Head Out of the Clouds (Training Elec Malthos)

[Droideka]

How many times had he dreamt of this moment? The time when he would be able to have a master to teach him the ways of the force. Elec had only had a master for several days before he was killed, so Elec hadn't had the opportunity to begin his training. Finally someone had claimed him as a padawan, yet Elec was here, once again, in the Jedi Archives, staring blankly at the far wall. Elec bit his lip as thoughts began to flood his troubled mind. He had, up to that point, only trained in secret and by himself. What if he made a fool of himself? What kind of padawan would he be if he couldn't hold his own in a fight? Then the thoughts in his head turned to the master he was soon to meet. What were they like? Were they the kind that pushed their padawan to the limit, or one that would shield them from the first waves of trouble...

 

[Wit]

Aden walked through the vast hallways of the Jedi Temple, his Jedi cloak billowing a little as he strode purposefully towards the Temple Archives. He was about to go to meet his padawan and couldn't help but be surprised by how much he had changed over the past few years. His life had changed in so many ways that he sometimes found it hard to believe that he was still the same person he had been back then. Yes he was indeed surprised, but pleasantly so. The blind Jedi walked into the vast archives still lost in his thoughts and almost collided with a group of younglings moving in the other direction. But at the last moment he stopped and moved out of the way letting them pass, he might be blind but he wasn't deaf. The loss of his eyes was something he had gotten over a long time ago. Entering the archives he opened himself to the Force and used a technique he had learnt to compensate for his blindness. Using the Force to look around the room he noticed a young man sitting by himself, radiating excitement tinged with worry and concern into the Force. Having found his student Aden walked over to him and tapped his shoulder and smiling warmly asked, "Eleckendrian Malthos? I am Aden Vaal, I believe I am to be your master."

 

[Droideka]

Elec could've sworn he leaped thirty feet when his shoulder was abruptly touched. Whirling around, facing the culprit, Elec went numb. "M-mm-my ma-ma-mast-master?" Elec stuttered failing at regaining his composure. Elec inhaled, bowing his head to the much older Jedi. "I am pleased to make your acquaintance...." Elec's hands were still shaking with both shock and anticipation. He had a master now! "I would be honored if you would teach me the ways of the force..." Elec kept his head bowed out of respect, staring at the cold floor of the archives.

 

[Wit]

Sensing Elic's excitement and anticipation through the Force, Aden couldn't hlp but remember how his first day as a padawan had been. Unlike Elic he had known his Master, his Uncle, for a long time. His Uncle had been more than just a mentor, he had been Aden's closest friend and the only family he had. With a pang Aden realized how much he missed his Uncle, his wisdom, his kindness. He had provided Aden with the education that had made Aden into the man he was right now. And Aden intended to follow that example and teach Elic as well as he could. Coming back to the present, Aden smiled slightly and gently catching Elic by the shoulders, straightened him. "Pleased to make your acquaintance too, my friend." He gently turned him towards the entrance and added, "Come, walk with me. And while we walk tell me a little about yourself. We should come to know each other a little better before we begin your training."

 

[Droideka]

The gentleness behind the man's voice surprised Elec. He had expected a master that was more of a drill sergeant then a mentor. Yet inside Elec couldn't help but feel somewhat appreciative of the man's character. True he had not met him long enough to know all about him, but he had a feeling that reassured his fears.

"Well..." Elec cleared his throat, "I guess I could say a little.." He began, following Aden out of the room. "I was born here on Coruscant, at least as far as I know. My first memories are of my 'father' I guess you could call him that. I never really knew his name, the people he ran with called him the General, I never questioned him. He tought me how to live on the streets, and how to stay alive down there." Elec bit his lip, then continued, "Then this man found me. I guess you could call it fate. The General had us rob this newcomer, thinking he had a good credit or two to lift."

