinetically lifted a training remote from across the room, and levitated it to Samnak. "Take the remote, use the Force. Impressions run deep in all things, but it is up to each Jedi to see them. Focus, and read the traces of history of the remote."