Estrogen Overload (Mara, Val, Midnight)

[sparrow]

Jedi Mission: Take No Prisoners thread 1

Jedi: Elsie Therin [sparrow] + padawan Eaite Nayrus [Midnight], Val Adeera [Valadin] + padawan Rein Akai [Anackis], Xierra Zalq [Mara]
NPC Players: Templar Forge [DireWolf], Tas Bey [Jace]

---

Months of nothing to do, and suddenly everything piling in at once. Elsie Therin sighed as she ran the comb through her hair. She should have been happy. A mission, finally! Hours of physical training everyday, lightsaber practice, Force exercises, all in preparation for this.

But it was the second task the council had given her that made her nervous. Elsie was twenty four years old. It had been two years since her Jedi trials. The time had seemed to pass so fast. And now, she had been instructed to take on a padawan of her own. She would almost have rather been asked to face two dark jedi masters at once in a lightsaber duel.

Easy now... she told herself. It's just some kid. How bad could it be? But the problem was that she had no idea where to begin. This was one area where she had no experience, was way out of her element. She tried to remember how she had been trained, but her thoughts kept returning to her having to fight her own best friend who had fallen to the Dark Side near the end of her training. Let's avoid that scenario now, shall we?

She put down the comb, letting her hair fall loose, and went about adjusting and smoothing out her robes in front of the mirror. The prospective new padawan was due to arrive at the Temple docking bay from Ilum within the hour. Okay, that's about as presentable as I can get it, she thought as she examined her reflection. Let's just meet the kid first. Plenty of time to panic afterwards.

Using the Force, she pulled her lightsaber from where it had been laying across the room into her hand, and clipped the weapon to her belt. Taking a deep breath, Elsie got up and strode out of her room into the hallways of the Temple, ready to face a new set of challenges.

[Val - Warning:Contains Sarcasm]

"Hmm, no luck getting it in that hole. Let's try the other one.
The droid whirred excitedly. Taking the processing component in her other hand she slid it into the socket on the droid's memory core. It was a little fiddly, but it went in fine. The droid let out a high-pitched beep.
"Yes E3 I know it feels weird. Just take the time to get used to it. This extra processor will help a lot."

The droid whirred again and then clicked as it engaged its motors and filed itself out the room. Val rubbed her hands. They were a little stiff from working on the last three droids in an hour. She glanced down at her left arm, using her right finger to run the contours of the scar. She couldn't feel the fingers on it at all. She took her robes from the bed next to her and attached her saber. Holding it made her remember Master Garrow. She missed him, and had the urge to go to their Supernova some time. She didn't have time at the moment though. The council had just provided her a mission.
Finally. Should be interesting. She didn't know the others she was going with, but was assured they were at least competent. Taking a step out of her room, she wasn't certain of exactly where she should go to meet them, deciding the courtyard might be a good area.

[Mara]

[...from Council Chambers]


Feeling a bit nervous, the Falleen Xierra Zalq, newly minted Jedi Knight Guardian, quickly packed up her things. There wasn't a whole lot to put away, since she hadn't had much time to remove much after her return from Ilum. Just a week prior she had been on the planet in the temple there fashioning her very own lightsaber. Her first.

The experiences she had had there were unforgettable. It would have been enough simply finding her crystal, communing with the Force and constructing her lightsaber. But her fallen master, Master Revisc, had visited her there in a vision, pointing her the way. At first she had not understood, as he had put the lesson in yet another puzzle, but eventually the young Falleen had figured it out. She was to use the same crystal he had given to her in the lightsaber that was his gift to her. Finally knowing what to do, she had quickly fashioned the hilt and all the components, keeping it simple as her first one was. But instead this one was black as obsidian with some scollwork circled around it. And, of course, the emitter that would let forth the pale green blade when pressed. Her very own lightsaber was completed, and Xierra had done it.

Completing that, the last of her Trials, she had made her way back to Coruscant to the Jedi Temple to meet again with the Council. Knowing what was coming, she was focused and still, though she had to concentrate to still her pheromones and skin pigment from going out of control. She know the Council would understand, however, she didn't want to seem overly nervous. Perhaps they would change her mind. But, they didn't. She was knighted there in front of the 12. After 23 years of her life, after 12 years of training under Master Revisc, she was officially a Jedi Knight.

