Looking to the Future

[LaPurple]

​

The sun shone down on the Zabrak who was standing on the edge of a dock. A strong coastal wind moving along the pristine waters pushed back Denal's long black hair. There wasn't a cloud in the Lamaredd sky that afternoon. The padawan stood looking to the sky. He was waiting for someone...

Over the last week, Denal had come into contact with a Jedi Master by the name of Reland Gil. He had been explaining to Master Gil who he was and how he had been hiding out on Ryloth for much of his teen years after the Battle of Coruscant. Denal expressed the desire to continue his jedi training after moving to Lamaredd. The padawan wished to be among jedi again and word had reached him of the small number of jedi had been hiding out on the water planet.

Upon his arrival he was met by members of his long lost order. This is how Denal came into contact with Reland Gil. Their holo messages were always short and to the point.

The Zabrak did not forget his respect either. He always made sure to respond saying "greetings master" or "yes master." This was something that his parents used to instill in him when the Coruscant Temple once stood.

Now he was alone seeking guidance in the ways of the Force. Denal expressed his desire to the jedi master and had invited the man to meet with him on Lamaredd. It was a humble request, but the padawan's hopes were high even if his stern face rarely showed exactly what he was thinking.

...This was the day that the Zabrak had offered for the Master to meet with him. Could the padawan have really found someone to properly teach him? or at least show him new ways to train as a jedi?

There Denal stood on the dock, looking to the sky in hopes of seeing a ship descending from the sky.

 

[Raydo]

He had spoken several times with the Zabrak Jedi over the last weeks. Denal had been assigned to Reland as a Padawan, and today he was arriving on Lamaredd to begin his training.

The weather was perfect on the shore, Reland would miss the weather of Lamaredd. They had begun planning a new outpost, one not so close to a native population. It would still be some time if the all the plans went accordingly, but he was already beginning to miss it.

The Padawan hadn't known it was official yet, and Reland decided he would make the man wait for a bit.

Reland walked on the the edge of dock and yelled out to the Padawan.

"Are you expecting someone?" he yelled with a smile as he continued walking out to meet the man. Lamaredd was Reland's home and he was here the majority of the time, at least until recently.

Reland stopped about five feet away from the Zabrak.

"It's nice to meet you, Denal" he bowed his head slightly.

"I hope your travels here were non-eventful?"

 

[LaPurple]

At the sound of Reland's voice, the Zabrak grew with embarrassment. He realized as he began turning around that Master Gil was an inhabitant of Lamaredd and would not be arriving...in a ship. Denal figured how eager he must have looked waiting at the dock. That was part of it. Fortunately for Denal, his brownish red skin was good at masking such emotions.

Now facing the master, Denal met his gaze. The wind was now throwing his hair up into his face. Displaying a deep respectful bow, the padawan began. "Master Gil? Denal Vering. It is a great honor to finally be meeting you as well and to be among jedi once again." he admitted to the silver haired man before him.

So many emotions filled the padawan began speaking. Excitement first and foremost. Wonder as well to what working with a Master Gil would be like. There was so much that the Zabrak wished to learn.

The master had courteously inquired about his recent travel to Lamaredd. "The journey itself none too much trouble. Although the asteroid cloud was an unexpected surprise." Lamaredd's asteroid cloud was a nice deterrent for anyone looking for their hidden people.

 

[Raydo]

"It was quite nice of Galaxy for leaving us a wall or sorts." he said with a chuckle.

He motioned towards the forest beyond the beach.

"I can show you the outpost." he said as he turned and began walk expecting the younger man to follow him

"He have come to the aid of the local peoples several times, but we are here under the guise of being scientist. The more they know the more danger we are in, and the more danger they are in."

His boots dug into the said as they exited the dock and walked out onto the beach.

"The outpost is completely underground. I for one do not like living in the caves, but they are safe enough. There are several hidden entrances through out the forest, and a large opening coming the hanger beyond those mountains." he finished pointing off to mountain a few miles away from where they stood.

