Private A Chance Encounter

[Corvin Strix]

Location: Prosperity Canteen

The day began like any other for Corvin, a routine he had quickly grown accustomed to during his relatively short time as a Padawan within the New Jedi Order. Though, could he truly be considered a Padawan? He had yet to be taken under the mentorship of a Jedi Knight, leaving him in a sort of limbo between training and waiting for guidance.

After spending the morning under the instruction of various members of the Order, Corvin found himself seated in what he assumed to be the Canteen. In a bizarre twist, he somehow ended up playing a game of cards. His opponent? None other than his companion, the icy-blue Convor, Glacia, perched across from him. How this situation came to be was anyone's guess, much like the mystery of how he had even ended up with a deck of playing cards in the first place.

As a soft chirp escaped Glacia, Corvin let out an almost exasperated sigh, leaning back slightly as he spoke in a resigned tone, "No, I'm not looking at your cards." His tone carried a hint of amusement, even as the absurdity of the situation seemed to settle in.

Phy

 

[Phy]

Prosperity
Tags: Corvin Strix

Droid Body​

Phyla didn't know why she was in the Cantina. She didn't have any reason to, really. Being a shard Phy had no need for sustenance, even if she had designed the face of her mechanical body to be as organic as possible. Perhaps it was, in reality, more adaptation to the behavior around her. Her peers spent time in the Cantina. That meant she probably should as well, right? Maybe there was still something she was struggling to reconcile with her curiosity about the organic experience.

Still, today there was a rather unusual sight. One of no sight, actually. A young Miraluka sat at a table playing cards, facing a corvid of sorts. A gentle smile spread across Phyla's face as she floated over, levitating being her preferred state. Her hands were tucked courteously behind her back as she did so, examining the game.

"Did you know you can feel synthetic pigments through the Force?" she stated, studious observing whatever was being played. "There's a subtle difference that can be traced and read on cards such as those. You could, in theory, be looking at his cards. 'Looking' in quotes, anyways."

Her guardian's little brother Jalen Kai'el had taught her that. There was a lot that could be seen, even without eyes.

 

[Corvin Strix]

Corvin was momentarily caught off guard by the sudden voice that interrupted his unusual game of "Go Droid." He assumed it came from someone who had wandered over, likely intrigued by the odd sight of a young Padawan playing cards with a Convor. Truth be told, the reason he found himself in this strange situation stemmed from his somewhat lacking social skills—about as sharp as a rock, if he was being honest.

He turned his head slightly, his blindfolded gaze shifting toward where the voice had originated. Corvin's unique Force sight allowed him to perceive an outline of the person and the energy they radiated, rather than fine details. With a slight tilt of his head, he considered their comment before responding.

"That does sound useful—for identifying certain items or maybe figuring out where something might be hidden," he mused aloud, momentarily pondering the possibilities.

A faint smirk tugged at his lips as he added, in a deadpan tone, "Though, if I'm being honest, I don't think cheating would help me much at this point. I'm already losing."

Another chirp from Glacia followed, and though the avian's face was covered in feathers, it somehow managed to convey an unmistakably smug expression, as if fully aware of its upper hand—or wing, in this case.

Phy

 

[Phy]

Prosperity
Tags: Corvin Strix

Droid Body​

"Though, if I'm being honest, I don't think cheating would help me much at this point. I'm already losing."

"Strange," Phyla noted with a light giggle. "Why'd your friend ask about cheating if you're losing?"

Phyla floated up above the table, crossing her legs in the air and looking down as it proceeded. Her stance was casual, as though there were an invisible cushion she was perched atop somewhere unseen by the naked eye.

"Oh, Phyla," she added, "But you can call me Phy. Are you new here? I don't believe we've met in any classes. Then again, I've only recently returned from the Exploration Corps, so I feel rather new myself."

New people to meet meant new friends. It would probably help to have someone to actually go to the Cantina with if she was worried about matching her organic peers. Besides, things had been rather quiet upon her return from the Exploration Corps. It was about time she started re-establishing connections with other Jedi about the Core.

Jasper certainly wouldn't want her being a loner.

