Ask A Tall Order

[Vida Harp]

Ithor

Vida rocked back and forth on her heels waiting for her lesson to begin, but she was quickly becoming bored. She was supposed to be meeting with Knight Orlan, or as some of the other padawans had called him: Jedi Crankis. This of course, set in mind nerves that the young jedi learner kept thinking about. She heard this knight was in battles, real ones, and he had lost his arm, which sent chills throughout her body as she tried to image herself without an arm. She hoped they would do something cool, she felt like all she did was work as she caught up on lessons to improve her meditations and had even begun to attend classes for an education. To which, she felt completely incompetent since she dropped out of school before reaching secondary school.

Maybe this was all a mistake..., she thought to herself and now she was going to meet with the meanest jedi in the order. Maybe that was why she was getting the mean Jedi, because she wasn't good enough. She shoved her hands into her pockets of her altered padawan attire and started to walk around the room. She had ditched some of the pieces she was given for her robes and altered the rest; the streets taught her not to wear so many layers, it just meant someone could easily grab you, so she took in the sides of the tunic and the arms, making it more fitted to her form. She used some of the extra fabric to create a wider pant to give herself more flexibility and found a boot that didn't cut into the back of her calf.

At least she was not looking completely like she came from the lost and found, and paused to watch out the window that overlooked the Ithorian forests. It gave her pause, she had felt stupid for never really seeing a tree other than in pictures, but being here was so alien, foreign to her, it seemed surreal at times. She let her forehead fall against the glass as she watched, and continued to wait, beginning to wonder if this Knight was just not going to show up.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Caris Orlan]

Get out of the Temple Caris…it’ll be good for you Caris. The never-ending drone of the Master’s had rang in his ears for weeks in Brighthome. They thought they knew what was good for him. They didn’t. Caris had seen enough of the galaxy. He’d rarely stepped foot in a Temple after becoming a Shadow. Ifrane was the close he ever got, and you’d hardly call that a pillar of the Light. What had all that travel given him? A whole lot of nothing. Coming home to Yavin had been even worse. He’d left that little jaunt down an arm, but still a Jedi.

A Jedi who could not refuse a command and a command it eventually become. He was ordered to Ithor. A painful enough punishment to begin with. Then the knife had been twisted. For the first time, Caris had been assigned a padawan leaner. A horrible event for the both of them. He mildly understood the reasoning. He was no longer actively serving as a Shadow. He had to do something. Mopping around Brighthome was not productive.

What they failed to realize was most of his effort was spent towards warding off the darkest thoughts from the worst corner of this mind. That was productive. Caris wandered through the grounds on the complex on Ithor until he found the poor young sap assigned to him. She looked practically morose. Great. “You must be Vida.” He gestured to himself with his remaining arm. He still hadn’t gotten around to replacing the lost one. “Caris. None of that Master Orlan shit please.” He sighted heavily. “Look, lets level here kid. This isn’t a voluntary assignment for me, and you can’t be happy I’m your master.” He walked a little farther forward. “I’m a bad teacher and even worse with youths. We just need to put on a show and then you can get a real Jedi.” He did his best so smile. It wasn’t great. “Deal?”

@GABA

 

[Vida Harp]

The girl could feel someone entering the room before they even did, it was a strange sensation. She could recall a couple times it had happened while she was trying to swipe speeders, the approach of another. Always having to pass it off as luck, she was now learning that those odd happenstances were more than just luck or coincidences. He was as cranky as she was told he would be, and was relieved to see at least another did not mispronounce her name. Somehow "Video" (@Sreeya) was starting to float around the temple with the other padawans.

She watched him carefully, seeming to be suddenly on edge as he went through his check list of why he didn't want to be here either. However, when he called himself a bad teacher, she seemed suddenly surprised. Why would the order give her a bad teacher? She felt her stomach twist, chest tighten and her heart started to race a little bit faster, not hearing the rest he had to say.

