A Test of the Blind: The Trials

[Nikka Toren]

Planet Anoat
The Shrine​

"I do not know how to explain... have you ever been blinded, and yet could see?" she murmured, her tone turning thoughtful, fingers lacing behind her back. "To sense all that flows around you... to sense every thing, and yet those that are filled with the Force burn bright as any star in that Vision. And then pretending to see nothing, sense nothing, mask your senses and hide even your cultural identity?" Her tone slowed, and she shook her head.

"We were not taught how the Force interacted like you did... from a young age, we were taught of Ashla and Bogan, Light and Non-Light. We cannot see as you do, not in color or in shadow..." her voice faltered slightly, as if piecing a memory together. "I could see, and yet knew nothing of the Jedi," her tone was soft, almost apologetic. "I knew only to hide, and run when my identity would nearly be known. I was a target."

"All non-beings are translucent. For a droid, I can visualize working parts. For a blast door, I can visualize its' components, and work with my senses to interact and work with it. I have always wanted to heal living and nonliving things..." her left hand flexed as her arms crossed, showing the stumped fourth digit.

"It is within my mind. I do not understand why beings are so afraid of losing what they call... 'sight'." A frown ticked between her eyebrows. "To me, it seems an inconvenience. But... no one asks the opinions of a blind mechanic." The grin returned, this time more of a self-depreciating smirk. "I am here to do what I can, to test my weaknesses and strengths. To prove worthy against any and all trials and tribulations."

This was the most she had spoken in a very long time, deliberately slow, thoughtful, without her usual birdlike chittering. Her mind was clear, her heart was calm, and she felt... almost like she had come home. How strange.

Her face tilted up at his, and she gave her trademark slanted grin. "So... I am ready." And she was. She was prepared for whatever he threw at her.

@Mithias

 

[Vuthari]

Jedi Shrine
Anoat

Vu’thari listened to Luy’s young padawan as they walked. He was intrigued by her words. The twi’lek had never encountered a Miraluka before, but his Grandfather told him stories and they were brought up often when he was teaching Vu’thari about sensing the world around him with the Force alone. It was how the Jedi was able to navigate in the darkness, fight when blinded, and perceive that which could not be perceived. Vu’thari thought himself fairly proficient at such a methodology of sight, but he was quite sure the Miraluka in front of him could teach him a great deal about those techniques of Force sight.

When she finished speaking, Vu’thari replied, “I can imagine the challenges you face with the mundane, however this is also a gift you wield with great proficiency. I am quite sure if all illumination left this place, you would be the one most comfortable in such a condition. While you might see your blindness as a handicap you have conquered, I see it differently. I see it as a gift, a different lens you are looking through, for sure, but many would envy your perspective…do not forget that.”

Continuing their walk, he came to the Jedi Shrine and looked over at Nikka, “I do know, based on my conversations with you and the reputation of your kind that caution, deliberation, and thoughtfulness is truly a hallmark of who you are. Contemplation and thoughtfulness are extremely important. Luy is truly a master of these things…”

Pause.

“However, we live in an era where thoughtfulness and deliberation can get lead us to our end as well. In order for the Jedi to survive in this era, we have to be shrewd, sharp, adaptable, and quick-witted. Hesitation and deliberation can get us killed. Tell me how you are going to overcome your very nature to survive the trials that will inevitably come to you…”

@Killa Ree

 

[Nikka Toren]

She gave a wry smile at his commentary of the general traits and hallmarks of her kind. It was true, most from a very young age were calm, collected people, able to deliberate and be cool-headed. There was a slight shrug, more of a twinge of her shoulders, when she responded.

"I have... never quite been like the rest of my kind," she murmured, with a half-note of wry amusement. "My years travelling among the stars has been one of survival, to think on my feet and to move quickly. I had to, just to survive." A slight pause, and then, "I left a home in a secluded world because what my path was, was not on that planet."

She uncrossed her arms, extending them out slightly as a gesture towards him. "I'm sure it was much the same for you, Master, when you realized living a life on your home planet was no longer an option. You survive because you will it... or that was how I thought." The grin widened a fraction as she continued. "Though I could perceive much, there was so little I knew. And there is always much to learn."

