Post by Zae on May 19, 2014 22:02:28 GMT -5
Name: Tara Rainer
Age Appearance: 25
Real Age: 50
Race: Sephi
Birth place: Thustra
Height: 6'0 ft
Weight: 150 lbs
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Brown
Appearance: Standing at 6'0 ft and weighing in at 150 lbs, Tara was a woman of relative size and weight. She was definitely taller than most individuals she met. However, she was nowhere near the tallest. In every one of her adventures, she always met some of those strange gigantic fellow who made her look like nothing more than a small wimp. But, in a way where sizes were as varied as the inhabitants of the galaxy, her height was never something she was fixated on; and neither was her weight. She was quite slender, with the right curves on the right places. Or so she was told on quite a few occasions. Whether she believes it or not is an entirely different thing but if so many say it, then perhaps there might be some true to it. She receives quite a few compliments for quite a number of things about her.
With her rather long legs, she is usually complemented by the way she looks. Her long and silky brown hair usually attracts a lot of eyes too. It only reaches just to about her mid back. However, she nearly always keeps it tied and wrapped into a single ponytail for ease of combat. It is likely that it could be seen as somewhat longer if she were to ever let it loose for a while. While she truly likes an prefers the look of loose hair, keeping it secured as she sports is both pretty and conventional and useful given her daily life. Her skin possesses a similarly light tone as her hair, with the light peachy tone making her skin look rather smooth and silky to the touch. Ironic that a woman of her caliber and her occupation would have such gentle looking skin, but it is nevertheless so. Her eyes display a vivid blue color that is surprisingly darker at night or in an enclosed dark space, and considerably lighter tone of blue under the sunshine or in a brightly lit area. Her body is definitely not beyond her womanly features. Her legs are a good indication, but some people are often overheard commenting about her other areas of her body.
Carrying from her time as a Jedi, outfits are nothing she is ever worked up about. She pretty much just wears whatever she finds and whatever is either comfortable or suited for the kind of work she does. Thus, it is not rare to see her wearing different kinds of outfits but for the most part, there are some defining features to the sort of clothing she is seen wearing most. She usually sports a white tank top that rides somewhat high, allowing most of her abdomen to be displayed. The tank top is rather flimsy and thin however, so she wears a tougher, though relatively light thoracic armor that manages to wrap around her covering from her breasts to just below the thorax. On her hands, she sports what look to be rugged long gloves, usually used the most during her work as a mechanic. They seem to be thick and sturdy enough to handle higher temperature items or enough to whistand the effects of staining substances or oil or any other compounds used by the average mechanic. Still, one of the reasons she likes them so much is that, aside from being very useful for her daily activities, their relative light weight make them ideals in situations where she may be forced into combat. The set of gloves reach to just below her elbows, with straps securing an elbow guard on the latter. Underneath, she seems to have what looks like the pieces of fabric of a long sleeved garment that was purposely torn. The choice was likely done to avoid the gloves from rubbing against her skin or just to add the comfort of some silky and soft leather. On her lower body, the same similarly rugged brown color can be seen in her boots. They look very tough and sturdy, likely able to sustain quite a beating and avoiding oil or water, and perhaps other compounds from leaking inside. Above the rugged boots, a material like the one found on her gloves though perhaps somewhat tougher can be seen in her pants. In a sense it makes her look like a typical mechanic but the items are hardly a burden because of their relatively light weight. Much like on her upper body, she purposely wears fabric, in this case soft white leggings underneath her pants. The upper part of her thighs are largely bare as she sports short black shorts with brown straps coming down from the similarly colored belt to tie to the pants and further secure them in place. Her lightsaber is almost always strapped to her side as it is the weapon she always uses when she is ever in need of one.
Personality:
Independent & Free Spirit: Tara is unlike most people a one might meet. She is like a basket with a delicate and unique assortment of personalities. Though she may have her serious and fierce moments such as those displayed on a battle, she also possesses rather tender and gentle qualities that make her who she is. Though her behavior may sometimes give pointers as to how she might react on different situations, knowing exactly how she will react to new circumstances is nigh impossible as is her unorthodox way of handling herself in and out of the battlefield. On the rare chances she has alone to do as she please, her free spirit takes sovereignty over her. When she can, she enjoys traveling to the desolate, calm and largely unadulterated areas of the galaxy, away from her duties, and her past. She seems to be taken by the desolate, peaceful nature of the galaxy at its most unique and simple. It is not that she seeks loneliness or likes to be alone. She just, like many people, like a sort of balance in their live. Though helping around is bliss, she also enjoys being alone with her own thoughts from time to time.
Flirty: It doesn't take a genius to figure out Tara likes to flirt. But her reasons for doing so are not quite shared by others who enjoy doing so. Rarely does Tara flirt for the sole purpose of flirting or advancing a carnal action or desire. Most often than not, it is done merely because it advances or brings closer to fruition a plan or a task which she needs to accomplish. In of itself, flirting has no real meaning to her. She doesn’t love it, but she doesn’t hate it either. After all, it has helped her in more occasions than she cares to remember.
Competitive: Tara seems to develop rivals and competition rather easily, and not just on the battlefield. It is mostly directed to people who annoy her or wee her off. Even if the lady is not nearly as well endowed physically as her, Tara is quick to draw comparisons within her self-conscious and elevate the self worth of the rival to match her owns even if doing so would be highly inaccurate. Though it often serves as a way to gather more rivals and competitors, it doesn't seem to be all bad. It allows her to have enough competition to continue to train and grow into a stronger fighter as well as keep a watchful eye on her figure and continue being a beautiful woman.
Curious (slight pervert): It is no secret that Tara is a bit curious
Critic and Bad Habits: She's very critical of those who do not follow the rules and is quite to admonish those with outlandish behavior. Nevertheless she tries her best not to pick on others for things she has failed to accomplish herself. Especially since, having left the Jedi Order, her life is not truly seen as an example of someone who always follows the code. She is not so harsh a critic to be confused with an old woman however.
Cheerful: It is quite common to see Tara smiling. In fact, some have even said it is difficult to discern many of her emotions as both her happiness and upset moments are veiled by laughter and smiles which makes the line between them quite sketchy. Though on her own time, she barely smiles, whenever she is out and about, most of her words and responses to others involve some form of smile with the occasional giggles after it. While she may not have had the most peaceful of lives, she is thankful for her family and the people she is met. Every day is kind of a blessing, and though she may chose to mask the occasional sadness with smiles, she finds it quite easy to perform the latter, and everyone seems to enjoy the smiles she gives out.
Sassy and Sarcastic: Though for the most part Tara is quite kind, she can react in unexpected ways when pushed. If made to anger or become frustrated with something or someone, she is known to respond or continue on the conversation with rather sassy and sarcastic remarks. Her word choice and tone of voice most often do not entail any secretly or otherwise outwardly shown evil aside from the snarky, almost comical way she behaves. Her rare use of mildly foul language and attempts to use her sarcasm and sassy attitude on others is save for the rare few who upset her beyond belief and thus force on her a behavior she would otherwise not display.
