Ocih Weogi's Training

[Ocih Weogi]

Ocih looked around the freighter that was shuttling him and about twenty other people from Coruscant to Ossus. He had never been to Ossus before but had heard of the picturesque landscape and the fact that everything was green and lush, compared to big city Coruscant where a patch of grass was unknown. The freighter touched ground and Ocih waited for everyone to leave before he made his way to the docking bay. As he exited, a feeling of nervous excitement hit him for the first time since he left Coruscant.

This is it...I could become a Jedi

Ocih left the Ossus starport and found a Sallustan who seemed to know the city. After a bit of talking, Ocih learned that the Jedi Temple was not too far off and he would be able to take a relaxing walk to the Temple. As he walked, Ocih felt something that he had never felt before. It was strange to explain, but he felt even more alive; better yet, he felt the life of others. Coruscant was a huge planet with a large population, but something about Ossus just made Ocih feel the life of the enviornment...the life of the people more clearly. After thinking about what was going on inside of him, Ocih soon found himself face to face with the Jedi Temple, its old architecture both terrifying and beautiful at the same time.

Well, I imagine this means I wont be a Senatorial guard anymore.

Walking into the building for the first time, Ocih found a desk-droid and said he was interested in training.Jeez...I dont even know how to begin something like this. Is that what people ask when they come here? Arent they chosen or something?

Deciding that a little meditation might work wonders, Ocih sat himself on a rock near a stream and contemplated his past, the present, and the future...his destiny

 

[D-Despario]

The room was dark, the shades were drawn over the windows, shrouding all within in shadows. A cot, table, and small rug were the only furnishings of the rather spartan abode, and in the closet hung a suit of customized armor.

Alaan Korre meditated silently in the room, his mind at peace with the Force. He was practicing his telekinesis simultaneously, and was hovering a half-meter above the small rug. He gradually became aware of a buzzing sound, his datapad had received a message, and it was trying to get his attention. He lowered to the rug smoothly and picked up his datapad, glancing quickly through the message. He had been assigned another student, a man by the name of Ocih Weogi. He stood up, grabbing his cloak from the table as he read through an attached file. Ocih Weogi, born and raised on Coruscant. Up to a short time ago he had been employed by the Republic Senate Guard. The man had arrived a few hours ago on Ossus, and had requested training. Alaan sent a message, accepting the man as his learner.

He left the room, his dark brown cloak fluttering behind him as he walked briskly through the halls. His lightsabers were in their usual place, crisscrossed on the back of his belt. Alaan checked his datapad again, a message had been sent, informing him that Ocih Weogi was currently in the Temple gardens. A few minutes later he stepped out of the Temple and into the gardens. The verdant green beauty of the garden was breathtaking as usual, so full of life. The Force was life, and thus was easier to feel in the midst of all this greenery. This place was where Alaan had met his own Master, Vizza Mander. It was a welcome place to begin the training of his own learner.

There. Alaan spotted a man matching his new apprentice's description near the stream that ran through the midst of the garden. He walked over to the man and spoke softly and precisely.
"Ocih Weogi, I am Alaan Korre. Welcome to the Jedi Temple." He wondered if the man had been informed that he had been accepted as a padawan yet.

 

[Ocih Weogi]

Ocih bowed before the man who had just introduced himself.
"Hello Master Korre, it is a pleasure to meet you. I requested training although I will assume that is why you are here."

Ocih glanced at the man who couldnt be older than he was. Even though he might be the same age, Korre looked older with experience and wisdom...older with something that comes only from a certain training.

"Considering you know my name, might I inquire as to what else you might know about me? If its at all important, I have gone through basic military training and I also served with the Senatorial Guard. I believe however that I am force sensitive, so I came to Ossus looking for formal training, in the hopes of becoming a Jedi."

Studying the Jedi in front of him, Ocih pondered over what he had begun.

 

[D-Despario]

Alaan smiled slightly and sat down on the grass next to Ocih.
"I am actually only a knight," he remarked. "As for what I know, I know that you received a medal of merit for protecting a senator from assassins. I know that you've touched the Force before. I'm here to teach you how to know the Force, to become a Jedi."

"So, let us begin," he added, projecting the words through telepathy into Ocih's mind. "Tell me your views of the Jedi Order."

 

[Ocih Weogi]

Ocih thought briefly before looking back at the Jedi Knight.

"If its all the same, Master Korre comes off better than Knight Korre. Thats an interesting question, although I must admit I havent given it much thought."

It suddenly hit Ocih that he really hadnt thought of his opinion on the Jedi Order. Certainly he knew of the Jedi and that they were protectors of the galaxy, but what were his beliefs of the Order itself.

"I believe that the Jedi are the guardians of the galaxy. That they fight evil and try to preserve good. The Order itself tries to promote good throughout the galaxy. I believe it to be noble and powerful, almost awe-inspiring. Many admire the Jedi for their powers, but many more admire the Jedi and their Order for the way they act and live their lives."

