Ask Growing Pains

[Enya Darand]

Imperial Knight Training Suite​

Imperial HQ​

Raxus​

15:41 Hours​

Enya could swear that her heart was pounding loud enough for even the training droids to hear, even among the sounds of wood clanging against durasteel. This used to be so much kriffing easier, she used to be stronger and faster and more instinctual in the ebb and flow of a fight. Still, she was out of the game for a long while, she needed to get her instincts back and hone her skills back to the edge they used to have, and retraining her muscle memory was the first step on that road. The weighty wooden pole sailed through the air as if it were an instrument wielded by a maestro, moving up, down, side slash, lunge, flourish, block, and on and on. It wasn't a lightsaber, they were far lighter and made these look like the clumsy sticks they actually were, but if a person could wield this was the kind of speed and precision needed for a saber, the strength and speed they would gain from the real thing was nothing to slouch at.

Enya stopped momentarily as she turned, grunting in pain as the pivot of her kata rekindled the fresh blaster burn adorning her right side. She gritted her teeth, holding the wound for a moment; the heat was still strong enough to form a warmth pleasant to the touch, even hours later. In her mind, she knew this was a bad idea, training for as long as she did was only detrimental in the long run, but her heart refused to let her stop. She had to get better, stronger, faster, and she needed to ensure that she wouldn't be a liability when she hit the field, or seen as lesser. She was an Imperial Squire, but she had more training than most of the Knights could hope to gain, and if they weren't smart enough to recognize that, she would make it painfully clear to her superiors. She let go of the wound, breathing in deeply before letting out a long exhale, centering herself and unclipping her saber from her belt.
"Computer, blaster deflection training, expert difficulty," She ordered, planting her feet and igniting her saber as the training droids whirred to life on all sides...

@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

Kalique had just been done with her morning routines at the Knights head quarters with the regular check ups and the Squire training when she realized it was long past noon. Nothing out of the ordinary, but it drew a slightly tired smirk from her as she began to head for her quarters to change.

Her steps resounded in the long hallway that connected the various training rooms. An idea crossed her mind as she figured she could add a little extra unit to her own training routine, but as she checked for free rooms, she noticed something interesting as one room had been blocked for 6 hours straight - by a Squire.

She tilted her head, expecting Rhia's full name to pop up, but instead it read 'Enya Darand'. The name immediately rang a bell because obviously the former Jeri who had joined the Squires not that long ago had caused a little stir. Kalique hadn't met her personally yet, and so she decided to go check in on her - perhaps because there was a slight trace of suspicion prodding at her, but mainly because she simply wanted to introduce herself as she was her superior.

Most new Squires were barely teens and not only was Enya a grown woman older than Kalique, but most importantly she had an interesting backstory from which Kalique knew the gist. She approached the training room Enya had blocked and announced herself with a quick knock before she swiped her card across the reader.

She found the Squire busy, just having started a training program, but through the woman's determination she also sensed exhaustion. Had she been at it all those hours? Kalique walked in, not intending to interrupted the program but to watch her complete it for now instead. A polite smile was planted on her lips, assuming the new Squire hadn't even noticed her yet, but as soon as the woman would turn, she'd greet her with a nod.

@Panda Hermit 98

 

[Enya Darand]

She had barely begun the program when she sensed someone on the other side of the door, someone stronger than her. She briefly wondered who it might've been, but that distraction only earned her a fresh blaster bolt, grazing across her back. She yelped in surprise, the pain taking a few seconds to register in her mind, but by then she had already returned to the task at hand, saber forming a protective Soresu shield as it flourished all around her, sending bolts to and fro. She needed to end this quickly, especially as she just heard the door slide open, so she took advantage of the brief pause, her second saber shooting to her free hand and igniting as she switched styles. Two sabers gave her more room to maneuver and, one by one, she sent each blaster bolt careening back into the training droids, a sonorous droning noise signifying a target down.

She was panting by the time the last droid stopped, the program marking itself as ended, and Enya deactivated her sabers, clipping them back on her belt as she turned. Her posture immediately straightened up when she recognized the Knight-Captain, hands behind her back as she returned the nod.
"Captain Demici, my apologies, I didn't know it was you," She breathed out, trying to mask the fatigue in her voice but doing a very bad job of it. "Did you come to use the training room? I can clean up and head out if need be." She hadn't met the Captain more than once in passing, but she made it a point to read all the Knights' files when she cleared orientation. She was one of the few to not have been a pure Sith, she was more...pragmatic, she supposed the word was. She didn't quite know what to expect from her as a result, hence the possible trepidation on her face as she waited for a response.

@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

If the Squire noted the Captain enter, she at least did not let herself be distracted by it. With pure dedication and admittedly admirable skill for a Squire, she finished the program, knocking out the last droid however with visible exhaustion. Kalique couldn't shake the feeling Enya had truly been training for hours and because she had often done the same, she knew there was always more to it.

Once the lightsabers were turnt off, Enya turned to face and greet Kalique, which was when a soft smile tugged at her lips. "No need to apologize", she replied, "I'm impressed". She had given her quite the show - a testament to the skills she had acquired within the Jedi Order.

"Oh no, don't worry" she reassured her as she walked up to her. "I've just seen the training room log and thought I'd stop by. We haven't gotten the chance for an actual introduction after all". She extended a hand, the smile on her lips genuine. Kalique was indeed curious and thus hoped Enya didn't plan on immediately departing. They knew each other's names, but there wasn't much more so far.

