The First or the Last

[Jax Vos]

Xaliv waited. What did he wait for? He waited for everything. He waited for the Jedi to become guardians of peace and justice once again. He waited for a rebellion to grow against the Sith. He waited for the day that the people of the galaxy would accept the Jedi once again.

But right now, Xaliv Wyn waited for Akiva Raynar. Raynar was the former Padawan of Yuriko Hattori, a Jedi Master who had been a mentor to Xaliv. Now Xaliv would get to know this young man. He wanted to know what Akiva was made of. Akiva had interested Xaliv for months, and now he would learn about this boy.

Xaliv had sent a message to Akiva, saying that he was a student of Master Hattori's and that he wished to meet him. He had asked to meet in the lounge area, since that would be the best place to have a casual conversation. Xaliv hoped that Akiva would come, but he could not be sure.

 

[jaydee]

Meditation

Hello Master Hattori. It's been some time since I have tried this. Connecting with your spirit has not gone as smoothly as I thought it might but then I was never the best student when it came to meditation. I suppose you know how the battle ended of course and what happened to the jedi since then. You're death has been something that has haunted my dreams for a long time. Most of my friends from the temple are no longer alive or have become lost. I studied harder over these past years but there is only so much one can learn from a holocron. Even if that holocron is from some of the most respect Jedi Masters in history. I tried putting my name in a few challenges for padawan searches but none took. I have taken a few classes and while I have lived at the temple all of my life, I feel like a new student all over again. How is it that you can live somewhere for so long and not know all of the other people? Sorry master. I'm complaining again. Anyway, I received a message from Jedi Knight Xaliv Wyn. I remember you mentioning him a few times and I am to meet him on our flagship to dicsuss....I'm not sure, but if there is one lesson you always tried to instill in me, it was this: Always do what is right. Never what is easy. It was in fact the first lesson you taught me and I have tried to live my life by that lesson. I have to go now. I'll try this again later. May the force be with you Master Hattori.​

Akiva had never been on the Light of the Force before. It was very nice. After asking for directions to lounge, Akiva made it. He had seen Jedi Knight Xaliv Wyn during the Battle of Coruscant before and during his time as Master Hattori's padawan and while they had never been formally introduced, he recognized him as soon as he saw him. Akiva bowed toward Xaliv as soon the Jedi Knight saw him. "Master Wyn", Akiva said. "My name is Akiva Raynar. It's very nice to finally meet you."

 

[Jax Vos]

Xaliv turned to see a young man, of about twenty. He was a little surprised, he had expected to meet a very young man of about sixteen. Xaliv inclined his head in respect. Akiva Raynar, nice to finally meet you. Master Hattori always spoke very highly of you. Xaliv took a chair and motioned for Akiva to do the same.

This was the most unusual thing that Xaliv had ever done. He had never taken a Padawan before, but he could already sense a connection to Akiva in the Force. So, Akiva, tell me a little about yourself. How long have you been a part of the order?

 

[jaydee]

When the introductions were made, Akiva noticed something about Jedi Knight Wyn that caught his attention. He felt something through the force that seemed to almost tell him something. Like there was some kind of connection between the two of them. Master Hattori had always told Akiva to listen to the living Force and to heed it's call. Was this meeting a sign from the Force? Akiva had been hoping for a master for a little while now. After the battle of Coruscant, he had gone to training himself with holocrons and without really realizing it, he had sort of secluded himself from the other Jedi for some time. Now that the Jedi had come together again, Akiva wanted to once again be a part of the New Jedi Order and taking classes and finding a new master was a part of that process.

"Well", Akiva started. "I don't remember much about my early days. I know I was born on a ship and it exploded maybe days after I was born. I was told that my parents were both force sensitive but I don't more than that. The Jedi took me in and I lived in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant since then. I trained as a youngling until I was around 9 or so. That's when Master Hattori took me as her Padawan. For three years, she taught me the ways of the force as we went on various missions together. Then the Battle of Coruscant happened. I fought by her side for as long as she felt it was best. Then at some point, Master Hattori realized we had lost. She got me to safety by telling me to get others to safety. Just as I got a group of civilians out of the battle, I saw my master engage in battle with the Sith. I lost a lot of friends that day as well as my master. Since then, I had been in semi-isolation. I just couldn't take the in-fighting with all of the Jedi. When the fighting finally stopped, I wanted to become a part of the New Order but I realized that the people I knew were no longer here. I need to reintroduce myself to the order and taking classes and hopefully being chosen to be someone's Padawan will help with that. It's my hope to one day become a Jedi Knight."