As they walked, she was acutely aware of the hall surrounding, and then the shrine itself. She imagined to most, such a power would be nearly overwhelming to those unused to it. She took another deep breath, settling down into her heels, grounding herself. It was even unfamiliar to her, on this scale at least.

"I understand now that the nature of my kind will work against me." Her chin tilted up, shoulders squared. Determination coursed in her veins, along with peace. "It's why I'm here."

@Mithias

 

[Vuthari]

Jedi Shrine
Anoat

“Good, Nikka…I am pleased to hear you are further along in this area than I anticipated.”

As they walked, they continued down one of the “less restored” passageways. The twi’lek continued, “I lived on Nar Shaddaa as a mechanic and engineer for over five years. During that time, I put the ways of the Jedi behind me--in truth, I never intended to pick up my lightsaber ever again. But that is another story for another time."

His eyes seemed to reflect a moment of sorrowful recollection, but he continued with such emotions seemingly dissipated as fast as they came.

"The Smuggler’s Moon is a dangerous place. Having to think quickly on your feet was not only important, it was required. With your charisma, I imagine you would fair well in social encounters no matter where you go, including a place such as Nar Shaddaa. This is an area of your training I recommend you develop. The Jedi of old had diplomats and counselors who used the Force to enhance that interaction…”

It had to begun to get incredibly dark in the unlit passageway. Vu’thari closed his eyes, took a deep breath and connected with the nexus around them. Using the Force as his guide, like Nikka, he continued walking. This was an area that Vu’thari was not as verse in. It took a great deal of his concentration just to not careen into a stone wall. They came to a dead end that opened up into an unworked chamber. Rocky outcroppings and piles of rubble dotted the edges and floor of the room. The room was perhaps 13 meters in diameter, pitch black at this point.

From the folds of his cloak, Vu’thari pulled out a droid heuristic processor from the folds of his tunic with one hand and a small repair kit in the other. Looking at Nikka through the darkness, he held them out to her and explained, “I brought this with me to fix when I had some time to kill here on Anoat, but the work of clearing this place out was more than I estimated, as you can see...”

Vu’thari gestured to the mess of the passageway and this chamber that had not been cleaned out yet. Continuing to explain, he said, “Luy tells me you are a bit of a ‘gearhead’, much like me. Here, take these. I want to see if I can help you with use your proficiency and speed under duress…would you like to give it a try?”

@Killa Ree

 

[Nikka Toren]

"Nar Shaddaa..." she mused, the grin fading. "Yes, I've... heard a great many things about it. Never been, though." It was true, but she had been so many other places; but if it held a promise of being a quick thinker, and more importantly, a survivalist, it made her curious as to how a Jedi like the one before her survived. She was told once they were pacifists and peacekeepers... but, like he said, it was a story for another time. "One day, I would love to talk gear and travel with you over a drink," she grinned again, unaware of the darkness that slowly engulfed them. "My treat, of course."

She was aware of grittiness on the floor, a few smaller rocks knocking against the sides of her boots. The air felt staler, still warmer than the antechamber... but it lacked the feeling of a clear space.

Surprise settled in when she realized what he had said, and her head tracked left and right, listening. "You cleared all of this? I'm impressed." And it was true; the Nikka of old would not have had the patience to do such a thing, much less not have time to work on a droid, or plan her latest ideas on a new processor or outer shell strength capacity...

"I can sense a difference. But... it is amazing." Her fingers skimmed along the processor carefully, and the toolbox, before grasping both from him, feeling as much from her hands as she did from her Sight. The old feeling of excitement tingled in her palms; it had been so long since she had been given the chance to repair something, or to work under a challenging atmosphere. Her chin tilted up once more, her voice ringing clear with certainty.

"Absolutely. Let's get this started."

@Mithias

 

[Vuthari]

Jedi Shrine
Anoat

“Very well…begin.”

