[CLASS] Channeling Force Channel

[Symbiot Spider]

Bakura, 9:00am Local Time

It was part way through his training sessions on Bakura and the hangar he turned into a training center (Link) with the help of some of the rebels at the station. The hard metallic surfaces were covered in soft matting; the floor covered in a soft bamboo mat, at the corners were small and simple incense burners with a mound of incense in each, filling their corners with a peaceful scent of tinder and jasmine.

In the center of the room, Dartel was kneeling in the middle of the training mat and reaching through the force as deep as he could. It was a practice he attempted once in a while in order to test his connection; recently, he felt as if the force was attempting to tell him something and he was determined to find it. He could feel the presence of his students entering the room and only pulled himself from the force once all students were accounted for. Keeping the calm presence in the room, he opened his eyes and took a deep breath before inviting the students over to join him in the center of the room.

“This will be a slightly different class compared to any of the others you may have taken from me. This force form, Channel, is easier to explain as a theory class instead of one that we apply.”

He looked each student in turn before continuing.

“I need to know what you feel when you search through the force. This will help tuning it for this force form, and thus how you will use this ability. So who would like to share first?”

 

[Ral]

This morning was different from Kai's usual routines. Today was his "cheat" day, or the day he normally got to sleep in. That is, he would have slept in, if Khelsea hadn't decided to come knocking on his door at seven o'clock in the morning. Rolling himself out of bed, Kai opened the door to his room to see Khelsea fully dressed and waiting for him. Apparently, she wanted to make some breakfast with him since she knew they would have a little more time this morning before their class started. Letting her in the room Kai quickly dressed himself before helping his friend cook a light meal that Khelsea had picked out. He didn't want to make anything too heavy since they weren't sure what Dartel would have them do today, and didn't want to be loaded down with food in their bellies. Once they had enjoyed their meal and cleaned up, they left for the class.

"Hey, I hear we have a new class member, have you met him yet?" The boy asked the girl as they walked through the empty morning corridors. Entering the room, Kai and Khelsea stood to the side as they waited for the third to arrive. In the middle of the room Dartel was kneeling on a training mat. Reaching out through the Force to see what the knight was doing Kai could sense through the Force that Dartel was touching the Force and using it to focus on something. Once everyone had arrived Dartel opened his eyes and invited them over. When they had joined him, he spoke.

Listening, Kai frowned as he thought of what to say, " When I reach out to feel the Force I feel the currents as it moves around us and through us. I feel it generated and moved by every living thing. It's like being in a river or feeling the breeze; the Force is energy, sometimes like an aura that is created by us and moves between us. Sometimes it is like heat, but when it is moved it can be like a stream or a flood." Kai replied. That was the best way he could describe it. He just hoped it made sense.

 

[Veloster Turbo]

Dragging Kai out of bed was a revenge of sorts; he deserved it for waking her up way too early last time they had class together. Khelsea was productive with the time before class, making a healthy but delicious breakfast with her friend before setting out for class. It was a beautiful morning, and the humidity and temperature were just about perfect. Not too warm to be called hot, but not too cool to be considered cold. The moderate temperature helped Khelsea get into a learning mood.

As they walked towards the training room, Kai asked Khelsea a question about their new classmate. "Yeah, I actually met him in Theed a while ago. It was pretty weird but I guess things turned out okay in the end. Especially since he's here and doing well now. Have you met him too?

Seeing Dartel kneeling in the center of the room, Khelsea stood with Kai and waited to be acknowledged. After the third member of the class arrived, Dartel started talking and similar to his other classes, he began with a quick question. Khelsea was no longer unprepared for Dartel's teaching strategies, and was expecting a question. However, it wasn't an easy question to answer.

"The Force... It feels surreal sometimes. It feels like I'm floating sometimes, or just not aware of time passing when I meditate. I'm not entirely sure how to explain the feeling. It's a good feeling, and peaceful most of the time. But if my brain is in turmoil and I haven't calmed myself down, then the 'floating' feeling is a little more turbulent."

 

[Arcangel]

Arriving last to the class Calcus acknowledged Khelsea and the other student before turning his attention to the teacher, sitting in the center of a soft mat, meditating, and incense filling the air with sweet scents. After a few brief moments, Dartell invited the group to join him, and after a brief explanation of the class, he asked the inevitable question.

