The Training of Zev Verbril Seyyak (Lalita Zaryet)

[GABA]

The Ossus sun had risen midday in the sky, Knight Lalita Zaryet stood beneath its radiant beams. Her white robes and blonde hair reflected its light giving herself a glow. Jedi Lalita concentrated hard on the plants around her, the flowers and grass quivered, sprouted from the ground, roots and leaves, blades of grass covered a large stone in front of her and took it back into the soil. She smiled, she had successfully completed this task almost a hundred times in the last few hours since now.

Her padawan was going to meet her at this garden in a moment or two. She brushed up on his history, she wasn't one to make assumptions, but she was going to assume it was going to be a challenge for the young man, a different flow of pace. It would be up to him, she had already made her decision to train the boy, but it would be up to him if he wanted to stick with the order.

 

[Ascending_1]

The sun was much too bright for Zevs' liking as he stepped out of the transport he had taken to reach Ossus. He had originally been declared force sensitive at the Jedi Monastery on Coruscant, but a lack of Masters or Knights interested in taking him on caused his information to be forwarded to Ossus, where a certain... Lalita Zaryet... had opted to train him. Zev was still wondering if he would find the training worthwhile, or if he would get tired of the Jedi lifestyle and skip out on the order. He ran his right hand through his short black hair and tugged his simple white tank top straight, feeling relieved, at least, to breathe some nonpolluted, nonrecycled air for a change.
After walking down the ramp, Zev waved a quick goodbye to the pilot, and set off walking towards the Great Temple.

About twenty minutes after the ship had dropped him off, Zev had managed to find his way to the garden specified in his instructions. He was able to see a white shape in the distance, which sharpened into a person as he got closer. He continued walking towards her, his stride long and quick. When he came within a few yards of the Knight, he slowed his approach. Experience had taught him that many people didn't react well to the direct approach. It made them feel nervous.
When he stood only a few feet away from Lalita, Zev bowed politely, placing his right fist against the palm of his cybernetic left hand, which shone intensely in the sunlight. He had gotten accustomed to its dull shine on Coruscant, where little sunlight had occasion to reflect off of it. It was for that purpose that he'd decided to forgo the application of synthflesh to his prosthetic left arm. That, and the concealed blade that would have destroyed any covering he put over it.
"Master... Or is it Mistress? I'm not too clear on titles..." Zev greeted, coming up out of his bow. "Ah, but that's not the issue right now... My name is Zev Vebril Seyyak..."

 

[GABA]

Jedi Lalita watched the boy's aura through the force as he approached her in the garden. She wasn't sure what to expect, the boy had a good history of combat, but she was sure it was used in fight or flight situations, rather than defense and disarming. It would be a change, for better or for worse, she wasn't sure.

He stood at an acceptable distance and introduced himself, "Wonderful, padawan Zev, you may call me Master Lalita or Master Zaryet, either is fine by me. Are you ready to start? I never liked waiting around." she told him.

 

[Ascending_1]

Zev looked at the Jedi Knight for a few moments, before giving a shrug. He couldn't be sure, but he had a strange feeling about the woman. There was no way for him to adequately describe the feeling, but he didn't feel uncomfortable about it. Maybe it was his connection to the Force, giving him an unconscious peek into the universe as it really was.
Ooh... Seems like those Jedi on Coruscant got to me with their fancy mysticism talk and promises of expanded perceptions... I swear, if I end up having to see what everyone is thinking and feeling, I'm going back there, and I'll make 'em pay for it... The padawan thought, continuing to observe Lalita.
"Master Zaryet, if I may be completely honest: I've yet to meet a Jedi who makes more sense than you do." He said aloud, grinning. It was a bit of a joke, but the intent was there. Thus far, the only Jedi he had had any interaction with seemed like nothing more than fanatics of the religion of the Force. But, that was just his narrow viewpoint, he supposed. Maybe they were all being serious, and the Force was actually something amazing. However, until he saw any evidence, Zev wouldn't be risking his life on the hope that he'd somehow learn to be magical, or whatever it was that made the Force work.
"I'm ready to start. What do I do?" Zev added, rubbing his hands together and showing some positive attitude.

 

[GABA]

"Then take a seat." she said waving to the ground below them as she sat down herself. "We'll start with the boring stuff: Meditation, then we will learn more about fighting and defense. Close your eyes padawan and relax. One of the most valuable techniques you will learn is force sense. Your eyes will only allow you to see what the galaxy wants you to see." she explained, "Those who are hidden for reasons good or bad, can shield themselves from the physical world. Force sense is the eyes, ears, smell, and intuition. Try it." Lalita suggested, "The room we sit in is full of life, it should be simple, tell me what you experience."

