Ask Yavin IV Restricted Section

Alexandria Voran

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Former Grandmaster

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Valen Pelora
Joined
Nov 30, 2020
Messages
792
Reaction score
641


Alarms blared across the bridge. Grandmaster Alexandria Voran stood staring out across the bridge. Red warning lights bathed her figure. Ships jumped from hyperspace all around her. The alarms rang louder. Alex spun as a muffled voice spoke behind her. Where were they? Taris? Denon…no Coruscant? The muffled voice again. Alex spun as turbolasers began to fire. Max was standing there looking at her.

Alex shot up out of bed, the Force flicking from her fingers to send the lights on. Her breath came in ragged gasps. You’re home. The Temple is safe…everyone is safe. Slowly, her mind calmed while she pulled back within herself. The Force greeted her with a warm embrace. Alex flipped hair out of her eyes. What little sleep she managed these days was plagued by nightmare. They were the kind that left your heart clenched and your mind racing. Those terrible dreams were made worse they the tinge of foresight in all of them…as if the Force was trying to speak with her but could not break through. She sighed. Clouded futures and mistakes of the past.

Finally, the sound plaguing her dream broke through her thoughts. Her datapad chimed on the nightstand. Alex briefly looked at the scream. Silent alarms in the grand library had been triggered. Lovely. The Morellian Jedi stood and dressed quickly. Whatever sleep she might have gotten was long gone. When she opened the door to her room, a handful of Temple Guard stood at the ready. “Sweep the perimeters and check each guard station…I’ll go to the library.” There was a small note of hesitation in the Force. Alex fixed them with a do-not-test-me stare and they nodded to carry out her orders.

She went swiftly to the grand library. Alex feared no mortal and she sincerely doubted enemies had snuck in to steal holobooks. The library housed some rare knowledge but that much. When she entered she raised her voice slowly. “Hello?” This was either a false alarm or a rule breaker.

@Orbit
 

Vren Mallick

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Padawan

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Orbit
Joined
Nov 18, 2021
Messages
76
Reaction score
20
At night, Vren and Tock would normally operate in tandem to achieve something that they desired at that moment but this time, the Echani was alone. What he wanted to find was not anything that concerned his roommate and there was no reason to bring his friend along and drag him into trouble if somehow everything went to shit.

Learning from the last time he had snuck around, Vren had made it to the library without a hitch, ignorant of the silent alarms as he figured they wouldn't be equipped with such measures, especially for holobooks. The first level was explored quickly, him peeking down each aisle and realizing that the contents would be about basic history or anything that was approved for wandering minds.

The padawan then directed his gaze upward to the second level, it open-aired and the railing left untouched. There were stairs that led upward but the doors that allowed access was locked from his side. As a compromise, Vren built the force along his legs before leaping upwards and grabbing onto the railing when he was close enough, using it as a support while he hoisted himself over. The Echani was getting better and his movements were somewhat silent.

Vren had patience but what he was being taught was even too slow for him because of his circumstances. He was old enough to remember his family and how he even arrived at the Order, why he arrived at the Order. There had to be a way for him to be able to help and discover what happened to them. Vren witnessed how Knight Marr was able to appear out of thin air and that had intrigued his curiosity immensely, even though she had offered to teach him.

Picking out a few of the restricted holobooks, he was about to make his way out when he heard a voice call out. Vren spun instantly and had his back placed against an isle, using it as cover despite being on the second level.

The Echani silently cursed to himself as he smacked his head lightly against the wood shelf a couple of times with closed eyes. There still had to be a way for him to get out of this and he wasn't going to offer himself up if whoever it was didn't know he was there. Silently pushing off, he made his way to the door.

Unknown to Vren and highlighting his lack of experience with the force, his signature was still very much active and Alex would be able to track him easily as he had no clue.
 

Alexandria Voran

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Former Grandmaster

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Valen Pelora
Joined
Nov 30, 2020
Messages
792
Reaction score
641


Her call was met with silence. A small frown tugged at her lips. A rare slip of concentration from the Grandmaster. Well, she was tired. A small thunk hit her Force aided senses. Alex’s eyes tipped towards the upper levels. She walked further into the library, slowly making her way towards the center. Her mind unspooled in the Force. Her frown became a smile. No dastardly intruders…just a student wandering the Temple far past acceptable hours. Alex flicked a few keys on her datapad. The Temple Guard would stand down. She could sense the young Jedi blazing in the Force. She could practically see him creeping towards the door.

She shook her head, gathered the Force, and jumped. The Morellian Jedi landed lightly on the second level, the Force shunting all sound. She was silent in her approach. Her mind locked, her Force signature dimmed, and her steps deadened. Alex slowly approached the young Jedi as he headed for the door. Did she know him? She tried to learn the names of all the student but it the growing number made it difficult. She raised her voice just slightly. “Awfully late for a little light reading, isn’t it?” Alex quickly took note of which section they stood.

