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Post by surfersquid on Dec 7, 2009 12:39:28 GMT -5
((Don't worry, I didn't really have anything planned. I'm just going along with you at the moment, Cy.))
Kyla followed Ka and Astrin carefully, tracing their paths exactly so that she wouldn't walk into anything unexpectedly. She didn't have the patience or power of concentration to want to see the walls right now; she was more interested in everything else going on around her.
She watched curiously as another humanoid Force-essence spoke to Astrin, bowing quickly when she realized she was in the presence of a Jedi Master. Exciting as that was, she was curious as to why this Master's Force-glow seemed relatively dimmer than the other ones she'd seen, especially compared to Astrin's Force signature. Maybe being a Master wasn't just about being strong in the Force.
She shook her head in response to Ka's question. "Nuh-uh. The thing I saw was...farther out. A long way away. I don't know what it was. But I guess it's gone now. I can't see it any more."
A thrill of anticipation rushed through her body when she heard the name Skywalker. Was she really going to get to meet him? She could barely contain herself, and was so steeped in thought about the prospect that she barely remembered Astrin's conversation with Tionne about having lived in a laboratory. That explained the weird droid-name, she thought. But what sort of horrible people made sentients live in laboratories? Was she some sort of experiment or something? She was intensely curious about this being's story, but was afraid to ask anything, concerned that she might hurt the girl's feelings. So it was a welcome relief when Ka questioned Astrin instead. Kyla focused on Astrin curiously, wondering what her response might be.
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Post by Cy Skywalker on Dec 7, 2009 13:12:24 GMT -5
(I call dibs on playing Luke! XD)
Ka began to move out into the hallway, almost prancing as she enjoyed being with interesting friends and going to see the revered Master Skywalker. She looked around as if she could perhaps see the mysterious Force presence, but there was nothing. It could be any number of life forms on Yavin. Eager to go but a little hesitant talking against the expressionless mask that Astrin wore, Ka waited for a reply.
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Post by Jedi Master Sar Sha on Dec 7, 2009 14:37:50 GMT -5
[Note to readers: Astrin has a well tuned sense of empathy that allows her to sense others thoughts in close proximity. Thanks.]
Astrin looked directly at Ka. Had she not had her mask in place, Ka would have seen the red background behind her crimson irises darken. A sign adrenaline had flooded her system. It was merely a response to old memories, not to new fear.
“Yes.” She replied cautiously, “It wasn’t a safe place either. Not like here.” She gestured to the temple walls before she turned her masked face to Kyla. A smile crossed her lips at the student’s concern for her. “Yes I was an experiment,” Astrin replied gently, “ but I was not as badly treated as some of the others. I was never sent to the pits or trained to be a Seeker. I’m not ashamed of my past but I don’t live in it either. You don’t have to be worried about hurting my feelings. Its nothing more than history.”
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Post by nighthawk on Dec 7, 2009 21:53:47 GMT -5
-The hobbit below the hobbit above me vaguely wonders if that was a reference to the Sword of Truth series. Or potentially the Legend of Seeker tv. show, even though that show is horrible and does no justice to the book.-
Standing guard outside the door, Nighthawk took off his mandalorian helmet, wiping his brow with the palm of his armored hand as he stood stock still. Replacing the helmet back on his head, he holstered his rifle on his back, tying the shoulder strap tighter so it wouldn't fall off his back if he moved fast.
Hearing footsteps, Nighthawk stood up straighter and placed his right hand on one half of the interlocking beskad he always carried around, the half on his right side. Knowing it was unlikely there would be any trouble in a Jedi Academy of all places, Nighthawk tried to maintain a calm pose.
But still. Security protocols were security protocols, and Nighthawk did not intend on letting Skywalker down. He was sure he wouldn't be getting any pay raises if he let a plethora of Dark Jedi walk into the temple.
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Post by Morndakiél on Dec 8, 2009 13:10:19 GMT -5
Tranner replied, "That's good. As you practice you can learn to do this alone and more effectively. We still don't want to run into any Jedi Masters." He stood up, working the stiff feeling out of his shoulders, and peered out again at the training ground. "Let's go."
He snuck along the edge of the most tumultuous ruins, keeping track of the other man behind him and being sure not to move too quickly or make Force-assisted jumps that would be difficult to follow. Any time he began to feel irritated at needing to adjust his pace, he reminded himself how useful an ally against Darth Ruin would be.