 

[Ascending_1]

Zev quickly dropped to the ground and crossed his legs. He placed his hands on his knees, and closed his eyes, listening to Lalita as she spoke.
What I feel... Is ridiculous... But that's probably not what she's looking for... He thought, wondering if she was making faces at him as he attempted to meditate. He felt a sudden itch on his back and he was tempted to scratch it, but giving in to temptation would mean he lost. And he didn't like losing. Not even to itches. So, he breathed in and out, increasing the size of his breaths, and decreasing the frequency. After nearly a minute, he felt calm, and his body sat completely still, leaving his mind the only active part of his being. Which wasn't what he suspected meditation was meant to do.
C'mon... Focus... Focus... Stop thinking! Gah! He thought, his expression turning slightly irritated as he continued to undermine his own efforts. After another minute of struggling with himself internally, Zev tried to evade his inability to stop thinking to himself, by observing what he could through the senses available to him.
As he had been told on numerous occasions, and as he'd experienced himself once or twice, cutting off one sense increased the acuity of those remaining.
With his eyes closed, Zev could hear his own breathing, like a steady wind that changed direction every twenty seconds or so. His own heartbeat, drumming away in his heart. The slight sound of the wind blowing through the garden, rustling leaves and branches. He could hear some insects buzzing, some avians calling to each other.
He felt the warm dirt through the seat of his pants, the coarse fabric of his clothes where they made contact with his skin. His hand tingled as he moved it over his pants, and he felt the pattern in the material. The wind blew over the bare skin on his arms, his collar, his neck, his face. He could feel it moving through his short hair, moving it only slightly. Some wind penetrated the material of his clothes in some places. He could feel the warmth of the sun on his skin.
He could smell several fragrances in the air, most of which were natural, emanating from the flora, others coming from his clothes, which carried the smell of Coruscant, sweat, fumes, and fuel, and some spells coming from random directions, riding the breeze.
Zev was unaware of the passing of time, and he couldn't focus on anything other than his perceptions, so he didn't mind. He couldn't mind, because he ceased thinking about much of anything. He was just aware of his surroundings. After an unknown period of time, Zev became aware of things he shouldn't have been able to detect. He started to picture certain aspects of his surroundings, the appearance of his clothes as they were moved by the wind, the sound of the rustling plants matching their appearance in his mind. He could also see Lalita, sitting down a few feet away from him. He paid particular attention to the details of her person, position of her limbs, expression, the folds in her clothes, the appearance of her hair. Even as he focused on what he perceived her to look like, his senses continued to offer him information. Lines of insects marching over some stems, groups of birds nesting in trees, and the like.
When Zev opened his eyes, he found that his mental image had been almost completely accurate. He wanted to dismiss this as simple oversight. He'd seen her before meditating, and her appearance had planted itself into his subconscious. But, he couldn't shake the strange excitement that he felt, telling him that it had been something more. It was only after looking around to check on what he'd perceived, that Zev remembered what Lalita had asked for.
"Right... I experienced a bit... It was hard to focus on any one thing for any extended period of time, but I managed to retain a bit of it... Ten or eleven insects over by that bush, crawling up the branches. I think I was able to turn on my force sense for a bit, but I'm not sure... It was unlike anything I'd ever experienced before... But then, that's probably due to the life around here... There's not much to see on Coruscant, or in transport, besides the artificial stuff..." Zev said.

 

[GABA]

"There is life everywhere padawan, you'd be surprised to see if you sit down and concentrate, even on Coruscant." Lalita was pleased with the padawan's ability to pick up on so much in a short amount of time. "Rumor has it some Masters can track the bacteria in their own bodies." she smiled, "Using the force in this matter is a great advantage, consult it when in doubt." she paused for a moment, "You passed my assumptions on how quickly you would pick up on Force sight too, another important technique, if you haven't noticed yet, each being has their own signature in the Force and those of nonliving beings create and absence in the Force. From what I have learned, Force-users seem to have a different experience when using Force sight. So therefore, it would be something you would need to practice." Explained Lalita as she rose from her seating position.

"Let's try an exercise, stay seated and concentrate, relax, look at the world through the Force." she told him in a soothing voice.