That was just days ago and now Xierra found herself getting ready for her first mission. It wouldn't be a solo mission, thank the Force, but she would be on her own in the way that she would not have her master with her on this one. She would have to make her own decisions, life and death decisions even. Xierra hoped the time spent on Ilum hadn't made her too soft.

In the time since she had found out about her mission, she had spent some time training and practicing with her new lightsaber. And sparring with other Knights during her brief respite after the ceremony and before she was set to leave on the mission. Hopefully it would be enough. And hopefully it would be just a search-and-rescue mission that would be easy. But the Force was not easily predicted.

Standing up, the Falleen slung her bag over her shoulder and checked to make sure her hilt was fastened to her belt. Xierra ran a hand over her robes, smoothing them. Yes, she looked like a Knight. But would she be able to act like one?

Without another hesitation, she left her room and headed towards the hangar area of the temple where she was sure to find her comrades. They had to get to Metellos somehow, anyway.

[Val - Warning:Contains Sarcasm]

The courtyard of the Jedi Temple was expansive to say the least, opening up to the clear blue skies above. Very blue. Very pure. Uplifting in a way. Val took in a deep breath of the good air out here and shut her eyes, feeling the place with the Force. There were other bodies here. Other Jedi and padawans and younglings here sparring or relaxing as she was. She looked around for the other members of her mission, but none were present. Patience. The others may be delayed with other matters.

She observed a pair of younglings sparring with practice sabers in the corner, their level of Shii Cho probably low. She recalled herself being in a similar state a long time ago. No more, however. She had mastered that form long ago. She had found it easy to learn, but then she had been gifted with a great master. One she was fond of. One she missed. She stroked the hilt of her saber. It was smooth and reminded her of Master Garrow's saber. Similar in shape design. She went through the style in her head. The grip on the saber, full and firm but not hard.

"Let the Force guide your hand. Move through the Force. Let it guide your actions. Feel, don't think."
They were words of wisdom that she always attributed with the technique. She recalled the advice she had been given for Niman and Soresu too.
"Do not rely on each too heavily, for adaptability is the strength of a Jedi. Do not focus on where each blaster bolt is going or coming from. Only where it is. Let the Force control you. It will guide you, and it will become like a second nature."
She breathed. Stopping her recollections. Something was coming this way. Not a disturbance in the Force, but something. Something odd.

[Anackis]

Rein stepped out into the courtyard, glancing breifly at the other younglings practicing. He paused a moment almost walking towards them. He shook his head. No, he wasn't a youngling anymore.

Reaching behind his head, he tightend the bandanna covering his face where most races had eyes. A smile crossed his lips for just a moment as he thought of other younglings wearing a blindfold while practicing with the lightsaber. Reins smile dropped as he began to cough.

He glanced around quickly not wanting his new Master to see how weak he was. Rein stood as tall as he could, though his thin frame made him appear more like a stick this way. His pale skin didn't help his situation. After another look around he headed towards the only person he saw that did not look like they were teaching the younglings.

Rein approached the woman quietly. He did not want to make a bad impretion. Standing as tall as he could and trying to speak confidently he spoke, but his voice was quiet and timid, "Excuse me? I am Rein Akai, I'm looking for my new Mas-" He was cut off by a sudden fit of coughing.

[Val - Warning:Contains Sarcasm]

The young boy approached her, looking frail and slightly nervous. He had a blindfold over his eyes. She wondered why for a moment, before recalling the race of Force sensitives who lacked eyes. They wore blindfolds, supposedly, for the ease of the rest of the company they kept. It was supposedly not a pleasant thing to look at, but she had never seen it before. He approached her timidly and addressed her in a very quiet voice.
"Excuse me? I am Rein Akai, I'm looking for my new Mas-" He broke into a fit of coughing. This young padawan was not as healthy as he should be. She lay an hand on his shoulder, sending healing vibrations through the Force into him.

She was no expert healer, but she knew a little of what can ease pain. She coordinated the Force to the points in the body where the air forced itself out. Soothing the throat and lungs, allowing the young man to breath a little better. His breathing began to steady again. She smiled. He was a good person. She could feel it, he was eager to learn and seemed to want to apply it in an admirable way.
"You are looking for your Master? Who is it?" She looked around. She couldn't see anyone here who seemed to be at a master's level.

