In the Ruins of Char

[Ral]

Naboo, Chommel Sector
Mid Rim
0900 Hours Local Time
Outskirts of Char
​

It was still morning on Naboo as Kai approached the ruins of the city of Char with his new friend and companion Ellenel. The Jedi Master had been rather dreading coming here due to what it meant for him, but he knew he had to face this place sooner or later, and the simple fact was that he had felt like he was being pulled by the Force to come here and find her. Find the friend he had lost during the battle. The weight of her loss still weighed heavily on his heart and soul, and he was sure that it was something that always would weigh on him; it's part of the reason he was bringing Padawan Ellenel along with him.

Ellenel was a woman a little younger than he was with brilliantly vibrant green eyes, eyes Kai was sure he could get lost staring into if it weren't quite so awkward to do. Kai had taken a bit of a liking to her and had offered to show her a few things and teach her what he could, so he decided to use the opportunity to finish what he had been feeling compelled to do for some time now and retrieve what he could of his friend Aluae, even if it only was her lightsaber, and try and teach Ellenel a thing or two about being a Jedi.

Exhaling through his nose as they approached what was left of the city, Kai looked to Ellenel, "So, Ell, are you ready to start some training?" He asked curiously, assuming she was ready he would go on to ask, "So, what do you know about the Jedi code? Have you heard it? Do you know what it means?"

@Arclight

 

[Arcangel]

Ellenel walked with Kai silently to the ruins of the city of Char. She could feel the loss and grief radiating off of the Jedi Master next to her, and she wondered if it was caused by the destruction that had been wrought upon the city, or if it was something a bit more personal. She wanted to reach out to him, to comfort him. But she knew it wasn’t her place, he was the teacher and he was the student, so she continued to walk along silently next to him, sorry for whatever loss he had experienced.


As the pair crested a rise overlooking the city of Char, or what remained of it, Ellenel was overcome by what lay before them. The once great city of Char lay in utter ruin, magnificent walls and towers knocked low with most of the city covered in rubble. The body of a wrecked star destroyer dominated the city’s skyline, backlit by the last vestiges of the morning’s sunrise, just the faintest pink hue lighting the sky. Ellenel stood in terrified awe, the sheer destruction surpassing anything that her young mind had experienced.


Realizing that Kai was speaking to her, Ellenel looked at Kai, trying to get over the shock of the devastation in front of them. “I uh, yeah, im ready.” She said, her hesitation about going down into the ruined city carrying through into her voice. “The Jedi code? I’ve hear it, my father taught it to me, drilled it into me really, so yeah, I would say I know it.” A little bit of annoyance seeping into her voice as she spoke, remember repeating the code over and over again, memorizing it verbatim. Not that it had been especially hard, as it was fairly short.


“I guess knowing and understanding are quite different though, I wish I could say I understand it completely, but that would be a lie, especially when so much of the code…conflicts with who I am.” Ellenel nearly whispered the last part, partially because she was ashamed of what she was, and partly because she was afraid. Even though she had been accepted into the Jedi order, Ellenel was afraid that she would be rejected because she was tainted by the darkside in a way that wouldn’t go away, it was a part of her. She glanced at Kai nervously after admitting that there was a part of her that conflicted with the ideologies of the Jedi.

@Ral Aran

 

[Ral]

The Jedi Master was grateful to have Ellenel with him; even though she didn't say anything he could feel the compassion flowing from her just as the sadness and regret flowed from him. Doing his best to suppress those feelings, Kai looked at her and smiled.

Stopping at the ruined outskirts staring up at the wreckage of the massive star destroyer, Kai sighed a little before turning back to the black-haired female standing there with him. Listening to her speak, he smirked understandingly, and gave her an encouraging nod. Taking a deep breath he started to speak. "You bring up a very good point, Ell, just because we can quote something word for word doesn't mean we truly understand the meaning behind those words. Sometimes it take a lot of thought and contemplation before one ever truly understands the mantras we are taught to follow and believe."

