Tristan Maverick's Training (Ask)

Master Maverick

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The freighter lands surprisingly gently for it's size.

Tristan had been sitting in his seat silently, pretending to be engrossed in thought so the other passengers wouldn't bother him.
It's not that they weren't nice, he just didn't care for going through the meaningless niceties with people who didn't particularly matter at the moment.

The hatch opened, the hissing of the decompression almost surprising him. Tristan got up quickly, his pack already in hand, and proceeded past the others our the opening.

It was a bright day, he had to squint for a second for his eyes to adjust. They had landed on a small platform surrounded by a field in the immediate vicinity with a forest in the midground.

He shouldered his pack and looked around at the greeters that happened to be there.
 
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Another day, another padawan. Kidd couldn't help but smirk to himself. Krath, was he getting busy being tasked out with all these young padawans, but hey, somebody had to do it. Heh. The shuttle landed gently enough; no doubt a skilled pilot on-board to thank for that. Kidd Vegas himself was not a pilot by any means. Nope. That incident at Bilbringi had -more- than proved that to his then master as well as those at the shipyards.

Man had that guy been mad... Shaking the memory from his mind, the Knight focused instead on those departing the shuttle. Walking forward towards the ramp, his gaze passed over those departing as he began to call out, "Tristan. Tristan Maverick!" His look settled on the young, white-haired boy. Well, he'd probably prefer to be called a young man, but either way, Kidd approaching him with a warm smile and outstretched hand.

"Welcome to Tython."
 

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At first he didn't hear his name. This is most because people don't really call for him and therefore his name is almost unfamiliar to him. After a second when he realized someone was calling for him, he looked around with his eyes. He remained stiff and poised, not wanting to give off any indication of his unease at being there.
This new world, so far from his home, was very unusual to him. He had never actually seen a tree in person and was mystified at the grandeur of them. They're magnificent.

He saw the man staring at him, obviously the one who had called his name.
The man was unusual to him. He found his clothing quite unusual, as he was used to the Jedi's clothes in the Temple, and the more urban clothing of the people of Coruscant.

He walked over at a pace that wasn't too fast, but faster than normal people might take. As if he knew where he was going, but not in a tremendous rush to get there.

"Thank you Master Vegas." He said with a bow showing his respect for his new master.

His master was chipper, but not too much Tristan decided. He was friendly, but not overly. A weight lifted off his shoulders. His first fear was that his master would be strict and intimidating. He knew this was a good sign of things to come.
 

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Returning the gesture with a light bow of his own, Kidd replied simply, "Quite welcome, and I'm not a Master... yet." He gave Tristan a quick wink as he rose from the bow, turning about to walk off the ramp he added, "If you feel th' need t'be formal, you may call me Jedi Vegas. Otherwise, Kidd works fine, or Jedi. Or Mister Kidd if you insist, heh." He glanced at the young man briefly as the strolled along. He seemed alright.

"So," the Knight started as they continued their walk towards the side of the Monastery, "what sort of training have you had so far an' what sort were you hopin' t'gain by me?" Rather than walk into the Monastery itself, Kidd guided their path along the side of it, heading towards the back which overlooked a large, forested area. Well, truth be told, a -lot- of Tython was forested area. Heh.
 

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His new Master's accent threw him a little. It took him that extra second to fully understand what he was saying. It was just the conjunctions that he wasn't used to. He was calm and easy-going; at least for what Tristan could see. He had a different personality than anyone he had ever met... though that's not really saying much. He seemed to be relaxed, and almost fidgety.

As they started to walk, Tristan stayed a good 2 steps behind Kidd. He was in awe at the expansive forest and the utter natural state of the planet. He had never left Coruscant and had only read of such places in archives. He knew that he knew exactly where he was, but now that he was there, we wasn't so sure.

As they were walking, Tristan noticed that they weren't heading for the Monastery. He was curious as to why, but did not voice his query. He waited to see what was going to happen.

