The Jedi Way- Returning to the Temple (Closed)

[Lyeric Ubbal Arathilion]

Lyeric closed his eyes, shortly after his Master had done so. It was clear after watching for a moment, that he was meant to learn through the 'do as I do' practice.

From underneath his heavy hood, the boy took to heart each and every word said in guidance. He would have a great start for a Padawan in the Force, as he had been accustomed to feeling over hearing/seeing/or touching; for all of those things were foreign to him, this young loner taking to the shadows covered in weighted materials over his ears and face always.

In darkness, behind closed lids, there was a throbbing center of energy; floating white flakes avoided focus, and his concentration began even silencing these things away. His body relaxed, sighing in calm honed feeling. As if to leave the constraints of his physical body, Lyeric could feel his conscious spreading out through the anatomical particles of reality's makeup.

 

[Kit]

"Good," Hector spoke slowly, so as not to break the boys concentration and focus, "now I want you to try and focus on me. See what you can learn about me through the force."

If the boy was as intuitive as Hector hoped, he would pick up on Hector's massive potentcy in the force, as well as his pride towards the young boy. Doubtlessly amongst other things, but these would be clearest to the boy, and hopefully not drowned out by the torrent of informatio that this technique thrust upon it's practicers.

 

[Lyeric Ubbal Arathilion]

As Lyeric began to lose himself in the expanding gravity in darkness, all had faded; yet in his Master's words came a reaction of light, humming to glowing life. Almost one by one, yet in a rapid sequential and random order, blue and orange hued shapes swarmed his senses. All formed with base colors, their opposites seemed to outline each bodily cut-out; though probably just a first time reaction to seeing such a different perspective. Throughout the background of the empty world, in Lyeric's sight, bodies glowing a peaceful light hue could now be understood as walking through the halls of the Temple. Yet as some passed directly in front of Lyerics view, they would disappear into a larger blur of light. Almost lost in the greater effects of all that he could see, it took Lyeric a moment to realize that this before him was his Master.

Yet as the overwhelming shine from his Master's aura plowed through Lyeric's senses, there was an effect of epilepsy in the boy's sight and understanding. All else had dissipated just as Hector had become more defined. He was no longer a blur of oriented light, now he pored out thoughts and feelings. It was stifling to the young Umbaran, though as he suffered through the new intensities he honed in a control. His closed lids, that once rapidly fluttered statically, now released the pressure to show exploring irises swimming in the curious sea of the Force. His heart rate had returned to just above normal, and Lyeric felt a curiosity overtake him as he tilted his head.

Almost seeing a playback of his entrance into the courtyard, in flashes, it all seemed coupled with a narration of understanding in Hector's thoughts and feelings with Lyeric's as well. It was distant yet all experiencing, in a third person vantage point, as Lyeric could hear his Master's words of pride being spoken within to himself. A sort of explanation of all his Master's feelings in alignment included all that had connection to the last hour or two. Whatever distant vision Hector had felt and filed away for a later moment's meditation was lined up for Lyeric to witness in confusion, and a new understanding of each and every one of Lyeric's earlier movements and attempts in the Force were self analyzed to see different and better ways of doing so.

It was an intense fluctuation of vibrating energy all coming off of Hector that translated into Lyeric's perspective, and he simply loved it!

 

[Kit]

((OOC: Apologies for taking so long to reply, traveling home from Uni, and then Christmas got in the way a bit!))

Hector laughed quietly. He remembered this moment of his own. It was like being hit in the face by a sledgehammer, disorientating and wholly unexpected. He had expected a trickle of information, a small brook, when really, it was like having a damn burst open to drop the whole of Mon Calamari on you.

But the kid wasn't screaming, and he was still in touch with the force, which meant Hector had been right. The kid was good. A prodigy, maybe.

"There is one more basic element to the force. An internal element. The other things I have taught you affect the world outside you, but this one affects only you. This is easily the most versatile, and complicated aspect of the force. It's full range of applications are so massively varied that there are many that only a few ever learn, let alone master."

