Part of Your World

[Aurora Blackwood]

The Force was changing. It was hard to see through the malaise of Darkness, but if you looked closely you could see. Those who knew where to look, how to look, could see hope rising. The Light was beginning to creep back into the galaxy. Slowly, But unmistakably. There was no certainty of what would happen. For the first time in a long time, there was more to put faith in besides the Empire. Change was coming.

Aurora Thaylena Blackwood sat in the pilot’s seat of her small shuttle. The Puddle Jumper was nothing to look at, but it got the job done. She was oddly at peace. The Five had agreed to approach the rebirth of the Order in earnest. Each of them had decided to seek out students. Students who could become the backbone of the reborn Jedi Order. Aurora had followed the will of the Force. Her journey had taken her across the paths of nearly a dozen Force sensitives. Some more promising than others. There were two that she believed would lead the Order when her time came. Theo and Val. These were the two Aurora had decided to take on as her first Padawan learners. The first she had ever trained, and her two most promising students.

The Morellian Jedi Master had been present when the Force awakened in Val. In that moment, she had felt a connection with the young rebel. She had known then she needed to see just what Val was capable of, and there was only one place they could truly go. Al’doleem. The river world was still a beacon of the Light, untainted by the corrupted touch of the Darkness. It also happened to be where Alliance command was based, and a small Jedi Temple being rebuilt. Aurora had told none of this to Val and she did not plan on telling any of this to Val. Al’doleem’s true purpose was known only to the Five, and Alliance High Command. She chose Al’doleem because it was safe and awash in the Light.

The ships sensors began to beep as they entered atmosphere. She flicked on the com. “We’re about to land, get ready.” The Jedi Master deftly piloted the ship into an open field, a large river running through the tranquil plain. The shuttle shuddered as it settled on its struts. Aurora quickly unbuckled her harness and headed for the lowering landing ramp. @Bran

 

[Valerie Tagge]

Theme​

As the light spacecraft entered the atmosphere of the river moon of Al'doleem, Valerie looked on through the viewport perplexed. She had not known where it was they were headed nor the reasoning as to why. Aurora had simply asked for her trust and that she would know when it was required for her to know. Valerie was understanding of the secrecy yet still her mind wondered as to why such an obscure moon was chosen of all places in the Galaxy. Rivers criss-crossed all over the planets surface and the natural topography was actually quite beautiful to behold. The crystal clear waters and natural vegetation gave the surface a certain vibrancy that felt pure and untouched. This was rare sight to behold in a Galaxy that had seen its fair share of conflict.

Aurora began to descend the shuttle over an expansive stretch of flat land and instructed Valerie to ready herself. She had no idea how to follow that instruction. Never in her entire life did she feel less prepared for something yet at the same time she knew that she had everything she could possibly need. Perhaps it was her mind that wasn't ready. Valerie had come in simple cloaked attire and had even removed her trusty blasters and wrench from her person. It required a substantial amount of willpower to willingly subject herself to this naked state of being. She was still recovering from the initial realisation of whatever it was that had awoken within herself and yet here she was, diving head-first into foreign waters. Completely willing to submit herself to the teachings of a stranger. A stranger with whom she felt a closer connection than her own flesh and blood.

The shuttle landed lightly on the river plains. Valerie deftly removed the flight harness and followed Aurora as she exited the shuttle. The fresh air of Al'doleem filled her nostrils and immediately she felt invigorated. After Kashyyyk she had acquired a finer taste for natural beauty and now cherished the refreshing surroundings she found herself in. Valerie turned to Aurora, "Why Al'doleem of all places?" Her voice was more inquisitive than anything else, hungry for any details as to their purpose here.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Aurora Blackwood]

Al’doleem was pure. A relic of a time before the Empire clutched the galaxy tightly. If you closed your eyes and breathed the Force, you could almost feel a time long forgotten. A time where the galaxy felt as Al’doleem did. Aurora breathed easily in the open air. Oh by the Force she missed this feeling. The river world was one of the few where they were truly safe. Here, they could be themselves without fear of red sabers springing up around them. Aurora’s mental walls fell and she opened herself to the Force. The Light flooded her body. She surfed the waves of the Lightside as easily as she breathed.

Aurora continued to walk from the ship as Valerie asked her question. Her brown robes whisked across the grass, her booted feet carrying them towards the river. “You’re thinking too much…I can feel it.” She didn’t blame the girl for being confused, or a little afraid. This was something completely new, terrifying, and unexpected. She gestured with both of her hands to the land all around them. “This world is untouched by the Empire, which means two important things. First, we can be ourselves in peace. Second, the Force flows uncorrupted all around us.” Aurora turned and flashed a bright smile.

