A Not So General Education {Ask}

[Khivas]

Galactic Evolution, Classified Time and Orbit...

Khivas had reserved the training hall for the next few hours, setting it up to teach Jedi a few aspects, both basic and unique, of being a Jedi, and he hoped that roughly three hours would be enough time to go over some of the basics needed for this type of "education".

It wouldn't be long now, students should be arriving shortly to gain an insight on how a Jedi Sentinel would operate back in the day and how it would translate to how the Jedi operate now, and why it was important to learn simple, common, yet extremely vital skills and trades, more than just simple Lightsaber combat and Force powers, although those too would be covered by Khivas.

Things like how to use a blaster with skill and why it was important to know that, common engineering and mechanical work, how to blend in with a crowd, how to spy on people while drinking to your hearts content, fun stuff like that. Fun stuff that seems to go over most people's heads and very few Jedi thought was appropriate, yet wouldn't dare complain if it yielded results. Of course, there'd also be the basics attached, which was Lightsaber combat and using the Force, things obviously crucial to any Jedi.

Thus, there sat Khivas, elbows on his knees and hands together as he leaned forward, waiting for the first pupils to show up to witness the firing ranges, the dueling circles, and the odd bottles of brown and cloudy liquid sitting on a table.

 

[CaliforniaWinter]

The Galactic Evolution. Truth be told, she hated the mobile headquarters of the weakened Jedi Order. Sylvaria Pho was much more accustomed to great outdoors, someplace where her mind and body relaxed, allowing her to operate at peak efficiency. On her home world of Cathar, there was nothing but massive plains that stretched to the horizon and beyond. The wind flowing through her fiery strands of hair, the feel of the grass beneath her feet....it was a sensation unlike any other, for nature relaxed the mind and body better than any drug.

As the Cathar walked the halls of The Galactic Evolution, she couldn't help but feel...claustrophobic. As if any minute now the walls would began to close in on her, preparing to crush her like she was trash in a trash compactor. She took a deep breath, and then exhaled. Nothing so outlandish could happen on this ship...right?

She continued to walk down the halls, averting the gaze of her fellow Jedi. No need for pointless pleasantries. The Cathar stopped outside a door, her emerald eyes reading the sign above the door. "Training hall....looks like this is it." She sighed slightly, and walked in, the automated door opening and then closing behind her with a soft hiss. She slowly scanned the room with her eyes, taking in the training course that was set up. Looks like they were in for a long few hours. It was then she noticed Knight Carrick sitting in a rather relaxed position.

She approached the more experienced Jedi to gibe a polite greeting. She bowed once she reached him. "Knight Carrick. Pleased to see you again. When I heard you were offering a course, I knew I had to take it." She wore the standard brown robes of the Jedi, her red hair let down to flow past her shoulders. She smiled politely and asked, "Is alright if I sit?"

 

[AlecaiWhite]

Davin clipped his belt around his waist at a lopsided angle, it dropped from his waist on the left hand side to just below where his hip was on the right. To most this would look strange but there was a method to his madness. He attached his Lighsaber to the magnetic clip on the right hand side and let it drop, this had the effect of pulling the belt tight and keeping it in place. He then attached his Shoto to the clip on the left side before swinging his robe around his shoulders and exiting the shared quarters that had been assigned to him when he boarded The Galactic Evolution.

He wandered through the decks, heading in the direction of the training hall. He had heard of a training class being taken by Knight Khivas Carrick and was intrigued to see what would be taught. The stories and talk about Khivas made him seem like a very unorthodox Jedi and whilst these stories had piqued his interest, the chance to learn from a Knight who wasn't as steeped in the mystique of the Jedi code and teachings, yet still adhered to their principles was too much of an opportunity to miss.

He nodded politely to any Jedi he passed in the corridors, until at last he reached his destination. Davin paused outside the door and took a deep breath before stepping forward. The automatic door opened with a hiss and before him was the training room, filled with all sorts of odd objects, most of which he didn't recognise. His eyes were drawn to two figures, one sitting and one standing. The one standing caught his attention first, a female Cathar, with striking emerald eyes and reddish hair, he didn't know her name. She wore a Padawans robe much like his own, which meant that the second seated person must be Knight Khivas.

