Times of life

[Zian]

*Csilla*

The Chiss didn't live above ground as most species normally do, below the ice layered several years of tunnels and buildings that were designed and maintained throughout the years. The Chiss were a disciplined people, only the children played after the age of ten days of play were over as you took your place into the society and became a member of the government or military. There were very few choices outside these for Chiss, if you were government even then you were taught to fight and kept up with your training even if given a lesser task of your skills. The Chiss were serious people, never showing their emotions in public. Zian was no exception she was to take her place in Chiss society, however a third option was instead awaiting her. "Nah vun'civt to Tocu'ren'mur veo vah cart isr. Ch'a ch'acuzezesi can neo bun cart uncommon. Nah cart ch'acan'b sir etah. Can to rehn'ekah csact'i nah ch'epasahn vah ch'at bsarah bah to ch'atah." (We contacted the Jedi when you were born. A force user of our kind is uncommon. We are waiting for them. In the mean time we want you to train with the others.) The Chiss elder had said.

She was out here with the other Chiss, it was a good day to be outside, but even among a sea of blue she stood out. She always had a lighter skin than that of her other kind, her eyes were also black instead of red. Things that were often ignored, she was born here, she was treated no different than other Chiss just cause of her apperance. The Elder had been right there were few force users in the history of the Chiss most notably was Nuru-Kungurma and Sev'rance Tann both took one path or the other. They seemed to do their part in history and were remembered to the Chiss either way.

Zian was running with the others, training in the ice and snow, it seemed like any other day. 'I wonder what the outside is like.' She thought. By outside she meant outside this planet, she only knew what she had been told and taught. She's never stepped foot outside this world.

 

[Zian]

After spending hours training in the ice and snow she was tired, the day was nearly over when a Chiss officer came to her. "Zian the Jedi have sent word, you are to go to Bakura." The chiss officer said. The officer handed her a data pad, she was to go to the hanger to start her journey. She had time to say goodbye to her mother.
Her mother was an active member of the Chiss government, she was incharge of the important task of making sure the citizens of her sector got the provisions and security that all other sectors got. Her mother would be home by now, so Zian headed there.
Zian's mother was making some food after the day, normally Chiss found their own homes within a year of being an adult, but this was perhaps something Zian was the exception too. The Chiss always knew she would leave their world it was a matter of time. "Ritot Zian veah cart to csihn?" (Hello Zian, how was the day?) Her mother asked. "To tocu'ren'mur viz vuv sir ch'ah." (The Jedi have called for me) She said. Her mother stopped. "Ch'ah rsah csei s csihn csarcican't van. Vah cart ch'a vesen non k'ir neo tut'ut." (I knew this day would come. Make our people proud) Her mother said and hugged her. Zian smiled, then left.

Zian headed to the hanger were the officers of the Chiss army awaited her. Her transport stood waiting. "Cart ran'bin'he'ar vim rsah veo tut'ut cart seo cseah s." (Be safe and know your people are always here). The officer said. She got in, she knew basic flying skills, those things would have been taught at birth. A pilot awaited her though, he would make sure she got to Bakura. They took off and headed to their destination.

 

[Zian]

The trip would take about a week to get to Bakura, she looked out the view port as they approached. It was not white like Csilla, it looked very very different. This was the first world she had seen much less was stepping foot on. Never the less she was calm and collected, after all that was what all Chiss were trained to do. "Nah cart cseah s." (We are here) The pilot said. She wasn't going to lie it did feel a bit odd not to see white.
When they landed it got more weird, she could see green, this was not something she was used to seeing. Stories had been told of such places mainly from the stories of Mitth'raw'nurudo, his exploration of worlds. Zian herself never thought she would see such a world, she had only been told when she turned ten of the fact that she had been a force sensitive.
Being a force sensitive of the Chiss was more than just an honor for her people, they prided themselves on great things. Their minds and knowledge from their library was vast, but a lot of their species remained unknown to the galaxy. Which was something the Chiss prefered. Zian waited near the transport as did the pilot, he would not leave her here alone. Even though Zian was of age, she did not leave Chiss space of her own accord nor did anyone pick her up. So if she wanted to return home, this was her way back. Her people would not treat her any different for returning.