"Those are the basics of this place, but enough about that. I am curious about your story." he said while the pair continued walking towards the entrance. They still had a ways to go, and Reland never rushed being outside.

 

[LaPurple]

Looking about the beach as they stepped onto the sand, the Zabrak took in the tropical scene before him. He hoped that in the future, he would find time to rest on the warm sands. There would be time for that later. Denal was excited to be doing his duties again as a jedi. He too cracked a smile upon the master's joke about the asteroid.

The padawan made sure to keep in stride next to Master Gil as they walked. As there was mention of living in caves, Vering grew ever so slightly disappointed and when his new master asked about the padawan's past, Denal figure that was where he would start. "Well Master Gil, you could say rock dwellings are what I'm used to. You see I've been hiding out on Ryloth for sometime. I have left the planet on occasion, but I have stayed there for sometime.

The Zabrak paused only for a slight second to look about the outpost as they made their way indoors. "...but yes I found myself there after the Battle of Coruscant. I was only a boy then, but my mother died defending the Temple and assuring my safety. A Twi'lek jedi escorted me to a ship. She too would eventually be killed but not before putting the coordinates to her homeworld in the ship's computer." Denal explained to Reland.

He wished to know about his master as well, but he knew that was not the place of a padawan.

 

[Raydo]

Reland listened intently as they boy told of his past. It was an all to familiar tale of the Jedi these days. The battle of Coruscant had shook the Galaxy to the core and is repercussions would be felt for generations to come.

"Your mother saved more than just you that day. Her and Jedi like her saved countless of Jedi and Coruscant citizens alike when they stalled the attack. You should take pride in that."

They had entered the forest while the Padawan spoke, and Reland led them to the path that would lead to the cave entrance to the Outpost.

"During your years on Ryloth, did you continue training?" he asked out of curiosity. Reland had been lucky and had been with his Master during the entire decade the Jedi were scattered. This allowed him to, more or less, continue his training as normal. He knew there were some that didn't have the luxury and would not hold it against him either way.

"I only ask to get a idea of what you may to begin to work on."

 

[LaPurple]

A smile did appear on Denal's face. He rarely spoke of his mother, well he rarely smiled either, but his mother was much more significant. It was nice to hear her spoken so highly of. The Zabrak never thought of how noble his mother had been that day. "Thank you for that." he said with much sincerity.

So far Lamaredd was shaping up to be quite a unique planet; water, tropics, and beaches. Denal was very excited to look into the native flora and fauna of the planet. Plants and animals were simple. He understood them and enjoyed caring for them. The padawan felt it was his duty as a jedi.

As the plant life slipped past them and the cave engulfed the pair, the master asked of his training. "Oh of course...Well while I have had no proper training over the years, I have been fortunate enough be safe at a safe enough location to openly hone the skills that I had learned on Coruscant. Meditation was sometimes the only thin it felt like there was to do. I have actually done some good since my exile. Slavers...that sort. Ryloth is a large target of the slave trade." Denal informed if his master did not already know the last part himself.

 

[Raydo]

Reland was glad to hear the young man say he had spent several years practicing skill such as meditation. He felt that was a skill that should be taught much more instead of focusing only on combat skills. The ways of the Force dictate the very nature of the Jedi Order, and without proper meditation skills it was was very difficult to quite one's own mind enough to listen to it speak.

"Very Good. I have actually been to Ryloth once, and witness to slavery issue first hand. It is good you spent your time both training and helping those around in you in what capacity you could. It is the sign of a true Jedi."

They reached the entrance to the cave, but Reland stopped.

"There will be time to explore the Outpost later. I would prefer to remain outside while he finish our conversation if that is alright with you." he said as he motioned to a grassy area underneath a tree. It looked out over a small, open meadow.

"And what your training with the Force?"

