Ask A Glimmer of Potential

[Nakoa Singh]

THEME​

Abhean was the sort of planet people didn't pay much attention to in the modern day, a world from a bygone era left to exist in mediocrity. It had a long and fairly important history, which while kind of interesting, wasn't actually while Nakoa was heading there. Old records were his thing, yeah, but moreso the old things and old beings those writings kept alive in memory. And oh, did those faded pages ever have stories still to tell.

Also, he'd decided to drag an acolyte along with him, partly because he sometimes forgot he could do that. The other part was how by any measurement so far, this one was average. Not much a fighter, a speaker, an intellectual. Not wealthy or privileged or overflowing with any obvious talent whatsoever. Jeset seemed normal, and that was precisely what drew the Wrean Champion's curiosity.

Which was why he was waiting for them to show up at a hangar on Drommund Kaas, sheltered from the rain. They'd dressed casually, chewing on a stick of licorice and leaning against Very Little Gravitas while some kinda jazz played from the ship's interior. An alternative point of view going forward might be useful for what Nakoa was after. Most importantly though, there was an excess of acolytes compared to proper apprenticeships. May as well multitask and scout some out for the future, right?

@Arcangel

 

[Amun Seti]

Jeset figured that being a lowly Acolyte that people would leave him alone. A student was supposed to study, train, practice. That had proven untrue in both the Jedi and in the Sith. Being a Jedi had meant rising early and training from dusk until dawn. Being an Acolyte meant that he was more or less at the beck and call of every Sith who was his superior from Mustafar to Raxus to Kalee, and everywhere in between. At least things weren't boring in the Sith.

The summoner of the day was a Sith Champion named Nakoa Singh. Jeset had shown up at the hangar a few moments prior, observing the man from across the crowded hangar for a moment before approaching. There was little he could tell about the man so far. He seemed to have a casual demeanor and a sugar habit. Some tunes leaked from the interior of the man's ship as Jeset approached. The man clearly had a taste for jazz.

"Acolyte Jeset, reporting." He said with a sith salute as he came to a stop before the Champion and stood loosely at attention. He wore nondescript black clothing, his lightsaber tucked away at the back of his utility belt. A messenger bag hung on his shoulders that contained the bare essentials for a mission. He hadn't been sure what to prepare for, the summons had come with no information to prepare him for whatever lay ahead with the Champion.

@Mr. Teatime

 

[Nakoa Singh]

In spite of the generally casual air, there was a moment after the Champion's amber-gold eyes turned toward Jeset where they carried a keen sharpness. The next moment it'd gone like it hadn't manifested at all, back to a neutral expression seemingly stuck somewhere between bored and mildly grumpy. "Call me Singh," Nakoa breezily replied, not all that hung up on the 'greeting' step of conversation. Or maybe he'd forgotten that was a thing. One or the other.

Still chewing on his stick of licorice root, he gestured for Jeset to follow and strode up the ramp into his ship. The first noticeable thing inside was the sudden mix of smells, from smoked meats to sea salt and burning incense. Some areas seemed to get only token organization while others were practically spotless, although few would call it neat. Stacks of books, datapads, sketches, and the like sat atop different surfaces. An elaborate-looking sculpture of a tree with incense cones burning in it sent out smoke in wispy shapes.

The other notable thing was how extensively modified it was even at a glance. Control panels, levers, atmosphere piping. Even the bolted-in furnishings weren't original to the ancient gunship. "So," he began, sitting on a couch- not original to the ship, naturally- and settling his hands against his legs. "What'd you bring along, Jeset?"

@Arcangel

 

[Amun Seti]

Jeset's eyes remained glued to the Sith champion who introduced himself as Singh in a casual way that belied his attention to detail, the way the man seemed unworried about niceties, the way his eyes seemed to hone in on Jeset for a brief moment. The weird looking stick the man was chewing on.