Davin approached them and when near enough bowed to each.
"Master, Padawan" he said politely after he had straightened from his bow "My name is Davin Cort, It's a pleasure to meet you both"

 

[Krajin]

Kade was last to arrive, having gotten lost in the ship a few times trying to find his damn way around. The Kushari flicked his tail about as he knocked on the Door and then entered, sporting a more casual outfit of a long jacket that went down to his knees, belt, pants and so on. All casual and made to be relatively tactical. His large size ducking under the door frame and stepping in he gave a wave to Khivas and keeping things rather casual. He may have known the Knight but he wasn't going to be formal and bowing all like. "Sorry I'm late.. if I am. Got lost." He looks to the two, the Cathar and a Grey Human. He gave a nod to them as he shuffled out of the way of the door and found a seat. "I'm Kade Darkstalker. Good to meet you two!" He grinned toothily. Showing off those large feline fangs unintentionally.

 

[vamp]

Matt, nose buried deep in a map of the ship's layout dodged a wall and slammed into the one parallel to it. His grip didn't loosen, and he kept walking as though nothing happened, hoping no one saw him. Murmuring quietly, he scanned the piece of paper, searching for the room number in which Khivas's class was going to be held. Matt hadn't heard much about the knight, besides his tendency to drink, and that was enough to strike up the padawan's interest. It wasn't everyday he got to meet another Jedi that broke some, if not most of the stereotypes commonly tied to them. Not all of them walked around spouting "wise" bantha shit or shutting their mouth at the right time, no matter how useful that actually was.

Humming a song, he poked his head out from under the map in time to noticed that the Padawan was now reaching his designated destination. He folded the map and put it in his pocket, then strolled in as a dude was saying he got lost.

"Well, you got lost and got here earlier than me. Yet I had a frakking map."

 

[Sleight]

Var ran at breakneck pace through the halls of the Capitol ship. He'd just gotten back from a mission not a day before, and his chronometer hadn't woken him up when it was supposed to. Dodging maintenance droids and using the Force to propel him, he bolted towards the classroom door.

He stopped short, catching his breath and smoothing his dark blonde hair before glancing down to reassure himself that he had his lightsaber still with him. Straightening, he entered the room.

The door hissed open, and he saw the gathered faces. Some familiar, some not. Var gulped inwardly as he must have drawn their attention, saying nothing and swiftly striding towards Sylvaria. He greeted her with a nod, hoping that he hadn't missed anything important.

 

[Khivas]

And with that, they were assembled. Or at least assembled as Khivas decided it would be, after all if others wandered in, it wasn't like he couldn't teach them too. "Alright then...." He said to himself observing the people who had showed up.

First to arrive was Sylvaria, the Cathari Padawan that chose to wield a double bladed lightsaber, and had a temper about her, but her heart was more or less in the right place.

After an exchange of greetings and flattery, Khivas pointed to a seat for her to sit, and noted the second Padawan to arrive, a face that was new to Khivas. He looked to be a humanoid with dark grey skin, but his manners and air carried about him left a good first impression on Khivas. "A pleasure to meet you too Davin."

Not too long after him came striding in the massive frame of none other than Kade Darkstalker, the large Kushanari warrior that had once been a fellow student with Khivas, and a comrade in arms from a mission taken not too long ago. "Good tobsee you my friend, and don't sweat being late, I think you beat the gentleman behind you." Said Khivas as he noticed the young man rushing to get in right after Kade. "See, he had a map but still managed to get lost. Ah well, can't win em all."

The last one to arrive was a Padawan named Var Sharan, another student he had recently given instructions to, and now it seems he had found himself a new lightsaber to wield. "Good to see you Var, glad you could make it."

Standing up from his chair, Khivas took a stretch and dived into teaching his lesson. "Alright, welcome to a class on not so general Jedi skills. I'm sure you all have been trying to think of what it is I would be teaching, and rest assured it's probably everything you thought and then some. But let's start with something a little off than normal. Or maybe spot on. Tell me, have you ever heard of a Jedi Sentinel?"

 

[Krajin]

"Jedi Sentinels are the mix between the Guardian and the Consular of the Old Jedi Order's classification system. Added to that they were a group who worked more undercover and within the populace, blending in right? I remember that.. from what I was told awhile back the Order recruited the Jedi Shadows from them as well. Correct?" He asked, looking to Khivas. Kade then settled down, staring at the bottles of liquid on the table and frowned a bit, trying to figure what they were.

