Fields of Tython

[Xyrael]

It had been strange - despite all that they had done together, Akacen and her had actually not spent much time with their previous Master. He had been curious and interesting, almost seeming like mismatching pieces of a puzzle combined. He had, in fact, introduced her to the boy she was crazy about, one of two individuals capable of arousing her from her meditations. However, troublings times did not make for stable relationships, such was the sad truth of the Jedi life. He had been called away to serve the Order elsewhere shortly after their first mission - something which they had found to be a minor inconvenience but at the same time had made Saia, at least feel lonely and somewhat lost. However, a new Knight had chosen to take up Saia and Akacen, and Saia was excited to meet this woman. She seemed mysterious, at least, on holonet information sites.

Saia and Akacen were sitting outside the temple in a quiet meadow surrounded by living trees, distant snow-capped mountains creeping up from behind their viridian peaks. She leaned back where she sat, looking up at the clouds with a sigh; feeling Akacen's emotions and choosing to not hide her own. She was excited, nervous, and at peace here. She wondered how Akacen felt, knowing that he was still new here to Tython.

"She'll be here soon," Saia said , sitting forward before scooting over closer towards her friend. She reached out with one hand, wrapping her fingers over his, hoping to break his view of the scenery around them and have him look at her. She had spent a lot of time with him since they first met, but she still wasn't sure how he felt, or if he felt at all. "Excited?" she asked, her cerulean eyes gazing in his direction.

 

[Master Maverick]

Sitting there, alongside Saia, he immersed himself in the living force around him. He felt the numerous emotions flowing through her, and noticed her not attempting to hide, nor control them. Akacen didn't want to be caught up in his emotions right now though. He just let himself be. He tried to "become one" with everything around him. Saia blended into the background of his senses. Though she was definitely a beacon of light, he felt and saw that she was also 'one with the force'.

His continued constant meditation since their arrival on the planet helped his connection with the force grow. Increasingly more difficult tasks (than lifting small objects) were becoming a bit easier to perform with little to no concentration.

However, a bit more importantly, his continued training with his training saber was increasing his strength and endurance. It was gradual, but he could notice the small improvements.

When Saia spoke first, Akacen almost jumped. He had immersed himself quite completely and practically forgotten about her. When she leaned forward, he turned to face towards her, not looking at her however, more looking past her, being polite and facing her direction. When she reached for his hand and touched it, he didn't really notice at first, still in awe of the scenery around him. When he did, he felt a surge of anxiety and nervousness rush through him.

Trying to not make it so obvious, he adjusted his position, moving his hand out of hers, because 'he wouldn't have been able to face her without that particular hand'. It was a genuine movement, but he knew that there was more than one reason for it, and hoped she didn't catch on. He tried to thrust the feeling from his mind and mask it with the energies around him. Whether or not that succeeded was yet to be seen. He certainly didn't want to offend her.

"Yes." he replied simply. He didn't really have anything to say, on top of being flustered at her move on him. That move was something he noticed, that she was coming on to him. He *is* quite ignorant about such things.

He thought about it for but a moment and tried to find out if he had any such feelings for her. Initially, he did not. On top of that, he rationalized that he was far too young and regardless, they still hardly knew each other and it would be irresponsible to start such a relationship when they were training together.

He also tired to figure out why, but had no reasons at the moment.

"I still can't get over how beautiful it is here." He said, more out loud than to her in particular, but still making eye contact, but looking around at the same time; motioning with his eyes at the scenery around them.

He was indeed excited to meet his new Master.

 

[Rev]

Tython had not more than once stolen the gaze of an observer with its unrivaled beauty. The lush fauna and breath taking sights were a hard to believe common feat on the Force supplied planet. Adding more to such beauty was the Jedi Temple, perfectly placed near the drops of two massive falls enriched with the same plant and wildlife that the world flowed with.

Standing on one of the balconies that overlooked the vast mountains and one clear meadow was the Jedi Knight Aÿisha Remy. Her gaze for one rare time was not fixed on the captivating sights, but instead on two Padawans situated within the meadow at the foothills of the elevated rock. Taking in a deep breath her eyes narrowed, the Force around her aiding her vision to an unnatural degree. The two she would watch would be her future Padawans, and she sensed much.. emotion coming from the each of them.

Releasing the breath she held her vision returned to normal, the world around her adjusting back to size. It only took seconds, but the result of such a feat almost made Aÿisha dizzy. Turning on her heel she'd head for the door, minutes would pass and she'd find her way to the two she had only moments ago been watching.

