Open Ajan Kloss A New Arrival

[Connie Callas]

"Attention passengers and crew, we have arrived at Ajan Kloss..."

The voice came out of the speakers around everyone as they filed off the shuttle. Connie climbed off her seat, grabbing her bag from the side. As she moved, she felt the fear sneak up on her again. Climbing up her spine, tingling, like some sort of creepy crawly creature intent of causing her harm. She knew she shouldn't be scared. Frustration with herself rose up, meeting the fear head-on. You're not a little kid anymore, Connie, she thought, you can do this. They're the Jedi. They're supposed to be good. They take in people all the time.

She was the last off the shuttle, walking behind some serious-looking people in robes. She presumed that they might be Jedi, but how would she know? She'd only ever met one, the man they'd sent to talk to her parents. He'd seemed nice, but did that really represent the rest of them? She knew so little about them, other than the fact they had some strange religion. Would she have to go worship somewhere? She was heading to a temple...

Lost in her thoughts, Connie kept walking until she was faced with the temple itself. The old building towered above her, right in front of her. Connie's eyes widened, taking everything in. Compared to her cosy family home on Takodana, it was a colossal palace. A vast complex she'd never be able to work out. In that moment, she looked around at everything. The vast canopies of trees in the distance, with small specks of flying wildlife flitting to and fro. People moving around, either walking with determination in their eyes, or chatting purposefully in small groups. Collections of robes and some kind of armour, with blasters and... were they those famous lightsabers she'd read about? Hanging off their belts?

Everything was just so overwhelming that Connie completely forgot where she was supposed to go. Or what she was supposed to do. Was she supposed to be talking to someone? There didn't seem to be a... greeter? She looked around, hoping for something like a storekeeper or a protocol droid to guide her. Uh... what am I doing? Where do I go?

With confusion in her eyes, she took a few steps towards the temple and hoped to catch the eye of someone nice. Please don't eat me, I'm meant to be here, honest.

 

[Dreys Pallodrin]

Dreys never failed to appreciate the communal nature of the Temple on Ajan Kloss, nor pass up the opportunity to take in the view of the forests on one of the many verandas while chatting with friends. It all reminded him of home and made the Temple seem more like a home to him everyday. Certain things stood out to him however, like the multitude of strangers that congregated around the Temple on any given day. Scholars, pilgrims, supplicants, even would-be Jedi journeyed to Ajan Kloss to speak with members of the Order or take advantage of their extensive libraries' open door policy. Growing up on Alpheridies he knew almost everyone in his community, and in a homogenous and insular society like his own strangers stood out. Strangers like, like... her.

Dreys caught sight of the young girl taking a few tepid, tentative steps towards the Temple entrance and instantly saw and felt her purpose for being here, even if the predominant emotion he sensed from her was uncertainty, fear.

Pressing his hand to his Jedi colleague's shoulder Dreys excused himself from the conversation with a polite smile and the Miraluka made his way over to the girl who shown like a beacon in the Force. Not one of power, no, like one of potential.

"Can I help you?" He asked, his voice kind and serene, doing his best to channel the welcoming voice of the Masters.

 

[Connie Callas]

What seemed like a hundred voices swirled around her. Different snippets of conversations just drifting into her hearing and thoughts. Odd mentions of students and training, temples and ships, powers and darkness, leaving Connie completely lost. She knew all the words they were saying but somehow they'd turned against her in the moment, as if something in the air was twisting them into some strange, new language that everybody spoke in but her.

Connie hadn't even noticed anyone approaching her. When he started to speak, she nearly jumped out of her shoes. She shook herself out of her thoughts, looking at the person who'd spoken to her. Someone older, a man with a dark cloth over his eyes... or where his eyes might have been. Don't be stupid, Connie, he's a Mir... Mira.... Miralan? No, those are the people with green skin... She'd read about the species in vague passing, but never before encountered one before. Though that was true of most kinds of being in the Galaxy.

"Oh! Hi! Uh... hi!" she replied, all flustered. She could feel the blush growing on her cheeks. "I'm new... I'm meant to be uh... I'm meant to be here for Jedi... Jedi..." she stuttered, trying to remember all that she'd been told, starting to feel like a fool for not writing it down. "I'm here to start. I'm meant to be a padawan?" she asked, like she didn't believe it herself. The word felt strange on her lips.

 

[Dreys Pallodrin]

Dreys' lips pressed together in a smirk as the words flooded out of the young woman's mouth. He remembered his own arrival at the Temple, how eager he was to start and yet so unsure of where it all started. Among his own people he trained with the Force in classrooms, with the Jedi it was all together different, and he wouldn't be going home at the end of everyday to the familiar faces of his family. When he first arrived he knew only Master Yillnari, but now, he had a circle of friends and colleagues that felt to him much like a family.

