[Day 2 - EA] Make a Jedi Out of You [Closed]

[Petrus Karath]

"Maybe..." Petrus' words came slowly, thinking as he spoke, "-that could be why he wears a mask? He was terribly injured?" He sighed. "I guess that wouldn't answer the question of how he became... who he is now."

He turned a sympathetic look on Xanna. "But it sounds like you didn't give him anything new. He was already looking for Master Oraka by name. And now we know who he is..." He looked back and forth between Xanna and their Master. "What was he like?"

[Xanna Teevou]

"I do not... well, perhaps? In my vision he seemed as I remembered him. It was only at the end that his mask appeared." She wanted to agree with Petrus' assessment but still felt somehow responsible. "Valus was hot-headed. Witty. Always a handful, to begin with. Until Master Hin trained him... He was becoming a real Jedi."

Her eyes searched the old man's face, looking to meet Oraka's. It had not been an outcome she was remotely expecting, but it was what it was. She steeled herself. "So, at least now we know our opponent. What comes next Master?"

[Oraka Hin]

The old farmer listened and finally said, “Valus was like any student he was troubled and willful and needed guidance, I gave that to him. He would have made a strong Jedi but even the strongest of us can descend into darkness if pushed hard enough and the Empire has powerful tools to push a Jedi to fall.”

“It is not the Jedi are being killed, Jedi are being corrupted and pushed down a dark path to hunt their friends and allies and turn them from the Light as well. Valus is dead, he died the moment the Inquisitor became his reality. Perhaps there is a piece of Valus inside but we must prepare ourselves that it may be beyond our reach.”

“Next we continue training,” he said as he started walking up the hill.

“Our youngest padawan is making some progress,” he finished.

Liua is practicing blocking shots from a training droid, with the blast shield down and actually blocking some though when shot she gives Huttese curse. The old farmer said, “Do not let your anger overwhelm your thoughts, maintain control.”

[Xanna Teevou]

Well, that was definitely worse than the Jedi just being killed. She nodded thoughtfully. "I think I understand. I will meditate on this." You cannot always save everyone. This is not Xanna Teevou vs the Universe.

Nodding to her friends she followed the old man up the hill. It did not look so treacherous now that she could see it. "We continue our training. Of course." What else could they do but prepare as best they could?

A smile twitched on her face as she saw Liua deflect some shots. "Oh that is wonderful! So, the force did have another purpose in bringing us together Liua."

[Petrus Karath]

Petrus' expression was deeply thoughtful as they walked up the hill. "Perhaps we can try..." He spread his hands, shaking his head. How far a Jedi could fall and still be redeemed was beyond him, that was certain.

Seeing Liua perform so well, Petrus smiled warmly. "I had a feeling." He said. "Nice job, Liua. With skills like that, no wonder you're the senior dishwasher."

[Oraka Hin]

At Petrus words of encouragement she turned only to get shot by the droid and she said, “Kriff!”

“You made me lose my concentration!”

The old farmer said, “Again.”

“Seriously, Petrus is just going to…”

“Again” the old farmer repeated.

She sighed and then got back to work.

He said to his other students, “She has potential, I can feel her anger, she has lived a hard life and that will be a challenge for her but she trusts you. She might be too attached to some of you, but this may not be as bad as you have been taught. I think it will help her do the right thing.”

“Remember the strength of the Jedi is not our weapons, not our knowledge, but the trust we have in each other. We defend others because we value them, we see the value they bring to the universe and why we seek to preserve life. Never be quick to take a life, and never take it lightly.”

“All of you must understand that the moment our weapon is drawn not at the first sign of trouble but at as a last resort. The Lightsaber… or the claws of an Aznuri are deadly, and it should be used purposefully and when that purpose has passed diplomacy should resume.”

[Xanna Teevou]

A tingling sensation ran down her spine as Oraka spoke. That was why she had chosen to live the way she did. The soup kitchen. Mending people's clothes, or holoprojectors. Looking after all the people everyone else had forgotten. Her eyes lingered on Liua, remembering the first time they had met.

