Just the Beginning

[Devrim Wolfe]

theme​

While the rebel "base" on Savareen was little more than a repurposed refinery and outpost, the rebels wouldn't let such poor conditions dampen their spirits. Having set up their own bar, it was one of the few places they could all properly relax in between assignments. It was here where Devrim Wolfe and Toland Vult now sat, having just arrived at Savareen after completing some assignments. Devrim swirled a mug of...well, something alcoholic in his hands, taking a sip gingerly. His face twisted as the none too pleasant liquid went down his throat. He'd had worse though.

"Like I've been saying," he continued from a clear earlier conversation, "this thing's lucky." Protruding an azure, hexagonal crystal attached to a string out from his shirt collar, Devrim dangled it around and then left it hanging outside his shirt. "Can't tell you how many times I've made just...impossible shots. Known something was coming long before it hit me and my boys. There's just no other explanation. It's lucky."

Taking another gulp from his mug, Devrim picked the crystal again and held it out, admiring the beautiful way it reflected the lights from the bar. He had no idea how long it had been in the family, only that his father had passed it down to him as an heirloom. It was...the only thing Devrim had left to remember his parents by. Upon closer inspection, the black haired man could see the imperfections of the crystal — its edges were well-worn, minuscule scratches crisscrossed its surface, and there were a few chips in it as well. He rubbed it with the collar of his shirt, attempting to shine it up again. Devrim knew that Toland had a different idea about the concept of "luck".

@Shalken @Deviant​

 

[Toland Vult]

Toland snorted as he shook his head in disagreement. "I'm telling you, it's not luck." Even if he wasn't so heavily biased against the idea of luck, he knew for a fact what it was — but so far, he'd just been too nervous to say exactly what. It was the Force, and he knew because those same phenomenons were happening to him, too.

In the Empire, the only people that had the Force were the dreaded Sith. If anyone ever showed aptitude, they would immediately get carted away to the Academy on Korriban, and he'd heard only terrible things from that place. During his training, Toland wanted to be an honourable soldier that represented Imperial might, not some cultist wielding dark eldritch sorcery he didn't understand.

But though Toland was now in the Alliance, he was not entirely sure they would be any more tolerant of the Force. They seemed to hate the Sith as much as he did, and that left him nervous about revealing his observations. But now in his debate with Devrim, there was no other way of proving his point. Perhaps the other rebel would keep his secret, considering — if Vult was correct — Wolfe was Force sensitive as well. Taking a big gulp of his watered-down beverage, Toland cleared his throat and leaned across the table so he could speak in a lower tone. "Listen, Devrim. I know it's not luck because those same things have happened to me, too. Ever throw a grenade just slightly off course, only to have it redirect itself somehow midair? Ever get that gut feeling that something bad is about to happen moments before it does, every single time? I sure don't have any shiny trinket on me that makes me lucky, and that's because it isn't. It's the Force."

He let his words hang in the air for several moments before slumping back into his seat. It was obvious the newly-recruited rebel was on edge while talking about the subject, but the facts lined up. He looked across the table at the azure gem Devrim held up in his hand. "I'm sorry, but I think your heirloom is simply that. Nothing special about it."

@Deviant @Vosrik​

 

[Leah Reach]

Luck. Nonexistent, impossible, hollow. In a galaxy this cruel, there was no such thing as luck. If there was, then perhaps her daughter was unlucky when she fell into the hands of an incurable disease. Her son was unlucky as he fell to the dark side without warning and without a single look back. Her husband was unlucky as he was crushed to death on Dantooine, consumed by the inferno of the Imperial bombardment. No— Leah refused to believe in the idea of luck, that the ones closest to her died for no reason other than terrible odds. She wanted to believe they had a purpose, in life or death. She didn’t want their loss to be so meaningless.

