A taste of Home(Open)

[Foxfire]

Location: Above Shili in high orbit.

In a common area of one of the healer's med-runners Mal with his eyes closed and watching his young student run the maze with his mind. Mal could feel the two main elemental items held within. The brightness and the dark of both sides of the force were there. The lightside was near the outer layers. As for the darkened stone it was buried deep within.

With the breach of each layer Mal opened the outer layers as the young togruta made his way deeper into the maze. They had been in the maze for a very long time. Not knowing when the end of their ride will be could make one nervous but for Mal time was relative. So just having the open gates was just showing that in all things there is a way out of anything.

Echoing through the maze .....

The movement with in the force should be primary to any learning. Because it's how you see the force and the connections is how you'll be influenced for the rest of your life. So stay calm and search the outer layers will be open when it's time to land.

[Res]

It had been several hours since the Togruta had seen the outside of the maze. He was now stripped down to just his pants, swearing from every inch of his body. Resaat was trying to sense when the maze would change on him. Every now and then he would have to stop suddenly cause the hall would close up and he would have turn back.

It was beginning to frustrate the young Togruta. Though he pressed on, weaving through the tight maze. After a while he heard his Masters voice call out. Taa hoped that it was time to land. Though it wasn't, it was just more encouragement and advice.

Few minutes later the Padawan stopped to take a breath and a sip of water from the pouch that hung from his waist. It was a lot harder than Resaat had imagined it would've been. After a quick breathed the Jedi Padawan pressed on reaching out trying to find the way out of the maze. With every turn it seemed that he was going backwards towed the darkness.

[Foxfire]

The alarm from the captian was sounding in their room as Mal watched. It sounded through out the puzzle as well. Mal cracked the last door to open the gate for Resaat to find his way out. Mal speedily zoomed through the micro halls with break neck speed to search out Resaat. Quite unhutt like was his speed, but for a Force user just another common user.

Through the force Mal spoke as he reached him.

Resaat it's time to leave you did well for the days you've spent in here come with me and take your rest before we land on Shili. The early morning cold might be a great awakener for you as well.

Mal slowly retreated back the same way at third of the speed. Giving Resaat the gentle pace to the exit. He knew that the young padawaan had made great leaps but telling him was far too easy. He had to show this new one what he has learned. The winding twisting wilds of Shili would be a great first test of the newest skill his padawaan was working on.

[Res]

Another five minutes went by and the alarm sounded for the two to prepare to land. They had been traveling to Resaats home world in search for a crystal for Taas saber. The Padawan hadn't even thought bout the design he would like since they left the Temple.

Hearing the last door open him to exit then he heard his Master Mal Konti call for him. Moments after hearing the Hutt he saw him. Nodding to his Master, Resaat followed the slug out out of maze at a quicker then normal pace.

Finally exiting the catacombs the Togruta Padawan walked over and sipped some water out of the canteen sitting on the table in the room. He then grabbed his undershirt and put it on carefully to get it caught on his horns. Then he picked his tunic up and wrapped it around him. He turned to his Master and spoke.

"Thank you, Master. I am eager to see where I am from.

Res said as he tied his Togruta sash around his waist finishing getting dressed except for his cloak. He would try and call for using the force. He located it concentrating hard he was able to lift the thin light cloak off the bench and slowly move it to him. The Padawan was getting better but was still needing a lot of training.

[Foxfire]

Mal shuddered out of his thoughts as he exited from the sphere maze. He too had been sweating delving into the maze for such a long time. Still the progress was beginning to show as he watched Res reached out through the force for his cloak. Nodding he left the large room the two were sharing and went forward to the bridge of the ship. Out the view port lay an open expance of grassy sea like plains. The area they were headed to was really a jungle valley that was all but hidden in the grassy plain.

The ground slowly rose to a short set of hills near mountain size, yet lacking the few feet being called short mountains. The tops wized by underneath and the floor of the valley dropped deep into a jungle thick with life Mal could feel the life hidden within as well as a twitching of danger. He pointed down the valley to a raven that led back onto the grassy plains. There he ordered the ship to land. Turning to Res to read what he thought and felt about seeing all this for the first time.