 

[CaliforniaWinter]

Sylvaria took a seat, her legs crossed and arms folded across her chest, an unfazed expression on her face. It had only been a few weeks since she had last seen Khivas, so not much had changed with her...appearance wise at least.

Her emerald eyes watched intensely as more students began to file in, each one rather different. It was nice to see how diverse the Jedi Order could be in such troubling times. The first to arrive after Sylvaria was a male humanoid, his skin pigment a dark gray. It was unlike anything she had ever seen before, but Sylvaria knew better than to stare so she turned her attention back to the door as another male entered.

Sylvaria's eyes widened as the gargantuan figure of a Kushari strolled in, an air of confidence surrounding him. Who wouldn't be confident when you were over six feet tall and a Jedi? He introduced himself as Kade Darkstalker, flashing a set of razor sharp canines. She had heard of the Kushari, especially since the Cathar were also evolved from felines, but the Kushari took things to a whole new level!

Next was another Human, a map in his hands as he came rushing through the door. She giggled a bit to herself, amused that he had gotten lost on a ship. She would hate to see how he found his way, deep in a remote forest.

And last but not least was Padawan Var Sharan, a man she was willing to add to her small list of friends, albeit in due time.

She returned the polite nod, a smile across her face. "You look worried Var. Don't fret, you haven't missed anything important." She reassured the man, noticing he had a new saber on his waist as well. Apparently he had been busy since their last time together.

As Khivas asked had they ever heard of a Jedi Sentinel before, Sylvaria simply sat back on her chair. She did indeed know of the Sentinels of old, undercover agents of Light that disguised themselves among the civilian populace to strike the enemy where it hurt. It was a rank in the Order which she would one day achieve, for she excelled had stealth related activities. It was in her blood.

As she was about to speak, the Kushari, Kade was his name, spoke first. He had managed to take the words right out of her mouth, his description of the Sentinels brief, but fairly accurate. She felt of jab of irritation, but told herself to calm down and stop focusing on such petty aspects. The Cathar was all ears as Khivas continued on.

 

[AlecaiWhite]

After Khivas' short, yet polite greeting Davin heard the door hiss open again. He turned and ended up looking at the bulk of a Kushari ducked under the low door and introduced himself as Kade Darkstaker. Kade smiled, it was a warm, friendly gesture, yet the large teeth that were shown off were rather daunting. As Kade sat himself down at one of the tables a boy, maybe only a year or two younger than Davin entered the room, holding a map. Davin remembered his first few weeks aboard The Galactic Evolution and how long it had taken him to become used to the many corridors and doors that the ship seemed to possess. Yet, he couldn't help but smile as the boy quipped about getting lost whilst holding a map.

The final member of their class to arrive was Var Sharran. He didn't say anything as he entered the room but nodded towards the Cathir, obviously they knew each other. Knight Khivas was on his feet almost before the door had finished closing, the class was starting and the questions began instantly.

'A Jedi Setinel?' Davin thought to himself, he had come across the term a few times, yet he had never really looked for what they were. He just knew that they were a class of Jedi, like the Consulars or Guardians. He started to shake his head when Kade started to speak. Davin stood there, his arms folded casually and listened to the Kushari speak. As he finished Davin looked towards Khivas, waiting to hear more about Sentinels.

 

[Khivas]

"Yep, Kade just about hit the nail on the head there." Khivas said when the giant cat-folk described what the olden days version of a Jedi Sentinel was. "They were part of an outdated system way back in the day, when Jedi had three set classifications and several sub classes, the idea of which becoming the bedrock of our training programs today. Essentially, where one Jedi was really good at the art of war on the battlefield, and another really good with scholarly pursuits and being a sage within the Force, a Sentinel was a mixture of the two, built specifically for working with the populace as a more normal person, the bridge between the regular folk of the galaxy and us mystical Force Users."