“You can feel it. Close your eyes and feel the Force moving around you. It is right there, always at the edge of your mind, waiting for you to dive in.” She kept walking towards the river. “Oh, and try not to fall.” Aurora reached for young Valerie in the Force. She would guide her fledgling student towards the vast ocean that was the Lightside of the Force. The first step for any Jedi was to realize the Force moved through all things and was always only a call away. It was your greatest ally in the darkest of times. @Bran

 

[Valerie Tagge]

Untouched... Uncorrupted, so that is truly what the empire is, she thought to herself. She had always wondered at the intangible darkness that hung over all worlds under the control of the Sith. The same darkness that influences acts of hatred and despair within the innocent people of the Galaxy. She had seen and experienced all of it, unknowingly she had fought it off for herself. Valerie imagined what her life would have been like were she to have given in to the despair, who knows where she might have ended up. She cast those thoughts aside. She was here now and that was all that mattered.

Following Aurora's instruction Valerie tentatively closed her eyes. She had mixed feelings about her connection to the Force. She doubted her ability to properly grasp it as the last time she did it was under the effects of the Orga root. Not to mention that if she were to connect with the Force again, would she like what she saw or would there be another trial for her to face. At first Valerie was met with the all-encompassing darkness that was her eyelids but after a moment or two a streak of light flew across the darkness, followed by another and then another. To her it reminded her of the great procession of Wookiees at the Life Day festival however it looked more like a river of sorts. A single bright light took up the majority of her sight. She recognised it instantly as Aurora and she began to follow her nervously.

It was at that moment when her senses heightened. The light breeze that blew on her face as she stepped onto the grassy soil of Al'doleem was cold yet gentle, the tall blades of grass that brushed against her legs as she walked were comforting and unintrusive and the warm glow of the setting sun was enough to fill even the most desperate soul with hope. "I-... I can feel something"

@Valen Pelora

 

[Aurora Blackwood]

Aurora let the Force flow easily through her body. To her it felt like a massive river winding throughout the planet. The Force felt differently to everyone, it was different to everyone. Aurora plunged into an icy cold ocean when she waded into the Force, the ice would fade as a warm glow filled her chest. There was no describing the feeling. You couldn’t really teach someone the Force. They had to experience it for themselves. It was an altogether strange process. What Aurora could do was ensure Valerie understood what she was feeling. Slowly, she could see realization dawning on the young Rebel. The Force was beginning to move through them both. Time to play wise Jedi Master.

“You feel the Force. The Force as it is meant to be, the Lightside.” The Sith preached dominance of the Force. They tried to bend the Force to their will. Darkness was born of this dominance. True balance, the Force was it was meant to be was the Light. “There is no orga root here. No help to open up your mind.” Aurora smiled softly. “We must do the hard work. We must open ourselves to the Force. She turned and began to walk towards one of the large rivers. Al’doleem was full of them, and they weren’t far from one of the larger bodies.

Her right hand motioned for Val to follow. “Our fears close us from the Force. Our fears make it more difficult to feel the Light.” She turned to look at Val while they walked. “I can feel those fears in you Valerie, a past that makes you hesitant to accept the Light.” Aurora had a privileged life, raised by a Jedi who cared for her and away from the clutches of the Empire. “You must learn to set that pain aside. To truly accept the Force.” They were getting closer to the river. Close enough to hear the roar of the water. @Bran

 

[Valerie Tagge]

Valerie contemplated Aurora's words in silence. They spoke of hard work and overcoming fears. Sounds exhausting, Vee thought to herself. She made it sound as if casting aside one's pain was effortless and trivial yet to her, no matter how hard she tried to escape her past it would always end up finding her again. She never had trouble dealing with it in her own way yet she knew it would be something that would be with her forever. Nevertheless she calmed her hesitations and cleared her mind to the best of her ability. "Accept the force..." she whispered lightly. Her breathing became rhythmical and once again she attempted to reach out with her thoughts. For a split second she felt a stronger power behind it all, a serene sensation that disappeared as soon as it had arrived. This time it felt different to how it did on Kashyyyk, a little less obvious but still very apparent. Whereas the home planet of the Wookiees was a conglomeration of vibrant energies, the river moon was more subdued and calm.

The sound of the rushing waters of the nearby river filled the ears of the young rebel and her eyes opened. It sounded rough and teeming with momentum. Its strength would no doubt overwhelm her should she fall in, not that that was saying much. Valerie had never had an affinity to swimming or large bodies of water in general. As far as places to suffocate were concerned, she would much rather be in space than at the bottom of a lake. Her eyes drifted to Aurora. "I hope you aren't expecting me to swim, I didn't bring the appropriate clothing for that." Her voice had a humorous tinge to it and a nervous smile spread across her face.

