Growth on Naboo

[Black Noise]

Naboo, why of all places did the refugee ship she transferred onto stop at Naboo for refueling? The city, so clean, full of uptight rich snobs that Morgan could not stand. The white haired, dirty Echani retreated to the rolling green plains in search of peace. Here, Morgan could find peace away from the people more occupied with Coruscant than taking long walks. Coruscant, that poor world, on fire with the flames of the Sith.

Coruscant, is my mother there now, Morgan wondered, killing hundreds and slaughtering Jedi? Surely, surely she would not be. The girl shook her head and took up the opening stance of Echani, the fighting style she was currently studying. Standing in front of a tree, Morgan began practicing her control by striking out at the tree. She performed the long practiced moves designed to kill, yet refrained from striking the tree each time. The tree was her enemy, and she struck out with the intent to kill, yet held back each time.

It was not long before she fell into instinct, closing her eyes, no longer thinking about her strikes before performing them. Her mind wandered, thinking back to her mother. Unconsciously, Morgan reached out to her, trying to find where she was in the galaxy. Suddenly, like a violent whirlwind, a vision came upon her. It was a vision of her mother, doing battle on a flaming rooftop. The city burned in the background as Morgan's mother flipped around, laughing maniacally as she struck down blow after blow upon the weaker Jedi.

Morgan's movements increased speed as the vision did, her hands now a total blur. Her mother was lost in the darkness, even Morgan, weak as she was, could feel the evil radiating from her. Suddenly, her mother took an opening and slashed open the Jedi's chest. Morgan's breath caught, she could picture her mother now, standing over the Jedi, then driving her saber through the man's heart. She killed him. Screaming, Morgan let loose a violent "NO!" But it was far too late.

Snapping out of the vision, Morgan fell back. Looking, the girl saw that the tree before her had been beaten into splinters. Pulling her bloody hands up to her face, Morgan broke into quiet sobs. Consumed with the grief that her mother was truly no saint, but a monster, Morgan could do nothing but shed tears. The thought that she was being watched, that anyone might be near, that she was not alone, never crossed her mind.

 

[Riin Morisani]

This place was not home.

Theed was thriving, bustling but not crowded. The ports and terraces and cobbled walkways gleamed in the temperate sun. The natives wore clothing that came close to garish, but exemplified comfort in the fabric, taste in the colors and art in the cut. Droids, Gungans, Humans, Twi'lek, Bothans; there were easily a dozen species to be seen in the city. But despite this seemingly perfect paradise, despite the air of calm, tranquility and sophistication, worry was etched on every face. Anxiety had become the local flavor, nervousness the standard fare. The war was growing; people were dying and world's were burning.

It was all so, so much for a freshly ten-year-old girl to grasp. Having come from a colony founded on isolation and guarded in anonymity, Riin was nearly overwhelmed by so much change. Naboo was nothing like the Mirialan compound and its humid, tropical heat with the irony of the hot sand beneath her feet. No, Naboo was rich, lush, temperate and alive. The girl's nightmares had returned--despite Loogo's calming techniques and aid in this matter--and so it was with a child's enthusiasm that she delved into the distraction of a new planet. Being very careful--and being asked to keep close, to carry a comm at all times and to check in with Shorty every hour--Riin explored what she could in her free time.

But this was not home.

As of late, she had discovered a rather pretty location towards the east end of Theed. A grassy hill here with a spattering of trees made for an ideal picnicking spot or a scenic stop for a quick holo, but was rarely visited in light of current events. Dressed in the cream-like off-white tunic and pants ensemble she'd escaped her colony in, Riin drew little attention to herself. She was dirty, her hair disheveled and the circles under her eyes--an unfortunate effect bestowed upon her by troubled sleep as well as continuing recovery from her near-death aboard the Bantha Trax--all made for quite the convincing disguise of a street urchin. People even overlooked her green skin after getting an eyesore of a look at her ragged state. Camouflage, the girl thought, testing the new word she'd learned.

She trudged up her hill--for, like most children who find a secluded spot, she had claimed it "hers"--aided by the long staff she carried. This was her only armament; it was made of a wood that was more akin to durasteel than to organic matter. To this day, she had never learned where her mother had gotten it or how she had made it so perfectly smooth. Her boots squished satisfyingly in the soft grass as she neared her favored training spot. The small sounds of birds had trickled to a stop, however; the gentle wind died down; the air became still. Curious, Riin stretched out with the Force as she'd been taught to do. There was a ripple of some sort; grief or anger or fear...or was it all three? Before the curious girl could probe further, a deafening crack! shattered that illusory silence. Startled, Riin hurried up her hill, crested its crown and found that one of her precious trees had been reduced to tanbark. There, before the wreckage, was an older girl, bloodied, crying. In her innocence, Riin walked up slowly, leaning on her staff.

"Are you okay?" she asked quietly, her rich violet eyes peering inquisitively at the bleeding person.