"Hey why are you so blue? Pant-what? I'm not taking your charity sleemo, soup is for losers. You got any smokes though, that I can take, because that's totally different. Also what's in that soup exactly? Fine I'll eat your stupid soup so you don't feel bad and cry."

We preserve life. Nurture it. "Guardians of peace and justice. That is what the Jedi were, and what we can be again." In the shadows perhaps, at least for the moment.

[Brother Sloan]

The old farmer listened and finally said, “Valus was like any student he was troubled and willful and needed guidance, I gave that to him. He would have made a strong Jedi but even the strongest of us can descend into darkness if pushed hard enough and the Empire has powerful tools to push a Jedi to fall.”

“Next we continue training,” he said as he started walking up the hill.

"How can we be ready for the Inquisitor when he strikes Master Oraka?" Sloan asked matter of factly. He knew better than most that training was a lifelong process and worried Oraka's teaching may have come too late.

"Guardians of peace and justice. That is what the Jedi were, and what we can be again." In the shadows perhaps, at least for the moment.

"I pray this resurgence of justice and hope can resurface Xanna. For now the Jedi are a gorgeous unlit candle, their flame can guide and warm..." Sloan paused. "A gorgeous candle battling a hoard of hands, all which wish to keep it snuffed out, or worse; guide its flame to ensure wanton destruction."

[Oraka Hin]

"You have begin that process, but your best defense is to know that they are driven by Fear, we are not," he said honestly.

[Brother Sloan]

"You have begin that process, but your best defense is to know that they are driven by Fear, we are not," he said honestly.

"There's no trace of fear in you?" He asked firmly, but not incredulously. "You aren't afraid they'll come for your daughter?"

[Petrus Karath]

Petrus grinned. "Sorry!" He called, only partially sincerely, But then, back to the matter at hand.

"Yes. Trust is our strength. And I do trust you. All of you." He met the eyes of each of his companions in turn.

And then he sighed. "And fear is a thing I've struggled with. I can feel it even now." He took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling. "But fear is part of being alive. And I think I can avoid being driven by it, letting it control me. With your help. And then, we can defeat their fear. I feel it."

[Oraka Hin]

“Brother Sloan, we all know fear, the Sith are driven by it but a Jedi understands that Fear is an emotion, it is essential but also if allowed to drive our actions can make us do things we regret or justify even worse actions. Fear is a part of us, but it does not drive us. Fear is a weapon the enemy will use, it is like fire it is indiscriminate and can easily get out of control,” he said calmly.

“I know they will come for her, they will come for you, they will strike at those you care about to get you to act, to stoke your anger, to drive you to the Dark side. We seek to protect those people but we cannot let our attachments delve into obsession, I will defend Veras with my life but not because I own her but because I value her.”

[Brother Sloan]

Sloan feared for the future of his people, but more than that he valued them.

"I see...recognize fear, don't let it be your guiding principle. I needed that Master Orakas. Thank you. When they come for you they'll be getting much more of a fight than they bargained for." He gazed resolutely at his comrades.

"How shall we proceed in our training master?"

[Oraka Hin]

The old farmer begins to take them through a montage of meditation channeling the force and learning to use the lightsaber and hand to hand skills to better defend themselves and others. He is quite capable as an unarmed fighter and demonstrates many ways to disable opponents quickly, he seems to come from the school of thought that one should never waste their movements with a lightsaber less acrobatics and much more precision.

He is demanding but never demeaning or angry, always willing to listen and make sure they understand the why of an action and not just doing rote maneuvers because he directed them to, he does his best to make sure they understand that they are defenders and should strive to never be the aggressor.

By the end he seems pleased with the progress and Veras brings out a light lunch of warm bread, cheese and fruits with some cram berry juice.

The old farmer does not partake as he takes a moment to meditate and allow his students a chance to relax.

Liua looks exhausted and said, “I think I can sleep forever now.”

[Brother Sloan]

Liua looks exhausted and said, “I think I can sleep forever now.”