Getting up from his seat and grabbing one of the bottles of the brown liquid, Khivas pulled out several glasses and laid them out, but only placed one in front of himself, and began pouring as he continued his lesson. "The reasons why they were the normal folk however was one that many didn't realize until it was too late for them, and many more still never knew because the reason didn't pertain to them. As Kade said, the Jedi Shadows recruited from them, but the truth of the matter is that Jedi Shadows and Sentinels were once the exact same order of Jedi. They had to be good with a lightsaber and at least excel in defensive Force abilities because their job was to root out evil where the Light couldn't freely shine, the most common of evils they hunted being that of the Dark Side. This is why in a sense, one could look at a Jedi Sentinel as a sort of special forces Jedi, the best of the best." He said as he laid the bottle down after putting the lid back on.

"And that meant having to get down and dirty, knee deep in the grit of society. Where other Jedi would roam about in their robes and their painfully obvious Jedi battle armors, a Sentinel would appear as plain and common as a pirate, a smuggler, or even bounty hunters. You wouldn't think twice once you saw them that they were just regular, everyday people roaming the galaxy. Those skills proved invaluable when Order Sixty-Six hit too, which is why so many Sentinels and Sentinel like Jedi managed to survive for so long, and why in our modern time these skills are still being promoted."

Taking the glass up to eye level, Khivas swirled and stared at the liquid inside, giving it a sniff before speaking again. "Of course, to gain these skills, it required a Jedi be different than their peers. No strict codes or habits of constant exercise and meditation in open here. They had to act and live as the common man did. Tell me, who here has ever had a stuff drink before?" He said, taking a shot of the browned moonshine, awaiting his students to give his reply.

 

[Sleight]

Var took in Khivas' words, internalizing them. Sniffing out darkness, exposing it and then destroying it... sounded like the kind of work he was well suited to. In another life, he mused, I might have been a private investigator. But the Jedi need agents who can ferret out injustice. He sat back and listened as the others answered; it looked like the answer was on Sylvaria's tongue when Kade preempted her. The flash of irritation on her face might have been lost by the rest, but Var knew that she had a quick temper. He chuckled softly. I know that feeling alright, he thought at her. Less Telepathy than just sharing a feeling with her.

As Khivas continued, and set up the glass of what could only be called moonshine, Var shifted uncomfortably. He hated speaking up in front of other people; not because he was embarrassed, but because he didn't want to waste anyone's time with stuff that didn't matter. Still, if no one answered Knight Carrick, then the lesson would take even longer. So he raised his hand. "Back where I'm from, I had an- mmm, an uncle who brewed Tarisian Liverblast. Can't say I enjoy the taste, but yeah, I've been put flat on my ass by somethin' that looks a lot like what you've got there." If Var was going to speak, it would be in his own, no-pretense way.

 

[Krajin]

"A Stiff drink? Suffice to say... Many. Live with Mandalorian Pirates for a few years and you tend to be... introduced.. into such things. As terrifying as a few of them were. Tried a Elshandruu Pica Thundercloud.. Half a glass and I met the floor." He grinned. "Why? I am sure it would be inappropriate to drink during class." He'd tease out.

 

[AlecaiWhite]

It seemed that everyone was telling of their experiences of drinking. Var and Kade were the first to speak up, it didn't surprise him that they had been drinking before, they had the look of travellers, people who had seen and experienced most of what this galaxy had to offer. He may have only been 16, but Davin had also had a drink...once. He battled with himself momentarily before slowly raising his hand and his voice.

"I had something once....kri'gee I think my father called it" Davin paused briefly before continuing his very shot and boring story "I didn't like it, was very sour and it made me drunk very quickly...but I was only 8 at the time"

Realising that his hand was still partially raised he dropped it quickly, hoping that he hadn't looked and sounded too stupid.

 

[Khivas]

Khivas listened closely as he heard the Padawans around him recant their tales of their first drinks, and as expected, Kade was the only one that regularly managed to actually drink as an adult of sorts, whereas everybody else either had a one off that ended quickly or a few at best before cutting themselves off.

Then of course Kade made his remark and he was entirely right. Or at least would be if this was a normal class, a point Khivas made known to him and the others. "Normally you'd be absolutely right Kade, but this isn't a general education here. I can't tell you how many times I had to gather intelligence on a target while knocking back multiple bottles of these. Multiple. Let that sink in. My gullet is made of Mando Iron." He said, stepping away from the table that has the alcohol on it, Khivas continued his dialogue.