Eventually they came to the jungle, heavy with undergrowth, that nudged up against the stream. If the base of the Great Temple were pulled out from underneath it it would resemble a many-pointed star made of white flagstones, and the triangular-edged pavement which the river flowed by, creating clear, still pools, was the only visible section of it. The river separated the pyramid itself from the training grounds, and was crossed by a white-stoned bridge at the side nearest the Sith's hiding place. Below, Tranner could see a Mandalorian-armored figure remove its expressionless helmet to reveal a dark-haired male. Idly Tranner wondered what the Mandalorians had been doing since the Clone Wars. No matter--he knew what this one was doing. From the weaponry, he was guarding the Temple--but without a jot of Force energy emanating from him.
But nor was this the time to get on the bad side of a Mandalorian. That required some preparation. Tranner scanned the sheer wall above the man's head. It was far, but if he got up there he could jump down and kill the man tonight. Tranner could deal with blasters or swords with his eyes closed...literally.
But as he turned and spoke to Kon-- "Here's our weak point,"--his boot dislodged a pebble from the muddy ground and it rattled down the hill toward the Temple, creating a tiny avalanche, clods of dirt pockmarking the still water.
Tranner threw himself backward into the jungle and crouched, thankful as he sometimes was for the striped Togruta horns that would help break up his silhouette into the striped plant leaves and sun beams one usually saw in a forest.
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Post by Demarion on Dec 8, 2009 23:35:02 GMT -5
Kon shook himself and stood up, elated at his newfound ability. He quickly stifled the feeling; now was the time to concentrate. He had a bit of a challenge following the Sith, for he was concentrating on cloaking himself and keeping his footsteps silent, but tried his best and was glad he didn't tire easy.
The temple was impressive to those not worldly, but the Twi'lek had seen fancier structures. The only reason he was eyeing the building as they made their way closer was to check for ways in and out, also security. He scowled when he saw the Mandalorian armor clad human check and adjust his weapon, and was reminded why he hated Mandalorians. Too many bad run-ins.
He stopped when Tranner did and waited for instructions- and watched the dirt slide down the hill. He swore under his breath and back-pedalled whence he came, hiding slightly behind the Sith.
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Post by surfersquid on Dec 9, 2009 17:16:05 GMT -5
Kyla jumped, startled, when Astrin responded to statements Kyla was sure she had only thought, not spoken. Yes, she was sure they were just thoughts. Could this girl read minds? That was sort of a scary idea. Kyla wasn't really sure she liked it. She preferred to believe that her thoughts were private, and she would rather not have someone rifling through them like a datapad left out in the open.
On another level, knowing someone who could read minds was sort of a disappointment for Kyla. All her life, she had been told she was special, but here was someone who was special too, in her own way. Kyla wasn't used to that. It wasn't like she pranced around bragging about her Force vision to everyone, but Astrin's mind-reading almost felt like a threat to Kyla's own uniqueness. It made Kyla sad that something like this was souring how she felt about her new friend, so she tried to stow away the selfish thoughts in the garbage bin of her mind.
"Um...okay," was all she could say in response to Astrin's replies. She shifted her focus to the hallway and surrounding area, to see if there was anything of interest.
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Post by Cy Skywalker on Dec 9, 2009 19:12:32 GMT -5
Ka mulled over the things Astrin had said, too curious about the girl's past to notice that Kyla hadn't actually asked the questions they had all been thinking. So even Astrin didn't know where she had come from or why she had been changed. What a strange existence, as sparse as color on Astrin's cloak...although the other didn't seem to mind. Seemed unexpectedly emotionless, in fact. So finding out more would have to wait...perhaps for a visit to Astrin's world.
There was a silence as they made their way down to Master Skywalker's office and stopped outside the door. But it slid open just as Ka was about to ask how they were supposed to announce their arrival. The room was walled with stone like all the rest but furnished with soft-looking yellow and orange cushions on a ring on the floor. Small white candles floated in the air, giving off a slight scent like the flowers in spring.
Clad in black Jedi robes, Master Skywalker welcomed the three with open arms. He handed Kyla a rolled-up flimsi copy of her class schedule, seemingly as formal as if it were an ancient scroll. He straightened up and smiled at all of them. "Welcome, Astrin and Kyla. Ka, thank you for leading our new students here. I wanted to welcome you personally, as well as to give you a task. Even if your formal training has not begun, this place was chosen for a reason. The Force flows strongly here, and I wish for you to follow it up to the roof of the Temple. See what it shows to you."
"So Master, we just...walk up there? How do we get out to the roof?" Ka asked.
"This is what you have to discover for yourself. Feel free to ask me, or any other Master, any questions you have...but sometimes the answer is that things are best learned on your own."