"Master Kidd, I wish to learn more about the force, to understand it more fully and what it really means to be a Jedi." he responded. He felt a bit of embarrassment and awkwardness. After hearing Kidd talk, he noticed that he was very formal and almost standoffish. He wanted to restate what he just said, but decided against it. It would just exasperate his awkward feelings.

This new place and these new people. He would have to re-learn everything he knew about people; though this knowledge was already limited, if not lacking. He was excited to know a little bit more about the galaxy and all it had to offer.
 

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Reaching over to place a reassuring hand on the young padawan's shoulder, the Knight replied, "Tristan, please, call me Kidd. Or Jedi. Mister Vegas if you insist." Shaking his head lightly, he re-emphasized, "I'm not a Master... yet." With that last word, yet, he gave the young padawan a sly, playful wink before dropping his hand and straightening his posture. At least the young man was respectful. That was most certainly a plus.

Moving past the Monastery now, Kidd began to lead them down a well-trodden path that led into the forested area. Before they were even a hundred yards away from it, the Knight inquired of his Padawan, "What do -you- think it means to be a Jedi, Tristan? Let's start with what you believe, an' we'll go from there." Giving the young man an amiable smile, he glanced his way briefly as he quirked an eyebrow, awaiting a response.

Finally noting the Padawan's continued positioning of himself a couple of steps behind the Knight, Kidd glanced over his shoulder as he beckoned him forward with a hand, stating, "Come alongside Tristan. Come alongside. You're not my servant. You're a studen. Walk with me. Talk with me. Learn with me." Turning his gaze back to the front, K. Vegas inhaled deeply as he closed his eyes, enjoying the scent and feel of nature all about.
 

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Tristan flinched at Kidd’s touch. He was not used to being touched. Ever. However, after the initial shock, he was comforted and relaxed a little more. It was an unusual sensation for him. He always had his guard up and pretty much pushed people away from him all the time. It was going to take some getting used to, getting close to someone. “Kidd.” he whispered to himself.

He was glad that Kidd was so patient with him. All of this was such a shock to him. His senses being immersed in something so different and so magnificent and humbling. He stumbled twice as they walked, as he was not paying particular attention to the ground. Both times he felt his face swell with embarrassment, but he quickly forgot about it while taking in the majestic scenery.

As they were walking, he almost didn’t hear Kidd’s question. He almost gasped and coughed as he tried to scrape up an answer. For so many years in the order he was told what to think; what the force was, what it did, who we were, what we did, and so many other things. Never once had he been asked what he thought of anything.

He didn’t completely formulate an answer when Kidd told him walk beside him. He stumbled again, but adhered to his Master’s wish. Not “Master”. Teacher… Kidd… he berated himself. He walked to Kidd’s shoulder, being a full head shorter than his Master. He was not unused to this however.

“The Force is the life of every living thing. It surrounds and penetrates all things and thus connects everything to everything else.”
His textbook answer was less than satisfying, he felt. It seemed empty and meaningless to him. This definition of the Living Force was the majority opinion, and thus he adopted it, out of necessity to be accepted and not further himself from everyone, if nothing else. He wanted to add his learnings about the Unifying Force, but chose to stick with this for now. Perhaps that would be a conversation for later.

He noticed Kidd taking in his surroundings. He seemed to be at one with this place, at peace. Tristan was still a little anxious, this place being so foreign to him. However, he also took in his surroundings, darting his eyes to see the ever moving growth, and smelling the scents of the various flora, hearing the trees moan, almost speaking impossibly slow.

And feeling; feeling the touch of the Force of the lives around him.
 
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Glancing away from the young Padawan, Kidd quirked a humored look as the young man answered an unasked question. It was probably just his nerves and new surroundings getting to him, heh. Going from Coruscant, teeming with humanoid life and structure, then coming to Tython and its abundance of flora and fauna could have such an effect on even a seasoned Knight, just as it had vice versa when Kidd went from Tython to Coruscant not too long ago.