Following the Sith into his lair, for a lair it could be called, Jeset's observations did not stop at the man. A variety of odors assaulted Jeset as he stepped aboard the ancient gun "boat". Meats and salts, scented smokes. Visually the interior was an eclectic mess, a chaotic mash up of style and habit that betrayed a studious and artistic mind with little care for organization.

The ship seemed to be extensively modified, seemingly at some point having been gutted and refurbished down to the very wires, switches, knobs, and buttons. Jeset watched with seemingly disinterested eyes that veiled a wariness that crept into his mind as the Sith champion sat, turning his attention to the Acolyte and asking him a question.

The question itself was unexpected. Very rarely did superior Sith show any attention to what the various acolytes carried about them. Jeset glanced down at his bag before piping up.

"Practicalities, mostly." Jeset started as he did a mental inventory. He paused for a moment, uncertain if the Champion wanted him to list every single thing he carried before deciding it would be best just to get on with it. "Lightsaber, comlink, rebreather, field rations." He started with the most obvious things before moving on to the more obscure.

"A vibroblade, a garrote, a firestarter, fusion cutter... several small knives." He paused for a moment, nibbling at the inside of his lip for a moment before finishing. "A sketchpad and some pencils." He admitted after a moment, deciding the man wouldn't chastise personal hobbies, judging by his ship.

@Mr. Teatime

 

[Nakoa Singh]

While Nakoa didn't see the acolyte as they walked into the ship, he listened. Footsteps spoke if one knew how to listen to them, not much different from any other body language and the Champion's ears were sharp. He filed away his observations as he sat, back to watching as Jeset went through his answer. Nakoa didn't interrupt as the acolyte continued on into a full answer, listing his laundry or however that saying went in Basic.

He was slightly disappointed there wasn't a glow rod, but no one ever brought those anyway. Force users liked their dramatic but poor-quality lightsaber lighting. Still probably better than most. "Practical, uncertain, but personal," Nakoa commented after a moment's pause, leaning back in his seat. "You've killed before." It was framed as a statement. No one carried that many purpose-built weapons if they were uncomfortable with the idea.

"Great! What do you draw?" And on to the next question, asked as Nakoa stood up and waved his hand to click the ship's landing ramp closed. It drew up with the sound of heavy-duty hydraulics. The Champion moved over to a simple desk, where he pulled a datastick from a pile, and walked over to a holoprojector built into the wall. Inserting the datastick, it projected the image of a planet along with several orbiting structures.

"Know anythin' about Abhean?"

@Arcangel

 

[Amun Seti]

Jeset felt a faint glimmer of nervousness as the Champion listened to his list of items, passing his judgement with a few words. Uncertain? Jeset questioned in his mind. He was very certain about what he carried, their purposes. Perhaps the Singh meant his hesitation to divulge the more personal items.

Jeset merely nodded at Singh's comment about killing, recognizing the lack of question in the man's tone. He had, many times at this point. It was hard not to let his mind go back to that first time for a brief second as the scent of seared flesh his his nostrils, imaginary. The way that he had felt the life flee the padawan's form. He pushed the memory away before a string of fresher ones followed. Aadya had made certain their were many more such memories during his training.

"Stills, scenery, flowers." Jeset said quietly as a hint of pink flushed his pale cheeks, thankful that the Champion's attention was elsewhere as he retrieved something from his desk. The landing ramp shuddered to a close and the room grew claustrophobic. It was always unsettling being stuck in a room with a stronger Sith, like they could murder you if they decided that the idea had merit. Jeset always sought to make sure that it didn't.

"Abhean?" Jeset said, pondering the question for a moment as the planet sprung into the room, the holo portraying it in a faint blue. "Abhean, it's on the Parlemian trade route." Simple information about the hyperlane it lay on was a good start. "Shipyards, pre-Galactic Empire. Nationalized to produce bulk freighters during the Galactic Civil War..." He was fairly certain that was correct. There was little else he knew about the planet, though he figured that was soon change as it seemed to be the focus of Singh's interest.

