Ask First Steps

[Hassan Pyker]

Hassan smiled as he listened to T’vani’s answer. She was technically write from a secular viewpoint but there was more to it than that. Hassan settled into his kneeling position and closed his eyes. He extended a hand for T’vani to take. He would take her with him in his meditations if she chose.

“Yes and no. Jedi are all of those things T’vani, that is true. But the most important duty of any Jedi is to remain a servant of the Force.” Hassan explained before his mind expanded.

The walls of his ship peeled away and he was left gazing at the cosmic beauty that surrounded them. He felt the weave and fabric of life as he radiated from every world. He heard the song of an uncountable breaths as they were drawn in. The endless lives starting and ending. This was the Force, all of it. The endless majesty of life made manifest from his perspective.

He remained there, focused on that moment and the peace it brought him. This was his perception of the Force, the unique relationship he’d fostered with it over the years. How T’vani would come to view the Force during her meditations would be shaped by how she too cultivated her relationship.

“Always listen to the Force T’vani. Lean on it for guidance and support. This is my first lesson to you.”

@Remileah

 

[T'vani]

___T'vani's ears flicked when her master made his addendum to her answer. It was something she already knew, but if she knew it, why didn't she say it? She kept silent, simply offering Hassan a nod in acknowledgement.

___As his hand reached out, T'vani took it in hers. She closed her eyes as he did, plunging into a meditative state alongside him. The Padawan felt the breath in her chest escape her as his view and interpretation of the Force manifested. It was a beautiful, magnificent sight, and his perception of it varied drastically from hers. Hassan's was more vivid and lively, and where his was like fabric, hers was similar to listless clouds and wavering auras.

___T'vani allowed herself to focus on it and be drawn in by it, and before she knew it, the moment was over all too soon. Her eyes fluttered open, her vision focusing on the starship's interior again. His words brought a smile to her face, and she nodded.

___"I always have and always do," she answered. "I think I was even when I didn't realise it, but now that I know what it is, I never intend to turn my back on it," T'vani finished, looking over at the man. "How could I ever turn away from something like this?"

@Apollyon

 

[Hassan Pyker]

A faint smile settled on Hassan lips at T’vani’s answer. He patted the hand he still held gently. “Good.” He replied softly. “Padawan, go and wash up, I want you to take some time to meditate. Focus on how you perceive the Force, you will describe it to me over dinner.” He told her before nodding towards the refresher.

Once T’vani made her way into the refresher, Hassan would return to his meditations. His mind delved back into oneness with the Force as he sought out its infinite wisdom. His mind focused on Ansion, he perceived what the world looked like from space. He envisioned the myriad of issues they’d have to address in the sector. He trusted in the Force to aid them in this and to aid him in training young T’vani.

An hour later, Hassan had programmed the kitchen droid to cook them something simple to eat. He’d wait for T’vani to arrive and gesture for her to sit across him him at the table.

“Tell me what you saw T’vani and why the Force takes that form for you.” He instructed calmly.

@Remileah

 

[T'vani]

___"Yes, Master," T'vani dutifully responded. The Padawan rose and walked away, heading to one of the refreshers to cleanse her face and hands. After giving herself a thorough wash, T'vani proceeded to her quarters. Closing the door behind her, the girl approached a meditation mat on the far side of the room near the fountain she was setting up when Hassan first entered. She lowered herself into a kneeling position, closing her eyes and inclining her head to enter her trance-like meditation state.

___As T'vani focused on listening and attuning herself to the Force, the room around her gradually faded into a watercolour blur. She submerged herself in the sensation, suddenly feeling like she was falling through the air into nothingness. All around her was a white-and-red-hued emptiness, and in the very centre, in front of her, was a wisp of smoke. It bobbed up and down, swayed side to side, leaving behind a variegated trail of innumerable colourful tendrils.