Akiva had realized how much he spoke and how long it had been since he had said that much to another living person and realized that it felt pretty good. Akiva smirked at that and looked at Xaliv with a touch of confidence he hadn't felt in quite some time.

 

[Jax Vos]

Xaliv smiled when Akiva opened up. He was a little surprised that the Padawan had opened up so much on their first meeting. However Xaliv did feel pain similar to the Padawan. Not only had he lost his mentor who, though she had not been his master, had been the most influential Jedi in his life. He could sense the Akiva's pain, as well as his loss. Xaliv had lost many people, but he had not lost as many friends as Akiva. The Knight reached out to the Padawan through the Force and tried to comfort him in a way that an older brother might try to comfort the younger.

Xaliv suddenly realized that he had begun to tear. I am sorry that you had to go through that. It is a hard thing to go through. I, myself, have lost many a good friend and both of my mentors. That war was the worst mistake we could ever have made.

Suddenly the Crystavian realized what he was saying. It was not his place to complain about the former Councils. I'm sorry. I should't have said that.

 

[jaydee]

Akiva smiled when the Xaliv apologized. "No need for that. I have wondered a lot over the years about what happened to the jedi after the Battle of Coruscant. Sometimes, when something burns to the ground, it's to make way for something even greater to rise from the ash. I don't know why things had to happen the way it did but I know the force guides us and so the reason will reveal itself when the time is right. Master Hattori once told me that we must always do what is right. Never what is easy. So now we must do what is right. With the new council in place, the jedi have the opportunity to once again be called upon as the guardians of peace throughout the galaxy as we once were so many years ago." Akira believed that with all of his heart. It was a motto that he tried hard to follow and live by. It was what made the past 10 years so difficult. Akiva did not want any part of the jedi in-fighting but in hindsight, all of the conflict could possibly lead to an even greater Jedi Order than before. Akiva had to believe that or all of what they sacrificed was for nothing.

Akiva was suddenly curious about Xaliv Wyn. "Would you tell me a bit about yourself Master Wyn?"

 

[Jax Vos]

Xaliv smiled when the Human brought up Master Hattori's most popular saying. Do what is right, not what is easy. That had been one of his favorite sayings when he was a Padawan. In fact it was still impacting him.

Xaliv was brought back by Akiva asking about him. It took the Crystavian by surprise. It had been a long time since anyone had even ventured to so much as ask about his life. Well, I was born on Coruscant. My parents raised me in a sort of mix between their cultures. Chiefly I followed my father's Kiffar culture. My mother really wanted me to learn more from her culture, but I just couldn't bring myself to become steeped into a culture that practiced polygamy and discriminated against Force-sensitives. And that was before I even had any idea that I was Force-sensitive myself. Anyway, when I was about eight or nine I was taken to the Temple on Coruscant where I was made a Padawan. And I've spent the last twenty-six years as a Jedi. Over the last ten though, I was tempted to leave. Xaliv leaned back in his seat, he was becoming quite comfortable with this Padawan. He would ask for Akiva to be his first Padawan.

 

[jaydee]

Akiva listened to Xaliv's story. He had heard of races that had a natural dislike and distrust of things that they don't understand. It is a natural reaction if not the most reasonable. Akiva had been the subject of such discrimination in the past. Of all the things that Akiva had experienced in his young life, this was the one thing he could never comprehend. Why one individual would forsake another because they were different never made sense to him. Especially in a galaxy as vast and as diverse as the one they lived in. "Master Xaliv", Akiva began. "Have you ever studied your mother's culture? Maybe learning more about their customs and their beliefs, you might discover why they discriminate those who are force sensitive. Sometimes, the best way to combat discrimination is knowledge and compassion." It was a lesson that Akiva had learned from Master Hattori over the years. It all came back to doing what was right and never what was easy.

