The First Steps

[Lycanthorph]

The quiet hum of the ship`s engines could be barely heard amongst the halls of the Light of the Force, the Star Destroyer converted into a mobile Jedi Temple, where many Jedi come for training, meditation, lightsaber construction and modification or simply to enjoy the company of other Jedi. Xan let out a sigh of relief as he stepped onto the ship, taking a moment to finally let his mind be at ease, for now he is amongst friends. Once again, he had to spend almost an hour being searched and questioned. Sadly, these are the precautions the Jedi must now take if they wish to ensure the security and safety of this temple and it`s occupants. Nevertheless, it was a welcoming change to Xan, not having to constantly keep an eye on his surroundings and others around them, hoping that one wouldn`t draw a vibroblade, a blaster ... or a lightsaber to end his life.

This time, however, he is here for something more important that mere socializing with other Jedi. He has arrived several times to the Light of the Force to learn new skills and techniques, but this time ... it was his turn to impart knowledge, to teach. That is why he has arrived here, searching for a specific Padawan. He almost felt pulled here by an invisible force, guiding him here. He knew that it was the Force guiding him, but he sometimes has difficulties interpreting it`s will.

The brief time it took the transport ship he was travelling on to arrive at the Light of the Force provided him with some time to do some brief research on this particular Padawan, Ashley Narris, his potential Padawan learner. He read through her file ( filled with limited data ) and observed her photo, but kept his attention on the most basic data. A young teenaged human woman, that much information was enough for now. Still, he was very curious about this particular Padawan and would prefer if she could tell him certain details about her herself.

After settling in, he walked around the ship, looking for a spacious area or room, something that would provide relaxation and security at the same time. Something with a view, perhaps. Luckily for him, he was able to find a large observatory with quite a view of the stars and, of course, of the planet Anoth which the Star Destroyer orbits. There, he takes a seat and crosses his legs as he stares out into the void of space. He thinks of the best way to contact the Padawan he wishes to speak to, but for a moment he is unsure. He then remembers of the way his own Master contacted him, the same way her Master contacted her. He smiled as he was about to steal a page from his Master`s book, much like she did from hers. He closed his eye and entered a meditative state, letting the Force penetrate him and flow through him. Then, with the aid of the Force, he would reach out towards Ashley. A voice would enter Ashley`s mind during whichever task she was doing at the moment, a calming voice. " Padawan Narris, I request your presence in one of the ship`s observatories. Let the Force guide you. " After he was finished, he would resume meditating as he awaited the Padawan`s arrival.

 

[AshCloud]

Ashley's reaction to the voice in her head was.. less than subtle, a light gasp had the padawan next to her startled, but she brushed it off. Looking around, she remembered the feel of the invisible energy that travelled through every being in the universe. Ashley had no clue if the force was strong or weak in her, growing up on Nar Shaddaa, she had only recently felt the pulse of the galaxy, instead of the wretched exhaustion of Nal Hutta's moon. "Let the force guide me..." She closed her eyes, and breathed slowly, stretching out her awareness, the padawan's conversing or studying, the jedi commander's of great Starship giving orders to crew, the hum of the the enormous ion engines.

In a place so full of Force sensitive Jedi, finding any individual would be like finding a Krayt pearl in the Tatooine desert, but Ash followed her instincts, walked through the halls of the starship, and finally opened the door to the Observatory, "Hello, Master Jedi.." She inhaled, nervous, worried, "I believe you summoned me? I did as you ask, and have found my way here, is there s-something I can assist you with?" She gave a low bow, cautious of being too enthusiastic, or pessimistic.