 

[Ascending_1]

Zev nodded once in response to Lalitas' prompt, before closing his eyes once more, and stretching his perception. It was easier, he found, the second time. He began to perceive differences in the feelings, the signatures, as Lalita had said, of different beings. When he sharpened his focus, he could distinguish the individual points of energy from the next. Of course, Master Zaryet was the most noticeable energy in the area. He couldn't make sense of his own aura, but he supposed that understanding would come with time, meditation, and study. He also noticed the truth of what Lalita mentioned. Nonliving things did create absences in the Force. He observed the space he knew his cybernetic limb to occupy, and could see nothing. It was somewhat saddening, but he remembered the benefits that came with the prosthesis and the grin returned to his face.
He opened his eyes again, and seemed to have some sort of double-vision, that of his eyes overlapping that of the Force. It was a novel experience, as everything seemed to glow with its own corona, surprising him into a momentary lapse of concentration.
"Well... This is a strange thing to behold... But I assume that one becomes used to it..." Zev said, looking straight ahead at Lalita. In truth, he was fascinated by the skill he was rapidly becoming accustomed to, but he was also growing impatient. A stray thought went something like: When do I get to throw stuff at people with the Force? He didn't pay it any attention, but he was a bit cramped after the long flight from Coruscant, during which time he hadn't had much time to stretch his legs.

 

[GABA]

"True. There are times when I become so accustomed when I try to use my own eyes, its uncomfortable." she informed him humorously. "Lets move on." Lalita waved her hand at the padawan informing him to stand now, and then with that hand, she flexed her fingers and stone, no bigger than an egg levitated above her palm, "Moving objects with the Aide of the Force is also a useful tool, I hold here this stone, I want you to lift and hold it without it ever touching you." instructed the Knight, letting the stone fall to the ground and gave the padawan a chance to try the exercise.

 

[Ascending_1]

Looking at Lalita with wide eyes, Zev simply sat there and tried to process what he was supposed to do. After seeing through the Force, he didn't doubt that telekinesis was possible. But he did doubt his ability to succeed in attempting it.
Whatever... If it can be done by other Force-Sensitives, it can be done by me... I think... He thought, trying to encourage himself. He fixated his attention on the stone and tried shutting everything else out.
After a few seconds, the rock refused to obey his mental commands, Zev shot it a glare and a vein pulsed in his forehead. No matter how hard he concentrated, he couldn't get the stupid thing to rise.
Maybe I'm doing it wrong... He thought. I'm just telling it to go up... Maybe this will work...
Moving his arm out, Zev stopped just short of touching the rock, getting the hang of thinking the actions as he did them. He then tried thinking them without doing them. He pictured his hand wrapping around the rock and lifting it up. He was driven on by a slight wiggle he thought he saw from the stone. Letting out his breath, Zev closed his eyes for a few moments and tried to calm down, before gazing at the stone once more, his emotions under control, a feeling of calm permeating him. The stone stood out as an obsticle to him now. He was determined to overcome it.
Stretching out with the Force again, Zev had a better idea of the process, and he was able to move his hand back to his knee, exercising only his mind on the task. After one, silent minute, Zev could feel a previously unknown power in himself. He wrapped his mind around it, and he was able to feel the stone, the texture, the weight, without touching it. With a slight nod of his head, he focused more intently on the stone and willed it to rise. Slowly and steadily, the stone did as he wanted, and it began to ascend.
"I hope this will get easier... I can't imagine stopping to do this if I need to move things during a fight..." Zev said in a monotone, still focused on the rock. As he spoke, his concentration faltered slightly, and the stone dipped down in the air, before he was able to get a hold on it again. He smirked slightly, not wanting to tempt the stone to drop again.

 

[GABA]

"It eventually gets easier." she informed the padawan, "After it becomes difficult. Now that you can lift the stone, I would like you to have it orbit you and I." she simply stated, there wasn't satisfaction in her tone, nor was there disappointment, Jedi Lalita stood there, relaxed, confident that the boy will be able to accomplish the task in due time.

 

[Ascending_1]

Zev nodded, still not speaking, for fear of losing his hold on the levitating stone. With a nudge of his consciousness, he was able to move the stone in a jerky, straight line away from himself. It looked as if he had glued it to the end of a bit of wire, and were moving it to his right. However, after applying a bit more focus, he was able to steady the rocks trajectory, although it still moved only in lines. It was less of an orbit, and more of a square movement, so Zev continued to manipulate the stone, finding that the control did become easier. It was like getting used to his prosthetic, the nerves and the ability were there, it was just a matter of acquainting himself with them. After nearly three minutes of focus, he was able to make the stone orbit, a long, elliptical path that took place just a few inches below eye level.
"I think I'm getting the hang of it... I've had some experience in getting used to things I'm unfamiliar with..." He said, lifting his cybernetic left hand and wiggling the fingers.