Elec chuckled to himself. " We were in over our heads, he fought us off. The rest fled but I was pinned in a dead end alley. I was sure I was going to die....but he didn't do anything but laugh. He never said anything to me, just led me to his ship and brought me to this place." Elec sighed, stopping in his tracks. "I never even knew his name. He only spoke to me once after. He said that I was a perculiar child, one that would make a great Jedi....he was killed not long after." Elec shook off his pained expression. "So there it is...my tale, a short one it is."

 

[Wit]

As they walked, Aden slowly guiding them towards his small quarters, Aden patiently heard all Elec said concerning his past. An old friend of his, an ex-jedi now a member of the Shade Order, who had grown up in similar conditions. Having spent a lot of time with him as padawan, Aden could at some level understand Elec's life till now. The fact that he had ended in the temple indicated a number of things to Aden. Firstly it meant that he was skilled enough to have survived the underbelly of Coruscant's lower levels. At the same time he had not strayed into darkness during his time down there, Aden could himself sense that from the boy. "Hmm. Interesting life you have had till now, my young friend. But tell me something, why do you want to be a Jedi? What does being a Jedi mean to you?"

 

[Droideka]

"To be a Jedi, is to become something worth living." Elec slowly said, the idea curling around his thoughts. "I want to be a Jedi because of the way it makes me feel...to do good...When I was in the streets I did bad things, I hurt innocent people when I took what didn't belong to me. Sure I knew it was wrong, but I did it to survive. Now I have everything I could hope for, and I want to give back. Being a Jedi, it means protecting those innocents I used to hurt....at least I think I can protect them.." Elec bit his lip, his brows furrowing. "Why did you want to become a Jedi, Master?" Elec's jaw stiffened, realizing he had just asked his master about a personal matter. "I mean...if you care to share..." Elec corrected.

 

[Wit]

"Umm, well for me you could say it was a way to connect with my father. He was a Jedi also, but I never knew him. Both my parents died when I was two. I was raised and trained by my Uncle, my mother's brother and my father's friend since their time in the academy. In becoming a Jedi I learned how my father and Uncle lived, got to look at life through their eyes. I guess you could even say it was in my blood." Aden smiled nostalgically for a moment before continuing. "Allright, I guess we both know each other a little better. So tell me, how much knowledge do you have of the Force and how much training have you had till now?"

 

[Droideka]

Elec bit his lip, knowing this question would come. "Well, I know the force is a binding metaphysical power that is part of all our lives. It surrounds us and is part of us. It binds the galaxy together in ways I do not fully understand. I know it feeds off many emotions, some being darker than others..." Elec coughed, clearing his throat. "As far as training goes, I haven't had much practice, outside the few hours I spend by myself at night. The other initiates found me to be hermit-like, as I like to learn by my thoughts and my actions when I am alone. I have...basic understandings on how to control the force...and some...uh...other things that I have experimented with..." Elec shifted his weight, growing uneasy.

 

[Wit]

Aden silently heard Elec's answer, he had some knowledge of the Force which was good. It was always easier not having to explain to someone what the Force was. It was much easier to feel it than to actually scientifically explain it. "Yes, the Force is described as an energy field created by all living things, yet life cannot exist without it, one can't exist without the other. The Force flows through everyone and everything, binding us all together. Understanding will come with time, but before that," Aden tilted his head slightly to one side and asked, "Other things, what other things exactly?"

 

[Droideka]

Elec cleared his throat, tapping his two index fingers together. "Well...it all started a few weeks back. I was studying in the archives when I began to experiment with the force. I could feel it inside me, I would follow it as it moved, then it happened. I prodded at it, almost jabbing it with my mind. Then it began to shrink, becoming a small dot inside. I don't know what it is, but no one ever sensed I was in the Archives after that..."Elec shrugged, "Have you ever heard of anything like this happening?"

 

[Wit]

Aden heard Elec's answer and immediately knew what he was talking about, the Art of Small. Interesting, a padawan instinctively managing to do that was not unheard of, but it was rare, very rare. Aden continued walking in silence for some time before replying, "Could you do it once right now and show me?"

