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Post by Cy Skywalker on Nov 28, 2009 15:10:51 GMT -5
Ka spoke slightly nervously to Kyla's back. "You can take your time to unpack. Then, visit Master Tionnne for your class schedule. We won't be in the same classes, not with you starting this cycle and I've been here for a few. But we might have combat training together--that's less formal. I can show you where Master Tionne's office is if you'd like."
Ka didn't have much to do until dinner; this was a rest day, while classes would start again tomorrow. She hesitated in the doorway, unsure of whether the human would like her to stay while she got settled in or not. How much could she sense of people's emotions, she wondered, or use the Force other than to see?
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Post by Morndakiél on Nov 28, 2009 15:32:41 GMT -5
Tranner couldn't keep from looking back at the scars with pity, almost wincing. No wonder the Twi'lek had kept touching them...reminding himself of his past. It had been a narrow escape for him; Twi'lek lekku, he knew, were more fragile than Togruta's--instead of being a decorative extension of the montrals, they actually formed an extension of the brain. Dangerous, he thought. He had known a Twi'lek Inquisitor who kept his lekku hidden away under his armor, ever since he had heard of another who had been crippled by a lightsaber.
It didn't matter to him whether Kon was law-abiding or not; that hadn't mattered to the Inquisitors. The light side was the only crime they were arrayed to fight, and so all others, left to the mundane security forces, flew under Tranner's radar unless they affected him. If he was stolen from, the perpetrator would be made an example of to whatever species they belonged to.
He lead the way past the pyramid he had climbed and into a realm of smaller ones, then ruined walls. He stopped behind a wall and looked back.
"The Artoo should stay here. This is the edge of the Academy's training course. It's not always used,"--and wasn't now; he could sense beings in the ziggurat a few kilometers away, but none nearby-- "and we can get a good vantage point for a look at the Great Temple if we climb a couple walls. I need to scout out for a secure way in."
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Post by Demarion on Nov 28, 2009 21:05:18 GMT -5
"Hm? Oh yeah, sure." Kono'vus shook himself from his reverie. "You stay here, buddy." He patted the droid's metal head and followed the Sith.
Although he was very weak and untrained in the Force, the Twi slightly'lek could sense a shift in it. Before he had been closer to Jedi territory. Now, he was in Sith, and realized he had been feeling the hum of the light side the whole time. Now in dark, he shivered slightly. It was more raw and undefined, and Kon pushed it to the back of his mind. It must mean a lot more to someone more adept in the Force, and he wasn't going to worry about it or take sides (although he did know he didn't like Jedi very much).
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Post by Jedi Master Sar Sha on Nov 29, 2009 0:29:03 GMT -5
Reed was more than ready to stretch his legs when the shuttle finally landed at the academy. After rising from his seat to stretch out his back muscles, he glanced down to find Astrin had already slipped on her mask and was in the process of pulling her hood back over her untamed hair.
Body language alone would have made it very difficult to judge how Astrin felt about the new alien world. It was her odd Force sensitive way of broadcasted her emotions that alerted Reed of her eager curiosity. It was a subtle sensation, yet even non-Force users, like Reed, could read it if they knew what to look for.
When the pair reached the end of the ramp they were greeted by a Jedi clothed in green robes. “Ah, you must be Master Horn I presume.” Reed said extending his hand to the man. “I’m Master Corran Horn.” The man greeted warmly, shaking Reeds hand before turning his attention to the teenage beside him. “Master Horn, this is my ward, Astrin.” “Its good to meet you Astrin. I hope you’ll come to enjoy your stay here at the academy.” Corran replied.
The figureless mask, with its single eye slit, looked up at him, which Corran found somewhat unnerving. It gave the youngster a cold sinister appearance. “Thank you. Where may I run?” A surprisingly light voice emanated from behind the intimidating looking mask. “Astrin has a particular love for running. I hope you don’t mind that Master Jedi.” Reed chuckled. Corran just smiled. “Not at all. In fact I’ll show you some of the trails after we get you settled in your new room. You said you didn’t want one with windows, correct?” “Yes please.” Astrin said as the master turned to lead them out of the hanger.