Stubborn: Tara can be quite stubborn in most situations. Tara had always been a model child and woman, so there was never any likely chance of her crossing the line or doing something uncalled for...until she did. However, as an adult, in the present, it’s difficult for her to understand and agree to situations and ideas with which she does not understand or agree with. Thus it is not rare to see Tara give off peculiar looks when certain things are brought up. On most cases however, she will be quick and assertive to make a rebuttal even if her argument is not well supported. However, she is not stubborn to argue for the sake of arguing. For the most part, her beliefs stem out of ideas or concepts she is passionate about.
Profession: Freelance Muscle (Smuggler, Mercenary; She'll be whatever you need her to be for the right price)
Mastery Level: Master
Previous Faction/Rank: Jedi Order
Equipment: Lightsaber
Starship: Silent Dove
Vehicle: Swift Shadow
Skills: Huttese, Basic Binary, Bothan, Pilot, Mechanic
Lightsaber: Single bladed
Color: Green
Practiced Lightsaber forms:
Shii-Cho: 5
Soresu : 5
Ataru : 5
Juyo : 5
Force-Sensitive Attributes:
Telekinetic: 8
Telepathic: 4
Body: 8
Sense: 6
Protection: 4
Healing: 2
Destruction: 3
Specialized Powers: Force Repulse, Force Wave
Attributes:
Physical Strength: 6
Intelligence: 8
Speed: 7
Leadership: 4
Unarmed: 5
Melee Weapons: 6
Ranged Weapons: 2
Bio:
Like most other children in her home-world Thustra, Tara was born relatively healthy and without complications. She was the daughter to two fairly loving parents who were rather ordinary in many ways. None was very rich nor very poor and their influence in anything deemed somewhat important was equally noteworthy. In fact, it was quite possible that the news of Tara being a force sensitive child was one of the most significant things they had heard in their lives. Possibly past the news of pregnancy a few years before. Because of the relations between Thustra and the Galactic Republic, it was not strange to see the occasional Jedi sent for their own individual purposes.
On such occasion, a Jedi Master and his padawan were drawn to the child, and becoming aware of her force sensitivity, allowed for the necessary procedures so that the child would be taken to the Jedi Order to be trained as a Jedi. The parents did not have much say in it. And if they did, they did a fair enough job of not displaying it. It was true they had not gotten to live many years together with the child so there was no clear defining reason to think otherwise... However, from what was displayed and their reactions to the child being taken, there was a chance that, though they may not have disliked the child, they weren't exactly fascinated by the fact that they had one. In either case, Tara's departure would mark a separation from her parents and the start of a new life for the kid.
As was expected, upon further testing, Tara was revealed to have quite a high midichlorian count which was more than enough to be considered to be trained as a Jedi. What's more, it showed great potential for her future. As a youngling, her performance was nothing ordinary. Though every youngling was encouraged to do their best, it would be safe to assume, given her dedication, that Tara would have attempted to do so either way. From an early age, her eagerness to learn was both commended and admonished. While the masters were thrilled in her aptitude for lightsaber combat and the force and her eagerness to learn it, there was a limit. Over indulgence and hastinesses could after all, in the long run, draw her to the dark side of the force.
Still, she had some of the best and most powerful and influential teachers as a youngling. And as such, most of her rough edges were easily smoothed out as would be the rest of the youngling's. Her aptitude was often what caused Tara to be the example shown to the visiting Jedi curious to the progress and potential of the youngling. As such, Tara was very happy with herself as were her masters. Eventually, it would be time for the trials with a fair number of visiting Jedi Masters looking on in hopes of identifying a youngling that would be ready to become their padawan.
During the trials, Tara made sure to use what she had learn. All of it. She wasn't just displaying the skills she had attained in different aspects of the force and her training saber. She was also innately displaying signs of understanding her limits and showing humility. And it showed. It was evident from the look of most Masters that the child was definitely ready and in a class of her own, likely above her peers. But there was more. The fact that she knew that much, it was a bit unsettling and not in the best of ways. Still, her basics and her understanding were impeccable. What little needed work was nothing compared to what her comrades still needed to be taught. Younglings were, after all, the group that needed the most help to develop into what the order considered a true definition of a Jedi.
Tara would be chosen by Master Aner, a human Jedi that was widely known for his skills as a combatant. His personality was also not quite what one would pair up with a child, but for someone like Tara, he was as best a choice as any. The man, though incredibly powerful and with a great connection to the force, was quite strict and hardly smiling. It was indeed a stark contrast to Tara. He was actually quite easily compared, at least in some aspects of his personality, to military leaders and hardened soldiers. Aner would teach Tara, and he would make sure that she learned. Though most likely having a rougher time ahead. And so it would be.
Tara would continue to improve at an increasingly fast pace. To most, it seemed like she was always quite a few steps ahead to most if not all her age. That was not a simple achievement however. Though on the exterior it showed as Tara just being naturally gifted, which she was, it was hardly all there was to it. She was chronically placed in detrimental situations that would have made other Padawans cringe. Her master never did nothing truly or completely illegal. However, he always made sure to make the tasks and missions exceedingly more difficult than they might have been. Though it might have looked like he didn't like Tara it was quite the contrary. His stern look and rigorous training was only done because he cared for the peace and the future of the Jedi Order and the contributions he believed Tara would eventually bring to it.
In many occasions, during different missions, Aner would purposely leave Tara to do other required assignments of the mission, leaving her alone to face up against challenges that would have likely been tougher than what most padawans would ever face. In fact, in many occasions, she was faced against large group of hostiles, or smaller groups of strong and hardened enemies without the aid of her master. For the most part, he would not show up even if she had a difficult time. His appearance would only happen if her life was on the brink of being terminated. However, Tara believes her life did happen to be in said situation countless times her master did not show up. But nevertheless, she made it out alive, though sometimes badly hurt. It was during this time that her skill with the lightsaber would increase beyond her own comprehension. It was also the time when she managed to display and make use of the rare Force Repulse; this was a skill her master took some time to help her understand, hone, and effectively use should she have a need or reason to use it.
While she would have preferred to say otherwise, even as a Padawan, Tara had taken quite a few lives. However, as dictated by her missions, she had no other choice. It was either part of the missions, or the course of it and the behavior and intent of her enemies and her master's left them no way out. Thus, eventually, death became a somewhat natural thing and not something that would truly scar her or shock her. After all, as a belief of the Jedi Order and how her master had taught her, everyone was part of the force. Death would thus merely be the way life asked back for the purpose that had been instilled in said individual, allowing the force to be drawn back into the universe and diluted into a new person as a baby. Jedi just happened to be blessed with more affinity of the Force than others.