She might not know every Padawan, but she damn well knew every Knight. Not only was her new friend skulking about late at night but he certainly was not permitted these materials. The Order shared knowledge freely. They did not subscribe to the secrecy of the old ways. Still…there were some things it was best not to encourage. “Most Jedi Knights would not wander about this late.” Alex waited from the young man to turn around. He must have known he was thoroughly caught.

@Orbit

 

Vren Mallick

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Padawan

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Orbit
Joined
Nov 18, 2021
Messages
76
Reaction score
20
Vren slithered toward the stairs and specifically toward the door. The person had called out but he hadn't heard anything after and he was suspecting that they had remained on the first level to find their own book. He was proven wrong completely and practically immediately, a voice sarcastically asking him about the padawan's late-night reading habits over his shoulder. The Echani spun around with a slight gasp, a handful of holobooks in his hand that he quickly stuffed behind his back and out of view.

It was the second time he had been surprised and he swore to himself after this he was going to work on his perception.

Alex would find bright golden eyes meet her gaze, almost bright enough to be spotted in the dimly lit floor they would be on. They were golden like the Sith but instead of being predatory, they were a sharp and warm color, ones untainted by any outside influence. At first, he held a questioning gaze but it would shift as he realized who he was speaking to, his eyes growing wider in shock. Vren bowed slightly, not enough to reveal the books behind him, "Grandmaster." The greeting was laden with respect despite their circumstances. It was his luck though to run across the Grandmaster out of everybody.

Fixing his posture after a smirk etched into his face, his free hand scratching the back of his head, "Well, good thing I haven't become a Knight then yet." Vren gave a slight shrug afterward as he dropped his hand by his side, deciding to throw out one last hail mary despite all odds, "I was just picking up on my studies. Found myself falling behind compared to others." The words a half-truth and a half-lie. "Sorry if I was the one to wake you. I can just head straight to my room, however."

This was the first time that Vren had ever met and it was a terrible first impression that he was caught in the restricted section. The Echani was trying to get out as quickly as possible, despite how desperate it was. Vren wiped his bottom lip before offering Alex a nod, "Goodnight, Grandmaster." With slow steps, he began to back up.

@Valen Pelora
 

Alexandria Voran

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Former Grandmaster

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Valen Pelora
Joined
Nov 30, 2020
Messages
792
Reaction score
641


Alex matched the young Jedi’s expression. A small smile arriving on her face. He was bold…she would give him credit for that. Her mind flashed out in an instant. Barely skimming the Padawan’s thoughts. She plucked a name for the surface. Vren. She should have known that one. Her green eyes met his golden. “Clever.” Alex’s voice light and soft. “And impressive.” She nodded at the railing. “It’s no easy feet to make this jump…and for holobooks no less.” Her smile grew wider. “And you did make the jump because that door you’re scooching towards is locked.” A full grin spread across her lips. “I doubt you managed to bribe a Temple Guard. They are stoic ones.” Alex waved a hand at his back.

“Let’s start over, shall we?” She motioned Vren to step forward. “You’re hiding holobooks behind your back…and I’d like to see them.” The Grandmaster’s tone remained airy. She was not hear to shame or discipline young Jedi Mallick. That was not her particular brand. “Or you can tell me what knowledge you needed so desperately you snuck out of bed, into the library, into the restricted section, and then tried to sneak them out under my nose.” Her eyebrows raised questioningly.

“I’m getting old but that sure seems like a lot of work for just being behind in your studies.” She shrugged. “Besides, you can’t get in any more trouble than you’re already in.” A small laugh escaped. “I made the Temple Guard run the perimeter and everything.” She shrugged. “Don’t feel badly, they need the practice.” She waved her hand again. “Come on…let’s talk about the secrets of the Force.” She was searching for somewhere to sit. The library was a painfully constructed room. No comfy couches anywhere.

@Orbit
 

Vren Mallick

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Padawan

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Orbit
Joined
Nov 18, 2021
Messages
76
Reaction score
20
Vren only managed a step before Alex spoke again, her tone warm but conveying silently for him to stop where he was without chastising. The padawan didn't need another warning and he did halt, one arm suspiciously still remaining tucked behind his back the entire time even though he knew the gig was up, his youthful confidence and hopefulness making it so where he couldn't just easily reveal his haul.

Alex suggested starting over and bluntly laid out what his plan had been for the pseudo operation he had conjured that night after he stepped forward. Not only did it really show him how screwed he was, but she also revealed that because of him, all of the Temple Guard was on alert and sweeping the perimeter. Realizing just how much trouble he stirred in one night for books and how unsuccessful he had been, Vren opened his mouth to say something but a soft scoff just came out and shook his head afterward slightly before apologizing, "My bad, Grandmaster."

Surprisingly, in replacement instead of a punishment, Alex made an offer to speak about the Force before she began to walk to find comfortable seating. When she took a few steps away to search, leaving Vren a few moments of solitude, he glanced around for a moment desperately until he just exhaled through his nose lightly and muttered to himself, "Shit..." The Echani would shortly follow after the Grandmaster and find a couple of seats.