Reland decided it would be best to grasp fully where Denal's studies lay before letting him on to the fact that Reland would be helping him train on a more official level, though he wouldn't be surprised if the Padawan didn't pick up this as their conversation advanced.

He began walking towards the tree and sat down in the soft grass, motioning for the Padawan to do the same.

 

[LaPurple]

Denal nodded at his master's request to not enter the caves. The padawan had no quarrel with it. He much more preferred the luscious life-filled plants and grass around them. "Right behind you." He said with a nod walking over to the tree where Reland Gil now sat.

The Zabrak picked his own place not more than a foot away or so. Sitting down, he crossed his legs over themselves placing his hands on his knees comfortably. "Practice with the Force? While I pay attention to the Force around me and meditate feeling it around me, I do not know many of the ways that I can use it putting it to practice. Aside from the basics of course.

To show what he meant by the basics, Denal reached out his hand and pulled a rock from a few feet away towards him with the power of the Force. "Master Gil, animals...I can hear them trying to talk to me. I don't know what they say, but I know they are saying something. Is there a way to commune with them?"

This confession was something that the padawan had never been able to ask anyone over the past decade. There was no one to tell it to until recently.

 

[Raydo]

Reland smiled at the Padawans display of his basic Force usage. He was at a perfect place to begin learning.

The Jedi Master listened as the young man told him us experiences with animals.

"Well the Force runs through all beings. It connects us in a very real way. There are many examples of Jedi enhancing these connections and forming a bond with a specific animal. It would be against the Jedi way to use this to take advantage of an animal, but it is truly a gift."

Reland leaned back and rested on his hands.

"You will learn how to enhance the abilities you already have and many new ones as you connect and grow closer to the Force."

He pulled his own blade from his belt.

"And what of lightsaber combat?"

 

[LaPurple]

The rock in the padawan's hand was unnaturally smooth. He moved it around his hand while Master Gil spoke. Denal's full attention was on what the master's words, but the smooth rock in his hand provided a soothing subconscious feeling. As he began levitating it in his hand again, Reland reminded him that jedi should not manipulate animals.

Even though the rock was not an animal, he threw it back into the grass. The thought just made him not want to use the Force. The Zabrak loved animals. He would never do anything more than to befriend one. "Oh never Master Gil. I just wish to learn how to talk back to them through the Force." the padawan assured him respectfully.

He hoped that soon he would become powerful with the Force so that he could learn to commune with the nature around him and his hopes grew when he explained what Denal will learn to be able to do.

Then the man asked padawan Vering about his lightsaber abilities. This was a weaker point in the Zabrak's abilities, but he knew his way with them regardless. "I have been practicing with them. I never had a chance to learn anything other than Ataru though. So have been forced to use it on several occasions over the years and I have been able to hold my own." Denal explained followed by a nod.

 

[Raydo]

"In time you will learn to connect with all forms of life through to Force and a great many other things. You have done well by yourself, and now we will build on this."

He sat back up giving himself a more formal posture.

"I would like to train and help guide you personally. This is not to say you will not learn from all Jedi, but I would like to help in you becoming a Jedi. You will not have the luxury of years to perfect your skills. We will be busy, and you will have to do much of your learning in the field. I will not force this learning style on you. There are other path's you can take, and while we have been paired, I will absolve you of that if you so wish."

Reland knew that it would be difficult, but there was also opportunity in it. Reland had learned much the same way, but without the support of the other Jedi. He sensed this man could handle to path ahead, but only he could decide that for certain.

"What do you say?"

 

[LaPurple]

In response to the Jedi Master's first remark, Denal added "I do look forward to the day when I will learn to commune."

As Reland Gil straightened his posture, and the Zabrak was unsure of what was next to come. Nervousness welled up inside of the padawan and he grabbed his knees ever so tightly, but made sure that it was not a noticeable act.