Having returned from a long journey across Savareen, from an undue ship crash to a run-in with pirates, Leah was absolutely exhausted. Legs like lead, she drifted into the makeshift bar of the rebel outpost. Sand caked her shoulders, which she quickly brushed off, desperate to be free from the outside world. For now, she could rest, recline against the bartender’s counter, take a sip from some water or wine. Nothing special, nothing strong. All she wanted was peace of mind and to celebrate the end of an adventure. Little did she know another one was rounding the corner. Or really, twiddling his thumbs across the bar.

Once the bartender handed her a glass, she happily welcomed a sip, then another, before she noticed the man to her left. Knowing no Sith would ever be present at the outpost so early in the Alliance’s rebirth, Leah could reach out with the Force without fear of exposure. She could filter the effects of her drink, strengthen her weary bones, even eavesdrop in conversations as a means of free entertainment. A woman whispered dark thoughts in the ear of an alien rebel, thoughts the Jedi wished she never heard. A tiny, furry creature chattered with two others, arguing over the merits of interbreeding. She made sure to skip that too.

But another voice resounded above all others. Deep, low and almost beyond the scope of her hearing. Something about luck, a strange trinket— and the Force. Her head tilted to the side at the word. At everything he had said. Brow raised, the older woman glanced back to see two men slumped at their own booth. That’s when she saw it, when she felt it. One of them was fiddling with a kyber crystal, its energy in the Force rippling out against his touch. A dozen questions burned in her head. That's when she decided to do the unthinkable.

Out of her seat and now approaching the pair, Leah stopped in front of their table and smiled. "Hello boys, mind if I join you?" This was going to be either very strange or very interesting. Either way, it was worth a try.

@Vosrik @Shalken

 

[Devrim Wolfe]

They'd already had part of this discussion before on the way to Savareen — Devrim knew Toland had quite the disdain for the concept, but to the black-haired rebel there was no other logical explanation. Until now though, the former trooper had simply claimed "it wasn't luck" without anything else to back up his claim. Now that they were in a more private setting though, Toland felt free to divulge his beliefs. Gripping his mug of questionable beverage in both hands, a small scowl of thought formed on Devrim's face as he listened. The Force? What nonsense.

The Dxun rebel chuckled and shook his head in disbelief. "Sure, the Force," he stated half-sarcastically. "Look, the only people who can use the Force are the Sith and the Jedi. And I'm sure you're well aware the Jedi have been extinct for centuries. All we have left of them is —" Devrim was interrupted by a fiery red-headed lady approaching them and asking to join. Looking to Toland and shrugging, he nodded in acceptance. More company was always nice, and perhaps she'd be able to weigh in on their little debate. "Sure thing. Maybe you could help us out, we were just talking about whether we've got the Force or just lucky."

Devrim took another small swig of his drink. It was getting pretty empty now, but he sure as hell didn't think he wanted another one. He wasn't one who enjoyed getting drunk anyway, just something to loosen up after a tense assignment. "I'm calling it luck. I'm no Sith or Jedi, so I can't use the Force." To Devrim, that was that. Call him narrow-minded, but to him this sort of thing was cut-and-dry. Despite his stubborn opinion on the subject, it stemmed from the knowledge deep down that he couldn't really explain it. The fact that this sort of thing happened to Toland too made it a little more real than a trick of the eye. Devrim couldn't tell if this revelation made him interested...or just a bit scared. Though he knew as a rebel he played a small part in the grand scheme of things, being gifted with something like the Force made him feel small and out of control — and Devrim preferred being in control of his life.

Peering over at the newcomer, he realized he forgot to introduce himself. "Devrim Wolfe, Dxun cell."

@Shalken @Deviant​

 

[Toland Vult]

Toland thought that the literal bombshell of a fact he'd just produced was completely unrefutable. In his mind, there was simply no other explanation. However, Vult had much to learn about the stubbornness of his new allies, and Devrim was no exception to that rule as he shook his head in disbelief. It would take a great deal more facts and tact to convince the grizzled rebel. Before they could continue their discussion much further, a woman that Toland had never seen before approached their table and asked to join them. "Sure, of course," he replied as he scooted over in the booth to make room for her. "I'm Toland, by the way." Always the gentleman.

