In Light of Doubt -Archetype

[DeathToll]

Dust and light playing at each other in slanted medium. Soft muttering carries across the halls, both calm and eerie. Morning comes...

Reaching a cupped hand, catching the still moist and collected strands, he tosses back the majority of his hair; only covering his discomfort with his crossed arm before the feathered ends fall back over his face. Turning the corner, he barely catches himself in time before knocking into another passing Jedi. And as he tilts his head, only one eye emerges from the defensive wall kept by his long hair; but avoiding eye contact, he simply nods down and lets the door close behind him.

Some years had passed since he was brought here, and again he would be swept along with the bustle of things. Having left his room plenty early, he would find his way to the training rooms. His collar was lifted with a tuft from tugging at the back so much, unnaturally wearing loose a longer collar than most robes. Yet still his fairly generic clothing held somewhat formfitting, mostly dark brown in color. His head down, eyes only peeking up to vaguely see his direction, Joeux Archetype new what awaited him this day.

 

[Sreeya]

Val was silent as she walked towards the training room. She noticed that she had been given a lot of assignments on Coruscant lately. This suited her, as her family resided on this planet. The time away from her children had begun to bother her, but Coruscant worked just fine. The Jedi looked down at the datapad of her latest student. This was a curious case, as there was little information on him. There was something almost haunting about his past, something she couldn't quite understand right off the bat. Val's curiosity lead her to choose him as a padawan, and she knew he wouldn't be like most regular apprentices.

The journey to the training room took her no time. She knew they wouldn't be spending their time training within the walls of the temple, but it was the perfect place to meet for the first time. Val was clad in traditional Jedi robes, two sabers placed on her hips. She opened the door to the training room, finding him already there. Val offered him a warm smile, putting the datapad away.

"You must be Joss. Is it all right if I call you that? My name's Valena Karasu. You may call me just Val."

It still felt strange to refer to her new last name. Val took a moment to ponder on that, her eyes meeting those of her padawan's. He was hiding something, but she wasn't the type to pry. He would unfold on his own, and she hoped their time together would allow him to do so.

 

[DeathToll]

Expecting his new Master's arrival, Joss made certain he was not doing anything when she would arrive for fear of an unwanted interrogation. However, this set up their first meeting in a slightly awkward scene as Joss was most certainly committed to not doing anything when she walked in.

First and foremost Joss recoiled by reaction, tilting the left side of his face away from sight. How ever difficult it would be not to notice the unusually large marking across his face, he hid more for his own sake than that of any other.

"..Sure." He barely replied, unclear whether or not he was addressing her request about his name or for hers. It worked either way in the general sense, just as his eyes wavered up from her legs to her face for only a moment. The rapid blinking and slight shifting was less discomfort in his own skin in this instance and more of notice to 'Val's' entire look. He is a guy after all. Though for that glimpse of a moment seen in the peek of his eyes shown a piercing definition of events past, like a turning of a clean blade against the light of sun's reflection.

The underlining white collar pulsed against the dark brown stretched neckline as he swallowed. And all as he was defined in but a single moment was thrown aside with the exhailing of his next sentence, fluid with an extreme ease and almost confident manner as his head lifted and eyes still safely guarded by hair. "Thanks for giving me a shot here." He spoke through the end of his breath back into that slouch, ending with a twitch of his head so subtly in regards to Valena taking him as her Padawan.

 

[Sreeya]

Val had to smile at his words. Padawans always acted like it was some stroke of luck that they had obtained a master. It was almost sad, as they should be entitled to one. It should be their right to harness the powers they possessed. Val said none of this, simply offering him a kind smile. A moment of silence hung between the two, the air almost tangible with anticipation. It was something she experienced every time she met a new student. However, she decided not to torture him with the anxiety any longer. Val broke eye contact and glanced towards the door.

"My teaching methods are vastly different from how others do it. I will have you experiencing things you never have before, push you out of your comfort zone, get a feel for what the galaxy is really like and truly grow as a person. Some say it's more difficult than the usual tradition of teaching, but I believe it prepares you more for going out there to fight than being cooped up within the temple all day. Follow me."

Though her tone was soft, it was an obvious command. Furthermore, she had begun to walk away, expecting him to follow. They would go outside, and possibly even leave the planet. For now, Val needed to get a feel for the type of person he was.

"Tell me about yourself, Joss. Why do you wish to learn the ways of the Jedi? What branch of the teaching would you like to focus on? Force or lightsabers? And lastly...tell me one fun fact. And it has to be completely strange and out there, but true. Got it?"

 

[DeathToll]

So strung from holding a neutral stance since before Val had arrived, Joss' fingers began searching for something to occupy in resemblance to his searching mind - wondering what to say. Luckily Val spoke first and, initially, Joss felt inspired or at ease; unsure of which more defined him at this time. However, as she went on to describe the ''pushing out of comfort zone'' and ''more difficult'' parts Joss found himself a bit worried.

