Ask Ajan Kloss The Fire of Youth

[Oren Zapan]

The Jedi Temple, Ajan Kloss.
​

Master, do you think I'm ready for this..I can train a whole class of students, but the prospect of one, that scares me. I don't know how you were able to do it, to train me...What if I fail her, what if she falls to the darkside and destroys everything I care for, the Jedi, my friends...The markings on his face began to turn shades of bright read as the near human's emotions spiked as he sat there waiting for his apprentice to arrive. Emotion, yet peace. Chaos, yet Tranquility. He'd repeat the mantra, over and over in his head as he sat there watching each robe pass by.

She was different from him in almost every regard. Her profile said that she was loud and fiercely independent. The recordings she gave to the archives about her past was enough to bring alarm. The pain and the confusion she had to feel, it was no different than his time as a slave within the spice mines. The outer rim was no place for an orphaned child. As far as he was aware, she had no training, not even a saber. He'd need to find out who she really was, and together they would begin to build a bond, one that he hoped she'd be able to look back upon, like he does with his own master.

He could sense her approach through the force. Here goes nothing, he'd think with a deep breath as he stood up, his hands folding across his chest and hidden under his brown robes. He'd tilt his head slightly as a young teenage girl entered the room, a soft smile forming on his face as he opened up his arms in a subtle greeting. "Good evening," he'd say in a soft tone, "My name is Jedi Knight, Oren Zapan, I will be your master...your name is?"

 

[Juniper]

"I don't really know, Three-B," Nara said, feeling the droid twitch in her bag. "They just said to meet him there." With a sigh, she headed down the hallway with a little apprehension. The temple stood in stark contrast to the environment she'd been used to. Well, the whole world did, in fact. She'd never seen so much green. So much life. When she'd been brought to the planet, just a short time ago, the freshness in the air had nearly pushed her to her knees.

Though, the jungle had it's own issues. The sterile, machine hum of Nar Shaddaa had been replaced with the movements and cries of countless creatures. It still didn't feel quite right to be there. As if she'd been chosen by mistake, as if this was all just some joke being played on her.

As she approached the room, she could feel something. A sensation. Something like the dull vibration through the metalwork that latticed her home, but much more... organic. Alive. She blinked, brushing the feeling from herself as she entered and saw her... well, her Master before her.

Nara approached carefully, leaving some distance between them. He looked more normal than she expected, honestly. The marks on his face were unusual, sure, but he just seemed reassuringly, disappointingly normal. The robes were a little strange, especially compared to her dirty, blue-brown coat.

Nara offered him a small, slightly nervous smile in return. She raised her hand, giving him a little wave. "Hi. Hey. Ah... I'm Nara." There was a brief pause before she butted in. "I mean, Nara Allam. I keep forgetting that part." Her eyes scanned the room a little around the both of them, drinking it in. Almost like she was waiting for something, or someone, to leap out from the edges of her vision.

"This um... this is the temple, right? All this?" she asked, looking around the room in a confused awe. Old in a way she'd never experienced before. It set her on edge. "It feels strange. Being here." She shivered slightly, fingers flexing instinctively. "Everything's so... alive."

 

[Oren Zapan]

Oren tilted his head slightly, smiling as she stopped some distance away from him. He expected the girl to be nervous or even reluctant to outright approach him. He remember when his master found him newly free from the spice mines with no where or any direction in his life. He had no concept of family, friends or what it meant to be alive. It took his master years to get through to him, to guide him towards becoming a knight. They hadn't always gotten along, and in the end he had never gotten to apologize to him for the pain and trouble he had put him through. Is this how you felt when you saw me, confused and unsure of yourself? I understand now, what you were doing for me then. I'm going to train her and take care of her..If only you could see me now, I miss you.

"Nara," his voice cracked, "...It's a beautiful name," he'd attempt to regain composure, nodding as she asked her question. "Yes, this temple was founded by Rey Skywalker and the first Jedi.." He'd pause, hearing commotion coming from her bag. A droid perhaps? He'd raise a hand, "There is no need to hide little one," he'd say towards the droid, "You can come out."