Facing Devrim once more, Toland shook his head with a light chuckle. "I think you're looking at this the wrong way, Wolfe. It's not being a Sith or Jedi that gives you the ability to use the Force, it's the other way around. People become Sith and Jedi because they can use the Force." He paused for a moment, brow furrowed in thought. "Well, I guess we won't ever know if that's how it worked for the Jedi. That's how it worked in the Empire at least; if the government ever found out you could use the Force, they took you away to the Sith Academy to get trained." It was an awful fate, really. He'd seen countless friends and children get dragged away, begging to not go and promising they'd never use it.

Devrim suddenly decided to introduce himself to the woman that had joined them, and Toland flinched a bit. "Former Dxun cell. We're just outliers now, really." Though the new Alliance soldier was certainly glad to be on the side against the Empire, he wasn't proud to associate with the group of rebels that were under such heavy scrutiny from the Commander. Toland wasn't necessarily being a coward, but perhaps he was more concerned with first impressions than most. "Anyway, what do you make of all this? Is it luck, or the Force?" If he couldn't get his point across through reasoning alone, perhaps this stranger could offer some insight into the discussion. Toland was blissfully unaware that he had probably asked one of the few most qualified people in the entire galaxy to answer that question.

@Deviant @Vosrik​

 

[Leah Reach]

“Possess the Force? Well, perfect. I happen to know a thing or two about it myself.” She smiled, but gave no implications that she wielded the invisible power. With a quiet nod, the older woman slid into the open seat left by the second man, Toland. Chivalry was not dead yet, it seemed. “Thank you. And my name is Leah by the way. Leah Reach.” She said her surname without worry, knowing there was no rebel but the Commander and the remaining Order who knew of the long lost Jedi Master. “Advisor to the Alliance Commander but I’m mostly a rebel archeologist. You know, collecting and archiving old relics and records. Nothing special.”

Her smile widened, breathing in a laugh knowing how special her work truly was and how little the two men knew. Still, her half-truth made a wonderful disguise. If either man possessed the Force, told through by their stories or her own subtle attempts to sense it up close, then she could easily reel them into the whole truth: that the Jedi were still alive, that there was hope for the light, and that they could one day join with it. However, Leah needed to be certain. She couldn’t risk exposing herself and the Order because of some spell of curiosity. The Jedi Master needed to be careful and meticulous when it came to inspecting the two men for any inherent gift.

And inspected she did. Leah listened closely, especially to Toland. His belief that the Force was not bound to nominal titles like Sith or Jedi was every bit right. Enough for her to nod in agreement. “Indeed. In most cases, and from what I’ve seen and heard, the Force emerges in an individual before they ever join the Sith.” She stopped herself from adding “and the Jedi” into the mix. But rebounding back to introductions, the woman continued with the pleasantries. “Former? No longer extremists then, I imagine, or were you two just looking for a change?” A pause. “Either way, it is good to meet you both, Toland—“ She glanced to the first man. “—and Devrim.”

Quickly, the Jedi looked away. Devrim bore a minor resemblance to her husband, but she realized it was only her grief seeing what it wished to see, not what was true. And the truth was, the two men were very different from the Jedi she once knew, save for their potential in the Force. First, Leah had to be sure. “I don’t believe in luck. But the Force? You never know.” She shrugged, pretending she hadn’t been eavesdropping on their earlier conversation and stories. She had been on the other end of the bar, after all. “Why don’t you try moving your drinks? From what I understand, it takes only faith, willpower and focus to wield the Force.”

