Leaving Naboo

[Sisk_Renelo]

Hangar Bay
Naboo
1156 Hours​

Vin checked his chrono again as he stood at ramp of the Quiet Speech. His new apprentice was cutting it close. Waytar stood at his side and chuffed quietly, craning his neck upwards to Vin's unoccupied fingers for an absent minded scratch. From behind him came a prissy voice belonging to C6-RX, known to the Master by his affectionate nickname "Rox". It fit the feminine protocol droid, whose manner was sassy and unsubdued thanks to the programming Vin had meticulously rewritten several years before during his self imposed exile. "Our flight path is registered for 1210 hours, Master Vin. I'd hate for us to miss it. Again." He chuckled as he turned to face Rox, a light smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

"Padawan Akala should be by momentarily, Rox. Before she gets here could you please prep the engines and prepare a serving platter of tea? The Dathomiri Spice should be quite pleasant." Rox paused for a moment as she considered answering, and then bleated a harsh electronic sound and turned to move stiffly up the ramp. Vion spoke again before she disappeared. "And could you please make sure that the Padawan's quarters are prepared? This is going to be a difficult time and I want her to be comfortable." Rox didn't speak to him directly but he could hear her complaining.

"Make sure the new one is comfortable, Rox. Turn down the bed, Rox. Make me tea, Rox. Make your own tea. I'm not here to clean up after you." Then there was a slight pause. "Wait, I am here to do just that aren't I? Of course that's what I get stuck with. Another mouth to cook for and clean for. At least it will keep me busy." Vin scratched Waytar's ear and a large smile blossomed on his face. Listening to Rox complain and then justify her job was always a fun time. His hand delved into his pouch and came up with a small control unit, which he used to enter his passcode into the ship's systems remotely to allow start up. The two men fueling the craft disconnected the last fuel hose and gave him a thumbs up.

"Ready when you are, Master Jedi." Vin tossed them each a small credit chit. It was always a good tactic to keep those who helped you happy, and tipping well was a surefire way to accomplish that. You never knew when you might need a favor from someone that was overlooked by everyone else. His eyes found the door to the hangar once again. Three minutes until he stepped onboard.

 

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"Master Vin!"

Akala was running as fast as she could. She had stopped to rest once already, but she was so close... Her stamina was sometimes less then the young girl would've liked it to be, but she continued to run forward. "Master Vin! I'm so so sorry!" She put her hands together and bowed quickly, her montrals flipping and flopping around. "I'm not too late... Am I?" She was worried and afraid he wouldn't accept her because of this mistake. Akala never was good with time. She would stay in one place for ten minutes, decide it was time to move, and stay there for another twenty. She quickly looked around the area to see the ship, ready to go. She had clutched onto her left montral again, something she did when she was either nervous or scared. She had a small bag with her, containing just a few items. "I- I brought what you asked, sir." She said, her voice cracking.

 

[Sisk_Renelo]

She was going to worry her montral clean off if she kept playing with it. It was also a worrying tell. They would have to work on that before he took her into anything where they might have to bluff. "I was beginning to wonder if you had decided to accept my offer, padawan. If you had been two minutes later you would see nothing but an empty deck." The look on his face was disapproving, but he couldn't maintain it and broke into a large smile. He extended his hand to take hers and help her up the ramp. "Your room is prepared. Just follow the complaints and you'll find it easily." From inside the voice of Rox could still be heard as she expounded upon her lot in life and how unfair it was. "Her bark is worse than her bite. I promise."

His boots made barely a sound on the hard metal deck as he led her inside and gestured down the hallway to her left. "Sleeping quarters, kitchen, training room, and showers are down that way. To your right is the common area, cockpit, and storage bays. You have free run of the ship whenever you'd like except my quarters and the pilot's seat." With a lazy hand he indicated her clothes. "Rox is a very capable tailor. She'll be in your quarters with a tray of tea and her tools for measuring you. If you want to get on her good side I'd recommend being polite." It would certainly be different than him. After all, Rox wasn't just a droid to him. She was a friend too. Ten years on the run together would do that to people, even if one of those people was a bunch of circuits and wires.

