Of education... [Res]

[Thaddeus]

That time of year again as the Jedi Temple Apprentice Tournament became the centrepiece of the Temple. For the week leading up to those younglings who had passed their initiate trials could be found sparring and training almost nonstop in the training rooms. Manuals on lightsaber techniques were checked out of the archives with astounding regularity.

These initiates would compete individually and finally in a general pell mell to win the attention of Jedi Knight or Master who would then take them as a padawan. Once again Balkk had made sure he was present at the tournament, in the 33 years since his knighting he had not missed a single one. He came each year hoping to discover a padawan whom he could pass on not only his teachings but also Master Pledesin's. Each year he left disappointed.

Oh it was not that they lacked talent or ability in the Force, no Balkk saw much promise amongst each group every year. No it was that to none of them did he feel the Force push and guide him towards; and every time those younglings would look in the crowd he could feel a slight hesitation when they saw him. Balkk never blamed them, they were so young, it was only natural for most species to find a Trandoshan imposing - let alone one that towered over even his own kind in height, strength and grace.

So again this year Balkk slowly exited the arena after the winner had been declared making not for the Council chambers to petition for a padawan to be assigned, but instead to the training rooms. There he would practice and meditate in his own way, he imagined that they would be deserted given the tournament.

As he turned around the corner, stooping under a door to enter a small training room, he found that there was a mature Twi'lek who appeared to be instructing a group of very young younglings. It seemed the lesson was coming to a close, so Balkk quietly walked over to another corner. As he did so several younglings looked at him agog, Balkk 'shooed' his clawed hands in a universal sign for them to turn back to what they were meant to be doing.

[Res]

It had been like any other day at the Temple for the Twi'lek. But it wasn't a normal day for thirty-two select Younglings that were participating in the tournament. It was just finishing up as he was also with a group of Younglings that were around the age of seven or eight. He had taken some teaching assignments for other Masters and Knights that were on other assignments for the Order. He eenjoyed teaching the younglings, it made him feel he was sculpting the futurekof the Jedi order.

"Now, I want you all to remember that you much be mindful of your surrounding. Let the Force guide you, don't guide it. Be one with the Force. And May the Force Be With You. That's all for today. Master Krillik will take you to your next class."

The class thanked Master Tov in unison and a couple got distracted by something or someone. Tov felt the presence of another Jedi in the room. It was one he wasn't familiar with, it was too powerful to be his Padawan, but not powerful enough to be any of the High Council Members. Turning around he saw a Trandoshan, and it wasn't very often you see one anyway. After the younglings left he started to put away the remotes and the training sabers from the lesson he had just given. Once he had finished he approached the Trandoshan and spoke.

"Evening, is there anything I can assist you with."

Tov said adjusting the black tunic and his sabers on his waist. He had gotten used to the glove on his left hand that covered the metalic one that had replaced it. The black robes contrasted against his purple skin and yellow eyes. The yellow was of a natural color for a Twi'lek, not of someone that was aligned with the Dark Side. He didn't have his cloak oon because he had left it in his quarters. He didn't feel it was necessary to wear it while hr was in the Temple.

[Thaddeus]

Balkk hung his long robe up over a rack which held training sabres, and remotes. Turning back to face the group of younglings he saw them disperse heading off to other lessons, or to meditate. Warm memories of his times in Boma clan were stirred, as he reminicesed a few of the younglings shot quick glances at him. He bowed politely and they scurried off.

The Twi'lek master was busy putting away the training sabers and remotes the class had been using. Balkk would have offered his assistance but the Twi'lek finished the task quickly. As the man approached Balkk got a closer look at the Twi'lek he recognised the Jedi Master Tova'nas - after all there were only ever but a few Jedi Masters, remembering them was not a great feat of memory. Especially when Balkk could recall many of the Masters of the Order being made knights.

The purple unassuming Twi'lek with a gloved hand was a highly respected swordsman Balkk recalled, the Temple's battlemasters spoke very highly of him. As the man spoke Balkk bowed respectfully,

"No thank you Masssster, I had come to practice..." Raised to his full height once more, Balkk extended a clawed hand towards the door, "... Though perhapssss if you are not bussy you would walk and talk with me? The tournament hassss left me in need of company and counsssel."