Vren eventually found a table with chairs that had suitable padding for them. He walked over before using the tip of his foot to nudge and pull out one for the Jedi before doing the same for himself. The padawan wouldn't sit immediately, instead, peering at the furniture and then back to Alex, contemplating to himself for a moment before tossing the books on the table and finally sitting down.

There were three of them, the extent of what he was able to pick up before she interrupted, one of them about basic force techniques, intended for his training level and the half-truth of his words. The other two however were much more advanced, one book resembling in basic form the methods of the Shadows and the other one Vren didn't personally know but stuck out to him, it being the only one with a lock.

Vren sat there silently, taking the course of action to not say anything until he knew his words weren't going to dig him a hole, under the impression this was a punishment in disguise.

@Valen Pelora
 

Alexandria Voran

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Former Grandmaster

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Valen Pelora
Joined
Nov 30, 2020
Messages
792
Reaction score
641


The Grandmaster made a mental note of the libraries distinct lack of suitable seating. They were Jedi…that did not require being constantly uncomfortable. Vren had greater luck than Alex. She heard the chair scrape out and plop of books. She turned to find the young Jedi sitting at a small table. Alex whisked over and sat beside him. Without speaking, she picked up the first of the books. Basic force techniques. “Boring.” A flick of her wrist sent it floating back to its home. Her eyes flicked to the second book. The Shadows. Alex’s face remained a neutral mask. No Padawan knew the resurgence of secretive sect. She careful set that one aside. “The Shadow's methods are rightly banned.” A careful half-truth. For Vren and many other Jedi, those pursuit were forbidden.

The last book shot sent her eyebrows raising. The Force had a habit of pushing confrontations with the past. She reached into her pocket and drew out a dangling set of keys. A heavy brass key slipped into the lock. It was old school but effective. She set the lock aside and held the book lightly in her palms. “The finer points of invading a mind against another’s will.” Alex ran her hands over the cover. “A dangerous violation the Order has resulted to in the past.” The Morellian Jedi set the book down.

“Shadows and forces of the mind…” Her eyes swept up to meet Vren’s again. “That’s a very specific list, young one.” She quirked an eyebrow again. “I can’t help but think there is a reason behind it. A specific reason.” She shrugged. “There's nothing I can do for you if don’t tell me why but much of what is contain in those volumes is beyond your training.” Alex swore she would not repeat the mistakes of the past. She was not training child killers…but the Force did not always set them on the right path.

@Orbit

 

Vren Mallick

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Padawan

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Orbit
Joined
Nov 18, 2021
Messages
76
Reaction score
20
Without him initiating the conversation, Alex instead went to inspect the books that had been selected by him, a slight window into his mind. The gig was up and he had been given no choice but to show his haul. Vren's jaw still locked when her fingers finally traced the first book, unsure of what her reaction would be to the selection.

In truth, Vren knew only two of the books, the boring one which was quickly placed back on the shelf, and the Shadows. Interestingly to him, the Grandmaster placed it to the side and not back where it belonged, leading him to believe maybe there was some validity to it. The whole reason he started down that path was because of Knight Marr. His eyes hadn't deceived them, she had appeared out of nowhere and he had heard stories of such techniques, ones where force-users could disappear in thin air. The Shadows seemed like a good place to start.

The third book, however, when Alex finally revealed what it was, made the Echani shift uncomfortably for a moment. He hadn't known its contents but for some reason, it scared him that it stuck out to him and was drawn to it. His golden eyes locked on the cover, both of them filled with uncertainty for a moment before he finally returned his attention to Alex. She gently probed him to discover his reasoning behind why he tried to sneak the books out but his mouth couldn't open, refused to.

Minutes of silence would pass between them, the only being the gradual ticking of a clock in the distance. Vren still maintained eye contact but it was clear his silent nature was because of his own internal battle within, a chaotic one, not because he was ignoring her. The Echani had never told anyone about why he had come to the Order, the most revealed in his dossier most likely being that a single mother had dropped him off before disappearing. It was the truth but just the very tip and nothing more.

The tension of keeping it contained inside him was like a building damn, the tension growing and growing to the point it was almost unbearable. It was the reason he had recently begun to act out, needing some sort of vent before he imploded. With the gentle nudge, a crack began to form in the dam ever so slightly, the water locking onto it instantly as the opening started to expand once it flooded through, exposing how weak the foundation had been.

Alex would eventually be able to witness him giving him, his gaze softening as he glanced around for a moment before licking his lips, his words holding a certain heaviness as he recounted the memories, "My brother. He helped protect me and escape from home." The last thing he had seen of his sibling had been through the slit of a locker. "I need to bring him back, if he's even alive. Somewhere safe." With his own arrival relatively being recent, she could guess how long ago the events transpired.

Vren just shrugged then as his arms crossed over each other and he gripped onto his biceps tightly, "He would be doing the same."

