Ask Ajan Kloss First Communion

[Talak Rand]

Talak had stayed for the ceremony, and found himself lingering around Ajan Kloss for several hours. The ceremony had gone on late into the night, and there were still several beings he would have liked to catch conversations with.

The sun had come out the next day and Talak had settled into a clearing in the jungles to meditate.

Where previously there were conflicts in his meditation, now there was confusion, but far less distress. He had a great deal yet to sort for himself, but he couldn't deny the peace he felt at being here among the Jedi.

He may have still had many questions and skepticisms about the Jedi, but they seemed closer to his goals than the Sith had. Perhaps there was a niche to be carved here.

As he floated in the air among the jungles, he had stopped smothering his presence in the Force. Though the darkness was fading, it wasn't the presence of a Jedi, per se. He could sense the others nearby. Several Jedi had come traipsing by to look at the foreigner, but none had actually approached him yet. That was fine with Talak. He was lost in his own thoughts and his early communions with the Light. @Wit

 

[Vinry Forge]

The ceremony had been a solemn affair, giving her a great deal to think about. But it had also left her with a new curiosity to think on. The mysterious man with Oren, the supposed friend of the Jedi. Something had been off with him, and though she hadn't wanted to push further at the time out of respect for the memorial service, the curiosity had not entirely gone away. Specially because even the next day people had seen him nearby, the scuttlebutt around the temple being that he had been spotted not an hour or so ago.

She hadn't meant to go looking for him, she didn't really feel comfortable in the Temple and had simply wandered off as she had done the last time she had been here. She didn't even notice when she started following the gentle nudges of the Force, at every obstacle in her turning in the direction that moved her closer to the direction in which she had heard he had last been seen. But once she did notice what she had been doing, she gave up on any pretenses off being out to meditate and just started cutting through the forest in what she assumed was the most direct path to the stranger.

She emerged out of the foliage to find him in a clearing, and as she stepped into the clearing she made more than enough noise to catch his attention and possible break the peace he needed for his meditation. "I'm sorry," she said almost instinctively, "I didn't mean to disturb you." Even as she said that a voice in the back of her head chided her, Of course you did! She would continue walking into the clearing as she spoke, giving him the time to stop floating if he intended to, coming to a stop a few meters from him. "We met at the service, but I didn't catch your name then." She wondered how obvious she was being, but at the very least she hadn't straight up burst in and demanded he tell her who he was. "I am Vin, an acquittance of Oren's. You know him, right? He said you fought at the prison?"

@Phoenix

 

[Talak Rand]

Perhaps it was because he was in the jungles again or - more likely - perhaps it was because his natural state was one of paranoia, he could sense the impending feeling of being hunted. Tracked. Stalked. It wasn't unlike when he'd taken Ana into the Shadowlands of Kashyyyk. Someone was coming for him, but he didn't feel the malice and violence that would have marked a Sith assassin. Not to mention, the Sith weren't even aware of this world.

His eyes snapped open as he heard the sound of someone rustling in the bushes and she promptly said that she didn't meant to disturb him. He let himself slowly float to the ground and alighted gracefully on the ground below.

Didn't you? he asked amusedly. This was the second time she'd burst up to demand to know who he was, which had him curious. She was more direct than most of the other Jedi he'd met, and that captured his attention.

My name's Talak, Vin, he said. And I did fight at the prison, he said, his hand at his side unintentionally clenching at his side. Although it was now covered with synthflesh and he was growing used to it, the thought almost brought back the burning pain.

He shut out the thought and brought his attention back to Vin. It was clear that he was... difficult. He'd technically answered her questions but without actually giving her any information.

And you're a curious Jedi, I take it, he said. Did you know the lost? he asked, obviously referencing the decreased Jedi from the memorial yesterday.

 

[Vinry Forge]

Ignoring question that preceded it, Vin focused on the introduction that came from the man, finally able to put a name to the curiosity. She also noticed the clenched fist as he confirmed that he had fought at the prison, wondering what sort of memories mention of the prison were bringing up. Being a Jedi meant being able to study people, not just through the Force, but through their body language. She wanted to ask about that, but was sensitive enough to simply shelve that new curiosity for later. There was a time and place for all questions, and this one did not belong here and now.

"Any Jedi worth their salt has to be curious." She replied with a somewhat contemplative smirk, his question bringing back thoughts that had lead to quite a few sleepless nights lately. "Guess I'm not that great a Jedi, never thought I needed to get to know my brothers and sisters. The ceremony was the first time I heard about them. Now I know more dead Jedi than I do living." She smiled and shook her head in a self deprecating manner as she realized she had been rambling and stopped speaking. She rubbed a hand across her face before turning her attention back to Talak.