"And that as it turned out was a rather odd skill of mine, one many spies find incredibly useful. The ability to get completely blitzed out of your mind but still gather information. I'm not sure how this works for me myself to be honest, I just know that it does, but did you all here rust, know now that the final lesson here will involve drinking heavily and then doing some extra curricular activities, but we'll get to that later."

Walking over to the blasters and the firing range, Khivas looked out at the Padawans and asked them all another simple yet oddly placed question: "So, how many of you have ever received or used blaster weapon training? And more so, can any of you tell me why it's important for a Jedi to know how to use a weapon that's supposedly so uncivilized?"

 

[Sleight]

Var's lips curled in slight amusement as he took in what Knight Carrick was saying about alcohol. It's true, he thought to himself, that a good brew does loosen lips. Naturally, someone like Var would want to learn to take advantage of that fact, without the inverse happening. I wonder if there's a Force ability that neutralizes toxins in the body... he made a mental note to search the archives later. The other students were answering sporadically, though Sylvaria had stayed silent about her drinking prowess. He raised an inquiring eyebrow at her, asking the unspoken question in a gently teasing way, before turning his attention back to the lesson.

Khivas had strolled over to a firing range, asking about their abilities with a blaster, and why it would be important for any Jedi to know how to use a blaster. Var snorted, but held his tongue. He'd look like a know-it-all if he answered every question correctly, but the answer was clear: Sometimes, a Jedi doesn't want people to know they're a Jedi. So they can't run around swinging a lightsaber, but they also can't leave themselves unarmed. So they'd have to make do the way the rest of the galaxy did, with a blaster on their hip.

Var had been fortunate (or unfortunate as many would say) enough to grow up on Taris, a world rife with corruption, greed, and a particularly widespread criminal underworld. His time with the Beks, a swoop bike gang that frequented the Lower Levels, had taught him how to use a blaster. Practice and repeated encounters with rival gangs had taught him to use it well. Var didn't say any of this, merely shifting his belt so that next to his lightsaber, the blaster pistol he kept at the small of his back would now rest at his hip. He simply looked Knight Carrick in the eye and nodded. He was no stranger to these uncivilized armaments.

 

[Krajin]

"Blasters have stun settings, Lightsabers don't. They also have range, some level of utility and modification." He'd nod a bit and flick his tail slightly. "Much like slugthrowers can. Of course they also allow you to not stand out as much as a glowbat can." He'd grin. "I'm not one for Blasters as much, loud, brightly coloured and generally they're not reliable when it comes to environmental conditions."

 

[Khivas]

"Not bad you two." Khivas said to Kade and Var, the first and seemingly only ones to answer, their backgrounds and prior experience now becoming known as they spoke. "The whole stun thing though is a bit off, especially since the best blasters don't have stun settings." The Knight said with a wink to his class, patting the shotgun attached to his hip.

"But you are whole heartedly correct though that there are many times where that lovely little glowsticks of ours is a terrible idea because we stick out like a sore thumb. I can recall a dozen occasions in the past year alone where throwing around a lightsaber would've gotten the entire planet's defense forces to reign a hammer down on my head. But this bad boy? Nobody thought twice about her, and that's what brings me to this."

Hopping off the table and walking over to the makeshift firing ranges, Khivas pressed a button to make a dozen or so targets spring up, each one the shape of an armless humanoid before looking back to his class and saying "Each one of you may grab a blaster and take up a position here on the firing ranges. When you're ready, we'll begin."

 

[Krajin]

"Well, every blaster has a stun setting. Its called clubbing them." He grinned a bit. "Oh right, blasters are fragile things that break when used to smack someone." He teased a bit as Kade walked over to the blasters and frowned at the tiny things. "..Mind if I use.. one of my own? If not thats okay but these look so rediculously tiny on me! Look at this! Its a midget!" he picked up one, possibly the smallest of the group.

 

[Khivas]

With a chuckle beheld at the sight of Kade trying to use a standard issue blaster with his massive frame, Khivas simply nodded and said "Certainly Kade, I can't expect you to use a Plain Jane when your hands demand the reigns of something far more refined."

{OOC: @AlecaiWhite, @Sleight, @Matt Astroseph, @CaliforniaWinter, I think that's it. If you guys can, post up in here. I'm giving a few days to a week per post before I go ahead with the lesson. I prefer you guys to take part, but if need be, I'll just carry on with the lesson here and you can like, sit silently or something lol}