After listening to the other student’s answers, Calcus thought for a moment on the difficult question before answering. “When I reach out for the force… it feels as if I am in a void, and there is a bright light in the distance, and as I reach for the force the light becomes brighter, and warmer, the more I draw on it the hotter it gets, until the heat consumes me, but it does not feel dangerous, it feels warm and inviting.”

 

[Symbiot Spider]

“For myself, I picture the force as the galaxy itself. Ever expanding, the void of space can be consuming of your thoughts if you allow it to, but if you look at the smaller, more uncivilized planets, you can also see a more peaceful existence as well.”

He reached through the force and pushed forwards his feelings of the force and how it opened his mind, hoping his students could catch a glimpse of what he was talking about. At the same time, he attempted to plant the subconscious thought of meditative slumber into each of the students. It wasn’t to trap them or procure anything harmful, but rather, if they slipped into the rather peaceful thought of meditation, they would also be open for the next step of his class. He mentioned that it was theory based class, but that wasn’t exactly true. If he could muster it, they would all be connected in their meditative states and he could then show them a deeper aspect of the force and once there, begin to explain how to use it on a more present state of mind.

He watched for the reaction of the students, knowing he was more successful on one or two than maybe the last, but it was an equal attempt and he knew that he would be the last to arrive the actual place of their lesson.

- - -

When the students come to in the meditative state, they are greeted with an intense sunlight in an open field of a system that could easily be confused for another. It was impossible to determine which planet they were on because it resembled any meadow-like plane a planet may have. It would appear mid-day to the students and the meadow empty of any life. If the students were not careful about their emotions they could find themselves beginning to panic in the emptiness of the surroundings, but if they could find the peace amongst the scenery than they would be fine.

 

[Ral]

Noticing the third Padawan join them, Kai nodded at human male before turning to face Dartel. Listening to what the Khelsea, the newcomer, and Dartel had to say, Kai found their aspects to be interesting. He liked the differences, it gave him a different point of view on how the Force worked and interacted with things. Kai hummed thoughtfully to what the others had to say. What Dartel said caused Kai to think on what the Knight had to say about the more peaceful existences on the untamed or primitive worlds. His mind began to drift a little, and Kai found himself oddly at peace. He didn't know why, but he wasn't going to fight it. In the back of his mind he had a feeling that this was good for the class today, since they needed to be able to be calm for the things to come.

With his mind now calm and in a state of quasi-meditation, Kai found himself being warmed by bright sunlight overhead in a green grassy plain that stretched on. Oddly enough the meadow seemed to be empty of life, but it didn't seem to bother Kai, he just took it in stride. There wasn't anything to worry about anyways, the plains were picturesque to say the least. Kai could easily see himself setting up a cabin on this planet and retiring here one day.

 

[Veloster Turbo]

Khelsea listened attentively as the others responded. She was in her 'ready to be a sponge' mentality, where she would absorb everything she could from the class and learn as much as she could both during the class and after the class on her own time. Being proactive was important if one wanted to learn fast, and this fact didn't escape Khelsea. Everyone offered a different answer but at the same time similarities could be drawn from each padawan's answer.

As Dartel spoke, Khelsea felt herself drifting off. It was a weird feeling, since she could hear is voice but she didn't seem to be able to spot him. In fact, everything turned hazy until suddenly she was in the middle of what looked to be one of Naboo's great grassy plains. She could feel the heat of the system's yellow star shining down on her arms. Looking around, her surroundings were entirely devoid of special features or lifeforms. "Where am I?" It didn't make sense. One moment, she was in a training room in Bakura, and the next she was on Naboo?! It must have something to do with the Force. Khelsea could faintly remember the hazy feeling she had while listening to Dartel speak. Perhaps it was something to do with... whatever they were discussing in the class before this happened? Not sure what to do, Khelsea lay down on the grass, facing up towards the sky. It was beautiful, and she wasn't sure what it was but at the same time it felt strangely peaceful. Maybe Dartel would show up, and maybe he wouldn't. But for now, Khelsea waited.