 

[D-Despario]

"An excellent answer Ocih," Alaan nodded. He could sense through the Force that his new apprentice was sincere which would certainly aid him in his training. He now wondered as to Ocih's reasons for joining the Jedi, his reasons for wanting to become a Jedi Knight. It was a difficult path, one of sacrifice for others.
"The path of a Jedi is a difficult one, can you tell me why you chose to become a Jedi? Why do you want to be a Knight?"

 

[Ocih Weogi]

Another interesting question to which he hadnt given much thought. Looking at Master Korre, the words that came out of his mouth seemed to come from some preconceived thought or idea, but Ocih could certainly not recall thinking them.

"I realized that I was actually force sensitive a week or so ago. I could have become a politician, even a military man, but it wasnt for me. The Jedi may live a life of sacrifice but the respect they command is admirable. The way they handle problems is one to look at. The way they live their life is enviable. I want to be a Jedi to help the galaxy and the republic.

 

[D-Despario]

Alaan nodded.
"The Jedi path is also an admirable one, that is true." he touched the scar on his right temple unconsciously as he spoke. The scar had come from his days as a mercenary, but it had been caused in the same situation that had caused him to return to the Order. That was ancient history however.

"I will begin your training now," he said calmly. "The first skill I must teach you is how to feel the Force, how to open yourself to its flow. Some have described the Force as an energy field or a flow of energy. The Force is actually the very essence of all life. It surrounds and penetrates all things, whether living or not," He gestured to the garden around them.
"The Force is at its strongest when you are surrounded by life, such as we are now. It is most evident to even the most untrained in places like this. I would like you to clear your mind, to feel the Force flow around and through you as it connects you to the universe and the universe to you."

 

[Ocih Weogi]

Ocih listened to Master Korre and then looked around the garden. The garden itself was beautiful, flowers blossoming and trees shielding everything else. Even the rocks on the ground seemed to have a purpose in making the overall landscape even more beautiful. As he gazed at a little stream of water, its current bringing the water to move into some unknown, Ocih took a deep breath and tried to clear his mind.

Thinking about that stream, Ocih cleared his mind and attempted to be that stream, letting the life of all his surroundings channel through him in the force. Suddenly it wasnt just trees and plants that Ocih could feel, Ocih could sense other sentient beings outside the garden in other areas of the Temple. As Ocih focused more, more could he feel through the force.

 

[D-Despario]

Through the Force, Alaan could feel Ocih reaching out. He was pleased with his padawan's progress thus far.
"Very good Padawan. You can feel the Force, this is the first step of many."

He reached into a hidden pocket of his robe an withdrew a black blindfold. When he had first begun training with Vizza Mander, the Zabrak Jedi had taught him first to see through the Force. This had been an excellent beginning to Alaan's own training, and so he had prepared to teach it to his own padawan.
"You have learned to feel the Force's flow, but there is more to the Force than feeling. Through the Force, a Jedi can see." Alaan handed Ocih the blindfold.
"Put it on, I want you to learn to see without your eyes. In a fight, or even in just a normal situation there are times where your eyes might deceive you. Or you might be blinded by an opponent's flash grenade. This ability to see through the Force will aid you greatly. Do not worry if at first you do not see a lot, it will improve through much practice."

 

[Ocih Weogi]

Ocih laughed hesitantly. Deary me, what have I gotten myself into. Ocih took the blindfold and covered his eyes. Once again he focused and felt the force through the living things. Now though he tried to actually see. He was blind but he tried to use the force to see as of he had no blindfold. Minutes passed but still it was extremely difficult to see anything but black.

"I don't know...I'm focusing but it's just too hard to actually see things."

 

[D-Despario]

Alaan could sense that Ocih was actually closer that he believed himself to be. He had connected to the Force, but had not yet grasped that through that connection his mind's eye could construct an image. The connections in the Force bound all things, and this was what helped Jedi to see through the Force. Some Jedi had said that when they saw through the Force everything was in shades of color. Alaan's Force sight was usually a light shade of blue, but he had heard of other colors being seen. Ocih had to let go of all of his preconceptions about where he was, and empty his mind. He was focussing, but trying too hard in the process.

"Try again padawan," Alaan said gently. "This time I want you to try only to see what is directly in front of you. Empty your mind, and let the Force be your eyes. It is more than a flow, it is like a web that binds all in this universe. You are connected to all things, and all things: this planet, the rocks, the molecules of the water in the stream, they all are connected to you. Use those connections to see."

As he spoke, Alaan reached out with the Force and grasped a small pebble. He moved it to float between them, then slowly began to move it in a circle in front of his blindfolded pupil.
"If you can, tell me what I am doing."