[Anackis]

Rein looked up at the woman a bit confused. He scratched his head a moment then nodded to himself. "Um..." Rein looked around. He was certain it was her. Again he nodded to himself, thinking she must be testing him. Again he stood up tall and even considered saluting for a moment. "I'm ready for you to teach me, Master."

[Val - Warning:Contains Sarcasm]

Val suddenly stiffened at the mention of the title.
Master? Me? No there must be some mistake. She looked at the youngster. No, she would certainly not be master material for him. He was too young. She was too young. But yet, she could feel the Force in this one. She could sense it tugging at her. Pulling her towards this one. She looked at him again.

"Very well, padawan. I do not know who arranged this, but it may be for the best in the long run. I am currently assigned to a mission, and I think it may be a good idea that you join me. I'm just waiting for-" She cut off, wondering if the green humanoid she had just spotted moving between through the building. Was that Xierra? It looked like her. She must be heading towards the hanger or something.
"Follow me Rein. We'll continue talking at the hanger. I think I saw another member of the mission heading in that direction." She began heading in the direction of the hanger at a slightly slower pace, hearing the shuffling as her padawan trailed behind her.

[Anackis]

Rein watched her carefully. She seemed to be considering something. Rein bit his lip hoping she would not send him away.

Suddenly she spoke, "Very well, padawan. I do not know who arranged this, but it may be for the best in the long run. I am currently assigned to a mission, and I think it may be a good idea that you join me. I'm just waiting for-" As quickly as she started she cut off, distracted by something else.

"Follow me Rein. We'll continue talking at the hanger. I think I saw another member of the mission heading in that direction." She said and began to walk away.

Rein nodded, though not sure he was ready for a mission, and began to follow after Val. He noticed her pace seemed a bit slow but he shrugged it off and scurried along to keep up. He kept silent not wanting to disturb her thoughts.

[sparrow]

Elsie checked the shuttle schedule one more time to make sure she wasn't reading it incorrectly. No doubt about it, the craft, with the padawan that the council had assigned to her onboard, was running late. She stamped her foot impatiently. They needed to depart on their mission soon. This was a delay they did not need.

Elsie took a deep breath. Stop that. A Jedi must be patient. A Jedi is calm. Serene... If I let a little thing like this bug me, then how will I ever be a good teacher? She tried to think back, remember the ways that her master had trained her. What was her first lesson going to be?

From the corner of her eye she spotted a tall, green-skinned Falleen woman enter the hangar. She recognized her as Xierra Zalq, one of the other Jedi who had been assigned on the mission. Elsie smiled and waved hello. At least she wouldn't have to wait alone now.

[Mara]

((Probably not good but I just wanted to get something in here...)))

Entering the temple hangar, Xierra tried to calm her feelings as best as she could. Earlier, just walking through the Temple she had been calm and serene, focused on what was to come. But now that she was actually coming upon the hangar, the start of her first mission, everything was becoming more real to her. Her last mission had been a simple one, and there had been half a dozen other Jedi with her along with her Master. It had been simple, yes, until her master was attacked by one of the indigenous species while they were walking in the forest. Xierra shook her head, shaking away the memory. No more dwelling in the past; she had a future now.

She stopped at the entrance and took a deep breath and tightened down on her emotions, keeping her skin tone in check. After her skin had returned to its normal hue, she walked on, pulling down the hood of her cloak in case the others of her team had already arrived. Xierra knew little about them except the briefing she had gone over. She only had a small idea of who they were; the briefing had mostly focusing on their mission details, not on giving a biography of the other Jedi.

Xierra stopped again after she had gone a few paces. One thing that hadn't been mentioned was which transport they would be using. She glanced around, looking for anything that would point her in the right away, also opening more fully to the Force, hoping it would also guide her. Immediately after, she felt goodwill pouring towards her from another being. The Falleen glanced in that direction and noticed another young woman waving at her, an Enchani.

She quickly scanned her memory of the briefing. Yes, there was an Enchani involved on her mission. This must be her. Xierra smiled at her and began walking towards her, making sure her steps were not too eager or shaky. The other female seemed to be the only one in the hangar right now, and Xierra had remembered there being at least another knight on the roster. They must be early.

