The Training of Denzein Tal'sar

[D.C.]

The temple of Coruscant was full of Jedi, all going about their own business. Knights, padawans, masters, all dressed in their robes, walking through the corridors and attendinging classes, meetings or about to go on a Jedi mission. Among those Jedi walked a Kiffar of about 45 years old. He had long black dreadlocks and a yellow tattoo crossed his face horizontal. He wore the typical Jedi outfit: a lightbrown tunic and a darkbrown robe. His hood was down, and his lightsaber was clipped to his belt. This Knight was going to the Courtyard where he would meet up with his new padawan, Denzein Tal'sar.

Knight Koran Mak sat down on a bench and looked around the area to find Denzein, but there was no sign of him yet. Perhaps he would show up later.

Let's see... He thought as he took a look at his datapad. Denzein's a young lad. A youngling? Alright then, I have not trained younglings for quite some time.

 

[Denzein]

Denzein wandered around the courtyard, taking in the marvels around him. He hadn't seen many plants before, being used to mainly the vile weeds that grow in Coruscants underbelly. He was brimming with excitement, all his life, every second of it he had dreamed of this moment, to become a jedi! Such an honour!

His gaining entry into the temple itself was -interesting- to say the least. He smirked as he remembered the guard's eye twitching when Denzein had spoke. He had been direct, saying that he had come to be a Jedi, and the guard laughed, and told him to wipe the bantha poodoo off his face before trying again. Denzein just stared at him after that, letting his unnatural eyes do the "persuasion" for him. The guard had been more compliant after a minute or so. After that it was all robes, haircuts, and "force sensitivity tests", or whatever they called them.

He had been given a master by the name of Koran Mak. He was mildly annoyed that his master hadn't arrived at the courtyard yet. The morning was almost up, and Denzein had now seen every sight the courtyard had to offer, including the pair on the opposite side training, they were amazing!
"Where are you, master?" He asked to no-one in particular...

 

[D.C.]

The Kiffar checked his datapad and looked at the picture that was viewed on it. He compared the picture with the lad that was walking there and calling for his master and he smiled. That's the one! he thought and he got on his feet and walked over to him.

"Here I am, Denzein." Koran said and he put the datapad back in the pocket of his robe. "How was your trip to the temple?"

 

[Denzein]

Denzein looked up from his musings at the sound of his name. His master was – huge, he seemed friendly, and Denzein felt re-assured. He had been fearing a stern, unforgiving master, like his father had been… but no.

That was in the past, there was even that note that father had written, why would he do that unless he had wanted to apologise for being a horrible father… wait, I’m ignoring him. He thought.

Denzein thought back to his journey, the 5 years of suffering, illness, pain and sadness that had brought him here:
“It was… long, and I didn’t enjoy it much. But I’m here now, that’s all that matters, right? What do I learn first, do I get a lightsaber? Master?”

He scratched at his new padawan haircut nervously, this was all very new and he was slightly intimidated by the Jedi standing before him. He wished he had Slimo in his pocket, but try as he might, he couldn’t find a pocket in his new robes.
Denzein looked up at Koran’s eyes, were they twinkling? He’d never seen eyes do that before, but then he had never seen anyone genuinely happy before, he expected his eyes were doing the same thing.
“And what do I call you? Master? Koran? Master Mak?”

 

[D.C.]

"Slow down, Denzein! First things first." Koran said and he laughed. "And you can call me Koran."

The Jedi Knight gestured with his hand for Denzein to follow him and he turned around and began making his way to the gardens.

"Please follow me to the gardens." He said. "We'll start with a quick bite and getting to know each other." He took a few snacks out of his pocket and showed them to the padawan. After he showed them he put them back.

"After that we will begin with the first few lessons."

Koran led Denzein to the gardens and walked onto a grassy field. He sat down in the grass and motioned for Denzein to do the same.

 

[Denzein]

Denzein followed his master to the gardens. He was dreading having to tell Koran about his past, and felt sure that he would be expelled from the order as soon as he heard the tale. But he knew there was no way of avoiding it. And besides, he was curious about the snacks, he had only ever watched the kids with parents eating them from afar before.