He'd motion for the droid and the student to follow him into the halls, "You can feel it, it's the energy that binds us all, it is inside yourself, inside of me, in front and behind and all around you. This is the living force, and soon you will come to know of it." He'd say with a gentle whisper as he lead the young girl to a statue that lined the main entrance.

"This is our founder, Rey Skywalker, living up to the legacy of her own masters she brought our order back from the ashes of distant memories and into what we are today." He'd turn towards the girl, bending down to be at the same eye level, "All of this is overwhelming, just as it was most likely for her, as it was for me and for everyone who begins their journey." He'd pause as the markings on his face began to fluctuate in color, "Just know that the force is with you, and that I will always be with you, no matter what happens."

tag: @Chan

 

[Juniper]

Nara felt the droid beep happily in her bag. Little show-off. "Well, you might as well come out now, Three-B," she groaned, feeling the droid chirrup happily. The flap of her bag flipped open suddenly, the oddly-shaped head of her little scout droid peeking over to stare at Oren. All four sensors stared at him, including the dusty, cracked one that Nara'd never quite managed to fix. After a couple of seconds, he leaped out from the bag, landing on a pair of thin, patchwork legs. He tensed and teased one of the legs, like it felt strange.

"Yeah I know. You'll have to get used to it. The walk'll do you good," Nara told him, with the tone of an exasperated parent. They both followed Oren through the halls, with the sound of Nara's boots and Three-B's filling the air. He was right though. She could feel it. The energy. She'd felt it before, distant and strange, when she'd been young. She felt it in the warrens, hallways and crannies of Nar Shaddaa. She'd felt it amongst her friends. And she felt it here, stronger and sharper than ever before. The Force. She still didn't feel like she could believe it. She knew it was true, she'd felt it. She'd used it.

Nara stood below the statue, taking it in. The words filtered into her mind as she took in the Founder's appearance. The look chiselled onto her edifice. Somehow, the fact that it was a woman was more comforting to her than she could have imagined. Then Oren knelt down, taking her level. Nara stepped back instantly, eyes narrowing. Just on instinct. Grown adults very rarely kneel down to talk to orphans for nice reasons, in her experience. Three-B just stared up at her from her side, before padding a little closer and poking her in the leg.

"Ow... yeah, sorry. Didn't mean to," Nara mumbled, letting out a sigh. They were trying to help. Oren was trying to show her. She shouldn't be so suspicious, she knew that. Didn't make it all that easy though. A flicker of doubt passed through her as he mentioned that he'd always be with her. Like a brief little flash of annoyance on her face, gone in half a second.

"Master..." she began, her lips stumbling over the formal title slightly, "Oren... what do we do? Where does it start? How do I learn?" There was an edge to her voice, curiosity mixed with anxiousness. Her whole life had changed so quickly that her head was spinning. The Jedi who'd brought her here, the ones that'd talked to her, they said that it was a place of learning. A place she could find herself. Nara had thought that it was trash, that she already knew who she was. It was beginning to sink in that she hadn't. Not at all. Every Jedi she'd met in this short period of time had been so calm and possessed of themselves that Nara knew she couldn't be one of them.

Her eyes flicked around again impatiently, lingering on the statue again. "Everyone's calm. Everything's calm. Too quiet. I don't think... I'm not like you. I'm not quiet, or weird or patient." She'd always been proud of her forwardness, her stubbornness and refusal to be quiet. Now, in the Jedi temple, the peace of the place felt almost oppressive. She felt like she was wrong.

 

[Oren Zapan]

Oren could sense the angst in her voice, it was the same that he held when his master brought him into the order. To go from wandering the galaxy alone to being told that you have abilities that still baffle him to this day, it was confusing and he had taken in the wrong way for the longest time. He thought he knew everything he needed, that he didn't need to rely on his master and that he could teach himself. He could see in her face that she was confident in herself, possibly confused. It was part of their upbringing, they had to be strong to survive in the Outer Rim, but here she could be open.