In response to his answer regarding what the Force was, Kidd replied, "That it is. Well and good. Now what do -you- think it means to be a Jedi?" Upon asking the question again, the Knight decided not to say anything else so as not to confuse the young man again. No doubt, he was still in a state of mild shock being on a new planet in a new environment with a new Mentor. He'd give him some time to get adjusted before commencing with any serious training.

Their walk was now leading them into the forested area directly. Numerous birds could be heard amongst the natural sounds of the woods, including those of wild animals, leaves rustling in the wind, and the calls of nature. A cool breeze wound its way along their path as they strolled, Kidd simply taking it all in and enjoying the moment as he awaited a response from his young Padawan. It was proving to be a good day.
 

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Tristan couldn’t help but get red in the face. He was so busy trying to find his center he misheard and misunderstood his mentor’s question.

Such an idiot! His first impression was going quite poorly. He was usually more composed than this and didn’t know what was wrong with himself.

He shook it off and answered his question. “The Jedi are the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy…” he started off. This, too, seemed to be lacking. “I believe the Jedi are to do good in all they do. To make the galaxy a safe and just place for everyone. We are supposed to defend the defenseless, protect peace and try to permeate harmony in all things.”
This, for him, was much more meaningful. Normally he wouldn’t make it sound all pretty like that, but he was trying to make up for his fumbles.

While walking, he started to reach out with the force to feel all around him. This technique we was decently adept at. Well, he did spend virtually all of his time practicing it, so he should have been. He felt the plants growing, the insects frantically running, the birds singing, and the multiple small animals scurrying around them. They were all so familiar and foreign at the same time. He was used to all the people on Coruscant, but they were all so similar in that they were sentients and therefore relatively similar. Here, the differences in the organisms amazed him, he became totally immersed in his surroundings, almost completely blocking out his consciousness.
 

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Quirking an eyebrow, Kidd turned about to face Tristan as he leaned his back against a tree, arms folding over his chest as the Knight inquired, "Permeate harmony into all things? And how does one accomplish that?" He had found that last part most interesting. Of yet, none of his other padawans had supplied him with such a response in regards to his question about what it meant to be a Jedi.

Glancing over his right shoulder briefly, Kidd thought that he detected a rather large life form, something bigger than your average humanoid. Non-sentient. At the moment, it didn't seem much of a threat, but upon Tristan's response, he would make it a point to head that way. Perhaps they'd have some lively interaction, heh. Turning his attention back towards the young man, he set his gaze upon him, listening attentively.
 

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Kidd's voice was like a far-away echo, barely in the reach of his hearing. He was immersing himself into the energy around him. The forest teeming with life was in equilibrium. However, like all things, it was not perfect. Tristan could make out that it was not perfect, but couldn't pinpoint where nor how. With time and training it would come.
"Is that not one of the basic tenants of the Jedi? No chaos; only harmony... to influence the force into perfect harmony." He replied, however, it wasn't really him. Verbally he said it, but it was like he was someone else was on the outside, telling him what to say.

At that point he started to reach out. He felt past the small glade they were in and into the surrounding forest. On the outside, he looked as if he were staring at nothing while at the same time seeing through the facade of the physical world. On the inside, he was far away... This lasted only a few seconds.

He regained his awareness and realized his progress and was petrified. Then, it felt as though he was sucked back into his body. Violently. It was as though he crashed back into it.

With that, he collapsed to the ground, gasping for air as he had stopped breathing during this. He was physically and mentally exhausted. He feared what he had just done and blocked himself from his surroundings. He was terrified that he could have never come back.

He had to fight from passing out.
 

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Kidd smirked at the young padawan's response. He truly must've still been in a mild state of semi-confusion. The Knight had asked HOW one does that, and apparently Tristan had heard WHY does a Jedi do that. This was going to be a long padawanship if Kidd Vegas was going to have to repeat and re-ask / re-word every question he ever asked the young man. A -long- padawanship indeed.

