The Aspiring Newcomer

[Matt]

'Well I would hope so! We all must adapt from our beginning when we first come to the order. Even the youngest padawans have certain amounts of baggage but you just have enough to fill a star destroyer!''

He laughed to himself as he paused for a moment, he wouldn't ask Nier how his teachings had saved him, not because he wasn't interested but he didn't want to extract the information by force but rather let it flow freely from his padawans mouth.

''Some would say we Jedi show to much mercy to others, indeed the sith teachings say that only the strong survive but that is not true. The sith believe that just because someone is not strong in a martial sense means they are weak, but is a scientist who creates a cure to a disease weak? Is a author who writes a great book weak? Is a mother who looks after her children weak? We jedi are not guardians of the weak like the sith believe, we are guardians of civilization. Do you understand my point or am I talking complete waffle again!''

 

[Tzeentch]

Relaxing completely, Nier listened to his Master's rather passionate speech, "No, I understand what you are saying, Master; simply because one lends aid to or provides entertainment to others, does not mean that person is weak by any means. At least, that is how I perceived what you had just said."

Seating himself just opposite to the Knight, Nier also raised a brow as he set two large, covered objects down to the side, "Also, 'waffle?' What in the name of the Maker is that?"

 

[Matt]

Christian nodded smiling at his padawan's words. It always made things easier if a young and very passionate padawan understood the basics first.

''Waffle is talking complete and utter rubbish my dear boy, something I have a habit of doing sadly and is my greatest flaw''

Christian put a theatrical hand against his head before laughing, he brought out of his pocket a single stone no bigger then a birds egg and put it on the floor between the pair of them.

''Now, look at this little beauty before me. This is the bane of every padawan's existence for a short period of time, this tiny thing has more ill feeling towards it then any other inanimate object in the galaxy and it is now your new training partner! I would like you to pick this up off the ground, and move it onto the table there but you are not to use your hands, feet or any other part of your body''

 

[Tzeentch]

Brow still raised, Nier stared at both the object and Christian before his eyes widened slightly, "Ah, the Force..." he then let a sheepish expression take hold, "I seem to have forgotten to tell you that a large majority of both Branch Licht and Schatten are Force-Sensitive, so they both teach basic Telekinesis..." That was partially true; Branch Licht taught basic Telekinesis to the youth, while Branch Schatten taught that and more, being the mentally superior and better adapted and skilled in the Force.

Without further delay, the young man raised his left palm, face-up, slightly as he eyed the stone. At first, nothing happened, but after about a dozen seconds of concentration, the stone began to rise off the ground shakily, and began its course towards the table, dipping low and flying high along the way. Eventually, after a minute or two of 'heavy turbulence', the pesky object was above the piece of furniture, and Nier allowed it to drop about a foot above the table.

Letting out a long sigh, Nier turned his eyes to Christian, "Not exactly the best, now is it?" The Padawan chuckled somewhat nervously, forgoing the usual respect for the brief instant.

 

[Matt]

''You are full of surprises it seems! Now when you create your lightsaber it needs to be done in a weightless environment....Well technically I am lying with that but that's how I want you to do it because I'm a horrible horrible rotter!''

Christian laughed as he brought out several more of the egg sized stones out of his pocket, there were 5 in total with slight variations in size and he placed them all in a long line.

''Now, when building a lightsaber it requires incredibly control and strength of mind. The lightsaber must be created with pin point accuracy and to do this you must have complete control over the force. The smallest possible problem can cause the lightsaber to be corrupted and completely rubbish! So we will take small steps before jumping into the deep end my friend.''

Christian indicated he wanted his padawan to try on numerous stones as he brought out his lightsaber and twisted the end out, he began to dismantle his saber before Nier keeping the corner of his eye on his padawan's progress.

 

[Tzeentch]

"Grrk.." Nier eyed the five stones with great disdain; even during his training in the use of the Force back on Dantooine he was far from the best when handling it. Regardless, he took several deep breaths to calm himself to the best of his ability. Bringing up the methods that his tutors in the past used and taught, Nier took a seat near the stones and closed his eyes, an attempt to close off the outside world besides the stones.

Breathing slowly, he did not notice the first stone rise without much trouble. It was soon followed by a second, albeit shakily. Just when the third was about to leave the ground, the second stone, the largest of the five, dropped out of the air and landed dead center on the Padawan's head, causing the first and third stones to drop to the ground.

". . ." Nier kept his eyes sealed, but one could easily tell that he wasn't exactly happy with what just occurred, if the numerous pulsating veins on his head were of any indication. Taking the stone from atop his head after a few minutes of calming himself, he placed it and the others back where they began, he attempted to do the process again, although this time it was slightly better.

Only slightly.

 

[Matt]

Christian's bottom lip wobbled almost uncontrollably trying not to disturb his padawans control of the force to the extent he had to put his hand in his mouth. As the stones were on the floor again he couldn't help but let out a rather loud bark of laughter before he controlled himself again but he couldn't wipe the grin of his face.