___T'vani smiled wide as her connection strengthened, the wisp splitting into two. The apparitions weaved and danced together, their colours perpetually shifting but never the same. One would adopt a hue of red while the other turned a shade of blue and black. They would dance together, lurching out into the void before crashing together in a spectacle of colour, only to split again and swirl in a beautiful, delicate spiral.

___This was what the Force was for T'vani. She floated and drifted through the void, watching the colours crash and twirl in patterns around her, both majestic and chaotic simultaneously. The girl laughed as she floated, a sense of relief washing over her as she submitted herself to it entirely. It was something beyond words, something so complex yet so simple. She relished and cherished it, losing herself in the sensation...

___...and her meditation ended. T'vani paused, smiling to herself, before looking over at the clock. She was twenty minutes late! Scrambling to her feet, the girl rushed out the door of her quarters and towards the dining area, freezing in place as Hassan greeted her patiently. Offering the man an awkward, apologetic smile, T'vani shuffled to the table and took her seat.

___"I'm sorry, Master," she said. "I got lost in my meditation," the Padawan elaborated, retrieving her eating utensils. As she ate, she explained how she experienced the Force. The two dancing orbs of light cascading and careening through a void, participating in their majestic yet chaotic dance. She smiled as she recollected her experience, occasionally pausing to take a bite.

___"I don't think I know why it looks that way for me," T'vani continued. "It may be because when I first met Master Krim, who opened my mind up to it, a lot of things that happened early in my life started to make sense. I think the 'blessing' my species talks about for white-haired Fiani like me is, in a way, just someone's special attunement to the Force," she explained. "It always seemed like I was in the right place at the right time to help somebody, and there was never any rhyme or reason about why or how I ended up there. I just did. My choices to do things were sometimes sporadic, but it all somehow made sense, and... maybe that's why I see it the way that I do. The Force and my 'blessing' working together, separate but one and the same..."

___She shrugged and smiled bashfully. Perhaps her explanation didn't make any sense. It barely made cohesive sense to her, but she had to try.

@Apollyon

 

[Hassan Pyker]

When T'vani came rushing into the dining room of the ship, she wouldn't find Hassan upset while waiting on her. Instead, he would be patiently waiting for her at the table, a calm expression written on his face. The kitchen droid served both of them a bowl of lightly seasoned noodles that had previously been in dehydrated packs. They weren't the greatest but it was better than Hassan's cooking, that's for sure.

Hassan would listen to her description of how she perceived the Force during her meditations. It was more chaotic than how he did but there was no right or wrong way to view the Force. It appeared unique to each of it's followers, Jedi or otherwise and it wasn't Hassan's job to judge those interpretations. Instead he simply nodded along with T'vani's explanation and jaunt into an aspect of her cultures perception of her white hair. Hassan had to admit, he was interested in the viewpoints of her people but now wasn't the time to ask questions.

"Our perceptions of the Force are impacted by who we are T'vani." Hassan explained. "The way it appears to us is based around our personalities, understandings, and what experiences shaped us." He continued. "In your case, it sounds like your own natural curiosity into the Force itself manifests into a form that encourages you to explore it's depths." He offered to her. "In addition, your culture encourages a more free-spirited viewpoint of life and so the Force presents itself in line with those views." He continued. "I was born and raised in space, my parents were smugglers. The stars were always my home and so when I meditate the Force manifests into something that I comprehend and that brings me peace." Hassan explained. "Continue to foster that relationship with the Force Apprentice, it will serve you better than any tool." Hassan instructed as he slurped down a spoon of noodles with a grimace.

Hassan held up a finger as he finished scarfing down his mouthful of noodles.

"Speaking of tools my new Padawan, I have something for you." Hassan told her after clearing his throat. He would leave the dining room at that and would be gone for several minutes before returning with something behind his back. What he would place on the table before T'vani was a belt like his own. "This belt has everything you might need in the field T'vani, it will be one of our greatest assets as a Jedi. Do not leave without it." He instructed as he took his seat across from her once more. "Now, do you know anything about Ansion Padawan?" He asked.

