Late night at the Temple Library. [Open for all]

[Danee]

3600 BBY
Coruscant, Jedi Temple, Library.
Approaching 11 AM

Once again, Alaari found herself in the library late at night, it happened quite often now as she mentally prepared herself for her upcoming trials. Reading various books, differing from military strategies from the Mandalorian War to how to repair a shuttle. Alaari didn't understand everything she read, but she did enjoy reading it and who knows, some time it might even prove to be useful. 

Rubbing her eyes she reached for her cup of tea, the once hot liquid that had a cinnamon and vanilla taste, had now grown cold. Sighing Alaari grabbed her thermos and poured herself a new cup after finishing the cold tea and looked at the monitor in front of her, actually wondering how she had managed to end up reading about baking. Glancing at the pile of holodiscs to her right she sighed and flicked through them. 

"Let's see... strategies... wars... diplomacy... history of Naboo... the Hutts... I think I'll go for Naboo." Alaari had a tendency of talking to herself when she thought she was alone, the conversations she had with herself weren't that interesting to anyone who happened to hear but would no doubt seem rather odd that a Togruta would be sitting and talking to herself in the library at night.

A few seconds later the monitor changed and she once more began to stare at it and sipped her tea, slowly scrolling down the pages of history that concerned Naboo. Anyone who'd approach and speak to her now would most certainly catch her off guard and probably startle her.

[jedi334]

“’Do not worry Master Chias, I will take care of the Rylothian orchids while you are on Tython. I’ll make sure they are watered everyday. You can count on me!’” Chias muttered this as she clipped of another dead blossom, her bare toes stretching as she reached higher as she got the last one sighing to herself.

She had been off planet for a week with a group of younglings for a trip to the original Jedi Temple and had gotten the promise of the human male padawan that he would tend to her favorite plant in the Archive study halls, only to return to see over half of the potted plants dead or dying.

No doubt the boy had gotten distracted by other duties so she couldn’t exactly be upset with him, but there was few thing the young Echani took pride in, her vast knowledge of Jedi history, her singing voice (though very few had ever heard her), and these orchids, now she would have to the walk through two sectors to the green house market to order some new ones.

It was run by a particular shady Toydarian, he always tried to get higher prices when it came to her, whether it was because she was a Jedi, an Echani or if she looked naive when it came to haggling she did know but it took every bit of her training not to loose her patience with him.

“The next time I will simply assign the task to a droid.” She said to herself as she watered the last of the healthy plants. “At least they will not forget.”

"Let's see... strategies... wars... diplomacy... history of Naboo... the Hutts... I think I'll go for Naboo."

Her head perked up as she heard the young voice as she set down the water can. For all intense and purposes Chias thought that she was the only one here. It was her turn to over see the Archive during the night and very few came here during the early morning hours.

She moved to the holo study room as she peeked her head in to see rows of dark terminals save one, staring intently at the screen was a padawan of the Togruta race. While many considered Twi’leks the most ‘beautiful’ of the humanoid species, Chias had a great admiration for the Togruta.

The mixtures for whites, reds and yellows that made up their skin colors and the unique facial structure made them particularly striking to her. While she did not consider her own people ‘ugly’ Echani were remarkably similar to one another, it was one of the reasons the martial arts were so important in their culture, so one clan could recognize another by their fighting style.

She observed quietly for a time and considered leaving the girl to her studies, but seeing the stacks of holo discs and several empty cups of tea she deduced she been her for quite sometime, it reminded her of herself during her youngling and some for her own padawan years, while her fellow learners practiced their saber forms or went on adventures with their Masters, she would be here studying and learning all she could. It did her heart good to see another going down same path she did.

She left briefly to make the young padawan a fresh cup of tea; it was one her favorite blends, caramel with a hint of mint. She carried it carefully as she made her way back to the to the study room and the terminal, her bare feet making her approach almost silent as she stood behind her looking at the screen as she smiled.

“It is quite late padawan.” She said carefully, hoping not to scare her. “Though I applaud your devotion in your studies.”

[Danee]

Alaari's eyes scanned across the screen as the words appeared on it, slowly she scrolled down the page and took in word for word into her memory. Reading about Naboo was quite easy for her, as it was a world that she was personally very interested in. Again her cup was empty and she hadn't even gotten through the first chapter yet. The Togruta put away her cup and then returned to her reading, the low humming of the terminal covered the sound of Chias's approach.

Yawning she stretched her arms before returning to her elbows to the table and used them as support when the smell of caramel and mint reached her nose. The sudden voice of someone behind her startled her and caught her completely off guard. After the initial shock subsided she looked behind her to find the source of the voice when she was greeted by Chias's appearance.