 

[Ral]

Kai had received the call a week ago while he was training on Lamaredd; there was a Chiss Force Sensitive the Order had flagged many years ago and now she had come of age. Being the only Jedi at the outpost with the experience and ability to make the journey out there, Kai happily volunteered for the mission. Truth be told, Kai was a little excited for this mission. He'd get to meet a new Chiss Force Sensitive. Which, in Kai's mind, would be a double first! The young man hadn't met a Chiss before, much less one that could sense the Force. Kai felt rather honored to be chosen to bring the hopeful back to the Order. Of course Master Lutomi ran him through the basics; make sure the girl wasn't a plant or a spy for the Sith, make sure she wouldn't have second thoughts, make sure she wasn't tainted to begin with, etcetera etcetera. The dark haired human was used to the process by now, after all this wasn't his first rodeo; he had met and brought other Jedi into the Order before. Taking a VX-700 light freighter from the hanger, Kai left for Bakura, a planet way on the other side of the Galaxy and one of the few places the Jedi could meet the Chiss girl without drawing too much attention.

The trip was spent in meditation with no one except his droid R3 and his holocron to keep him company. At the very least the young human male wasn't bored out of his mind. Between his droid and the holocron Kai had plenty to do, and he learned a lot from both. Well, as much as one can learn from a temperamental droid and an eccentric gatekeeper. Needless to say, once Kai arrived over Bakura, he was glad he would be having some company soon that wasn't artificial. Piloting his ship down onto one of the planet's capital city's landing pads, the Jedi rechecked where he was supposed to meet this Chiss girl. Apparently, the updated message received indicated that the girl's landing pad was nearby. Looking around, Kai quickly spotted the only other ship in the area. Its unique design only reinforced his guess. Lowering the boarding ramp, Kai exited his ship and began to make his way over to the other ship. Running a hand through his now short hair, Kai took a breath and straightened out his dark-colored Jedi robes. When he was close enough he bowed politely before looking at the... woman? Kai had expected to see a ten year old, but instead saw a fully grown young woman around his age. Perhaps Chiss aged faster than humans then? In any case Kai smiled, "I am looking for Zian. Is she here?"

 

[Zian]

A male asked her if she had seen Zian. The pilot looked oddly at him. She wasn't sure if she should answer, this could be some sort of trap of some kind. She was taught to be cautious. "Who is asking?" She asked. Perhaps a question on a question wasn't the best way to not really answer. She did not have many tools to determine if it was a trap of some kind. Chiss were taught a great deal of things to keep their minds sharp, as well as to keep physically and emotionally strong.

She had never seen a human before, their catalog was varied in the chiss library. Seeing one before her was something new, this was all new, she remained calm and emotionless. This was what years prepared her for, she had to be like the ice she was raised on. Even if this was a situation she couldn't control, she would have to figure it out quickly and react just as she was trained to do.

 

[Zian]

Zian wasn't sure she had made the right call questioning the stranger who asked for her. 'I hope I didn't insult him.' She thought. She didn't know what prodigal was for humans. She knew information about them, interacting with them however was never covered. They were taught to assess aliens, which was what everything outside of a chiss was for her.

Zian remained calm and waited. She wasn't sure his age, she knew that humans were slow to grow and mature from the information the Chiss library had told her. She had to study things in the library to prepare for her life outside Csilla and the chiss. Most chiss learned stuff about the outside world, she just had to learn it more quickly.

 

[Ral]

Raising his eyebrows at the girl in front of him, Kai reached out with the Force to touch everything around him. At the very least he can see what the girl is feeling and her presence in the Force. Hearing the girl's cautious response made Kai crack a smile, well he couldn't really blame her for being suspicious. She probably didn't know what to expect which was understandable, and a stranger walking up asking your name could potentially be unsettling. But this is why Kai had the Force; he could reach out and sense her and get an idea of what she was feeling.

The first thing he noticed was that this Chiss was definitely strong with the Force. The way it flowed from her was very distinctive of someone who had the untapped potential of a Force Sensitive. Her emotions were what he had expected caution tempered by curiosity followed by a tinge of regret before returning to cautious and calm. Kai thought that it would be best to show her what he was. Using the Force Kai reached into her mind and projected a single thought with telepathy. "The Jedi who will be bringing her to a new life."