''Your control needs work but I'm really clutching at straws, you have the force with you and do not need moments of fear or excitement to use it. The force is similar to flying a speeder, once you learn it you never forget but you must think remember what it is that runs through your head that allows you to control the force and concentrate on that''

Christian's lightsaber was fully dismantled on the floor in the positions that it was assembled, first item to the last....From hilt to lens.

''Now, remember what it is that lets you control the force and concentrate on my saber.....Now...Bring it all together and put my saber back together''

 

[Tzeentch]

Nier could have sworn that he was a step from death, as the vein of his temple seemed as if it was going to burst at the uttered word 'head.' Taking several minutes to calm his nerves (and to resist reaching out at his Master's neck), he eyed the contraption that would serve as the symbol and weapon of every Jedi of the Order. Closing his eyes to concentrate, the Padawan thought of his desire to seek answers as his reason to control the Force, not taking note of the amazingly steady rise of each individual part as minutes crawled by.

By the time the mark hit fifteen minutes, every part of Christian's Lightsaber was slowly floating around the unknowing Nier. That is, until he felt his arm pulsate.

Eyes widening to their limits, the Padawan lost all of his concentration, and with a disturbance in the Force around him, send every single piece of the Lightsaber screaming towards random directions in the room, turning them into projectile weapons. An example of of this would be the hilt, which flew mere centimeters from Christian's head and into the wall behind him.

Taking note of what just happened, the young man faced Christian fully and got on his knees and put his forehead to the ground, "I am sorry, Master..." He could not say anything else to justify what had just occurred, nor would he attempt to forge an excuse.

 

[Matt]

Christian stood up quickly and scooped up the bits and pieces that had been scattered on the ground. The lens was completely smashed and the hilt had a huge dent in it...

''Well, the good news is you showed that you have potential with the force, a lightsaber is delicate but tough. So we just need to tap into that in the future but...Well I wanted to build a new lightsaber anyway'''

Christian moved forward and put his arms under Nier's armpits and brought him up to his full height and brushed him down.

''Now, as a means of making me feel better I think we should go off world to continue your training and on the way I can build myself a new lightsaber and you can take a look at the process''

 

[Tzeentch]

Nier was, to say the least, shocked when Christian came over and lifted him up and replied that he was displaying no anger at the fact that his Lightsaber was utterly destroyed.

To say that he was stupefied would be an understatement, but it seemed that this Jedi was an incredibly laid back one, "O-offworld?" Nier looked out one of the chamber's windows, laying his eyes on the planet below the Will of the Force, ". . . We're already offworld..." Although, watching someone who already possessed the experience in the creation of a Lightsaber would be a vital opportunity, and by no means one to miss.

 

[Matt]

Christian laughed out loud as he patted Nier on the back as he to gazed out the window, what he was about to say was his way of putting his foot down but the wording was important. He never wanted to come across as a dictator of a master but sometimes a chap just had to get across his view.

''Yes, very good but you know what I meant you rouge you! I want to go to Dantooine as it seems to be a very important part of the make up of who you are and we can hardly ignore it can we Nier, no I think going to Dantooine will be a wonderful journey of self discovery for you and may help tap into that force potential I can feel bouncing out of you''

 

[Tzeentch]

The small smile that Nier bore was wiped completely off of his face as Christian mentioned Dantooine. Face devoid of everything, he turned towards the Knight as he continued speaking of his Homeworld, "As I have said before, I am in self-exile, and I highly doubt we will find anything of value there."

"However, should you order it, I shall comply without resistance," he bowed his head low.

Although he did not mention this before, both Branches of the Scion Main Family had a similar custom and rule; Absolute Authority; something that is practically embedded into the minds of every youth from the moment they were born. The weak will follow the strong, the student will follow the wise, the young will follow the old, and the aspired ones will follow the leaders.

This way, there was a solid and nigh unshakable order of hierarchy, allowing those of higher rank to order those lower than them to do anything they wished without fear of hostility from those ordered.

Even Nier was taught this, as was every single infant of either Branch. It did not matter if he was not among his own people; those with higher status than he would have Absolute Authority over him.

 

[Matt]

''I won't order it, no. I will however strongly advise it and tell you that I am going to Dantooine and I wish e broken you to come with me. Plus you owe me a favour remember''

He grinned as he pointed with his head towards the broken pieces of his lightsaber. He knew that Nier didn't want to go to Dantooine but the more he thought about it the more he knew it was the right thing to do.

 

[Tzeentch]

A deep sigh rose from the bowing Padawan, "I'd like to think that I have the chance to say 'no,' but I feel that would not get me anywhere. . ." Rising his head, Nier looked at the Knight with a tired expression, one that should not be on the face of such a young individual, "However, you may be correct that we may find something on Dantooine, so I must accept."

As much as he did not wish to return to Dantooine so soon after leaving it, Christian was his superior, and there was the remote chance that they'd find something, however unlikely. He also ignored the topic of the Lightsaber; that was something he was not proud of at all.