To Whom The Torch Passes (keyz)

[DreadPirateMike]

Jaidan knew well that once, it would have been difficult for him to understand how good it could feel now, to stand atop the Sacred Spire and walk these quiet halls once more. Familiarity, after all, did not always give rise to endearment, and there was no place in all the known universe more familiar than this. His first six years with the Jedi, his entire world had consisted of this structure and nothing more. A great and towering structure, granted, but even as a child, his imagine soon outgrew these walls, and he’d often longed to be elsewhere. Anywhere else, really.

And now, here he was, back for the first time since he’d gone off to war years ago now. Strictly speaking, the only thing keeping Jaidan away from Coruscant had been Jaidan. The Echani knight had chosen to keep his own counsel once, when the philosophical schism first arose between those who would eventually call themselves the Blades, and the Order proper. But if he’d returned here, having seen with his own eyes how bad things were in the Outer Rim, how much real blood was being shed while most of his fellow Jedi chose to remain aloof, he’d never been entirely certain if he could maintain that same reticence.

So, he’d avoided that potential conflict in favor of a good many certain ones. Whether it would be fairer to say that decision had been guided by wisdom or fear was a question he’d decided he was alright with leaving unanswered. Taris had changed a great many things, and mostly not for the better; he was determined that this great exception would not be squandered. The Sith Empire had finally brought the Jedi back together, and now it had been time at last time to come home.

And to his great relief, it was still home. He still knew every one of these innumerable twists and turns, and he was happy to see nothing had changed. Or almost nothing, anyway. It had been somewhat odd to look on the training floors, knowing Mordin had passed on the title of Battlemaster. But there was no question that his successor was well deserving of the post, and it had done nothing to diminish his contentment at renewed ties with the other instructors who’d remained behind.

And children! He hadn’t seen a Youngling in years either, and observing a clan of them from his corner, laboring under the tutelage of one of those old friends, he found he could find room for relief, as well as irritation that the war essentially hadn’t existed here. Sadly, it would not be this particular bunch, but perhaps, some day in the not so remote future, he might look upon a Youngling class who would NEVER be troubled by such dark days.  For now, the least he could do was be a witness to their trivial childhood frustrations, soon to be eclipsed by real life, and savor these more innocent times for them if they couldn't yet recognize them.

[keyz]

After his arrival back to the temple he took the first part of his day to decompress from his most recent journey, or failed journey. He did, in some light, consider his time away from the temple something of a failed attempt at becoming a padawan. First there was Master Tesok who's attention were needed elsewhere and he was unable to become Jifo's master, after being called away while they were on the search for ruins. Then there was Master Silene who was very positive and uplifting to him; but unfortunately it was not the will of the Force that Jifo become a healer. He was almost out of time and Jifo resigned himself to joining the Work Corp, as he walked towards the door to the halls that slid quickly open as he approached.

The soft hues of the Jedi Temple seemed to all blur together and as he strolled down towards the practice areas and meditation chambers. It was always slightly cold in the temple, which he appreciated. His apparel would keep him too warm otherwise. He paused for a moment shaking his head, before proceeding into the training halls. Over the railing he could see younglings practicing their forms and many padawan working on more complex techniques. He looks for a moment before walking along the pathway again, passing another older Jedi who was watching as well.

The meditation rooms were exactly as he remembered, and the most splendid place to practice one's self in the Force. A small pad to sit on in the center of the circular room, and this particular chamber had six small stones to be lifted or otherwise manipulated. Jifo made his way to the center of the room and sat down slowly. The light in the room dimmed as the windows shaded slightly. As Jifo sits quietly for a few seconds he breathes in deeply and then exhales slowly to center himself. Closing his eyes and sitting with his legs folded under him, he puts his hands on his knees face down and takes another deep breath.

Only a few moments passed as two of the stones shook slightly before they grew further away from the ground, lifting up to a mid point between the floor and the ceiling and pausing there. Jifo's face contorted softly, his features scrunching up only for a moment, but he kept his focus; both stones began to spin, each in a different direction. One rotated left and the other to the right. This went on for almost two minutes. Jifo seemed to go at this with a perfect abandon, willing to throw himself into this practice more completely than before. This may be his last time after all. Breathing in slowly again and holding his breath for a second before exhaling. Finally a third stone hesitantly shook and began slowly and misguidedly shifting upward. The movements of the third stone seemed almost drunken in its shaky action, Jifo struggled trying to get it to the same height as the other stones; though the other two maintained their steady motion.

[DreadPirateMike]

"Have you begun, yet, to sense the trap there?"

His tone was soft as Jaidan asked this question from his new vantage point, seated with his back against the wall just past and beside the entryway, but he knew from experience that for one whose concentration had become thoroughly entwined with this exercise, any disruption at all might as well be a turbolaser discharge past the head. It was for this reason that, having noted the young man's destination and likely purpose, he'd dipped into his own knowledge of the Force, admittedly the more recent knowledge, and dampened his presence in the Force before deciding to follow. The equivalent of walking and talking softly to avoid disturbing supplicants in prayer...and truly, the lad did have that sort of air about him.