 

[Arcangel]

As Calcus listened to Dartell he began to get a sense of the way he percieved the force, momentarily getting lost in the vastness of it as his mind was opened. Though he had never been to an uncivilized world, Calcus tried to visualize what life might be without the hustle of modern life. Calcus felt a strange sense of calm pass over him, and, confused over it source, he fought it momentarily before realizing that it might be part of the class. Surrenduring to the foreign sensation, he allowed himself to slowly slip into a meditative state.

Opening his eyes Calcus found himself in a bright sunlit meadow, eerily empty and quiet. As he absorbed his surroundings he began to feel a growing sense of anxiety and confusion, the unfamiliar meadow empty of anything that might give him an indication of where he was. Thinking back to the last thing he could remember, sitting with Dartell and the other students, the sweet smelling incense filling the room. He wondered if maybe the incense had been drugged, and if that was the case the other students might be nearby, and with that thought in mind he began to look around for them.

 

[Symbiot Spider]

Once Dartel could feel the connection of his students through the force, he closed his eyes and allowed his mind to wander through it until he could feel the students’ presence nearby him. When he opened his eyes he could see that he was alone in the undefined beauty of a planet, part of him wondered where it came from and whose minds created this place, but that was a thought for later.

He walked near the closest presence, using his connection to the force to guide him. He quickly came across the first student, Calcus. With a warm smile he reached through the force and spun it around Calcus in a friendly way; it wouldn’t feel aggressive at all, but like a rather large, thick, warm blanket.

“Hello, padawan. It appears you made it to this stage of the lesson. How about we find the others.”

He led the way to the next nearest feeling and reached out with his mind to get a closer feeling. Apparently they were in the middle of both students – Dartel could see this as a teachable moment as well.

“Calcus, reach through the force, it should be much easier here for you. I want you to sense where the next student is and tell me which way.”

Dartel simply nodded when Calcus finally arrived with his answer. Another smile crossed his lips as he began his way down the ever vast planet. It was odd to him that it was fairly featureless, but rather familiar all the same. Finally, they could see Khelsea in the distance, lying on the ground. It did give Dartel the slight urge to join her, but he knew there was a better use of their time here.

“Hello Khelsea. Nice to see your safe here. Now, where do you think we are? Search your feelings and ask the force. You may be surprised with the answer.”

Without mentioning much more, Dartel led the growing troop to Kai’s signature and pressed their connection slightly as it would be stronger here. It didn’t take long before the class was all together and Dartel was able to think about Khelsea’s response.

“Well, Kai, what do you believe?”

He wanted to continue the wavelength they were on when conscious, knowing it would help them reach the point Dartel was hoping to sooner. Once there, the students would be truly able to see the force and connect with it. Maybe even see something they hadn’t known about it.

 

[Arcangel]

As Calcus panic was mounting, he suddenly felt a presence, and as a sense of calm came over him, Dartell appeared. Realizing that this was all part of the training, Calcus felt foolish at his paranoia. As the two of them walked, Dartell told Calcus to reach out through the force and try to find the next student. Closing his eyes, Calcus focused, trying locate the next student. After a few moments of concentration, he felt the familiar presence of Khelsea in the distance, and once he had located her he pointed in the direction of her presence. With a nod, Dartell led the way to Khelsea.

Once they had found Khelsea, Dartell silently led them to Kai’s locations. While they walked, Calcus wondered where they were, thinking that they might be in some sort of dreamstate, physically on Bakura but mentally somewhere else.

 

[Veloster Turbo]

Khelsea was just enjoying herself when Dartel and Calcus showed up. Sitting up, Khelsea looked at the two Jedi and wondered how they suddenly arrived on the seemingly empty grassland.

She thought for a while before answering Dartel, but somehow she already knew what her answer would be. Perhaps it was because she was pondering the situation before the other Jedi arrived. "Well, at first I thought I was back home on Naboo, but since everyone is here and we were just in a training room on an entirely different planet earlier, this must be something we all visualized in the Force. I'm not quite sure how it works, but can we say that through the Force, we can be anywhere and can communicate with anyone?" Her answer was rough and not well-worded and she knew it, but Khelsea had learned through several months that there wasn't always a perfect or right answer when it came to questions about the Force. It was mostly based on how she felt, and of course she wasn't always right, but at least there were usually other Jedi to guide her towards the right conclusion.

After answering, Khelsea went with the two other Jedi towards where Kai's presence was radiating.