Coming into speaking distance, she stopped a few paces away, nodding at her with another smile. "We must be early." Xierra glanced around the large hangar, empty except for the ships, themselves and a few maintenance workers. "Now I know why briefings are called what they are. They really are brief. Any idea which ship is ours?" She stuffed her arms in her long brown sleeves, smiling a little sheepishly, realizing she was actually like the green* knight she really was.

Xierra cleared her throat. "I'm sorry. I'm Xierra Salq." She held out her hand. "I realize you know this, but..."







* I don't mean this to be a pun!

[Anackis]

Rein stepped quickly behind the woman, uncertanty filling his mind. His stomach turned, he couldn't tell if he was hungry or if he wanted to vomit. His small hands were shaking under the long folds of his cloak like a disfunctional droid on an overcharge. His mouth felt like the desserts of tatooine, his tongue felt like gritty abrasive sand scraping across the roof of his mouth. He had never been so nervous in his life.

He pulled at the Force trying to mentally grab it, to hold it close to embrace him, to comfort him, to calm him. But he kept glancing up at the woman before him, his Master, and his thoughts wavered. Was he ready to be a padawan? Would he let his Master down? A thousand thoughts ran through his little mind like a tiny spaceport.

Rein let his head droop as he braught his arm up to stifle a cough. He quickly looked up at his Master hoping she didn't hear him cough again. He had to be strong, he did not want to become a liability. Rein stopped walking for a second. "I will become strong," Rein promised himself.

He quickened his pace to catch up to his Master. I wasn't like other padawans had described their first mission. He was not excited to go, but he was not scared to go. There was a fear itching at the back of his mind, not of the mission, or of becoming a padawan. No, Rein feard that he would fail.

[Val - Warning:Contains Sarcasm]

They had been walking for a few minutes before arriving outside the hanger. The blast doors were shut, but Val could sense the presence of others inside. She didn't want to enter quite yet, but instead was intent on having another quick chat with her padawan. She stopped to feel the Force from the room beyond the thick doors. A few humans, and an Ithorian. Not particularly busy at the moment. There may be a lot of Jedi out already, she wasn't sure if she was one of the earlier groups to be setting out or if they had been delayed already. She turned to face Rein.

She could tell he was uneasy at the moment. Scared? More than likely. She knew the feeling, she was feeling a similar emotion at the moment, though it wasn't really prevailing over her concentration at the moment. She had been on missions before, when she had been a padawan. It felt like such a long time since, and now she thought back she couldn't remember her first mission with her old master. Some stuck out in her mind, but not the first. Not, as some might say, the most important.

She sighed, partly in despair. Maybe if she meditated a little later she could remember, and it could help her relax a little. Three Jedi knights would certainly be enough cushion for each member of the team to fall back on. She returned her attention to her young padawan. She struggled to find exactly the right words that would be effective in the situation.

"Rein, listen, I know you're feeling nervous at the moment, but don't worry. I'm sure that once we get underway you'll do just fine. And don't rely on lightsabers." She added the last sentance as she glanced at his practice saber hanging by his side. She smiled. Lightsabers aren't everything. "If there's anything you want to ask just go ahead. Now may be a good time."

[Anackis]

Rein looked up at his Master a little confused, but oddly feeling a bit more calm. There was something about the way she spoke, not the words themself, but the tone. Rein knew she somewhat understood his feelings, to what extent didn't matter to him. To Rein, the act was more important. To him it meant he was not alone.

He sat there for a moment, not knowing himself what he was thinking. She wanted him to ask something, but what? He did not want to ask the wrong thing, but if he said nothing that would be wrong too. Rein looked down for a moment. He pulled his small pale hands out from under the slightly large sleeves oh his cloak and examined them. He turned his palms upword and closed his fingers in tiny fists. He opened them again before asking in a soft voice, "Do you think I'm too weak to be a jedi?"

[Val - Warning:Contains Sarcasm]

Val pondered for a moment, examining the boy's body language previous to the question.
"That would depend what you mean by strength. Strength is... subjective. It's based on what you perceive to be strong." She took a few paces, forming her examples as she went. "For example, is giving mercy to a prisoner a sign of strength or weakness? It is, after all, the civil thing to do, but can you be sure your enemy will not return for vengeance? A Jedi can be strong without even realising it, Rein." She took her lightsaber from her belt and held it in her hands.

