What's Out There

[Master Maverick]

"Baatch, you say?" It was almost an incredulous tone she took with the Knight.

"Yes, Master."

"Hm. Intriguing."

There was a pause in the conversation. It was a Togruta female and a human male. The human was quite like many others. Sure his hair was a bit longer, down to his chin, but he was remarkably usual. The Togruta on the other hand was quite beautiful. Of course she hid this under rather plain clothes, but the faded blue that marked the white montrals and lekku made her stand out markedly. Pale reddish-orange skin also had her stand out, but not so much as the blood red her species could produce.

"I know it not my place, Master, by why is a mere Initiate joining you?" The human was as polite as possible, but the question was quite plain. It caused her to look at her with a certain face that indicated that, while he had a point, he should have been more tactful.

"You are correct," she started, pausing for effect. "It is not your place." And that was that.

He had a point, though.

She was to travel to Ruusan. She had a few tasks to follow up on and it would prove quite the challenge for any not trained properly. Indeed, this Shal could end up being quite the liability. Even still, Ashara was only more capable now than she had been those decades ago with her first Apprentice. It would be bitter sweet as she remembered the times she shared. So much had changed and her heart threatened to make her long for a more simple time.

Lumyn would be accompanying, of course, but even still it was not necessarily an easy mission.

The Danthiri was to meet with her and her bodyguard, Lumyn, in her office on Empress Teta. It was time, now, to get out and stretch her legs. For far too long had she been cooped up here. Indeed, her legs were uneasy as she waited behind her over-sized, computerized desk. The door would be open for the "young" Jedi, of course. She had to remember that the species, while long of life, matured comparably. While he might have been her senior in years, she still far outranked him in all else.

Not that she was competitive. Least of all was she concerned he might not listen to her. If he knew what was good for him he'd follow her every word.

Lumyn stood to Ashara's right, about a foot away from the desk within which she sat. She did so facing the door. While she waited for the Jedi's arrival her fingers tapped the surface of her desk which was actually a computer screen. Answering messages, sending others out, organizing classes and reading reports, there was always plenty to do.

 

[Creation]

Shal, a fellow Danthiri as well as a Padawan was informed to go to Empress Teta and meet up with Master Ashara. Although he was not informed the reason why, he took the mission just like if it was any other to mission and left to Empress Teta immediately.

"So Master Ashara, huh? She must be strong."

Shal made it to Empress Teta and quickly entered the Great Sage Hall to find Master Ashara. He was quite unclear on his objective but he didn't bother asking but did analyze what they had told him so far. He was to go to Master Ashara and that she would explain everything. Maybe it was a mission, maybe training, there were many possibilities in this case and Shal could think of many more, but he had to focus on his task.

In the Great Halls he was lost, he was not told where to go, but a few people were nice to tell him where Master Ashara could be found and he quickly went towards the office of the Master where he would be informed of the situation.

Shal stood by a door which behind would be found the togruta Master which waited patiently for his arrival.

"This must be it, huh. Remember, be calm, be at peace."

Shal would knock on the door two times and after that he would wait a few minutes and knock again as he waited for the togruta Master to answer.

"Hello?"





​

 

[Master Maverick]

"Do not be shy," Ashara stated, not even looking up. The knocks on the frame of the door hadn't even sounded out before she bid him entrance. It was not the Force that told her he was present, though he would likely assume as much were he at all fascinated by her position. No, it was merely her physiology - her montrals sensed changes in air pressure, and his arrival, despite being five meters away, was picked up.

Lumyn was not one to be impressed, the young Jedi was hardly anything special. Sure he had brilliant blue eyes and spectacular silver hair, his skin an unusually dark tan as far as humans go. Otherwise he was rather plain. Not quite what he had expected.

No further direction would be given to the Danthiri. He would be free to sit, stand, walk and search the room, whatever he wanted really. Ashara was finishing up with a message and would not be interrupted. It took about two minutes for the letter to be finished, during which she would remain silent and allow the awkwardness to persist.

Once finished she looked up to find him in his current position. Regardless of where he was, she would let him know why he was here and what they'd be doing. "We are going to Ruusan to check the status of a mission I worked a couple decades ago. Lumyn here will be accompanying us on-planet. We will be taking my gunship and are to leave immediately. I trust you are ready to go?" She spoke plainly and a bit faster than might have been considered normal.

 

[Creation]

The fellow Danthiri entered the office of Master Ashara and sat down. He was quite confused as he saw a fellow human male in the room next to the Togruta Master, he was told to meet with Master Ashara but not with any one else. His confusion later came to an end when Master Ashara informed Shal that the fellow human would be joining them. She also informed him of their mission together.

"Ruusan, huh?"

Shal looked quite interested at this mission, he had never gone to Ruusan before and he thought this would be a great time to look around the planet, but he knew that he had a responsibility and that he had to do the mission before all else.

"I wonder why they chose me to go."