The Jedi reached down and clicked his chronometer, timing the Miraluka. Closing his eyes, the Jedi began to make things a bit more difficult for the Padawan. First, she felt her body beginning to slowly slide. Second, her mind began to perceive the sound of blaster fire and the smell of ozone burning. Lastly, some of the small debris began to pelt the padawan. It was not enough to hurt or cause marks, but enough to truly distract if one was not focused. None of the debris hit her hands where she was working though…

It was incredibly taxing to the Jedi “Master” to create such a multi-tiered environment for the padawan, but he maintained it nonetheless. He spoke quietly to her as the she was working on the circuit board…

“Focus, Nikka. Confidence in your abilities to accomplish difficult tasks while under duress is crucial for success…”

@Killa Ree

 

[Nikka Toren]

She had already knelt to begin before he even said to. Her fingers scoured its' surface, and though her Sight showed its' translucency, she could feel which circuits were damaged, kneeling to open the kit. Annoyingly, it suddenly felt as though she were on a slope; the familiar sensation of slipping sideways against the rough floor was unnerving enough that she paused a moment, but shook it off. Her frown deepened as she set almost to her side, bracing the processor and kit against her body as she worked.

Ozone and blaster fire.


It reminded her of her brief stay at Ord Mantell. Escaping from encroaching smugglers... she could almost taste the crackling from the blaster fire. Faster and faster she worked, mapping out which circuits would need replacing later, which could be bypassed so that the processor could work... and even add a flair of her own. Pelting rocks made her curl down against the piece, careful to continue her work. Faster and faster she fiddled, even bracing her boots against one larger piece of rubble.

She set the fusioncutter at its' smallest, lowest setting possible, gently removing circuit lines and manipulating them to others, making sure that the general processes remained the same. It felt like doing open brain surgery while the brain in question was translucent. But the traces where blue energy once glimmered through still gleamed; the personality matrix would be restored by rerouting a few hairs' breadth away from the independent process autonomy circuitry, but it would still function past the damaged original circuit chip. Some even had to be gently bent and fused into place... if she had more time, she would even test it, but such tech was not usually in her hands.

Suddenly, she paused. She wasn't done, something wasn't right. A gut feeling... no. An awareness. Her fingers scored over the surface gently, brows pinching together. Suddenly... There! a cracked optic processing chip... she would have laughed at the irony, but the blind understood the blind. So more gentle rerouting was done, leaning so close she could feel the heat from the fusioncutter. Almost uncomfortably so. It wasn't perfect, but...

So intense was her focus, that everything else simply... faded away. All except the voice of Vu'thari. She nodded once, then continued.

"One more moment..." she mumbled, the frown deepening. Electrical components were not her forte; it was the mechanical side of things. Circuitry that could be manipulated and fine-tuned was one thing she could do at least. She had to succeed.

So she continued, bracing herself against bigger pieces of rubble. Almost there...

@Mithias

 

[Vuthari]

Jedi Shrine
Anoat

"One more moment..."

He was impressed. She was doing well.

Vu’thari smiled amidst his concentration and amped everything up a bit. The sounds became louder, much louder. Once Nikka had reached the end of her path on the floor, the Jed Master gestured towards him and she quickly began sliding backwards towards him on the opposite side of the chamber. The intensity of the debris intensified, now pelting her hands as she worked.

His voice seemed to place itself separately from the noise in the room, “Do not become so focused that you are unaware of your surroundings…”

With those words, a large rock from Vu’thari’s corner began sailing directly towards her chest…

@Killa Ree

 

[Nikka Toren]

She planted her shoulder as the slope suddenly turned on her, for a moment caught off guard. Balance, I need to find balance. The fusioncutter jumped in her hand, close enough to feel the heat nearly sear her cheek. She jerked her head back, and turned it off before gathering the toolkit and processor against her chest and rolling in the other direction.

When the clattering stones pelted over her hands, she patiently tried to keep going. One more wire that was being manipulated so that the power from the core and battery would not overwhelm the main motor section, when there was an unmistakable sound of a smaller boulder barrelling her way over. She barely had time to twist herself before it impacted into her left shoulder, jarring a pained cry from her lips. But now, the rock was jammed against her. She could use it to her advantage...