Following her safely behind in similar step, it became even worse; the subject of ''Joss'' was to be discussed. More like disgusted, in his own eyes. Yet from his current position just off her side, he felt no eyes upon him and so fiddled with his hair to further conceal his birthmark.

Almost catching his toe mid-step as he started to speak, Joss stuttered to think. "I uh, I guess it's all I know?" Phrasing his answer as a question may have given away more about who he is than his actual answer. Never-the-less, he gave it another shot in realization that he had not given enough. "I guess it would be wrong not to train my talents for the Jedi.." This second attempt was also somewhat a regurgitation rather than personal reason, but his core was not so readily available even to himself.

"I suppose lightsaber combat might be my direction..." So hesitant in this subject as well, as he wished not to bring up any issues that had previously transpired in sparring sessions. Being a bit of a retaliatory fighter, in both body and mind, Joss had before projected his personal issues onto fellow students who may not have meant to stare or poke at subconscious wounds. He had almost talked himself out of learning lightsaber forms physically and sought more of a distant intellectual approach due to the previous ferocity displayed in heated moments.

His eyelids fluttered. "Uh.." Fun. Fun. Why did it have to be fun? Joss seemed to experience difficulty finding a 'fun' fact about himself. Of course, this difficulty only further provoked scrutiny against himself and the realization that he was not much fun. "..I like to collect things." Immediately reeling from this exposure, he braced for more. Joss didn't seem in pain at all from this usual sort of conversation, but a Jedi such as Valena would no doubt feel the churning of emotion within him.

 

[Sreeya]

Val could feel the uneasiness emanating from him. It hit her with a jolt, making her more aware of his movements. However, her outwardly demeanor betrayed nothing, keeping her thoughts concealed. It was a trait she had learned from years of training. Although Val embraced emotions, she knew when it was best to keep thoughts and emotions at bay sometimes. The Jedi listened to his words, smiling.

"Good, sabers are what I'm best at."

She began making her way to the docking bay, preparing to leave. Val would take him on a small mission to gauge exactly where he was at. After that, she would go over the more traditional aspects of training. Val glanced over at her student, perking up when he mentioned he liked to collect things.

"Oh? What kind of things?"

She motioned for him to enter the docking bay, still not explaining where they were going. He was a Force sensitive, and he would be able to sense the warm aura she projected. It was welcoming, almost like a gentle cocoon one could hide in. She was not aware of this, of course, as it was merely a natural part of her. Val spotted the ship she would borrow from the Order, though her pace did not quicken. She was very much interested in learning more about her padawan before getting down to business.

 

[DeathToll]

Stepping forth with her motion, Joss looked around the hanger as they continued. Her aura indeed allowed him to subconsciously loosen a bit, as his head lingered back against their forward movement; he looked around, not having seen this area in some time since he had no reason to.

Val's smile helped and hindered respectively, as Joss felt obligated to return his own awkward smile every time he noticed hers. Yet with his neck twisted tense to allow over-the-shoulder eye wandering, Joss had forgotten himself and was allowed a moment of ease. "Well, I'm more of a preparing collector. I've collected the locations of some artifacts, but I haven't actually gone to get them ...yet." The latter was not a devious promise nor a self assured vacation plan, but rather Joss had just turned his head back front and realized where he was as his mind remembered his trained inverted awkwardness; thus proving he is not always this way if he could just get out of his own head.

Joss followed blindly, knowing from Val's warning that they were going somewhere; and so he trusted her without verbalizing concern.

 

[Sreeya]

Val finally found a ship, climbing into it. It was big enough to comfortably seat the both of them, but that was it. She sat in the pilot seat, beckoning him to sit next to her. The ship doors closed and the engine began to rumble. The casual means by which she worked the navicomputer suggested that she had been flying for decades. Val set the coordinates down, silent for a moment. His earlier comment remained with her. Locations of artifacts? That was not what she had expected to hear when he mentioned collections. However, for now, she decided not to pry further. Val glanced over at him at last.

"We will go to Corellia. Coronet to be exact. There's much for you to learn on Coruscant, but I always believe it's best to have my students venturing out of the temples."

The engines began to rev as the ship slowly rose. It wouldn't take them that long to go further into the deep core. In the meantime, it would allow Val to learn more about her student.

"We go to investigate a murder. Normally the local authorities handle this kind of thing, but this individual has been rather problematic. We will have to do some digging in order to figure out what's going on. Outside of your youngling and basic training, do you have any other combat skills?"

 

[DeathToll]

Catching himself in the silence, Joss secured himself into a passenger seat. Realizing how he may have come off, his head weighted down. His interest was harmless, or so he always told himself. Cultural and religious relics, pieces of history and insignificance both; Joss had a digitally archived collection of various and random items, some with tales to them and others merely looking to his interest.