Something Alaari had not expected was to find someone behind her in the library, especially not at night. Alaari looked at the woman behind her, her white hair caught her attention, making Alaari draw the conclusion that she probably was Echani or a different human race that had dyed hair, her skin seemed pale but was hard to see in the dark. The woman's eyes matched her hair, looking like ice. Yupp, Alaari was quite sure she was an Echani.

"O-oh... I ehm..." she began to reply but as Alaari registered the compliment she smiled awkwardly. "H-heh... thanks... I like to read and ehm... lost track of time.." she replied and looked back at her now empty thermos and at the monitor, thinking on whether the woman behind her was a Knight or a Master as she greeted her as Padawan. "I'd offer you tea.. but I'm all out I'm afraid."

Alaari looked back at the woman and thought for a bit, she didn't look so old, surely she couldn't be a Master. Alaari had read a lot about the Echani but she didn't expect to meet one, she had met Echani before, but never known that said person was Echani, it wasn't until now she had realized that the person that had scared her with a soft voice was Echani. The fact that she was in the middle of the Temple Library at night excluded the possibility that she wasn't a Jedi of sorts, which brought Alaari back to her original point, was she a Jedi Knight or a Jedi Master?

[jedi334]

She set the cup in the young girl hands “That is why I have brought you this. When I was your age I could never begin studying without a warm cup of tea to keep me going, I do not know if you will enjoy this particular flavor but it is a guilty a pleasure of mine.”

She took a chair from one of the empty terminals and moved sit to her left side, the Echani’s small size made it quite easy for her to sit Indian Style as she rested in her hands in her lap, glancing at the screen as she saw the planet was the girl was researching.

“Naboo.” She said with a shy smile. ”A planet that is the capital of the Chommell sector near the Outer Rim territories. I must say out of all the planets in that particular part of space Naboo is the loveliest, though I have never been there myself, if the Archive Master permits me leave I plan to go there to document a peace summit between warring Gungan tribes."

She bit her lower lip and looked down shyly realizing this young girl had no idea who she was. “My apologies where are my manners? I am Knight Chias Nero, though my class is Historian and instructor.” She looked at her robes. “I can see that you are the rank of padawan, may I offer my congratulations. What is your name my young friend?”

[Danee]

Alaari took the tea cup and smelled it, the caramel and mint blended quite well together. She carefully sipped the warm tea and smiled at the Echani woman now sitting next to her. Something Alaari noticed was that she was barefoot, something she thought only her species did.

Alaari moved slightly in her seat and sat down on her leg and sipped the tea again. "I like the taste, thank you." She said with a smile and looked at the terminal as well and nodded, listening to the Echani as she talked. However when She suddenly changed subject Alaari took a sip from her tea and looked at the Knight named Chias.

Alaari put away the cup next to the others and nodded at the Knight."Alaari, Alaari Sen." She replied to her questions. "I'm a Padawan as you noticed but I'm going to do my trials soon, so that's what keeping me awake and kind of keeping me here. When I can't sleep I read and when I'm bored I read, so I've spent a lot of time here." She pulled up her other leg and put it under the other.

"I really want to go to Naboo again, I love the planet. It's so tranquil and relaxing."

[jedi334]

She smiled and listened to the young girl, frowning as she heard that she was not sleeping. “While I understand your unease you should really try and rest as much as you can. The Trails can be draining on the mind, spirit and body…the better rested & prepared you are the better chances you have of passing them. At least that is what my Master taught me.”

She bit her lower lip and looked away at her as her shyness took over. “Forgive me young one, I hope do not sound like I am lecturing you.” She heard the name of the young Torguta and her blue eyes lit up a little as she remembered

“Of course! You in were Master Chen’s and I introductory class, though I was still his apprentice at the time.” Smirking a little she bent her leg up lithely and rested her chin on her bent knee. “You were quite the little chatter box if I remember correctly.” She heard her speak of Naboo and smiled shyly as a suggestion came to her mind.

“Well, you should discuss it with your Master of course, but if they give you permission you are more than welcome to join me.” She said bringing her leg down, letting her toes brush on the carpet.

“Despite it being an intense situation it will be mainly a peace summit.” She said “There will be negotiators from both the Temple & Senate overseeing it; my task is to document the proceedings.”

She and began to clear the empty cups and plates from the terminal as she spoke. “I think it would be a good learning experience for you, a Jedi must not only be skilled with her lightsaber and the Force, she must also be affluent in the political processes and social shifts through out the galaxy."

[Danee]

Alaari listened to the Echani, she didn't really remember the woman from her introductory class, but she did remember that she talked a lot. Perhaps they had met before and she didn't know it. Looking back at the monitor and then back at Chias as she suggested that if Alaari had permission she could follow her to Naboo. Her slightly tired eyes widened slightly.

"Really? That'd be amazing!"Alaari said and turned to the where the cup was placed and took it before Chias began to clear away the other cups. Sipping the warm tea she thought about visiting Naboo again, it would be nice to go there once more, maybe she'd even be able to pick up some more tea as she was running low.