@Valen Pelora
 

Alexandria Voran

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Former Grandmaster

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Valen Pelora
Joined
Nov 30, 2020
Messages
792
Reaction score
641


Alex was comfortable in the silence. She found it pleasing. The quiet settling around the Jedi with open arms. They were in a closed library in the middle of the night. There was not a sound. In her old age, she came to enjoy these moments. Alex’s eyes never left poor Vren. There was power in waiting. Power it had taken her decades to understand. Slowly, the young man’s resolve weakened until she felt the crack of that dam. Finally…some answers. Alex waited a few moments before speaking.

“I envy you.” She leaned forward to set her elbows on the table. “When I joined the Order, I did not even know where my family was.” Her voice was sincere. Vren’s loss was recent but her journey far in the past. “My parents loved spice more than life. I grew up covered in grime on Corellia. When I was gone…I doubt they ever thought of me.” The pain was dull having long scabbed over. “To have someone like your brother is a blessing. One that should not be forgotten...The Order eventually became my family and there is nothing I would not do to protect that family.” Alex leaned back to lock eyes with Vren again. “I understand what you are looking for and why.”

Her mind searched through the Force. Where was the path? “You think this knowledge will give you the strength to find him?” She hummed softly. “It won’t.” The Force rang with undeniable truth. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t save him...because you are not alone.” Alex voice pitched softly again. “The Order is not meant to replace your family, but we are here to help. I am here to help.” The path was becoming clearer. “You need only ask.” She was here to serve. No matter the rank or the Jedi. That was her responsibility.

@Orbit

 

Vren Mallick

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Padawan

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Orbit
Joined
Nov 18, 2021
Messages
76
Reaction score
20
At the mention of being envied, Vren sort of scrunched a side of his face, not exactly pleased by that thought. The line didn't settle well with him. In his young mind, it seemed better to arrive at the Order not knowing about the past or connected to something that could draw you back. For the Echani, it was a constant carrot on a stick when it came to his family, one that dangled mockingly just out of reach as it taunted him. To be so close but yet so far, it was irritating beyond measure.

"It's a blessing and a curse," Vren murmured softly, his gaze mostly locked on the table as it was clear he was seeing something else. "I have a face to put to the sense of nausea I feel, I have memories that to remind me of him just at the sight of something similar to my past, a feeling of a home before this." The more he spoke, it was obvious the blessing had worn off for the padawan. His signature fluctuated, clearly torn on this subject. Vren then lifted his eyes back to Alex as they locked gazes, his face deadpan as was his tone, "You have any idea what it's like to look in the mirror and see your possibly dead brother that you left behind stare back at you?"

When his species had siblings, they were completely identical appearance-wise, as the only way to tell them apart was through their little ticks and personality. It left a vivid reminder, to say the least. Vren shook his head slightly before directing his hard gaze to a shelf, "Trust that you shouldn't envy me." When it had been a blessing, it hadn't been savored enough by him.

Uncontrollably, he peeled his hand away from his bicep to glance at the tattoo of the broken key on his wrist. It only lasted for a few seconds before he tucked his whole hand underneath his arm.


She questioned if the knowledge would give him the strength to find his brother and he sat up while placing his elbows on the table, not angrily but with energy, "I don't need the strength, I could go through Hel and back to get my brother." Vren's golden orbs burned ferociously, the amount of belief in his own word highly evident. Then his brightened gaze shone on the books on the table, "I just need a key to get through the damn front gate..." The words came out almost defeated as he sat back in his chair, exhaling softly as he thought to himself. It wasn't about strength in his mind, he just required the resources necessary to pull it off safely.

Alex offered to help him but only if he asked for it. The possibility of him asking her straight up to help find his brother was out of the question and he knew it. At first, Vren was stumped about how to ask her for anything but this opportunity was most likely rare and he didn't want to squander it. The Echani arrived at a conclusion as he figured it would be best to address the root of his difficulties but was slightly embarrassed, "The force wasn't something I was fond of or used much when I was younger. Can you help me improve my connection with it?"

@Valen Pelora
 
Last edited:

Alexandria Voran

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Former Grandmaster

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Valen Pelora
Joined
Nov 30, 2020
Messages
792
Reaction score
641


“Ah.” A sad smile briefly crossed her face. “Not that exact feeling but one quite similar.” Alex believed in being open. She did not hide from her students. No, she learned from her past and so could they. “I see the faces of Jedi we’ve lost. Men and women, I called my brothers and sisters. My family.” Another small smile. “I see them looking back at me.” Alex could feel the storm of conflict with Vren. What they asked of these young Jedi was incredibly difficult. “Knowing our families is not a curse, despite the pain it may bring now…because they shaped who we are and what we may yet do.” Alex leaned forward slightly again. “That connection makes us better Jedi.” The Grandmaster knew pain. All the Jedi did. War took a toll on each of them, and lives were lost no matter who carefully they planned. Sadly, this was truth with which they all lived.