@Mr. Teatime

 

[Nakoa Singh]

The Champion's general sense of quiet wasn't likely to help Jeset's feeling of claustrophobic discomfort. When Nakoa spoke it was clear and dry, yet his footsteps nearly blended in with the ship's mix of background sound and he felt no need to explain what he was doing at any given moment. Of course, he was like that with damn near everyone, but Jeset wouldn't know that.

"What sort of flowers?" Nakoa asked, unhelpfully with the exact same tone of voice and facial expression he asked every other question, making it difficult to figure out how or why these details were being weighed. Meanwhile, he examined the holomap, zooming it in toward Abhean to get a better look at it, the surrounding system, and the Parlemian trade route. "Just so. Large, old shipyards and an abundance of interesting rumors. We're going to go and see what we can do with that." It was well known that the Empire liked having lots of those.

Of course, that wasn't Nakoa's main interest, it was just a possible bonus. But he was waiting to see if Jeset started asking his own questions or not before elaborating on any specifics. Amber-gold eyes slid to the acolyte, the glimmer of another no-context question forming behind them. "Do you have EVA training?"

@Arcangel

 

[Amun Seti]

Singh continued the line of question about Jeset's art as he started to toy with the map, zooming in on the planet in question. Jeset gulped, uncertain where the whole conversation was going and getting just a little uncomfortable with the focus. He didn't let it show too much on the outside though as he kept his expression blank, his tone even.

"Lilies, daisies, whatever happens to be growing nearby when the mood strikes." He confessed. Herbology wasn't his interest, rather the inherent beauty of the shapes and colors that such plants possessed. He eyed the map as Singh elaborated on his interest in the world ever so vaguely, as was often the case with Sith.

"What... sort of rumors?" Jeset hazarded the question, uncertain of what this Sith's attitude towards inquisitiveness might be. Some Sith lorded over their lessers with an iron fist, doling out punishment at the slightest show of independence, while others valued a more open approach to their underlings. Jeset could only hope that Singh was of the second variety.

The question about EVA training, well. It wasn't exactly a surprise given the subject of discussion. Old shipyards and interesting rumors, those two implied a necessity to abandon atmosphere and gravity. "Some. I can operate efficiently enough with the proper equipment." Jeset answered. He had heard that some force users could survive the ravages of space without any equipment for short periods, but the young acolyte was neither that skilled nor inclined to attempt such a risky maneuver.

@Mr. Teatime

 

[Nakoa Singh]

There wasn't any immediate response about the kinds of flowers Jeset drew other than a simple nod, instead skipping ahead to the acolyte's question. "Rumors like corporate unrest and sightings of a Taozin," he answered breezily, although not necessarily helpfully. Why he was being overtly unhelpful was a mystery for Jeset to figure out.

In the background, the ship started up and began to lift off at the urging of a pilot droid. Nakoa wasn't overly fond of the machine but endeavored to see it as a helpful tool. "We'll be visiting the Abhean shipyards with both of these things in mind. Sit wherever on my ship, don't go into the meat locker or touch the books without asking." It wasn't spoken with domineering authority so much as just being a flat rule. This came in contrast to the next thing he said.

"Drawing flowers is admirable. Whatever your path, don't let someone else steal that from you." It was spoken with a sense of authority or maybe experience. Jeset's answers had given Nakoa a sense of insight in a short time that was deeper than the shallow reports given out by Sith academies. The acolyte could have said 'beautiful ones', or 'interesting species I find'.

Instead, it was just whatever he happened to see and felt like drawing. This was interesting.

"If you have any questions for me, ask directly." Which was followed by a total switch in subject. "How would you define a Sith?"

@Arcangel

 

[Amun Seti]

Corporate unrest and sightings of a Taozin. Jeset had no idea what a Taozin was, but he had seen a few cases of corporate unrest during his training, knew that it could be manipulated. Used. All things that he was on board with. The ship shifted a bit under his feet as it lifted off before its inertial dampeners smoothed out the ride, letting Jeset know that they were now airborne and soon to be off world. Completely alone with the stronger Champion. He tried not to let it bother him too much as Champion Singh continued the brief briefing.