"When you're finished lunch should be ready. I serve it in the common room at 1300 hours. Nothing fancy, but it will fill you and give you energy. I need to get us off the ground. Welcome to your new home, Padawan Akala."

 

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"Yessir. Sorry, sir." Akala nodded quickly. She noticed his disapproving look, and she felt like Vin was about to scold her. However, when he smiled, she took a deep, relieving breath. Good... At least he's not angry at me.
"Follow the complaints--" She looked over to him. "--Wha..?" She started, the voice of Rox was prominent. "Oh.. Complaints." She chuckled a bit. "Alright, noted." She said.
She walked closely with Vin into the ship, and she looked around curiously. Alright, bedrooms, training room, shower room. Cockpit, storage. I think I've got that. She said to herself. "Free run, alright, sir." She nodded. She was fine with the limitations she was given, as she didn't know how to actually fly such a large spaceship, and she respected other peoples privacy. "Tea? Thank you, sir." She nodded. "I'll be sure to be nice, I promise." She smiled lightly.
"Alright, sir. 1300." She nodded. Her new home... She smiled again, taking a look around. Akala decided she had best get to her quarters, so she turned to go. She stepped inside lightly. "...Rox?" She said, tilting her head.

 

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Rox was laying down fresh sheets on the small single bed as Akala entered. Her silver plated head turned towards the hesitant voice and she tilted it slightly, taking in the young Togruta. "You must be Mistress Syuphei. I am C6-RX, but as Vin has surely told you by now, you can call me Rox." Her metal hands finished tucking in the top sheet and she smoothed it quickly over the mattress before she stood up and turned to face the young Padawan. "I took the liberty of stocking the ship with Togrutan foodstuffs, and have purchased a wonderful variety of cloth for your new garments. Unfortunately your measurements were not on file so we'll have to do it the old fashioned way." A small compartment on her left arm opened up and a tailors measure popped out. She took it in her other hand and stretched it out.

"If you would please move to the plinth Mistress Syuphei we can get started."

****

Vin sat in the cockpit running through his pre-flight checklist. His practiced hands moved over the Quiet Speech's control board as he activated systems and prepared a flight plan. "Naboo Flight Control, this is Quiet Speech. Requesting permission for lift-off."

"Quiet Speech, flight plan has been approved. Permission granted. Be safe out there." Vin smiled and nodded as he ignited the engines and the ship lifted off the deck. It spun 180 degrees and he pointed the nose at the clear blue sky outside.

"I always am, Control. Keep your skies clear." A chuckle sounded from the comm and the voice came back amused.

"We will Speech. Sensors on max." Vin cut the link and the Quiet Speech drifted out of the bay on its repulsors before Vin fed power to the engines and they rocketed into the sky. He leaned back into the seat and flipped the autopilot on. Naboo had a decently large gravity well and it would take them several minutes to reach the jump point. While he waited he flipped through the dossier for his next mission. Vin had never been a big fan of accepting missions handed out by the council and he chose his own mission load. Missions more suited to his particular skills. Talking and deception were his stock in trade, and their new mission would allow him to teach Akala at least an entry level course in both.

The Dossier was on a man named Kiril Newson, a shipping magnate from an Alderaanian family. His family had led one of the largest shipping empires for almost a thousand years, and word had filtered down through some of the Rebels that he had strong anti-imperial leanings. Vin had used his connection within the family to set up a meeting so that he could try to secure a decent source of funding and possibly manufacturing for the Jedi and Rebels.

His timer chimed and he placed the folder down. He switched off the autopilot and let the computer finish its calculations to reach the graveyard, all that remained of Alderaan. Wrapping his hand around the hyperspace lever he pulled gently and watched as the stars blurred into the streaks of hyperspace.