"You see a lightsaber is both a Jedi's weapon and a Jedi's tool. So is the Force. And so is the mind. It will behave based on how you use it. Treat it well and it'll work fine, but abuse it and the strength you have with it could be a weakness. " The blade ignited, shooting forth a green beam of light from the hilt. "So you see, a Jedi's saber is as strong as their intentions with it. The Force..." she contiued, as the blade rose several inches into the air, "... is as maleable as your attunement to it. Your mind is as sharp as you know yourself." The saber deactivated and returned to her belt.

"Do I think you are too weak to be a Jedi? The question you need to ask, my padawan, is do you think you are too weak to be a Jedi? It is not an easy road, but worth it. There are certain temptations that need to be resisted, but if you want to follow the path before you I can help. If you want." She concluded her speech. She realised how much she must sound like Master Garrow at the moment. A smile crept across her lips.

[Anackis]

Rein seemed to brighten a bit. She was right, it was more then physical strength. He looked down at his hands once more, a slight smile crossing his lips. "Yes" he nodded and lifted his head once more to match her gaze, "Would you please teach me the way, Master Adeera"

He dropped his arms to his side letting his sleeves fall past his fingertips. He was determined not to fail. "I will learn to be strong. I can do it."

[sparrow]

"Elsie Therin," she said with a slight smile as she took the other woman's hand. "Not a clue about the ships, though I seem to remember our third member being a pilot. I guess she'll be the one picking out a ship."

What followed was a period of awkward silence, as she wasn't sure how best to gracefully continue the conversation. Elsie was known more for being studious and committed to her training than for being sociable. Her conversational skills were a bit lacking, to say the least. None of this was made any easier by the fact that her mind seemed to be constantly jumping between thinking about padawan training and thinking about the mission, scattering her thoughts with each switch.

"Xierra, did you by chance happen to know Tas Bey?" she said finally. "I've never met the man myself, and know only what was covered in the briefing. Anything additional information about him could be helpful for us in determining just what happened to him."

[Val - Warning:Contains Sarcasm]

Val indicated with her head as she began to stroll towards the hanger doors. Her apprentice followed her as the doors slid silently open to reveal the spacious hanger. Most of the ships inside were docked, meaning whatever ship they were going to use would need to be set up for the trip. She noticed the Falleen they had been moving after earlier standing with another woman. A female Jedi, with silvery hair. Val had never quite seen anything like it. She approached them. She knew Xierra was one of the mission Jedi, so she assumed the other woman was also one. She checked Rein was still behind her before continuing to join up with the other members of the team.

She wasn't aware of what exactly they were talking about, so decided to approach slowly until she could hear a break in their conversation for them to join in. They were still quite a little way off so Val took a quick look around at the ships as they approached. Various kinds, including a few starfighters, but she needed to find the perfect ship for getting their group there quickly, safely, and stealthily, before getting them back out in a similar fashion. The smell of the metalworks and fuels assaulted her senses as she passed each ship.

"Stay close, Rein, but don't be afraid. No one's going to harm you here."

[Anackis]

Rein did as he was told and followed close behind Master Adeera. He looked around at all the ships as the made their way towards two other Jedi. Rein finally began to wonder what their mission was.

[Mara]

"Nice to meet you." Xierra replied to her. She knew Elsie's name from the mission briefing, but it was good for them to say it outloud. At least for herself. It just seemed a whole lot less formal to her. She placed her clawed hand back into the sleeves of her cloak. Xierra really hoped their third member was a good pilot; even after years away from her home planet and missions with her late master, the Falleen still wasn't a good traveler, especially on ships with bad pilots.

Feeling a bit awkward at the silence, she smiled at the Enchani Jedi, racking her mind for something to say. They could discuss plans for the mission but that wouldn't be fair to do without their third member joining them. Xierra always preferred fighting to talking anyway. Or even meditating. She turned her gaze from the other woman and looked around the hangar once again. Not allowing herself to think much about the coming few moments, the mission, she took ahold of her emotions once again. The other Jedi was sure to notice if she let her nervousness out through the Force.

When Elsie spoke to her again, she turned to face her once again. A vague look came over her as she thought about her question. Tas Bey-- the name was familiar but she couldn't say that she really knew the Weequay Jedi. Focusing again on the Echani woman, "No, not more than a couple scattered greetings in the halls of the Temple." She shrugged her shoulders, removing her hands from her sleeves. "I haven't spent much time here in the past decade."