"Sorry," she said, "it's been a weird few days. What brings you here? Are you a returning member of the Order, as I said I really don't know much about the Order so I apologize if that's something I should know." He had fought at the prison, and had survived. Given that one of the other survivors had been a Jedi Master, he must be very well versed in the ways of the Force. And if he was someone on the same level as Oren and had been a Jedi at some point then it might be expected of her to know him, and it was probably impolite of her to not know who he was.

@Phoenix

 

[Talak Rand]

So she didn't spend much time around other Jedi? That was interesting. Where did she spend her time, then? That would probably be his next question, but she had already launched into his next question.

Oh dear, so she really didn't have any idea who he was. Of course she didn't, how could she? If he'd used his title she might have known him, and if he said "I was a Sith"... well, maybe he shouldn't go that route.

Uh... no, I'm not a Jedi, he said. How could he even explain this? She hadn't actually asked his background, but merely what had brought him here.

I guess you could say I'm considering joining, but still trying to get a feel for the Order, he said, reaching up and scratching his head. He didn't feel like coming out and saying he was a Sith or even a dark sider was probably the best idea.

How do you feel about being a Jedi? If you don't spend much time with your "brothers and sisters" then where do you spend your time? he asked, genuinely curious. He was discovering they were quite diverse in how they saw things, acted, and much more.

 

[Vinry Forge]

His answers left her more curious than she had been a moment earlier. Then there had been doubts, the possibility that there was a past with the Order that explained his abilities. Now she had to wonder, where had he learnt to use the Force? With the Jedi ruled out, the obvious answer would have been one of the red sabers, the ones who had attacked the prison. But he had fought against them, so that ruled that option out. Where ever he had been taught, she was curious to know, and maybe some day visit the place. But before she could voice that question he spoke up with questions of his own.

"I, uh.." She started and stopped, not really sure how to answer his first question. So she moved on to the second, at least she had a more clear answer for. "You could say I'm something of a wanderer. My..my ideas regarding the Jedi don't really align with the views of the Council. The Force and their own conscience is all the guidance a Jedi should need. Sitting by and waiting for orders from the Council isn't really my thing." She walked forward as she spoke, moving towards the stump of a tree trunk close to her. "I am what some would call a Gray Jedi. I just see myself as a Jedi, nothing more, nothing less."

Having answered him as best as she could, she settled down on the stump. Realizing that the focus had somehow shifted to her, she shot out a question of her own. "What about you? You obviously have training, and you say you aren't a Jedi, but are considering joining. Is that because you didn't feel strongly about whatever group taught you? Who were they? Matukai, Baran Do? You don't look Miralukan, so probably not the Luka Sene."

@Phoenix

 

[Talak Rand]

Talak listened with interest to what she said. The idea that she didn't sit around on her butt waiting for the Council was certainly something he could agree with. He thought far too many of the Jedi were complacent, and it was one of his great hesitations in joining them. Besides the fact that he didn't fully understand what it meant to be a Jedi. They had a creed or code, but surely there was more than that?

I can respect that, he said with a nod. Curiosity of his own was growing, but he noted she didn't answer his first question. It was the one he was even more curious about, but before he could prod further - as Lilith could attest, he was quite good at prodding - she asked another question of her own.

Was it because he didn't feel strongly about what his group taught him? Ha, yes, you could say that.

You're evading my question, he said with a smirk. He could already tell she had a tendency toward that.

Who do you think I am? he asked. If it was a Jedi's job to observe then surely she had her suspicions.

 

[Vinry Forge]

She had hoped she had avoided having to give an answer that she didn't feel comfortable giving, but he was sharp enough to notice her deflection, and persistent enough to call her out on it. She wasn't sure what to say. There were opinions she had about most Jedi that would seem insensitive given the resent events, but at the same time he seemed to at least understand where she came from with regards to her position in the Order.

"The Jedi are lost in my opinion." She finally said, picking her words carefully. "When Luke Skywalker gave up no the Jedi, and Rey took on the task of rebuilding the Order, they were looking to the future. Yet here we are, different yet in many ways the same as we ever were. I do not question their intentions, or their motivation. But I do question their means. They need to be out in the Galaxy, acting as agents of the Force." She wanted to say more, but cut herself off, not wanting to say anything that might get interpreted as an insult towards those who had laid down their lives.

"What about you? What type of Jedi would you want to be? What if the Council orders you to act against your instincts, to ignore a wrong because they see things differently than you? Would you sit by and turn a blind eye to evil just to follow orders? I don't think sitting around doing nothing is your style, you seem like a man of action, maybe too much action. If not for the fact that you fought against these Sith that seemed to have popped out of nowhere, I would have guessed you were one of them. You certainly feel like what I assume one would feel in the Force." Having never actually faced a Sith, or even a true practitioner of the Dark Side for that matter, she really had no idea what one felt like. Had no idea how sensing someone like that would feel like, or how wrong she was in her assumptions about Talak being any sort of indicator of their Force signature.