@Remileah

 

[T'vani]

___Phew! At least Hassan didn't think her interpretation of the Force was silly. T'vani released a quiet sigh of relief as he explained the potential influences of her culture. She hadn't anticipated that the Force and how she saw it would change with outside influences, but it made sense. Her ears perked and bobbed as Hassan explained his life and how he grew up, her head tilting to the side as he elaborated. As T'vani listened, she occasionally paused to take a bite of her food.

___"I will, Master. I would enjoy building it up," she responded, setting her silverware down in her bowl. "A gift?" T'vani inquired, her brow creasing and her tail flitting as he left the room. Unable to curb her curiosity, the girl slanted over in her seat to try and sneak a glimpse. As he returned, she straightened herself in her chair. When he offered the belt to her, T'vani took it, looking over it with awe and joy. It wasn't of traditional Fiani make like most of the clothes were, but it was a present from her new master. How could she not like it?

___"Thank you!" T'vani chirped with delight. The Padawan rose from her seat to fasten the belt around her hips. She ensured it fit snuggly around her form before looking at the man. "I will always make sure I have it. Promise!" she stated excitedly. T'vani sat in her seat again as Hassan asked her whether or not she knew about the Ansion, responding with a shake of her head. "I don't. I've never really been anywhere other than Fiana, Takodana, and Starlight Beacon."

@Apollyon

 

[Hassan Pyker]

Hassan smiled as T'vani tried on the utility belt. When she had the time to explore what each pocket held, she would find that Hassan hadn't been lying. The belt would have a tool for almost any situation she needed or might encounter in the field. It was an invaluable asset and one that he too utilized regularly.

"Good T'vani." Hassan replied. "I am sure you will find countless uses for it during our time together and after." He explained.

When T'vani explained that she didn't know much about Ansion, Hassan wasn't overly surprised. While he wouldn't elaborate on what was occurring on the world, he would hand her a datapad for her to study. T'vani would quickly pick up that Hassan's teaching strategies involved giving her access to information, allowing her to learn on her own, and then filling in the blanks when she needed his assistance.

When T'vani booted up the datapad, she would find it uploaded with information on the geography, culture, flora, fauna, and history of the world. Everything would be laid out in a digestible format to ensure that she had a reference point to work from. Hassan would watch when she began to read through the article he had provided for her. Towards the tail end of this massive article, T'vani would find more current issues that were plaguing the world. Most notably a disease of unknown origin and a list of notable physicians for her to look into and make contact with. One of which would be the famous Clove Vanhoop, founder of the Star Guardians.

"I've completed this planetary profile for you T'vani. It will serve as a template for you to build data on the other worlds we will be visiting in the surrounding sectors." Hassan explained. "You will need to research for upcoming missions to ensure you aren't going in blind and so you can inform fellow Jedi on what to expect." He continued. "It is tedious but often times critical. While we are enroute, you will need to study this as well." Hassan instructed. "You have an early morning tomorrow you should rest soon my young Padawan. Do you have any questions for me?" He asked in a calm, peaceful tone.

@Remileah

 

[T'vani]

___T'vani took the datapad as it was offered to her, scrolling through the information to absorb every minute detail. Her ears bobbed as she scanned the screen, reading over the fount of data Hassan presented her.

___"Thank you, Master. I'll be sure to read as much of it as I can before I sleep," the girl answered, looking up from the datapad to gaze at Hassan. "I hope I can help with this disease. I used Force Healing once before when I was on a mission with Master Mason during a visit to Sernpidal," she elaborated. She rose to her feet, clutching the datapad to her chest as she offered the man a respectful bow.

___"I'll do my best to memorise as much as I can so I can give clear instructions to everyone," T'vani added as she straightened, smiling warmly at Hassan. "No, Master, I don't think I have any questions. If that's everything, I'll return to my room for the night to continue reading. I'll be there if you need me," she concluded as she turned to leave. As she departed, T'vani perused the information, clearly committed to doing her best on this mission and every mission that followed.

@Apollyon