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Post by Jedi Master Sar Sha on Dec 10, 2009 10:33:45 GMT -5
The familiar feeling of social drift blanketed Astrin’s thoughts as she silently followed the pair to Master Skywalker’s office. Once more it seemed she’d become the source of social awkwardness. She regretted causing the negative feelings she’d stirred in Kayla by responding to her thoughts. It hadn’t been her intent to intrude on the padawan’s privacy, merely a habit she’d developed with her siblings and others she’d felt comfortable with. Not wishing to further sour the situation, Astrin mentally secluded herself from the thoughts around her. She reflected on what Kayla thought of her ability and knew the concept wasn’t entirely true.
Astrin could read the thoughts of other beings, but only in close proximity and then it was limited to the thoughts that were presently being thought. It was more or less like listening to any other conversation, just without the words being vocalized. It was one reason she hadn’t been chosen to be a Seeker.
As for uniqueness? That was a dangerous quality in Astrin’s past life. Uniqueness meant unpredictability. Unpredictability meant quality risk and that in turn lead to very unpleasant outcomes. Her ability had been a mixed blessing. The realm of thoughts was not always as considerate as those she’d met through Reed or the Jedi. Astrin knew the intentions of the techs that had “raised” her; the thoughts of those who feared or resented her. It made her miss her “siblings”, those who could hear her thoughts just as she could hear theirs. But they had been taken away many years ago, either bought by the highest bidder or worse. Her thoughts were interrupted by a pleasant male voice. Apparently they had reached their destination without her noticing.
"Welcome, Astrin and Kyla. Ka, thank you for leading our new students here. I wanted to welcome you personally, as well as to give you a task. Even if your formal training has not begun, this place was chosen for a reason. The Force flows strongly here, and I wish for you to follow it up to the roof of the Temple. See what it shows to you."
"So Master, we just...walk up there? How do we get out to the roof?" Ka asked. Astrin watched Master Skywalker smile.
"This is what you have to discover for yourself. Feel free to ask me, or any other Master, any questions you have...but sometimes the answer is that things are best learned on your own."
Astrin was looking forward to the exploration and glanced at her companions to see who would take the lead.
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Post by surfersquid on Dec 11, 2009 14:11:40 GMT -5
Kyla couldn't help but gape as they approached a Force presence so brilliant, it nearly overwhelmed her vision. This was someone who was incredibly strong in the Force. Not only that, but the Force flowed through and around and over them in eddies and whorls, practically buzzing with activity. They were as a bright knot in its strands, tying destinies together. As soon as he spoke, it clicked with her who she was beholding. Skywalker.
"Th-thank you, sir," she said, bowing deeply, overawed to be in his presence. He seemed to be giving her something--she reached out, fumbling over the flimsiplast with her fingers, trying to figure out what it was. She was so excited to finally meet him, the revered hero she had admired from the history books, that she nearly forgot that she couldn't read flimsiplast. Its Force presence was so infinitesimally tiny that she couldn't even see it. She stowed it away in her pocket regardless. She could ask Ka or Astrin to read it to her later. There was no need to break up this glorious moment with such a minor triviality.
"The roof, huh?" she said with a confident grin. "I'll do my best, sir!" She tried to stand straight and tall, like a soldier, hoping to show Master Skywalker that she was willing to follow his directions even if it took her to the ends of the galaxy. She wanted to be the best pupil she could for him, and she knew first impressions were important.
All the same, though, she was mildly concerned about the idea of climbing to the top of the Temple. She was going to have to go about that carefully, because she couldn't really see the stone structure well at all. Then again, she'd have Ka and Astrin with her. As long as she stuck with them, she'd be all right.
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Post by Cy Skywalker on Dec 12, 2009 21:06:38 GMT -5
[OOC: Long story short I will probably not get online again until the end of the week. Sorry! ]
Ka haad seen Master Skywalker multiple times, standing in front of the Jedi like a figurehead or kneeling among his students for meditation classes, but she remained in awe every time, and not just because of the sense of power that even an amateur Force user could feel from him; there was such sadness in his voice sometimes, no matter what he spoke of. He had gone through so much in his lifetime, and she had only an inkling of what it was. So she accepted his cryptic message with a nod.
***
Luke had expected Kyla's uncertainty about the sheet of flimsi. He hoped that she would figure out that it was as much a part of the test as the three of them finding their way up to the roof was. She would need to ask for help for this.
"I'm sure you will." he smiled. "Great things are ahead of you all. Now, go, find your way." He bowed.
***
Ka nearly tripped over her own feet in her effort to bow lower than him, and headed for the door after the dismissal.
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Post by Jedi Master Sar Sha on Dec 15, 2009 10:28:54 GMT -5
Astrin bowed as she'd seen Ka and Kyla do before trail them once more. Even with her senses suppressed she could still feel he was strong in the Force...and the weight of sorrow. What could have happened to scar him so?