The movement of having the larger rock nudged so that it braced her other shoulder and head from other smaller stones would be a temporary cover from the smaller stones that showered over her. She was aware of the dust in her mouth... her lip bled where she accidentally clipped into the inside at the rock's impact. And still she slid.

She powered up the fusioncutter, and the last wire was finally soldered into place. But there was a problem. Her left arm ached so much, that moving it brought a spike of pain up, radiating down her back. Definitely bruised... but she was never one to quit. It was too late.

So her right hand began to manipulate that final circuit chip, partially pinned beneath her body, the toolkit and processor braced against her thighs. The fusioncutter had been powered off and tucked away; it was in that last second that she felt it click, and the heat of blaster fire suddenly crackled at her feet. The large rock began to roll over her right shoulder, the pressure enough to bring another wince.

"Done!" She cried out, then rolled over to protect the processor and toolkit, as the rock suddenly rolled free of her shoulder, scraping the clothes and flesh beneath it, then down.

@Mithias

 

[Vuthari]

Jedi Shrine
Anoat

Vu’thari maintained his concentration, trying to see if Nikka would flinch, but she didn’t. She was both alert and focused at once. Vu’thari smiled to himself as his grandfather used to call it “in the deep”. The twi’lek thought she was indeed “in the deep”.

“Done!”

Vu’thari smiled and replied, “So you are, Nikka. Well done. Well done, indeed.”

The twi’lek walked over and helped her to her feet.

“My concerns about your development are assuaged. I will make sure to tell Master Luy that I have seen all I need to see—you are ready.”

He began walking back up the raw passageway, looked over and inquired, “Do you have any questions of me about our exercise? Or any other questions about this journey, for that matter?”

@Killa Ree

 

[Nikka Toren]

She slowly got up, dusting off her shoulders and front, wincing at the welt that wrapped around her left shoulder. She held the processor gently in her hands, then gave a sheepish grin. She had not expected to finish at all; she still trembled slightly, and took one deep breath, then another. His words filtered through her mind at last, and she tilted her head up, unaware that they were, in fact, in a dark room. Hearing his voice further down, she paced quickly, making sure to hold out both the processor and toolkit. They were his, after all.

"Thank you, Vu'thari. It pleases me to hear it... I hope that one of my last-minute manipulations will suit, I realized the vocabulator translation was a bit cracked. I had to bypass it past the language translator circuit, but if they ever glitch out and start stuttering out Huttese, let me know." There was a wry note of humor in the curve of her lips, a shrug that brought a slight wince as her shoulder tweaked.

She paused a few beats, then took a deep breath. "I am not very strong... but I want to help others. I heard rumors, tales, of those attuned to be able to... heal with the Force." She paused, then chuckled, shaking her head. "I do not know who to ask for this, but I want to be useful somehow. I have some medical knowledge myself, but... it is not enough."

This was the first time she'd ever admitted aloud the private quest she had faced over the time since Luy discovered her.

"I'm no good in battles, with brute strength. But I want to help, to heal. Where can I go for this training?" Her face tilted directly up at his. If she had eyes, they would be focusing intently. Being back in Ord Mantell in her mind brought her back to the realization that this was a war, now, and no longer simply training exercises. She needed to be prepared.

She just hoped he knew someone that could teach her.

@Mithias

 

[Vuthari]

Jedi Shrine
Anoat

“Healing…funny you should inquire on this.”

Seeming to be deep in thought about another time, he smiled at Nikka and said, “Your Master was the one who helped me with this Jedi art. Let him know you wish to learn this. I will make sure to tell him you are ready to learn.”

Looking over at the Miraluka in the darkness, he concluded, “I have some questions about your sight using the Force…I have a feeling I will learn quite a lot from you, Padawan. I will tell Master Luy you have proven yourself to me in every way. We will see each other soon, Nikka…”

With that, he gave her a reaffirming clasp on her shoulder and then moved to walk out.

/Exit Thread

@Killa Ree
@Sangga