"Why don't we start first with names," He said outstretching his hand. "My name is Dreys Pallodrin, I'm a Knight and Scholar of the Jedi Order."

When she took his hand he would know all he needed to know about her. Not everything of course, not anywhere close to it, but he would know who this young would-be Padawan was beyond things like names and titles. She was attuned to the Force, he could see the way it moved around her, through her, with his Sight, but what else was she beyond a young woman who had come to seek her future amongst the Jedi?

 

[Ruulo Vos]

Ruulo cursed under his breath as he walked through the halls of the temple. He was headed toward the hangers to hopefully re-install the busted gyro control module on his ship. Stupid thing had busted about a week ago. Though of course Ruulo hadn't admitted to anyone that he may have been red-lining the gyro compensators by pulling some reckless flying on his last mission; but nobody needed to know that if he could get the thing fixed. Regardless, he'd hoped his week of tinkering with the module was about to pay off. He just figured it needed a few last minute adjustments before he tried putting it back in.

As he walked the kiffar bobbed his head as to one of his favorite songs and picked and prodded the module as he walked with grease covered hands. He hadn't even realized he'd come into the main atrium of the temple yet, his attention completely on the module. So distracted at this point that he also didn't notice he was about to walk directly into 2 people talking in the entrance, which you can guess he stumbled directly into.

"Oh frak!" He quickly pulled of his headphones and gave them both a friendly smile "Sorry about that guys, get a little distracted when I'm working." He gave the pair another look and could see the Miraluka had the air of someone who was confident in their skin here at the temple. The gurl, who couldn't have been a day over 16, was clearly new though. "First time huh? Well don't sweat it, the temple seems huge at first, but trust me....there'll be days where this seems like the only sane place left in the galaxy." He gave the girl a friendly wink and turned to the Miraluka. "Are you going to be her master?" He shakes his head, figuring he was possibly getting ahead of himself saying, "Also feel free to tell me to beat it, I just like to get to know new people around the temple when I can."

 

[Dreys Pallodrin]

Dreys was completely unfazed by the intrusion of his Kiffar colleague into their conversation and returned the flashing smile with a respectful bow from the neck and small smile of his own. He did not know every single last one of his Jedi fellows but he had yet to meet this one. Powerfully built and confident, Dreys sensed the man was not as clumsy or imperceptive as one might assume. It was just as he said, he followed his own rhythm, and sometimes got lost in it.

"No need my friend, the young lady here was just going to introduce herself. Then I'm sure between the two of us we can help her get settled."

 

[Connie Callas]

Connie stared down at the hand for a few seconds, her mind blanking on what to do. Suddenly, it kicked in, making her feel overwhelmingly stupid. She took his hand and gave it a nervous squeeze, looking up to his face.

Just before she could introduce herself, the other person stumbled into her. She let go of Dreys' hand and span on her foot, sliding out of the way as quickly as she could with her bag whipping behind her. She held up her hands, like she was expecting another push or step into her, but to her relief he seemed to stop. Another tall man, this one a little louder and more free-speaking than Dreys.

"Sorry, I'm Connapolli... Connie for short. Connie Callas," she explained, eyes flitting between both of them. "I'm uh... new. I'm not sure where I'm supposed to be going. They just said I'd find someone to show me where to go," she said quickly, trying to force the words out before she stumbled over them all completely. The word master threw her off a little. Made her frown.

"What's a master?"

 

[Dreys Pallodrin]

Between its tepid nature, and the interruption of his fellow Jedi, Dreys did not gleam altogether much from the handshake but his initial assessment had been right. The Force was strong with her but it was... contained, shuttered, like a wellspring only barely tapped. But he did see some glimpses of where the young woman had come from. He had seen a land of thousands of lakes and highland lochs, of evergreen forests and stone edifices. And a family. Yes, the girl had come alone but she had not always been so.

"Connie," Dreys' lips turned into a full, bright smile at hearing the girl's name. "welcome." Dreys waited for his Kiffar colleague to introduce himself before continuing. "The Masters are the teachers and instructors here at the Academy, they are the more experienced Jedi who help guide the younglings and novitiates in the ways of the Force." Dreys said with some mild gesticulation. "In time, they are assigned to a Jedi who will individually instruct and mentor them as their personal Master, that is what it means to be a Padawan."

