Ask Ajan Kloss A Place in The Galaxy

[Zashtee Myks]

Time seemed to be crawling by at an almost unbearable pace. It seemed an eternity had passed him by, but in reality it had only been three or four days since Zashtee arrived on Ajan Kloss. The Jedi that had welcomed him was friendly enough, but the Togrutan couldn't have felt more isolated. Even though he was exiled, at least before he was still around his own people. The prospect of a new beginning was enticing, but it left a hungering in him that he was not sure would be quelled so easily.

The earth on his bare feet was the one comfort grounding him to reality at the present. It forced him to take in his surroundings; the moisture, plant growth, and various sounds of the jungle moon. It was a vast contrast to the grasslands of Shili, but the untamed nature of the jungle was the only thing that reminded him of home. Not far ahead, Zashtee spotted the light filtering through the tree tops in a small clearing. It was here he would await in the predetermined meeting spot.

Zashtee seated himself cross-legged in the middle of the clearing, patiently awaiting for the Jedi Knight he'd contacted. With his eyes closed, he attempted to pass the time with a meditation. Reaching out with his mind, he was trying to feel the jungle and it's inhabitants around him. It was a technique he learned with his former family on Shili. Even without the Force, one could learn to take in sounds and vibrations of the wildlife.

There was a sound of running water, likely from a nearby stream or larger water way. He wasn't quite able to tell due to his lack of recent practice. Small creatures skittering across the leaves were heard, but just barely over the sound of various bird noises. It was peaceful for the time being, drawing him into an almost trance like state until the Jedi arrived.

@Shax

 

[Ash Valentine]

It had been a while since Ash had been to Ajam Kloss. Not really looking back as he took his training out to the disparate galaxy. He supposed he had fond memories of the place, running around with his fellow former padawans and the like. Training was certainly annoying however, even if it was worth it in the end.

He stepped off of the small landing pad and turned west off of the main path towards the temple. While ultimately his destination lay to the east, he preferred to take the scenic route around the old grounds. Walking west had always calmed him, no matter however irrational that kind of thought was. But it wasn't easy to shake the feeling that his body whenever he should die, would end up laying west, towards Vardos. But still, there was something reassuring about knowing at least a portion of your fate, so you wouldn't have to worry about it.

Ajam Kloss was... Humid. Ash didn't particularly like it. But, this was where the Jedi were, and that was reason enough to get over his minor discomfort. Eventually, having finished his little jaunt around the grounds, he had circled right into the clearing he needed to be in. The Togruta he was meeting was sat cross legged, silent in the clearing, looking for all the world to be asleep sitting up. It was a peaceful little area that was for sure, but the oppressive quiet grated on his nerves as memories of harder times screamed through his head.

He dropped his duffel bag loudly, and rasped out loudly "Zashtee Myks, my name is Ash. I hear you are looking for a teacher." He said, wandering comparatively quietly into the clearing, looming over the younger man.

@iiLevitate

 

[Zashtee Myks]

The tranquil ambiance of the clearing was disturbed by the sound of approaching footsteps. Zashtee could make out that they were humanoid, but nothing beyond that came to him. He would remain in his current position until the approaching figure was before him. Upon introduction, Zashtee rose from the ground, dusting the dirt from the traditional brown Jedi robes he wore.

A sudden sense of shock filled him upon seeing the man's face. Zashtee's face remained mostly expressionless, a quality that was befitting of him. This was one aspect of culture he was not overly fond of, however, it seemed to be beneficial in this encounter. Any form of rudeness or unpleasant interaction was something he'd been desperately trying to avoid since arriving. The man's face wasn't something that concerned him beyond the initial shock, though.

A small bow was given in response to Ash's introduction. He spoke firmly, "A pleasure to meet you, Ash. It's nice to see that the word got out." Zashtee maneuvered both of his hands behind his back, locking his fingers together. He paced slowly around the clearing while continuing, "Yes, I am looking for someone to teach me the ways of the Force."

Amidst his pacing, he finally noticed the bag that lay at Ash's feet. He'd been too distracted by the prospect of the meeting to notice the detail. Surely the man didn't come all the way here just to hear Zashtee reaffirm what he already knew. Zashtee paced a few more steps, all the while keeping his attention focused on Ash.