He'd stand up, his face falling into a neutral expression, but the force rung through him, showing that his emotions were often in chaos and flux, luckily for him she probably couldn't pick up on that. To think that they were all zen and masterful, would be a lie. They were organic beings, shaped by the force. The Jedi had tried to be robotic at one time, to shun everything. It went against the nature of the force and a being's natural instinct.

Peering down with his soft brown eyes, he'd place a hand on her shoulder, a soothing sensation escaping his fingers and towards her presence, hoping that it would ease any tensions she felt. "Well, we have a code, but we'll get to that soon enough." He'd smile as he began to lead her down the hall and towards the west wing. "But, first we're going to eat some food and I'll show you your room."

They would make their way into the dining quarters of the temple. There were a few students and knights located throughout, but the kitchen was full of Jedi from all ranks working away at their duties. Smells from all over the galaxy filled the air. The steamy hot smell of gochi rice, to the smell of bantha meat. There was food for all sorts of diets.

Hoping to ease the girl's mind he'd perform a small trick, his fingers raising to pull a few patties onto a plate he had taken, he'd reach out floating a bantha pattie that he would ease onto the bun. He would grab a few various vegetables, waiting for the girl to finish up before they made there way towards a small table off to the side. He'd place the food down, taking a good look at the girl.

"You'll soon learn, we're not all that patient, we all struggle," he'd pause ripping into his food. Wasting little time he'd begin to talk as he chewed, "And I am weird, quite weird in fact. I like to live in the library reading books about whatever." He'd shrug, pointing towards his face, "I have weird markings and don't know my own species." He'd laugh accepting the remarks that the girl had given him.

"But who are you?" He'd raise a brow as the words escaped his mouth playfully, "Who is Nara Allam?"

tag: @Charndley

 

[Juniper]

Nara tensed as she felt his hand on her shoulder. Her eyes widened slightly, a mix of emotions running through them. She had to stop herself from shrugging him off. There was a definite tension there, though. It passed in a couple of seconds, but it was there. A thinning of the lips or a glint in her eye. Something calmed her down a little, a cooling sensation that passed through his touch. Was it trust? Or was it some kind of strange, Jedi trick?

You can't keep thinking the Jedi are a bunch of completely different people, she told herself, you're here. You're one of them.

Still, her master only needed to mention food and her attitude changed. She nodded, giving him a smile. "Oh, yes. I'm starving."

The dining area might have ranked as the most miraculous thing she'd seen since arriving on Ajan Kloss. Food. Food from everywhere. Food freely available, in abundance. She followed her master with a plate in hand, her eyes just taking in everything that was there, breathing and relishing the smells and tastes that filled the room. The question of what to have consumed her, the choice was just overwhelming.

She followed her master's example, grabbing a couple of bantha patties. She pressed them onto the bun, but without the grace and display that Oren used. She just mashed them down in excitement. When they sat, Nara immediately went for it. She grabbed her bun, taking a hefty bite out of it. Her eyes rolled a little as she chewed, sighing.

"This is sooo good," she groaned in appreciation. Food, fresh and free and cooked with care. Before she knew it, it was already gone. Already a warm and pleasant feeling of satisfaction inside her. Moving onto the rice, she wondered when she'd last had this much food all at once. Maybe once or twice, when she was younger. Maybe never quite this much, she couldn't remember. She didn't even think about what she'd look like, or the opinion her master might have of her. She barely registered that there was anyone else in the room.

Once she'd finished, and managed to wipe a little of the remnants from around her face, she looked back up at her master. She wore a slightly warmer smile now. Amazing, what a good meal can do. He was right, his markings were a little weird but they were interesting too. No different from the face tattoos that people she ran with used to have. Yeah, actually there is a difference, these are natural and kinda cool, face tattoos are awful and you should remember what you learned about that, Nara.

"Who am I?" she repeated, thinking it through with a frown. Her brows pushed together in thought. It was a question she'd never really had to consider before. She thought about just giving her name again but she wasn't stupid, she knew what he meant. Who was she? What was she about?