Dreys' training had been a little more unorthodox than that. Like so many of his fellow Jedi the training regime, while codified in the Trials, was not exactly standardized or one-size-fits-all. Combined with his studies abroad at the Reena University Dreys had as many Masters as he had years trained as a Jedi. He had been grateful for the diversity in his instruction though and learned much from each of his teachers.

 

[Izel Thral]

Izel cursed herself as she rushed for the temple's entrance. She had been instructed very explicitly when the shuttle would be arriving with the latest addition to the Order, and yet she had still managed to be late. And it was entirely her own fault for staying up in the library so late the night before.

She arrived in time to spot the human matching the description she had been given, already engaged in conversation with two Jedi Knights. She sighed disappointedly at the sight, she only hoped they wouldn't report her mistake to her own master. Drawing herself up she approached the three of them, trying to look less hurried. By this point she was well aware of the reaction her appearance caused in most species that had not seen her kind before. She could only try her best to appear non-threatening as she joined the three others and bowed her head respectfully to the two present Knights.

"Masters." She addressed them respectfully before turning her attention to the newcomer. "You are Padawan Callas yes?" She asked. "I apologize for not being here to greet you. I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long. My name is Izel, I've been instructed to show you around the temple and your quarters." She paused awkwardly as she looked at the two Knights. "Uh, perhaps you two would like to join us?"

@DizzySteinway @Officiant @Okoju

 

[Connie Callas]

Connie listened to Dreys explain the concept of a 'Master,' everything clicking together all at once. Of course there was something like that. A teacher, or an elder-type person, that'd help everyone learn how to use... the Force. That thing that she could use. That thing she used when she made things fly towards her, or shoved things without thinking.

"Oh. So like a teacher then," she replied eventually. She'd had a teacher, once, when she was younger. Before her family had brought her on most ship journeys. Being assigned sounded quite scary too. She pictured some ancient, wizened crone or venerable old man with a beard the length of a river...

When the Vratix Jedi made her way over to the small group, Connie stared up. It was probably impolite but she couldn't help it. She'd never seen one of her species before and the contrast between her and the other near-humans beside her was rather staggering. It took a few seconds for Connie to register that Padawan Callas was her.

"Oh. Me. Hi," she said quickly, waving at Izel. "Yes. That's me, Pada- padawan? Padawan Callas. But call me Connie, please," she said with a small smile. Padawan Callas sounded far too weird, stuffy and formal. Like she was a doctor or some kind of expert in something. "Thank you, I really need to make some sense of this place."

 

[Ruulo Vos]

Ruulo smiled warmly as the pair introduced themselves and he of course followed suit. "Names Ruulo and it's awesome you to meet you guys." He couldn't help but notice that Connie seemed to still be a bit nervous. He couldn't really blame the poor kid to be honest. The Kiffars first few weeks had been a blur of meeting new people, teaching, and exploring the temple.

He nodded as the Miraluka, Dreys, explained what a master was. Ah he remembered some of the various masters and teachers he'd had over the years. All were great and he was happy that most of his instructors where hands on, taking him out into the galaxy to get a lot of field experience. Hell he even remembered the master he'd stuck around with the longest, an older Weequay gentlemen, who taught him tons of useful techniques. He came back from his reminiscing and added, "Yeah, all the instructors are great here and don't worry you won't be stuck in some stuffy classroom or anything like that, once you're ready you're gonna see a ton of what the galaxy has to offer."

That was when another decided to join them, and holy hell it was Vratix! Ruulo had to contain his excitement as he'd only ever seen the species in holovids, never in person. Ah so she was the one who was supposed to greet Connie. She seemed nice enough and when the offer to join was offered Ruulo looked down at the module and put it away as he shrugged. "Yeah sure why not." He leans down next to Connie and fake whispers. "This place confuses the kark outta me sometimes still so I could use a refresher myself." Figured the girl could use a little humor, now rather she found it funny was up to here.

 

[Dreys Pallodrin]

"It's perfectly all right Apprentice, she's only just arrived." Dreys said, trying to reassure the Vratix Padawan that her absence had not been completely detrimental to Connie's first steps as a Jedi. Being called 'Master' though, that was something Dreys was still getting used to. Not so long ago he would've greeted Connie as a peer, a fellow Padawan learner. Perhaps he would've been assigned to meet her instead of Izel. Now he was a full-fledged Knight, who was about to begin teaching classes of his own at the Academy.

"I'd be happy to, if you'll have me." He said to Izel, one of the few people he met that he had to look up to address.