*** Astrin was mesmerized by what she saw and felt as she followed the green clad Jedi. Never had she felt so many different Force signatures in one place before. Behind her UV shielding visor, the colors were all distorted but that didn’t keep her from admiring the flashes of color within the natural limestone that formed the temple’s walls.
Her room was simple, not unlike the cubical she’d lived in most her life, except the bed was softer. Master Corran gave her a schedule that listed dining times, classroom information, and free time. She glanced over the information before placing the data chip in one of her belt’s sealed compartments. Having helped her put away her belongings, Reed wished her well, given her his contact link, and wished her the best in her training.
It was an odd moment of uncertainty, watching the man leave. For the past several months Reed had grown to be a trusted friend, someone she could confide in. Her distress must have bleed into her Force aura, because she felt an encouraging hand be placed on her shoulder. “Its okay to be a little scared when you face something new.” Master Horn whispered. “Now how about I show you those trails?” The comment brought a smile to Astrin’s face, even if Corran couldn’t see it. “That would be appreciated, Master Horn.”
Astrin decided tomorrow would be something to look forward to rather than dread. She wondered whom she would get to know during her classes.
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Post by Morndakiél on Nov 29, 2009 13:28:17 GMT -5
Tranner lead the way up through the ruins, first balancing on the tops of walls that had once been part of buildings he now could not--and didn't really care to--identify. Then the ground leveled out, and they were among bridges, archways, and paths of the tan stone that had obviously been kept in working order since the Jedi had arrived. He began to move more stealthily, using the Force to muffle his footsteps and his own mental presence. He wondered whether he should do the same for Kon; as an Inquisitor part of what he knew best was getting into others' minds, tapping their energy, manipulating them. But he didn't do it subtly, and didn't want to shock the Twi'lek into unexpected action. Besides, the small glimmer of Force presence from the other shouldn't alert someone who wasn't looking.
Shouldn't.
Tranner came to a halt at the base of a hill overlooking a network of ruins, his boots cutting into the ground softened by a stream which waterfalled downward. Below, he could see the base of the Great Temple. A nearly triangular door lead inside, protected only by a keypad. That should be easy enough to get through, either with a lightsaber or the Force. One would think that Jedi would protect themselves better...he looked around for other defenses, but could find none.
He needed to be sure. And here, they were more dangerously close to their foes.
"Kon," Tranner muttered. "You need to shield your Force presence, or I will do it for you."
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Post by Demarion on Nov 29, 2009 23:37:14 GMT -5
The smuggler kept up with Tranner easily, used to travelling long distances on foot. He had been on some interesting missions on interesting planets and every one had taught him something; survival, strength, or combat.
Kon's lekku twitched when the Sith spoke up, having not said much for the past half hour or so. "I've never been taught," he replied. "Is there an easy way to teach me to do so? I don't want you to wear yourself out."
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Post by surfersquid on Nov 30, 2009 19:14:25 GMT -5
Kyla nodded. "Okay." She was disappointed to hear that she wouldn't have any classes with Ka. They would have to find time outside of class to spend together. On the other hand, it made her excited to think about all of the new friends she would be making.
She turned around to face the Tiss'shar, ready to leave her room for the time being. "Can I get my schedule right now?" she asked hopefully. She wanted to spend more time with Ka, and the walk to the office would provide plenty of it. Aside from that, the idea of meeting an actual Jedi Master was thrilling, and she didn't think she could wait another moment longer.
As the words left her mouth, she saw something, far in the distance. A faint, tiny blip, an anomaly. It was so small and far away that she wasn't quite sure what it was, but it had caught her attention so abruptly that she flinched. "What's that?" she asked out loud, forgetting that Ka in all likelihood couldn't see it, or rather sense it. It was just on the edge of Kyla's own vision.