“Please, go ahead. Surprise me.” Leaning into the cushioned seat, Leah watched intently. Although she didn’t expect much to happen. Exerting the Force also required training and discipline. Seeing as both men were busy drinking to their heart’s content, she doubted they had the sharp mind needed to overcome the task. The real question she had in mind was how Devrim acquired what she believed was a memory crystal, and why he let it hang so free as if it meant nothing.

@Vosrik @Shalken

 

[Devrim Wolfe]

Offering Leah a smile upon hearing that she was apparently knowledgeable on about the Force, Devrim remained silent as Toland continued his thoughts and explanation on the subject at hand. Before offering a reply, Leah spoke up and confirmed what the former Imperial stated. By now, Devrim was seriously rethinking his opinion on the matter. In reality, he simply hadn't bothered to make an effort to discover the truth. His former words were nothing than the uninformed opinion of a battle-hardened rebel. What Toland and Leah were saying certainly made sense — and Devrim supposed he had simply attributed the unexplainable to the most simple conclusion he could come up with.

He faltered upon Toland's correction. "Yes — former. Our loss on Dantooine was quite the wake-up call." Devrim nodded back to Leah, as their acquaintance had been rather pleasant and informative so far. Her next statement baffled the hardy soldier though — move his drink? Clearly, she did not mean by pushing it physically. Whether out of preparation to see the impossible or to simply empty the mug, Devrim downed what remained of his drink and placed the empty mug in the middle of the table. "If this has nothing to do with luck..." he began, Devrim then pulled the crystal attached to its string over his head and through his black locks. "Hold on to this for a second, if you would." He offered the heirloom to Leah. "It was my dad's," he explained, then turning his focus to the mug.

Devrim would be making the most laughable joke in the Galaxy if he said he had any notion of what he was doing. At first, the rebel was able to do little else than stare at the worn mug. Focusing a bit too much on its design, he noticed a little hairline crack in the side. Devrim shook his head a bit and scowled as he focused further, trying to move it as hard as he could. If the empty dish was capable of tipping over by sheer looks alone, it certainly would have done so by the intense glare Devrim was giving it. He was beginning to feel silly. However, he was indeed a stubborn man and wouldn't quite until the job was done. What was it Leah had said again? ⋮⋮ Willpower, focus...and faith. ⋮⋮ Clearly not lacking in focus or sheer will, it dawned on Devrim what he had failed to provide in his efforts.

Softening the far too intense stare he was giving the mug, he steeled his will and opened his mind for the first time that evening. This was not luck, it was something far deeper. Something part of himself that was living and real. Something truly greater than himself that had the power to act through Devrim and guide his actions. His eyes flitted shut for half a second.

The mug lurched an inch forward.

Devrim hadn't realized until now he had been holding his breath the entire time and gasped loudly for air, removing his gaze from the mug and gripping the table and his seat tightly. The noise attracted the attention of a few other fellow rebels in the bar, but seeing nothing of note they lost interest and returned to their own businesses. He looked upward between Toland and Leah — he had proven to himself this was more than a lucky charm's doing.

@Shalken @Deviant​

 

[Toland Vult]

Toland nodded when Leah questioned why they had left the Dxun cell. "A bit of both, plus a few other reasons. We figured there are better ways to help the Alliance than constant aggression." That was only part of the reason. The Dxun cell had been on the Commander's bad side after the devastating attack on Dantooine, and though Devrim and Toland weren't directly involved or responsible for the fallout, it was still better to no longer associate with the extremist group.

It seemed Leah held a similar worldview to Toland, but instead of trying to win the argument through reasoning, she suggested they actually attempt to use it right there in the bar. This caught Vult by surprise, causing him to be very suspicious of the strange woman. For a simple archaeologist, she seemed to know an awful lot about the Force and how it worked. However, his misgivings quickly evaporated; perhaps these things were common knowledge among the rebels.