He sat, and upon production of promised snack, took a deep breath and began to spill his life to Koran. He didn’t know why, but it seemed to come easier than he expected. [Probably him doing it] thought Denzein.

“Well, I was born on coruscant, down below the skyline in the slums, you know that bit? Well, I never knew my mother; father said she left when I was born so he’d always have enough money to feed me. I know it was a lie, though, because I was always hungry. Father hit me, I still have scars down my back from his belt, said it was because I made him feel like death was just ‘round the bend, and that drove him ‘round the bend.”

He nibbled at the snack suspiciously, and found it delightfully sweet. He immediately proceeded to stuff the rest of it into his mouth and chewed happily for a while. At Koran’s beckoning, he continued with his story:

“’Course then he killed himself, jumped off the roof of our flat block.” Denzein looked away from his master, into the distance to where (in his mind at least) that apartment block lay. “He never told me why, before he did it I mean, he just left me a stupid bit of death-stick wrapper wrapped around a funny plastic card. He wrote something on the wrapper, but I can’t read.”

He looked up at Koran again, and shook off his ghosts. [That sort of stuff will get you thrown out, Den…] the voice in the back of his head whispered. He began again in a rush.

“But anyway, after that I took all his death-sticks, which was quite a lot. I was clever, I sold them to people. People give you lots of money if you give them death-sticks; did you know that? I bet you did, you’re a Jedi. That went well for 3 years, then another death-stick dealer got angry at me, and hit me, but I hid down a man-hole so that was ok. After that I just carried on walking here, and here I am! Took me 5 years!”

Denzein looked away quickly, as if embarrassed of something, and his hand rose to his eyes, as if to wipe something away. All this talk of his family was not at all what he liked to talk about. He turned around, and put on a brave face, no longer crying. “So how about you? Why are you a Jedi Koran?”

 

[D.C.]

Koran listened closely. He found it very important to know the past of his students. He nodded a few times and then said: "To tell you the truth, Denzein, I have dealt in deathsticks as well. But that was almost 30 years ago..." He grinned and then shook his head.

"Don't worry, Denzein. You can tell me everything, there are things I will keep a secret unless they are something that the masters should know. You are save with me."

Then Denzein asked him why he had become a Jedi. Koran began answering it: "Years ago, I was 18 years old back then, I was selling some deathsticks. I decided to go for a drink to rest up a bit, when I was approached by a Jedi Knight. He explained me about my medichlorians and when he told me that, I was amazed, surprised, afraid and very happy at the same time. Actually, I did not know how I felt back then, neither do I know how I was supposed to feel. I could not believe that I, a poor Kiffar boy from the streets, could become a Jedi. I decided to go with the Knight and leave my old life behind me, and that's how I got here. After a heavy and long training I became a Knight."

Koran took a bite from his snack and sighed. He would never forget that day, the day he met the Jedi Knight on Coruscant.

"Well then," Koran continued. "How about we start it off? We've got a lot to do, and you've got a long way to go, but I will help you everywhere I can. Are you ready?"

He smiled and waited for his student to reply.

 

[Denzein]

Denzein got up, and licked the inside of his teeth in anticipation, a habit he had picked up from somewhere, he couldn't remember where, his emotions for his family were all far too confusing.
"Yes! What do I learn first master? Can I learn light sabers?
Denzein started to walk in the direction he thought was correct.
"Oh, and you can call me Den, if you like. All my friends - I mean Slimo does, when I pretend he talks to me in my head I mean."

 

[D.C.]

"Slimo?" Koran asked. Then he figured not to worry about it yet. He would ask his apprentice later on.

"And please, Den, follow me that way." He smiled and pointed into the other direction. "We are going to the elevators, up to our training room. And we will not begin with lightsaber training. You'll have to learn patience."

Koran Mak got himself on his feet and walked towards the elevators. He pressed the button on the wall and the doors slided open. He stepped in and after making sure his padawan was with him, he pressed another button that would lead them up to the second floor, where their training room would be.

The Jedi Knight showed his padawan the way and stopped before a door, in a hallway. He typed in a code on the panel on the wall and the door opened. He gestured for Denzein to follow him inside and he would close the doors when they both were inside.