As the Knight approached the two she could sense many emotions radiating from the girl. Remy's focus would reach outward and she'd only sense confusion from the boy. There were no negative effects from either of the two, but areas that she as their Master would have to bring up. Approaching them a soft smile would curl onto her lips, her piercing blue eyes looking first at Saia then to Akacen.

"Greetings.. I am Jedi Knight Aÿisha Remy, a servant of the New Jedi Order."

Her athletic core would curl into an elegant bow starting at the waist. As she rose to look at the two her eyes couldn't help but fall on the sight that had taken them both by surprise as well. Huffing in a breath of the fresh Tython air she looked at the two, expecting an answer from them both.

"What inspires you to be a Jedi?"

She looked at each of them for a long moment, letting the question sit for a moment before awaiting an answer. It was no easy question, it was one that could define a Jedi. It showed to her what each of them stood for, what each of them wanted to accomplish as Jedi. Most importantly it showed her why they wanted to be a Jedi.

 

[Xyrael]

"Uh..." Saia stuttered, her momentarily, recovering from Akacen's withdrawal. She'd hoped he'd stay, but she knew better than to think he was hers. Her eyes were drawn to her knew Master, swirling around notions from respect and curiosity. She tried to answer the question, but there were literally thousands of responses she could give. She chewed on her lip and thought for a moment, her blue eyes turning to the blades of grass that crept up through her fingers.

She pondered all of her answers, relating to what she saw herself doing with her life as a Jedi, what she saw herself being as a Knight. She saw the Force as a gift not to be squandered, but to be shared. She knew that her life would be spent helping others, bringing peace to those that had none. "Defending the innocent and helping those in need," she said. She knew that there were hundreds of other answers she could give, but ultimately she felt that a single sentence to describe her mind was better than a thousand paragraphs.

 

[Master Maverick]

When his Master entered the meadow, Akacen rose. When she introduced herself and bowed, Akacen bowed deeper than she had, to show his position relative to her and the great respect he had for his Master.

Though his time with Makara had been short, he was a bit saddened when he had to leave, for the galaxy needed him elsewhere. However, recent events created much turmoil. He hoped he would be able to finish his training soon, so he could be of more help in the coming war.

At her question, Akacen's mind raced with thoughts. He hadn't really thought of his answer. He felt it had always been implied. However, he soon realized that he didn't know what that implied answer was. At first, he had no real decent answers. He listened to Saia's answer and felt the same thing basically. And for a moment, he couldn't think of something else, his mind still racing with jumble thoughts that made no sense.

Finally, he focused himself. "What inspires me..." He repeated quietly, almost inaudible.

It was now that he remembered something he had read during his extensive periods in the Archives on Tython. He took a controlled breath, and responded, "I wish to permeate peace and harmony throughout the galaxy to continue them for those who have it, bring it back to the places it had been lost, and introduce it to the far reaches that have never felt its touch." He said plainly, almost poetically. When he started responding, he wasn't quite sure if he felt it was true to him. He was almost saying it to sound impressive. As we went on though, he knew that's what he wanted to do.

His place wasn't on the battlefield killing Sith or other devious evil enemies. It wasn't particularly in politics, being a diplomat and ambassador for politicians who were so self-absorbed, they couldn't see what was right in front of their face. He did have the wherewithal to be sage or historian though. However, he felt he had spent enough of his life trapping himself in the numerous libraries and archives the Order had to offer. He wanted to do something to help everyone, and not just those in the order, or not just those that others deemed worthy. He wanted to see the entire galaxy, the whole of it, to be brought to peace and connected once more by peace. This was his dream. His duty now.

For a few moments, while thinking of all this, he had looked down slightly with his head, but his eyes were staring at a spot a short distance from his toes. He had been thinking and analyzing intensely and was a bit embarrassed that his attention had been wrenched away from the conversation so easily. At this, he bowed deeply again to Master Remy, "I apologize." He said softly, bring his eyes back to his Master's.

 

[Rev]

There was a soft breeze that picked up as each of her Padawan's spoke. She could feel its coolness brushing along her face and pushing her hair in an almost calculated frenzy. First she took in Saia's answer, one that brought a smile and a nod to the young girl. Following this was the boy, she showed him the same respect gazing back into his own eyes as he spoke. Giving him the same smile and nod she pointed at the world around them, each of her arms out as if to tell them to look around.

"What inspires you?"

She laughed with friendly poise as she looked at the two, trying to get them to relax some. Looking back to each of them she smiled and spoke once more.

"If I wanted an answer from the archives I'd of traveled there, Masters.."

She gave them a cocky smirk as if to tell them to look inside themselves, and find the real answer.