Jeset looked around, trying to find a place to sit that wasn't covered in the forbidden-to-touch books with little luck. So instead he remained standing, turning his attention back to Singh as he made a comment about Jeset's hobby. Reassuring words that seemed so foreign coming out of the mouth of a Sith.

"I'll try to remember that." He said with a flat tone. He hoped it was something he could hang on to, as it was something he enjoyed doing. The Sith rarely let you keep what you enjoyed though, either through another taking it from one, or oneself begin changed by the darkness.

He was surprised when the Champion told him to ask any questions he had directly, the command a welcome shift from the uptight attitude that many held over their lessers. Jeset had plenty and no idea where to start. The uncertainty was thankfully taken away as Singh sidestepped into another subject, questioning Jeset and his understanding of the Sith.

"A Sith..." Jeset started to speak, started to define them as they might at the academy or in a lecture hall, spouting remembered facts. Instead he trailed off for a brief moment as he truly brought his mind to the question. "A Sith sees the bigger picture." He finally said after a moment of consideration of what being a Sith meant to him. He could only hope that the Champion truly valued honesty as much as the impression he had given so far. "A Sith breaks free of the chains of expectation and responsibility, acting in ones own interests above all else."

It was easy to fall into the mindsets of the greater Sith order, but Jeset hadn't been trained among his peers. Aadya Rasheer had not been a usual teacher and didn't drill her student's minds with the unquestioning discipline of the Sith Order. "A Sith knows how to leverage what power they hold, a Sith seeks to capitalize on opportunity, creating ones where none exist.. A Sith takes risks, balancing them with the reward." So many of his fellow students seemed to more obsessed with gaining power and influence, all useful things, but useless if one didn't know how to utilize them.

@Mr. Teatime

 

[Nakoa Singh]

Nakoa listened to the acolyte's answers with an impassive attitude, lounging comfortably across the couch as the Very Little Gravitas cycled up for lightspeed, aged leather creaking. He wasn't even looking at Jeset, eyes apparently finding something interesting in the room's far corner. At some indeterminable time in the middle of Jeset's elaboration, however, amber-gold eyes had shifted to look directly at him.

"What is the 'bigger picture'?" He briefly examined his nails while zeroing in on one specific part of Jeset's answer. The acolyte's reply certainly wouldn't be considered the norm in the modern Sith Empire. Academies often instructed the ways of fighting, producing warriors most of all. Bodies wielding laser swords to march at the head of grand armies, flinging enemies aside with eldritch might.

A few rare outstanding exceptions notwithstanding, at least. Jeset had not been taught from a young age in those academies. Neither had Nakoa, and he believed the white-haired young man was possessed of different viewpoints than your average beatstick. His answers certainly hinted that way.

"What is 'power'?"

@Arcangel

 

[Amun Seti]

Jeset tried not to let the older Sith's lack of attention to his answers bother him, though he had a feeling that the Sith was paying far more attention to what he was sayin than his inattentive gaze let on. His suspicious were confirmed when Singh yet again zeroed in on one of his statements, asking the hard questions.

Jeset paused for a moment, his eyes closed as he tried to round up his thoughts that scattered like nerfs before an ack hound. "The bigger picture is..." He started, trying to wrangle his thoughts in a way that he could explain them before finally settling on an analogy.

"When someone appreciates a painting, they see the whole, final vision. A knowledgeable viewer might see some of the greater details and care put into the work.. but the artist sees." His brow furrowed as he continued. "When the artist paints every detail matters. Each brush stroke is laid with care, the colors thoughtfully chosen. Every element has its place as the painter creates a masterpiece." Jeset opened his eyes then as he turned to look at Singh, a bit embarrassed.