 

[Corvin Strix]

"Knowing Glacia, it's probably just to rub salt in the wound, as the saying goes. That, and thanks to our bond, I can sometimes project my sight through their eyes. I can see what they see, but it leaves me feeling... unsteady."

Corvin followed the other's movements slowly, his head tilting slightly in curiosity. He watched with a growing fascination as the person seemed to hover, frozen in mid-air. Several theories ran through his mind—most likely some form of Force technique, though part of him wondered if advanced propulsion tech could also achieve such an effect. The idea of it was undeniably intriguing.

"Corvin Strix, at your service," he introduced himself, setting down the cards in his hand. He'd lost another round, but the game had become secondary to the conversation. "I'm fairly new to the Order—arrived a few weeks ago, actually. Most of my time so far has been spent in private lessons until I get more... familiar with things."

His thoughts briefly flickered back to the journey that brought him here—an adventure full of unexpected twists and turns. But that was a story for another time.

Phy

 

[Phy]

Prosperity
Tags: Corvin Strix

Droid Body​

"I see," Phyla nodded. "I've been here for some time now. My guardian actually used to sit on the Jedi Council, but he stepped down recently to work in the Outer Rim. It has admittedly been a while since I've been here though..."

The shard laid a finger on her synthetic chin.

"A bond that allows you to see through another's eyes..." she pondered. "Sounds like one that's particularly strong. You and your friend must be very close."

Phy let out a soft laugh as she shifted in the air, now laying on her stomach, on nothing that is. She pondered such a relationship for a moment as well as the implications of such a thing. Force bonds were a rather powerful thing. Even with as sensitive as she was in the force, the young shard had never managed to establish a link to that degree. She couldn't help but wonder what would take a Force Bond to a higher level like that.

"Sight is a rather strange thing," Phy admitted. "My sight is... unnatural. Well, I suppose my form is unnatural in general."

She paused for a moment.

"May I show you?"

 

[Corvin Strix]

A faint smile touched Corvin's lips as he spoke again. "I'd be lying if I said staying in one place doesn't feel a bit odd," he admitted, shifting slightly in his seat as if to emphasize the point. He paused before continuing, his voice curious. "What about your guardian? I imagine it takes a certain kind of person to hold a seat on the Jedi Council."

While he listened to Phy's response, Corvin extended his left arm, and the icy-blue avian hopped gracefully onto it, settling onto his shoulder with a soft rustle of feathers. "Glacia and I have been inseparable since I was nine," he explained, his tone softening at the memory. "My mother got her for me after my father disappeared."

Turning his attention back to Phy, Corvin nodded thoughtfully at her words about sight. "Sight is an odd thing, isn't it? With my mixed heritage, learning to rely on Force Sight took some adjusting."

When Phy asked her question, his curiosity stirred, and he nodded. "Please, go ahead," he encouraged with genuine interest.

Phy

 

[Phy]

Prosperity
Tags: Corvin Strix

Droid Body​

"My guardian is a good man," she noted. " Jasper Kai'el is his name. He was the Sentinel of Harmony before Jonyna Si , a title he earned after the Second Great Hyperspace War. He found me when I was really little and taught me all kinds of things. If you find yourself at a satellite Jedi Temple in the Outer Rim you may meet him. He's committed to supporting Jedi efforts afar these days."

Phyla silently took it the backstory of Corvin, pondering the closeness of him and his winged companion. That was a good explanation for such a strong bond. Time and healing from loss were sure to bring to beings together in a powerful way. She'd give it a hum of acknowledgement before drifting down to the ground next to the table, her feet lightly touching the floor.

"Okay," Phyla nodded in response to Corvin accepting her inquiry. "This may feel strange."

Phy placed her hand on Corvin's forehead and focused on linking with his energy. The Dream Walkers were those who could travel into their own minds and face their inner self, a process refined by a subset of the Voss Mystics. Phyla had an affinity for such abilities, but her Dream Walking was... advanced. Strange. Perhaps it was a product of how shards were created, grown off of another into a larger colony where minds intertwined.