@Phoenix

 

[Talak Rand]

Talak found himself smirking as she mentioned that the Jedi spent too much time in isolation. It was precisely what he had been so concerned about when it came to joining the Jedi, but he also realized that that was something that would be easier to fix than trying to redirect the entirety of the Sith.

No, I don't think I would, he said. He had no interest in having someone lording position over him any longer telling him who he could and couldn't help. While he didn't think the Jedi were likely to force him to murder people, he didn't love the idea of being told he couldn't engage in helping people. The Councilors wouldn't do that, would they?

And if I were a Sith? he asked. I'm nothing anymore, he said. He was surprised how many of the Jedi were willing look the other way. He wondered if she was the same.

And have you had issues with the Council restricting you? he asked. It appeared he was ready to brush over the "I'm a Sith" part as quickly as possible.

 

[Vinry Forge]

She had been on the defensive, so to speak, for most of the conversation. And she had been alright with that, maybe it was some of that Jedi passivity that was finally showing itself. But she had not really had the opportunity to press him as much as she would have liked to, had yet to get to the heart of the mystery that was this man. But then he mentioned the Sith, and that was where her intentions changed. She had been content with waiting, being patient and slowly moving towards understanding why this stranger had jumped in to face the Dark Side, putting his own life at risk.

But the moment he mentioned the Sith that changed. She sat up a little more straight on her stump, head tilting slightly to the side. "Hold up," she said, leaning forward a little to gaze more intently at him, "were a Sith? What does that mean? Are you saying that you actually are one of them? That the prison was some sort of act of rebellion?"

She didn't say anything for a moment, but jumped right back in without even giving him an opportunity to speak. "It would be the simplest explanation for everything, and given what we know about the Sith I can't blame anyone for wanting to turn their back on them. But how, what drove you?" By now she had accepted that he had some past with the Sith, it just made too much sense, but oddly enough what he would sense through the Force would be curiosity, and maybe the beginnings of acceptance. Nothing she had heard or sensed so far made her question his intentions, and if there was one thing she had learned on her travels it was to judge a man on their actions and not their reputation. "What gave you the strength to turn away from that path? Everything I had read about the Dark Side says the temptations of the dark side are not easily overcome." She had locked eyes with him by then, a burning curiosity in her eyes, a honest question on her lips, and not a shred of judgement. She was willing to let him speak, to understand, and only then come to any conclusions. It was, after all, the Jedi way.

@Phoenix

 

[Talak Rand]

She immediately took off into what she was talking about. His question - not even a definitive statement that he was a Sith - launched her into a full on barrage of questions and extrapolations. He couldn't even manage to get a word in edgewise before she finally paused and seemed to wait for him to answer the questions she asked.

It's a long story, he said. He considered giving her some sassing, obscure answer that didn't really confirm that he was a Sith, but at this point it didn't seem worth it.

The fact was that he didn't know her or particularly trust her, which meant opening up about his life story wasn't something he was leaping at.

I've always been interested in helping people. I never wanted to be involved in the things that the Sith did, he said.

Among other reasons, he said before quirking an eyebrow. I take it I'm the first former-Sith you've met. And no, I'm not a Sith anymore, he said.

 

[Vinry Forge]

There was a great many questions that she wanted to ask him. He was right that he was the first Sith, current or former, that she had ever met. This was an opportunity few people got, to get first hand information from someone like him. But she restrained herself, she barely knew the man and she couldn't really jump headfirst into this.

"If you're interested in helping people," she said after a few moments, "then you're probably at the right place. I hope you find what you're looking for here." I didn't, she thought to herself.

"Yes, you are the first. And I'm not the only one, unless the Jedi here have been secretly meeting your former colleagues behind the Council's back." But as much as she might not disagree with the Council, she had to trust the Jedi themselves enough to be better than that. It was an imaginable notion really.

"So, if you're considering joining, what's your impression so far? Do they compare up to the image you had in mind?"

@Phoenix

 

[Talak Rand]

Talak sensed there was some hesitation in her, but didn't press the issue. As lost as he'd felt for his whole life, he sensed drips of confusion in her as well.

He almost laughed when she mentioned that she hoped the Jedi weren't meeting with Sith. And yet, Talak had actually met several Jedi before now. And few of those had actually ended in conflict.

She asked what he thought of the Jedi so far, and he wasn't totally sure how to answer. There was a great deal about the Jedi that he still wasn't thrilled about, but they were better than the Sith.

They seem to be waking up, he said. He wondered if she would pick up on precisely what he meant.

They're certainly better than the Sith, at least, he said. I think I could probably end up alining with... most of what is taught here, he said. He still had his hesitations, but time would tell, and he wasn't going to rush into anything.

But you seem to have your own hesitations, he said, half question, half statement.