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Post by Cy Skywalker on Dec 1, 2009 11:53:28 GMT -5
Ka began to say, "Sure you can," and then Kyla flinched. This reaction crossed species boundaries; Ka's shoulders twitched and she looked around, visions of a Master walking into the room or a bug crawling along the wall flashing through her mind. A moment later she cast into the Force, but couldn't sense anything either. "What, what?"
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Post by Morndakiél on Dec 1, 2009 12:32:24 GMT -5
At first Tranner dismissed the idea entirely. They didn't have time for lessons now. But...why not? Someone could just as easily catch them now as later. As evening fell, fewer Jedi would be out and alert. And if Kon liked the Force...an apprentice could always come in handy.
"I can teach you the basics," he said. He crouched down behind a column of stone, leaning against it and on his heels to avoid sitting on the damp ground, leaving enough space for Kon beside him. "For this to be workable I'll have to help you. But for now..." How had his parents taught him? The Force had seemed ever-present...
"Shut your eyes. Concentrate on breathing." For a few moments he silently composed himself as well, guiding the other down into meditation. The Sith didn't need lengthy trances like the Jedi did. "Feel the Force. It flows around you just like it does around every living thing. Identify yourself within it."
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Post by surfersquid on Dec 1, 2009 19:41:24 GMT -5
"I...don't know," Kyla said. The blip was small and distant, and difficult to focus on. Perhaps it was nothing. But it still puzzled her. She couldn't quite explain why. "It's out there," she announced, pointing over Ka's shoulder to the wall of her room. Not that she could see the wall all that well. As far as the Force was concerned, the wall barely existed.
She lowered her arm slowly. "It's probably nothing." She wasn't quite sure why she had mentioned it in the first place. It was more of an observation than anything. It had just caught her by surprise because she hadn't expected it to be there, like looking up at the sky not expecting to see a ship passing overhead.
Kyla grinned. "Let's go get my schedule!" She wasn't about to let a speck of Force activity in the distance distract her from meeting a Jedi Master.
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Post by Demarion on Dec 2, 2009 12:52:25 GMT -5
At first, Kon wasn't too sure what he was getting into. This was dangerous ground; he was putting at least some amount of trust in the Sith, he had no way of knowing what would come of it.
He squatted beside Tranner and closed his eyes. He started breathing slowly and deeply, as if he were hiding from authorities and needed to stay quiet and calm. The Twi'lek didn't know how to grasp the Force, but he tried his best to find it. He thought about it's feeling when he used it, finding what seemed like a thread and pulling on it. As he drew it in, Kon started to sense everything around him, faintly, but it was there.
His sensory range was not very far, being very untrained. He felt the plants and the insects near him, a faint glimmer of light from the Jedi temple, and the raw dark energy from the Sith beside him. It was almost overwhelming for the inexperienced smuggler, but he held on, tried to maintain his first real contact with the Force.
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Post by Jedi Master Sar Sha on Dec 3, 2009 1:37:29 GMT -5
Astrin had rather enjoyed Master Horn’s tour of the surrounding trails, but the increased heat and humidity caused to her return to cooler sanctuary in the Temple. She’d go for a run after sunset. Until then, she stalked the various halls admiring and familiarizing herself with the layout.
The Force users here were fascinating. Astrin studied the various signatures as she would fine paintings. Some gleamed in iridescent shades, others sparked with brilliant rubedinous flashes, and a few rippled soothing cerulean tones.
So fixed was her attention on the Force aspect of those around her that she nearly walked headlong into two other students when she turned the following corner. She abruptly stopped an arm span away from a young human girl and her reptilian companion, rather embarrassed at her near collision.
“Pardon my carelessness.” She amended as she stepped to one side. She pulled her cloak’s hem out of their way as she waited for them to continue their walk.
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Post by Cy Skywalker on Dec 3, 2009 12:49:02 GMT -5
"Hmm." Ka looked around once again before she could feel settled after the surprising outburst. But then it passed, and she enthusiastically said, "Sure!" to the prospect of getting Kyla's schedule. She began a jaunty walk toward the door. But the minute she stepped outside, she practically jumped off the ground, her tail whipping around. "Ah! Hi!"