"A bad teacher? Why do I have a bad teacher?" her fingers curled into fists as she tried not to lose her composure, "They think I'm a bad student? So I get a bad teacher?" but then Vida lost her composure and tears swelled in her eyes, "I knew it, I'm terrible and you're going to try and make me leave, aren't you?" she cried into her sleeves, quickly wiping away the tears.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Caris Orlan]

Oh fuck. “No…no…damn it…don’t do that.” The words stammered out of Caris. He walked forward, palms out, trying to seem reassuring. Failing to be reassuring. He stopped and stepped back. Rubbing his eyes. “Just stop it, okay?” If only the wise Jedi could see him now. Not even a full conversation and his student was already crying. How brilliant they were. “I’m sure you’re just fine. You look very Jedi-y” He was making this worse. Somehow he knew he was making this worse.

“Kid, no one is going to try and make you leave.” He took another step back. “I’ve been on ah um a leave of sorts.” Caris’ stand on Yavin had made the rounds. Most knew they’d fought the Demon Prince and lost…but not before dealing damage of their own. He’d fought that battle three times, and Draugr twice. Now, his greatest struggles were with himself. This poor girl shouldn’t be subjected to that. Yet, here she was.

“I don’t know why you got stuck with me but trust me, the Council would not assign me to a bad student. They’d never survive.”
He tried smiling again. That was better? Wasn’t it? “Just tell me what you’ve learned so far.” That was a good place to start. Caris wasn’t wise. He did not know much about the inner workings of the Force but he could fight. The girl could at least learn that.

@GABA

 

[Vida Harp]

His attempts to soothe the padawan were slightly working, she at least was trying to regain her own composure feeling dumb for even letting the tears come. Though, reassuring those who were bad students wouldn't survive made her feel tense again, and quickly the tears came again. She searched for a dry part of her sleeve and finished wiping the second wave of tears, feeling a little better, since she had wanted to cry ever since her first week here. He wanted to know what she had learned so far and the girl frowned, eyes glancing to the floor as she thought on where she would start.

"I've learned...I can't read, so I haven't learned much in class." she started, her face twisting in a mild pout, "I've learned there is a lot of sitting around with one's eyes closed too." she answered, catching one more tear that lingered, "And feeling, feeling everything and here...it is weird, it doesn't feel like the city." Vida glanced toward the window to the lush wilderness outside.

"Why do we have to sit around anyways?" Vida asked, seeming a bit more calm getting just those few things off her chest.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Caris Orlan]

He almost stopped the tears. Caris was taking that as a win. The truth was, he had never been very good with kids or adults. That was one of the many reasons the solitude of his former work had suited him so well. But those days were far behind him. He could at least try to do as told. The first hurdle seemed rather obvious. His padawan couldn’t read. An almost unthinkable problem to solve. What a start to his day. “Honestly? I have no kriffing idea.” Caris wasn’t one to sit around and listen to the Force.

“I was taught the same way. Always sitting, always listening…I usually fell asleep.” He shrugged. “I’ve never found the Force in the quiet places of the world but the loud ones. Where you can feel the life close around you.” He took a deep breath. He missed that.

“The Masters know what they’re doing but what works for most…never really worked for me. Maybe it’s the same for you.” But really what did he know? “Have they taught you to protect yourself?” She was 16. Young but not that young. The war would find her eventually. If she was going to be his responsibility, he would make sure she was safe.

@GABA

 

[Vida Harp]

She wasn't sure if it made her feel better that he didn't know why they sat around a lot. Though with him explaining he would fall asleep, she was able to smile through her worry, thinking the number times she was told she snored through meditation. Vida gave her eyes one more rub before rolling up her damp sleeves, quirking an eyebrow to him suggesting she may have been like him.

"Protect myself?" she questioned, wondering if he meant in general or the way she was learning here at the temple.

"Yeah, I can do that," she raised her fists before her, "I don't have a lightstick, but I'm as good as anyone with one." the girl explained, but paused and lowered her fists, seeming to think on something, eyeing Caris.