It was for that reason he'd taken note of the Youngling to begin with. He'd grown up in this place, the same as any other Jedi, and as such knew that the tranquility noted by uninitiated visitors was deceptive. To be at peace with the universe around them, free from yearning may have been the ultimate goal of the training which took place here, but that quest to free oneself from mundane concerns was itself desire, yearning of a sort. It was a trap that any Jedi had to be mindful of, but it was especially effective at ensnaring those just starting down that path. To be sure, there could be anguish and frustration here. But all things were relative. Compared to what was happening in the galaxy beyond, the battlefields he'd come from, this was very much a place of serenity, one which he'd been only to happy to feel wrapped around him like his favorite, most comfortable old shirt.

But this young human's presence had been heavy with something more disconcerting. Dread and resignation, which had seemingly sent him here in search of some solace. So, not wanting to disrupt that peace if the boy could find it, he'd slipped silently inside, and only very gradually allowed his presence to grow, lest it shock him. Only when the third stone exhibited its clumsy, jerking ascent and indicated that the exercise was no longer offering quite the release he himself might have hoped for in such a state of mind did he speak, hand outstretched and his radiance in the Force fully evident. That left him free to step in, if necessary, and save the stones from lost progress upward due to his intrusion.

"The simplest training is usually the most effective, and this exercise in particular hides remarkable utility. Two is harder than one, three harder still, and so, as you go, you must hone ever greater levels of concentration and determination.  That's good.  But...does it get harder by necessity, or because you ASSUME it should? Try just lifting all six some time. See if you don't come to find that easier."

Abruptly, his gaze shifted back to Jifo from its consideration of the stones, and his lips twisted into a somewhat abashed smile.

"Forgive me. I did not impose myself on your solitude for a lecture. And certainly, I should not have done so without an introduction. My name is Jaidan Shatani, here for a long overdue visit home after a time in the wilderness. And I find myself hoping you can resolve a question suddenly bedeviling me. With respect, what could so trouble one so young?"

[keyz]

Jifo sat perfectly still as his exercise continued. His breathing so light that his chest barely moved, and his eyes shut but not tightly; painted a picture of serene meditation. The three stones hovers in front of him and just over head, the third had just begun to hesitantly reach it's place as a presence he had failed to notice made itself obvious. Jifo opened his eyes quickly and the immediate cessation of the stone's rotary movement showed Jifo's attention on the man in the room. He was a Jedi that Jifo admittedly was not familiar with, and he could not recall ever seeing him present at the temple. Jifo had just intended to speak when the man spoke up and offered a wisdom that particular to the Jedi.

As the man spoke of the necessity of complication, which was a simple but complex idea very reminiscent of the dichotomy of the all things, especially the force; Jifo listened very patiently. Hearing him out, Jifo lowered the stones to their resting place. He then closed his eyes and did as asked. Lifting all six of the small stones in this room was an exercise that Jifo had done more than once, succeeding more often than not. Lifting them into the air about a meter above their settlements, each rotated in unison for several moments before slowing and setting down, each in it's own place. Jifo opened his eyes again as the Jedi gave his introduction.

"Forgive me Master Shatani. I believe I should have been more forthcoming earlier in our meeting. It's very true that I originally struggled in the practice of lifting each stone, one after the other. However, today my meditation was focused on intricacy." Jifo responded letting out a heavy breath, before continuing. "Specifically the intricacy surrounding the movement and will of the living Force. It path for me has been particularly strange and confusing for me as of late."

Jifo stood before continuing and bowed deeply to the Master Shatani. "My apologies, my name is Jifo, and I believe I have spent more time in this room than any other youngling." His words gave him pause as the word 'youngling' carried its own taxing sting as it left his lips. Jifo went on to explain that he'd been a padawan twice before, and due to uncontrollable circumstance his Masters were forced to move on without him. Due to that he was about to become to old to be considered for further assignment aside from the work corp. Jifo would have explained further but he felt the words would have been wasted since he was aware that his own expression and body language would have revealed his disappointment in the apparent path he was on; and that this meditation was one of resignation.


"May I ask, Master Shatani, what has kept you away for so long?" the boy spoke again inquiring more of the Jedi. 

[DreadPirateMike]

"If you seek forgiveness, then it is freely offered - just as soon as you can present me some transgression to spend it on. Rather, though it wasn't my intention, it would seem I've condescended to one of surpassing skill for his age."

Well, perhaps that assessment wasn't entirely fair, even if it was technically true. It wasn't like Jaidan to produce unsolicited lectures on the nature of the Force, or indeed even on matters where his expertise had been long acknowledged. But he HAD always felt that valuable insights ought to be shared. And his time away had provided many unexpected lessons, forced him up against and then well past more than one old limitation.

"Or maybe I'm simply thinking aloud at your expense on this subject. It's been on my mind of late. Either way, the fault is mine."