" I'm sure you'd like to know more about me, however. I come from the Togruta home world, Shili." Zashtee paused for a moment, hesitant to say his next words. "I was exiled for being weak. I'm not skilled at any particular thing and had nothing useful to contribute to my family. That said, I will give it my all to learn."

@Shax

 

[Ash Valentine]

Ash nodded his head in acknowledgment of of Zash's introduction. And listened quietly as the Togruta began pacing about the clearing, regaling him with his story. The shock that emitted from the force when the younger man noticed him was off putting but not unexpected. He was after all, shocking to behold, and the fact that he hadn't mentioned it or done anything overt was certainly appreciated.

All in all, the kid -and wasn't that a strange thought, as Zashtee couldn't have been more than a few years younger than Ash- was seemingly a traditional Jedi Hopeful. He had never been to Shili, and similarly doesn't know much about it. There were so many worlds in the galaxy that trying to keep track of them all was impossible. Go to a man on Coruscant and ask him the difference between Vardos and Vandor and he would probably ask how you got in his house.

"Seems your people were foolish then." He rasped unkindly. "Measuring the value of a man by the use of his skills is a barbaric and unnecessary practice in this modern galaxy." Though he supposed there were plenty barbaric and outdated things in this 'modern' galaxy. He gestured to the bag and several objects began floating out, two floating training droids and a traditional scale.

"I'll presume you know the code," he muttered as he gestured for the two of them to sit. He placed the scale in between them, but left the two droids deactivated at his sides. "Do you have a lightsaber yet? Where would you judge yourself in regards to your training? What do you feel like focusing on first?" He rattled off, avoiding giving any details about himself. He didn't want to get too friendly with the younger man just yet, as for now, he was just a teacher. But who knows what the future might bring.

@iiLevitate

 

[Zashtee Myks]

Ash's statement about his culture were to be expected. Even in the more civilized areas of Shili, the views of his people were outdated. Most traditions they followed had been around since before the Togrutan's began recording their history. When spending time in the city on Shili, Zashtee often overheard offworlders mention how barbaric their practices were. "Perhaps," he'd say, letting out a sigh. Reflecting on his time in the grasslands often stirred his emotions.

The emergence of the droids and scale quickly had his mind racing in another direction. Only having seen the Force used briefly a few times, it still astonished him when it was used. Currently, his goal was to achieve at least a rudimentary understanding of how it worked.

Zashtee only had a very basic understanding of how to read. He picked up what he could while living in the city, but he was far from becoming fluent. In the short time he had been at the temple, he had attempted to read some of the various texts he thought looked simple enough for him to read. None of them ended up being simple, but he did manage to pick out parts here and there. One thing he was able get, was the Jedi code, printed on the inside cover of a text. He stopped his pacing to recite it, "Emotion, yet peace. Ignorance, yet knowledge. Passion, yet serenity. Chaos, yet harmony. Death, yet the Force."

The pacing resumed, appearing as if he had to stop to recall anything memorable. Zashtee simply shook his head at Ash's remaining questions. "I have no lightsaber or formal training. I can 'feel' things with the Force, but I've yet to be able to control it." He paused to think. "I believe that is where I would like to start. Strengthening my connection to the Force, or at least be able to tap into it."

@Shax

 

[Ash Valentine]

Well at least he knew the code. Not that Ash himself ever felt it was worth anything. Whole thing is just a lot of words that say nothing at all. Some might interpret it as an expression of peace and understanding with oneself and your surroundings, but he could never see it that way. But that wasn't something he was going to say to the younger man, the point after all was to find your own meaning in these kinds of questions or creeds.

The lack of training was shameful on the part of the Jedi, though as always he would give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that Zashtee was only recently allowed into the order. Where he wanted to start was a good place for the beginnings of training, if you were a schmuck. Ash never believed in doing things the easy way, and taking your time with these kinds of things never truly provided satisfactory results.