"I don't know who I am really. I mean, aside from me." She paused to sip a little water, to add a little to the churn of actual, nutritious food that was coursing through her body. "I'm... good with droids. I like circuits and messing around with them. Even if they give me shocks." Oh, she'd had some real shocks in the last few years. "I... I ran with a lot of kids doing different things. Stealing. Slicing. Lifting datapads, jewellery, y'know." She hoped that he'd been told. She'd been honest with the Jedi that'd talked to her. After all, they'd found her on Nar Shaddaa. Nobody who lives there for any length of time comes out clean.

"I'm just not really sure who I am anymore. Not since you guys found me. I was just the spark-y girl back there. Now I just..." she continued, leaning back for a second to think. She wasn't all that good with words, her brain was too messy with frustration and mixed feelings. "I just want to be okay. Be with people. Maybe help them too. I don't know... I've never been good with people who are in trouble. Or suffering." She said it as if it was a weakness. But of course, it had been, back where she came from.

@TWD26

 

[Oren Zapan]

Oren couldn't help but laugh as the girl chomped away at her food. He could only imagine how hard it was to find her next meal, he himself knew what it felt like to be hungry or to go with little food himself when he was a child. The near human practically had the same reaction back then as she did today. Funny how things seem to come full circle, huh? He'd take a small bit of his burger, savoring the flavors and tastes.

He'd place the burger down, nodding in silence towards her mentioning of droids. "If you like droids, and tech. Then I have a new friend for you, and a project." He'd smile as he leaned back in his chair, "I'll show them to you soon enough." His mind thought back to R2 and the Centennial Convor, his master had taken on the ship when his long time friend passed away. He claimed that ship was famous back in the time of the Empire, but Oren found such a claim to be unlikely. Regardless, the ship was now his and R2 was under his control and he cared for both things deeply--maybe one day they would be Nara's to treasure?

Though when it came to questions about who she was, that was when he noticed the confusion fall upon her face. She was lacking an identity, and it seemed that she was nervous about her own past. He had certainly felt the same way, and he admired her honesty towards him. "Your past is your past," he'd say softly, "I can't imagine what it felt like to be alone on Nar Shaddaa, doing anything to get by. I was nearly the same way, I was a slave in the spice mines, had no family or many friends. All i knew was my drill and the smell of various rocks and the dim light." He'd think back to those days, "I never thought I could find myself, to find who I am, I still don't quite know to be honest with you."

He'd lean in, taking a good look at the girl's soft face, his brown eyes locking in with her own. "Truth be told, we are always changing our lives are always fluctuating and we will always be searching for our identity. This is okay," he'd lean back. "For our emotions make us connected to the galaxy, though when we learn to accept our feelings for what they are and why we feel them, we can feel peace with ourselves and our decisions. And through such control we can learn to find the peace in the chaos of our emotional storms that lay within us and the galaxy." Kriff I hope that didn't bore her.

tag: @Charndley

 

[Juniper]

A project? That couldn't come soon enough. Nara'd always been happiest when tinkering. Whether it was on an encrypted datapad, or a jammed module door, or on Three-B. The droid itself chirruped happily at her feet, nudging his head against her leg. She must have had the only scout droid this side of the galaxy with an attention-seeking complex.

Nara listened to Oren's story, her eyes finally focused on his. Her expression softened as he talked about the mines, what he'd had to do. In many ways, worse than what she'd had. "Oh. I'm sorry." She wasn't sure what to say in response. There wasn't really anything she could say. It'd happened. Clearly, he'd moved some way past it. It helped make things a little clearer though, and a little more positive. If he can go through that and become this... well, this Jedi, then why can't I?

Her body visibly relaxed, though. Her shoulders slipped back a little. The tension drained. Her eyes had stopped darting around, focusing on Oren properly for the first time. She listened to his little speech about emotions, identity and searching. Kinda. She took it in, chewed through it in her brain.

"That sounds like a load-a batha crap to me," she finally said, a smile forming on her lips. She chuckled a little, her shoulders shrugging gently as little dimples appeared on her cheeks. "Buuuut if you say it's like that, I'm not gonna fight back against it. Might take a little bit of proving though."