With the years, the Master and Padawan bond began to show a bit more. It was initially more difficult to discern when compared to other Jedi given how harsh and difficult to approach Aner was. Eventually however, she managed to adapt to him, to his teachings and his expectations, and thus, the missions and their relationship improved considerably. Like all good things however, it too, would run its course.
In the dawn of her adult years, Tara would find herself struggling to remain afloat in some of the harshest times she has ever encountered. On a vital mission to the outer Rim, Aner and her were sent to dispel the hostilities between two clans. Because of earlier confrontations, the two clans had separated away from one another. In the form of diplomats, Aner would tend to one while he entrusted his padawan to tend to the other. However, unbeknownst to them, there was much more at play. Some of the more known enemies of the Jedi during the time, or at least those with different set of ideals than the Republic had managed to circumvent their way into the conflict and manipulate it from within. The whole ordeal was, after all, a trap.
Being surrounded by a multitude of armed locals as well as more devoted and trained mercenaries, Aner would meet his end at their hands. On the same planet, though quite a large distance away, Tara had felt his master's demise as he became one with the force. Initially driven with anger, she had had quite a lot of thoughts. One of the most overbearing ones was to grip her lightsaber as hard as she could and slash at anything and everything that moved until her arms literally gave out in exhaustion. The numbers around her were indeed many. While it would be correct to say she was indeed fueled by anger and the shock of losing her master, Tara would attempt to regain control of herself when one of the mercenaries charged with directing the locals arrived.
His arrival was, in all intents and purposes supposed to supplement the locals and bring an end to the padawan. To her however, aside from the obvious, it meant just a bit more. With the bout of anger and near frustration she had displayed earlier, it was obvious to her she had been stepping over a line she could not get back from if she continued down that path. Remembering her older days was the last thing she would have wanted in a situation such as those, but the teachings she had received over a decade before as a youngling managed to hold her back and retain her wits about her.
With a decisively strong Force Repulse, most of the locals around her would be pushed away and slammed against the nearby structures. Most of those that could get up after the attack fled the scene while others just called out to the mercenary and fled just as the latter entered the scene. There was no telling whether that mercenary had indeed been the one that caused her master's demise, but there was no doubt he was connected to the plan that made it possible. In her mind, it was the sheer numbers plus the mercenary, and likely her master's old age that had caused his fate to be as had been. But that was then...and as a Jedi, she could not allow her feelings to reign over her, for otherwise, she would become something else.
She would try her best to remain idle, calm, unsettled but ready for combat. When her eyes opened and her body moved as if on reflex, she would find herself deflecting the first blaster shot off of her blue bladed lightsaber. While she was certainly skilled beyond what most her age could wish to be, the deflection had taken her by surprise and it might have easily been sheer luck as displayed by her expression. Still, underestimating her would be a mistake as the display of defensive and offensive combat skills would shown thereon. Leaping upwards, and eventually coming down, dashing to the side and deflecting blaster fire, she would close in on her target. The resolve and determination was evident in her eyes. Every time she closed in on him, it was as if she allowed a dim glimpse of light to her enemy to fade in a time of his life to relive before having it all stripped from him.
Moving faster than she thought she could, she would soon find herself, standing above the lifeless body of the mercenary, and his head quite a few feet away from where the body remained. With more locals closing in and hardly a large number of ways in which she could defend herself in the long run, she was almost resigned to her fate, but with the idea that she would go out strong, much like her master had instilled in her. It was then that, with blaster fire and vessels landing, some of the members of the republic showed up to aid her having made aware of the events transpiring.
The events during that mission were more than she thought she had been prepared for, but she was nevertheless able to maintain her composure. On a meeting with the Jedi Council, she would be congratulated with the efforts and skills displayed during the mission. Followed a fair briefing about the events and the players behind the curtains, they got to the reason she was called in. In an unanimous decision, it was seen as a wise choice to bestow upon Tara the rank of Jedi Knight. The trial of skill and courage had been met with flying colors. Unlike most her age, who happened to be sent on rigorous and dangerous missions every now and then, given her late master's ideals, detrimentally dangerous missions was most of what Tara saw. Thus, in more than one occasion, she had been forced into gravely dangerous combat in less than fortune and advantageous odds.
What was more, with the latest mission, she had managed to go above and beyond. Not only was she mentally and physically strong enough to face up to and defeat unlikely and strong opponents, but she was able to display an adamantly strong resolve and courage deemed fit of a Jedi Knight. Perhaps one of the more difficult trials to complete, the trial of flesh, had indeed been the hardest on Tara. Through the loss of her master, she had experienced a sudden rush of emotions; some of which were not to be anywhere close to a Jedi's mind. Some of the Council Members attested to feeling the distress and trouble clouding her mind. However, the applauded the way in which she concentrated and channeled the unwanted feelings out, asserting her place as a Jedi. As was explained to her, the Dark Side was a strong enemy. Nevertheless, it was also quite an alluring one for those not ready to push it aside. Even for the most devout of masters, the dark side of the force could always manage to turn them if they were not sufficiently intent on keeping it away. Her display had been magnificent and definitely worth it of the rank given to her.
Though that should have been a time of celebration for her, she did not display any emotion that would have highlighted the moment. The Council was both pleased and saddened by this. While indeed not allowing emotions, even if they were positive, to rule one's mind was something to be commended, there was more. The loss of her master had clearly taken a toll on her, and thus, after granting her the title, she would be counseled further on her duties, and sent to meditate into her ways.
During her time as a Jedi Knight, Tara would see her mastership over the combat and peaceful aspects of a Jedi life enhance. The kind and sweet lady was still there, but her maturity and the experiences she struggle with were making her excel and grow. During her years as a Knight she would continue to train and master the art of the lightsaber as she learned more and more of the Ataru and Soresu form respectively. In more than one way, it made a lot of sense. From the time with her late master and the teachings provided by the Order, it was simple to assume, specially following the code, that a Jedi ought to follow peace. In her mind, the thought of using a lightsaber in combat would already be a clear indication that the weapon had to be used to restore or maintain peace...indicating a likely lack of it in the first place. Soresu was her answer to the painful state of the galaxy.
She had already been learning Soresu for quite a long time, but mastering was then just a grasp away. Given the foundation and the purpose of Soresu, the combat skill allowed her to place herself and think of herself as a mediator for peace and justice. Though she had recurrent and thought provoking ideas that were...dangerous for the Order and the Republic, she was always quickly swayed back, through her own will, to her teachings. There was very obviously a lot wrong with the galaxy. And as a single individual, there was likely many more perverse things she could not even phantom. But she was just one person. Other Jedi would have to have noticed as well of the troubles that pained the galaxy. However with the impending chaos that clouded their minds, there were some matters that just took priority over others, sadly. On the other hand, some of the likely more aware individuals such as politicians, simply ignored the issues.