 

[Lycanthorph]

Xan-Dar kept on meditating, occassionally opening his eye to observe the void of space and the planet the ship was orbiting, as he awaited for the Padawan to arrive. Meditation was useful to him not only to rest and focus, but to gain more control over his empathic ability. Some time later, he hears the observatory door open. He ceases his meditation as glances towards the doorway. There she was, Padawan Ashley Narris. He smiles and says : " Hello, Padawan Narris. " He then gestures to a spot near him, saying : " Please, sit. Or stand, whichever makes you comfortable. "

After the Padawan would approach and sit or stand nearby, Xan would speak : " I am indeed the one who summoned you, Padawan. I am Jedi Knight Xan-Dar Sulati, I have joined the Jedi Order more than ten years ago, before that I was a mechanic from Coruscant until certain events urged me to seek out the Jedi. " He paused, not wishing to bore the Padawan with too much detail or to delay the reason why he summoned her. " I`m sure that you are aware that one of many tasks of the Jedi is to learn new things. Another task is to teach, to pass down the knowledge that Jedi has learned from one to another. In short, it is the Jedi tradition for a Jedi Knight or a Jedi Master to take on a Padawan learner. That is why I have summoned you here. ... I would like to offer you my knowledge, Padawan Narris. If you accept, I will take you on as my Padawan and teach you everything I know, along with learning a thing or two myself in the process. "

He then looked at the young Padawan and smiled faintly as he awaited her response.

 

[AshCloud]

Ashley sat and returned the feint smile. "I'd very much appreciate that, Master." Normally, Ash was warry and even frightened around others, but the Jedi had made her feel welcome, and remineded her of her brother.

"Although, I might be a bit behind other padawans, I've only felt the force a short while, growing up where I did." She gripped her ankles with her hands, Nar Shaddaa was full of bad memories for her. "W-what are the first steps for training, if I can ask that?" She'd met Padawans with light sabers, training sabers, and even their own star fighters, "I assume the training varies from Jedi to Jedi?"

The mention of ten years in the Jedi Order was something she picked up on, wondering how many Padawans this Jedi had taught and would teach after her.

 

[Lycanthorph]

Xan`s smile broadened a bit as the Padawan accepted his offer. He looked for a moment at the view of the planet Anoth as he said : " I`m glad that you have accepted, Padawan Narris. " He then glanced towards Ashley, observing her earring, finding the red crystal at the end quite beautiful. His gaze, however, was drawn to her scars. In his youth, Xan found the appearance of scars awe-inspiring, mostly because warriors and men of honour bore them, a proof of their hardship and sacrifice. He then remembered that some scars are the result of a mistake like his own on the lower part of his left cheek and some ... are the result of a sad and even devastating event better left forgotten such as the one his dark blue bandanna mostly hides. Coming upon the realization that he has been staring for quite a bit now, he focuses his attention elsewhere, not wishing to make the Padawan uncomfortable.

Taking a moment to think about a proper answer to Ashley`s question, he once again looked out the window of the observatory. Few moments later, he looked back at Ashley and answered : " Well, the first steps usually include teaching the Padawan the basic principles of what it is to be a Jedi, but I`m sure you already have this knowledge. While, as you`ve assumed, training varies from Jedi to Jedi depending on their Master, all Jedi Padawans are taught how to properly defend themselves and others in need of their assistance, whether it`s a simple matter of a misunderstanding or something a bit more complicated and hands-on. ... To be honest, you are my first Padawan, so this should be a learning experience for the both of us. " Xan thought that it would be best if he was as honest as he could with Ashley. " When I stated that I have joined the Order over ten years ago, I didn`t mention that I wasn`t a completely active member of the Order during the last ten years. I did assist in Jedi-related affairs from time to time, but with the fall of the Galactic Alliance, not many of us had the chance of being an active member until recently, one of the reasons being the need for keeping a low profile. The other reason is that I was not able to be an active member at the same time while ... fulfilling my other profession. " Xan did not wish to speak of that ' other profession ' at this moment as it might be unsettling for Ashley.

" But, I digress. " He then looks at Ashley and with a half-smile asks : " Why don`t you tell me a bit about yourself, Ashley. Eh, do you mind if I call you ' Ashley ' ? " Xan then awaited the Padawan`s response while hoping that he did not offend her by using her first name.