Hector paused for a moment. Given that this power was hard to demonstrate properly at a simple level, he would need to come at this from a more obtuse angle.

"You need to open up yourself to the force. Similar to what you were doing just now, but not just your mind; every single speck of your being. I don't want you to listen to the force as you do this, you need to be focused on the physical world."

The very real danger of this application of the force was the aura of invincibility it gave it's users. With the force flowing through a Jedi fully, he would move, think and act faster. His senses would be keener, his actions more precise and he would react almost before he recognised a threat. This had killed more Jedi than anything else, believing themselves untouchable, and able to accomplish the impossible.

"You must always remember, you are but a man. The force allows us to act as gods, just remember that we are but men, always. Now, do as I have instructed. Allow the force to flow through you fully. Let it fill you entirely, and suffuse your entire being."

 

[Lyeric Ubbal Arathilion]

Changing his focus, Lyeric thought to shift towards the physical. As he did this, he could first feel the tree beside him. Moving from a flowing and rushing course to be followed, Lyeric's touch stemmed into the ground about his body. The reach of his mind no longer hovered in such an otherworldly manner, but not clung down with a gravity all its own.

Lyeric lost himself in the weight of it all. It spilled over like a falling rain that touched down upon the surfaces of his senses. All reeling in, as if to seep and join with his toes and fingers; the dirt and grass, and roots and bark, and leaves and walls, and corridors and pillars, all the way up to his consuming breath as the air sucked into his relaxing jaw and mouth. Lyeric felt all these within. His reach was no longer outstretched, but outstretching with a strength. His feet were in touch, even in control of the earth beneath him; as if he could not be moved should he wish it. His lungs were filled with the power to abound, or burst with the limits of his imagination. The boy felt as if to glow.

His sight even, behind closed lids, saw what could be heard as echos in visual existence; not in existence. Laughter bounces from the walls. Heads turn in conversation. Walls move in forward steps through halls. A corner turns, and a pad shatters; to crumble the avalanche against muscle and bone and collisions.

Just then, Lyeric's eyes shot open and his head snapped right. Through the opening which Lyeric entered the courtyard, laughter echos softly; nearing a conjuncture. Lyeric stands in disbelief, as two Padawans walk side by side. Another comes across the opposing direction holding two datapads, as one slips from the slanted grasp along his side. The holder looses grasp of his surroundings as he reaches to catch the falling pad, yet rams shoulders straight into one of the oncoming traffic; having bent down and snuck past his immediate where-with-all. The two make contact and the pad cracks against the floor, not to shatter as seen; almost an amplification of the crack along the pad's edge against such polished floors.

Lyeric's eyes fluttered.

 

[Kit]

Hector didn't respond to the boy for a while. He sat, and he thought. The boy technically knew everything he would ever really need to be a Jedi, apart from the sword. The one thing Hector could not, and would not, teach. As such, it was something of a moot point.

Finally, he spoke.

"Now, go from here. Practice, meditate and think on the code. Come back to me when you can utilize everything I have taught you at once. When you are ready to proceed."

Hector stood, and began to walk towards the door to the courtyard. He paused before leaving, and turning his head only slightly, spoke once again.

"You'll know where to find me, when you need to."

He walked out from the courtyard, and slipped off into the temple. He had plenty of faith in the boy. He knew he would pass this latest test.

((OOC: We're not done here, yet. But this is a sensible place for Lyeric to practice alone for a little bit. Just throw up a post or somesuch, and we'll get on with some more, after the break! :D ))

 

[Lyeric Ubbal Arathilion]

Lyeric nodded, keeping to himself in the moment. He still held a certain concentration as it would become evident to Hector that Lyeric seemed to linger in certain emotions in certain moments. It was not his strong suit to move on so quickly. And good enough, Hector had allowed him to continue on and practice for a time.