"We are individuals within the Order, who make up the whole.. We follow these simple inspirations, rules, guidelines, and Code... But what makes a Jedi save a life over rid a murderer... That is within the each of you."

She motioned for the two of them to follow, giving them a moment to think of what their true inspirations were. Aÿisha would lead them to the center of the very field they had sat next to and fall to her knees. Staring at her Padawan's through the tall grass she nodded for them to fall into a comfortable seat.

"Take a seat.. and tell me now, what inspires you my Padawans?"

 

[Master Maverick]

Her laugh startled him. He was a bit embarrassed by the lack of emotion and himself there really was in his answer.

He followed her lead to the nearby meadow they had waited by and took a seat at her bidding. He chose to sit to her right as she faced him, and about a foot and a half away from her.

He considered her question for real this time.

"I want to prove to my parents who the Jedi really are and prove to myself who I can be." He said. He felt that his answer was a bit hollow. Not as meaningful as some others' dreams. After thinking for a few moments, he decided to add; "I need to find out who I am and who I can be. Who I want to be. What I am capable of."

He had nothing else to say after this and looked at his Master's eyes, waiting for her to say... something.

 

[Xyrael]

Saia frowned. That had been her answer. She looked at Master Remy with a perplexed and worried look, unsure of what her real reason was. She was confused and concerned her answer was somehow wrong. She didn't want to be wrong, and wasn't sure if there was a 'wrong' reason to be a Jedi. "I don't have anything else to live for Master," she said, trying to make the statement not sound like it was a hopeless one. She wasn't depressed about her position, but she had never known her family or life before. Her only memory was of the Order. "I want to be happy, and I want to make others happy. I want to make a difference to people, and be important. I might not make history, but if I can change just one persons life, then I've already given back what's been given to me."

She looked around the meadow with a sigh, sifting her fingers through the grass, not thinking twice about her lack of a bow to the Knight once she had begun answering the question. She didn't want to do anything else with her life except help others; she didn't have any questions about her past, any lingering desires for anything else. She didn't crave power or violence, or really care about manipulating the Force to lift rocks. Those things were necessary only for a purpose. She frowned; maybe the fact that her entire memorable life had been with the Order had utterly reshaped the way she thought.

 

[Rev]

Aÿisha was happy to see both of her Padawans were excited to learn and continue their training. They would learn she was a laid back teacher, but strict when the teachings called for it. It was Akacen she listened to first, dissecting his words almost as he spoke. The boy had much behind his words, and she had no doubts his hopes and aspirations would come true if he stuck to the code.

The frown that was brought onto Saia's face brought a hint of sadness to the Jedi Knight. She got no joy in seeing another in pain or sadness. It was Aÿisha's hopes that her Padawan would be able to find more to the Code than what it stated. Taking in a slow breath she looked at both of them and prepared to speak.

"You will both learn what you are and are not capable of. The Jedi is an Order of individuals, and each individual is different than the next. We must all remember that. Akacen, you have the skill to become what you desire, our training will show you that. It is yourself you must first defeat before we can move on however."

She smiled at him and gave him a reassuring nod that it would come with time. Part of her thought his lack of confidence may be in the Jedi's very teachings themselves. They often said not to give into arrogance or confidence due to fear of the Darkside, she hoped it wasn't this that was shying him from being who he could become.

The Knight's eyes trailed from Akacen's to Saia's looking her over for a long moment before finally finding the words to give to her.

"You remind me much of myself Saia.. Enthralled when it comes to helping others, a trait not many hold and one you should keep close to your heart. Just remember, each action will have a reaction, and sometimes helping another instead of guiding them to their goal can put them in a worse position."

Aÿisha's own thoughts went back to her own trainings and missions where this was more than evident. Sometimes helping someone can be the worst thing you can do. The images of a riot inciting on Cato Neimoidia immediatly filled her thoughts. Pushing them aside she smiled at the two Padawans, doing her best to hide the deep thought before continuing.

"Have you learned to meditate? It can be relaxing.. can connect you closer to the Force, and in some cases can allow you some foresight into the future.."

Taking in a deep breath her mind began to focus on the open world around them. The cool breeze that hit their face was just another ripple through the Force when seen through the eyes of a Jedi. The planet around them danced with life, glowing with a radiance unlike anything most could imagine. Reaching her thoughts outward she spoke to her Padawan's through telepathy.

"Focus. You must entrance yourself in the world around you, allow the Force to freely flow between you and the next object. We're all connected.. all brought together through the Force.. Meditating can bring us closer.. allows us insight into that which we could not understand.. Relax and take in all that is Tython, Akacen and Saia."