"The bigger picture is the wider view that encompasses all the details, large and small. A Sith should be aware of cause and effect, how small actions can ripple to create larger consequences. How sometimes a single, well placed knife, can have greater importance than a whole army." He tried to maintain eye contact with the wrean's golden-eyed stare only to shy away at the last moment. The champions next question tied in too well to the first, drawing a slight smirk from Jeset.

"Power" Jeset made quotes in the air with his fingers, starting to grow more comfortable with the soft spoken Sith, more confident in his thoughts and words. "I think the academies would say skill with a saber or strength in the force..." He paused, both subjects that he considered himself merely average with. "I think that is wrong, or at least misguided. The ability to deal death only has so much reach." He bit his lip gently for a moment, suddenly doubting himself, but he pressed on.

"Many would say that power is influence, or wealth, or the command of large armies." He shrugged, shifting uncomfortably for a moment. "Some think power lays only in the force, in murder, or subterfuge. I think they're all right in a way. Also wrong." He rarely shared these thoughts with others, opinions he had come to over long years of quiet observation of everything around him. "Power is the ability to influence people, events, outcomes... the bigger picture." He finally said, confidently as he met Singh's eyes again.

@Mr. Teatime

 

[Nakoa Singh]

At some point Nakoa acquired a bag of nerf jerky and started munching on it, apparently deciding it was time for snacks. He allowed Jeset's moments of embarrassment and shyness to pass without comment or judgment in his expression. Just sharp eyes watching and keen ears listening.

Doubt and uncertainty still, but the acolyte clearly had thought through these opinions. Nakoa didn't expect your average academy graduate could wield a saber well or engage in a philosophical discussion on the nature of power. Spotting a glimmer of something there felt validated.

"Just so!" Nakoa declared with a foxlike grin, fangs evident. "The bigger picture is made from little pictures; the forest is trees, trees are the forest." In his opinion, Jeset had the gist of it down pat. A dark eyebrow rose slightly. "Power is many things. Pulling a carpet string and watching a castle collapse, a holocall that shifts the galactic economy, the littlest lie that burns down a whole world." His hand waved vaguely toward the holographic galaxy map, expression mellowing down to a smirk.

"Power is both possession and execution of method and comes in more flavors than Bibbity Bop's Every Flavor Beans." Nakoa reached a hand up and made a 'come hither' motion toward a storage closet. From within was summoned- a folding camp chair with magnetic feet, which was promptly deployed with a snap next to where Jeset stood. So he could stop standing around awkwardly if he wanted.

"If you were to categorize 'power', what would you propose?"

@Arcangel

 

[Amun Seti]

Jeset let out a gentle breath of relief as Champion Singh seemed to agree with him, or at least with the general premise of his thoughts put to words. He nodded along with the Sith's words, not failing to notice the evident fangs that the man bared as he grinned. He put the thoughts into words much more succinctly, or perhaps that was just because the younger Sith had already rambled on the larger explanation. Either way it seemed as if they were of similar mind.

A chair came out of the closet at Singh's gesture, snapping open next to Jeset. The acolyte looked at the offered chair for a moment as if it were a snarling gundark before taking the hint and a seat. His stomach grumbled a little as he watched the Champion snack, continuing the line of questioning that they had been on.

"If I were to categorize 'power'?" Jeset pondered out loud for a moment. He was becoming slightly more comfortable with Singh and not so stiff and formal. The question was an odd one, or perhaps just oddly phrased and it took the acolyte a few moments to wrap his head around it.

"I would propose many forms of 'power'." Jeset started, trying to think of where to start. "Knowledge and Information, similar yet distinctly different. They can both be given or withheld to control a situation." He finally got around to starting the explanation, his thoughts half formed and coming out as words. "The manipulation of another's emotions for and feelings for one's own gain, wielding love, respect, or fear to name a few." That was rather vague, a nebulous form of power that was hard to categorize.