“I can’t make it hurt less but I can be here if you need me.” Vren’s second request was much easier. Alex’s connection with the Force was nearly unmatched in the galaxy. Andruil was the only one she’d ever encountered with similar strength. This she could help with. “Each Jedi’s bond with the Force is unique.” She dipped lightly into the Force. The Light welcoming her as it always did. “What have you learned in your training so far?” At her direction, the Padawans were taught carefully. Rushing their education could lead to disastrous results. She would not train a generation of child soldiers simply because they were at war. Alex still would not cross some lines. She remembered the failures of the Order’s past.

“There are many paths to greater understanding of the Force. We just have to find the right one for you.” Alex cocked one eyebrow at him and leaned back in her chair. “It would help, Vren, if you told me more about you.” They could not find that path if she was groping blindly in the dark. She had a suspicion she knew what drove the young Jedi but she needed to hear it from him.

@Orbit
 

Vren Mallick

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Padawan

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Orbit
Joined
Nov 18, 2021
Messages
76
Reaction score
20
It wasn't the exact feeling and in Vren's mind, it meant she fully didn't understand where he was coming from, especially with his face exactly as his own brother's. But, the padawan still kept an open mind and tried to understand, offering her at least that courtesy while she sat in the library and spoke with him instead of punishing him for his little transgressions.

The pain would be a constant reminder for the Echani, his very skin a piece of himself he couldn't shave away or remove if he wanted to. It would have to be something he eventually accepted but at the moment, the sensation made him feel like he was mired in quicksand and sinking.

Upon his request for help, Alex told him that each bond was unique to the user. Even then, despite his neglect for the ability, the Grandmaster would be able to feel the force within him flowing heavily, his connection to it strong but with a dormant pulse, as if it was just waiting for the two to correctly mesh with each other when he was ready. At the questioning of his training, a shrug of the shoulders was given as a response first, "The Jedi Code, philosophy, force-techniques, survival training." Vren didn't know exactly how to answer the question and listed everything so far.

The Echani listened intently, loosening up with each word as Alex made progress before she mentioned his real name. It made Vren stand up immediately, his chair scraping back as he shook his head and raised one hand to wave her off, "Don't call me that. You and everyone else call me V, that's it." His words were made out of steel and enforced the idea that it wasn't a joke. Whatever cracks that had been formed were shored quickly once she used his name.

His name was a door, one that was being repeatedly opened by people that had no clue what it led to. It seemed there hadn't been a change in the dossier yet and the young Echani was committed to amending the damn thing in due time. Vren was about ready to bolt the thing shut.

Vren stormed away from the table, separating himself like he did last time with the Knight. Instead of exploring the first level, the force built up in his legs once more as he launched himself onto the second floor. Unlike last time, the Echani didn't explore through the aisles but walked until he found a view that overlooked the entirety of the library. His arms would rest against some stone railing as he held his hands over the edge and situated himself, his fingers interwoven with each other as he gazed outward in a hard line.

If the Grandmaster decided to leave him be, then he wouldn't stop her as he would wallow in his spot. If she did decide to join him, the padawan would be deathly silent as she approached. Vren wouldn't move an inch but also wouldn't remove his gaze from whatever he stared at. If Alex didn't speak, the silence would continue on for a few minutes before finally, he broke it, "Who was the closest one you lost?" Maybe unfairly but in the Echani's mind, if he was to give something, she had to too.

@Valen Pelora

 
Last edited:

Alexandria Voran

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Former Grandmaster

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Valen Pelora
Joined
Nov 30, 2020
Messages
792
Reaction score
641


Ah. Something she did not understand. The pain in V was bright and his walls slammed shut. Emotional barriers springing up in her way. Why? A piece of V’s life Alex could not yet comprehend. Her skills were immense but even she could not see the past. The anger felt fresh. Hmmm. Perhaps she should have watched his mind more closely…no. That would not have been right path. Learning who a person truly was took more than reading their thoughts and sensing their feelings. V would come to learn the Grandmaster was far from perfect.

Alex stayed still while the young Jedi stormed off. She gave him a few moments alone before moving into the center of the atrium. With grace that spoke to her command in the Force, Alex slightly jumped to the second floor. She landed a few feet away in utter silence. Her robes barely shuffling. She came to stand next to the Padawan, waiting a few more moments before speaking. When she did, her voice was soft in the silence of the library. “I was away from the Order for many years...still a Jedi but I preferred the solitude of the Outer Rim to the Temples.” It felt so long ago. “When the war began to turn, I came back, and I met Master Maxims Tionson for the first time.” Her gaze slid over to V. He was young.

“I had forgotten what it meant to have a family. I was so content with being alone. He taught me how to be a Jedi again. How to trust and let my walls down." She paused, letting the silence fill. "Max was a good Jedi but a great man…and he reminded me how to love.” Alex’s voice was distant for a moment. “I don’t know if he fully ever understood what he meant to me...the last time I ever saw him was stopping assassins on New Alderaan.” Even softer her voice became. “He held my hand as we walked home.” The Grandmaster felt that pain as fresh as ever. “The next week he was gone. Murdered by Stolas on Denon. I had stayed at the Temple when he left for a diplomatic mission…a regret I will live with the rest of my life.” Alex pushed away from the railing. “So no, I don’t know your pain but I have my own, V.”