"Did your masters teach you to protect yourself? If they did they may have been lousy so says your missing arm." Vida bluntly stated, kind of curious as to how he lost it and if it banked on how well he would be able to teach her how to protect herself.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Caris Orlan]

Caris leveled a flat stare. “Almost lost my life too.” He hated reliving Yavin. How many times had he been asked to recount those events? He was tired of explaining over and over how utterly he had failed. Caris took a deep breath. Shoving his anger down. It did not control him.

He was in control. “You know that new Imperial Warmaster? He was one of the Sith who came for Yavin. I fought him and another. Lost my arm but nearly cut one of the bastards in half.” That phantom pain started tingling in missing limb. “We lost…but if I sucked…I’d be dead.” That much was true. The Demon Prince and his friend were two of the best Caris had ever seen.

“I know what I’m doing.” He raised a single eyebrow. “Enough to teach you anyways.” Caris fished in his pocket for a training saber. He had come prepared. He tossed the thing at Vida. “If you’re as good as you say…hitting me should be a problem.” A genuine smile actually appeared on his face. “Afterall, I do only have one arm.” One of these days he would get a new one…but it just didn’t seem worthwhile. What was the point?

@GABA

 

[Vida Harp]

Vida starred right back, knowing that look, meaning she had hit something with her comment. She had heard the rumors about Yavin, the demon-prince guy or whatever that attacked the jedi there. He reassured he knew what he was doing, she took his point, seeing the reasoning for his ability to teach her. Quietly she watched him dig in his pocket and removed a saber, tossing it toward the padawan, who was terribly unprepared, the device hopping from hand to hand as she tried to gain some grip on it until it clattered on the floor.

"Well...I meant like fight...fight...like when some dweeb disrespects you and you have to show them what...you're worth..." she picked up the hilt, looking at it closely, glancing down the emitter where the blade ejected before grasping it with some intention. She glanced back at the Knight, catching a smile, "I don't know how to use this." she said, fiddling the side with her thumb, the blade ignited and she nearly dropped it from being startled.

"The other masters said I wasn't ready though..." she said softly, thinking to herself before looking at Caris, "Don't tell them we're doing this."

@Valen Pelora

 

[Caris Orlan]

“Oh, we are doing this.” His own saber popped into his hand. He casually flicked the settings to adjust the blade. The yellow blade casting a soft glow in the room. “You’re stuck with me, and I’m stuck with you.” His eyes slid past her an into the Ithorian forest. “I really doubt you want to spend your years stuck in this place. I sure as hell don’t.” He spun the hilt in his hand. It was the first time he’d picked up the hilt since Yavin. The first time he’d ignited it since losing himself. It felt strange in his hand.

“Which means we have to venture into the galaxy. You’re a Jedi now. It won’t be dweebs coming after us and I’m not about to babysit you.” Slowly his feet shifted as he balanced his weight. “What they don’t tell you is that no one is ever really ready.” That wasn’t exactly true. Many young Jedi were ready to learn a saber. Caris wasn’t sure Vida was, but he really couldn’t stay on Ithor. Which meant she had to learn, and the only teacher around was him.

“Set your feet like mine. Balance your weight just like a fist fight.” He could do this with one arm, right? “Don’t think. Just do. The more you think, the worse you’ll be. Trust me…or at least just do what I say.” He went to beacon her to charge him before realizing that hand was missing. Kriff, he still wasn’t used to it. “Come on. Hit me. I’ve only got one arm to lose.” He wasn't very excited about having a student. He wanted to be left alone but they'd kicked him out of the peaceful solitude of Brighthome which meant he has to get away.

@GABA

 

[Vida Harp]

The girl followed his gaze to the Ithorian forests and she frowned, knowing he was right. She didn't want to be stuck here for years and would like to get off-world, especially after some of the stories she had heard from other padawans. The yellow blade caught her attention, feeling some jealously that her own was a boring blue color. He reassured dweebs would not come after them, and she thought about her misadventure on Tanaab, frowning, "Like Killiks?" she really didn't want to deal with those things again.