 

[AshCloud]

Ashley shook her head, "I don't mind, I prefer it to be honest." On the subject of herself, she was nervous, but spoke up. "I was born on Nar Shaddaa, but I'm sure you knew that, I speak Basic as well as Huttese.." She coughed a little, "the scars are from one time where I was mugged.. I had food, which is worth more than credits to some.. They had a stun baton, which they used to slash my cheek." She pointed to the x on her face.

"My father ran a repair shop, and from that I can fix just about anything I need to." She coughed slightly, H-Have you ever been to Nar Shaddaa?"

 

[Lycanthorph]

Xan listened to Ashley with attention, cracking his neck as he moved his right hand under his chin and leaned his head onto it. He looked at her scars again as she explained how she got them. He frowned slightly, saying : " I`m sorry you`ve had to go through that. I have been to Nar Shaddaa once or twice running an 'errand', but only stayed for a short period of time. Had to stay on my guard most of the time and before I was able to leave, some shabuir tried to rob me. " Xan smirks as he continues : " Hopefully, a broken arm will teach him a lesson. "

Xan once again half-smiled as Ashley told him that her father ran a repair shop. He cocked his head, saying : " My father also ran a repair shop, mostly for speeders and spaceships, even performing modifications from time to time. " Xan then paused and contemplated on whether or not he should ask the question he`s about to ask, deciding to ask anyway few moments afterwards : " Where is your father now, Ashley ? "

 

[AshCloud]

Ashley sighed, "my Father.. Passed away before I left Nar Shaddaa. They said it was the smog in the air.. And that's part of the reason I left." She adjusted her earring, "this was my mothers, I had no clue what it was before I came here... And I know that red typically isn't the colour any Jedi use.." She looked down, a solemn expression glazed over her grey eyes."so I-I assume that my mother was a Sith, or at least had ties to them." Her head sank.

"I'm sorry," she wiped something out of her eyes, "I always thought that my mother left for a good reason... But I guess the Sith called her back to her real home." She cleared her voice, "ah, well, that's pretty much it for my family, except for my brother.." She looked at the Jedi across from her, "what about your family? Although I suppose the Jedi are like a family in itself."

 

[Lycanthorph]

Xan tilts his head down as Ashley tells him of her father`s face. Raising his head up again, he speaks : " I`m sorry to hear that, Ashley. I know it must have been difficult for you. " As he speaks, he senses sadness, Ashley`s sadness. It seems that he did not meditate enough to keep his ability under control. Brushing it off, he looked at Ashley`s red crystal earring as she adjusted it before she spoke of it, explaining that it was a gift from her mother ... along with voicing her assumption that her mother may have been a Sith or tied to them. Xan chuckled briefly, saying : " Although lightsaber colour does not necessarily define it`s wielder, I assume the Sith prefer red crystals because of what it represents ... such as anger, rage, hate . I was unable to ask a Sith about it since they usually try to cut me down or are too busy taunting me. " He smiled.

But his smile did not last as he noticed Ashley wiping something out of her eyes. He looked at her, saying : " Please, don`t be sorry. It`s alright. " . He then continued to listen as Ashley further explained her mother`s fate as well as her possible destination. She then said that she does not know of her brother`s fate. She then asked Xan about his own family. Xan paused and looked away, staring out into the void, appearing to be hesitant to speak about his family. He then looks back at Ashley and speaks : " My mother died when I was very young in an assassination attempt on my father. He was able to survive, but my mother didn`t. That`s when my father and I moved to Coruscant and he opened a mechanic shop there. I stayed there until I was sixteen, afterwards I was forced to leave. Soon after, the Sith launched an invasion and attacked Coruscant. I fled Coruscant with my father and we went home, to Mandalore. He died there six years later, in an assassination attempt on my life at the hands of a Sith assassin. Along with my father, five other family members died there. I survived ... but not without a cost. " He glanced at his right arm, closing his hand into a grip. He then opens his hand and brushes the hair on the right side of his face back. He then continues : " You are right, the Jedi are like a family in a way. The Force can bring us closer to each other and to others. " He pauses as he looks away and thinks of his old Master, smiling faintly.