With a smile on his face he spoke so that she could hear him normally, "I am Kai Sera and I have been sent to take Zian to her new life if that is what she wants."

 

[Zian]

She heard the voice in her head the first time, it was startling. She backed up quickly and calmly, no one touched her mind before now. 'That was weird.' She thought. He then spoke normally about taking her to her new life. There was a life waiting for her home, a normal one, but then even though she was not treated different she always knew she was different.
Zian closed her eyes for a moment before opening them again. "I am Zian and I will go with you." She said. The pilot smiled when she made her response. Ch'acur vamci cart seo cseah sir vah." (Remember home is always there for you) He said before boarding the transport. She watched as he took off, there was no turning back now. She had made her decision and Chiss stuck to their decisions. "I am ready." She said.

 

[Ral]

Smiling at the girl, Kai nodded. He could tell that she was a little startled by his use of telepathy, but it was a good way to judge her intentions and see through her rather stoic facade. "That is good to hear. I am glad my trip out here to Bakura was not in vain then." Kai waited patiently for the Chiss to say her goodbyes to whomever it was that she had traveled with, standing in the same place until the Chiss returned. "Good. You should know that the path of the Jedi is not an easy path. I do not want you to have an delusions about how easy this will be. It is a lot of learning, a lot of training, and you will be tested and pushed to your limit. I just want you prepared for what is about to come. With that said, welcome to your new family!"

Kai would lead Zian back to the small transport he had taken to get to Bakura. Once aboard, Zian showed her to the very small cabin that she would use as her living quarter for the trip back to Lamaredd. Once Kai was sure she was settled in the frankly, confined space, he headed to the cockpit and began the process of taking off. Once in the air he began to set his course. Their trip would take them to Endor first where the Order and the Rebels were trying to set up an enclave, but they wouldn't stop there. From Endor they would make several jumps from Sullust to Tatooine before finally arriving at Lamaredd. It would be a long trip, but it would give the two of them time to get to know each other and for Kai to prepare Zian for her new life in the Jedi Order. With the hyperspace coordinates locked in, Kai pushed the controls for hyperspace forward and the small ship took off at faster-than-light speed. Once they were safely on their way, the young man turned to the Chiss. "So, Zian, tell me a little bit about yourself."

 

[Zian]

'Not an easy path. He doesn't know much about Chiss culture.' She thought. The Chiss were a very disciplined people, they simply had to adapt to their environment and culture quickly. This was why they didn't have adolescence much like other cultures. Family was not a word she would use she would have to assess that for herself what would be the true word for the Jedi. Then he asked about her. "I thought the Jedi were told everything from the Chiss council." She said. Her emotions never changed though, she looked at him. "I am not a normal Chiss, but I am not treated any different at home. I trained like everyone else, I just had to learn things a little different to prepare for when I would go to the Jedi." She said. Zian didn't really know what he wanted from her, there wasn't much to tell. She lead a pretty normal life, there wasn't anything much outside that.

She wouldn't really know what to say if he asked for more, it was a normal life she lead on her home world. There wasn't much excitement or wars, they lived pretty isolated from the galaxy due to space travel issues in the unknown regions.

 

[Ral]

Frowning at Zian's reply he looked at the light-blue Chiss with an eyebrow raised. "I don't know about everything. All I got was that there was a Chiss named Zian who was Force Sensitive who could be trained if she so wished. Besides reports miss out a lot on the person they're about. Which is why I'm asking, I'd like to get to know you as a person, not some emotionless report. You also have to remember that Chiss are still unknown to most of the Galaxy. So, I really don't have something to judge or compare you against. I mean besides the fact they were at war with the Galactic Alliance ten years ago I really don't know all that much about them!" Kai chuckled a little before pausing. "So, do you have any likes or dislikes? Any aspirations?" The male would wait for girl to respond, then he would give her another suggestion. "Well, Zian, are you ready to start your Jedi training? C'mon, I brought some stuff to help get you started."

Standing up, Kai would lead Zian out of the cockpit and into the rather small common area. "I suppose we should start with some basic drills, yes? Let's start with sensing things through the Force."