 

[Izel Thral]

The Padawan looked visibly relieved by Dreys' reassurance, it looked like no harm had been done. "Oh, good." She said with a sigh, still a bit winded from her rush to the temple entrance. She turned her attention back to Connie. "It's a pleasure to meet you Connie." She addressed the junior Padawan, and reached out to touch her shoulder. "Sorry," She said quickly as she pulled her hand back. "Force of habit..." The Vratix were raised only to trust their sense of touch as permanent, and that the other senses could be easily tricked. Touching every new person or thing she encountered was an instinct Izel had been trying to break since joining the Order.

"Well let's get started then shall we?" She tried to change the subject. She was only marginally more adjusted than the new Padawan, and still carried herself with a certain awkwardness. She was glad to have the elder Knights with her now, as they'd be able to correct any mistakes she made on her tour. At her companions' leisure Izel would lead the procession into the main entry chamber of the temple. "This temple was constructed following the destruction of the First Order roughly a hundred years ago. Construction was overseen by Rey Skywalker, the first Grand Master of the new Jedi Order..." She went on to explain the unique qualities of the temple, how it had started out as a library to house the sacred texts of the Jedi and slowly expanded out from there to meet the needs of the growing Order. She decided to lead them towards the library first, seeing as it was the section of the temple she was personally the most familiar with.

"For most of the new Order's history the temple here has remained a closely guarded secret, although because of recent events we've started to be more open towards allowing non-Jedi to visit. For the most part though the only people you'll be seeing here are fellow Jedi." She paused as she looked at the three following her. "Uh, do you have any questions?" She asked, the question posed mostly towards Connie.

@DizzySteinway @Officiant @Okoju

 

[Connie Callas]

Connie noticed the respect with which Izel treated the other two Jedi, taking in that she should probably do the same. Not that she was about to rush into some informal little chat with the two of them. Just taking in the temple was more than enough for her, right there and then. So that was how Connie took her first tour of the Jedi Temple... accompanied by two Knights and the padawan assigned to show her around.

Connie followed Izel in mild awe, taking in everything. She'd never really seen a building complex like it before. She was used to small houses or huge space-stations. Endless metal hallways and corridors in the coldness of space, nothing quite as magical or... strangely warm as that. The name Skywalker lingered in her mind for a moment, like she'd heard it or read it somewhere once. It didn't matter though, soon she was being whisked towards the library.

The thought of living somewhere that was mostly a secret was mildly exciting for Connie, like something out of a bad spy book, but real life had a habit of letting you down like that. Instead, Connie peered around the side of Izel, staring at the library. Or at least, the part that was visible. She saw shelves upon shelves of datapads, holojournals and books, with other Jedi milling around and studying. Fussy keepers and curators hustling around younger people, who she presumed would be other padawans.

"Hm... what kind of books are there? Is it a more... general library?" she asked, wondering if she could find some fiction in there. Though it didn't look to be that kind of library.

@Reyn @Officiant @Okoju

 

[Ruulo Vos]

Ruulo happily followed along with the mini tour. It was a nice break to see the temple like this, in the light of new and fresh mind taking it all in for the first time. He listened intently to Izel as she explained a brief history of the temple and nodded approvingly. The Kiffar wasn't a huge student of history but so far her abridged description seemed spot on.

Ah the library. While his training had been mostly out in the field Ruulo still remembered the hours he spent here studying different topics. Usually looking up manuals for various ships, droids, or tech projects he was working on. He kept an eye on Connie as she looked upon the library and couldn't help a smirk. It was a sight to behold the first time around. As Connie asked her question he decided to let Izel answer since it was the padawan's show here after all. "Sometimes I forget that this much knowledge can be gathered up in one place," He mentioned under his breath.

 

[Dreys Pallodrin]

"It's as general as you want it to be. Most of our physical volumes are more... arcane matters, there are few finer collections of galactic history and culture but we also keep a healthy collection of fiction though it is a bit... eclectic." Dreys never ceased to be amazed in the gaps in the Library's collection when it came to fiction. He had found all four volumes of Jade Eclipse but nothing by Paarnas or the Antor Masters. Still, Dreys ended up spending a lot of his time at the Temple here, reading and researching, gathering knowledge in the databases, surfing the Holonet.