 

[Ral]

Kai ended up deciding to meditate while he waited for the other Jedi to come find him. How he ended up knowing that they would come find him he wasn't entirely sure, but he had an instinct that they would eventually come. Perhaps it was the Force, perhaps it was Dartel letting him know through the Force. Either way, Kai decided to remain where he was and wait and use the time to focus himself on the surreal landscape he seemed to have found himself in. The plains reminded him of the place where he had practiced with Kess earlier on Naboo.

After some time, Kai felt presences of three Force Users approaching. One of them was easily identifiable as Khelsea; they had spent enough time around each other to know each other's Force Signature at a glance. Then there was a powerful presence, which Kai guessed to be Dartel's, and another a bit more untrained, which Kai assumed to be the fourth member of their class. When they arrived Dartel asked Kai what he thought. Frowning, the boy thought for a moment. "Well, last thing I remember before being here was in class. So, if I had to guess this is either a very potent illusion shared by all of us, or we're in some kind of mind-melded dream state. At least that's my best guess. I assume this is an important part of the class? Some way for us all to learn the lesson more easily?" Kai didn't really know what the point would be other than Dartel just wanted to mess with them, but he didn't seem like the kind of Knight who would go to such length's to do that.

 

[Symbiot Spider]

“In one respect, you are all correct, in another, you’re all wrong.”

Dartel stepped away from the small group so that he could see each of them and they could register that this was their spot for the class. He took a little bit of time for each of them to think over the confusing statement he just made.

“This is not our dreams, nor is it the force, but somewhere in the middle. We are only connected through the force, but through the force we can share a lot of things. This is a collection of our thoughts and memories of places we have enjoyed empowered by the force. So it is easy to say that it is similar to our temporary home on Naboo, but I could also say that some of it looks like my home planet of Dathomir, or the meadow has some remnants of Kashyyyk. The point is not to discover where we are, but to realize what it means. It’s a place of peace.”

There was a calming silence as Dartel again allowed his words to sink in. He raised his hand slowly and reached through the force, which was incredibly easy now given their location. His lightsaber soon floated up and away from his hip only to land in his hand. With a crisp sound of hissing pressure, Dartel ignited his saber and took a traditional Jedi Ready stance.

“Jedi use this Force Channel technique to allow themselves to be completely aware of their surroundings while in combat. It is a perfect technique for anybody uninterested in learning too much about the force and follow more of the guardian’s way.”

Dartel slowly began to move through some Ataru basic forms while illustrating his point through words. When he spoke he allowed his words to carry some weigh using the force, it was a thing only possible in a place like this. Communication was simpler here because a feeling could be carried through words and the force; if done correctly, like Dartel was doing, the complete comprehension of things was nearly impossible to miscommunicate. The feelings would resonate within the listener and trigger realizations quiet easily. Dartel extinguished his lightsaber and allowed it to float around him, slowly orbiting around his waist.

“This is the easiest of the Force Forms for this reason, but it also is a great starting point for any padawan seeking enlightenment. Here, you should meditate on where you want to be as a Jedi Knight and as a Master. Here you will find your path, maybe not an exact answer, but at least the proper direction. By doing this, you are also immersing yourselves into this level of the force, which will make it easier to accomplish when in combat in the real world.”

 

[Ral]

Listening to what Dartel had to say about where they were Kai found himself interested and fascinated by what the knight had to say. Watching Dartel perform some of his Ataru, finally began to piece together what this place was for himself. Once he had finished Kai began to meditate on the ground on what the Force wanted to tell him. There could be so much to be learned in a place like this. Calming his mind Kai began to listen to the Force. It was here that he heard the Force speak to him telling him that he would be a teacher of many and a defender of the Order; a Paladin of the light. Opening his eyes, Kai looked at Dartel. After much soul-searching and trying to remember what led up to Kai finding himself in this place the Padawan was stumped. He finally had a question to ask the Jedi knight."Knight Vega, I have a question. How did you bring us here? And what would you have us learn here in this place today?"

 

[Veloster Turbo]

Khelsea listened to Dartel explain their current location. It was a combination of the Force and their dreams, which was hard to fathom. Were they in the classroom still and their minds were elsewhere? Whatever the case, where they were currently attending class felt very real, and Khelsea felt no reason to disagree with Dartel's explanation.