"This is our training room." Koran explained. "Here I will teach you lessons, and you are going to learn, unless I say we move on to a different location or something. Anyway, I want to start with the first basic lessons. It's about the Force and about centering yourself. No way you can handle a lightsaber if you don't know this. It is called meditation."

He walked to the middle of the room and sat down. He waited for his padawan to do the same.

 

[Denzein]

"Oh Slimo's just my rat. I found him. He was like me, alone. He's my only friend, unless you count, master. He looked round, and ran back to keep up with his master.

"Meditation?"Denzein began, but then he caught on to Koran's stern tone of voice.

"Yes master Koran, I shall learn this first. I will be patient." Denzein sat, somewhat nervous again, but resolved to impress his master. He mentally kicked himself for getting so ahead of himself, of course Koran wasn't going to teach him to fight first! that's not the Jedi way! even HE knew that! He shook himself mentally again, stopped arguing with himself, and calmed down.

"I am ready, master." He said with a solemn expression.

 

[D.C.]

"Good." Koran said. "I can feel you are nervous, my young padawan learner. You have the right to be nervous, as this is all very new to you. Back in my days in training, I was nervous too. I know what it's like. But, to meditate you must find inner peace and center yourself. Nothing exists but the Force, not even you. You must not think, or only think of one thing, and focus on that. Breathe slowly and feel the Force flowing through your veins. Feel its strength, its weakness, its violent side, its protection, feel the Force. When you feel it, it is not enough. You must focus and then, become one with it. Maybe you don't understand now, and maybe you won't succeed now, but in time, after some practice, you will. As long as you are patient. Try it, Denzein."

 

[Denzein]

Denzein listened to his master avidly, but could not help but be confused by the instructions. He decided to try not thinking of anything, but he was still buzzing over his acceptance into the Jedi that his mind kept throwing up images of what he might achieve one day. Denzein shut his eyes tight shut and tried again. An image of him, standing on top of a bested foe forced its way into his young mind. He achieved no more peace than a toddler on caffeine.

"Master, I cannot think of nothing, I am far too..." He trailed off, remembering his master's alternate method. "I will focus upon one thing, like you said master. Sorry."

[But what can I focus upon well enough to not get distracted by anything?] he thought. The snack he had had earlier wouldn't stop him form getting distracted, then he found a perfect subject; Light sabers. He had thought about what his might look like for hours on end back in the slums. He imagined a glittering silver hilt, with two black switches on. In his mind he pressed both, and shimmering yellow light burst forth from both ends of the hilt. Vague images began to form, emanating from the twin yellow beams of light. He saw a figure, tall and imposing, explode into red mist. He saw a likeness of himself, but adult, strong, and independent stride from the shining glow, a crumpled black shape behind him... He saw... he saw...he...

He saw the high ceiling of the training room in front of him. He was lying down. Koran was standing over him, an anxious expression on his face. Denzein felt foolish. He felt sure that that was NOT what the jedi had in mind when he said "meditation".

"what happened?" He asked, his voice uncharacteristically weak.

 

[D.C.]

Koran looked at his apprentice, anxious.

"I was hoping you could tell me. I was watching your progress when suddenly a disturbance came from you. Do you feel ok?"

The Kiffar was concerned indeed, because these were the things that made the Jedi's life dangerous. It might as well have been nothing serious, but it could have been one of those darker or dangerous sides of the Force that Koran had been struggling with himself. If this already started now with Denzein, then it could get very nasty at a later age. Still, it could have been nothing. Koran would watch over his student more carefully now.

 

[Denzein]

"I focused upon the image of a light saber, and I saw..." Denzein hesitated, would koran throw him out if he told the truth? He couldn't take that risk, and he always had been a convincing liar.

"I saw... my father. I was scared, because I thought he'd come to punish me for being a jedi, and then i was staring at the ceiling. Sorry master. I'll try harder next time." Denzein gave his master his best "honest" look, and smiled shakily. "I'm fine, master. It was nothing, i just got distracted again. I hope."