@Orbit

 

Vren Mallick

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Padawan

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Orbit
Joined
Nov 18, 2021
Messages
76
Reaction score
20
It wasn't long before the Grandmaster had jumped onto the second level and beside him. Vren wasn't surprised, he doubted she would have left him completely alone after being caught in the restricted section. She joined him at the railing before actually answering his question, that time surprising him as he wasn't expecting an answer to be so honest.

While she spoke, the Echani's gaze remained locked forward for the first few moments before eventually, his goldens flicked around the room as his mind wrestled with her words. He couldn't feel the weight behind them, just because of what he was, but he understood their definition and meaning. It was clear how deep his death affected her and when she told him by that next week he was gone for her, Vren couldn't help but lower his gaze toward his hands, understanding the feeling of something suddenly ripped away.

Regret, it was a wretched monster that plagued them both and many others. It knew how to sink its claws into someone and drag them into the deep end if they let it. When she finished speaking, he glanced at her for a moment before returning his attention back to his hands, murmuring softly, "I'm sorry for your loss." The words were truthful as he could make them.

Vren remained silent for a handful of moments before he broke it once more, "My brother's name was Kairos." She had answered his question, it was time for the sentiment to be reciprocated. It was the first he had spoken to anyone in the Order about his home-life and once the words were rolling, they were hard to stop. "When we were younger, we always wanted to train but the best equipment we could get was practically wooden sticks." Memories of their great battles drew to his mind and made him smirk.

"After eventually getting sick of that, we found a little dojo near our house. That's where I learned to lock-pick. I would get us inside and we'd practice with staffs or whatever else they had hanging on the walls. Whenever we finished, we always put everything back and even cleaned the place better than it was when we arrived. The owners somehow found out because they started to leave a key for us." Vren exhaled after, his gaze becoming distant as he recalled what happened that one night, "Certain point, when tensions between Thyrsians and the Echani were at a boiling point, we visited the dojo like normal." Alex would be able to see the predicament with his hair silver but eyes a ferocious gold if she knew anything about his culture. "We were in the locker room. Somehow they caught word of us and we were able to hear them checking each room before ours." The padawan wasn't specific about who but was painting the general picture.

"We were stuck with one way out that led to them. I was smaller back then, so instead of having us both taken or worse, my brother shoved me into one of the lockers. The last thing he told me was, 'Stay quiet', before he locked it." Vren shook his head before chuckling softly but void of humor, "I could barely see a damn thing but I knew he put up a hell of a fight." The only viewing port had been the little slits in the locker door. The Echani could still remember the whole thing shaking from multiple collisions. The blood that splattered lightly on his face.

Vren was young but he had seen and gone through things that matured him in some aspects, some of his experiences ones that a child should never witness. "When it was all done, I couldn't get out and almost broke my hand punching the door so much. That's when I used the force and got free."

The Echani then brought his gaze fully over to Alex, "The only evidence was a pool of blood and a broken key. One I assume he did so that they couldn't get to me." His words weren't filled with pain or with rage but just barren, as if he had replayed the scene so many times in his head it no longer had an effect. "And that's why I need to find him." The truth had been revealed but he had no idea how his audience would perceive it. However, it felt good to finally open up about it, the pressure that had been built up in his chest eased somewhat.

@Valen Pelora
 
Last edited:

Alexandria Voran

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Former Grandmaster

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Valen Pelora
Joined
Nov 30, 2020
Messages
792
Reaction score
641


“Thank you.” The word hung for a moment and then…she listened. Slowly, Alex began to understand the young man standing before her. The ebb and flow of his presence in the Force mingling with his words. He was young but he had suffered the life of one much older. The Grandmaster had made a terrible miscalculation. V was not a mischievous Padawan seeking to boost past his classmates. He was a man wounded by loss who wanted nothing more in the galaxy then to find to brother who had given him this chance at life. She sensed he had rarely told this story but the tone in his voice revealed a heartbreaking truth. He relived that day over and over in his mind. He regretted being stuck in that locker unable to help. This…this she understood.

Alex did not speak for some time when V finished. She let the silence deepen as she turned the words over in her mind. For a moment, the Grandmaster and the Padawan, decades apart in age, an ocean different in skill, sat in shared sorrow for those they lost. The differenced was, V had a chance to find what was missing. A chance she had never gotten with Max. Alex’s resolved hardened. Her eyes setting in fierce determination. “Your brother was extremely brave.” She flicked her gaze to him. “I would be honored to know him.” Alex ran a hand through her hair and pushed off the railing.