Corvin would find himself transported, vision appearing before his eyes as the world of his mind manifested, a simple empty plain for now with water stretching out as far as the eye could see, below his feet somehow like a solid surface. Phyla's form stood before him. Her droid body, anyways, the synthetic body made to replicate an organic form. She gave a warm smile and a chuckle, tucking her hands behind her back as she waited for a reaction.

"Strange, isn't it?" she asked, tilting her head.

 

[Corvin Strix]

Corvin nodded thoughtfully as he listened to Phy describe her guardian. From what she said, he certainly sounded like a good man—someone Corvin might want to meet one day. Perhaps, he mused, it could be a valuable opportunity to further his training in the Force and enhance his skills as a Jedi. "I'll have to see about making a trip out that way if time permits," he remarked, tucking the thought away for later.

As Phy placed her hand gently on his forehead, Corvin subtly braced himself, expecting some unusual sensation to wash over him. It felt like an attempt to link their energies together, a completely new experience for him. His curiosity deepened, intrigued by how Phy perceived the world around her—an entirely different perspective that fascinated him.

When he 'opened his eyes,' in a manner of speaking, Corvin was struck by awe. The environment around him had transformed, and even though it appeared as an almost empty plain, the soft lapping of water added a serene, tranquil quality that filled the space with an unexpected charm. He turned his attention back to Phy, her question lingering in the air.

"Seeing like this... it's incredible," he replied, his voice laced with amazement.


Phy

 

[Phy]

Prosperity
Tags: Corvin Strix

Droid Body​

"Seeing like this... it's incredible,"

"It's not really seeing," Phy giggled. "It's thinking. This is your mind. I'm just representing myself here for you to experience."

Her finger went up to point at her eyes, which seemed to shimmer ever-so-slightly. The cornea of her eyes gave off a faint glow, blending their organic appearance with the clear artificiality of the rest of her body.

"My eyes aren't really eyes," she explained. "They're photoreceptors. Mechanical components. I designed myself a form to interact with a world that wasn't made for me to engage with. A lot of senses I'm not really supposed to feel. Touch, sight, smell... I'm really..." the shard paused to tap her chest for a moment, "...hidden within here."

Phyla held out her hand, a white gemstone manifesting within it. It was small and uncut, with imperfections littered across the surface.

"That's what I look like," the young woman stated. "I'm a shard. We're crystalline beings with a natural affinity for the Force."

After a moment the sights around Corvin would fade away, leaving him back at the table in the Cantina. Phyla gently removed her hand from his forehead, returning it to a position behind her back.

"That... didn't give you a headache at all, did it?"

 

[Corvin Strix]

Corvin paused for a moment, mulling over the scene unfolding within his mind. "Well, I guess it's good to know my inner world is pretty tranquil," he remarked with a hint of amusement, surprised by the emptiness and calmness that greeted him.

As Phy began explaining her nature, Corvin tilted his head slightly, processing the revelation. He hadn't realized her form was artificial, which made him question how his Force Sight perceived things. "That's impressive... I didn't even notice you were artificial. My sight must have been focusing more on the Force energy than your physical form."

His gaze then shifted to the crystal, drawn to the distinct sense of the Force emanating from it. The energy was almost hypnotic, and as Phy explained what a Shard was, it dawned on him that this was the first time he had encountered someone of her species. It was a humbling reminder of how vast the galaxy truly was and how much he still had to learn.

As the familiar surroundings of the canteen returned, Corvin felt a slight buzzing in his head, though it quickly subsided. "Just a bit of buzzing as I readjust to reality. Compared to a training concussion, this is nothing," he said with a lighthearted tone, brushing off the sensation.

Phy

 

[Phy]

Prosperity
Tags: Corvin Strix

Droid Body​

Phy couldn't help but giggle a little at his mention of training concussions.

"I'll take that as you having developed a strong head," she noted in amusement. "That can be a good thing, in the right circumstance at least."

Jasper was very strong headed. He'd admit it too, no doubt. There was a certain strength that came with conviction to see a task through to the end. A strong head in training was indicative of much more later down the road. She could only speculate on what that drive would do now, but given the fair nature of the half-Miraluka Phy reasoned it would be a positive trajectory in the long-term.