"Alright, we'll work on that." He rasped, not voicing his thoughts. "Sit across from me. However is comfortable." He continued, dropping down to lay on his back. "You might think that we should be kneeling to keep discipline or some such nonsense, but I'll leave it to the local masters to teach you that. You want to learn how to better connect with the force, so I'll do my best to teach you that, for now." Once he was aware that Zashtee had sat down, he used the force to move the scales between them, and placed a medium sized stone on the right side, making the left side of the scale fly upwards.

He wasn't looking with his eyes, merely using the force to direct his awareness. "When you are comfortable, I want you to relax, and try and lift the right side of the scale. Make it even with the left." He finished, not particularly expecting his supposed student to succeed, only try. He always found practical learning and having a task in mind helped tremendously when trying to connect with and understand the force, so hopefully Zashtee felt the same.

@iiLevitate

 

[Zashtee Myks]

Zashtee gave a simple nod, acknowledging the instruction to sit. Keeping in mind he was told not to bother with formalities, he assumed the same position the Knight had found him in; legs crossed Indian style. His eyes appeared focused, intently watching the scales move to the position between the two men. After quietly listening to the rest of the instruction, Zashtee closed his eyes.

His back was straight, legs comfortable. Slowing his breathing to a controlled relaxing rhythm, Zashtee found his state of mind. Reaching out, he wasn't certain if he could feel the lifeless object. It was vastly different than feeling the living things around them, each giving off their own unique connection to the Force in various degrees. The uncertainty radiated throughout him, affecting his concentration. With the uncertainty came fear. Fear of failure. Failure was something natural to him, after all.

He let out a sigh of frustration, shaking his head in the process. He needed to find a way to purge the thoughts from his mind. Instead of focusing on the scale, he set his sights on the things he could feel. The presence of the natural state of things around them brought tranquility. Zashtee had found it was one of the only things that truly made him feel at peace.

With the distraction adverted to the best of his abilities, he attempted to reach out once more. The Force was everywhere around them, though he could only faintly feel it. Zashtee imagined the scale lifting the weight of the rock, trying to bend the force to his will. Feeling something that felt like a ripple to him, he opened his eyes. He thought it may have moved ever so slightly, but the scale appeared to be in the same exact position.

Another sigh was let out as he let go of his concentration. "I'm not sure I can do this."

@Shax

 

[Ash Valentine]

Well with that attitude you never will, Ash almost said aloud. Drawing from personal experience, people telling you to fix or change your attitude had always been possibly one of the most infuriating things anyone could say to him. So he didn't say the words, though he was thinking them. Instead he just picked up the rock with the force, and dropped it to the side letting the scale re-balance. He then, quite unceremoniously put his foot awkwardly on the scale.

"That's alright, you are learning. If you can't balance the scale, then I want you to be able to move it at all." He rasped, ignoring the effort Zash had put in before that had barely moved it. "Ultimately there are two things you need to focus on, and my presence on the scale will help. You need to be able to differentiate between the living and the inanimate. The force binds everything and everyone together, but not equally. I will seem more vibrant in the force than the scale. Focus on the scale, and ignore everything else. Move it, if you can, and if not, we have all the time in the world." He finished, quite content to lay there and let whatever conclusions and results come as they may.

Little to no skill in the force was daunting when surrounded by the Jedi order. Seeing people so casually use telekinesis is a magical and intimidating experience, not to mention the other force abilities demonstrated daily. Ash knew he wasn't really the man for this job, as his internal ramblings kept going over. He wasn't the perfect Jedi, and the thought of teaching people what he knew was daunting. He knew quite a bit, but he was never very good with application or description. Example, sure he could do that. But it isn't enough to just heal a blaster wound with the force and just say 'do that,' there is a method. He just couldn't figure out how to put it into words.

@iiLevitate

 

[Zashtee Myks]

A few words of encouragement seemed to move the Togrutan. Shili was not a place known for welcoming weakness. The unorthodox behavior of Ash was unsettling, but perhaps that was what Zashtee needed. The thought alone struck him deep, as though a vibroknife were plunged into his chest. It twisted, leaving an ugly thought of betrayal in its wake. If there was one thing he'd come to realize were certain, it was that he needed to purge himself of the thoughts that plagued his mind. Completely.