“V…I was wrong.” The truth in her voice was rang clear. “If I had even the smallest chance to save Max, I would stop at nothing to bring him back.” Her head tipped towards the heavens. The mysteries of finding him in the Force still escaped her. “I did not understand…but I think I do now.” She searched for the right path in the Light. “You have suffered in a way few can imagine, and I would turn back time to save you and your brother if I could…but I can’t.” Sadness undercut her words. “But we can do something now. Something I couldn’t do for Max.” There was no saving Master Tionson. “These dusty old books won’t help you find him or make you ready for that journey.” The path was becoming clearer. “I will.” Alex had not taken a Padawan in some time. Not since Maiko. She feared what her life might subject her students to. “You do not have to say yes, but I will train you so that we can find what you’ve lost and face that challenge together. You don’t have to walk this path alone any longer.” The Force rang in Alex’s head. She had misjudged V but slowly he began to show her who he was.

@Orbit

 

Vren Mallick

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Padawan

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Orbit
Joined
Nov 18, 2021
Messages
76
Reaction score
20
Once he was finished, his gaze absentmindedly stared out toward the atrium, the intricate designs of the architecture drawing his attention while he thought to himself. There was silence once more but this time, it held a tone of understanding between them, both approaching each other in a new light as the tension from before had been completely removed.

When she brought up his brother, it didn't bring his gaze to her but she would be able to see something twinkle in his eye. "Yeah..." It was the only word Vren murmured. The way he said it made it seem that he could take about his sibling for hours if he wanted, about how he had looked up to him from the moment he had basically been born. But that path was raw and untrodden and he wasn't ready to divulge more.

Alex continued on and at first, her words were kind but they were just words until she offered something tangible. At the possibility of training him, his gaze whipped over to her, his entire body standing erect as he pushed away from the railing. "Really?" The excitement and hope were almost palpable as if the cloud that hung over the padawan broke apart slightly and allowed him to finally see some light. It was the chance that Vren needed in order to make sure that his plan could actually work. Alex was incredibly powerful and her insight into the force was invaluable.

"Grandmaster... Thank you." The Echani gave her a slight bow, not knowing if a Grandmaster taking on a padawan was rare but still perceiving it as an honor. Alex would be able to feel the elation that swelled through him. Despite all that, he still hadn't agreed right away as he slowly leaned against the railing once more, resting one arm on top of it. Vren's gaze flicked multiple directions, a myriad of questions coming to his mind as he built up the courage to ask her.

Once he found his mettle, he asked, "You are still the Grandmaster though. Will you be able to do this?" While Vren was honored, he wanted to actually be trained. With the state the galaxy was in and the Order, there would be a lot of people and situations that demanded her time and he wanted to make sure they wouldn't be put above him for his entirety of the training if he accepted.

Vren's gaze locked on her's, despite whatever her answer was, he spoke again, this time a little uneasiness in his voice, "I met someone a long time ago. To make things short, I felt what she felt, rage, hate, desperation, most likely a Sith. It felt like she was in a similar position to me in some way." Vren could never forget the woman as his body carried multiple scars that were forever permanent. The one image he could also never forget though was an image of a male teen, one that appeared similar to her. There was a connection between the two that he could faintly construe as his own between him and his brother. "Am I able to become like that if I go down this path?" A taste was all he needed to know he didn't want to become that. It had plagued his mind ever since that night had happened.

@Valen Pelora
 

Alexandria Voran

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Former Grandmaster

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Valen Pelora
Joined
Nov 30, 2020
Messages
792
Reaction score
641


Elations rushed over Alex. The Force hummed from V as he stepped back and bowed. His joy intermingled with a small undercurrent of hesitation. Alex laughed lightly as she took in her newest student. She could practically see the questions forming in his mind. “Don’t thank me yet.” Her eyes shifted back to the atrium. “I push my students and I will test your limits.” Her voice was not harsh. It was just the truth. She protected all of her Padawans, but you could not grow in comfort. The path of the Jedi was not easy, and they needed to learn to survive it.

Slowly, Alex reached into the Force again. “You know they don’t keep me chained to Yavin?” A small smile ran over her face. “The Council must lead by example. That same applies to me. Our responsibilities will take us across the galaxy, and you will learn as we go.” She backed away from the railing and held up one finger. “But there are no special privileges. You will be treated as all other Padawans.” She knew taking V as her student would expose him to greater danger, but she felt he could handle it. That was the path the Force wished for them. She would keep him safe, and he would grow to me the Jedi she saw within.

The mention of the Sith caught her attention. “There are no easy answers. The Force has both Light and Dark. We are beings of the Force and so both are always within our reach…and there may be times that Darkness calls to you.” She stepped towards the railing again. “And we will face that challenge together. I will teach you to feel without letting that poison take you. We can accept our pain, our desperation, our anger while still walking in the Light…so no…you will not become like her.” Alex had faced those challenges head on. Above Byblos she had sought Stolas with a singular hate. Anger had driven her to invade Asminys mind. She could show V the right path.

@Orbit
 

Vren Mallick

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Padawan

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Orbit
Joined
Nov 18, 2021
Messages
76
Reaction score
20
Thankfully, Alex didn't receive his question harshly and pointed out that her position wouldn't be a hindrance to his training. At the mention that there wouldn't be any special privileges afforded to him, an actual smile lit up his face, "I wouldn't expect anything less." It was evident that the Echani sought the challenge wholeheartedly, knowing full well that if he took the easy path, it wouldn't better him or help his brother in any way. There would have to be sacrifice on Vren's front but it would be nothing compared to what Kairos had given up.