"Sleep is the cousin of death young one." Holding a large brick of cheese that everyone probably expected him to eat solo; Sloan breaks off a hefty chunk and hands it to Liua.

"but do relax comrade, you've earned it."

[Dapper Dog]

She takes it and said, “That’s a cool one, gonna use that when I face a Sith… somehow?” She starts eating the cheese with some bread and said, “Oh… this is sooo good. Petrus you're demoted, we’re hiring Veras.”

[Brother Sloan]

Mouth half full of delicious grub Sloan added "Veras. Where is your head at in all of this?." He swallowed the mouthful of bread and cheese. "Will you be training with us as well?"

He briefly looked at the Jedi Master and back to Veras, hoping he hadn't brought up a sensitive topic.

[Dapper Dog]

Veras shrugged, “I am more into piloting and building things than whatever you guys are doing… just glad to see papa doing something he enjoys well besides farming.”

[Petrus Karath]

She takes it and said, “That’s a cool one, gonna use that when I face a Sith… somehow?” She starts eating the cheese with some bread and said, “Oh… this is sooo good. Petrus you're demoted, we’re hiring Veras.”

"I think-" Petrus said, looking over at Xanna with playfully raised eyebrows, "-that you'd better check with the owner before making hiring and firing decisions."

He took a big bite, obviously enjoying it. "Mmmm. Besides, would you really want Veras washing dishes instead of making cheese?"

Petrus was clearly in good spirits; he'd taken to the training with almost enthusiasm. It's good to be doing this sort of thing again.

[Xanna Teevou]

"I see...recognize fear, don't let it be your guiding principle. I needed that Master Orakas. Thank you. When they come for you they'll be getting much more of a fight than they bargained for." He gazed resolutely at his comrades.

The thought of them standing side-by-side renewed her feeling of hope. It felt good to be training with others again, it was so very different to training alone. She was less adept at the unarmed combat techniques than her comrades, although with Sloan to train with there was a lot of incentive to learn. Fortunately her saber skills weren't too rusty, although it was a slightly different philosophy of fighting to that of her previous master.

As they sat around taking a short break she gave her new Pantoran friend a reassuring look. "Piloting and building things are going to be very important Veras. Eventually we will have to leave Bankor, and it may be sooner rather than later."

Glancing at Petrus with a hint of amusement she turned to Liua. "Have you checked his references yet? I suppose w might need to set another aptitude test before any demotion becomes official. Give him a chance to show what he is made of."

[Dapper Dog]

"I don't even think he knows what dishes look like," she offered.


She looked conflicted and said, "Like leave the planet... wow I... never considered that."

[Petrus Karath]

"I can't wait until I see the dishes challenge course the two of you set up for me." Petrus said, flashing them (well, mostly Xanna) a quick grin.

He turned a more sober look on Veras. "Things are getting pretty hot here on Bankor. To keep you and your father safe..." Petrus spread his hands.

[Brother Sloan]

Veras shrugged, “I am more into piloting and building things than whatever you guys are doing… just glad to see papa doing something he enjoys well besides farming.”

"How far along is that ship we saw back in the garage?"


Leaving Bankor for me is tantamount to defeat. Sloan thought to himself. As the others spoke of the future his mind wandered back to his visions, of the Aznuri people broken and defeated.

He turned a more sober look on Veras. "Things are getting pretty hot here on Bankor. To keep you and your father safe..." Petrus spread his hands.

He turned to Petrus and simply grunted, an ambiguous sound of possible agreement.

[Petrus Karath]

Petrus frowned thoughtfully. "Right, the garage." He turned to Oraka. "Master, we may have an opportunity to delay-" your former student "-your pursuers. I... hmmm."

He paused a few moments, searching for the right phrasing. "So, I know someone who I trust, but can give him info. She could lead him in the direction of where you used to live, make him trust her more... but perhaps also give us the chance to leave a false trail behind."

He sighed. "Although I don't know about letting him get even that close. It's a thought, though."

[Oraka Hin]

"What does your instincts tell you, Petrus?" he responded.