 

[Ocih Weogi]

After listening to his Master, Ocih once again found himself focusing. As was now customary to him, Ocih was able to feel the life around him. The garden was beautiful to the eyes but to one attuned with the force, it was truly magnificent. The smell of the flowers, the shade of the trees, the refreshing stream...all of this was nice, but feeling the life flow through these things was amazing. Ocih tried harder now to focus on picturing what was directly in front of him. As he felt the life force, he focused harder.

"Im getting closer. I can feel that im getting closer."

Continuing to focus, the black darkness from the blindfold actually turned into a blurry vision. Ocih couldnt make out what was in front of him through the vision but he could guess, mostly because he took in the view of the garden when he first entered it. Ocih kept his focus and tried, if it was possible, even harder. There must be a stream somewhere ahead of me, that much I can hear. Im sure there are flowers. If only I could get a clearer vision. The rocks are on th..."

As if entering the secret password, the blurry vision suddenly became a little clearer and Ocih could make out a rock floating around in front of him. Suddenly like a wildfire his vision expanded and he was able to see past the little rock; the trees, the flowers, the stream.

"A rock! I see a rock floating in front of me! I can see what is in front of me now."

 

[D-Despario]

"Very good Ocih," Alaan settled the pebble between them for the moment. "Through the Force, many truths may be revealed. Now, I will teach you Force Sense," he continued. He expected some confusion, so he quickly continued.
"Unlike Force Sight, Force Sense is more involved with detecting than with seeing. Sense can be used to find things that are hidden, or to sense the thoughts of another." He pulled out a small metal cube about five centimeters by five centimeters.
"I have hidden a cube just like this, it is very close by. Using this cube as a reference to how the hidden cube feels in the Force, I would like you to locate the hidden cube."

 

[Ocih Weogi]

Ocih stared at the cube"Ok." Getting a sense of the cube Master Korre had just set in front of him, Ocih silenced his mind and started to focus deeply on the cube. He could sense the pattern and the shape. Now what was needed was to use that one cube as a guide to find another. Trying to push push aside the tremendous amount of life in the garden, Ocih searched for the other cube. After a while, Ocih finally found it.

"Is it underneath the rock next to your foot Master Korre?

 

[D-Despario]

Alaan nodded and the cube moved out from under the rock, guided by telekinesis. It returned to his hand, and he returned it to his pocket with the other cube.
"You may remove the blindfold padawan. I believe it is time to get you settled into some living quarters." He stood and motioned for Ocih to follow him.

He guided Ocih through the Temple's impressive and beautiful halls, till they reached the living quarters level. These rooms were for Padawans and knights, to live in and meditate. Alaan's own room was nearby to the one that had been assigned to his pupil.
"Your room is right here, you may freshen up and rest. There are also training uniforms in the closet. When you are ready, return to the garden. I will be there to continue your training."

------

He sat now, hovering a good foot and a half above the grass, deep in his meditation. The Force swirled around him, the life in the garden was a sweet and gentle flow in his Force sense. Alaan was awaiting the return of his Padawan, so that the training could continue.

 

[Ocih Weogi]

Ocih took his blindfold off and smiled. He had accomplished a lot in his opinion in just a few hours of training. Following his master, Ocih noticed all the different species of people that were housed by the Temple. Passing by the Jedi Knights and Masters, Ocih felt a tremendous sense of excitement, knowing that it was very possible that he would one day be one of them.

Entering his living quarter, Ocih noticed that it wasn't furnished for luxury. Atleast it seems to be well equipped for meditation and contemplation He thought.

Thank you Master Korre. I will be down shortly after taking a bit of a nap. I hadnt noticed how tired I was after that ride from Coruscant

After a few hours of rest, Ocih arose and dressed in his new training uniform. Entering the garden, Ocih waited quietly in front of his master.

 

[D-Despario]

"Welcome back," Alaan said, his eyes still closed. "I suppose you are ready to continue your training?"
He slowly lowered himself back to the grass, "I have taught you the skills necessary to feel and see the Force. Now I will begin to teach you to manipulate the Force."

 

[Ocih Weogi]

"Yes Master Korre I am ready to begin."

Ocih listened as to what the next stage of his training would be.
"An interesting word for a Jedi to use, manipulation. I would have thought that the dark Jedi I've heard stories about manipulated the force.

 

[D-Despario]

"Ah, I see," Alaan smiled lightly. "When I was referring to 'manipulation' I was referring to the use of the Force to effect changes in your surroundings. The manipulation you were thinking of is that of bending the Force to your will. That is not what I am going to teach you. Please sit."

Alaan took out the small metal cubes from his pocket and set them on the ground in front of himself. He was going to teach Ocih to direct the Force's flow in useful ways, such as telekinesis or Force Push or Pull.
"Any more questions before I begin Padawan?"