 

[Izel Thral]

As the small group moved through the halls of the library Izel made a point to lower her voice, lest she suffer the withering gaze of one of the librarians. "Master Pallodrin is correct," She spoke up after the Knight. "While the primary focus of the library is to recover the lost knowledge of the Jedi, our historians gather whatever they can find. Not to mention we receive donations as thanks for the humanitarian work we do around the galaxy. After all many of the hopefuls that come here can get a bit stir-crazy while adjusting to life on Ajan Kloss, especially those coming to us from much more populous worlds such as Coruscant. A good book can do a lot to help you cope with the change." Izel thought back to her own first week one the moon. She had adjusted better than most of her peers. Ajan Kloss felt very much like her home planet Thyferra. Were it not for the conspicuous absence of her own kind she barely would have been able to tell the difference.

After exiting the library Izel led the party to the training rooms. These were bright, sparse chambers where Padawans and Knights alike practiced their martial skills with training lightsabers and the real weapons. This area was more vibrant and alive with noise. There were several initiates standing in a line before a master and moving through the evolutions of the Shii-Cho form. On another mat a circle of older students sat cheering as two in the center of the ring sparred in hand-to-hand combat. Still another mat had a group of Padawans deflecting light blaster fire from hovering remotes.

"Even though the Jedi follow a philosophy of pacifism and diplomacy, we make it a point to train how to defend both ourselves and others from the dangers of the galaxy." Izel explained, looking to Connie and taking on a more serious tone. "With the Sith returning, mastering these skills will be vital for the coming years." She paused, not even sure if the young Padawan knew what she was talking about. The Eternal had made a public statement of the return of the Jedi's ancient enemy and their intentions, but the galaxy was a big place, and Connie may not have heard of this announcement. "Do you know who the Sith are?" She asked in a lighter tone, feeling a bit embarrassed for assuming.

@DizzySteinway @Officiant @Okoju

 

[Connie Callas]

Connie nodded, with more than a little relief. Jedi knowledge and assorted guides were all well and good (and probably quite important in her future, she had no doubt) but the mere presence of some popular fiction helped to ease her mind a little. She could probably do with a little of those history texts, honestly. That's what she thought as Izel described the library.

Connie followed, stepping with the group towards the training rooms. She stared with a strange fascination at the combat, watching the master pace up and down, talking calmly to the initiates as they changed their stances and forms to fit what he wanted. She watched the padawans turn back the blaster fire, blinking at each bright hit and fizz as the bolts whipped away from them. It was a lot to take in.

"The Sith? I don't know, I'm afraid. I mean... I saw the video," Connie explained, shivering a little. It'd certainly scared the whole heck outta her when she'd seen it. She'd been on a trade station, with her parents, when it went out over the Holonet. Everyone there had seemed a little shaken up by it. The 'Dark Lord' had seemed almost too dramatic and grandiose to be serious, like something from a cheap vid come to life.

"Is that why Jedi carry lightsabers?" she asked the collected group.

@Reyn @Officiant @Okoju

 

[Ruulo Vos]

Ruulo was impressed with Izel and Drey's explanation of the library. The larger man made sure to not bump into anyone as the group made it's way through the library. He kept an eye on Connie, just to make sure she wasn't getting too lost with all this new information. The girl seemed to visibly relax once Izel mentioned the swath of fiction books available. He could relate there. He probably would've gone crazy if he hadn't had access to some of his favorite holovids and games in his first few weeks here.

The Vratix led them from the library and onto something Ruulo had much more experience with, the training rooms. He still frequented these halls to practice his own skills and more recently even do a bit of teaching to others. Ruulo was a bit reluctant to train others at first but over time he found he enjoyed the challenge of helping shape the padawans into fighting shape.

Then Izel brought up the Sith. He'd seen the recording by the mysterious being posing as a Sith. He could feel the brief ripple of fear that rolled off the girl. Then she asked a very important question that Ruulo had to think about for a second, and then felt he had answer for it. He walked ahead of the group and made sure Connie was looking at him before he spoke. "Yes and no to be honest. I'm not gonna sugar coat it for you Connie, the life of a Jedi is dangerous." He pulled his saber from his belt and held up in the flat of his hand so Connie could get a good look. "Most call this a 'Jedi weapon' but I've never seen it like that. I was a mechanic before I came to the order and to me this is a tool; and like any tool, you have to know the best way to apply it to the job at hand. Sometimes to defend yourself from beings that want to harm you or someone else sure, but it's also a lock-pick, a negotiation aid, a light in the dark, hell sometimes even a surgical too." He put the hilt away and put a reassuring hand on the girls shoulder. "For now though, all you need to worry about is how not to use your saber once you've earned one and you'll be okay." He turned back to the rest of the group and put a hand on his head. "Uh..geez sorry guys I went on a bit of rant there." He Kiffar was a bit embarrassed but he did feel like it was something the girl should know before her training got started.

@Reyn @Officiant @DizzySteinway