The ship came to the landing spot and slowly turned to have it's main range of guns toward the jungle valley. It was obvious that it was not the first time this pilot had been to such a place. All aboard were expecting trouble, Mal had said as much. Even before he began to plan such a trip a feeling and force visions came to him warning him of the potential dangers inherent with such a place. Mal had asked for a small group of guards to come along to watch the ship and be used as back up if and when they were needed. As the ramp lowered the group of six guard and two droids were the first to exit the ship Mal followed carrying a duffle bag containing three scouting droids.

Opening the bag and activating them he sent each out to recon the area of their potential path they were about to take.

Well this is Shili. Halc never did tell me exactly what it was like. Even the others within him were stiff liped about it. The memories must have been to dramatic and hurtful to bring up. Just to think that such a memory of a beautiful place like this could hold evil as well. The dark side has many disguiese to fool many. Well shall we proceed I think the stones are in that direction if the scoutted reading were correct.

[Res]

The Padawan followed his Master out of the large room and down the hall to the cockpit. Standing outside as he waited for Mal to speak with the pilot. Looking out the window it was better than he imagined. He had never seen actual grass and so many trees in one area.

Most of what he saw was pictures and holovids of stuff like this. Resaat was blown away at the vastness of the landscape. After Master Konti had shown where the were to land he guickly scurried behind his master. The Togruta was somewhat relieved that they had guards with them. Taa didn't have a saber yet and he knew his Master was at a somewhat disadvantage with only one hand.

As the loading ramp lowered he walked out and got his first impression of his home planet. He could hear animals in the distance and the humming of the scouting droids he Hutt Master had activated. Resaat was trying everything in his power to remain calm.

"This is amazing Master."

Resaat said looking over at his teacher smiling.

[Foxfire]

Mal's calm quiet feelings were covering the unease he was feeling. It wasn't confirmed until two of the three droids returned. One of them looked as if it had been chewed on for a bit. Mal took the droid in hand as it powered down. Calling on of the guards over Mal asked him to check the vid and data of the three that were linked.

Mal closed his eyes and drew slowly upon the force letting it well up within him. When he opened his eyes he looked to Resaat.

Young one now is the time to remember the trials of the maze. Use your mind and stretch out in the force. Search out the path toward the crystals. We have a map of the area look at it and then send out your mind to the crystals I'll push up just behind. This will let us see and plan for what may be ahead.

Mal lowered himself to the ground as one of the guards came back with a data pad. His eyes narrowed as he looked at the grainy images. A quiet and ultra-low rumble echoed in his throat as he looked upon the one thing that could hinder their forward progress easily, akul. The orangish fur and the rows of teeth were infamous on Shili. The group were no larger than three total with the alpha being a very large albino akul and the other two large females fighting over the albino male. He did not look to Resaat he wanted him to test his strength and see the monsterous creatures before them.

[Res]

The young Togruta stood next to his master as he was told to sense his way turought the forrest to the cave. This want like the maze that he was just in. This was far harder. This would be a huge task to undertake for the Padawan. But Resaat closed his eyes for a moment and reached out. Not couple second his eyes flew open and had a uneasy look on his face.

"Master Konti, are those Akul? They're a lot bigger in person then on the holovids."

Resaat said has he wish he could find a way around them. But he knew by looking at the map that's the way they need to to go. The beasts were only several meters into the forrest. They could hear the snarling and growling of the females fighting over the alpha. This made the young Padawan very nervous.

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

Master Teer Ka was not in a position to do much talking. It was rather hard to talk when racing along at a hundred kilometers per hour through a turu-grass scrub, which was a dizzying swirl of red and white at that speed, something most non-Togruta had to get used to. It would have been a bit easier on foot, but instead she was on the speeder-bike she'd obtained for her watchman duties, with a sidecar mounted to the left, suitable for carrying passengers like the one she bore.

Lallane Novos, a young Jedi Knight who was entering the world of recruiting force-sensitive children, one of the duties Teer herself regularly engaged in. Upon the human woman's visit, Master Ka had tried her best to introduce the woman to the field she herself had caught onto quite quickly, and had taken her on to the tribes in the remote areas midway between Cover City and Corvala.

The landscape started to change underneath them, the scrub's scattered trees, patches of turu-grass, and delightful red dirt giving way to scattered hills and the edges of forest; a highland area. This was the area a pair of Jedi visitors had elected to go to, which Teer would not have recommended had she known the exact area they were landing in.