 

[GABA]

"Good, good work padawan." she praised her student, pleased with his fast progress for the day. "That is all we will work on today. You are free to go about your business until tomorrow morning when we continue." she informed, bowed lightly, "Good day padawan." and that she was gone to continue with her own business.

 

[Ascending_1]

Zev watched Master Lalita as she left, wondering how long it would take before he acclimated to the Jedi lifestyle, not to mention the Jedi themselves. So far, he had been given what he assumed was the "kicked out of the nest" training method, which was his favorite. If one was traumatized, the details of the incident would be easy to recall. If one was learning while traumatized, then the lessons should be particularly memorable. Fear, he had long since learned, was a useful tool, when applied properly. The key was not to succumb to it. When he had been taught to fight with a knife, for example, his mentor, Krave, had simply handed one to him, given him some advice, and set him on the task of winning an appropriate confrontation. He had performed well, having avoided mortal wounds at least. He was also taught to shoot a blaster with his feelings, rather than relying on technology, which Krave often said was prone to malfunctioning at the least opportune moment, to fire when he felt it right, and to check his weapons before equipping them, and after settling down for the day.
Now, Zev was unsure of how to proceed. He was sure that, if there were some curfew at the temple, if wouldn't force him to bed for another few hours, at least. He wanted to develop his abilities as quickly as possible, but he didn't want to approach the Force in the wrong way. Now that he had gotten a glimpse of it's power, he respected it much more. It was like a force of nature to him now, not to be feared, but never to be underestimated, either.
With no clue how to proceed, Zev decided to focus on those skills he already had some experience with. He stood up and stretched, before reaching for the omnipresent Force that he was quickly growing to appreciate.
Sooner than on his previous attempts, Zev was viewing the world around him with far more awareness than he could have achieved the day before. His sense of direction was sharper, as were the others. He recited the senses that all humans were known to posess, in order to catalogue the increase in each of them.
Sight... Sharper, clearer, faster, farther... I can see the veins in the leaves in the center of the bush over there... He thought, pleased at his new development of the ability to maintain Force sense while thinking about something other than maintaining his hold on the Force.
Smell... Stronger, more refined... I can distinguish between the smell of the grass and the different plants and the dirt... Hearing... Sharper, clearer... I think my prosthesis needs a bit of maintenance... Taste... Well, I'm not really using that one right now... Touch... My skin might be as sensitive as fingertips... I can feel everything that's touching me... Body placement... I know exactly how far my ribs are moving when I breathe... How little food is in my stomach... Temperature... I can distinguish miniscule differences between the heat of my palms, neck, and forehead...
On he went, until he was struggling to name his senses, which told him that he didn't have any open wounds, or which told him that his lungs were working so slowly that he would have been concerned before coming to the temple.
Once Zev felt that he was as aware as he was going to get at the moment, he began to stretch out with his mind, reaching for the same rock that Lalita had presented him with. The telekinesis came easily to him now, with his senses on full, and his mind in tune with the Force. The stone rose into the air, and Zev put it to the task of circling him again. Once an orbit had been established, Zev put more focus into the speed, causing the stone to gain momentum, as if tied to a string and attached to his body. When it became like a projectile with speed, Zev closed his eyes for a moment, considering his desire for greater mastery of the skills, and his desire to avoid using the Force to brain himself with a rock. Then, figuring that the latter could probably be fixed by the medics at the temple, he decided to attempt his plan.
Moving with practiced speed, Zev shifted his weight to the balls of his feet, bent his knees slightly, and positioned his cybernetic limb so that it was pointed down between his knees. With a slight flex, and a miniscule snapping sound, a latch was drawn back within the prosthetic, allowing a long, thick blade to spring out.
Allowing himself a small grin, as he usually did when revealing his katar-blade, Zev kept himself aware of the orbiting stone as he began to move. Small movements, at first, but soon he became more bold. His first strike was simple, but the speed and control made it somewhat more formidable. The blade lashed out in a tight arc, moving through the space onto which he had imagined the chest of an average-sized human opponent. The blade itself would have been effective in stopping a man in his tracks, but the stone that followed shortly, passing through the space that a head would have been in, would likely have put a man in the hospital. Or the morgue.
He continued to move through a few mock-attacks, wondering if he'd get access to a sparring partner soon, be it a training droid or a living partner. He would have preferred a flesh and blood opponent, since he wouldn't show any restraint on a droid, and that wasn't good training for Jedi life. He knew he needed to use restraint, if he made it as a Jedi, and it would be odd for him. But then... Those lightsabers were pretty interesting... Zev could just imagine the damage he would be capable of with one of those blades in his hands. If he went all out against a human, he would carve them to pieces. Which was probably why he needed to learn to hold back.
When he was satisfied with his capabilities with the katar-blade, Zev withdrew it into the internal holster. The stone continued to fly around him as he reached towards the back of his belt, where he found what he was looking for, exactly where it should have been. When he drew the knife, the black blade seemed to absorb light, but the razor keen edge shone silver. Zev stepped into another fighting stance and flipped the blade in his palm, going from normal to reverse grip quickly. Then, when the blade was in the normal position, he stepped forward and made a move, the blade snapped out and traced a curve at neck level. The attack would have cut through both sides of a neck, severing major arteries and tendons, which would have disabled an assailant in their last moments. As the blade returned to his side, Zev altered the course of the stone, and sent it through the space his torso had occupied a moment before. He pivoted out of the way, and the rock would have hit the sternum of his imagined opponent. He released his telekinetic grip on the stone, and it shot off into the distance. Zev grinned and sheathed the blade, before turning away from the garden and considering a search for other people, thinking that some interaction might benefit him.