Folding into a sit, Lyeric would replace Hector with his back almost against the tree base. Closing his eyes, the Umbaran began a certain pattern of leveling outer to inner focus. He tried to fluctuate a sense of his surroundings in free flowing allowance to then use where that had gone and absorb that inwards to begin his own body's output. After some time he decided to add some complexities in mental workout, by lifting several of the plucked leaves from the ground to forma harmonious congregation above his head whilst continuing his fluctuating patterns of awareness and sense. Lyeric would spend several hours here, in complete effort to become absolutely confident in his skills as one could be in such a time frame. His brow sweat and others would pass to see the effort on his face as he willed himself through excersise, but he would pay them no mind. He was Padawan to the Force, and he would explore this new found connection to it that Hector had shown him.

 

[Kit]

As the sun rose a few days later, Lyeric would find himself drawn to the courtyard once again. An inexplicable tug, that would only grow stronger as time passed. When the boy heeded its call, he would find Hector once more. Sat, waiting, at the base of the ancient oak.

The force warrior was ever a patient man, but today was no ordinary day.

 

[Lyeric Ubbal Arathilion]

Standing at the carved slit in the wall of his quarters, Lyeric felt a familiar pull. It's nature called his feet to bring him out into the halls of the Temple, and then to realize its origin; or at least hypothesize. Lyeric would make hast. He believed he knew where he was meant to be, and so he would discover for himself.

Lyeric stretched his mind to its limits these past few days, in training of his Master's teachings. He applied all that he could imagine to the extents of his mind's reach in application at his age.

Lyeric jogged past the others around him, his usual robes fluttering behind him and his hood over his face. He'd arrive into the courtyard, this time on purpose, wasting little to no time getting there. His hand lifted to lightly brush away the edge of his hood, exposing his white eyes and pale blue-purple skin to Hector. In his eyes, Hector would know a smile - even if he couldn't see one on the boy's almost incapable face.

 

[Kit]

Hector stood as the boy entered his courtyard. It was considered somewhat impolite to affect fellow Jedi with the force as he had done, but there was no time to be lost today. He smiled at the boy, and inclined his head in a subtle bow to the boy.

"Good morning Lyeric. You'll have to forgive me for my haste, but we have places we need to be this morning."

Stepping out of the courtyard, he led the boy towards the nearest landing pad, where he had spent the morning requisitioning and preparing a shuttle.

"We're going to be leaving the temple for a while and I can't guarantee when we'll be returning." He laughed, again, his words had gotten away from him, "And no, we're not going on the run. I've had the council assign a number of missions to us. Consider this time a test of everything you've done so far."

 

[Lyeric Ubbal Arathilion]

He nodded back, almost speaking but not. His lips parted and closed, to have greeted the morning and his Master both but did not. Lyeric settled to place his hands behind his back in a wide stance, only to have to immediately unsettle and follow his Hector out and to the landing platform. It was a strange feeling, fluttering inside his stomach. Blood rushed his face, lightly. He was... excited?

Lyeric would do as Hector said, almost impartial to staying or going; but missions, multiple missions brought Lyeric to wonder what they may have before their plate. "Where are we headed, Master?" He spoke with a straight curiosity, devoid of the same excitement that bubbled within.

 

[Kit]

As Hector's footsteps clicked down the hallway towards the shuttle bay, he considered the best way to tell the boy of what was to come. If he were a little more like his own Master, he would have been blunt and straightforwards. Perhaps unfortunately for Lyeric, Hector was almost the polar opposite of the man who had taught him.

"Well, that depends on how you ask your question. Do you mean in a philosophical sense, of what is our purpose, or in a much more temporal, imminent sense, as in where are we going geographically?"

He smiled, but being slightly ahead of the boy, and having not turned to address him, Lyeric would only know if he had the intuition to determine the difference in Hector's expression through his voice alone. Or, if he was drawing upon the force to specifically try and read Hector's emotions.

Picking up his pace ever so slightly, he turned a corner, and was greeted with a view of a rather disappointing shuttle. Plain, emblazoned with the symbol of the Jedi order and functional. It possessed all things that a shuttle required, and no more. In a sense, both the ultimate shuttle and the very worst.