Devrim seemed quite eager to try first, quickly downing the rest of his beverage before placing the now-empty mug in the middle of the table. Making sure to level the playing field, so to speak, Wolfe removed his 'lucky' trinket and handed it over to Leah for safekeeping. Focusing with all his might on the object, Toland was surprised it did not fly across the room almost immediately. For several moments, the mug remained perfectly still; however, at some point Devrim changed his method, and sure enough the mug slid forward an inch. Toland's eyes widened as a small grin pulled at the corner of his mouth, wordlessly conveying 'I told you so'. "Well done," he praised, not one to gloat for long over such a minor victory.

However, though he had been proven correct, it was now his turn. He quickly glanced about the bar to make sure none of the other patrons were watching before directing his attention to the mug. Swallowing and breathing evenly as he focused, Toland carefully scrutinized the object, visualizing in his mind having it move away from him. At first, nothing happened — but mere seconds later, the tankard slid about an inch or two across the tabletop before being knocked over onto its side. Obviously, Toland was far from having even a modicum of control, but he was awestruck by the results nonetheless. "Wow," he breathed. In the past, every time he had used the Force, it was always either accidental, instinctual, or coincidental. Today was the first time he had actually managed to 'control' its effects, despite his lack of skill. He glanced over to Leah to gauge her reaction.

@Deviant @Vosrik​

 

[Leah Reach]

“I understand.” She said to each man’s explanation of their former rebel careers. Truly, Dantooine was a wake-up call for all members of the Alliance, the Commander included. Since then, the Jedi have made certain to maintain utmost secrecy, including the location of the main rebel base and their only temple. On a more personal note, Leah had also distanced herself well from other rebel extremists. They all fought for the same cause, and the Jedi Master understood more than anyone else the need to destroy the Empire, but she was bitter. Her husband died because of the reckless actions of a few radicals. Attachment was not the Jedi way, but she could never detach herself from her past, and neither the grievances she held. Not yet.

But she didn’t blame either man. Like she, they were changed. Even if their militant desires remained, their ideologies were trivial compared to the bigger picture. The memory crystal around Devrim’s neck, and now in her hands as she welcomed the heirloom. Every rhythm in the Force she felt around them, along with each punch in her gut feeling, only furthered her suspicions that both men possessed gifted abilities. But proving that gift was the least of her concerns. And seeing Devrim struggle, she doubted he could do anything more than look like an idiot. Instead, with the crystal settled in the palm of her hand, she could examine it at last. Ignoring the others, she looked into the inscriptions. Her fingers came to a close.

Cold, out of breath and bewildered, Leah found herself at the summit of a mountain. Wind whipped her hair, her heels chewed into snow, and thunder roared in the distance. The crystal was still snug in her closed hands, but her skin was burning as if she was holding dry ice. She grit her teeth, but then a voice called out. “We should name this mountaintop.” Her head twisted around but saw nobody around her. The Jedi tried to calm herself until another voice answered behind her back. “I propose we name it Felwinter Peak.” Again, she turned to face the source, instead finding an open cavern. No less lost then before, Leah stepped into the cave. “Deep Stone Crypt.” The voice echoed, followed by the other. “Ellora.”

“Well done!” It was the first words she heard as Leah returned to reality. Fingers unfurled, she dropped the searing crystal into her lap. However, it left no mark but the one in her mind: Deep Stone Crypt, Felwinter Peak, Ellora. The Force was calling her there, wherever it was, yet it also called her to that very moment. As the Jedi Master glanced to the glass, it was an inch farther from where it was before. Even more, Toland managed to the same, this time with Leah’s full attention. Shocked and overwhelmed by everything she had just experienced, the woman shifted in her seat. “I’m sorry, I…” Her words slipped away. “You have to excuse me.”

She rose from her seat, but not before handing Devrim back the crystal. “You both possess powers beyond your comprehension—“ A pause before she repeated. “Your present comprehension.” Her nails grazed along the cushioned booth, demanding she stay, but her mind would not allow it. She needed to consult the others, or at least, meditate on what she had witnessed. “If you want to learn more, there is a pilgrimage to the Life Tree of Rowrakruk, on Kashyyyk. Meet me there.” She raised a finger. “But I must warn you: nobody can know of this gift. And do not use it until we see each other again, else you risk opening yourself to darker forces. Revelation, or corruption, into Sith.”