 

[Xyrael]

Saia understood what her Knight had told her, but did not voice any opinions on the matter. She knew exactly what Aÿisha had meant, and though the Knight seemed momentarily distracted, she herself had been distracted by thoughts of what could happen if she, too, did such things. She had, of course, learned to meditate, and smiled at the thought of it. She excelled at it, and was able to help others do it at well. She did it to calm herself, to see clearly, or just to relax and to keep her mind from becoming bored. She closed her eyes and smiled, serenity and happiness exuding from within her as she began to feel the connection with everything around her. There were many feelings that she used to describe what she felt, from swimming through a lake where every action could be felt and rippled, to a network of needle-thin rays of sunshine that interwove and connected everything. Today, though, she felt as though she were her fingers flowing through the grass, each blade waving to her as the wind blew, the rustle of the trees carried aloft by the wind that came to her. She probed outwards with her mind, feeling Aÿisha and Akacen. She did not bother reading their emotions for now, instead she probed past them, feeling outwards for other life amongst the plants. Birds and rodents and other creatures thrived here.

Unlike other Padawans, though, Saia seemed to have absolutely no affinity for projecting words or thoughts, only at best images or emotions. So, she let her happiness project outwards, and a single image, that of sunlight coming through tree branches, played on her mind.

 

[Master Maverick]

He was touched by her words of kindness and for believing in him when he didn't believe in himself. He took her advice seriously. He knew he hindered his own progress and would have to work on that... along with the countless other things he wished to work on.

He almost scoffed at her, he thought, rhetorical question. He did it every day without exception. Sometimes he would do it from sunrise to sunset. It kept his anxiety and stress from growing, and also helped him think about everything he reads and learns daily, so he can ingest it and memorize it, for the most part.

He was a bit startled but not surprised when she started talking to them through telepathy. He wasn't that skilled yet. He closed his eyes and calmed his thoughts. First, he tried to make himself disappear to the force, as per his usual routine. He tried to mask his presence, and be one with his surroundings.

After a few minutes of that, he then reached out as far as he could. First he stopped at Saia. She was exuding emotions of peace and happiness and he could perfectly see the image she was feeling. It was beautiful, and he lingered there for a few moments.

He didn't dare reach for his Master's feelings. He thought it was a breach of privacy... even though they would now be spending much time together. Soon he would feel comfortable enough though.

He reached out through the glade, the grass blowing gently in the wind like waves of water over an ocean. The trees swayed in the background, seemingly dancing with the wind. There were a few animals, he felt, in the distance. He couldn't quite make them out, as he had little real world experience with animals and he had been on Tython for only a short time. He guessed at the species he felt, but had little confidence in his assumptions.

It was perfectly calm. The sun smiled down on them for those moments, as they felt like moments to him. However, his sense of time was greatly distorted when he was in such a trance.

 

[Rev]

The three had formed a triangle between their bodies at the center of the field. This close bond of lightside affinity shot outward like a beacon, enriching the land and air around them in Force Energy. Aÿisha huffed in a breath of the "thick" air, her body coursing with the fulfilling Light. Whether any of them knew at this instant their bodies were interconnected through the Force if only temporarily. Projecting her thoughts outwards once more the Knight spoke to her pupils.

"The Force.. it binds us together, connects us, embraces us, gives life to the world around us.."

She smiled from within the meditation circle, her eyes remaining relaxed, but closed.

"Tell me, what do each of you know of the Force? So we can begin.. Speak outloud if you cannot through telepathy..."

 

[Xyrael]

Describe what she knows about the Force. Now this was a tricky question that could be approached in a myriad number of ways. Did she mean how she interpreted the Force, what it meant to her? Did she mean to regurgitate the teachings she had been taught for nearly a decade? Or did she mean something else entirely. Saia meditated on that thought for a few moments, not sure how to piece together her opinion.

"The Force... is kind of like an ocean. Everything within that ocean interacts with everything else; ripples and waves from each minor object affect the entire universe. Even the lowly rock affects it, for as more rocks enter the ocean, the higher the water level rises. The ocean is both tempestuous and calm, it gives both life and death," she paused, realizing she was more relating how she saw the Force than what the Force actually was. "The Force is a separate reality from the material one, a realm that unifies and connects all things, whether they be as mundane as stone or as ephemeral as thoughts... everything exists in the Force and has an impact; a ripple."

 

[Master Maverick]

His eyes still closed, Akacen could see in his Mind's eye what Saia was describing, and it was beautiful. He was practically entranced in her words.