Akiva didn't know what it was about Jedi Knight Xaliv, but he hadn't felt this comfortable and at ease with anyone since Master Hattori and he saw this part of the living force's sign that something was happening and it was up Akiva to listen to it's will.

 

[Jax Vos]

Xaliv shook his head. That was not why he had given that piece of his story. Yes, I have. It's just at that time I was angry because of what they had done to my mother. I did not understand why she wanted me to learn about the people who had cast her out. After I was taken in I studied their culture and found they are great warriors and artisans. However, they have a serious drive for perfection.

Xaliv looked at Akiva. The young boy was interesting. Do you know anything about your parents aside from they were both sensitives?

 

[jaydee]

Akiva thought for a moment before answering. He had never wondered about his parents. Who they were or what they did. Akiva's entire life had been at the Jedi Temple and it was all he ever thought about. It took him a moment before thoughts began to swirl around his head about who his parents could have been. "That's an interesting question", Akira said. "I have never wondered about my parents until just now and I have no reason as to why. I only know I was born on a freighter that was leaving the planet Kiffu. I know the freighter was attacked and destroyed and that my parents were on the freighter when it exploded. I was rescued by the Jedi and to be honest, I don't know much more than that. I'm not sure why I never thought about it before. I guess I just never thought about until now."

Again, this was more than Akiva had ever thought he would share with someone other than Master Hattori. It wasn't bothering him that he was even saying it out loud. Just how surprised he was that he could open up to Xaliv like this. It was rather comforting in a way.

 

[Jax Vos]

Xaliv leaned back for a moment. This was getting strange. Akiva had been born just outside of Kiffu, he was raised on Coruscant, and Master Hattori had been his master.

Xaliv could not believe it. You know, it just occurred to me that you and I have more in common than I thought. My father was a Kiffar warrior and later the Kiffar senator's assistant. That's why I was born on Coruscant. You know, I've been thinking...

He stopped. He felt that he should not say it, but then again... No, he did not want to get Akiva's hopes up. But deep down, Xaliv knew that there was a connection between them. He could never deny that.

 

[jaydee]

Akiva didn't show it but deep inside, he was smiling. Xaliv's heritage came from Kiffu. Akiva had always thought that either his father, mother or possibly both came from that planet but he could never be sure. Akiva never knew anyone who could tell him anything about his parents other than what he already knew. Both were force sensitive and the location of the ship when it was attacked and destroyed. The ver fact that Xaliv's father was from that planet was no mere coincidence. It was the force pushing the two together. Akiva couldn't be sure what the plan was but the force wanted Xaliv to play a part in Akiva's life and who was he to deny the living force when there was so much that said this was meant to be.

Akiva bowed to the Jedi Knight. "Master Wyn. I know this is not usually how this is done but I formally request to become your padawan. I would like to continue to learn the ways of the force with your guidance and teachings so that one day, I too may become a Jedi Knight like yourself." The request came out much more confident and smoother than Akiva thought it would. He had hoped that the Jedi Knight would accept his request to become his padawan.

 

[Jax Vos]

Xaliv stood to face the Padawan directly. This would require a formal request to the Jedi Council. Akiva, I would very much like to accept your request, but I cannot take you without the Council's permission. The chances of the Council approving this were not slim, but they needed to know whenever a Knight took a Padawan.

I can send them a request and hopefully they will accept.

 

[jaydee]

Akiva nodded at Xaliv. "Of course. I hope I didn't jump the gun in asking you. I just find it difficult to not ask when I sense something in the force that made me need to make the request. Of course, the council needs to approve the request. I hope they see that the force has brought us together and that I will have the honor of becoming your padawan." Akiva remembered when Mastor Hattori made the request of the previous council for Akiva to becme her padawan. This was a new council but Akiva was still hopeful that they would approve this request. "I look forward to their decision", Akiva said with hope in his voice.