It felt even more real as Dartel performed basic Ataru techniques, and she could feel the strength and truthfulness of his words. The location felt like a place of peace as he had exclaimed it to be, and slowly Khelsea put the idea of figuring out where they were away. It no longer mattered.

Khelsea listened as Kai asked a question, since it was something she had on her mind as well.

 

[Arcangel]

Listening to Dartel's explanation about what the strange meadow was, Calcus realized it didnt really matter where they were so much as what it meant. A place of peace in a galaxy so torn was no small matter and Calcus felt a tenseness leave him that he hadn't know was there, letting go of years of stress, fear, and anger that had been an enormous weight upon his shoulders.

As he watched Dartel go through his Ataru motions he listened to his words, feeling a complete understanding of them. After Dartel finished speaking Calcus followed Kai's lead and began to meditate, his newfound, if only temporary peace of mind allowing him to hear the force as he had never heard it before. After a time he could almost feel the force speaking to him, telling him that he would be a light in the coming darkness, a stalwart defender of the innocent, and a seeker of truth and justice.

 

[Symbiot Spider]

“Keen as always I see Kai. First, I brought you here using a common incense amongst my people. I am sure you have all heard of the Knight Sisters and their Dathomirian Magick. In truth, I use these incense to meditate myself. When used, these incense allow a closer connection to the force. This world is created within the chemical reaction occurring in our brains because of the incense. In the proper amounts it is quiet peaceful, but if done wrong could be fatal. Imagine your worse fears amplified by the force. Not pleasant at all. When you meditated, the incense helped bring you hear and through the force, I was able to connect us all before meditating myself. You could think of it as a safety tether of sorts.”

Dartel walked over to the class and knelt before them and reflected the scene just before they came to this place. With a warm smile he continued.

“As for your second question, we are here to get used to this feeling from the force. When we return to our bodies I would like you to reach this connection once more. We are acclimatizing our minds so we can do the same to our bodies later. However, while we are doing that, you could use this time to meditate about anything that may be on your mind as of late. Personally, I will be meditating on some projects I intend to start, or possibly about some technique practices I have been thinking about.”

He closed his eyes lazily and allowed himself to quickly be engulfed by the force and by the calmness of their location. It didn’t take long before some of the tension in his shoulders and neck began to give way and he was soon connecting to the force.

 

[Ral]

The young Jedi stifled a smile at the Zabrak's remark about Kai having a keen mind. While it was surely meant as a harmless compliment, Kai had to remember to smother the feeling of pride that welled up inside of him when he heard it. Focusing himself, the young black-haired Jedi listened to what Dartel had to say. So it seemed that through the use of the Force which Dartel had managed to use and some special incense with possible hallucinatory affects they had all managed to share in this odd surreal experience. Accepting this as a reasonable answer for what had happened, Kai nodded and watched as Dartel approached and knelt before them and continued speaking. Now that he completely understood the purpose of them being there Kai could finally go about preparing and focusing himself. "I see, thank you very much for your advice Dartel Vega. I shall take it to heart and begin meditating on immediately."

Closing his eyes once more the Jedi Padawan cleared his mind of all the doubts and worries and questions and began to feel the Force flow around them there. Letting the mystical energy field flow through him and around him Kai soon found himself contemplating his future and path as a Jedi Knight. Though he could not see the future it seemed as though certain parts fell into place. Then his mind finally began to realize what exactly it was. It was an odd feeling to be connected to the Force in such a way. It was like his mind and body were finally getting to feel the way the Force flowed through them here. "I think I may have finally just the answer I was looking for!" He whispered excitedly as he discovered the trick.

 

[Veloster Turbo]

Khelsea listened to the Zabrak Jedi's words of wisdom, and contemplated them for herself. It was interesting that he used incense from other Force-users' cults or societies. At least now she knew where exactly they were, at least in theory; and why it felt so peaceful. It was a relaxing lesson, different from the combat classes she had taken with Dartel. Meditating as the others had done, Khelsea allowed herself to relax and drift off. She was aware that her body was in a training room on Bakura, and that her senses told her that she was on a clear and empty grassy field, and her mind was somewhere in space or an unknown region. However, she felt completely at peace with how things were, and it didn't panic her. Khelsea heard Kai whispering, and came out of her trance. She waited to see if her friend would say anything else, or if Dartel had anything else to say.