For a moment, he paused, taking a moment to absorb what she said, and think about the question. There was no way he was going to be able to describe the Force in such a way as she did, so he chose a more technical description. He wanted to try and use his telepathy, if only for practice, so he concentrated, and withdrew himself from his surroundings, back in the triangle, trying to send his thoughts to his Master and his friend.

To me, the Force is the thing that binds all other things together. It is the energy and life force of all things. He paused for a moment, a bead of sweat starting to trickle down his forehead. He wasn't sure if his thoughts were getting through, or if they were getting through completely. He also wasn't sure if he wanted to elaborate his answer. His belief in the force could be seen as controversial. However, in this place, with these people, there was no need to keep anything secret.

I believe the force is neither inherently good, nor is it inherently evil. It, in its natural state, without interference, balances the galaxy.

At this point his face was visibly strained and he ended his explanation there. He took a few moments to recover, and resumed to spread his senses across the expanse of the meadow and beyond, into the trees.

At this point he let himself go, and just was...

 

[Rev]

It was a Jedi's senses that could aid or break them in the most dire of situations. Now was a great time to distinguish between sound and thought for her Padawans. It was a different feeling to hear a sound as opposed to it getting put within your mind. Remy nodded as she listened to Saia, the girl had a profound grasp on what the Force was.

"Good, but what if a connection between the Force is broken?"

Aÿisha posed the question to her Padawan just as a what-if? There was no telling what could truly happen having it not occurred to either of them. Her thoughts then projected to Akacen.

"You're also correct.. I ask you the same question.. what if the binds between two things are broken? What do you think would occur?"

 

[Master Maverick]

He considered the question for a few minutes. Just thinking. He had actually never felt a bond broken, or a 'hole' in the force, as he had read about. However, he wasn't sure that was her question. That was when death happened in a large scale in a short period of time.

This gave him time to recuperate from his previous explanation, and he tried to project his words through his thoughts into the minds of his Master and Saia.

"I would think if the bond between 2 things were broken, then they are deafened to each other..." Even with that short of an explanation, a bead of sweat started to drip down his face. He was starting to get a headache, but more than that, he wanted to practice the skill.

 

[Xyrael]

"You can't separate anything in the Force," she said calmly, "anything that exists exists within the Force as well." She realized she hadn't quite answered the question, so she let herself fall deeper into meditation for a moment before speaking again. "Just because I can not sense the trees around me does not mean they do not exist, it just means that I am not sensing them. No connection with the Force can be broken, it can only be dimmed."

She smiled, though; she had found herself in agreement with Akacen. They were indeed deaf to each other, but never broken. The only way an object could not exist in the Force was to actually not exist, and even then, it could still exist.

 

[Rev]

Aÿisha listened to the two with much intrigue. They were both intelligent beyond their years and they were more than showing it in this most basic of training. Her chest would expand as she inhaled and slowly collapse as she released an exhale. Her thoughts would reach outward once more, probing into each of her pupils minds.

"You are both much wiser than I was at your age.."

A small curl would form at the corner of the Knight's lips as she held back a laugh. Her "voice" would further burn into their craniums only moments sooner.

"..and what if a bond is created? The Force forms itself between two or more.. making them seem as one?"

Her "sight" lay forward on her two Padawans. Taking Akacen and Saia in together as a pair. They had both held similiar stances thus far, she began to wonder if they differed thoughts on anything particular.

 

[Master Maverick]

"Then they are simply more connected. More 'as one'," He stated a bit matter-of-factually. He felt that the answer was a bit obvious.

His concentration was wavering and it was becoming increasingly difficult to communicate telepathically with the 2 Jedi. He had sweat around his mouth and on his forehead, as well as down his neck. This would be a skill that would require much time and practice to become even average at.

At this point, he decided to speak out loud and give himself a break. "When a bond in the force is created, those things are connected. Depending on the strength of the bond, those things can feel what the other is feeling, given that they are sentients. I've even heard of cases where they can actively talk to each other telepathically without the explicit use of the Force."

 

[Xyrael]

"I agree with him... mostly. But I don't think that anything can seem as one," Saia said aloud after a few minutes of thinking. "Everything is unique, even in the Force. No matter how close two things seem to be, they're always still separate in some way." She didn't feel that much else needed to be explained. She also considered that bonds in the Force couldn't be created, they could only be altered; but she wasn't sure it needed to be stated. Still, she let the thought play on her mind, interrupting her concentration for a moment. Still, she didn't bother hiding her thoughts or emotions right now; she was in the company of people that she could trust.