The being standing there was clothed entirely in gray and white, with a single shining 'eye' decorating its masked face. When it--she? the voice was feminine, but who knew what that meant for this species--apologized and stood patiently in the hallway, Ka tentatively tried to explore it with the Force but couldn't sense anything that cleared up its identity. She'd never seen a Padawan that looked like this around the temple! What an interesting mask, all shiny. And why did it cover its hands? She itched to ask. After a few calming breaths she said, "Sorry! Hey, are you a student here too?"
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Post by Jedi Master Sar Sha on Dec 3, 2009 14:12:34 GMT -5
Astrin tilted her head a degree at her questioner. She lacked facial cues when wearing her mask, so she had developed other quirks of behavior to show interest. Neither of these students seem frighten by her appearance, which was appreciated.
“As of an hour ago, yes.” She said before following her questioner's gaze down to her arms. "They're burns." Astrin softly answered the unasked question. The bandages beneath the soft white sleeves would need to be seen by a healer sometime soon. Perhaps one of these students could help her find whom that person was?
“May I ask where your Temple healers are stationed?” She frowned at herself after a short pause, remembering it was customary in many culture to introduce oneself before asking questions. “I’m HHIR-9/20, though you may call me Astrin.”
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Post by Morndakiél on Dec 4, 2009 8:30:01 GMT -5
Tranner had often felt the Force as analogous to water. It flowed and rippled, crushed or healed. And now he could feel Kon dipping a toe into it. He needed to be pushed. He knew what he was doing, for a novice, though, and didn't hamper himself in any way. Good. Gently so as not to frighten him and break his concentration Tranner raised his hands slightly, pulling the pool of Force energy Kon was standing in into a wave that lingered above his head for a moment before, falling down around his shoulders like a cloak, concealing his personal presence.
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Post by surfersquid on Dec 5, 2009 11:16:59 GMT -5
Kyla was more than a bit surprised when another being, walking perpendicular to Ka and herself, suddenly turned in their direction and there was nearly a collision. Kyla never ran into people. Walls, staircases, furniture, yes. But not life forms. She could always see them coming. She had been focusing intently on the strange Force-blip in the distance, but this person's Force signature was so strong that they were still easy to perceive.
"That's all right," Kyla replied with a smile, sizing up this newcomer to try to discern more about them. They had spoken with a female voice, so it was safe to assume that they were female. And she definitely had a more humanoid shape than Ka, and no noticeable accent, which narrowed down her species possibilities to Human, Near-Human, or something with at least Human-sounding vocal cords. Kyla gave herself a mental pat on the back for such excellent deduction.
Ka's mention of burns puzzled Kyla. Pushing more of her concentration towards this other new student, she noticed minor perturbations in the Force around the female, which was usually a sign of physical injury. Her brow furrowed in concern and sympathy. She was about to suggest that the student accompany them to see Master Tionne, but suddenly introductions seemed to be in order.
This person's name was strange, was her first thought. What sort of a person had a name like a droid? Maybe it was just part of her planet's culture. "Nice to meet you, Astrin!" she chirped with a grin. "I'm Kyla Jerrik." She was partially distracted by the fact that the distant spark of Force that she had been keeping part of her concentration trained on for this whole time had disappeared, just as suddenly as it had manifested. Strange. Something odd was going on out there. She would have to ask someone about it.
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Post by Cy Skywalker on Dec 5, 2009 11:44:45 GMT -5
"Oh..." Ka looked with mixed shock and pity at Astrin's white-wrapped arms. She remembered not to stare and gave herself a mental shake, but the worry was short-lived--taking Astrin to the healers would be a great way to find more about her. Another new student--what an exciting day. And the white clothing that Astrin war was so pretty and pristine. It wouldn't do well for combat training though!
"Welcome to the temple! I'm Ka-Du-Roan. Ka, that is. There are healers down on the second floor if you want me to show you to them! We were just going out." She stood beside Kyla and indicated both of them.