"Our chariot awaits, Lyeric."

 

[Lyeric Ubbal Arathilion]

In response to the first, "Well, I suppose the philosophical might answer the temporal?"

Turning the corner Lyeric saw the ship, not being one to judge nor carry bias. He had traveled in some elaborate and colorful ships in his youth, but never became accustomed to royalty or comfort as such. He simply said, "Oh."

Seeing the shuttle would cause most the same reaction, yet Lyeric felt guilty for how he spoke.

 

[Kit]

Hector spoke, even as he walked towards the shuttle, pausing for no longer than was necessary.

"Well, the philosophical answer could be anything from nowhere, to somewhere important, to elsewhere. Or indeed, we're going somewhere to make you a better Jedi."

He paced up the ramp into the modestly sized shuttle. It could probably take perhaps an extra two people, but not comfortably. Sitting himself in the cockpit, he tapped in a few commands.

Without turning to face Lyeric, who would have followed him onboard, he continued his piece.

"Simply put, we're going elsewhere. The journey won't be long, but I suggest you take the opportunity to rest."

Leaning back in the chair, he entered the final command into the computer, and the shuttle began it's journey to their mystery destination. With that, he closed his eyes and tried desperately to think of anything other than the cold darkness of space that quickly swallowed the small ship.

 

[Lyeric Ubbal Arathilion]

Lyeric lifted his eyes in his seat, thinking over the duality of that philosophical and temporal meaning. His hands, at his sides, fidgeted in the rounded cup of his seat; unable to decide whether or not best situated in his lap or in the rests of the seat. Finally, as the ship took off into space, Lyeric reached up and tugged down his hood over the edge of his nose and took rest. It would be easy for Lyeric to sleep in the hour of daytime, as well in the depths of space; he had spent many days in space travel, as well as daytime, and felt no discomfort of now in sleep. Though dosing off, he kept a thought in the back of his mind to be ready and able when called upon arrival.

 

[Kit]

A number of hours later, the shuttle dropped out of hyperspace, hanging serenely over a planet and it's strikingly green moon. Hastily tapping a command into the computer, the shuttle began a short journey towards the moon. As they drew closer, it became apparent that the moon was clearly covered almost exclusively in jungle.

Without a word from Hector to his student, the shuttle entered atmosphere, and landed inside a relatively large compound, walled off from the rest of the jungle, and filled with a large number of worried looking scientists and edgy looking, heavily armed, mercenary types.

Striding down the boarding ramp of the shuttle, Hector couldn't help but be relieved that he was off of the shuttle. There was a reason that he rarely left Ossus except on official business.

Before he had even reached the bottom of the ramp, a man hurried over. Slightly portly, clearly immensely rich; the main clues being his deeply impractical suit, and the veritable horde of people following him around. From soldiers to attractive young secretary types, and a large number of men and women in lab coats, each clamouring for his attention.

Yet, it was the Jedi to which he was paying his undivided attention. The man was clearly flustered, possibly due to being kept waiting as long as he had, and as a result, when he spoke, it was an odd mixture of relief, impatience and fear that coloured his words.

"Master Jedi, welcome to the jungle moon of Va'art, and thank goodness you're here! I was beginning to think the council had ignored my request for help, like the Republic had. I knew I could rely on you to help with my... ah, problem! Please, this way."

He turned, and his mob of followers parted to allow him to stride through them, towards an important and clearly well defended building. Hector followed, and motioned for Lyeric to do the same.

Within minutes, they had arrived at what was obviously a control center. Filled with maps, and a vast number of screens displaying vast reams of data, one could be forgiven for thinking it was some kind of war-room.

The mystery would be short lived, for Lyeric at least; Hector had already been briefed fully on the reason for requesting Jedi assistance here.

"As you doubtlessly know," the portly man began, overestimating by several degrees the extent to which the Jedi bothered with this kind of thing, "My zoo is one of the largest and most spectacular in the Mid-rim, and perhaps the galaxy! We have the largest collection of super predators this side of Coruscant... or, we did."