 

[Droideka]

"Uh....I think so..." Elec chuckled weakly, then slowed his breath. Closing his eyes, he began to focus on the dark light deep inside him. Prodding it with mental like prongs, the light began to shrink, decreasing in size, becoming a small orb. Exhaling, Elec held the orb to its size, "That's about as good as I can get it.....what do you think?" He asked his master, opening one eye.

 

[Wit]

"Hmm..that is a very interesting technique. I have heard of this, but never seen it being used by one as young as you. I would advice you to hold back on using this technique again until you have advanced a little in your training and are more aware of the dangers it presents. It can tempt you in ways which you cannot overcome at this time. When you are more aware of what it means to be a Jedi, you will be more prepared to use it. "

Finally stopping in front of his own quarters Aden opened the door and waving his padawan stepped inside. moderately sized room, albeit one that was spacious and cozy for its size. The room they stepped into was small, a small table set against a wall with a few chairs around it and a shelf full of numerous volumes were the only furnishing in the small room. A door led off into the bedroom beyond. Offering Elec a chair he sat down himself before continuing, "And while we are going there, do you know the Jedi Code?"

 

[Droideka]

"Of course....the code of conduct that established rules and modes of behavior for all Jedi....right?" Elec said as he entered Sid's room.
"Emotion, yet peace.
Ignorance, yet knowledge.
Passion, yet serenity.
Chaos, yet harmony.
Death, yet the Force."

Elec exhaled, letting the quote he had just uttered sink in solemnly. He had read it many times when he was in the Archives. He then slowly opened his eyes and looked over to his master. "I have tried to meditate on this many time by myself, it has a resounding effect on me, mentally pacifying my daily stresses." Elec let out a chuckle, looking over towards the books in his master's collection. He had a fascination with books, a regular average bookwrom, in both thought and spirit.

 

[Wit]

"Good, knowing ultimately leads to understanding. True understanding of the Code will come with time, your life experiences will teach you more than any book or scroll can. The fact that you have given thought to such matters is a very good thing. Too many young Jedi focus primarily on the more flashier aspects of being a Jedi, lightsabers and Force powers, a desire to be the hero. But knowing when to act is as important as having the will and ability to do so. I think we should pick on this a little further on in your training. Lets try with a simple power, telekinesis. A power that is simple to learn, but if mastered can be used in ways only limited by your imagination."

Walking over to the small table he filled out a glass of water and picked up a blumfruit and bringing them over, once more took his seat. Placing the glass on the floor he continued, "Try this excerice, using the Force float this fruit over to that table I picked it up from and then return it once more to my hands."

 

[Droideka]

Elec nodded to his master, he had used telekinesis somewhat when he was alone. He would sometimes use it to move food with him to the archives, floating it above his head so no one would notice it. Elec sighed, focusing his attention on the blumfruit in front of him, he raised his right hand towards the fruit. Slowly but surely it rose, floating a foot above his master's hand. It quivered at first, but then began to move towards the table Master Aden had picked it up from. Elec touched it down, then picked it up again, with the intention of returning it to his master. The fruit began to shake now, showing the fatigue Elec now felt. Surprisingly this was more difficult than he imagined. Sheer sense of pride urged Elec on, until the fruit landed in Aden's hands. "I'm sorry master, I haven't used it much. I feel I am rather basic in that aspect."

 

[Wit]

"Don't worry, you are doing good. Practice, thats what you need. Practice until it becomes like second nature to you. Telekinesis is one of the most versatile abilities a Jedi can learn, its usage as a form of offense or defense only limited by your own imagination." Grasping the fruit in the Force he shot it towards Elec, stopping it abruptly a few centimeters from his face. He then began rotating it in front of Elec's face, level with his eyes. "You must learn when to be firm, and when to apply a gentle touch. Take a small break and try again." He then returned the fruit to the table, motioning for Elec to proceed.

[OOC:Play out Elec practicing it until he becomes comfortable with the technique.]