Vida did as he instructed, widening her stance; though she shifted hands, trying to find the best grip, neither felt familiar as she settled on her left hand. She was having the same difficulties in her classes when using any writing equipment, often switching when one got too tired. Before he could signal he was ready for her to hit him, she thrusted her saber at him, trying to hit him in the chest. She had at least learned to strike before the other party was prepared, and to always finish what one started.

Though she was not as confident this situation was going to give her the upper hand.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Caris Orlan]

The girl struck first. His own yellow blade flash left to right, batting the blue saber aside back towards Vida’s chest. Caris let out a snort of laughter. “Good.” He bounced back slightly. “Most Masters will tell you to fight fair…honorably” His eyes narrowed. “We fight to win. To survive.” He pointed the tip of his saber at her. “Something I think you know a fair bit about.” He’d watched her struggle to pick a hand. Could she use both? Caris was not as blessed. He was serviceable with his left hand, but his right had always been dominate. Fat lot of good that did him now.

He dashed forward swinging his blade diagonally from his right to left. “The Killiks yes but the Sith and the Empire are equally dangerous.” As he swung, he watched her movements carefully. She might not be traditional but there was something in her he recognized. A piece of himself…the part that still lived. He might not be able to teach her to be a great Jedi but he could teach her to live.

@GABA

 

[Vida Harp]

Vida knew too well that fair fighting was only something the wealthy class told the underlings to keep them pacified. The irony was they did not even play by fair fighting rules either. The galaxy was a rough and dangerous place to exist, unlike others who were well protected from its horrors, Vida had experienced much, seen much, and yet she still felt vulnerable and weak. Caris pushed back her saber and she took a couple steps back, creating space between him and herself, uncertain what to do next. Fists were one thing, but a weapon that could cut through anything was another. Wait...

He didn't give her much time to think or decide a counter, jutting forward as he swung his blade, a diagonal slice across her center and Vida quickly switched hands, holding her blade up with her right to catch his swing. "Wait!" she would hold his saber in place, both hands now gripping the hilt. "Wait, are you sure we should be using these, I don't want to lose an arm or a leg!" she felt the fear of losing a literal part of her. She would manage to slide out from his attack, blades crackling as they ran along each other, if he had not pulled back yet. Again, she took a couple steps back from the Knight, saber still poised, but there was a feeling that grew in her center.

Vida brushed it as anxiousness, perhaps this guy really was unhinged as the rumors put it.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Caris Orlan]

The crackle of dueling sabers rang in the room. Caris’ mind flashed back for a moment. Focus. You’re on Ithor. He let Vida slide away. His eyes tracking her backward. “That is a training saber.” He spun his own yellow blade. “And this has been adjusted.” He waved the blade back and forth. “It’s not a love tap to get hit but you won’t end up like me.” The Jedi Knight tried a reassuring smile again. His mind prickling in the back.

What was that? He was certain he’d felt that. That unmistakable sound of the Force in his mind. It wasn’t him. It was her. Caris slowly arched an eyebrow. “You can feel it.” She was more than she looked. Maybe…maybe he wasn’t completely lost. “I know you can.” It was tiniest of steps, but the most important. “That feeling in the pit of your stomach…that you aren’t quite sure is supposed to be there.” His grip on the hilt tightened.

“Use it.” He sprang forward again. This time brining the blade high over head to slash down vertically.

@GABA

 

[Vida Harp]

Vida starred at Caris trying to decided if she believed his explanation for the sabers not necessarily taking a limb. Her brow narrowed, lips pursed, trying to figure if that smile meant a good thing or she should be extra weary. Vida took a deep breath and exhaled, a little loudly as she tried to regain her composure; there was something about this lesson she could feel and Caris explained it-somewhat. However, she guessed it was hard to describe when it was certainly just a feeling; she wondered if it felt the same for Caris or any other jedi here, or was it something just her own. A tapestry that she would weave eventually, but only now was she gathering the threads.