 

[Zian]

"Well I am not normal because of my eyes and skin. I have been told I am a hybrid which makes me different than my people. This is my first experience off my world and my first experience with an alien. I am not sure how to respond, we assess what is going around us before we respond. It is how we are, we don't display our emotions in public. I haven't decided yet what to make of the situation, I am taking it all carefully." She said. She wasn't sure she was acting as she had been trained by her own kind. He changed it to aspirations and likes or dislikes. "I just want to bring my people honor that is my aspiration. I can't say I dislike anything, there was nothing on my home to dislike." She said.
She watched him and followed as they went to a small room. He wanted her to sense things with the force. Zian stared at him for a moment. "What do you want me to sense?" She asked. It was a simple question, after all she liked to know what it was that was being required.

 

[Ral]

"Ahh, I see..." The dark-haired man hummed to himself thoughtfully as he ran a hand through his hair. It was a little weird when Zian called him an alien; he had never really thought of himself as an alien before, but he guess that it made sense. He was probably just as alien to Zian as she was to him. Now, that's an interesting thought... He remarked silently to himself, being the alien despite seeing everything else as the thing that is alien. It was a good way to realize that one wasn't the center of the galaxy, even if your species was the most numerous in known space. "Well, that is good. I guess those are good aspirations, however, I would suggest you create an aspiration for yourself, ya know? Something that you want to do for you, not your people. Maybe it will help you pick the path you want to walk. As for what I want you to sense, that's easy."

With that, Kai walked over to a small footlocker that was placed next to a nearby bulkhead. Opening it, he reached inside and removed a small, round, metal orb. It was a training remote and Kai figured it would be a good way to start with her basic training; he didn't want to overwhelm her after all as that could be discouraging. "I want you to reach out and feel this training remote with the Force. Once you do that, I'm going to place this training helmet on your head, and then I want you to try and sense it that way." He paused as he displayed the flight helmet with the blast shield down so as to prevent vision. Then he activated the remote. "For the first part, tell me when you think you feel the remote with the Force, then I'll place the helmet on your head and then I want you to point at where the remote is without looking, okay? I want you to reach out and feel the remote in the Force and point where you believe it to be. But first things first, you should have a clear and balanced mind!"

Setting the helmet down, Kai walked up in front of Zian. "I want you to try and clear your mind, empty it like how you empty a pitcher of water. Focus on your breathing, close your eyes if you have to. When you feel like you're ready, nod your head and we can begin the exercise!"

 

[Zian]

She had only been told she had some sort of power, but never used it. She had to find this power first, so she closed her eyes just to listen. Feeling herself quietly waiting, she could hear her breath, her heart, she could feel something else. This feeling was new strange, alien, so she watched it. She wanted to know what it was she felt inside, but she didn't quite have the world for it.
As Zian was attempting this her body was glowing very faintly. She had no clue she was doing this as her eyes were still closed as she was still assessing this feeling she had inside.
"I feel this strange energy." She said her eyes were still closed.

Ooc: the faint glow is create light, but she doesn't know she's doing it.

 

[Ral]

Kai watched as Zian attempted to use the Force. It was an interesting this to watch a person try and tap into their Force potential for the first time. To feel it was even more peculiar. Kai had reached into Zian's mind as she closed her eyes and used the Force to feel what she was feeling. Well, he used it to the best that he could. He would keep his presence small and to a minimum so she couldn't feel him, that way she could focus entirely on feeling the Force, and not about the foreign presence in her mind. The young man was getting quite good with this ability, and he knew how to hide his ability to feel people's minds through the Force. It wasn't mind reading, but he was capable of feeling emotions, or getting ideas or often images if both he and the intended target really tried at it. A smile spread across his face as Zian began to feel the energy that was the Force that surrounded them. Kai could feel Zian using the Force and sensing the world around him. Surprise crossed his face as a faint light began to emanate from her body. Clearly, the girl had some untapped Force potential. "Good! That is the Force you are feeling. It's an energy field so to speak. It connects us all together, it is generated by life... see if you can feel it more clearly; focus on that energy..."