Soresu, was her answer to those in need. While it didn't really have any real effect on the needy at all, her skill in that form was just but a hypothetical ideal she attributed to the form as a means to describe it as the protector and guardian form of combat. Plus, with the recent and hasty technological advancements, the galaxy was moving more and more towards long ranged blaster-based combat; possibly even more so than it already was. With so much corruption and evil in the galaxy and with such technology at their disposal, a combat skill that could effectively engage blaster fire and act as a defensive means to survive and protect others was all Tara need it to further pursue it and master the form.
As much as she was a strong wall, a protector, Tara was also a relentless and strong warrior. Though some of the Masters had expressed their concern for the occasional leakage of feelings from the times of heated combat, they were also equally pleased and condescending since Tara was able to just as easily able suppress her feelings and find the near balance required from a Jedi. Still, like in many other things, her master had a great influence not just on her behavior but also on her lightsaber skills and choice of combat. From the time she was a Padawan, she had begun to learn about Ataru. It was one of the master's preferred styles of combat, and he had made it clear that it was somewhat necessary for Tara. While she had never been inherently violent or forceful, her Master had shown her she had the skill and the potential to carefully tailor her combat abilities to do what many Jedi could not while still remaining one with the teachings of the Order.
In fact, throughout her years as a Padawan, Ataru was practiced on near equal level as Soresu. As such, even back during the time of her Master's demise, her level of control over Ataru was commendable and her progress in comparison to others her age was just beyond belief. Just like Soresu, Ataru would be a form of combat she would strongly pursue throughout her years as a Knight. While it was true that defense and protection were necessary in a world that cried out for peace and stability, she was sure that sometimes, action was just the best form of defense to procure peace and stability. Like her Master had taught her, she also believed that the form complimented her, and added a fair amount of balance and power to the other aspects of her repertoire.
As such, Tara was known for being quite a versatile combatant with the lightsaber. Throughout her years as a Knight in a variety of missions, she was well known for how well she could adapt to a variety of situations and find the best way to use her skills to deal with a hostile situation. Against well equipped individuals and heavy blaster fire she was usually seen making masterful use of her Soresu. On the other hand, against fast, likely physically stronger or larger opponents, she often made use of Ataru. The high speed, the quick cuts and rushed jumps made her seem almost like a blur as she dashed and swirled in combat. In many aspects, she was revered as a prominent duelist and lightsaber user.
Likewise, her force skills only improved as a result of her increased experience. Her Force Repulse was a tentative and often celebrated skill. It had enough power to knock her assailants quite a distance away from her and delivering nearly untold damage to those that received the blunt of the force. In fact, on some occasions, rumors state that she had even been able to use it to shatter and utterly destroy some of the blasters and weapons used by her opponents. Rumors however, as they were, had not truly been confirmed.
Eventually, though she was certainly of age for a Padawan, she never quite felt ready for one. Perhaps because of what had happened to her master or because of her own personal reasons but in any case, the Council never pushed the issue too much. In their eyes, she would take a Padawan when she was ready as it was too dangerous to hasten a situation that would endanger the stability of either Tara or the young individual placed under her care. Nevertheless, she was often summoned to see the younglings and aid the instructors in force related activities. While her skill with a lightsaber was down right near-legendary, her force abilities left nothing to be desired either. Like most, even the grand master, there was always more to learn about the force, but even then, Tara was a fairly strong user with quite a lot of potential rivaling that of the most adept users.
On some of her many trips to aid the younglings, she would seen levitating objects of varying sized. From fist sized holocrons to thick and large structures that were quite easily three or more times her size and possible many more times her weight, Tara displayed her use of the force in an attempt to help teach the younglings. Interestingly enough, in most cases, both during the times when she used the force to move smaller and larger objects, there was not much change or visible strain on her part if at all. It was quite possible that her force mastership made her able to effectively move and push objects of extremely larger dimensions and weight and quite possibly, with an uncharted potential, her rate for growth could have been quite equally uncharted.
As time passed, Tara could find herself growing. She felt herself growing in many ways aside from combat, but not all positive ways. The more she traveled for missions and duties for the Republic and the Jedi Order, the more she became acquainted with the problems and the suffering of the galaxy. In some ways, that was both good and bad...if there was even such a thing as good and bad. And it was thoughts like that which held her in near, though minimal fear. Part of her believed that her eyes opening to the truth of what was wrong with the galaxy was dangerous to her life as a Jedi. Too much exposure could after all potentially wound up clouding her mind and her judgement, and specially the way she saw the Jedi and their code. On the other hand there were some aspects that did not seem at all too bad. In part, it was the fact that she knew so well the need of so many that made her as a Jedi that much more capable of uncovering the needs of those around her and potentially being able to help them in ways that the Republic had been unable or unwilling to. In an attempt to understand her feelings a bit more, she was often helped by some other masters. The thoughts did indeed provoke some degree of question, they had nevertheless been in awe and respect at her decision to seek help.
It was not so much that she truly needed help however. Her thoughts were merely provoking enough that they required some meditation, and as with other things, the more the merrier. As she was told, it was not rare at all for Jedi, even the most powerful ones, to be continually tempted because of their power and their knowledge. In fact, the most influential and powerful of Jedi usually wound up meditating the most because the amassed knowledge they possessed brought thoughts that could only be dealt with and analyzed in deep meditation.
The thoughts never did leave though in some occasions, she liked to believe they were fleeting ones. However, with recurrent meditation much like the renowned masters and members of the Council, Tara would find herself becoming closer to the force and to the understanding of the problems of the galaxy and their root. However, whether the end result would truly be beneficial she would likely never know, but there was a lot of change bound to come her way in the following years.
With time, she finally came around to the idea of a Padawan after being constantly reminded by the Council. While she considered herself to be at a better spot at the moment, she still didn't consider herself ready. The Council believed otherwise however as they explain that subtle insecurity was natural among most individuals, and that that too would be fleeting as she became closer to the force. Her Padawan would actually resonate a lot closer with her than she had anticipated. The boy she would take in came to her hands after his master had perished in an off-world mission. In some ways, it had been just like Tara's own master in the past. She liked the kid and the fact that his story was in some ways similar to hers made her take some interest in him and accede to the training.
It was somewhat unfair to call him a boy however. The kid was in his mid teens but nevertheless, she still called him some odd names though more out of joking around than anything else. Though her power was comparative to that of Masters, she made it clear she was not an old woman. She looked fairly young as a result of her race regardless of her age. But beyond this, it was her personality, at least outside of the temple that made her seem so much younger than she actually was. Everything was at its right time of course. There was a time to be funny and a time to me serious and Tara knew full well when it was time to be one or the other.