Either way it was not her place to probe and she'd taken her experience with Kyla to heart. Though these were Force users, they didn't fear having their words used against them and therefore didn't require the security of reading minds to exchange ideas.
'This is a safe place.' She reminded herself. 'Just watch and learn all you can. That is all anyone new can do.'
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Post by Cy Skywalker on Dec 17, 2009 12:56:45 GMT -5
Ka knew the Temple pretty well by now. All the stone corridors could look the same to a newcomer, but her sense of direction had improved. She knew to take the turbolift up to the Grand Audience chamber. But, standing in the small foyer that lead to that room where so much in history had happened, where the Jedi initiation ceremonies occurred and the battle of Yavin victory had been celebrated, she realized that not only had she never been in that room alone before, she had no idea how to get higher. The Temple roof was right there; there should be stairs somewhere. Or something.
"So this is where Master Skywalker was after the Death Star battle....what do you think of him, then?" Ka tentatively stepped in. Yes, she'd been here before. But there had been pomp and circumstance. She wanted to stand a moment and hear the silence sink into the stones, hear her own claws click. "I don't know where the stairway is! We'll have to explore."
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Post by surfersquid on Dec 17, 2009 21:13:04 GMT -5
"It's...awesome," Kyla whispered. She had no idea where Ka was leading here, but she saw the Force strongly in the area they had just entered. Echoes of the past resided here--it excited her.
"I like exploring!" she agreed cheerfully, slowly making her way around, farther from Ka, reaching out her hands to make sure she didn't bump into anything unawares. The strong Force-glow of the room was making it all the more difficult for her to ascertain its physical structure. But she couldn't give up. "I'm sure we'll find something if we keep looking!"
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Post by Cy Skywalker on Dec 19, 2009 14:48:36 GMT -5
Ka carefully followed Kyla, noting the other needing to use her hands to 'see' in the empty room. Touch might actually be their best bet here: perhaps there was a hidden doorway or another sort of passage in the walls. Master Skywalker would want them to use the Force as well as their other senses anyway. She trailed her claws along the wall, idly feeling for cracks or protuberances that might mean a doorway was there. The Force was strong up here...she could almost feel it glowing on top of the Temple, but because it didn't need doorways itself that gave her no indication how she might reach it.
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Post by Jedi Master Sar Sha on Dec 21, 2009 11:08:58 GMT -5
Astrin had joined in the search, though she'd worried her gloved hands might not be sensitive enough to register a clue from the ancient stone. After several minutes she jolted to an abrupt stop. Her cloak had jarred her throat and she gentle pulled at the material to slacken its uncomfortable pressure.
When her attempt failed, Astrin turned to see her cloak had gotten snagged on part of the main wall. Kneeling to get a better look, it appeared that the fabric had hooked itself on a small hook of metal.
"Ka? Kyla? What purpose does this hook serve? It is too low to hang anything on." Astrin said puzzled as her fingers encouraged the cloak's hem free.
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Post by surfersquid on Dec 21, 2009 13:42:08 GMT -5
"Hm?" Looking back through the Force while facing ahead, Kyla saw Astrin hesitating, stationary, her outstretched hands doing something, although what it was she couldn't tell. She walked over to help the girl and placed her hands near Astrin's, feeling cold stone. Sliding her fingers down, she met with the hook that Astrin had mentioned, and she examined it carefully through touch. It was probably metal, she determined. But why was it so close to the floor. "I wonder what happens when I..." She wrapped one finger around the hook and gave it a sharp tug.
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Post by Cy Skywalker on Dec 24, 2009 2:08:07 GMT -5
"A hook?" Ka bounded over to where the other two examined the wall. Kyla tugged. "That'll come away!" Ka said just as it did. The hook moved outward, pulling a rod of stone with it.
And a few meters away, a door-sized opening, its bottom edge higher than their heads, was revealed as a slab of stone was drug away from its resting place of many years. Dust filled the room and Ka closed her nose flaps before she could start to cough.
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Post by surfersquid on Dec 24, 2009 2:25:49 GMT -5
"What's that?" Kyla asked, excited and a bit alarmed as she suddenly heard a loud rumbling sound. She took a breath and found her throat filled with a foreign substance, and she hacked and coughed, confused as she tried to eject the dust from her lungs. What was going on? She wished she could know more about this strange turn of events other than the fact that no life forms were involved.
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Post by Cy Skywalker on Dec 24, 2009 22:48:48 GMT -5
"You okay?" Without thinking what it might mean in her culture Ka put a hand on Kyla's shoulder as the other girl coughed violently. "A door's opened up in the wall--but it's probably two meters up. We can't just walk through."
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