When it came to his second question and truthfully told him that it could be a possibility, Vren realized he would have to remain vigilant of his own control. It was always easy to believe that you were in control until the galaxy had a funny way of throwing a wrench in that plan and proving you wrong. It was comforting that if he did draw to it or vice versa, he wouldn't be alone and would be able to correct course with Alex before it was too late.

While Alex assured him that he wouldn't become like the woman from long ago, Vren still kept it tucked in the back of his mind that he would have to remain true to his path despite temptations, even with the observance of the Grandmaster. The ability to feel has been something that vacated the young padawan for months and he was eager to be able to return back to what he was used to.

But after hearing everything, Vren pushed off the railing and faced toward Alex. "Then..." The padawan would bring both his hands together before bowing once more, this time slightly deeper, "I gratefully and humbly accept your offer to become your student, Grandmaster." There was a light at the end of a tunnel, the Echani able to see a small shaft of it and letting him know he was on the right trail.

When he straightened his posture, the rigidness evaporated from him as his hands dropped as well, returning to his young ways after finishing the pseudo ceremony. Despite it being in the dead of night, eagerness played at Vren's voice as he spoke, "Well, what should I do first? I'm ready to begin anytime I can." It was as if he had been rejuvenated and could run for miles if she deemed it necessary right then and there.

@Valen Pelora
 

Alexandria Voran

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Former Grandmaster

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Valen Pelora
Joined
Nov 30, 2020
Messages
792
Reaction score
641


The future remained cloudy but every so often, a small shimmer of the path became clear. Alex could see that shimmer shinning brightly before them. They were meant to walk this path together. V was the student she was meant to find. The young Padawan seemed to share that sentiment. She could practically see the tension melting from his body. “Good.” Alex was tired but oddly she shared V’s excitement. “It is still the middle of the night.” She laughed softly. “I’m staying up, but you will need your rest.” Her voice brooked no argument.

“The Temple is home, and it is safe. You know better than most that the galaxy is not.” Alex’s eyes swept around the room. This was home…but not for long. “There is very little I can teach you within these walls.” The smile on her face grew slightly wider. “Get some rest and pack your traveling bag. We are leaving first thing in the morning.” She gestured for V to get going.

“Pack light. I don’t bring an entourage and we each carry our own bags.”
Alex cocked her head to the side for a moment. “And you never know where we will end up.” She folded her arms across her chest. The path becoming firmer beneath her feet. “I expect you well rested and not a minuet late.” She could remember her days as a Padawan. Excitement had often gotten the better of her sleeping habits. Now it was duty that stole her sleep. What she wouldn’t give for the opposite. “This journey will change both of us for the better. I can feel it.” A small bloom of hope sprung to life in her chest. It had been so long since she felt that spark. It was easy to forget the future when she was so focused on the present. Teaching was a reminder of that future.

@Orbit

 

Vren Mallick

Character
Jedi Order
Rank
Jedi Padawan

Character Profile
Link
OOC
Orbit
Joined
Nov 18, 2021
Messages
76
Reaction score
20
When Alex pointed it out, it seemed to dawn on Vren that it was still in the middle of the night. Being caught up in the prospect of being her student, it was forgotten she had first come there to discover who was stealing books from the library. At the mention of her staying up still, his mouth opened to counter that he could too but she quickly told him to get his rest and he shut it to not press his luck.

Vren knew better than most what type of dangers the galaxy held, about how it was cold, calculating, and able to chew someone up and spit them out with no care. With a nod after her gesture, he backed up a couple of steps, "Yes, Master. Alright, I'm going. I guess I'll see you here at dawn?" Before she could even answer his question, Vren would place one hand on the railing before vaulting over it and dropping to the first floor. With the help of the force, he landed softly and barely had any impediment in his step as he made his way to the door, his excitement not letting him halt for a moment.

Finally, it felt like tangible progress was being made. There was an etched-out path for him that he wasn't finding along the way but one that was already there and presented to him, structured and efficient. The Echani wouldn't rush out of the room but stepped out quickly as he lightly slapped his knuckles against his opposite palm.

---
In his haste to leave in order to get sleep and pack, Vren realized that he hadn't actually asked where he was supposed to meet Alex. Because of that, he just decided to fall back on what he said that night and would meet her at the library at dawn. The Echani would be dressed in his typical plain outfit with his jacket as he wasn't the type to really wear the robes in the first place. A bag would be slung across his back with a single strap, it almost packed to the brim with an assortment of items as there hadn't been any specification about where they were headed.

Vren just took his place by the door and leaned back against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest with one of his feet hiked up and pressed against the wall as well. The Echani was actually quite patient and while he waited, he would simply just wonder what his first lesson would be. His progress was already slightly behind and the reason why he snuck into the library in the first place, making him curious what his Master would choose.
 
Top