[I also hope he can't read minds, or me and Slimo have a five year long trek back home...] Denzein thought fervently. Then he apologized in his head, just in case.

 

[D.C.]

Koran raised an eyebrow. He was not really convinced by the words of his padawan. "Is that so?" He said. "Hmm, well, ok. Let's try it again, shall we?"

 

[Denzein]

"Of course master, i will get it right this time." Denzein empathized the "will". He sat back up, and focused once more upon that light saber.

It was clearer this time, more coherent and much less taxing. Denzein ignited the saber, and as before light spewed from both ends. He felt... at peace, confident, empowered. The tall figure was not human, but Denzein did not know the name of his species. He burst as before, only each droplet of his blood was visible, glistening in the air before it vanished. Denzein's future self strode from the hilt, Denzein could see his expression. He looked, grim. Determined. The crumpled shape behind him was most definitely human (or near human at least), and it was completely still.

[Wait, I need to concentrate!] Denzein thought to himself, and the ominous visions dissipated. They were followed by darkness. Pure nothingness. He re-focussed on the saber hilt, and this time did not ignite it, but just observed. It was peaceful, and he felt what he later realized must have been the force tugging at him, suggesting things to him, and whispering. Always whispering. He contemplated things there, things that no un-force-sensitive eleven year old would ever contemplate. He looked back on the previous attempt, and realized that fully half of the force around him whispered approval at the experience. He then removed himself further, and observed himself as he meditated. the other half spoke to him clearly now. He sensed his master's presence, and sensed his approval at the inner peace denzein had achieved.

Denzein opened his eyes. He was not staring at the ceiling. He saw his master in front of him, eyes closed. He looked as peaceful as Denzein had felt. Denzein smiled, he had done it correctly, then. He waited respectfully for his master to break from his reverie. He looked at the time piece, and noticed that he had been meditating for three and a half hours.

As he sat there, waiting for his master, he realized that he felt older than he had done before the exercise. He smiled again. Twice in one day he mused, that must be a record... He returned his thoughts back to his master, patiently.

 

[D.C.]

Koran who was not meditating but patiently watching and observing his student, could indeed feel the peace within Denzein. He nodded in approval and then got on his feet. He walked over to a chair and sat down on it and gestured for Denzein to take a seat as well. Then, the deep voice of the big Kiffar sounded: "That is very well done, Den. You have accomplished what I had asked of you. Very good. Meditation helps at times to achieve inner peace and to clear your mind. If you ever encounter a difficult thing, brainstorming is of no use. Meditate on it, and you will find the answer."

The Kiffar sat back and continued: "Now it is time to talk again. You mentioned you are eager to start learning how to wield a lightsaber. From that, I take it you want to become a Jedi Guardian, like myself. Is that what you want? Or do you not fully understand what this is about? If so, just ask me and I will explain."

 

[Denzein]

Denzein sat opposite his master, a quizzical expression upon his young face.

"Jedi guardian? I have never heard anything about these before. i only know of the basic titles a Jedi has. Like padawan, or Jedi master. Do guardians like light sabers then? Are there other types as well?"

 

[D.C.]

"There are three types of Jedi." Koran explained. "The Jedi Guardians, the Jedi Consulars and the Jedi Sentinels. The Guardians are the weaponmasters, Consulars are masters of the Force and Sentinels seek balance between the two, but they are also skilled in stealth, security, computers and medicals. I am a Guardian, and I concentrate more on my lightsaber than the Force. But usually when I am on a mission, I pull my blaster before I reveal my lightsaber, so my enemies have no idea that I am a Jedi and I can surprise them."

He unclipped the lightsaber from his belt and looked at it. It was a simple design, a small silver stave from which a green blade emitted if activated. However, it was a lethal weapon, and many enemies had fallen by his blade.

"Do you understand what I tried to explain, Den?"

 

[Denzein]

"I understand, master. I feel I would like to become a Jedi guardian, as the light saber is all that I can focus on when I'm meditating." Denzein said, a small smile appearing as he remembered the light saber of his meditation. He wondered if that light saber was the one he was destined to create.

"Master, the light saber I saw when i meditated, is that the one I'm going to make? How do I make one?"