"Lies hold power, either believed or not. The same applies to Truth, i believe." Again, two sides of the same coin that could be wielded equally if balanced appropriately. "Wealth, material possession is a form of power, as it can be used to influence and control the actions of others, though it also comes with it's own risks." He thought for a few more moments. "There is of course violence, as a means of coercion or lending finality to another's power over oneself." He added finally before nodding that he was finished as nothing else coming to mind.

He did however recognize how Singh now held power over him in a variety of ways through his explanations, the general lack of explanations and withholding of vital information about their mission. The control of the ship in which they travelled, a distinct possession that meant Jeset was at his mercy. Singh knew much about Jeset now, yet the Acolyte knew little about the Champion, and found himself in an unlikely position to learn more. That had to change.

@Mr. Teatime

 

[Nakoa Singh]

Singh was patient and expected a long answer by this point in their conversation, snacking all the while. His body language was quite relaxed in contrast to Jeset's general tense-ness, wary even of the chair like any undue movement could result in something terrible. The acolyte was relaxing, though, and Singh gave him space to think and to speak.

His head tilted slightly, a smirk forming. Singh held up two fingers, pointer and thumb. "Also 'strength', or personal power. What one can do on their own. Duelists, spies, assassins, and charismatic demagogues. What you can do is the basis for everything else, the most reliable." His pointer finger dropped, leaving only the thumb, countering down.

"And 'authority', mightiest yet most feeble of all. Authority is power given by others, one way or another. Without a strong base, authority can so often be taken away with the stroke of a pen." He waved his hand dismissively, then lowered it to rest on the couch's arm. "The recent holonet report of a Republic grand admiral being shuffled elsewhere is a good example."

Amber-gold eyes focused again on Jeset with a look of mischievous amusement. "Or perhaps how you've yet to ask your own question, even about food, despite me telling you to ask directly." Yeah, he'd heard the growling stomach and seen Jeset eyeing the bag of jerky.

@Arcangel

 

[Amun Seti]

Jeset nodded as he listened to Singh list two more forms of power that he himself had neglected to mention. Perhaps it was hard to consider one's own strength as personal power when constantly surrounded by the more powerful, something that seemed to repeatedly be a dilemma for the young acolyte. The answer of course was pretty simple in theory, just be more powerful.

Easier said than done.

The stuff about authority made sense as well, another constant in Jeset's life where he was consistently the one without. Then of course he was being called out.

"Perhaps..." Jeset started as he eyed the bag of jerky again before returning his attention to Singh's own. "Perhaps it is difficult to approach power from a less powerful place, even when told to. Sith aren't usually know for their understanding or mercy." He said afterwards, weighing his words carefully but gaining confidence that Singh wasn't the kind of Sith to just cut him down for speaking his mind.

@Mr. Teatime

 

[Nakoa Singh]

A throaty chuckle ran through Singh after Jeset carefully answered, the subtle secondary undertone in his voice lending it a vaguely ominous air. It seemed like this acolyte was catching on how to Nakoa handled things. He was a philosopher, someone who thrived off debates and back-and-forth. A question, 'perhaps', was a question to invite a reply. A statement was a statement.

Nothing further. In this case, at least.

"Just so," Nakoa said before tossing an unopened bag of jerky toward the other Sith. "Caution is clever, and it's clever what a Sith should be." He smiled slightly and nodded in an approving sort of way, standing from the couch. "Guest bed's that way," he pointed, "Art supplies you can use are over there," he pointed again to a corner containing an antique writing desk stuck to the floor, a footlocker next to it. "Wander the kitchen at will."

Then he strode over to what was apparently his 'office' in the modified storage area, sinking into a cushy swivel chair. "I think we'll get along just fine," he commented aloud, pulling out a datapad regarding the work ahead. He'd meant it, too. More than a master swordsman or walking juggernaut, or other skill of murder, in most cases he'd always prefer the company of the clever whatever else their skills or lack thereof.

@Arcangel

//End