Introspection

[Neology]

Blue eyes stared impassively out of the hall's huge windows, not really seeing the serene temple grounds or the crowded skylanes. Janis's thoughts were elsewhere, dwelling on her padawan, now claimed by the Council for some sort of nonspecific training that she could not give. Her feelings on the matter were mixed - hope and a tinge of worry for the boy, loneliness and inadequacy for herself. Months ago she'd been hesitant to open herself up, to spend all of her time in the presence of another. Only now, confronted again by the cavernous halls and antechambers of the temple, did the feeling of loss hit her.

The knight turned her back on the great window, leaning her slight weight upon the seal as a small sigh escaped her lips. It was not her place to question the council’s combined wisdom – surely they knew better then she what would be best for her padawan.

Fidgeting with her robes, Janis straightened and headed down the hall at a steady pace, aimless at first, then turning towards her quarters. No longer a student and having little concern with galactic politics, there was little for the knight at the temple except the opportunity for rest and meditation. Already she was eager to find some task for herself, if not off world, at least outside the temple. Making a small sound of resignation she shook her head; too often did she ‘run away’ from the temple. Maybe she did need the rest and the chance to clear her mind. A few days of idleness wouldn’t hurt at any rate, and surely, she wouldn’t be sent off again so quickly unless at her own request.

Janis’s room was small and unadorned, containing little more then a bed, a desk terminal, and a small locker at the bed’s foot. Like most Jedi, she had few personal possessions and traveled often. This room stirred no warm feelings of home or comfort, likely identical to a hundred others set aside for the housing of knights. She scanned the room with a glance, noting the sheets had been changed and the dirty laundry removed, and then sat herself at the desk. Idly, she touched a few keys on the terminal and took in the readout with half interest. Master Delwhi was gone, attending to a diplomatic matter in the outer rim, though news that Aaron was currently at the temple caused an eyebrow to rise. He’d gone his own way after some time after she’d begun Varen’s training on Alderaan and she hadn’t heard from him since.

The knight removed a palm-sized comlink from her robe, stood, and switched it on before reciting a short message.

”Aaron? Could you meet me in the southwest garden?”

Replacing the com unit, Janis headed back out. Even if Aaron was too busy or otherwise unable to meet her, there were few places on the temple grounds that she felt so at ease as the southwest garden. It was smaller then most of the others, a courtyard built around a bed of smooth sand and stone, and usually of little interest to most of the younglings.

[projectsunfire]

((Hate to write a short post. For alll the RP stuff look at the Unrecorded meeting.))

The following message crackled back.

"I will be there soon. It is good to hear from you Master Nu."

[niben]

Theon walked outside, into the gardens. He looked around, at the sky, the plants, and the jedi walking around, as usual. He walked a little bit further and saw one of the jedi he had saw before. Her name was Janis, and she was a jedi knight without an apprentice, that he knew. She looked a bit busy but heck, this was the only thing he could do all day besides spend his day in his quarters doing nothing.

He walked up to Janis and said, Hello. My name is Theon." He thought that she knew that he was completely bored and had nothing to do. He looked up at her, his eyes looking a little tired. It was kind of weird that of out of all of the people around, he had stopped and greeted her. He patiently awaited a response.

((sorry for the short post. I had nothing else i could think of.))

[projectsunfire]

Araon walked slowly through the Gardens, the air of Coruscant seemed cleaner today than yesterday. Perhaps it was an imperceptable difference for most people. Araon could feel Aay'han stir within his lightsaber and he knew she was about to speak.

Her liquid voice rippled through his mind like the waves on a placid lake. Why do you entertain this Jedi Araon? I see no purpose in it.

Araon's padded boots made hushed tapping sounds as he walked purposefully through the Gardens. His thoughts calculating an answer for the strange lifeform that had become a piece of his lightsaber, yet was so much more.

She is an old friend of mine, Aay'han. She was there when I first found you. Perhaps you may find something familiar about her. Araon's thoughts filled his head briefly.

I do not understand this concept. Explain Friend. Came the curious rippling voice in his head.