@Panda Hermit 98

 

[Enya Darand]

Enya couldn't help but smile a little as the captain complimented her skills, her head tilting down a little, betraying a hint of embarrassment. It was nice to be acknowledged in your skill, though the training she had undergone in her younger days always allowed a small trickle of guilt to lace itself through her thoughts - technically she shouldn't care about being acknowledged, it spoke to an ego. She wasn't a Jedi anymore though, so she tried to just let it leave her mind as she moved forward and wiped her hand with a towel before she took the Captain's hand, shaking it firmly.
"Enya Darand, but you can call me Enya if you like Captain," She said politely. "I'm a Squire, just joined at the start of the month...but I imagine you already know that, being the Captain and all."

Top marks for conversational skills Darand, just stellar. It was moments like these when she wondered how she ever managed to settle down with a husband and...well, it was a small miracle, best leave it at that. She moved over to the benches, sitting down and taking a breath with some water. "If you don't mind me asking, because I know that may be a little forward, but is this really a chance encounter? I know some of the former Sith in the ranks have been eager to size up the old Jedi, as someone put it. I know you weren't a Sith, but it seems people like to gossip."

@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

Enya's realization drew a little smirk from Kalique as she did in fact point out the obvious. Kalique closely monitored not only the Knight activities, but also kept overseeing Squire training, was training various squires herself and was always very interested in new comers - especially if their backstory deviated from the usual.

It was good she was taking a break though, or it did at least seem as though Kalique had 'stopped' her at the right time as she somehow doubted the other woman had otherwise taken a break by herself. She took a seat next to her, a brow raised as she suddenly posed a question that surprised her quite a bit.

"Do you know who exactly said that?" Kalique asked directed, her expressions serious, seemingly a little irritated. No, this she wouldn't tolerate. "I'm a little surprised you've been met with such hostile attitudes. You haven't been here long, but you've chosen to stay, so I'm sorry you weren't welcomed warmly". Kalique admired the Jedi in some way. Not for their religious beliefs, but she found several practices fascinated and they had taught her a lot.

"I can assure you I spontaneously decided to check in" the soft smile reappeared as she reassured her she wasn't here due to any ill will. "I'm just curious, really. As far as I know, you're the first ex-Jedi that have joined us. May I ask what made you consider joining the Empire?" she asked, just as direct. She still had her loyalty to prove, but Kalique was open-minded. She was determined, this she had already gathered, but as she had chosen to fight for the Empire, there might have been another reason or conviction.

@Panda Hermit 98

 

[Enya Darand]

The sudden shift in the captain's tone was a little startling, not because of it coming from her specifically, but from how quickly it was able to change. Silk hid steel, and it was ready to come off at a moment's notice - she wondered if this was how she always was with her troops.
"I don't know who's been saying it specifically, but it's easy enough to gleam," She said, rolling her mind back over her first month on Raxus. "A bit of conversation from two bored troopers here, an unguarded emotion as I walk past the other Knights there...they don't like me, or at least, something about me makes them tense, and that plus my old job normally invites challenge." She recalled a few days into her orientation, she walked past a Knight and, although his face showed no emotion or even any attendance to her presence, she could feel the hate and the insecurity and the ego radiating through the Force. They guarded their emotions less here, perhaps a hold over from the Sith, but it helped her get a grip on who her colleagues were and what to look out for.

Of course, she failed to look out for the obvious, or perhaps she just didn't expect the question to be asked quite so directly. Captain Demici asked the obvious question: why would a Jedi become an Imperial? She fought hard to try and let those memories stay buried, but everpresent paradox of not thinking about something only served to bring the smell of cooked flesh...wind against tears...a loved one's last breaths. It was a moment before she realize her mind had drifted off, her gaze having wandered somewhere over the Captain's shoulder, and she refocused on her. "You're very direct Captain, normally there's some witty repartee or a dinner date first," She said, forcing a smirk to her face. "The Empire has some things right that the Jedi are too hopeful to believe in, and I don't believe in half-measures anymore when it comes to keeping people safe. I won't to keep people alive, happy, free to live their lives, and if I need to be harsh on the forces that would conspire against the people, then I will. What about you? Academy Graduate, lifelong Imperial, you could've been a Moff, an Admiral, a Marshal, why Knight?"

@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

Kalique really didn't like hearing about hostilities between different Knights, regardless of where they came from. They needed unity in such times of chaos all around and couldn't afford such disputes. She pondered on her words a little, her mind running through different names that had popped up earlier in terms of different circumstances every now and then before she met her gaze again.

"I'm really sorry to hear. I'll follow the case though. Feel free to report to me whenever you notice something that's off, but I'll keep an eye out as well" she was conviced they could settle the conflict, even if that meant telling someone off. Sure, she also considered the possibility of Enya not telling the truth, not because she held any prejudices, but simply because she had learnt to be careful whenever, but her gut told her she wasn't lying and given her background, it made sense.

"Again, I'm sorry. Throughout the years I've learned that directness is what helps us the most though. There's no sense in tiptoeing around important questions and answers. If there's anything you want to know, feel free to ask". Kalique did listen to her attentively then, head slightly tilted.

She had a feeling there was even more to her story, but so far she already shared valid, logical reasons. She didn't just give reasons that made sense, but also reasons that were simply right. Kalique shared them, too. As a Knight, she could protect the Empire, the people she deeply cared for..."Because here, I can serve the Empire best. I'm gifted with the Force, I can best use it right here by passing on my knowledge and fighting where it's needed. I've also commited myself to the Empire all those years ago because I've always believed in its course. I fight for what I believe in...". That was how it often was. Finding mind's that thought alike where you haven't even expected it at first. "Before you've joined the Jedi, have you ever seen yourself somewhere else?"

@Panda Hermit 98