@Valen Pelora

 

[Aurora Blackwood]

The Force continued to move freely between the Aurora and Val. Aurora carefully monitored what her young student was feeling. She understood just exactly how difficult the task was for Valerie. The Order of old had trained students from a very young age. Master Orady had explained it was to shelter them from the pains that could cloud the Force. Fears that could lead to the path of the Darkness. There was no time to train a generation of toddlers. Aurora believed the Order would be better for the experiences of those new Jedi. That had to be true.

Her feet carried her to the edge of the river. Pale greens eyes stared out over the quickly moving water. She laughed softly as Val pipped up behind her. “Even I wouldn’t make you do that.” Aurora didn’t want to have to go swimming in after Val. The river was dreadfully old. “There are some things the Force doesn’t require.” She turned and flashed a smile. Aurora reached out in the Force, feeling the flow of the river.

The river teamed with life. She could feel a thousand things swimming through the crystal waters. She reached out and cupped the water in the Force. Aurora molded the water, wrapping it in the tight embrace of the Force. Her right hand rose and with it rose three shinning balls of water. They traveled across the river to hover between Aurora and Valerie. She only had to concentrate slightly to maintain this simple working. With her left hand she gestured towards the river. “Move the water.” She continued to keep the water hovering between them. “You can only do it if you allow the Force to guide you. You must open your mind, Val.” She did not expect the young Rebel to accomplish this task easily, but she did believe the girl could do it. Val was skilled. That skill simply needed to be unlocked. @Bran

 

[Valerie Tagge]

Valerie stared in awe as the balls of water rose from the river's surface. They floated gently in front of Valerie, defying gravity and all she knew to be common sense. Vee reached out with her hand and her finger permeated the surface of one of the balls, the water was chilly and rippled at her touch yet maintained its shape. Her mind buzzed with excitement upon witnessing such a simple yet phenomenal action. Aurora seemed to be able to do such things with ease, her deft movements indicated years of mastery and practise.

After a few more moments of wonder, Aurora instructed Valerie to attempt the same feat. Vee gave a little hop in excitement and smiled, "I'll try." She walked up to the banks of the river and reached her hand out towards the flowing waters. Her movements were quick, brash and without result. She narrowed her eyes and tried once again, this time with more vigor and growing frustration. Nothing. Come on Valerie, you're embarrassing yourself, she scolded herself in her mind. She paused for a few moments to calm herself down and attempted to calm her tense muscles. Let the force guide me huh? She thought. Valerie felt her arms relax and with a series of slow breaths she reached out again and just let her body do its thing.

Valerie's arms waved in sync with the movement of the river flow and she felt as if she was being swept up in its current through her mind. At first her heart began to pick up as a result of instinctive fear and her mind fought back against the current yet however she soon realised that it was much easier to just go with the flow. Her hand extended out towards the surface and she leaned over the bank to the point of falling in yet she remained grounded. With a small gesture of her fingers, a couple large droplets of water extracted themselves from the surface of the river and hovered gently in the air. Although Valerie was calm and focused, she could feel the massive strain that the action placed on her mind. Beads of sweat began to form over her furrowed brow as she held focus on the small globules of water. "I-... I'm doing it!"

@Valen Pelora

 

[Aurora Blackwood]

Aurora kept her eyes carefully trained on Val. She did not want the young Rebel to become discouraged by any failure. This was not about making her student feel less, or unworthy. Aurora strongly believed teaching was most effective with positive steps forward. Failure had a place in learning, but it should never be forced on the student. Aurora had failed many times over in her life. Never because Master Orady had put her in a position to fail. The Morellian Jedi Master would always ensure her students had the chance to succeed. If they failed, she would pick them back up.

So it was that Aurora watched as Val worked her way through the Force. She could see her student begin to understand the flow of the Lightside. It was truly marvelous. Aurora might never get used to seeing understanding dawn on a young Jedi’s face as they began to unite with the Force. The Jedi Master beamed as Val managed her appointed task. Her smile flashed brightly in the Al’doleem sun. “Stay focused, Val.” It was not a rebuke, but rather a reminder that their training was just beginning. “Watch me…follow along.”

Aurora dipped back into the Force and reached for the water again. She mirrored Val’s working of the Force. Aurora began to rotate the water around in a circle. Her right hand moved the Force. With her left hand she gestured for Val to follow her lead. “Follow the flow of the Force. Allow it to guide you through the movements. It is your ally, you simply need to help it understand what you want.” Aurora made a grunting noise in her throat. “But you must listen to your body. The Force comes with a price, and it is a price you must be ready to pay.” The Morellian Jedi was fully focused on working with Val. She could not have possibly been aware of the massive brown bear that prowled the river banks. Neither Jedi would know of the creature, but it had heard them and it was curious. @Bran