Araon Halted and admired the soft pink bloom of one of the many flowers that were now growing that season. I understand that your kind have the ability of telepathy. My kind, and many other creatures here in the Galaxy lack that... gift. Araon used the word loosely. We use a different form of communication, and through it we find ourselves to be social creatures just as you are. Consider a moment that we as creatures find it easier to be social or communicate with certain other members of our community. We refer to them as friend. However, the strength of that social bond can differ in strength and complexity.

Araon could sense that Aay'han was considering this information broadly so he continued on his way.

Soon, he drew near to the place where Janis had asked for him to meet her, and he saw her there speaking with a Padawan, who was out of class instruction, and since Araon had recently heard the news of Janis' Padawan, surely this was not him.

As he got closer Araon realized it was not Janis' former Padawan, but one that seemed to be skipping instruction. It was not Araon's place to discipline the Apprentice, but perhaps he would give his advice.

While the two had their brief conversation, Araon had approached silently from behind. His hood drawn, and his arms folded beneath his robe, he halted.

"I hope I am not interupting anything?" Araon looked at the pair as he awaited their attentions. Upon looking at the Padawan, Araon sensed the Padawan's mind seemed occupied. It seemed he did not have a Master. Strange. Though Araon had been without a Master for a short period of his time as a Padawan. Perhaps when he needed him most, perhaps not. "Why are you not at study, Padawan? Are the libraries or sparring chambers not to your liking? Run along now please, I am sure you have things you should be doing." A gentle tone upon his gravelly voice.

[niben]

He patiently awaited a response from Janis. He sensed footsteps and turned around. He was asked why he was not in study. An irritated look formed on his face. Well, is that any concern of yours? He dared not argue with the man. He knew what would happen if he did. "I am finished studying. If I wasn't, I wouldn't be here," he said, the look still on his face.

Why are all the masters like this? Even the ones who aren't masters. They're always so nitpicky and will try to find any good reason to annoy me. His irritated gesture disappeared. He kept his eyes glued on Araon as if he was trying to remember him from somewhere. He hadn't seen his friend Scylla in a while. He had wondered what had happened to him. This guy was supposed to be Scylla's master. Where has Scylla been?


"Do you know anyone by the name of Scylla? He was my friend a while ago and I haven't seen him since he left with his new master. Do you know what happened to him?" he asked in a low, kind of disappointed tone. He wasn't completely sure, so he asked a reasonable question...and hoped for a reasonable answer.

[projectsunfire]

Araon listenned to the defiant words of the Padawan as he asked about Scylla. The force revealed much of the Padawan's intent. A knowing smile formed on Araon's face as he considered the Padawan's words. "A Jedi's study is never over, the force is an infinite resource to be tapped. If you have studdied enough, then why are you not meditateing upon your studies?" Araon sensed much irritation within the Padawan. A miniature hurricane in the force. Araon's hands remained folded beneath his robe. Though the Jedi's smile took on a sad semblance at the mention of his former Padawan.

Araon chose his words carefully. He did not wish to reveal too much of his Padawan's death. The details were filed in a report to the council, though if this Young one was his friend he deserved knowledge. "Scylla was my Padawan. He has become one with the force. If you were such a good friend perhaps you would remember the pyre lighting when his body was returned to the temple?" Araon's words carried no Ire, only the slightest of bittersweetness. His empathic abilities bolstered by the force revealed the discord within the Padawan, and a thought occured to him.

"Perhaps, it would be best if you stayed with us for now Padawan. I sense that meditation would be enlightenning for all of us." Araon gestured to the garden around them. "Such a place of tranquility begs itself to be utilized by those wishing enlightenment."

[niben]

Theon looked up at Araon after he spoke about Scylla. The words he spoke offended him. Now, he really wanted to hurt him. His face formed a glare. When he went on about how he should be leaving, the glare completely formed. I really don't like this guy...He speaks as if he is a god. Even the council members aren't like that alot of the time..

He sighed. His glare completely disappeared and was replaced with a sad look. The gesture wasn't toward Araon, however as it was towards Scylla's death which he clearly understood. Once Araon said he could stay, the gesture disappeared. He looked up at Janis. Probably waiting for him.