When Chias said that it would be good for her to not use her lightsaber nor the Force in a political process she smiled slightly. "I actually prefer not using my lightsaber, I'm not as... skilled as the others of my age that are more focused on using it, instead I read a lot and focus on diplomatic solutions, of course I can use it but I prefer talking to a solution." Sipping her tea again. "Which is why I'm thinking of either choosing to become an Archivist or a Mediator. If there's a chance for a peaceful solution I will always chose that."

It felt good to talk to someone that seemed like she understood what she was talking about and experiencing, this Chias person seemed very friendly, which Alaari appreciated.

[jedi334]

Her smiled widened a little as she heard the young Torguta state that she wanted to be an Archivist like herself. “Really?” she said trying to remain professional and hide her excitement. “A very good choice…and the Mediators are a much needed asset in these days of uncertainty…either choice would be well suited for you.”

She took the dishes and quickly brought them to the cart for the droid to take away and grabbed some cookies, a simple shortbread with blue icing from one of the bakeries in the markets she enjoyed. She resettled in her chair and offered one to Alaari.

“Like I said, discuss it with your Master and if you do go you will stay with me in our own personal bungalow as my assistant.” She saw a worried look the padawan's face as she smiled reassuringly at her.

“Do no worry it is not as overwhelming as it sounds.” She said “It will be your job to shoo people away if they are bothering us.”

She laughed quietly to herself surprised that she could so in front of this girl, though they had only just met her, Chias liked Alaari very much which was quite significant for the young Jedi, because she did not make friends easily.

“If I may ask…who is your Master?” she said as she glanced down at her practice saber casually “and have you chosen a secondary saber discipline?” Mine is Soresu.”

[Danee]

Alaari raised a brow as Chias suddenly sounded really excited and then a lot more professional a moment later. It was something that bothered her slightly, but she didn't bother asking more about it. Instead she nodded and listened to what the Knight had to say about the subject.

She was just about to tell Chias not to bother clean up after her and that she'd do it but it was already too late when she got her mind around it. Seeing the blue looking cookies get offered to her she smiled and took one, smelling it briefly and taking a bit as well.

"Mmm, this is quite good and I'm going to talk to my master tomorrow about this." She replied and finished her cookie, taking her tea she sipped it once again. The taste of the cookie lingered in her mouth until she washed it down with the tea she had been given by Chias.

When Chias continued to explain what she would be doing if allowed to accompany her to Naboo she listened closely, nodding as Chias explained. It was nice that she was going to visit Naboo again. Maybe she'd pick something up from there as well? Maybe a necklace or something like that. She then heard Chias asking a few more questions and thought for a bit.

"Well, I don't see what harm it could do if you asked that. I'm Master Melanie's apprentice, from what I know right now she should be on her way back from a mission right now... and for saber discipline I've been learning Makashi as well."

[jedi334]

Chias bit her lip a as she tried to go through her memory to see if she knew the Knight the young one was speaking of, but she shook her head slowly, feeling the bronze bead sway slightly in her snow white hair.

“I am afraid the name does not a ring a bell.” She said with a warm smile “but if she chooses an intelligent young girl such as you as her learner and then she is very astute.”

She nodded as she heard the young Togruta was learning Makashi. “Ah, the fencing discipline…not an easy style to become skilled at I assure you. I myself considered learning when I was your age. But given my nature my Master Doreas Chen taught me the more defensive style of Soresu.”

She chuckle softly as her memory of those lessons came to her. “I was so clumsy and afraid of my lightsaber when I first unsheathed it.” She shook her head with a smile. “I recovered the stone material for my hilt from my Spirit trail on Tython, it took me over a month in deep meditation to construct it. Despite all this, I was afraid it was going to blow up in my hand when I switched it on.”

She maneuvered herself into Indian style sitting position as she kept talking “But Master Chen is very adaptable man and reassuring as well.” she reached for another cookie, balancing it nimbly on her finger tips and she placed it in her mouth, eatting it quietly before speaking again. “He told me not to fear the saber for it was an extension of myself and to make up for my clumsiness he incorporated my Echani combat training into my saber techniques.” she said “I get some odd looks from other Knights and Masters in the training room but if it keeps me alive during combat I will bare it.”

She felt her cybernetic shoulder twitch as the nerve fibers reconnected with the complex wiring, this made the shoulder spasm noticeably and shrug off the shoulder of her white robe slightly exposing the silver Plasteel casing along with the pale white skin.

[Danee]

Alaari looked at Chias and smiled back at her, the Echani was a quite interesting person and intrigued Alaari. Alaari nodded when Chias told her she was quite clumsy when she first used it, which reminded her about herself and how she had been close to killing herself with it.