The man sighed, and rubbed his temples with one hand. Hector took the opportunity to speak.

"And when they all escaped, you requested that the Jedi council send some Jedi to come and help you round them back up."

The man nodded eagerly.

"Yes, exactly! We've sent more than half of the mercenaries we had on retainer for just such an event out into the jungle, and barely a fifth of them came back alive... It's simply too dangerous out there for my men, Master Jedi."

Hector cut in, he already knew this much, but there were gaps in the information that man had sent to the council. Like the fact that the zoo was specifically for super predators.

"I would like a full list of the animals you had kept here, and which exactly escaped, Mr Lorhn, and we shall set about collecting your stray beasties for you."

"Certainly, give me a moment, and I'll get you every scrap of information we have!"

***
​

A couple of hours later, having scoured the paperwork in intricate detail, Hector felt confident about beginning. He found Lyeric, whom he had left studying maps of the local area, and areas likely to contain the monsters they sought.

"I'm not going to lie to you Lyeric, this mission is a little more dangerous than I had anticipated. I had thought we would be rounding up Bantha and the like. I wasn't expecting to haft to hunt Taozin, Kell dragons or Krayt Dragons, let alone Rancors... If you want to stay here, that's perfectly acceptable, and I'll understand."

He paused, at this stage in his training, he would never have said no. But his master was a different creature entirely from him, and had inspired some very different traits than he himself did.

"Either way, I'll be heading into the jungle at sunrise. That gives you... about eight hours to think about it. Until then, however, I'll bid you goodnight."

Hector smiled, and walked away from the room, to the quarters he had been allocated. They were nothing special, but all he required from them was somewhere to sleep. It was going to be a long day tomorrow...

 

[Lyeric Ubbal Arathilion]

Waking upon the slight jolt of ending space travel, Lyeric leaned forward in his seat to peer down an through the opening that gave way to view of the planet. At first he thought it was their destination. But as the windows of the cockpit took aim of another sphere in space, Lyeric assumed knowledge of their true destination.

He rocked into a stand, keeping hold of a handle with his right hand to steady himself as the ship docked; he'd be ready to follow closely behind his Master. There was a noticed urgency to Hector's aura ever since mention of this mission, as every word and movement gave hint to directness of action; and so Lyeric would make sure he did not get in the way, as well as keep up with no burden to speak of.

The light of the structure left the surface of the ship as, from the inside, Lyeric noticed shadow come over the windows; the ship had landed within the compound. The ramp lowered and Lyeric was Hector's shadow in absence of light. Only half of him would show, keeping behind Hector not in fear or introverted bashfulness but to keep the focus of those around on the mission. He was no distraction, as the jittery man of a thousand words barely noticed the small hooded figure to Hector's side.

Va'art, Lyeric repeated in his thoughts. This young Umbaran had not heard of this planet, nor it's moon. Yet still, Lyeric knew not of why they were here; whatever here was?

Noticing the threatening looking bunch part ways, Lyeric found himself starring at all the armor and weapons upon each individual. He did not realize the manner in which he looked, wide-eyed and boarder-line confrontational. He merely was curious. Yet as Hector waved him along and saw no obstacle through the crowd, Lyeric found his toes tripping over the closing gap of feet belonging to turning men more focused on the larger Jedi.

And finally the answer came, as Lyeric had followed them into the room of countless screens and maps. A zoo! ...A zoo? Lyeric thought to employ logic, connecting the dots from what his perceiving imagination picutred and what possibly was the real reason for their presence. Lyeric pictured Hector taking him through serene fields of peaceful animals, petting them and feeling their minds at peace. Ok, Lyeric was not brought to a petting zoo... Then he heard the last: 'Super Predators'. Ah! ...Wait. Super predators? Lyeric pictured a gigantic lizard of fictional origin, chasing after the little scurrying Umbaran. But then, Hector explained it. They had escaped! That did sound dangerous!