And so, having been led astray by his assumptions once, he chose to simply listen, until the troubled Youngling had said all he cared to about what had troubled him. In retrospect, it probably should have been obvious; that particular anguish was all too common at this age. Perhaps Jaidan hadn't immediately seen it simply because he'd never truly shared in it. Certainly, the days before Arik Han had been an uncertain time for him, and the Service Corps had held no wonder for him either. No, he was going to find the next Exar Kun, and pulverize him with lightsaber skills that would make Tulak Hord look up from Hell and gnash his teeth in helpless envy.

But failing that, there was still home. Eshan. A life he'd lived just long enough before the Jedi to remember. A life of meaning and quality, assured one way or the other. Jifo...well, he had no idea what awaited Jifo if it wasn't the Order, but it seemed clear the boy wasn't so lucky. Not to his mind, at any rate.

"You can ask." He answered at last with a somewhat impish half-smile. "I'll even answer. But know the price is more of my thinking aloud."

But for all Jaidan's levity, the answer was one to be weighed carefully. Jifo was clearly intelligent, able to formulate his own conclusions, but he was still relatively sheltered, untried by the passage of years. Jaidan didn't want to simply brush off the question, offer only generalities when he'd pledged an answer. But nor did the boy deserve to have the Order's politics foisted upon him.

"It won't be news to you that the Sith have returned to the galaxy. Not if Knight Baranar offered you his tutelage. But their influence was sensed well before they chose to announce themselves publicly at Rhen Var. All agreed that it was our duty to oppose them, but there was a good deal of discord as to how. And for all the many noble qualities of the Jedi, the truth is we don't have a very impressive track record when it comes to dealing with discord within these walls. So, those of us who left to pursue immediate action hoped we'd taken that discord away with us. Only now that we all share a common purpose again did I judge it wise to return, discord and all."

The smile returned then, along with a light shrug.

"So, there you have it. I'm a noble martyr. Or possibly a coward. Maybe a little of both. And who are you looking to be? You should know, you don't talk to many your age who WANT to pick up a shovel instead of a lightsaber. But often enough, they come to see wisdom in it. Some of the happiest, most fulfilled people I've ever known have taken the title of farmer instead of Knight."

The Echani's expression took on true neutrality then, at least to a cursory examination. But all the same, there was something of a challenge in his unwavering gaze, to be picked up or passed over at Jifo's choice.

"But that wouldn't be the right path for you, eh?"

[keyz]

Jifo finally stood up from where he rested, joining the conversation in a proper way. This warrior, fresh from the battles he was speaking of, was very polite and contemplative that many of his peers with the same war zone experiences. Jifo had spoken to a few upon their arrival from distant systems and they seemed to be of short temperament. Master Shatani was sincere, open, and forthcoming which were hallmarks of an excellent Jedi as far as Jifo thought; and the boy stepped closer, listening carefully as he told of his most recent past away from the temple.

His words rang in a similar was to the legends that the youngest of initiates always clung to. Master Jedi wielding their lightsabers and the Force itself with expert finesse to banish the darkness in others in the defense of the weak and the preservation of life. There were stories all youngling loved to hear, and Jifo's eye widened in fond recollection of such memories. However, Jifo was old enough still to not let his nostalgia cloud his thoughts on the matter. He was not disillusioned on the reality of war in the slightest. Many critical battles were well cataloged in the Jedi Archives, specifically the costs of those battles; and Jifo was familiar with that in the very least. 

Jifo was also well aware that the Jedi did not agree on all subjects. In fact one could take a quick lap around the temple here and repeatedly ask a question with no hard defined answer and receive many different and often conflicting responses. Jifo had always relied on the supposition that there are as many philosophies as there were philosophers to possess them, and Jedi were no different. 

Upon hearing Master Shatani's question about the right path, Jifo thought for a long moment. He had spent his entire young life searching for the Living Force and its will, seeing how it subtly helped to mold the universe around it constant pull. There was still so much for him to learn, a fact that would daunt many of his peers, but only ignited a determination in Jifo. There were so many he could help. Jifo's gaze was still in the direction of Master Shatani; but it almost seemed like he was looking through him. Jifo's eyes instead glimmered in contemplation of the future the Force would hold for him, and how it held as much wonder for him now as it did when he first budged a stone in its practice. 

Quickly Jifo refocused his eyes on those of the Jedi in front of him and after their mutually respectful pause; Jifo spoke again. "Master Shatani, I have every respect for the fact that work done by the Corp is honest, respectable, and highly beneficial anywhere in the galaxy it is offered; but it is not where I feel led. In the many hours I have spent in silence considering what the Force may have in store for me, I do not see myself there. Should that be my future, I will offer no resistance." His words shaken but passionate, he paused for a moment and collected his thoughts. "Though I would believe that I have failed myself if I did not pursue a future in the exploration of the Force as a Jedi at every opportunity that presented itself." The slight quiver in his voice had vanish and the doubt and fear been replaced with confidence.