His face was now blank. He was bored. He waited for either person to speak.

[projectsunfire]

Araon sensed a great deal of Anger from the Padawan. Perhaps he should bring the boy to the attention of the Council as it is their wisdom that would determine the boys fate in a situation that involved the extreme feelings he was picking up on. He gestured to the Padawan, with his gloved hand.

"Padawan, may I ask you a question." Araon said the smile gone from his lips. His brow now furrowed with concern for the upstart Padawan. "What is the force?" Araon said, hesitateing briefly as he withdrew his arm and hand back beneath his robes. A soft gust of wind rippled the fabric.

[niben]

Theon wondered why Araon had directed such an odd question to him. He thought for a moment and answered, praying for the right answer. "The force is what we jedi use for our power, and knowledge. It is a field created by living things that is what we use to stay powerful." He kept his eyes glued on Araon, still wondering why he had asked such an odd question.

"Why..?" he asked. ...Why would he ask such an odd question? Is he thinking there is something wrong with me? He was annoyed, annoyed that Araon kept on asking and telling him real annoying things.

[projectsunfire]

Araon sensed the irritation within the Padawan, mixed with confusion. He listenned as the Padawan gave his honest answer, and considered it.

"Why, young one?" Araon said the smile returning, if only slightly. "Because a Jedi's pursuit of knowledge in the force is not to gain power. The Jedi that came before us did not build our monastic order, and survive the millenia of hardship, violence, and paranoia only to bring power unto ourselves." Araon shook his head gently from side to side for emphasis. "Though we tread a difficult path, we find within ourselves an even greater turmoil. One that can be eased if we address the question of who we are."

Araon gestured to the towers that loomed above them, scraping at the skylanes. "I now ask you another question. What is it to be a Jedi. Who are we? What is our purpose?" Araon said, his interest for the Padawan's next answer obvious in his gaze.

[niben]

Theon let out his breath. He took in another breath of air and responded with a confident tone, "Our purpose is to keep the galaxy safe from those who dare do it harm." His words came out like a child eager to answer the only question he knows the answer to in his class.

He stopped speaking just as he finished his last word. He stayed silent for a moment, waiting for the man to respond. He felt beaten. When will it end? When will his questioning just end? He waited...waited for him to say he had the wrong answer.

((you spelled scraping, pursuit, and paranoia wrong. ^^))

[projectsunfire]

((Are you so angry with me that your correcting my spelling? You change tenses in your third sentence. "He stopped speaking just as he said his last word" is redundant, and in my own defense I don't use spell check as I find that I don't learn anything by denying myself the mistakes I make. Thank you by the way for correcting my spelling I'll go back and fix that.))

Araon sensed the young mans frustration and confusion change to hopeless resignation. Why he wondered. They were having a simple conversation upon the nature of the force. The Padawan seemed, emotional. Then the strong sense that the Padawan wished Araon to tell him he was wrong, revealed itself. Perhaps the Padawan wished another chance to be defiant, perhaps he only wished their conversation to end. Araon did not know.

However, Araon knew that the life of a Jedi was one of learning, and understanding. And this one... This Padawan, was in need of both.

Araon took a deep breath through his nose. The fragrance of the garden flowers tingled at his senses, and he pushed them to the back of his mind. "Your answers are correct, Padawan." Araon said his voice becoming soft. "Do you comprehend your answers?" He whispered. Within, Araon's emotions remained dull, and he kept his empathic abilities at a minimum.

"The Jedi exhist to empower others, how can we empower the galaxies innocent if we see only ourselves?" Aroan gestured to the Padawans center, with an upturned open hand. "How do the Jedi perceive the galaxy, Padawan?" he said, withdrawing his hand beneath his robes, and gently knitted them together at the knuckles. He patiently awaited the Padawans answer, expecting only success.

[Neology]

((OOC: If you guys want me to reply please stop posting without me for a bit! Busy between work and some other issues so it might take me a couple days, never gonna be able to catch up to you two at this rate. :x ))

[projectsunfire]

((OOC:Sorry Neo, just trying to enlighten the angry Padawan.))