Hearing out the rest of the dialogue, Lyeric wondered if his Master had known of the risks in bringing him here. Asking for a list of the animals in question was sign enough for Lyeric to think otherwise. Yet, Lyeric said no word as Hector sat him down with maps over a table screen of more maps that very accurately detailed the land about them. Lyeric nodded, to watch Hector leave him for a time.

Upon Hector's return, Lyeric had become very acquanted with the terrain of the forest from this certain viewpoint in the control center; probably quite the different view once deep in the heart of the trees and obscuring shrubbery. Yet, he had done his best; his head buried in focus. Caught a bit off guard by the words of warning, Lyeric simply looked up at Hector with lifted eye-brows and that same wide-eyed stare. And at the pause of Hector's speech, Lyeric hesitated; his head almost shaking right to say no. His chin simply twitched, his face silent.

His Master smiled and left. Lyeric still sat, pondering the last words of his Master. He had not thought it possible to say no to his, let alone any, Master. He was young, and did not quite understand. Either way, he had slept too much this day already and could not stand to retire. So, he turned back to the glowing screen beneath him covered only by more overlapping maps and returned his focus. Lyeric might give it some thought, considering the danger, but he felt more than safe in his Master's presence and would not stay. He did not seek to prove bravery. Nor did he feel a rise in exhilaration or excitement for what battles he'd face in the jungle, tracking down the most deadly of predators. No. Lyeric was but a dutiful Padawan, attending the side of his mentor. He'd but offer what aid he could when asked for it, expecting to learn through sight of his Master's actions. When Hector arose, setting out at sunrise, he'd find Lyeric's figure standing at the correct exit; having not only studied the external, but the internal of the structure as well. To know the best suited exit for their departure, Lyeric would have already made his mental prepared for the long journey of the day ahead; unable to prepare his body in such a time. He'd do his best to serve, if Hector would so have it.

 

[Kit]

Hector slept lightly, the idea of going monster hunting preying on him. It was less fear for himself, but for his padawan. Could he protect Lyeric at the same time as rounding up the galaxies nastiest monsters? Particularly the Taozin. They were literally the biggest threat to him out there... to them both.

Regardless, he was up and out before dawn, arriving in time to meet Lyeric at the southernmost gate of the compound. Beyond, he was told, was a box canyon, likely to now be home to the breeding pair of Rancor the zoo had once held.

"Ready, Lyeric? We're going to go after the Rancor today, and if we can deal with them quickly enough, we'll go after the Kell dragons too."

He smiled, and drew deeply on the force, letting it course through him. He had... encountered Rancor before. From his experience, it was better to be over-prepared than the opposite.

 

[Lyeric Ubbal Arathilion]

"Yes..." Lyeric had yet to be hit with the weight of the situation. Still young and unable to visualize what was yet to be in front of his gaze, the little Umbaran seemed neither afraid or excited. His simple innocence lifted up to greet Hector, holding a small datapad in the bend of his arm by his ribs. "...Master."

 

[Kit]

((OOC: Ack, sorry, I thought I'd replied days ago! My sincerest apologies, dear boy!))

Hector nodded, allowing a smile to cross his face. He had only the faintest ideas of how to deal with the majority of the beasts they would be hunting, but trusted in the force to guide his hand.

"Let's be off then!"

Stepping through the massive durasteel gates, Hector opening and closing them with powerful applications of the force, the pair would find themselves meters away from dense jungle.

The noise hit him like a wave. Inside the compound, they could have been on Ossus; it sounded busy, but still quiet. Out here... it was a cacophony of noise; the constant cries of animals of all shapes and sizes. Some singing beautifully, some roaring like ancient mythical monsters... some that were, in truth, actually far worse than their mythical counterparts.

Hector sighed and spoke quietly, mostly to himself.

"This is going to be a long day..."

And then, he began walking. Lyeric had been studying the maps more thoroughly than he, and knew where they were going. If Hector began to stray off course, he trusted in his padawan to put them back on the right path.