Asking his question once again, K. Vegas began, "Right, that it is. My question to you is this: HOW do you plan to accomplish that? How do YOU, Tristan Maverick, plan to permeate harmony into all things? How?" Though spoken yet again and explained a bit more thoroughly, or as thoroughly as Kidd thought that he could explain it, his question was yet again left unanswered as the young Padawan had stopped breathing, and shortly fell to the ground.

"Sweet Krath," Kidd muttered as he observed just what was transpiring before his very eyes. Once his Padawan hit the ground, the Jedi Knight took a knee alongside him, laying a hand over his forehead as he began to use the Force in order to soothe and calm the young man. Soothe and calm. Whatever he was going through, Vegas wasn't exactly sure, but apparently he'd been up to more than just thinking of a response. That, or he needed to be taken inside to see medical...
 

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His recovery from the experience was rather quick, though to him it felt like hours.

A few seconds passed by and he awakened. He looked as though he hadn't slept in days, and felt like it too. What was that? He had no answer.

He opened his eyes and blinked a few times, for his sight was blurry. Once it was focused, he saw the look of concern on Kidd's face. "That would be one way, to answer your question correctly." He said, his voice a little raspy as though he hadn't had anything to drink today.

He remembered what he said before, if only barely, and felt a touch of embarrassment again. He was over-thinking Kidd's questions. He wasn't particularly used to such direct questions... at least not yet.

"Ugh, I feel like I was hit by a speeder..." He complained. "I'm fine, I'll be ok." He didn't want to end today's lesson so early. Though he felt like he could sleep for a day and a half, he was eager to learn and wasn't going to end it so early. He could sleep later.

He attempted to sit up, but immediately got a pounding headache doing so, and curled in half covering his face and rubbing his temples. The throbbing dissipated quickly enough and he was able to stand, though a bit wobbly.

He blinked a few times, and with his eyes practically half open, waited for the next question from his master.
 
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Gesturing towards the ground, Kidd instructed, "Take a seat Tristan. Cross-legged." Assuming the position himself, the Knight waited for his Padawan to follow suit. Once he had done so, Vegas went on, "I want you to meditate upon centering yourself and finding your focus." Placing a hand over his chest, center-mass, he went on, "You need to refresh yourself. The journey here has left you with a good amount of lag. Sleep an' meditation are the two bes' cures."

Drawing in a long, deep breath, Kidd closed his eyes as he exhaled it slowly and paused; not breathing for a moment or so. Taking in a lighter breath now, he exhaled quietly as he began to speak softly, "Out with the fatigue, the confusion, the weariness, everything that draws on your energy from within." After another pause and a deep inhale, he continued, "In with the revitalizing energy that surrounds you. The natural harmony and peace of the forest. The calm, soothing flow of the fresh air..."
 

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Assuming the position, he did as asked. Still slumped over, he crossed his legs and let his eyes close. They seemed to slam shut he was so tired.

He proceeded to put his hands together in front of his chest, only his finger tips touching. He breathed and calmed his mind. Such a simple trick all padawans learn to focus and calm their racing thoughts. So simple yet so effective. He stayed in his head, fearing to reach out. He just wanted to calm himself. Right now, he couldn't worry about everything around him. It was an unusual feeling for him, as he usually always felt those around him out of curiosity if not fear. Now that he had blocked himself off, he felt blinded.

The first 2 breaths dramatically relieved his pounding headache. With the exhale, it dissipated. With the inhale, his fatigue started to lessen and he became a bit more alert. He still stayed within his own mind, however he straightened his posture a bit.

As he continued the controlled breathing, he became immensely aware of something. He didn't know what, but it was external, and rather large. Its force almost blunt. He stayed aware of it, but didn't focus on it; instead he focused on alleviating his mind of the stress of the last few days. The wait for the answer as to his Master, the preparation of leaving the only place he's ever been and the trek their put an immense amount of stress on him, though he couldn't feel it at the time. He was too focused on learning everything he could about all of the new things around him. He was only a child after all, and so much stimulation of his mind was bound to do something.