The Togruta Watchman for Shili throttled down the bike and applied the brakes at the top of a hill, pulling out a pair of macrobinoculars, which she held up to her midnight eyes, even as she opened her mouth and spoke in a rich and lilting accent that had become magnified during her time away from Basic.

"Remember Knight, Shili is not like Coruscant. This area is a hotspot for predators of all shapes and sizes at this time of year. We could run into any number of creatures. Akuls included."

Perhaps it was that protective streak that had persuaded her to come meet the Jedi who were landing, even more than any sense of decorum. Admittedly, she was a formal woman when it came to matters of duty and rank, and undoubtedly she felt a responsibility as Watchman to meet with any Jedi who visited her domain.

This was just doubly important due to the dangers they were walking into, most likely unaware. Teer might have paused to warn them via comm if time hadn't been so pressing. She was loath to waste any time coming to meet them.

Still, it could be idle worrying.

The severe woman shot a look at the Jedi Knight riding in the sidecar, simultaneously asking if she had any questions and warning her not to voice them because time was pressing.

There would be time for chitchat later.

[Cassy]

The wind whipped through her hair as mid-day pressed on, her amber green eyes were closed a her long brown hair whipped about. The scenery sped along past them at a good clip. When they entered the turu-grass, Lallane opened her eyes and let the blur of red and white meld with her other senses.

She inhaled this place, it was absolutely gorgeous, even it's rough parts. She had her black Jedi robes pulled down, and tied around her waist shirt style to reveal a white wife beater. It was mildly hot, but she was enjoying the ride too much to truly care about the heat. For awhile, they trekked onwards, and eventually the land began to give way into a more grassland like setting.

She listened to the elder Jedi's somewhat relaxed yet mildly sharp voice as she sat up mildly high in her seat, half standing as they began to pass by actual grass, by passing logs on the ground and eventually coming to rolling hill territory...and it was dotted thick with forest.

"Yes....not like Coruscant at all....." she mirrored the Master's words as she took a gander at their surroundings. It would be easy indeed for them to have unwanted trouble fall right on their heads. Highlands and forests surrounded them. When the bike whirred to a stop, Cassy adjusted herself in her seat, before sitting up on the top of the seat itself as Teer peered out through her binoculars.

Cassy adjusted her white wife beater once, and pulled her black Jedi Robes back overtop, proper. In a spin of her brown locks she flecked her eyes up and down at Teer at the mention of any questions she may have had. As she looked up at the Togruta, peering through her binoculars, one million came to mind, but she merely shook her head and nodded at her elder.

"Let's just hope that our brother or sister Jedi's haven't angered one...." Cassy shook her head and reached out with the force, her black robes contrasting well with her hazel green eyes and brown hair. She took in her surroundings best she could, and decided too watch Teer Ka's movements closely, she wouldn't get a better opportunity than this to learn methods that would keep her safe on Shili.

[Foxfire]

Mal could see the worry of his padawaan.

Don't worry we're not going anywhere till see search out other means of dealing with the problem. I don't intend to want to fight the akul, only if we have too. The better choice is to draw them away and get past them. A closer LZ is near there, yet it would draw them there. Thus it is why we landed here. I want you to keep a focused eye upon the akul. Like the darkforce bead with in the maze. Also I saw you exerting too much. The maze may seem small and the jungle large but the concept is the same. Both exercises in what you are doing is the same the distance is only hinderance to your thinking. So if you can see the maze and the jungle as the same then you should have an easier time. Now try again and keep a watch while our guests arrive I feel them coming closer. I don't want any to have to fight today if at all posible.

Mal could feel other Jedi coming closer due to his connection with the force. One was familur the other not so, still it was quiet a long way off. So Mal dived deeper into the force drawing uopn the force to reach out to the two jedi welcoming them and giving them the quardance to where they are.

[Res]

The young Togruta calmed down a little after Mal had told him that he was going to find another way around them. This pleased the boy, he was there to get a crystal for his saber. Though this part of the task of being a Padawan. Nothing came easy, he was going to have to work at getting stuff he wanted.

There was mention of two other Jedi coming. It was going to be easier to get passed the akul now. But Res didn't know if they were Knights or masters or what rank they were.