"Move the scale. Got it.," he'd say while closing his eyes once more. Projecting his awareness, the multitude of life forms flooded back. The most radiant of them felt the closest. It was this presence that Zashtee determined was Ash. Somewhere nearby the scale would lie motionless, devoid of life. Found it. It was the faintest of signatures, but it was there.

Clearing his mind of all emotion was the most difficult part. Of all the things that Zashtee could have focused on, it was initially his bare feet. The closeness it brought him to the natural state of the jungle was exhilarating. It was here the young alien felt he might have finally found his place in the galaxy; the feeling of being connected to every other living thing.

Concentration maintained, Zashtee opened his eyes. Bending the Force to his will, the scale shot up nearly fifteen feet in the air. A loud clunk was heard as the object plopped back to the ground, bouncing only mere inches from where it originally lay. A smile formed over his face, apparent that he was proud of the result. Once the initial excitement was over, he spoke, "Perhaps that was a bit too much, but I will learn." Silence filled the clearing as he moved his gaze from the scale to the man before him. "Thank you for all of this," he said, awkwardly.

@Shax

 

[Ash Valentine]

Ash was honestly beginning to doze off waiting for Zash to do something, though that changed rapidly when his foot was dragged into the air along with the scale. Not really putting much effort into controller his errant limb, he just let it casually flop to the ground a moment before the scale itself. He listened to the Togruta speak, not too big a fan of his lack of confidence, he was only just beginning to learn after all.

"You are talented Zash, fine control will be learned as you practice but this kind of result is good. Its progress. And you don't need to thank me, this is just part of the job. When you become a knight yourself you will be expected to pass on what you know to students of your own." He rasped quietly as he lay down, not bothering to look up at the younger man. His emotions were easy to read, even without the force.

"Alright, how about we play a little game. I'll throw a rock in the air, and I want you to catch it with the force before it hits the ground. Stop it from moving entirely. Are you ready?" He continued, still not getting up. Again, nothing was expected of Zash, failure or success were largely irrelevant though success of course is welcomed. They had established that Zash had the will and the drive to manipulate the force, and to learn. So now it just came down to refinement.

Without waiting for the younger man to voice his assent, Ash sent a casual flick of the force, sending a small stone around the size of his palm into the air, right behind Zash's head. It wouldn't hit him if he failed, Ash could take care of that, but maybe a bit of pressure would bring out some hidden talents.

@iiLevitate

 

[Zashtee Myks]

Zashtee found it hard to visualize himself on the opposite side of this encounter, teaching a student of his own. All of his life, he struggled to find something he was good at. Commanding the Force to such a degree seemed like quite a stretch, yet the compliment left the young Togruta feeling proud. His understanding of the Jedi way was far from perfect, but he knew this was not an emotion to act on. Locking that thought away proved more difficult than expected.

"I must admit, I never imagined being talented at anything." He sighed, lingering memories being brought back to fruition. "A Togruta who can not stand on his own brings down the whole tribe. Next time I will succeed."

Zashtee started to signal he was ready, but cut himself off when Ash sent the stone into the air. Now knowing where to look, inner peace came much more quickly this bout. Using the familiarity of the living presences around them, he was able pick out the faint stone. The Force extended his will, stopping the stone just inches above his head.

The accomplishment brought on a new found confidence, leaving Zashtee eager for more. He already wanted to do more. To learn. With his hand extended, he motioned for the Force to follow the command. The stone moved from its position above his head, slowly maneuvering between the two men. It floated for a moment, then descended gently to the ground.

Zashtee smirked. "Perhaps a little more warning, next time?"

@Shax

 

[Ash Valentine]

Ash barked out a little laugh, "Where's the fun in that?" Warning, Hah! You wouldn't get any warning when a mob of superstitious idiots began to stone you for being a wizard. Or if the Sith return as they tend to do, and they throw their lightsaber at your back while you are distracted. No, training can encompass more than one thing at a time. If teaching Zash how to differentiate between objects, move them around and react to them before they strike him, then Ash will have been satisfied in sending him out into the world.

But he couldn't say that could he? Didn't want to put a damper on the younger mans good mood by outlining the struggle's he would be bound to encounter in the greater galaxy as a Jedi. The Sith may be gone for now sure, but the ignorant are eternal. No matter where you go you will always encounter them, Shili just being one example of backwards, worthless worlds that can't even support its own people if Zash is any indication.