He then looks back at Ashley and says : " So, you are unsure of your brother`s or your mother`s whereabouts ? "

 

[AshCloud]

Ashley nodded along, listening closely to what her new master was saying. The Force connected everyone and everything, even if most couldn't feel it. When she saw Xan smiling, it cheered her up, her family wasn't close, at least not anymore, but it made her happy to think about her brother. Her senses told her that Xan was thinking of someone he was once close to.

"My brother, Raiden, said he wanted to become a soldier... but it was strange, he never said which side he'd like to fight on." Ash looked a lot like her brother, though, he was several years older than the padawan. "I think," She smiled, "That he has a destiny that he must face alone.." She went on about her sibling, "The force around him was overpowering, even in Nar Shaddaa! Before learning about it, I thought the aura around him was just his nature." She sighed, the thought of her brother making her happy, "But I think he could be a great jedi, and if he is a soldier, maybe I'll meet him again someday."

Ashley's meek face lit up, and her eyes were now filled with an obvious determination. "I want to be like him, he always protected me when the street thugs were harassing me. He inspires me to protect those who are weaker than me, even..." She felt the blonde hair on her head lift up, and she could've sworn she felt her brother's presence. "Wait..." She looked around, trying to pinpoint the aura of the force. "I-I'm sorry, I shouldn't just ramble about that sort of stuff..." She cleared her throat, "but I think if we're going to be teaching each other, that I should at least admit my hopes out loud.." She closed her eyes, smiling.

 

[Lycanthorph]

Xan nodded and smiled faintly as he listened to Ashley talk about her brother. He always wondered what it was like, having siblings. He did have brothers and sisters on Mandalore, but they were not related to him ... even though in Mandalorian tradition it bears no difference.

He moves his right hand to his forehead as he brushes his hair back. Afterwards, he clears his throat as he speaks : " You speak very fondly of your brother, Ashley. It is obvious that you looked up to him. I`m ... I`m sorry that you`ve had to part ways with him. " He then tilts his head, thinking about what Ashley has said. Few moments later, he speaks : " While we may not know which side he chose to fight for or even if he was successful in joining the military, it seems unlikely that he would choose to join the Sith or a criminal cartel. After all, you did mention that he`d always protected you when you needed his help. However ... " He pauses, thinking whether or not would be a good idea to voice the thought that was going in his mind : ' The galaxy can be a harsh place. It can take a decent man fighting for good and twist him into a sadistic tyrant, a mere shadow of his former self. ' He thought of a young Jedi Knight who lived over 1,000 years ago, a man called Anakin Skywalker. He did not wish to upset the young Padawan, deciding to keep that thought to himself.

Xan then clears his throat once again before he speaks : " Well, your brother did seem like a good person to look up to and I think it`s good that you wish to follow his example. " He then chuckled briefly before he continued : " Perhaps he would make a good Jedi, his heart seems to be in the right place. After all, helping those in need of assistance and protecting those who cannot protect themselves is one of the main goals of the Jedi."

He then glanced over the observatory window, observing the void of space before turning back towards Ashley as he spoke : " Well, I don`t wish to waste any more of your time, Ashley. I`m sure you have other things to do. " He then gets up without assisting himself with his hands as he continued : " Your training begins tomorrow. Training room #4, at noon. Try not to be late. " He then winks and bows down to Ashley after she replies.

 

[AshCloud]

Ashley nodded along to what Xan was saying, happy to be told she held her brother in the right place. When asked to meet at noon tomorrow, Ash nodded, "yes sir, training room four." She stood up and stretched, her training saber clanking against her leg. Her enthusiasm marched with her out of the observatory deck.

She walked to her quarters, saying hello to the few friends she had made so far. Her mind traveled beyond the ship, to other worlds and far off places, after all, Jedi didn't simply sit on their ships and watch the galaxy go by. She could tell that her new Master had seen quite a bit of the galaxy, and she hoped to see just as much and more in her life, but she was certain that her training would push her limits both physically and mentally.

Ash held her earring in her hands as she laid down, wondering if her mother started on the same path, for the same reasons, and if the Lure of the Dark Side was what gave her a crystal so dark and red.