As she about to turn away, she added. “And we never had this conversation, alright? Alright.” The Jedi left abruptly after. It would have made better sense that she stayed and consulted with both men, but the crystal’s vision left her too stunned, and there was no reason to reveal the existence of the Jedi in a crowded bar on a smuggler’s world. There was no telling what other ears could be listening, those of strangers far less kinder than Leah.

@Vosrik @Shalken

 

[Devrim Wolfe]

As Devrim had been busting blood cells trying to force the cup to move, he had been completely oblivious to Leah's total ignorance his attempts and success. Little did he know that she had discovered something that had been hidden for countless generations — in fact, she had unlocked the secrets within the memory crystal that had been last opened by Master Austin Wolfe himself. But for now, Devrim was intent on watching his friend move the mug much faster and more successfully than he had. Devrim looked up at Toland with a raised eyebrow and dubious look. "Show off. You look like you've done that before," he accused lightheartedly. As their "instructor" spoke, the burly marksman looked over at her and saw that she seemed rather flustered. Perhaps for all her knowledge of the Force, she had never actually seen it demonstrated as Devrim and Toland had just done. If that were so, then she would certainly be in the same boat as Devrim — he was quite beside himself with a mixture of joy and surprise at the whole ordeal. And here he thought the Galaxy had little else to show him.

The rebel nodded in understanding to Leah excusing herself. In these times, people often had to leave for assignments and the like at a moment's notice — Devrim was certainly not one to judge in that respect. Taking the crystal back, he listened intently as Leah had more to tell them both. And yet, as when she first spoke to them, the woman in reality gave them rather little information about the subject of the Force. She certainly knew more than she was letting on — but perhaps they'd be able to learn more for themselves on this pilgrimage. Devrim was aware that the festivities of Life Day were coming soon on Kashyyyk, and he was eager to attend.

Leah's warning lingered in his mind long after she had left. He looked across the table at Toland, occasionally peering at the mug which still lay tipped over. He had much to think about and even more questions that simply could not be answered. Devrim and his companion would need to be patient until they met Leah again at the Life Tree of Rowrakruk. The marksman knew he wouldn't be able to get the subject off his mind, so he gave Toland a smile and spoke. "Want to hit the range and the gym?"

@Shalken @Deviant​

 

[Toland Vult]

All Toland could do was sit and stare in awe at the overturned mug, shaking his head. "I swear, I've never done anything like that before. Not on purpose, at least." He couldn't have explained what he just did even if he wanted to. In fact, the only thing he understood clearly about the Force was that he didn't understand it at all.

Looking over to Leah with a thousand questions on his mind, his inquisitiveness quickly disappeared as worry took its place. She looked like she had seen a ghost and was quickly preparing to leave. ⋮⋮ Did we do something wrong? ⋮⋮ Toland fretted, now beginning to regret his decision to reveal his connection to the Force. Oblivious to the importance of Devrim's trinket and that Leah's reaction stemmed from what she had seen within, Vult was left to assume the worst as she left with a warning and a promise that she would explain everything soon.

Once Leah had taken her leave, the two rebels sat in silence for several moments afterward. There was a lot for the to take in, and a lot of questions left unanswered. They could only sit for so long, however, and Devrim soon suggested they train to take their minds off what had just happened. Toland lit up at the idea, stepping out of the booth and gathering his belongings. "Sure, let's go. While we're there you have to tell me what this whole 'Life Day' thing on Kashyyyk is about." As a former Imperial citizen, he'd been banned from attending, and as such he didn't really know anything about it other than conjecture and superstition. He was excited to attend the festivities, though — the idea of breaking the law never seemed so appealing until now.

Fin​