One could hope, anyways.

"But yes, I'm not organic in the same way you are," Phyla continued. "My body is made to simulate things you might experience. Touch, smell... Of course it's limited. I still have no need for sustenance, but you get the general idea."

Phyla frowned a little, crossing her legs to sit in the air as she pondered for a moment.

"I... have been thinking a lot about this..." she admitted. "There are limitations to what I can experience and as of yet I haven't been able to engineer a solution that allows me to. Is... it weird to be drawn to experience something unnatural for your species? These things are not what a shard would naturally feel, yet... I cannot seem to shake the irrational thought from my mind."

 

[Corvin Strix]

Corvin chuckled softly, nodding as he replied, "A strong head does come in handy, especially with the kind of training that shapes it."

Even now, he could still vividly recall the metallic walls and training droids aboard his late father's ship. That memory had always brought him comfort, a connection to the life he'd known since childhood. Adjusting to being so far away from that world had been an ongoing challenge.

As he listened to Phy's musings, Corvin tilted his head slightly, reflecting on the idea of being drawn to something unfamiliar, even alien, to one's own origins. It didn't seem strange to him at all. In fact, it struck him as a natural part of seeking one's place in the galaxy.

"To me," he said thoughtfully, "it sounds like a personal journey of discovery. There's nothing wrong with wanting to push past your physical limits, to truly become who you feel you are deep down."

He paused briefly, letting the thought sink in before adding, "In a way, that curiosity is the clearest sign that you're alive."

Phy

 

[Phy]

Prosperity
Tags: Corvin Strix

Droid Body​

"In a way, that curiosity is the clearest sign that you're alive."

"I suppose so..." Phy nodded with a frown, "Perhaps it's a natural to be curious about unnatural things..."

A slippery slope, no doubt. She'd need to keep those kinds of thoughts in check. The last thing she needed was to wind up getting far too curious.

"Sorry, I'm not sure why I rattled all of that off," she finally apologized with a chuckle. "I'm not typically one for exposition."

 

[Corvin Strix]

A faint smile touched his lips as he spoke, "To be honest, I've always wondered what it would be like to see the world with my own eyes, instead of through the Force." There was perhaps a trace of sadness in his voice, but it was quickly masked by a quiet, soft laugh.

"I seem to have that effect on people," he added, his tone lightening. "I’m often told it’s easy to open up when they’re around me."

Phy

 

[Phy]

Prosperity
Tags: Corvin Strix

Droid Body​

"I'm sure they do," Phyla chuckled.

The shard did find it rather comforting to have a new familiar face around, in any case. She had been away for so long that she really didn't know anyone. It was good to have new connections. They were important things after all in a place like this.

"So, now that you're here and learning," Phy continued, "What is it you want to achieve? I feel like everyone comes here with some reason or another."

And it was good to have diversity amongst Jedi in regards to interests. It made the order run smoother.

 

[Corvin Strix]

Corvin hesitated at the question, taking a moment to consider what he truly hoped to achieve by being part of the Order. Deep down, he knew that joining the Order was, in part, a way to uncover clues about his father’s disappearance—or possible death.

After a brief silence, he finally replied, "Understanding my connection to the Force is probably the biggest reason. But… finding a place to belong? That has its own appeal, too."

Phy

 

[Phy]

Prosperity
Tags: Corvin Strix

Droid Body​

"Understanding yourself is a good answer," Phyla nodded, "We all have a place in the wider symphonic movement that is intergalactic history. I think this is a good place to find that."

Phyla couldn't help but wonder what the root of such desires were. Everyone had a reason for searching for where they belonged, but there was a hint of something deeper behind Corvin's words. There was something driving his path forwards, something from his past. A gentle smile came to her synthetic face.

"Just remember to think of the future as well," she added. "There is much one can do in a lifetime after all. You may find that multiple places are your place in the galaxy. My guardian told me that a good Jedi is always at their best when they're in a state of continuous evolution."

After all, people grew and changed over time. Jedi should too. It was only natural.