Softly rocking in his bent position, both from the ship's movement and his own, Joss managed to watch where they were going. Space travel was far from second nature to him, but gave no pause. Space was always something to look at however. As well, the computer and navigational systems gave plenty of interest to his immediate personal space. ...Corellia. He'd heard of it, even knew of a couple student's from there, but never been. Somewhat of a Coruscant in its own right, somewhat less-so. Corellia sounded just fine to this Padawan. He'd spent most of his years here on Coruscant yet felt no pride for its colors. ..Was born inbetween worlds and felt no issue with that either, other than the fact that his concern focused on the lack of parental love. His lack of origin felt focused on the stronger of the two issues, thus freeing him from any issue involving a home planet. No, the Jedi are home enough.

Hearing his Master out, Joss slowly shook his head with limitation; almost shrugging his shoulders as if he didn't know. Of course he knew. It was just the manner in which he addressed others in terms of self. Joss had hidden well amongst the general 'hopeful' in the temple, always underachieving or allowing potential untapped. He was a quick study and, when released of his own internal chains, a formidable fighter of potential. Of course, one could easily become short of patience when forced to exist along side Joss as his tenancies can become trying. Hopefully, he would prove worth the time.

 

[Sreeya]

The journey to Corellia was rather uneventful. The mission was one of urgency and the details looked grim. Val put the ship on autopilot as it sailed through hyperspace, looking over a datapad of information given to her before she found Joss. The Jedi knew this would be a tough missions as this man was a serial killer and very good at covering his tracks. Within moments, there was a jerk as the ship came out of hyperspace, Corellia floating in the distance. Val glanced over to Joss.

"Wake up, sunshine, we're here!"

Val grinned, looking back over to the planet. It took a moment for her to be cleared for landing. After a few minutes, the ship descended gracefully, parking gently into the landing pad. Val took a moment to silently congratulate herself for parking well for once. Her landing was usually atrocious, and she was not too keen on embarrassing herself in front of a padawan already. Val grabbed her robes and motioned for Joss to follow again.

As they stepped out, Joss would find himself in a very residential area of the planet. From the outside, everything looked peaceful and quiet, like a perfectly homely town. However, it was here that heinous crimes were committed and they were sent to investigate. Already Val could sense something was off, as if death hung in the air. She immediately glanced over to Joss.

"Getting the heebie jeebies yet?"

 

[DeathToll]

Arms folded tight, hands tucked up under his armpits so forcing his shoulders up against his ears, Joss jolted from his Master's call. Eyes darting back and forth he shook his defenses into place, twisting his neck to allow those soft strands to fall over his face. "Sunshine" was ready to stretch his legs. Leaning up to swivel onto his feet, Joss prepared to leave the ship accordingly.

His initial steps off the small ramp stumbled to a slow pace as he balled up as much as a person could do while still walking in line with Val. He looked around curiously, yet for all he could do to concentrate the hairs on the back of his neck rose. Tucking his head with a held shrug, he returned his gaze to meet Val's as she addressed him. Having missed the opportunity to return a smile back in the ship upon arrival, Joss felt the need to smile now at this most inappropriate time; or at least it seemed inappropriate to him when in another Jedi's presence, but then he thought things over too much. So, he did not smile despite Val's almost comforting or welcoming terminology. Her approach to the situation gave confidence, yet his lowered gaze of unintentional moodiness only moved to nod back in response.

His arms were again folded as he inconspicuously peeked back and forth with suspicion. The actual feeling within him carried half the weight of his retracted physicality as Val no doubt would know, but still he wondered how they would begin. He is not one to initial or give suggestion, as he expected to mostly follow through the motions in Val's footsteps. And so he vocalized none of his thoughts on who they'd ask for information or where they'd find the best leads. Yet, Joss was not one to forcibly push down his emotions and thoughts away from sight and sound. His lips would remain heavy until forced, to but watch and learn from behind the shoulder of those who would take the lead.

Looking back out, having made clear physical communication with Val despite the lacking eye contact, Joss noticed a person; yet unsure if they were of any particular note, as well unsure if they were approaching in their direction or not.

 

[Sreeya]

Val was distracted by her surroundings, but she was also aware that her padawan was overly silent. She decided to finally take the time to glance at him and look him up and down. His arms were tightly folded and he was as withdrawn as possible. Val scowled.

"Okay, there's something wrong with this picture, and it isn't our mission."

Without warning, Val grabbed a hold of his wrist and tugged him away. She pulled him into an alley, where they were secluded. Val looked around before gazing at him.

"Don't worry, I didn't pull you in to molest you. My question is: what's your deal? You're all quiet and won't answer and just calmly follow me."