He was instructed to try and feel his way through the forrest again. Resaat closed his eyes and pushed through the woods. Passed the orange beasts, weaving trough the trees. He had finally came to the cave where the crystals were. Opening his eyes and smiling.

"I did it Master"

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

Luckily, few questions were incoming, and Teer resumed the path of the speeder bike, continuing up through the hills towards the ship she'd spotted via the binoculars, perhaps two kilometers away as the Corellian Banshee Bird flew.

In this case literally. Ashla, Teer's pet, had been soaring overhead, flying strong for the better part of an hour, keeping up well with them, though she was beginning to trail behind.

The Togruta Jedi let out a high whistle as she reached out to the bird, and the black and white striped bird dived down and landed onto Teer's gauntleted arm with a thud, breathing heavily as she let her wings settle down.

What exactly the Knight thought of Ashla Teer hadn't caught onto.

Further thought was cut short as she received a telepathic contact from the Jedi on the ground. It was devoid of words, but she could tell it projected safety. They were not in imminent danger.

Orange-red hands eased back on the throttle, and Teer deftly navigated around large outcroppings of rock mingling with trees as the vegetation became thicker. Nevertheless, she made it through the rough terrain and pulled the speeder bike up onto an elevated clearing where a Jedi shuttle rested.

Coming to a halt, Teer shut off the bike, and the engines died down with a soft rumble. She promptly swung her leg over the body and dismounted onto the soft grass.

Standing revealed her simple garments, a brown leather jerkin with colored geometric detailing, homespun pants in a light tan, and boots with soft soles barely covering her feet, a compromise between the Togruta tradition of bare feet and the Jedi tradition of boots.

Master Ka transferred Ashla from her arm to her shoulder, shoving her left headtail behind her, letting the Corellian Banshee Bird rest on the leather covering her bare skin. Then she walked confidently over to a Hutt Jedi, dark eyes taking note of the armed guards.

When she arrived, the Togruta Weapons Master placed her palms together and dipped her head in a half bow, a Togruta gesture of greeting she'd been using her whole life long.

She straightened and spoke, her husky voice adding a depth to each word, which she seemed to savor.

"Welcome to Shili Knight Konti."

[Cassy]

They continued along at a good pace, and for awhile Cassy seemed to trance out. Her eyes closed as Master Teer Ka continued to trail blaze away, despite the steadily thickening terrain. The cry of a bird of some form caused Lallane's eyes to open as she leaned back and peered through the wizzing clouds.

A hawk of some form, one Cassy had seen in her studies before began to swoop down towards them. She kept her eyes on the majestic beast all the way too Master Teer Ka's arm, as she was unfamiliar with the animal. Not wary, just unfamiliar. She watched the white bird for awhile as they moved it's mostly white body flecked by elegant black stripes.

Eventually, Cassy felt a vibration through the Force. It felt safe and secure, Master Teer Ka seemed to have sensed it as well. The ride came to a slow, and then a stop before she knew it. She threw her legs out of the passenger car first, and then hopped down onto the ground.

Her black robes slinked around the speeder, to stand near Teer as she mounted her Banshee Bird on her shoulder. Cassy wouldn't raise her hood, her brown locks and hazel green eyes standing out as her round face made something of a puzzled expression. She raised an eyebrow at the Banshee Bird, attempted to discern it's demeanor as they walked.

If one would look from the outside looking in, a comedic scene of Cassy staring down the Banshee Bird, and it perhaps looking back at her quizzically would be seen as Cassy followed a few steps behind Teer. Eventually, Cassy began to feel the presence of others through the Force, and flecked her eyes left to right as soon as they broke into another clearing, instantly noticing the recon droids whizzing about, and spotting the armed guards way off through a not so thick tree-line, near a ship she presumed too belong to the two others from the Order.

She followed the thickening of the Force with her eyes as well as her mind to it's source. A Hutt Jedi.

"!!!" Cassy recognized him, she'd met this big Jedi about a year ago when she'd still been a Padawan, training in the temple on Coruscant. She had no idea he'd taken a Padawan himself. "Knight Konti...it's good to see you again." Cassy remarked, shortly after Master Teer Ka had greeted him. She lowered her head in a bow, remained there for a few moments and came up shortly afterward.

Another recon droid whizzed by.