The words began pouring out of Master Gil's mouth and each word seemed to pull Padawan Vering in further and further. Did he just say he was going to train me? His brown eyes could not focus on the jedi any more than they already were. Before saying anything, he made sure to let Reland finish speaking.

"You truly mean this? I w..." Denal stopped himself and collected his feelings. A fawning moment such as that was not who Denal was. He returned to his calm yet deep tone that the padawan normally carried in his voice. "Master Gil, I would be more than honored to become your apprentice. I understand that being a jedi is no easy task in today's world, but I will do whatever it takes." the Zabrak promised whole-heartedly.

This was the moment that Denal had hoped for ever since he had left Coruscant nearly a decade ago...

 

[Raydo]

Reland smiled as the young Jedi finished speaking.

"That is good to hear. We will start immediately. We have talked about the basic skills of a Jedi, which you seem to have a grasp on. Most would consider that a great foundation, and it is but abilities without purpose to guide it can and will lead you down the wrong path. Our purpose comes from our philosophy and how we perceive the Galaxy around us."

It seemed simple enough, but this was a lesson many Padawans overlooked. It was easy to do that in times of war. Focus is placed on combat prowess, and they lose something fundamentally important to the Jedi. It was a problem throughout the Order. Reland was determined not to make that mistake with his students.

"So your lesson for today is this..." He said giving a slight pause to emphasize the question.

"What does it mean to be a Jedi?"

On the surface it was an easy question, but Reland wanted the man to dig deep into it. He waited as the Padawan prepared a reply.

 

[LaPurple]

Padawan Vering was flattered whe Master Gil said that he had a good foundation already started in the jedi path. After all this time of being away from the order, he was just happy that his skills had not fallen to the wayside. It was true. In hiding there is little to keep oneself busy with. Practicing the arts of the jedi were often all he had.

Master Gil was in charge of his progress now. User the guidance of this man, with hope someday the Zabrak would become a jedi knight. That is the dream of every padawan, at least it should be. Knights were the brute force of the order. They were sent across the galaxy on their own missions of peace.

Then there were the Masters. Highly trained in the ways of the Force. They alone are the leaders of the jedi. Not only would they be sent into immediate harm's way daily but they made the decisions for all of the order as well. Denal was fortunate enough that Reland Gil was a master. Only a few were so privileged.

And now that man had just asked padawan Vering what is means to be a jedi. Not a Knight or a Master, but a jedi in whole...the true essence.

Acknowledging that he understood the lesson, Denal took a moment to think about what being a jedi means.

He looked as if he was zoned out now, but he was in deep thought. Very deep thought. After a short moment, the padawan made eye contact with the master once again and began his lesson. "The jedi are the defenders of peace and justice in the galaxy. We bring light to a dark existence. When there is no one else, we are present. Using the Force, we connect to the worlds around us to better ourselves even if that means denying ourselves many of the sought after pleasures in this universe."

The padawan liked his answer. It was how he had been living his life, but perhaps Master Gil would have a better insight after his years of training.

 

[Raydo]

The answer was almost that out of a textbook.

"A beautiful answer my Padawan, but what does that mean?"

Many Jedi knew this answer, and knew how to wrap it pretty. Reland was looking for something more. It would be okay if his Padawan didn't know. That is why he was a learner, to learn. That wouldn't stop Reland from pushing the young man now. If one didn't atleast have a basic understanding of this, there was no point in training someone further. At that point you are only training them to be, at best, dark Jedi.

This is would be the first of many conversations they would have on the topic so it wasn't necessary, or even possible to show true mastery of this today.

"Explain it to me like you would if I wasn't a Jedi."

 

[LaPurple]

This answer would require an even deeper grasp. Now unsure of himself, the Zabrak thought harder than he had before. He began rethink every sentence uttered Defenders of peace and justice...

"I would say then that it is our duty to patrol the galaxy in order to protect the defenseless from foes no matter who they may be." Yes, that could work, but there was more to what he had previously stated. "Bring light to the darkness...