 

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Akala looked at the silver droid, and thought for a moment. So that's the one Master Vin called Rox. She smiled and quickly bowed. "Hello, Rox." She said, looking at the robot. "Togrutan food? Sounds good to me." She said, looking quite pleased. I have absolutely no idea what she means by Togrutan, but it sounds good. She thought to herself. She had pretty much just ate whatever she could get at the time. However, something that was in the natural and usual diet of a Togruta sounded good to her. "Alright, measurements?" She nodded. "Plinth, got it." She smiled, and looked over to Rox. "By the way, you don't need to call me Mistress Syuphei, Akala, or Syuphei'll do just fine." She said to the droid, usually enjoying a more casual approach to things. As the ship jumped to hyperspace, Akala looked around quickly. "Hm.. Wonder where we're off to." She looked back to Rox, ready to begin with the measurements.

 

[Sisk_Renelo]

"The flight plan says that we're going to Corellia, but knowing Vin that's not going to happen." Rox was quick and efficient, taking the padawan's measurements with practiced movements, bumping an arm or a leg to the position she needed. "I wouldn't worry. An untrained Padawan with no lightsaber skills yet? This should be a learning experience more than anything." She finished quickly and stepped back. "I should have a new set of robes finished for you in a few hours. Now if you'd like to explore the ship it's open to you."

****

Vin lounged in his chair as he contemplated the star lines out of the viewports. He always liked this time and the relaxation and clearness it gave to his mind. But with Akala on board he had other things he needed to take care of. After so long without a Padwan he would have to get back into the idea of teaching again. Classes were fine and he had taught several of those, but a one on one learner was a completely different story. They required a completely different tact. But it was a chance to mold a new Jedi into someone who could make a difference. Perhaps this one would actually stay long enough to finish the training.

He exited the cockpit and moved to the common room, settling into the leather couch next to the holotable and bringing up a training manual that he has studied as a child. It would be a good starting point for the young one.

 

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"Corellia..? I've... Never been there before." Akala thought for a few moments of time. Corellia. She knew only a small bit about the planet. "I wonder why we wouldn't go..." She shrugged, guessing Vin had other plans. A learning experience? "Right." Akala nodded. Experience was something she'd be needing for this chapter in her story. I guess I should head out, and look around the ship a bit... She nodded. "Thank you, Rox. You've been very helpful!" She flashed a quick smile and turned to exit the room.

Akala calmly walked down the hall. She hadn't taken her bag off yet, so she still had her belongings with her. She reached the common area, sat down, and placed her bag beside her. Out came her small rock, it's color still black, with red spots. Akala then looked up, noticing Vin. "Oh, hello Master." She smiled and set the rock down. Now focus, Akala. She thought to herself, closing her eyes. Time seemed to stand still for a moment, as She releaxed and calmed completely. She held her hand out, and took a deep breath. She focused on the rock, and could imagine it moving. The small rock slowly wiggled, but didn't raise up. She kept at it, imagining it in her hand. She eventually stopped and opened her eyes, not seeing it have moved, except for a small bit. "Darn..." She sighed lightly, and looked to Vin.

 

[Sisk_Renelo]

Note: vin
Vin was delighted as the rock shivered slightly on the table. It as excellent progress. He wondered how long she had stayed up last night to work on it. When he had been a Padawan he had lost track of the number of late nights he has spent working on grasping some new skill his master had insisted he learn. It was a good sign.*

"Very good, Akala. We'll make a Jedi of you yet." He deactivated the holo and stood easily before moving over beside her. "You keep working at that pace you'll be a knight before you know it." From further off the common area he could hear Rox muttering to herself, a sure sign she was hard at work. He smiled down at the... No, he corrected himself, his padawan.*

"So before we eat, I'm sure you've deduced by now that we're not moving into an actively hostile planet. We have about 12 hours until we get to our destination, so if you have any questions now is the time."

 

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Akala was delighted to hear that Vin was satisfied with her progress. "T- thank you, Master. I hope so." She smiled brightly, her hand going to her montral, her sign of worry. "I... stayed up... almost all night, practicing..." She admitted, feeling a bit irresponsible. I... Really should have gotten more than... how many? 3? Hours of sleep. It wasn't really the best of her ideas, as the young Jedi's eyes felt quite heavy. I'll... probably just eat, then take a quick nap, if Master Vin will let me. She thought to herself.