As an instructor, Tara would teach the boy as best as she could. She taught him aspects of Soresu and Ataru much like her Master had instructed her long before. She wasn't like her Master however. For the most part, she was known for being a kind, sweet, and gentle teacher. In fact, it was during her time as the Padawan's guide that she would be raised to the rank of Jedi Master, something which was agreed on unanimously. In any case, she tried her best to make it enjoyable for her Padawan. While she had been trained rigorously by her Master, she did not wish the same for her Padawan. Its not that she believed her Master to have been wrong however. She was just a different person. What she liked, what she could sustain and endure was not the same that others liked or could struggle through. The difference in different people made the need for different approaches necessary.
She wasn't soft on her Padawan however. When she needed to be stern, serious and admonishing she made sure she was. It was on those times that she was reminded of her own Master, something that quite often brought at least a chuckle. When there was a need to be condescending, kind and nurturing so she was. Her largely unorthodox but welcoming approach to teaching was valued and praised by the Council. It was even more noticeable so with the speed at which the Padawan progressed and how pleased the Council seemed with his progress. Eventually, with a carefully laid out set of steps, the Council and Tara worked together to devise the Trials for her Padawan. As they had expected, the trials were passed successfully and her Padawan was ascended to his rank.
Once again, in some ways, alone, she found herself a bit at odds. Initially, before taking a Padawan, taking one was the last thing she would have envisioned. There were just a lot of things she needed and wanted to do. However, now that she could, she simply couldn't think of anything. Protecting the galaxy and securing peace were the standard baseline ideas she always had, but at least for some time, she was at odds. Teaching had certainly been one of the most rewarding experiences she had ever had. Though doing it again would truly be somewhat invigorating, she decided against it for the time being.
The time she had been teaching her Padawan had also helped her enhance her own skills. Her force skills had certainly improved even more, but her lightsaber skills had seen the most advancement. Known as a fierce and powerful duelist and lightsaber combatant, she had begun her training in Juyo. Being such a natural to lightsaber combat meant she would have an easier time than most, but nevertheless, the form proved to be the most difficult one she had ever attempted. It drew on a lot of variables that, though she had certainly been acquainted with before, required some thought and preparation. The form was extremely vicious, something which she was able to achieve in combat as a result of her earlier teachings with her late Master. Her fast paced and strong style of combat also added some level of adaptability to Juyo.
That wasn't just it however. Juyo required significant internal focus. It was one of the primordial parts of the form and something Tara tackled in earnest. From an early age, as it had been seen as her time as a youngling, she displayed great skill in settling her emotions, focusing and achieving a near state of nirvana. The same was true but to a greater extent as she aged. She was able to control her emotions to a large extent, even when the latter did in fact leak out with some degree of frequency; though still somewhat rarely or so she liked to believe. Even after the death of her master, she had displayed great skill in focusing her emotions to get rid of the ladder in such a way that it even amassed the Masters and had been one of the many reasons that lead to her eventual appointment as a knight.
The form was indeed quite unorthodox and unpredictable, a definition that, to some extend, also defined Tara quite well. Not just being a Master, but her near masterful internal focus and abilities with the lightsaber allowed her to obtain the consent and the abilities needed to pursue this form, and with the years, master it as well. There were certainly quite a lot of lightsaber forms, but with time, Juyo became the one Tara was the most proficient with and also the one she used with more dexterity. In a way, Juyo was the culmination of her life as a true Jedi. Her idea was somewhat flawed but she enjoyed the thought. It was pretty simple, really. Soresu, had been taught to her. It was the guardian, the protector, the means through which she would maintain peace and defend others. It stemmed largely out of suggestions of others and her own input. Ataru, quite differently was a fast paced form of combat introduced to her by her Master. Much like Soresu, it too helped to secure peace and deliver justice. It did so in a different way, to her anyways. It achieved the same result but through very different means. Juyo on the other hand was a bit more special to her. Not only was the skill quite rare and difficult to master, but she had gone far enough to master it to the point of calling it her own. Soresu had been attained as the standard ideal she believed to be needed as a young Jedi. Ataru had been taught through the direction and indication of her master. And Juyo...Juyo was attained through sheer struggle until complete mastery by using the teachings delegated by the Jedi Order, her late Master, her own skills, and her experience and willingness to make a change in the Galaxy.
With the years, as a Jedi Master, Tara would find that she had changed some. For the most part, she retained most of what made her 'her'. She still smiled most of the time and joked quite as equally so. She was still relatively positive and fun to be around. However, during her duties or when the situation demanded it, she could become rather detached, stern and strict much like her master had been. In a way, she saw this as the process of growing up and maturing, even if she had been doing so for quite a while. She liked to think that though her age said one thing, her looks matched more efficiently with parts of her personality. Likewise, she would go on to increase and enhance her lightsaber and force skills. By then, her skill with the force and with the lightsaber were widely known in the order. As a woman, she had also grown quite a bit, having become much more endowed with features that made regular ladies be looked at in an appealing light.
Though considering herself a champion and devout follower of the Jedi Code, Tara would find that, as years went by, she doubted herself and questioned some of the beliefs she had been raised to believe. For the most part, any time she had a certain idea that conflicted with her teachings, she would purposely put the thought aside to avoid delving into inner conflict and thoughts that would do her more harm than good. On other occasions however, she would purposely put herself in a position, where, meditating, she would weigh in the ideals of the Jedi, and try her best to balance it with the ways in which she saw the world work, and how she believed it should.
In her view, there was a lot wrong with the galaxy. In her view, no one was truly correct. That's not to say she believed herself to be the only right individual, as her, like many, would have failings. In one side, she saw the Jedi Order and the Republic as somewhat of hypocrites. While they, her, indeed helped those that needed it during their missions and in conflicts, it was not enough. There were a lot of planets that were in dire need of help. There were civilizations crying out in need of help and protection. In the meantime, those of higher political positions held lifestyles filled with wealth and an availability of goods most could not ever consider attainable. While the Jedi were taught to be self sufficient in what little they had, she didn't see it correct that the order continued to abide by the rulings of a seemingly corrupt republic.
Nevertheless, she would not consider that the forces that had once been against the republic and the Jedi would be right either. War and destruction would not lead to peace. But neither would a fake peace and an attempt to maintain a false idea of peace eliminate the reality of the need of the galaxy. It was all seemingly pointless, to her. Eventually, her dissatisfaction would be known, as she herself went and spoke to some of the council members about it. She was well aware of the implications of her actions, and she was ready for it. No doubt, the council was saddened by her views and her decision. Though they tried to rectify her and keep her, there was little they could do. Giving up her blue colored lightsaber, she had decided to abandon the order. However, as told by the Jedi, they could still foresee a future for her. However, the impending dark side clouded their vision as to whether she would one day rejoin the Jedi, or something else...Either way, on good terms, she was allowed to leave with her past work until then impeccable.