"Clever little things......." she remarked, her country accent standing out when she said things without thinking. Her lips remained pursed, and her eyes narrowed a bit as she scrutinized their surroundings a bit. She thought she heard a few roars off in the distance vibrate, but figured that was common everyday white-noise on Shili.

Cassy stretched impressively, the top of her black body suit top unzipped slightly underneath her black robes, as she dug the point of one of her boots into the sand and knelt down to grab a handfull of dirt. She sifted it through her fingers a few times after learning the texture of it, seeing how thick and or muddy it was; she could immediately tell when it had rained, and almost even how frequent it did. She shielded her eyes from sunlight and looked up as she stood to her feet again; it wasn't too arid here, rainfall probably came and went as it pleased.

The black robed brunnette continued too scan the area, standing too the left of Master Teer Ka still even after crouching down; she sifted the rest of the dust out of her fingers and slapped her hands together just to be sure, addressing the Hutt Jedi again.

"So...I hear the Force has brought you a Padawan?" Cassy looked around but didn't see another. She assumed the Padawan had wandered off on a mission given too him (or her) by the Hutt before her now.

The Padawan would probably be back soon; ironic that more visitors graced Shili on the day she'd decided too come and pick up potential Younglings here. She stood with her hands behind her back, emerald eyes following her surroundings calmly as her brown locks sat on her shoulder at a curl; enjoying the day if anything. Though an amused look passed over her face whenever a recon droid whizzed by through the air.

[Foxfire]

Mal could feel them getting closer and closer. He too quickly stretched out in the force toward the akul to see if they were still there and occupide with bredding posturing. As he came out of the force search he heard the sound of a high speed speeder bike. Signalling the guards to readiness he padded his padawan's shoulder.

We have company mind your manners to the elder ones.

The sound of foot steps came from his left. Holding his paddy with the right handed stump he looked left. His eyes fell upon another togruta the weapons master Teer and a human female.

On the weapon master's greeting Mal lowered himself in a formal bow.

Thank you we are greatfull of your coming. Sorry we had to met out here like this. We came to gather a crystal for his saber. I thought a stone from his home world would keep him mindful of why he is a jedi. Master Teer this is Resaat.

Mal moved back as the other jedi spoke and he remembered the young one. Whom seemed to get hurt every other day.

Cassy nice to met you too. Come on round and say hi.

Mal turned and backed up to reveal his togruta padawaan.

[Res]

Resaat nodded to his Master when he mentioned to mind his manners around the elders. The Padawan really didn't need to be reminded but Resaat didn't say anything. He just obeyed Master Konti. When Mal had introduced him he walked forward and bowed following his fellow Togruta. He had seen Master Ka around the temple but the other was new to him. But he thought he would impress Master Ka and greet her in Togruti.

(In Togruti)"It is a pleasure to meet you Master Ka. "

Resaat smiled and looked at the other Jedi. In his eyes she was very beautiful, for a human. She appeared to be just old enough to be a Knight. The young Togruta was trying to contain all his excitement he wanted to get to the cave and get his crystal. Then he forgot to greet the other Jedi.

"It a pleasure to meet you as well…"

The boy said trailing off because he didn't know who the Human Jedi was. Though he had a good idea why they were there. It probably had something to do with the orange snarling beast that they would have to get around.

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

Teer summed up the young Togruta in a glance, taking note of both his features. He was more orange than red, in contrast to her own orange-red skin. What most stuck in her mind was his dialect.

Textbook Togruti, the kind learned in a language class, very different from her own dialect preserved since childhood, and kept alive through conversation. Clearly he hadn't spent much of his childhood on Shili, but he was at least making an effort to learn, which was something she could respect.

Master Ka placed her palms together for him as well, and spoke in her native tongue.

"May the turu grass always part and reveal your prey."

A traditional Togruta greeting she'd learned upon arrival, unique to the nearest tribes. It was truly astonishing, the number of dialects and unique phrases to be found on Shili. It was far from monolithic. Even Teer Ka could learn more about the Togruta people.

In fact, learning was part of her job.

She directed her attention towards the Hutt again, getting down to business in her typical fashion. Work first, duty first, service first. Everything else was secondary.

"You picked a very dangerous place to land. In this hemisphere it is mating season for most of the large predators. There could be akul around very easily."