Denal spoke again adding to his revised statement. "As jedi we use the light side of the Force. It is where we draw our abilities from. There are those who follow the dark path who follow a much darker path. It is our duty to keep them at bay."

Then there was the Force...

"The Force makes up the world around us. It is a power that connects us to everyone and everything. Jedi and Sith alike know how to use this power around them for whatever their purpose may be."

Denal grew more confident as he spoke more specifically. She struggle to think back to what his last point had been in his first explanation. Then it clicked, Attachment...

Speaking to finally answer the question that Master Gil had presented, padawan Vering stated "As jedi we must resist many if the galaxy's wonderful gifts. These mainly consist if worldy possessions, but relationships as well. A jedi must always put what is right before what he loves."

 

[Raydo]

As the Padawan expanded on his answer Reland maintained eye contact. As he finished Reland paused for a moment letting silence surround them. The sound of birds in the tree above, and the wind slowly pushing it way through the tall grass of the meadow beyond dominated the scene.

"Once again, wonderful textbook answer, but you miss a small, but perhaps the must crucial part." he made sure to say it in way the wouldn't come off condescending. He was impressed the amount the Padawan had gathered being mostly on his own.

"The Force is more than just a power that runs through all of us. Its more than a well of power we use to accomplish our goals." he lifted a rock of the ground and brought it to his hand while he continued to talk.

"It is the will that guides our actions. That is the difference between Jedi and Sith, Light and Dark. The Jedi conform to the will of the Force, we are servants to it's will and defenders of the light is gives. The Sith seek to twist the will of the Force to serving their own needs. They seek to tame and control the might ocean that is the Force. It is an odd concept to grasp, and part of the life of a Jedi is spending their lives uncovering the infinite mystery that is the Force."

He placed the rock down on the ground before finishing.

"Without the Force their would be no Jedi, No Sith, No Life. If you had to describe the Jedi in one single word, that word would Servant. They are servant to all peoples, and a servant to the Force."

His voice faded from its tone it always took when he began lecturing. He hated that tone, but it came naturally to him every time.

"Does that make sense to you? It is okay to not fully understand, no one ever will."

 

[LaPurple]

The silence consumed the pair. Denal too then paid more attention to his surroundings. The sound of waves crashing on the nearby shore was soothing to the Zabrak. For a moment, he closed his eyes and breathed in deeply through his nose.

Master Gil politely explained how he was still just barely missing the mark that he was looking for. Padawan Vering was prepared to try again. It was an admirable trait of his species. They were notorious for their determination. Fortunately, Reland had decided to just tell Denal.

As the master spoke again, Denal listened intently. It was the aspect he had been missing after all. And the answer was one that made the padawan feel silly for not thinking of on his own. Of course the Force was more than a tool used by the jedi.

We are servants to the Force. he thought to himself reiterating in his mind what Master Gil had said. Neither Jedi or Sith would exist. It is a true fact that is often overlooked; at least by Denal. But now he had something to better focus on.

"You've certainly made it much more clear to me. I...think I understand it." Master Gil was right though. Padawan Vering certainly may not yet understand, and it was to be expected. That is why the Zabrak has opened himself to the teachings of Master Reland.

 

[Raydo]

"You will understand more in time, My Padawan."

Reland began to stand up.

"We will stop there today. I am sure you have some settling in to do." he said looking back towards the cave entrance.

"It is not a difficult layout to learn and the other Jedi are helpful if you need anything. If you have any questions about anything, don't hesitate to seek me out day or night. With our training and training with the other Padawans, I am confident you will not be bored." he said with a smile.

Reland bowed his head slightly to the Padawan

"Go with the Force, and remember our discussion today. Perhaps I will ask you again as you progress in your training."

They then departed ways. Reland would answer any further questions that were asked of him, but he had much work to do, as always.