Starting anew was a bit more difficult than she had anticipated. It kind of reaffirmed her suspicions of just how difficult some people had their lives and how much others were willing to live ignoring that fact. It was one thing not to care about the well being of others, but purposely trying to assume and say there was nothing wrong with the galaxy was almost a sin. In any case, she found herself with nothing but her clothes and no credits to go on with. As much as she disliked it, there was no way but to ask those whom she had met throughout the years in different planets and missions for funds. She would make sure each one was repaid as soon as she had obtained sufficient credits to pay back what she had borrowed.
During her travels and having met so many people, plus the natural intelligence she possessed, made it not such a daunting task to speak a number of languages. Aside from basic, she was well versed and fluent in Huttese and Bothan as well as simple Binary. By spending so much time with droids and the sort, she was able to have that basic understanding of he binary, also called droidspeak. The languages did indeed ended up becoming helpful. Specially Huttese and to a lesser extent Bothan. After all, though she knew a lot of people relatively well after all those years, speaking their language always seemed to place her somewhat closer and in a more comfortable spot.
To her surprise though, quite a few were thankful for all she had don. After all, she had been in quite a lot more missions than others her age and had made quite a number of friendships in different parts of the galaxy. In between the substantial amount of credits and the connections she had, a lot of things were somewhat more easily accomplished. Even some of the more expensive things were often sold or given at a considerably lower price because of her connections.
Soon, Tara would find herself aboard her own ship, which was fairly alright. From then, she decided to work in whatever she could to first repay the people that had helped her, pay for enhancements to better condition her ship, and simply enough to continue living somewhat comfortably. Her jobs during this time were varied. On occasions, she would smuggle some goods to the given locations. Nevertheless, she always tried to know what exactly it was she was smuggling. It was not legal, obviously. But she preferred to smuggle harmless things, like food, instead of smuggling detrimental drugs and the sort. Even if she was no longer affiliated with the Jedi Order, there were a number of things she was just not ready to do yet.
On some other chances, with the right pay, and targets that deserved it because of her actions, Tara found herself occasionally being employed as a muscle, a mercenary. This was nevertheless something she didn't do too often. While she wasn't terrible with a blaster, she was a lot better with the force than with one of those things. Dealings in the underworld where of course, not far off, and she got in faster than she thought. Before she could really notice, Tara was doing nearly all sorts of things and dealings. She was smuggling whatever it was gave her a nice share, acting as a mercenary if the pay was right, or anything at all regardless of how bad she would have seen it as a Jedi.
During one of her many travels and dangerous missions, now as a Gray Jedi, her skills and success were met with excitement and commendation by some of the more prominent underground organizations. After saving one of the more important leaders of one of the latter, she was rewarded with quite the gem, aside from her pay. The head of the organization also happened to be quite the collector, with a number of items that many could only ever dream of seeing. Among them was a precious crystal that had been passed down from generation to generation and which was rumored to had been handed by a Jedi that had left the order a long time ago.
The idea was interesting enough where she accepted the crystal. Eventually, as the pay for other missions got higher and with it rose the difficulty of the latter, Tara found herself building a new lightsaber. With the right knowledge and knowing the right kind people, getting the materials was not too difficult. The crystal she had been gifted was, after all, a lightsaber crystal. It produced a bright green color, and much like credits, she loved it. It reminded her of the one she had had before, but this one was somewhat more special. It had history and she had built it at a time where her life was taking a turn and would likely head in an entirely different direction in the future. This was her lightsaber, and she would be one with it.
While Tara did in fact attained near unimaginable amounts of knowledge during these years, namely underworld connections, smuggler and mercenary hotspots, and technological skills with droids and ships among other things, she also managed to maintain and even enhance some of her more renowned and original skills. For starters, her skill with the lightsaber was never shown to falter. Instead, she became even stronger and more relentless in her mastership of the blade. There were some occasions where, for some reason or another, she was forced to use a blaster, but almost always her form of combat dictated the use of her lightsaber and force skills during hostilities.
There was also some form of ego in her. While it was not the best thing to possess as someone that had been taught as a Jedi, she was no longer one; at least not completely. In essence, she would just not allow her lightsaber or force skills to dwindle. Regardless of her choice of leaving the Order years before, she was nevertheless focused on the pain of the galaxy. While it was true that in the last few years she had been much more preoccupied with her own well being and the potential abundance of credits at her disposal, she had never quiet forgotten about the plead of the needy. In her mind, she couldn't really be judged too much. Her anguish about the situation of the galaxy had drove her to where she was today. The lack of vision she thought she possessed and the myriad of unwelcoming and unlikely variables had made her who she was today but she was not lost. Not yet.
She was definitely more preoccupied with making friends. Making connections. Making money. Making a life. But nevertheless, deep inside, though strangely aloof to it and from afar, she liked to believe she was still working in some ways to better the state of the galaxy. Her ideology was still more honest than that of the Republic and the Order. One just outright ignored the calls for help fooling themselves, on purpose, that the galaxy was alright. The others, though with potential to exert change, blindly followed the guidance of the people that neither believed in their own code nor further an agenda that the Order itself could call righteous. It was indeed quite controversial, and the idea of the conflict itself was one of the main reasons she tried to push the thoughts away. Doing random assignments every now and then for the right amount o credits was just enough to get her mind off of the things she knew eventually she'd have no choice but to turn back to.
It didn't help much that her skills were becoming renowned in other places other than the Order. With the years, with the increase in difficulty of her assignments so did the payout of credits. Likewise, she would be tasked time and time again to prove herself by successful completing what was tasked of her. Quite a few of the bigger names of the underworld had personally requested her, not as a mercenary or smuggler but as a partner or a bodyguard. The rumors of her blade work and her great use of the force were just very alluring to such people. Surprisingly enough, Tara never did accept. It was surprising after all since each offer was accompanied by such a hefty amount of credits she would have done anything...anything, for it. But alas, she never quite agreed. While she was certain that eventually, in the future, she would finally give in more towards the light or dark side of the force, staying in her own secure middle ground seemed best.
Tara was a wise master. She was well aware of the way her life would go should she make such a choice like joining a warlord for good. She worked for many of them during that time, but she was her own boss for the most part. Completely delegating her services to someone like that would be akin to giving herself up again to the Jedi Order or the rising power of the dark side. The problem was, that, regardless of which way she went in her path, her life would eventually draw her closer to one side or another. Gray Jedi, like some doted themselves and possibly her was but a momentary illusion. It did not last. Those who believed so were either delusional or they had been lucky enough to experience a time of uncertainty that would nevertheless not last long. At the end, she believed an individual would inevitably give in to one side or another. But that was a decision she would have rather not meditate about yet. Her jobs were some that offered the greatest pay offs and did not bring her too close to one side or the other. And though fate would catch up to her eventually, for the time being, she was doing all right.
In one of her latest missions, she was tasked with a very peculiar assignment. It wasn't particularly different from many others she had had before. It didn't look particularly difficult either. However, as she had come to know, most of the truly dangerous situations never quite seemed so at first until it was too late. The assignment however did hold some fair amount of relevance and importance to her aside from the very specifics. One of the Hutt crime lords had had an important cargo confiscated from one of his smuggler. This time however, it hadn't been the Republic but rather a different organized group that had done it.