She had no idea if any of it was true, or if any of this was for her. However, after the food, after hearing Oren's story and finding it similar to her own, she felt a lot better. The galaxy was so much bigger than she'd realised and the Force was an untapped, unknown universe she'd stumbled into.

"I believe you... kinda. For now. There's gotta be something I can build for myself here." There was little choice in the matter, she supposed. Oren was chosen to be her master and she'd been brought to Ajan Kloss by the Order. They wouldn't keep her there against her will... but what else did she have? It was this or head back to Nar Shaddaa, where her old friends would want nothing to do with her and she'd just be running droids and splicing for some seedy group out of the Hutt Quarter.

"I hope I can find a little bit of peace here. Least I can try and do something... y'know, good."

@TWD26

 

[Oren Zapan]

Oren shook his head in response, "Don't be sorry," he'd say softly as he finished off the last of his food. He'd bow his head, thinking back to everyone he had met, the planets he had traveled to. "The force brought me here, brought me to the Jedi, to all the people that I've met, to my friends, and now they've brought me to you."

It was true, he had often felt that his life was influx, but knowing that everything happened for reason brought him some peace. His life had turned out well and he had grown as a man, a teacher, and a Jedi. He knew there would be further hardships, struggles and tests, but that was part of life and one that he knew he would always take with stride.

He listened as Nara called out his idea of constant chaos and rapid change. He understood why though, she was still processing this all. It sounded like Bantha crap because to most of the galaxy that was what it seemed to be. But, all of it was true and her mind and galaxy view would be shaped in the coming days and months. "It's okay," he'd say with a gentle tone, standing up and placing a hand on her shoulder as he picked up her empty plate, "In time I will show you everything I know." He would lead her through the halls and to her quarters where she'd sleep.

"You'll find peace here, I'll help guide you the best I can." He'd smile as the markings on his face began to glow with a soft rose-colored complexion. "Get some sleep, I'll come to you in the morning."

OOC: Feel free to do one last post and then /End Thread

tag: @Charndley

 

[Juniper]

There was a quiet reverence about the way her master spoke about the Force. If he'd overloaded it, trying to be bombastic and full of awe, Nara would have just dismissed him out of hand. The quiet tone and the way he spoke just showed how much he truly believed all that. A little more comfort to her, really.

The reality of her situation was sinking in now. Days, weeks, months, in the Temple. Training. All those other Knights and Pada-whatevers all talking about their weird psychic stuff and about peace, emotion, passion... As they walked up towards the quarters, Nara was shiver-y with nerves. Could she go through with all this? Was that what she'd become? Just another chanting, soft-spoken Jedi monk who spoke about connection and The Force like they were in love with it. Was it worth that, to find a place? Changing who you were, completely.

Nar Shaddaa was starting to seem less scary by that point.

She entered her small quarters and sank onto the bed, looking a little sullen. She couldn't even appreciate that she was being given her own space for the first time in her life. A clean, warm space just for her. The enormity of her future bore down on her, pressing on her brain like a thousand-pound pressure door. She looked up at Oren and saw him smiling, saw those markings glow softly. "Thanks. I'll try," she managed to force herself to say, giving him a weak smile.

As she laid back on the bed, staring at the stone ceiling, she wondered how long she'd last. Could she make it all the way? What if she was the Jedi version of an idiot? Y'know, like the kids back on Nar Shaddaa who were just too slow or too clumsy to make a decent lift from a guy? Would they just send her back, or use her as an example? What if she didn't want to be some robe-clad clone, getting hyper over a shift in the air around them?

Well... if she was really desperate...

"Three-B?" she asked, as the droid scampered on the stone floor below. She leaned over, her dark hair falling around her as she looked right at the half-busted droid. "You saw those ships out there, right? Your slice-link still working?"

Three-B gurgled in approval, nodding his bulbous head at her.

"Great. Good. Just checking." It always paid to have a contingency plan.

/END THREAD

@TWD26