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Post by Jedi Master Sar Sha on Dec 6, 2009 15:07:51 GMT -5
“Hello.” Master Tionne greeted as the three padawans walked into her ward. “How many I help you?” “Greetings, master?” Astrin said bowing politely. “Master Tionne.” “Master Tionne, I’m Astrin, one of the newer students here. I need to have my bandages changed. If you happen to have some symphytum officinale, that would greatly be appreciated.” “I think I might have some. Where are you injured?”
Astrin pulled her sleeves back revealing her arm length white gloves. “I have burns from my wrists to my elbows ma’am.” “Oh, my! Let me get my supplies. Go ahead and take off your gloves.” Astrin pulled out a small device from her belt to check the UV light. It was safe to take off her gear. She carefully slide the silken gloves off and put them in a small compartment at her hip before removing her mask. She felt her pupils adjust to the brighter light.
Master Tionne came back with her supplies and began to unwrap Astrin’s arms. “What happened to you? This must be terribly painful. I’ll get some for painkillers for you. What kind are you currently using?” She said as she grimaced at the injuries. Astrin shook her head. “I can’t use painkillers. My body rejects them before they can have any real affect. I use my Force abilities to numb pain if I need it. As for the burns themselves, I got them when I went outside for the first time.” “This is a sunburn?” Tionne asked doubtfully. “Astrin these look like second degree burns. How long were you outside?”
“Approximately four minutes and fifty seconds. I was playing with Mr. Reeds young nieces out on his shaded porch. I didn't notice the damage until pain began to register. Had I stayed out longer it could have been much worse.” “This was from being in the shade?” “Yes ma’am. Reed and the medical team that took care of me later found out I have Xeroderma Pigmentosum. It prevents my skin from being able to protect itself from UV light, so the damage is much more noticeable and severe. That’s why I have to wear my gear when I walk in the sunlight, though I can usually walk outside without gear at night.” “Where are you from? What species are you?”
Astrin shrugged as Tionne applied some new bandages to her right arm. “I don’t know what I am. I just know I’m a hybrid of some kind. I don’t have a homeworld and up until about three months ago didn't know there was a world beyond the laboratory I was raise in. Mr. Reed said I needed to have a real home, so he talked to Master Skywalker and here I am. Other than that, I don’t know much about my origins.” “Well, you will be with good people now.” Tionne said, finishing the other arm. “Good luck in your studies and I hope this heals up soon for you.”
Astrin nodded as she slide her gear back on. The burns were already healing up nicely. She turned to her two classmates. “So where to now?”
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Post by Cy Skywalker on Dec 6, 2009 16:16:22 GMT -5
[OOC Sar Sha please ask me before bringing in NPCs or skipping forward in time; it works well enough here and I was planning on saying that people are free to play Masters if they just need to for a scene or so, but I wasn't expecting to skip forward so much. I'll work with it, unless you, surfersquid, had any plans of doing something interesting en route.]
Ka stood at the edge of the room as Master Tionne and Astrin conferred, partly out of earshot and leaning against the wall. She couldn't help but stare at the newcomer. She looked humanoid, with pale skin and white hair, but the red eyes that matched the scarlet tinge of the mask were disturbingly vivid. But Astrin explained her origin and didn't seem closed about it. And Ka thought that <i>she</i> had issues with other people not recognizing her species; Astrin didn't even know what hers was herself!
As the Master was talking Ka leaned over to whisper to Kyla. "Is Astrin the Force thing you sensed?"
Astrin replaced her mask and gloves that Ka now realized were to protect her from the sun's rays. "We need to pick up Kyla's class schedule at Master Skywalker's. Uhm, Astrin, I couldn't help overhear...you're really from a laboratory?"
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Post by Demarion on Dec 6, 2009 18:11:41 GMT -5
Kono'vus felt himself be cloaked in the ever-present, ever-moving Force. He surprised himself at being able to grasp at it and use his own strength to keep himself shielded; maybe he could get used to this practiced Force-user thing. It seems he'd be able to benefit from it, especially on more sneaky missions. He grinned at himself and opened his eyes, turning to look at the Sith.
"All good?"
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