Teer's midnight eyes examined the treeline, reaching out with her senses, both the Force and her own hearing. There was the definite sound of large creatures, and she could feel two... Three? There were presences, signatures that matched the sounds.

"I think you, and your Padawan, need additional guards."

[Cassy]

Lallane kept herself highly aware of everything in motion around her; she was highly trained in the Healing Arts of the Force...more so than even some masters dozens of years her senior; therefore she felt as if she could feel every living thing around her.

Her sensing abilities truly paled in comparison to those of Master Teer Ka, something she planned on honing in her years to come as a knight.

"I agree, but it's important to challenge ourselves, Master...and I'll bet our friend here isn't forgetting a moment of this...are you, Padawan?" as the words left her lips; she recalled the flood of energy and adrenaline called excitement she herself was trying to contain when constructing her lightsaber.

For a moment, she used her potent Telepathic abilities through the force as her hazel green eyes locked with the young Padawan as she gave him an impressed look the in the moments after he'd conversed with master Ka in their native tounge. She let him feel the love she had for his position, for him, for what he embodied. A new opportunity for the Force. Empathy would go off between them for not more than ten seconds as she locked eyes with the young Togruta.

Usually, Cassy was recruiting younglings and potential padawans herself, so this type of behavior came natural to her.

In a sway of her black robes, she turned away from him as Master Ka spoke again. She walked near shoulder to shoulder with Teer Ka, peering out with her. In a quick force sweep, like a washing tidal wave; though perhaps not as honed as the Master next too her. She picked up too many life forms to be certain, but she felt a few stronger ones in the Force.

It was worth a shot...and practice was always good. She wasn't as familiar with the life form, so she didn't really know what to reach out for. Though there were definite powerhouses as far as size nearby; she could tell that much from her own Life senses.

"I agree with Master Teer Ka....there are some very large beings nearby." a somewhat odd, but direct statement. She didn't really move, but hovered her eyes over the young Padawan for a moment, concerned about his well being if a full blown brawl broke out with these Akul.

"Those large life signatures aren't getting any further away either...." Cassy took a few steps to the side, to stand a good distance between Master Teer Ka, and Konti, giving them a triangle wedge formation incase these Akul decided to charge and eat. Her beautiful features were pretty much in a deadlock, although she'd honed in on a general direction and could clearly hear the nearby Akul now. Her gaze practically dared them too burst forth, so that she could allow the Force to guide her steps. No fear at all. Aside perhaps from a little bit of worry for the nearby Padawan. "....."

[Foxfire]

Listening to the master Jedi's words Mal slowly closed his hutt eyes and zoomed back to the akul. He felt them out and found that one of the females just unjured herself and thusly both the female and now her mate were going to sate their hunger for food. Mal pulled back as the blood and gore started.

Shaking off the scene within his mind Mal now said....

The force can be a harsh. We have been watching the akul from this distance. There were three. Now the mated pair are enjoying a wedding meal at the other female's expence I'm afraid. Yet what doors close for some it opens a window for others and now it's just two akul to deal with.

Mal sighed and looked at his droids again. Tapping them alive again he sent them to take recon on what he had seen and to see if another route was possible. Mal called over the captian of the guard and informed him of the changes in the numbers. The captain left and returned with all but two of the guard. They had equiped themselves with even heavier gear. Heavy rifles and grenade launchers with three of the group as long range snippers.

How would you deal with the akul? We...are at your beconed call and listining.

[Res]

The young Togruta fell silent while the older Jedi discussed the plan. He wasn't experienced enough to weigh in on what was going on. Resaat was there to get his saber, he didn't plan in the two other Jedi coming. Though he was glad they had arrived, he would hear faint snarling and growling from the akul just inside the woods.

Resaat Taa was ready for the journey but not really ready to deal with the orange beasts. When his Master said that the other two had turned on the injured on he felt a knot in his stomach. His anxiety grew and he knew the others could feel it. Trying to suppress if but it was no use. The Padawan had read the akul had acute sense of smell, so he knew if they got too close they would be smelt.

In his nervous state he started to play with the him of his tunic. The brown colored fabric rolled between his fingers. Res had began to sweet a little from the heat that was in the air and also from his rising anxiety. When the guards showed up with their gear he gave a small sigh of relief but his fingers still fiddled with the hem.