New Surroundings, New Challenges ¦Alpha, Open¦

(OOC: Alright, so I think I came up with the best time setting for this. Probably best to have had Vreem to say he’d take on Zenn as an apprentice before the Jedi received the request from the Republic and then have this thread be a little while after Vreem has spoken out against the Council and decided to go to war any way.)

Vreem marched through the echoing temple halls to the same rhythmic pounding he had gained during his exit from the Council Chambers the other day. Whilst his ‘declaration of war’ was seen by many as controversial, Vreem was set firmly in his beliefs and upon the course that would see him confront the hidden beast which loomed in the shadow of space. He had seen and spoken to many Jedi over the last few days since that decisive meeting. And now it was time for another.

Zenn Loso was a unique entity within their temple and Vreem had agreed to take the boy on as his apprentice. When the case was brought before their council days before the Republic’s request for Jedi help, the Master had been cautious of what the council would do with such a child. When he was offered a position in the Order if a master would wish to take him on, Vreem felt an instantaneous pull towards the boy. He saw much of himself within that lost child, a past clouded in darkness. Yet a glimmer hope rested within him, the desire to do good and the potential to carry through with that desire.

If war had not clouded the horizon then Vreem would have been able to dedicate himself to the training and hopeful redemption of the boy. But with his upcoming involvement, he would have far fewer opportunities to be involved with his padawan. Not only that, but if Vreem was going to get involved in this war then Zenn would also have to do the same and with his alignment bordering both light and dark there was a chance he could easily be swayed one way or another. It was potentially a great opportunity for him to gain insight upon the Jedi, it was also highly likely that he would lose himself to the emotions he was so used to displaying.

The Jedi Master would have to speak to the boy, inform him of the situation he would be getting involved with and giving him a choice. From there they would be both be able to reaffirm their decisions regarding the pairing. Taking on an apprentice like this was a big step for him, the tale of his last was not one he was proud of, though in the last few weeks he’d found his focus regarding that subject slipping further and further into the back of his mind.

Finally he reached Zenn’s room. Standing before it Vreem paused, took a deep breath in to steady his pulsing heart after the march, he did not want to appear flustered or worn out. He wrapped that delicate cloak of Jedi High Council Member Vreem Took around himself so casually. But he found it tight now, almost as if it were about to rip apart with every breath. Fighting through these thoughts he tapped his knuckles upon the door before speaking. “Zenn, it’s Vreem Took. May I enter?” There was a slight softness in his voice that had once been far more prominent. Whilst he was trying to display his normal self, the thoughts on his mind were hard ones to suppress.

Whilst there was no real solution for Vreem himself to do in terms of Zenn’s training, there was a contingency plan that was now possible with the Council’s recent meetings. He could take on a second apprentice, one whom he knew would be able to be an example to Zenn, to help instruct upon the ways of the Order. But at the same time he did not want a pupil whose mind was not open to change and consideration. There were times when the Jedi deserved to be questioned; Vreem was an example of his own belief in that matter. After some thought upon the matter there was one pupil he thought would be willing to accept the challenge, though that would have to wait for the time being. First he would have to talk with Zenn, the decision would be placed in the boy’s hands.

So enthralled was the boy in his apprehensive, inward-gazing reverie that he did not sense the approaching and potent aura of Master Vreem Took until a soft knocking upon Zenn's door shook him from his contemplation. Only now did it occur to the young Zabrak how thoroughly he'd shut out the outside world and focused upon his own thoughts, entertaining no regard at all for what was happening outside his room. His pensive silence had bordered on meditation; the big difference, however, was that meditation was meant to clear one's mind and rid it of the kind of turmoil from which Zenn was suffering now, whereas his present train of thought had done nothing to alleviate that tension. It stormed around his head like a rancor on the rampage and there was little he could do at the moment to arrest it.

He took a deep breath to steady himself, doing his best to collect his scattered thoughts and compose himself before he allowed the waiting Jedi to enter. He could sense the fear nagging at the back of his mind all too clearly, and he did not want that fear to be too apparent to Master Took. He turned his body to face the door, one hand clasping the other as if to present himself as collected, but he kept shifting his weight from one foot to the other and this subtle rocking betrayed his unrest.

"Master Took? Please, come in." He stood almost at attention, waiting now for Vreem to open the door and step inside. He continued his slow breathing, still trying to calm himself. He needed something to take his mind off his thoughts, something to talk about other than how his fate within the Order would unfold. But what else could he talk about...?

(OOC: Consider this something of a filler post, something to get out there that leads up to my next, and more meaningful, post. This way I can have a bit longer to plan it out instead of rushing it or making you waiting any longer.)

He heard the teenage boy permit him entrance and with a flick of his wrist and a casual nudge with the force Vreem made the door slide open. He stepped into the breach; a mine field of words lay before him. How to start, what to say? Questions streamed through his mind in an instant and left jaw frozen in uncertainty. Time was still a dictating factor in the Council Member’s steps. This day was filled with conversation that would change and shape the futures of many people. Already he had some on their paths. They may not have been one similar to his own, but it was still a course down which they had chosen to travel.

It was a very trying time for him, his emotions were being thrown around constantly and on many occasions his mind loomed wearily close to that darkened abyss. But despite his inner frailty he had to portray that aura of strength, knowledge, power and certainty that was expected of him. He would act like his normal self and fight off the turmoil within. Perhaps in a little while he would be able to meditate and sift through the thoughts that harrowed his mind.

First he would break the ice. The boy in front of him was still a stranger to Vreem, he had an insight into the child’s life, but it was not the entire picture. There hadn’t been much time to attempt to integrate him in any way and Vreem accepted that this was his fault, even if things had gotten busier as of late. He played out the soft smile that he would show to all of those he taught, enough to warm the innards of the younglings and dispel any fear or anxiety they might feel towards him. “Hello Zenn, I apologise for not contacting before hand about this visit but things have been rather hectic of late, though it’s imperative I speak to you. First, have you managed to settle in alright so far? I know the temple may seem daunting at first but there are plenty of younglings and padawans around who would most likely be willing to welcome you to the Order. I don’t suppose you’ve ventured out of your room much at all yet have you?” He queried, perhaps an insight from his own past sneaking in.

When Vreem had returned from Korriban just under twenty years ago he spent a lengthy amount of time alone in his room in an attempt to clear through the baggage of his mind. But in the end, it was those in the temple that saved him, the few he befriended. Vreem did have it slightly easier; Jayne was a great friend and helped him back onto his feet. Zenn had no one at this temple and so Vreem would have to be one to lead him out into the halls and the training rooms. Even with the impending and vital subject he needed to discuss the Jedi Master’s experience with teaching was still shining through.