The comment on how the code conflicted with who she was caused Kai to frown a little, naturally, and he could feel the shame and fear radiate out from her because of what she said. Doing his best to remain encouraging he placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled warmly. "You need not worry about that, Ell. A Jedi is not a perfect being, we all must learn how to deal with our emotions, and many of us fail to live up to the code in our every day lives. What defines a good Jedi from a bad one is that the good Jedi won't quit, won't give up, won't let those negative things control and define them. For a good Jedi, the struggle to live up to the code is a daily pursuit. I'm not going to ask you to change who you are Ell, but I am going to ask that you do your utmost to do what you feel is right and to follow your convictions."

Motioning for the young woman to continue to follow him, Kai made his way to where a low wall used to remain. The Jedi Master hopped up onto a stone pillar that made up a section of the wall and sat down. Signaling the young woman to join him on the other pillar, the young Master waited for the student to take a seat. Looking out over the ruins for a few moments, Kai contemplated the war and how many times this scene would play itself out again in the coming months. After a few seconds he would look back to Ellenel and speak. "There are two codes the Jedi follow, the old one, and the new one. We'll cover both eventually, but we'll cover the new one first as it's the one the Council will expect you to know for when you are promoted to knight. I'm going to recite it. Are you ready? It goes like this:

Jedi are the guardians of peace and justice throughout the galaxy.
Jedi use the Force only for the pursuit of knowledge, to defend, and to protect.
Jedi respect all life in the galaxy, in any form it may take.
Jedi to not rule others, but serve them for the welfare of the galaxy.
Jedi seek to improve themselves through knowledge, training, and self-discipline."

Kai paused, watching Ellenel's face to see how she would react. Once several quiet seconds had passed he spoke again. "The words may seem simple, but trust me we could spend all day talking on the finer points of philosophy and semantics when it comes to the code. I just want to know what you make of the words. How do you think they'll apply in your life?"

 

[Arcangel]

Ellenel nodded silently as Kai reflected her own thoughts on the difference between knowing the code, and understanding the code. She was glad that they were on the same page, not in understanding of the code, but in what it means to understand the meaning behind the words that made up the code.

As Kai put a comforting hand on her shoulder, smiling warmly at her in spite of what she had just admitted, Ellenel couldnt help but return a small smile as some of the shame and fear she had been feeling washed away with his words. She had never thought of being a Jedi in the way that he described, not having to be perfect. That she wouldnt have to change the dark part of her so much as perservere in her attempts to overcome and subdue the dark side taint that was a part of her. To not let it control her and simply be the best Jedi she could be. She felt a small glimmer of hope in her heart, that maybe she could be a good jedi after all. "I will, i will do my best to do what i feel is right." Conviction in her voice as she spoke, the young womans face lighting up with a smile, yet hardening with resolve at the same time.

Following Kai to the low wall, how tall it might have been at one point was unknown to her, that marked the border of the city, Ellenel sat in the pillar next to Kai, facing him but taking a moment to run her eyes over the remains of the city another time. What buildings remained standing were crack and stripped of paint, the shockwave of a star destroyer having crashed into the city had left the perma-crete bare. Everywhere else was covered in the rubble of collapsed buildings, concealing the ground below except in narrow gorges that marked where streets had once existed. Turning back to Kai she listened to him recite the code, but it wasnt the one she was used to, having heard the old code more than the new. This took her off guard for a moment, but she also realized that she like this code better, a faint smile creeping onto her lips as she listened.

As Kai asked her what she made of the code and how it could apply to her life, Ellenek had to take a moment to ponder the code in question.

Jedi are the guardians of peace and justice throughout the galaxy.

How could she be a guardian of peace and justice? And throughout the galaxy no less. Ellenel knew she wasnt a fighter, but being a guardian didnt necessarily mean fighting. "I think that claiming to guard peace and justice throughout the galaxy is taking a lot onto our shoulders as Jedi, the galaxy is big, and we cant be everywhere. I do think that we should strive to defend peace and justice wherever we are, and wherever we are most needed. As for how it applies to me? I am just one person, and i can try to bring peace and justice with me wherever i go, but to think of protecting the whole galaxy? It just seems so overwhelming."