 

[Black Noise]

The voice, although quiet and concerned, broke Morgan out of her tears in just the same way as if the girl had screamed at her. Jerking her head around to face the small girl, Morgan's face immediately turned from sorrow to masked shock; she had assumed to be alone. Standing up, and towering over the street urchin, Morgan wiped her eyes and forced a grin. Unintentionally, Morgan had just wiped blood all over her face, yet she did not seem to notice as she began speaking.
"Yea, yea I'm fine. I'm just-"

She looked down then and saw her hands, covered in blood. Looking back at the tree, Morgan remarked.
"I guess I was just a bit distracted..."
Morgan almost held out her hand for a handshake, but thought better of it and simply remarked in a casual, slightly concerned tone.
"I'm Morgan, who're you and what're you doing out here?"

Regardless of the world, Naboo, Nar Shaddaa, or Corellia, little children should not wander alone in Morgan's opinion. Was this girl abandoned? Or perhaps she was a runaway, or worse, an orphan.

 

[Riin Morisani]

Riin shifted uneasily on her booted feet.

Morgan huh? The girl was bloodied and a tree had been reduced to strips of pathetic-looking timber. Somehow, this scene did not inspire Riin to be very forthcoming with information about herself. She clamped her fingers tightly upon the staff she carried and frowned. Mister Loogo warned me about this, she recalled. Keeping to herself as much information as she could was vital in keeping not only herself, but the rest of hew new friends safe, hidden. And its also stopping those people from doing to Naboo what they did on Malastare, the child realized.

As such, she cleared her throat and bowed her head a bit as she dipped one knee a little low, a formal and respectful greeting taught to her by her mother. "Riin," she said simply, choosing a truth over a deliberate lie. "I come here sometimes to--" she bit her tongue as she almost used the word train--"to play." She indicated the grass with a nod of her head. "Its nice and there's no one else," she finished with a shrug. Intrigued, her eyes darted from Morgan to the tree's remains and back.

"How did you do that?" she asked politely.

 

[Black Noise]

Morgan watched the girl closely, she seemed a bit on edge. Though Morgan did not blame her, the older girl had just decimated a tree with her bare hands. Granted, it ended very painfully for Morgan and she likely had one or two broken fingers, but such a display would put even adults on edge. However, once Riin bowed and finished speaking, Morgan could not contain herself and ended up having a slight grin creep up on her face. This girl was a Jedi youngling, she had to be. The terrible lie, the overly formal bow taught to children by Jedi, and the on-edge stance rather than fleeing or hiding. No doubt in Morgan's mind, this girl was either a Jedi youngling or trained by a Jedi who had survived the purge so far.

Such a thought gave Morgan hope, and hope was something the white haired Echani desperately needed. However, in order to not scare off Riin, Morgan decided to not address it just yet. Sitting down on the soft grass, Morgan smiled and nodded as she began tearing off strips of her shirt to bind up her hands and fingers.
"It is nice to meet you Riin, I'm sorry I've intruded on your spot here. And the tree? Well, that's what happens when you let your emotions get out of control, you destroy things without meaning to. I've been trying recently to get myself under control..."

A thought came to Morgan's mind, and she started smiling.
"Would you like to help me with that? Perhaps I can teach you something of use in return."

 

[Riin Morisani]

The girl's interest could not be contained.

If there was one thing that made Riin stand out from her fellow students back home--Malastare, that was--it was her eagerness to learn. She watched as the other girl bandaged her hand. Would it be risky? This didn't seem like the sort of person Loogo had warned her to stay away from. Aside from the display of violence, of course. Strong, Riin mused to herself. I'd like to be that strong. Maybe I can be that strong. She again flexed the slim digits that clung so tightly to the staff in vexation. It was alarmingly obvious that the girl wanted to hear what Morgan had to say, to teach, but the instructions Riin had been given were front and center in her mind.

I'm supposed to be learning anyway, the child argued with herself. Loogo said so...what's wrong with learning from a new person? The fact that Morgan recited a piece of advice given to her frequently by her mother--control, control, control, Riin! One must always be in control of one's emotions--did more to assuage her unease than the girl's inviting smile did. "Okay," Riin said at last, relenting. Was this giving in to temptation? The thought troubled Riin for a heartbeat...but only for a heartbeat. If she could learn to do what Morgan just did, she could help Loogo and the other Jedi wouldn't see her as some stupid brat! Besides, Morgan was asking for her help! Wasn't it a Jedi rule to help those who asked?

"Okay," she repeated, returning the smile, "how can I help?"

 

[Black Noise]

Morgan smiled and, once she finished bandaging her hands, spoke.
"Simply by standing near you help, honestly. It's easier to control your emotions when your subconscious mind recognizes someone else in your presence and changes according. However, specifically, I'd like you to be my opponent."

Before Riin could object, Morgan quickly added in.
"And know, I will not be hurting you in any way. I'd like you to try and hit me right-"
Morgan tapped her stomach lightly.
"Here. Can you try to do that?"

Morgan's tone was extremely warm and soft, she wanted Riin to know that she had no intention of striking her at any point. If Riin decided to agree, then Morgan would take up the opening fighting stance of Echani, an open stance that made Morgan appear as if she was not even guarding her stomach.

 

[Riin Morisani]

Riin listened carefully and paid an almost religious amount of attention to Morgan's words.