Shivering slightly before listening to the Echani as she talked about Master Chen, it wasn't a man she had met before, or at least she didn't think she had. But after all, the temple was huge and there was still people she had yet to meet. When Chias' shoulder twitched she cocked her head slightly and looked at it as the robe slid down from her shoulder, giving Alaari a glimpse of what lay beneath the robe.

Blinking when she realized it was a Plasteel shoulder she bit her tongue slightly. "I hope you don't mind me asking, but, what happened to your shoulder?" She asked and looked at Chias then back at the shoulder. It was quite intriguing and made the Echani a lot more interesting.

[jedi334]

Chias froze as she glanced down as she saw the polished silver of the shoulder glint a bit a in the dim lighting of the study room. At first she considered pulling the robe up back up and politely changing subject, but looking at Alaari she saw no judgment in here eyes, no lurid curiosity just a young girl with an honest question.

“I am a teacher after all.” She thought bit her lower lip in habit “And what sort of teacher would I be if I refused a student’s question?” She glanced backwards to make no one could see and then gently slid the left side of her robe off, bringing her pale out of the sleeve and exposing the shoulder completely.

The surrounding scar tissue was a soft pink compared to the pale white of her skin, secure with small bolts and where the joint should have been was a small cog like gear which whirred softly every time she moved it and finally below the gear was a small green light which blinked continuously to signify its operational status.

“This…” she said slowly “Is the end result of my Trail of Flesh and a parting gift from the True Sons of Courscant.” She drew up a knee and rested on her exposed arm on the knee cap. “I was only a few years older then you when it happened and was still a padawan.” She said “I was buying spices at a market when a mercenary hired by the Sons opened fire as he tried to kill the wife of a prominent Senator from Corellia.”


She reached for another cookie, eating slowly and clearing her throat softly before speaking. “It was the group’s thinking that the woman’s death would spark in fighting amongst the Senate thus giving them an opportunity to strike.”

She curled her toes slowly. “I was just lucky enough to see the sniper before he could zero in on the woman. I dove on top of her just as the laser bolt hit my shoulder.” She grimaced slightly as a small ripple of pain went down her arm as if simply mentioning the shooting made her body react, taking a brief breath before continuing.

“It was then my task to get the Senator’s wife out of the market and then keep the shooter distracted until help arrived.” She said “it took every bit of my training and will just to stay on my feet but eventually security arrived and apprehended the shooter.”

She smiled softly to herself “I saved over thirty people that day.” She said “And the Senator and his wife have become good friends. I passed my second trail but it coasted me greatly.” She flexed her arm slowly as she heard the gears move.

“It took me almost a year to recover and I am still in physical therapy to keep up my flexibility and strength up.” She looked deep into Alaari’s eyes “It is something you yourself will have to endure if you wish to become a Jedi. I just hope you are ready for it, because it can come at anytime with out warning.”

[Danee]

Alaari looked at the scar tissue, the new shoulder and then back at Chias as she began to explain what had happened to her. Blinking as she continued to explain, it sounded so surreal, an assassination attempt in broad daylight? Of course she had read about them, but that was just reading, this was different.

Occasionally she nodded to Chias as she talked about how she had saved the Senator during her trials. Rarely blinking as the story went on she nodded and closed her mouth which she had accidently left hanging open in surprise as Chias explained.

When Chias finished and looked into Alaari's eyes she nodded. "Yeah... I understand that..." She replied and took a cookie. "I don't understand why people go so long lengths to cause harm to others, it's something that has escaped me entirely." She said and took a bite from the blue cookie.

"Eh, it's starting to get late and I have to speak with my Master tomorrow rather early." Alaari said and scratched her head. "But I must thank you, Chias, for this, it has been fun talking to someone who shares my interest in reading." She stood up from her chair bowed to her. "Thanks for the Tea and cookies, Knight Chias. I assume I'll meet you here again some time?" She said as she finished the bow.

[jedi334]

She looked up seeing the digital read out of the clock as she slid her arm back in her robes. “Goodness I suppose it is. My apologies for keeping you so long”

She tightened her robes securely and began to clear the terminal of the holo discs and tea cups “It has been my genuine pleasure to meet and speak with you.” She said “With your character and commitment I see your passing your Trails rather quickly”

She bowed her head respectfully handing the girl a small slip of paper with a number “It is my Holonet frequency.” She said “please contact me and let me know what your Master says of my trip to Naboo. Otherwise search for me here. Until we meet again Alaari Sen.”

She then turned on her heels and departed the research room back to her desk to order new orchids from that shady Toydarian, a small smile on her face happy to meet a new friend.

[Danee]

Alaari smiled and took the paper and put it in her pocket, bowing again as Chias walked off somewhere. Packing up the rest of her things Alaari put on her robe again and shut down the terminal.

Smiling as she with light feet walked out of the temple library, making a mental note to contact Chias as soon as possible when she had talked to her Master.