Questions. Oh goodness. Akala's mind flooded with the dozens of questions she had. The planet, Vin, Rox, The ship, The Force, The Jedi. The list was absolutely endless. "Well... to start out..." She quickly did some picking and choosing her mind, settling on a questions. "...What can I not do, as a Jedi? Are there any limitations, or restrictions?" She asked, intrigued.

 

[Sisk_Renelo]

Vin sat down across from her and set his elbows on the table. His fingers steepled underneath his nose as he looked at her. "That is a very... Difficult question." It was one he had wrestled with himself in recent years. Even as a master the answer tended to elude him. "As Jedi, we are expected to not only defend our ideals of peace and patience, but to protect those who cannot do it themselves. At times those directives can come in conflict with each other." He leaned back and a pensive look crossed over his face. While he enjoyed the discussion of the Jedi philosophies and their applications, to discuss it with one so young and new would be a challenge.

"Consider, if you will, a mission to discuss peace between two fueding houses. During negotiations, new information comes to light that one of the houses is planning on assassinating the members of the other. As member of the Jedi, you know that bringing this information to light could spark an all out war between the two which could kill millions, but to leave it alone will lead to the deaths of the delegation. As part of our edict, we are taught that all life is precious, but now we must consider the further reaching consequences." His right hand drummed out a steady tempo on the tabletop with the fingers.

"As a member of the Order you have the capability within you to control their thoughts and influence the outcome you want. But to do so would take away their free will and therefore fall within the realm of the dark side. You can reveal the plot and try to keep emotions even and controlled as you attempt to broker peace. Or you can let the plot happen and risk the chance that millions will die in a war regardless of the outcome of the plot." His voice was low and easy, neither rising or falling in pitch as he laid out the possibilities. It was an easy example that he laid out, but even he had problems wrestling with the moral and ethical implications that such a question would pose.

"Or there are a million other possibilities and outcomes as well. Presented with such a situation what would you do, my young Padawan?"

 

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Oh, goodness. Akala thought to herself, reviewing what Vin had said. "What... would I do?" Her hand, as usual, defaulted to her Togrutian appendage. She had absolutely no idea how to answer his question, for the moment. "Well..." She took a deep breath, to think. "Well... I believe I would probably... Tell the ones that I needed to about the plot. Life is a precious thing... That shouldn't be risked..." She said, slowly. She was still thinking about the question. She didn't want to slip up and say the wrong thing. That would've been embarrassing. "I- is that right... Would that be the right thing to do, Master Vin?" She tilted her head.

 

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Vin smiled at her hesitancy. And then he shrugged. "Maybe. Probably. Until you're in the middle of such an event, it's all theoretical. When it comes down to it, it's a judgement call that must be evaluated. Even as a diplomat I've found that going with my gut has led to more positive outcomes than negative." He tossed a card from one hand to another and then slid it across the table. "This is my old training journal, passed down to me by my master, and to her from hers. There are notations that you might find helpful in the margins from the many Jedi before you that have handled this training manual." He stood and stretched his back before speaking again.

"Tonight I'd like you to focus on the telekinesis practices. You have plenty of time before we reach our destination." He pointed to the kitchen and cocked his head, raising an eyebrow in a quizzical look. "Are you hungry? You look tired, but I thought you might like something in your stomach before you sleep."

 

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Akala sighed at Vin's vague answer. Maybe..? That doesn't help me at all... The young girl was confused. I guess he means to... trust myself? She thought it over for a moment. Akala looked down at the journal in front of her. Vin's master. Who was she? It seemed to be that many wise people had written in this book, so she quickly picked it up, nodding. "Yes, Master." This was a lot to take in, but Akala looked the book over in her hands. Vin then stood, and Akala looked back up to him, ready for what he had to say next.