He would tell her to use it, and before she could question how, he sprung forward, his blade over head coming down to slash her. There was something though, as time itself slowed, but as soon as Vida tried to touch it, to hear it better, it was gone. She had raised her blade just in time to keep herself from being bit by his blade, but it wasn't enough to fend him off as she fell backwards with an umph and her saber hilt rolled away from her grasp.

Now she felt frustrated as she scooted back, brow narrowed in clear agitation as her thoughts ate at her for not doing better. "How are you to use it if it doesn't even stay put!" she huffed and rose to her feet. She placed her fists on her hips as she walked over the hilt to pick it up in an exaggerated and pouty fashion.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Caris Orlan]

“Ha!” His blade crashed down, sending Vida to her keister and the hilt spinning away. That wasn’t of much interest to him. Even with one arm, a sparsely trained Padawan shouldn’t be a challenge. A part of him was secretly glad that remained true. The real fascination was Vida. “That was it.” He watched her pout her way over to the saber hilt. A deep frown crisscrossing his face. “Oh, come on, don’t pout.” He really was going to have to learn how to deal with these Padawans. Well…his Padawan and try not to lose himself in the process. “Did you think this would all magically make sense in an hour?” Caris flicked his blade off.

“That moment right before our blades touched. That’s the how you use that thing.” He fiddled with the handle in his hand. “It feels different for everyone. I feel time slow around me. Bit by bit.” Slowly, Caris began to make up his mind. He didn’t know what he was doing. He wasn’t whole. Not even close…but sitting around waiting to die was terribly boring. “Lightsabers are nearly impossible to use if you can’t feel the Force. You’ll learn, you’re not as…” What was the right word that wouldn’t make her cry. “Difficult as I thought.” He clipped the saber to his belt. Turning towards the door.

“Come on. I need a new arm and we need to get the fuck off this planet.” He rotated the shoulder of his missing limb. He’d been putting off trying new equipment. It just felt wrong. Caris sighed. He needed two arms if they were going off world. At least, he couldn’t lose the same once twice.

@GABA

 

[Vida Harp]

He asked if she thought it would all make sense in a hour and Vida sighed, "Yes, I did, I thought it was just supposed to come to you, that's what the masters say when we're mEdiTaTiNg." she mocked. "Trust in the Force and it will come."

Vida repositioned herself, "It seems stubborn." grasping the saber hilt with her left hand when he suggested for them to continue. She weighed the hilt, feeling how heavy it was, "Why is this called a -light- saber when its super heavy." she said and then ignited the blade, holding up in a defensive stance before her, shifting slightly as she struggled to find a comfortable stance and eventually settling with a two handed grasp on her saber hilt. The padawan took a deep breath, searching for that feeling.

"I'm ready." she told him as she focused.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Caris Orlan]

He turned back around. Shrugging again. “The masters and I…well…we have some disagreements.” That was putting things very lightly. “That training works for some, but not all.” Caris shook his head slightly. “And it’s not stubborn. You are.” He raised a hand to ward off another verbal attack. “Not a criticism, so am I. It just means you may learn differently. See…that was nice.” His hand drifted towards the silver tube again. “It will feel lighter once you’ve learned to use it.” That was why non-force sensitives often struggled to wield the weapon. It could feel impossibly heavy or wonderfully light. It was a matter of perspective.

Vida shifted her feet again. Her could feel her focus in the Force. “No. That’s enough for today.” He rotated his shoulder again. “Keep the saber. Get used to how it feels and how you feel when using it.” Shit was he really about to do this? “I need to request permission to leave Ithor. I’ll need 24 hours. I’ll find you after.” Caris let his eyes slowly locked onto Vida. “I’m not trying to weasel out of training you. I just think you’ll be better served with a practical approach.” That was a thing masters said right? Right? Totally.

@GABA