It was her turn to cross her arms and raise an eyebrow.

"I want some fire in my padawans! I know you got some in you. You're keeping it all cooped up for whatever reason. Probably something from your past. I'm saying you should leave it all behind while we're training. Trust me, Joss, I'm a friend. I can help you and this whole journey is meant to help you find yourself and learn to be a warrior at the same time. We can't do that if you never offer any ideas or take initiative."

She felt odd telling him this. Although it sounded a bit like a lecture, Val gave off a very calm aura. She smiled at the end of her thought, assuring him that it was all right to voice his opinions.

 

[DeathToll]

Stumbling over, he was taken into seclusion and indeed needed this attention. Feeling a bit barraged and swelling with guilt, Joss' eyes held tightly shut as he rapidly nodded in agreement with her.

"You're, you're right. You're right. I'm sorry. I just..."

Joss' brow squeezed with color and wrinkle, showing some anger mixed in with regret; his hands crossing as a shield. He understood what she was saying, yet felt unable to simply discard the past so easily. There were so many questions need answering. But he needed to get his mind straight. He would try.

"I-I think it's strange that this killer does so well in this kind of area... He might have help?"

Holding a hand over his face, as he sometimes does for obvious reasons, Joss couldn't help but feel a bit emasculated; though Val had given him a nice kick forward. He still sounded insecure in his phrasing, but had offered up his first suggestion. It was not necessarily the most forefront thought he had come to conclude, but spat out the first thing his stuttering brain could latch onto.

Joss nodded with his 'look' of lowered concealing behind hanging hair, somehow now a more tinted look with a slightly darker edge. A thought had just crept into mind. An image of the suffering, of the dead and those watching the dying, and he swelled with dissatisfaction. He realized how right Val was. He needed to get serious about this. This murderer must be ended. ...He finally turned up his eyes to Val and spoke of a promise.

"...Somebody knows."

 

[Sreeya]

Val could see there was a lot he was hiding. However, she was not one to force anything out of anyone.

"Hopefully, Joss, in due time you can talk to me."

She hated not being able to help her padawans. She knew Joss needed to go over more than just training. He had to come to terms with his past, or whatever it was that caused this barrier to exist around him. However, now was not the time to dwell on it. She nodded at his words.

"Come with me. We have the clearance to go look at the latest place he hit."

Val walked away from the alley, leading him. Their journey took them down a winding path, slightly away from the community. It was a small house slightly out of the way, located at the end of an elevated area. Val could almost smell the death in the air. The house had been closed off to all civilians, but she had the authority to walk in. Forensic experts had already combed through the area, but hadn't found any substantial evidence. The door opened with a slight creek. Val turned to Joss and whispered.

"You must completely immerse yourself in the Force. See without using your eyes, hear without using your ears and feel without touch. We need to understand what happened here."

The home was dark, only a few beams of light sneaking in through the windows. Areas where the bodies had been were clearly marked.

"This was a family of four. The father was a small time businessman, mother worked at a bank. They had two young children, a boy and girl. All were brutally slaughtered. It appears as if there was no forced entry..which leads us back to the assumption that this case possibly involves someone known to the family."

There were various rooms to explore to piece the crime together. However, they had been called because Jedi could fill in the blanks where forensics couldn't.

 

[DeathToll]

Gulping down the nervousness and other rising feelings, Joss felt free to breath again. It was as if that planet, from his dream, had almost cracked and erupted from the stress; it had subsided, and that blast of destruction had been averted. Somehow the bubbling feeling slowly drained away. To where, he did not know. Yet from behind Val, he moved on with a more purposeful walk than before.

There in the room, he noted her stance. He noted her movements; the way her head almost rolled away from him to what lay before her in the Force, so effortlessly yet so substantially. She truly spoke into sight what he pictured as a growing pile of animating evidence. From each outline upon the floor, those bodies rose up in resembling action to Val's description; and as Joss watched it all unravel into detail of the modern household, he realized that his eyes were closed. Opening them to view the dark internal gloom of death and emptiness, Joss could feel all that she had said.

A pocket of withheld breath escaped in that instant, and Joss caused a thought breaking stutter of a sound through his teeth.

"Tch.."

His head snapped back to Val with remorse melting off of his face, but would no doubt slip back into concentration along with Val. Just then, Joss' brow tensed. His eyes again closed, searched to follow that feeling to its conclusion but could not pinpoint it. He looked back again to Val, this time with concern and a piece of evidence through the Force. He was of course a bit reluctant to speak his mind, but managed to get it out.

"There's..." Joss even gave a look of asking permission to speak, but resumed either way. "There's... I feel like there's an unusual amount of energy gathered around the young girl." It wasn't much to go off of, and probably was not even the answer to their questions, but it was a start... a vague start.