Fate would have it that Tara never quite managed to be in the right place and the right time but instead quite the contrary. Being the closet to the sector, she was contacted and informed of the situation with such a hefty reward for her success it was just not possible to say no. There was no telling what was in the cargo as that was not explained to her, but in situations like this, she preferred not to know more. Sneaking in had been quite easy. Hiding the more needed tools was simple as her beauty had indeed helped her get around. Getting to the cargo was also a cinch. After all, for most smugglers and thieves the operation was really a basic one. And while Tara had not been born into that sort of world she had certainly had quite enough exposure to it to the point where one could say her past life had orphaned her and the Tara of today had been raised through the struggle of the masses she so dearly kept trying to save.
It was the escape, as usual, that would cause the most trouble. It was something she had expected, at least part of it. The number of guards had been minimal, at least to the proximal area of the cargo. Subtle but powerful force abilities given her mastership had been enough to take care of the few that lagged behind. However in due time, she had been found. With more and more back up arriving from the organization to keep her at bay and likely kill her, it became clear that leaving on her own with the cargo was not going to happen. At least not alive. Using her handheld holoprojector she contacted the Hutt to informed him. Not surprisingly he wasn't very...surprised. Lowering the amount of credits she would receive some, a tactic that had likely been planned by him from the beginning, he offered her some help for his own cargo. If she could fight off the incoming offense and soften their numbers, with enough time, he could set for a larger freighter to arrive and help her dispatch the scum that remained and procure the cargo.
It was all too strange however. Hardly nothing passed over these Hutts and the latter was ikely quite aware of the number of enemies. Also, lowering the amount of the payout, though still substantial and help her secure his own cargo did not make sense. After all, he could have done so from the beginning and avoid the whole ordeal or the large payout given the high price Tara charged for her exploits. She had but a hunch but she could not be sure of it until the Hutt man's arrived. If she made it alive that far anyways.
Under heavy blaster fire, she did her best to hide and fight back. With her lightsaber and through the use of Soresu, she managed to deflect and even return the fire neutralizing a fair number of assailants. Her force pushes were also quite devastating and give the relatively close quarters amounted for the bulk of the enemy loses and injuries. Engaging them in direct combat with her lightsaber could not be wise. Even if she was a near legend with the blade, the numbers were just too much and the blaster fire, even with her Soresu, could not completely guarantee her safety. And that as something she was not ready to bet on.
Nevertheless, through extensive use of the force she was able to decimate large numbers of the oppressors. With more and more enemies and their droids showing up, she began to think that even with the initial unreal amount of credits provided, the mission was just way too much. In time, doubt began to settle in, and with that, some anger and frustration. Eventually, in a bout of rage, she would come out from behind the objects that partially hid her, lightsaber in hand and rushed the assailants. Deflecting blaster fire with her saber she would use her force push to throw off those closest to her. Then, thrusting forward with immense power fueled by a bout of frustration and likely rage, she let out an enormously powerful force push that was more akin to a wave of destruction. Upon contact, the power of the force was enough to send flying off all of the assailants that were before her even dozens of meters ahead. Some, it killed on the spot; specially those closest to tough structures whose body caved down between the pressure of the blast and the likely metal structures. Many others had their blasters shattered by the wave and remained unconscious with a bare few barely being able to get up.
She knew what this was, it was Force Wave. She was acquainted with it as she had heard of it before but never had used it yet. Deep inside, she imagined a great distress would have come over her. In part because of the discovery of her potential to use the ability but more so out of the nature of the feelings that had awakened her knowledge and ability to be able to do so. While she was no longer a Jedi of the Order, she was nevertheless trained by them and became a Master and a renowned Champion, and as such still retained some of their teachings. While the feeling did in fact settle within, it did little more than stay within. With a large grin she would just ready as she produced a second force wave, many times stronger than the one she had made before. By then, the destruction was enough to eliminate those who were still attempting to get up, with near irreparable damage being done to the structure around her.
Though in essence she should have been happy that the hostile encounter was won and that she had indeed been victorious, it wasn't quite complete. There was a sense of happiness inside, that was true; no doubt about it. However, with a strong grip on her lightsaber, she was somewhat angered that it had already ended. Her hand shook under the strong grip on the hilt, longing for battle, sheer pleasure of battle and a rush of adrenaline. Then, like a slap to the back of the head she blinked and widened her eyes to their likely maximum before loosening her grip on the hilt. Dropping to her knees she would set the lightsaber beside her and meditate. The world was a dangerous place for both Jedi and the rest, and she wasn't an exception. The sheer flurry of emotions had been a clear indication of it; something she already knew and was well acquainted with.
There was no telling how long she had been meditating. It might have easily been a few minutes, or possibly even a few hours. She just got up just before the sounds of foreign arrival made themselves audible. The group sent by the Hutt to retrieve the cargo as well as a holocommunication from the latter accompanied them. Apologizing for the ruse, the Hutt made his offer once more for Tara to join him. She had been right after all. It had been a wise choice that the Hutt had not come himself. Placing her in such a situation just to see her skills once again and ask her to join...she would have sliced its thick fat neck if he had shown up. Then again, the meditation and her sudden realization of her nearly lost control earlier would have taken care of that somewhat. It would have been unthinkable what could have happened if she had done otherwise. Instead, she just truly didn't want to think about it. With a resolute no, she made her decision visible before she made out of the wretched planet.
The repeated offers were becoming quite annoying and from more than one individual at a time. Taking some time out of the heat of assignments, she would spend what she seemed to call her short vacations. They truly only lasted a couple of months before she was drawn out forcefully. The truly were not vacations in it of themselves since she spent most of her time working. She was either spending most of her time working on her ship or spending time refining her skill with the force or meditating to feel closer to the force. After all, if she was to find an answer to the troubles of the galaxy, she couldn't lag behind. However, as usual, it seemed trouble would just go and find her.
During one of those days, not very atypical from the rest, she would get a visit she did not expect. She had been under her ship that day, checking out some of the new upgrades she had made to it. It was then that, exhaling deeply and with a clear feeling of annoyance, she got up. She couldn't really tell what or who, but there was definitely someone approaching her. And what was more, it was more than one, and they were attuned to the force; at least one side of it. When she made contact with the intruders, she was somewhat surprised to see one of them was the Padawan she had trained years before. However, her face retained the same near-emotionless look it had before. She was indeed shocked inside, but she knew better than to let her feelings play out in such a dangerous way.
She would instead just joke, and with a smile question her Padawan and the man accompanying him. From a closer distance, and being able to see them properly, it was obvious that both of them had fallen to the dark side. Just as her former Padawan retrieved his lightsaber to display a red blade, Tara would try to continue joking to dispel the situation and do her best to avoid a confrontation. She even joked about how cliche it was her own Padawan had shown up and wondered if he was there to fight and kill her.