She wanted to get it all, to avoid missing a single beat or word of instruction. It was a little confusing--other people around can make me have have control?--but after repeating the advice in her head a few times, she understood. But when Morgan asked for an opponent, Riin came up short. Her frown was one of reservation; she didn't want to get into a fight. That was exactly what Loogo didn't want her doing! But the other girl quickly added that Riin would be safe from harm. This eased her a bit, but the word try sparked the child's competitive streak. Try...she knows I won't be able to? I bet she's fought people before! The sentiment should not have excited her, but Riin found herself intensely curious anyway.

She nodded curtly, watched the girl slip into a stance she herself had never seen before--then again, she'd never seen an Echani, either--and carefully brought her staff before her horizontally. Her left leg slid behind her silently, the knee bending in muscle memory, evenly distributing her weight even as she lowered herself and brought her right leg forward to prepare a snap-lunge for the target Morgan had told her to try for. "Okay," she said aloud, foolishly warning her opponent of the incoming strike, "here goes!" In the same instant Riin inhaled deeply, she darted forward, a green and red wind coming on with all the speed and intent of a storm.

As she neared Morgan, Riin's eyes locked onto the girl's stomach and she thrust the staff's flat end at the girl's belly.

 

[Black Noise]

Morgan smiled, seeing the hesitation in this girl's eyes being quickly overcome by staunch determination. It was admirable and a good trait to be found in anyone, especially a child at this age. As Riin's staff came flying towards Morgan, the older girl twisted her hips, shifted her back leg, and used her right hand to counter the thrust by shoving it aside.

The shove was aimed in such a way as to push the staff away from Morgan and drag Riin with it. It was a defense as she pushed on the inside of the staff to twist Riin around so that Riin's back faced Morgan if her power continued through. Smiling, Morgan remarked.
"Try a different approach, something you think I would not expect or be able to see."

Morgan still held her Echani stance, smiling after the defensive maneuver. Her body had moved like a blur, faster than the untrained eye could follow. It was not solely the movement of a martial arts master, whose attacks and defenses would be difficult, but not impossible, to follow. No, it was the movement of someone who had a physical advantage over Humans as well as martial advantage. Morgan was an Echani, someone who was trained to have faster reflexes and faster reactions from birth. Echani was not just a fighting style, it was a lifestyle. To be Echani is to eat, sleep and breath combat, and this was who Morgan was.

 

[Riin Morisani]

Riin stumbled, followed her staff astray and came to an awkward stop.

The girl had moved so fast, like Loogo! Morgan must be trained in the Force! Way more than me, she realized grudgingly. She wanted to move the way Morgan did...the training with Loogo was certainly helping and she herself had become astonishingly quick when pressured. "Okay," she said after Morgan had advised her to try something different. She thought for a moment and planned a strike that her mother had taught her during martial tutoring. This she would mix with the things Loogo had carefully taught her about the Force and its applications to the world within and without of her body.

Just like the Echani, the Mirialan physique was evolutionarily designed for greater speeds, agility and reflexes than those of a human. As of late, what with the intent way she'd been practicing, she had developed more muscle tone and greater flexibility over time and she was going to need every bit of it. She once more struck the waiting stance--staff leveled at Morgan, right foot back, left foot planted--and inhaled softly. This was the way she found easiest to concentrate and call upon the Force. She felt soothed, relaxed as she could feel its tendrils stretching from her core into her arms, legs, lungs.

The girl darted forward.

Unlike last time, now she was positively blurring, moving at speeds most unnatural even for seasoned Mirialan sprinters. She jabbed her staff into the ground a mere three steps into this rush and pushed at it. Her body flipped up, over the staff and right at Morgan, the staff following her acrobatic arc to come at the girl in a downward overhead strike aided by the Force's cooling touch upon her musculature. It was all very impressive to watch, but the girl was still only training in enhancing her body with the Force; as she arced through the air, she narrowed her eyes and tried to bring that staff down on Morgan, feeling the tiniest pang of nervousness as she did.

 

[Black Noise]

Morgan did not know of the Mirialan, and she was surprised by Riin's sudden burst of speed and strength. The girl's raw Force ability was excellent, and her usage of it spoke volumes about the training she had received, little that it was. Her boost in strength would have surprised and overpowered an attacker of any non-Force using background. But Morgan was trained, not only in the Force, but in the hand to hand combat that improved her reflexes so well. Riin, as a Mirialan, actually would have the physical advantage over Morgan, if she were ten years older.

Morgan's arms flew up and blocked the overhead staff strike with ease, grabbing it as she did and swiftly yanking on it just as Riin reached the highest point of her leap. The pull would fling Riin down, in which case Morgan would reach out and grab the girl by the shirt. Without warning, Morgan would then follow with pulling Riin down and acting as if to slam her into the ground.

However, she would not. On the contrary, half a foot or so before Riin would have it, Morgan would suddenly halt and hold Riin up by her shirt, stomping the ground as she did as to give the impression she smashed Riin. If Riin kept a good hold on her staff, her weapon, then at this point she could easily pull on it a bit and tap Morgan in the stomach.

Or Riin could faint, or scream, whichever. But Morgan was betting on Riin being made of sturdier stuff.