Vin wanted her to practice her telekinesis. Akala nodded, and stood as well. She blinked a few times, and put a hand over her mouth, yawning. "Hungry..? Yes, sir. I'm quite hungry, actually." She stated. She had stayed up much of the time she should've been sleeping the night before practicing, so she would definately need the rest.

The question popped back into Akala's head, suddenly. "Ah... Master. I forgot to ask you.." She walked over, to get closer to him. "Who exactly was your master...?" She turned her head a bit.

 

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Vin stopped, his hands frozen on top of some melons. He hadn't thought about Master Valay for a long time, and he wasn't planning on doing so today. But young minds were inquisitive, and talking about the past was always a good way to learn. "I trained under Master Valay, an old ally of my father. My family has been Jedi for over 15 generations, with fathers training sons. Until me. Treachery from the Hutts led to my father's death right after I was born, and then some other... Unfortunate incidents led to me being taken in by the Order." He blinked twice, the only outward sign that he was deep in thought, and then sighed before he continued.

"Master Valay trained me until six months before my trials. She was wise and kind, with a sharpness of mind I could only dream of matching. The Zabrak are known for their warriors, but Master Valay preferred to talk through situations before they got out of hand. If only all of our Order shared her mindset I think we would be in a much better place." His hands busied themselves with chopping and peeling parts of tonight's dinner, resorting to a knife and his trained hands rather than a droid or pre-prepared meals. It was relaxing, helping to keep his mind occupied instead of delving into things he'd rather forget. But if this girl was going to spend a significant amount of time under his tutelage, she'd learn the truth sooner or later. Might as well tell her now.

"Master Valay was many things. A mentor, a friend, family. She did everything she could to curb my temperament and my tendency to let my mind wander to inconsequential things. They were lessons I learned to late." As his hands flashed across the cutting boards and counters they deposited cut vegetables and meat into a serving bowl, and fresh fruit onto a small platter. "I said that she trained me until six months before my trials. I say that because Master Valay died by my hand during a training exercise when I was only a few years older than you. She died because I could not focus on the present, and my hand continued when it should have stopped."

He stopped speaking for a few moments, his eyes blinking back years at the thought of the closest thing to a mother he could remember. "I'm sure the archives, even fractured as they are, could yield information about her. I will be imparting the lessons that she taught me to you, but until we know each other a bit more I'm afraid that's all I'll say about her personally. It's still a painful memory, even 18 years later."

Vin had finished his prep and floated the bowl and platter to the table as he opened the refrigeration unit and pulled out a pitcher of Kala Berry juice. His other hand grasped a decanter half full of Corellian whiskey and two crystal glasses, following the food to the table. He sat down across from her and slid one of the glasses to her, motioning to the juice. "I'm not sure what you like so I made a bit of everything."

 

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Instantly, when she saw her Master stop, Akala regretted her question. Vin said his father was killed, only shortly after his birth. This took a tug at her heartstrings, as she too had experienced something similar. She got a flashback of it. She was... what was it? Twelve? Thirteen? Thirteen. She thought about it only for a moment. She took her mind off of the past, and set it to the present. Or, rather, Vin's past.

He spoke of a kind, wise woman, who preferred to, rather than the common choice of members of her species, took the calm, non violent route.

Friend. Family. Words Akala only slightly understood. Things she never fully and truely experienced. But, if she were to be here, with a Master, in a ship like this, she would learn it. Master Valay had died... due to Vin. At first, it was hard for Akala to understand. Someone as calm and coordinated as her Master... It didn't make sense. She thought for a bit on it. A single accident. A slip of the hand. A flick of the wrist. Such simple things, with such dear costs.

Akala wasn't sure if she could do it. Be as calm as Vin. Fight for the lives of many people. She tried to calm herself, and slow her thinking.

She slowly walked over to Vin, and sighed. "I- I'm sorry, Master. I didn't mean to bring up such... painful memories." She looked away from him, while talking. Eye contact was something she could not keep, especially if she was nervous. She took a seat at the table, and nodded in acceptance of the food. "Thank you, sir. I'll eat most anything." She thanked him, with a small smile.