Balkk said it all in his polite and equanimous Basic. He was not perturbed or imbalanced by any means, rather on reflection he had decided that what he required was not meditation but conversation. The times when Balkk did feel the need to converse were rare, and he could think of no finer companion in contemplation than a Master of the Jedi Order.

[Res]

Returning the bow to the Knight. He did recall who this Knight was, Sish Balkk, he was one of the only Trandoshan Jedi in the Order. Tov also recognized him from the spectators of the tournament every year. Tov didn't partake in the event when he was a youngling. Master Jetter had basically chosen the young Twi'lek for the moment he met him. Tov watched the Knight stand to his full height. Anas was tall for a Twi'lek, but Balkk was still nearly a foot taller than he. Listening to what he said the Master nodded and moved toward the door.

"I am always free for some needing counseling. What seems to be the trouble, Balkk"

Tov said as they exited the training room and headed down a ccorridor. They were fairly empty, because everyone was resting after the tournament or cleaning up in he various arenas. Placing his hands behind his back and looking up at the fellow Jedi. He didn't know much about the Knight, though he was surprised but not at the same time thatbhe hadn't arisen to the rank of Master. But there were some in the Order that wished to remain as Knights until they felt they were capable of the responsibility of what the Masters life brought.

It going to be different to aid someone that was starting there training as a Padawan as Tov was arriving at the temple as a baby. But it wasn't uncommon High Council Members to seek advice from non Council members but it was rare. Tov made way for a pair of Padawans hurrying down the hall to somewhere. Tov smiled and thought back to his days as a Padawan, he enjoyed it greatly. Master Jetter was an amazing teacher and he was greatly missed. The Twi'lek had to give everything he knew and what he had taught his first Padawan, Plya, and now Gharassk to Wylan Jetter.

"Did you enjoy the tournament this year"

[Thaddeus]

Balkk was glad that Master Tova'nas was free, so his mood lightened slightly just at the prospect of conversation and contemplation.

"Padawanssss, Master Tova'nasss." Collecting his robe Balkk followed Tov out of the training room and down the corridor. "I have none, nor have I ever had one. I think thisss a sshame as when I become one with the Force my massster's teachingsss will be lost. Sssshe made no holocron before her own death." It was typical of Balkk to focus on Master Pledesin's teachings and not the fact that his own not inconsiderable insight and experience would be lost on his demise.

While Tov grasped his hands behind his back, Balkk by contrast intertwined his clawed digits and rested his hands just in front of his waist. Perhaps some might find it odd that Balkk would listen to the advice of someone who had been a babe in the Order when he had set out with Master Pledesin. But Balkk understood that wisdom was not simply a matter of years, so he had in the past taken advice from children as much as he had from elders. The Force manifests in all beings, and so in all beings you can find wisdom Balkk would often say to himself.

Balkk also stepped aside for the two padawans running through the halls, a quick and rare smile found his features before he hid those razor sharp teeth quickly in deference to Tov. "I think one never really growsss out of being a padawan... Our old masssters teach usss still through the Force." Light streamed in through one of the temple's massive windows it illuminated the two Jedi. Balkk looked out of it for a moment and saw all the life rushing across the surface of the planet.

Continuing to walk Balkk was happy to turn to the matter of the tournament, "Yessss, though still I did not feel the Force guide me to a padawan." It wasn't said with an ounce of bitterness, or even sadness, for Balkk knew that there was no emotion, there was peace.

Balkk was an odd Jedi for outside of combat he had the same sense and inner being of all Jedi, utterly at peace and in harmony with the Force. But when in combat a darker current ran through him, like the deeper water at the centre of an otherwise bright and clear lagoon. Only Balkk's continued belief in the Jedi Code and his strict, and masterful, adherence to Soresu stopped him from falling into that dark deepness within him. He wondered if Master Tova'nas had been made aware of the reason the High Council had not yet assigned him a padawan, or made him a master for that matter. Unlikely, the Masters of the High Council were not ones to gossip, and Balkk did not spend enough time at the temple to be worth gossiping about even if they did.

"You did not participate in the tournament of your year, if I remember right?" He inclined his head thinking for a moment, "A pity, it would have been a privilege to see the nassscent swordsman." Balkk held back a smile from his lips, but the genuine nature of the comment flitted about his eyes.