However, before she could continue speaking and before her former Padawan could respond, the other man would instead interrupt. With a soft but firm 'No', he would use his own red lightsaber to impale the former Padawan, killing him on the spot. The scene made Tara's eyes widen in shock and pure disbelief. Sure, she was joking around and trying to manipulate and gravitate the hostilities elsewhere but that turn of events was one she had not been expecting. From her hunch, it seemed that man had been the one to turn her former Padawan to the dark side and likely instructed him too in those ways. It made sense for him to make the former Padawan fight her...she couldn't understand what drove him to do that instead.
However, one thing was clear. The shock and largely unexpected scenario caught her off guard, and finally, her emotions got the best of her. She wasn't sure of the potential power of her enemy but she was highly confident in her own. What's more, tightening her grip on her lightsaber, she was enraged. She would rush and attack her assailant relentlessly. Her blows were so strong that even with the fairly strong build the man displayed, he had a hard time holding on as she pummeled and hammered down on her opponent before force pushing him a fair distance against a wall.
From the looks of it, and the short conversation they held much to Tara's dismay, it seemed the man was not Sith. Instead, he was just a Dark Jedi who had likely either left the Order long ago or had been raised and trained as a dark jedi from the start. However, it mattered very little. With a seemingly strong force push from her opponent she would retaliate with an even stronger force wave that slammed hard against her opponent. From the fair cloud of dust that was lifted up it was hard to tell if the man had been conscious initially after the hit. But, as soon as the dust settled and his eyes fixed on her opponent, the man would find Tara crashing down on him, swinging her lightsaber with great force but precision top sever each and every one of his limbs. Eventually, she would even go as far as to drag the edge of her lightsaber on the surface of his body. It was enough to cut, harm and cause pain but she made sure not to kill him until the very end. With rage overwhelming her, she would at the end, slice his head off.
She knew what was going on. She knew she was enraged. She knew she had to calm down but it was very difficult to do so. Unlike on her past assignments, sitting down to meditate, though helpful, was something she just couldn't bring herself to do, at least not yet. Instead, she stood still, lightsaber still on her hand. Her chest inched as she breathed quickly and heavily under the sheer torment of the situation. By her, the dismembered lifeless body of her enemy remained, with the dead body of her former Padawan ways away. In a matter of minutes, a ship known to her would arrive. Once again, a couple henchmen from the Hutt she had worked so many times for before arrived. The holorecording pretty much admitted that the dark jedi had been a plan orchestrated and planned by the Hutt who now wondered if she would join him. He had made sure to include that this would be his last offer and her last chance.
It was safe to assume, that from the very beginning, Tara knew that regardless of having many friends, she would eventually make some enemies. And it was as best a time as any to start and get some. Specially after what the Hutt had done. With a grin and anger still fueling her within, she quickly slaughtered those that had delivered the message and made sure to record one for whomever was sent to pick up the scum. In most ways, she was now just like every other or most people of her profession. She had numerous connections. She had a lot of friends, but she also had a fair number of enemies. It wasn't the first time and in some ways it would just make her life somewhat entertaining. On her way back to her ship and away from the planet, it seemed like her head hurt from the sheer anger and frustration she had acquired. Trying her best to control herself much like she did during her training, she would time her breathing and attempted to lower her anger to normal levels as she walked. Restraining herself then had been tougher than ever before, but nevertheless, she managed to attain a balance. After mourning the death of her former Padawan briefly, she would return to her own life and her own goals. There was definitely a lot she needed to fix in the galaxy. And she would accomplish it. One way or another.
With time, Tara was undertaking missions just like any of the hardened fringers out there. Given her advance knowledge of the force and her skill with the lightsaber, she was able to continue training and getting stronger. As a general rule, it helped her to do so. Since she was much better at it than with a blaster, her skills and power made it possible to succeed in missions and receive the payouts. It had been long already since she had paid all her debts, and now she was enjoying amassing some credits for her own use and leisure. Having made many more friends and connections, Tara was hardly the same person anymore. Nevertheless, her future was unlikely and not quite easily defined. There was a good chance she would, one day, go back to force related organizations, but whether she went to the light side, or dark sided ones could not truly be discerned yet. In any case, her success, both in her missions and with her lightsaber and the force were clearly making her name known.
RP Sample:
Tara, I have some work for you. That was the last Tara had heard the old man say a few days before. As usual, whenever he had an assignment for her, it was always a good one. While he was not the one who made the assignments, most of the tasks got relayed to him through those in need of services. There was no doubt that they were almost always as tough as they came, but the payout was so substantially alluring it was almost enough to forgo the potential dangers. Sometimes.
Having arrived at his place of stay, she was surprised by his request of the location. For the most part, it had always been a cantina or some off shoot place. It was even more sketchy that he had given no real or defining clues as to her task, which was something he had never failed to do. But, he had never failed her before. Upon arriving, she had been invited in by whom she could only assume was a servant in the house. The look on the lady's face almost seemed to indicate that Tara had indeed been expected.
Instructed to sit down and wait for his arrival, Tara did as she was told. It was not like him to keep her waiting but she didn't have much else to do that day. Taking a seat, she was surprised at how comfortable the things were at his house. Now...if she could only fit things like those in her ship that would be bliss. As time went on, Tara just managed to get increasingly bored. She had gone from admiring the rooms and the walls, to looking at the cracks and the items and imagining what some of those things might have been used for.
Eventually, she would get up, tired of waiting. By a table, she saw what looked a bunch of credits stuck under some documents. It baffled her she had been there so long and had not noticed the one thing that drove her to do most of the things she did. Upon taking the credits, for her wait... a small holoprojector would turn on with the old man beginning to speak. "So, you found it. Good. Good. Sorry my dear friend. It couldn't be helped. I had matters to attend to, and once you are done, I shall pay you handsomely for your time aside from what you've already acquired."
With that, the communication would shut off, leaving Tara baffled, confused beyond belief and with more questions than she had had before. Then, in a second or two after some noise, she would see the servant return with some kids. Oh, shi.. she thought to herself as she finally understood the reason she was there and the job she had been given. It wasn't like him at all but the old man had hired her that day to serve as the babysitter for the kids. The sound of blasters outside made it obvious that there was some form of altercation, likely between some rival gangs of the zone. The old man was likely aware of it, and had hired Tara to ensure the children's safety should any of the violence outside happen to make it inside.
For everyone's benefit, the violence remained where it should have been, outside. During her time there, she would just sit there quiet, occasionally staring at the children while they stared back at her in seeming awkwardness. By the time she had had enough and readied to display a goofy silly smile, the kids had already gone elsewhere within the house to play. But always close enough where Tara could keep a good eye on them. While babysitting was likely one of her least enjoyed activities, the pay was good, and as always, she did anything for the right price.