Even if he didn't know why they chose him he was still ready for any challenge that would rise. Shal wanted to become a Jedi Master so much that sometimes he forgot that a Jedi must remain calm in even the most troublesome situations. He tried hard to remember but it just got to him, but this time would be different for him.. this time he would overcome any situation. Shal was ready to go that when he heard the Master he quickly stood up and made his way towards the door, stopping before crossing outside.

"After you, Master Ashara."

He would say as he looked at the Togruta Master which he would follow outside after she left her office alongside the Knight, Lumyn



​

 

[Master Maverick]

Bare feet padded along the stone and metal floors in the temple, but were masked by the click of boots by those around her. Indeed, she was nearly silent, almost sneaking around in her own temple. Really it was simply a grace, a control she held over her own body that all Jedi should have mastered before becoming a Jedi in full.

Lumyn, as stiff as ever, followed with a back as straight as though there were a board strapped to his back. Indeed, one would think him uncomfortable. Did he naturally hold himself in such a way or was it a show for his charge? Was he trying to prove something or was he just a mindless Jedi following orders? Ashara never questioned it - there was never any need to. He performed his duties exceptionally and proved more than trustworthy in her eyes. There had been nothing inside him that caused her to think otherwise.

The Sage Master walked at a slightly faster pace than might be expected by such a petite individual. Lumyn, of course, kept up with ease. The Jedi they passed were met by bows by Ashara and Lumyn, but they did not slow.

A shuttle had been readied for the Councilor to take them to her gunship which was at a shipyard. The journey, though, would be filled with plenty of questions for the young Jedi joining them in their journey. After the simple "How are you" and other such small talk, the more important questions were asked.

"What is it you have been trained in?"
"Do you have a Master?"
"Who trained you?"
"What is it you wish to accomplish as a Jedi?"
"What do you consider to be the traits of a true Jedi?"

More philosophical discussion might have taken place if they had not been interrupted by the human.

"Master, it seems the repairs on the ship are not quite finished yet." An incredulous glance was shot towards the human. Not that she was mad at him, of course, but that she was not particularly happy that their trip would be postponed.

"Well what's wrong with it? How much longer will it be?"

"There was a malfunction with the starboard engines and the life support system. I believe it will be a few hours before we can leave."

An exasperated sigh was released from the Togruta's throat, clearly not happy with the news. "I suppose we might as well visit Cinnagar, then."

"As you wish, Master." The pilot had heard the command and made a subtle change to their flight path. "Well, it seems we will have to find something to do in the city," she revealed to Shal. "I hope you do not mind." There was no choice, really. Of course he could say that he was disappointed, but that wouldn't change anything. Of course unless he was some prodigal engineer or something.

"Why?" She asked this seemingly random question. If Shal was any sort of adept thinker he would realize this was going back to her former question regarding traits that Jedi should have.

 

[Creation]

Shal kept behind them as he looked at the magnificent temple that he didn't have the chance of earlier. He kept at a pace with the Master and the fellow knight, but they walked quite fast indicating that they were in a hurry. Later on they would reach a shuttle that would take them towards Ashara's gunship which after a while they would find on a shipyard. As they made it to her gunship many questions were asked by the Master, which he had trouble answering since she was going quite fast.

"Depends on what you mean, Lightsaber Forms or Force abilities?"
"Currently, I have no Master."
"My father before coming here."
"Do you mean as a rank, or in society as a Jedi?"
"Hmm, the traits of a Jedi, Jedi are peaceful diplomats. Guardians of those who can't defend themselves, they are peaceful and calm. They are kind and wish to protect the weak."

Unsure if that would answer tha Master's question, he stood normally as Lumyn interrupted to inform that it would take a while for the ship to be ready to go. Shal looked around as Lumyn and Ashara began talking about the ship and how long it would take. As Ashara turned to face Shal to inform him of the problem.

"I don't mind at all Master Ashara."

After that Ashara faced him and asked a rather random question. "Why?" Which he took the time to figure out, but was able to answer nonetheless.

"Because, that's what defines a Jedi.."​

 

[Master Maverick]

"Is it, now?" It wasn't blatant, but it was obvious she was less than impressed with the circular thinking he employed about the topic. She thought he'd have a touch more understanding, but that is why he was a Padawan, and she the Master. Regardless, it was a rhetorical question anyway, and he was not to answer nor explain himself.

His answer was true enough, of course, but it would only help if he had some concrete understanding of what it really meant to be a Jedi. Words were simply air, thoughts expressed through sound. They were nothing without action, and without understanding his actions would be hollow, ultimately meaningless.

Rather than continuing on with this subject though, she wanted to touch on his mention of rank. She thought it interesting that his mind went to that first, rather than the latter option.

"So, are those things what you wish to accomplish as a Jedi?"

The shuttle at this point had made rather decent headway towards the heart of the city. It was eclipsed only by Coruscant and would take plenty of time to reach their destination. Ashara wanted to get a better understanding of this young man and would utilize her time efficiently.