 

[GABA]

Lalita had hoped the time she had given the padawan was sufficient for him to rest, however, she did know at that age why rest when you don't have to.

Meet me in the foyer, padawan.

She projected to Zev. She would begin helping him control.

 

[Ascending_1]

Zev, unaccustomed as he was to the various abilities offered by the Force, was surprised to hear Lalita's voice in his head. His first instinct was to look around for her, but he soon realized what was going on.
Shaking his head in amusement, he obeyed, walking quickly to find her. He wasn't well accustomed to the layout of the Temple, but the foyer was easy enough for him to find. As was Master Lalita. She was easy to identify, with her white robes and her light hair.
"Master." He said, greeting her with a slight nod of the head. He wasn't quite sure of the proper etiquette. Just another thing he'd need to learn. Eventually.

 

[GABA]

Lalita bowed her head to her padawan in greeting. She waved her hand to have him follow her. She would lead him off grounds and into the nearby forest. "We are going to work on controlling your ability to use your senses through the Force." she explained, "I'll start slow, lets see if you can keep up."

She jumped without aid of the force to pull herself up on a sturdy tree branch climbing up the large tree.

 

[Ascending_1]

How is this supposed to test me? He thought, running at the tree and taking a few steps up the trunk, before launching himself up and swinging onto the top of the nearest branch with his outstretched right hand. He then stood and aimed at another, bouncing up and down on the limb for a moment before jumping and swinging himself up.
"I'm not exactly an amateur at moving upwards." Zev said, smirking and moving along the branch nimbly, until it began to bend under his weight. Even though Zev didn't see a problem in getting up the tree, he stretched out with the Force, finding that it felt like a natural part of him now, and assuming that it would only get easier with continued practice.

 

[GABA]

"Alright, padawan." she moved faster as she moved from her current position, to another tree a few meters away. She swung down moving gracefully down the branches and into the neighboring trees, she kept speeding up.

 

[Ascending_1]

Zev watched Lalita as she moved from limb to limb. He had to hand it to her, she was pretty good. Not wanting to fall behind, he turned back towards the tree trunk and began climbing upwards. After ascending a few feet, he felt the trunk growing smaller, so he figured it might be time to switch. He looked over his shoulder and spotted a suitable branch, before kicking off the trunk with both feet. He misjudged his strength a bit, and went far of the branch he wanted.
Don't worry... Worrying breeds panic, which leads to mistakes... He thought. So, instead of fearing a long fall-related accident, he bent his legs and hooked onto the branch, causing him to swing around it on the backs of his knees. It wasn't the most pleasant sensation in the world, but it was better than a concussion. After hauling himself up again, Zev noticed Lalita as she outpaced him. Focusing more on the Force, Zev put his safety in its hands as he tensed his legs and jumped, pushing off the trunk with his hands for added distance. He sailed through the air, falling faster than he wanted. Nonetheless, he was able to maintain his focus. He grabbed a tree branch and swung around it once before letting go and landing higher up in another tree.
"How often to Jedi get to act like monkeys?" Zev asked, grinning.