Ash found himself angry at the tribal thoughts of Zash's former home. It was just such a waste of life and passion. He imagined they would be the kind of people to say one thing, but when they irreparably sever their spine and need help are the ones who cry when they are left behind by their own dogma. Despicable.

"Alright, now I want you to hold as many as you can before we move on. This kind of exercise will help you split your focus on many things, as well as improving your fine control." He rasped out, again not warning the Togruta that he was going to begin. Almost to the beat of music Ash began throwing stones into the air with the force. Reaching maybe thirty before he stopped, not wanting to totally overwhelm his current student.

@iiLevitate

 

[Zashtee Myks]

Zashtee said, with a smile, "You're right. Taking the surprise out of it would be dull." The development of today's events were progressing rapidly. The excitement bundled with a mixed bag of emotions was starting to take it's toll, taxing the Togruta's mental state. He attempted to hide the strain, but couldn't help falling into a relaxing breathing technique.

The technique helped Zashtee find his center as he listened to the instruction of the next task. He expected Ash to act without warning this time. He would be ready. It happened faster than expected, but Zashtee's reaction time was shorter than the last time. For the briefest of moments, it seemed as though all of the stones would stop, suspended in the air. As quick as that moment came, a bead of sweat rolled off the Togruta's forehead. Roughly half the stones came crashing down.

The strain was becoming visible on Zashtee's expression. One by one, the stones fell until there were only five left. The remaining stones stayed suspended for a moment longer, but Zashtee could no longer hold them. He was able to maneuver them so they wouldn't fall on him, but they too came crashing down.

Exhaustion was setting in, though Zashtee managed to keep what composure he had left. "I thought I had it. I felt it," he trailed off. He continued after a deep breath, "And then it slipped away."

@Shax

 

[Ash Valentine]

Ash was continuously impressed by Zash's dedication. It was a struggle to learn new things, and having been previously put down most of his life Ash had honestly expected the younger man to quit at some point as the rocks started flying. But he kept trying and had almost caught all of the stones before they began to drop.

For Ash, he didn't feel much strain, this was all stuff he did whenever he wanted to practice his own force techniques. It was much like throwing a ball at a wall, just a simple repetition of movement. It was if anything, monotonous. Then again throwing things around was always easier than holding them still with nothing around them.

"You may have had it, you may have not. But that really isn't the point. You are progressing fast, and any who exiled you for being 'weak,'" he spat out the word, "Should look at you now and apologize. You are doing well, better than I when I had first joined the order. We have our whole lives to practice these kinds of things, so there isn't any rush." He finished, absently brushing away a bug the crawled onto his arm.

"Anyway, I think that's enough for today. We will continue to work on endurance another time, but for now what do you say to going inside and getting ourselves something warm to eat?" He rasped out again, getting to his feet slowly. It was getting obvious Zashtee was getting tired, so here seemed a good place to stop.

@iiLevitate

 

[Zashtee Myks]

The praise struck deep. Feeling proud was not an emotion the Togrutan had much experience with. It encouraged him to push himself, revealing a drive he never knew he had. Though the feeling was positive, Zashtee was vaguely aware of the dangers of Jedi becoming consumed by their emotions. The padawan took a deep, relaxing breath and thought to himself, "There is emotion, yet peace."

Zashtee climbed to his feet, dusting the soil from his robes. "Though I do not always agree, I will respect the ways of my people. An apology is not what I seek, nor to return to them with open arms." The Togruta spoke with a stoic expression, "I only wish to prove them wrong. To make this life something more and leave a mark on the Galaxy." The facade faded when a sigh escaped his lips. "Perhaps that is not the way a Jedi should conduct themselves." The padawan's gaze shifted to the endless overgrowth, shrouded in thought. "Adjusting to this has been difficult. I'm still unsure of where I truly belong."

His eyes fell back upon the other Jedi as he stood, snapping back to the reality at hand. He'd staved off the hunger this long, but it was creeping back in with the tiresome events of the day. "Food does sound good, right now," he said with half a smile. Zashtee wasted no time in pushing himself back towards the temple, assuming the slightly older man would follow.

@Shax