Jedi use the Force only for the pursuit of knowledge, to defend, and to protect.

This was a part of the code that made sense to Ellenel. The force was powerful, and so few could use it. With her mother being a sith, Ellenel was well aware of what could come of abusing such great power. "I think it means that we as Jedi have great power, and with that power comes the responsibility to treat that power with respect and use it carefully. Using it for reasons other than those mentioned in the code can be frivolous, which could lead to abusing that power over time as one grows used to treating it as a tool instead of something greater. I think for me it means that i shouldnt take my ability with the force lightly, that any use of the force can have unintended consequences if not used for those reasons."

Jedi respect all life in the galaxy, in any form it may take.

This seemed simple, at least in Ellenel's mind. Growing up on a farm raising crops and livestock, she understood that all life was important. "I think this means that a Jedi should take all life into consideration, whether it sentient or not. All life is important, even though that can be easy to overlook if it doesnt speak basic. What that means for me is that i just need to be aware of that, to take into consideration how my actions can affect all life."

Jedi do not rule others, but serve them for the welfare of the galaxy.

This seemed simple to Ellenel as well, if the Jedi were to be rulers, they would be tempted to abuse that power. As servants, they could guide the galaxy in ways that would be better for everyone. "If we were to rule others, how long would it take for jedi to fall, when as servants we can do so much more good without that risk. I guess for me that means that i should seek to help people for the reason of helping people and nothing more."

Jedi seek to improve themselves through knowledge, training, and self-discipline.

This part of the code too seemed self explanatory in Ellenel's mind, to always better oneself physically, mentally and emotionaly. "To me this just means we should always try to be better, to improve our bodies and minds. Which is exactly why i am here, i want to learn more, to become a Jedi."

@Ral Aran

 

[Ral]

"Good," Kai nodded at the young woman as she agreed to do her best. "Just do that for me, as we progress we might be able to ask more of you, but for now, let's just keep you on the right track and hopefully keep you from letting your negative emotions from clouding your judgment."

Taking a deep breath, Kai settled in as Ellenel began discussing her thoughts on the Jedi Code. And for the most part, Kai couldn't find anything wrong with her interpretation of the Order's guiding words. When she was finished, Kai gave her an approving nod, his face in a thoughtful frown as he pondered on what she had said. He would sit there for a few seconds, letting the woman think on what she had said and to see if she would change or add anything before he would reply.

Finally, the Jedi would speak. Opening his mouth he looked over the ruins of Char, "Those were very good answers, Ell, I quite enjoyed them. I can see you put some thought into them, and for the most part I am inclined to agree with you and your interpretation of the words. I would only like to add that while you may only be one person, often times it is the actions of one person that can cause lasting change for good. Like the falling of small stones that cause an avalanche, if you'll pardon the analogy. So, don't doubt yourself, and if you ever feel overwhelmed by the burden, simply trust in the Force to give you the strength and insight to do what is necessary. However, everything else you said was spot on, hold those words close to your heart, Ell, let them guide you, and remind yourself of them whenever you're on a mission for the Order. It's important to remember that the Code is open to interpretation, there isn't a single right definition, and so long as you're in the ballpark, you should be fine."

Nodding, he frowned as he thought about what had happened where they were sitting not too long ago. "C'mon, time to continue our training elsewheres," Kai remarked as he hopped off the pillar he was sitting on. Landing on the dirt below him he stretched out with the Force and began to follow where it called him before stopping.

"Ell, can you do something for me?" He would ask the dark haired girl. Looking to her he would wait to give him an answer. If she said yes he would ask, "How is you ability to use and sense things in the Force? Can you follow it to where it wants you to go? Think you can give it a try for me right now?"