 

[Zian]

She could hear him telling her to focus on the energy. Focusing was never a problem for Chiss, that was the core of their very being. They often had to focus to achieve what their goals were. It was just strict training, they went through to survive and strive to be strong. After a little while of just watching the energy inside she tried to reach out to feel it. At first the energy retreated from her, but this didn't stop her, she just stopped for a moment. Zian watched the energy again for a little while, this time she reached out towards it, but stopped short. The idea was to let the energy come to her. There was no movement at first, it was like the energy was watching her, unsure of her or her actions towards it. She understood the energy in that way it was much like her people were, had to assess before making a judgement.
It finally moved towards her and she could touch it. It felt very odd, very alien, and very warm. Warm was something she was not accustomed to, it feel weird to her touching something like this. Zian just held it, she was trying to get used to it as much as it was trying to get used to her.
As she touched the force the light got brighter around her, she had no idea as to what she was doing as her eyes remained closed.

 

[Ral]

The Jedi did his best to hide his moderate surprise at the girl's ability to create light with the Force so easily, and so ignorantly. If this was any indication he hoped that it meant that she was perhaps very potent in her ability to use the Force. Kai would continue to watch intently as the girl tried her best to focus and feel the Force. He could feel her struggling at first, but then she took a moment before she attempted to reach out again and when she did the Force responded by embracing her back. Kai formed a little smile on his face as he watched the blue-skinned girl's face as he could feel and sense the thoughts and emotions coming from her. He could tell that she felt found the Force to be strange to her, alien. But then, he thought, most things are probably rather alien to the isolationist Chiss. When she touched the Force the glow emanated more brightly and Kai's smile widened. "Good, you're beginning to feel it now. Try and feel the other things in the room. Try and feel me, or the remote."

 

[Zian]

She heard him speak about feeling him or the remote he had placed with the power she had just discovered. Zian wasn't quite sure how to get the power to do anything. Just holding it for the first time felt like an accomplishment, but there was more to do with it than she knew. Focusing she tried to move the power within her, it resisted at first slipping from her hands and back within herself. She went back for it, it seemed to be like coaxing a young Chiss to taking up the task before them without them really knowing what the goal was. One had to be patient but firm, they had to learn to survive. She felt like this power was like this, so again she reached out to touch the power letting it touch her again. Zian had to be a little firmer to try to get it to do as was being asked of her and this power. 'It's ok we are both learning.' She thought. She was talking to the power or thought she was to try to get it to work with her.
Once it accepted her idea she attempted to move it again to try to feel around her first. It was like baby steps with this power, she could feel the cracks of the metal beneath her and then moved out slowly. She stopped when she felt something else. 'What is that?' She thought. What she felt was the light that was coming off her own body, but still was unaware that she was causing the light.

 

[Ral]

"Good, you're getting the hang of it, keep it up, take your time and continue to reach out. You will find that with time and training the Force will answer your beck and call more easily, but you must also open up your mind to it and listen to it. Sometimes it will give you insight and hint at things you might never have known. The Force obeys both our command and controls our actions. In time you will find that your reflexes will be much improved as you learn to use the split second insight the Force gives you into situations to read what is about to happen and allow you to respond with heightened reflexes. Do not be discouraged if it takes time though, the Force, like all great pursuits, takes time and dedication. Although I get the feeling neither of those are lacking in you." The Jedi said as he continued to watch the glow that surrounded the girl grow and emanate as she focused on it. He could feel her slight confusion through the Force, no doubt this was a new experience for her; one that he would help her pick her way through so she would not be overwhelmed. "You're getting there, Zian. Just take your time and keep trying."

 

[Zian]

"I feel a light, What is it?" She asked. Her eyes were still closed she was focused on feeling it with the power. She didn't know what it was or what was causing the light. That was until the power she felt nudged her to open her eyes. She did, she saw it. "I am creating this light?" She asked. She wasn't sure, the light went dim for a moment, but it came back once she embraced the power some more. Zian noticed the light for herself better when it burned bright. This wasn't what he had asked her to do, but some how it felt right.
She closed her eyes and went back to what she had been asked to do. Drawing within herself again embracing the power, she stretched out with it. Still her steps were slow as she felt the metal below her. This time she moved past the light to reach out for him, his face felt weird with this power, course it just felt weird to begin with after all she had not physically touched it.