All he knew at that moment was himself, his Master, and this growing presence somewhere in the distance, not really getting closer, but not going away. As if watching.
 

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"Inward focus only," the Knight stated, addressing the seeming distractions that were plaguing the young man. Somehow, it just didn't -feel- like he was performing the meditation quite properly. Opening his eyes just slightly, he turned his own attentions towards the Padawan, speaking softly, "Disregard all tha' is, all that was, all that will be. Disregard -any- and all exterior influence, presence, happening, distraction."

Shaking his head lightly, he added, "Don't block it out. Simply disregard it. Like water off a duck's back. Let it -all- go. Inward focus only. Out with the bad... the disruptive... the chaos... In with the good... the peaceful... the still... the harmony." Quieting himself, Kidd kept his gaze upon his Padawan, watching him intently as he tried to sense him out and feel if he was doing any better with the exercise.

They would stay like this for hours if need be. Kidd was determined not to speak another word. He'd given instruction enough. Now was the time for execution by the young man. He could do it!
 

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A slight breeze flowed through the small glade. It blew a warm calm breeze passed him. he felt calmed and relaxed by it. His mentor's words seemed to gently waft through his mind. He heard and understood him, but let it be; let it settle as it was. Choose its own course as it were.

After a few minutes, he was able to look inward upon his mind as though he were looking in from the outside; watching his thoughts and feelings go their way and settle and move where they were. Still, there were times when he tried to force things out, or more, or in; but he kept letting it go. Soon it became easier and easier to just let his thoughts be.

A few minutes later, the movements of his thoughts and emotions slowed. He didn't notice initially, just kept letting them settle where they would. A few times he faltered in his focus, or his focusing on not focusing... but he managed to let go again and again...

Time now had no meaning. He didn't know how long they had been sitting there, but it didn't matter. Tristan was in a place of utter peace and harmony. All his thoughts had settled and he was just present in the moment. It was the most intense relaxation he had felt. It was perfection for him.
 

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After some time, Kidd eventually spoke up upon sensing the success of his padawan in the meditative practice, "Tristan? Tristan... well done. Now, le's go git us a bite t'eat b'fore we call it an evenin'." With that, the Knight pushed himself up and offered the young man a helping hand up. Today had been a productive day. Shoot, -any- day upon which learning took place was a good, productive day. He offered the young man an amiable smile before turning to walk them out of the glade and back up towards the Monastery.

"So," he began to inquired as they made their way along at a slow, leisurely pace, "You've any dietary restrictions that we should be made aware of? Drink preferences? Anything of the sort? The cafeteria here has a -wide- variety of foods t'offer even th' most discerning of appetites." Kidd's own weakness were the Mongo beefhead sliders. SO delicious, though not exactly the most healthy. It took great restraint on his part not to have them more than two to three times per week. Heh.
 

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It took him a second to get out of his meditation. He had never gone that deep into one before. He felt at peace and far more energized than before.

A smile is all he could do at the compliment; they didn't tend to come his way very often. He rose quickly and matched Kidd's pace. He liked the relaxed pace they were walking at, it was quite enjoyable. Though he still felt the urge to walk a bit faster. Growing up on Coruscant, that's not surprising.

"No, I'm not really picky. I enjoy trying new things anyway." At the mention of food, he realized how hungry he was. He hadn't eaten since he had left for the monastery. Then he realized how much time had passed. It was now early evening; they had been meditating for 3 hours easy, though it seemed like 5 minutes to him. At first he was a bit upset that time flew by so quickly. How am I going to get everything else done that I need to? He wanted to learn so much, and soon. Who knew when the Hutts would attack, and he wanted to be ready to at least defend himself, if he couldn't defend others.

"So, that's it for the day?" He asked. He did want to learn more, but knew that he should absorb what he had accomplished today a bit more.
 
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