A faulty saleswoman, (Maja Vern)

[Alexandra Feanor]

She turned her head and smiled, watching the woman for a few seconds with a grin that showed mere joy in the question. Turning herself fully she walked right up to [member="Maja Vern"] and raised her brow and turned her head slightly before speaking. "You have answered it in your question, now answer the rest of what your mind has dwelled upon, am i taking you to the wood?"

[member="Maja Vern"]

 

[Darth Zilti]

Maja looked at the woman with bewilderment write across her face. Petulance gave way to confusion as she tried to work out what was going on.

Her mind worked through a number of possibilities in rapid succession; she was being conned, she was being toyed with, she was being taught a lesson in this Forcething, she was being taught a lesson for trying to cheat the woman, was this woman mad, was this some sort of a joke?

She cycled through the options but although they all made sense, none made perfect sense with the available information. So Maja pouted and the look of petulance returned to her young features.

"Listen Miss, I really don't know what's going on. Is this forest even real, or is it a metaphor for something? I just don't know and I lack the patience to play any more games. Just tell me what I need to do and I'll do it."

Despite a hint of agression in her tone, it was linked to her frustration at not being able to work out something she was clearly supposed to understand.

[member="Alexandra Cinthra"]

 

[Alexandra Feanor]

"AND THERE IT IS." She turned suddenly and smiled at the woman before her and walked closer, every footstep light and silent as she leaned close to the woman and spoke in a voice that was akin to a void, emotionless and soft. But she did speak again, her eyes focusing on the woman's and soon Maja would begin seeing memories of pain, anger, love, joy, hate, and everything inbetween and most of all were memories of Alexandra sitting alone with a web of force tendrils coming from her. "If you want to learn than it is patience that you must gain, it is the only way you will understand what i can teach you and the fact that you have figured out that you lack that patience for now is the first and most important step."

[member="Maja Vern"]

 

[Darth Zilti]

Maja's senses were overloaded as she saw the emotions that we're emanating from Alexandra. Except no, they weren't just emotions, they were memories too. They overwhelmed her and also drained her. So much so that it took a while for Alexandra's words to snk in.

Her voice was quavering. A mixture of sadness and regret. "What happened there. I felt your...emotions...or where they memories...or both. There was some good feelings in there but for me they were overshadowed by the pain and suffering. Is that what the Force is all about. And those..." she waved her arms about at this point - "tentacle things that came out of your body. We're those real too?"

It was as if part of her rebel selfish spirit had been broken - and for the first time in a long time, she was less cock-sure and confident in her approach.

[member="Alexandra Cinthra"]

 

[Alexandra Feanor]

"Err sorry, little over-zealous there. What i have to teach you will never include that, not as long as i remain in control of my body and my mind unlike the Sith that you might have heard of. As for the tendrils, they were very real... and they were also fake. What you saw was my presence, my place in the force and the level of... skill i have over the control of my body and soul. I am sorry for making you witness what you did, but i had to prove my point some how, some way. They were both Emotions and memories i had felt over the years, dark but also joyful, the two coexisting in my mind and in your mind too, we just tend to shut off the bad." She went to sit down, tired from what she had down and a slight bit of sadness in how much she had exposed the woman too, she didn't want to cause her any mental harm, but her point had to have been made one way or another.

[member="Maja Vern"]

 

[Darth Zilti]

Maja looked at Alexandra with a look that said she didn't quite understand what had been said to her.

"So, I need to be more patient? Did I get that right?"

She seemed a little bewildered by the recent display of the Force, but as the image subsided, her emotions turned to balance of curiosity and excitement. Whatever the Force was, it was a lot more interesting than the stories she'd heard in bars and market cafés.

"I am ready to learn - at the appropriate pace.". She smiled a weak smile and for the first time since Alexandra had met her, she looked a little vulnerable.

[member="Alexandra Cinthra"]

 

[Alexandra Feanor]

[member="Maja Vern"]

Alexandra looked up with a confused and surprised look herself at the acceptance and smiled, looking to a datapad as she called punched a few keys quickly before replacing it on her belt. "The Speeder will be here in a few minutes, now, why dont you tell me about yourself, im sure there is something interesting or equally exciting about you." She crossed her hands on her lap and watched Maja with the silver eyes that belonged to Alexandra.

 

[Darth Zilti]

Maja felt as though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She didn't know why and her brain didn't try to fathom the reason - but she did know that this woman...this relative stranger...had invested more time in her than anyone else ever had and it created a sense of belonging. A sort of bond that felt strange. Good, but strange none the less.

And she found herself wanting to tell this woman all about her. What this some Force trick? Did she care? She dismissed these thoughts and the thin, pretty girl told her life-story as if every detail were important.

"My life is relatively uninteresting really. I was born on a ship and I don't know my parents. They died when I was really young - an explosion of some kind - and I spent most of my life so far on freighters. I didn't have a job as such - but being little meant I could squeeze into tight places to fix things but I didn't enjoy that sort of work. So I just did 'stuff' and made sure I took care of myself. I didn't go hungry and I could always sweet-talk people into doing stuff if I really wanted it."

And then she frowned. "One night we were on a dusty and scorched planet, and I ran into local crime-boss. I evaded him – but at a price. My ship left without me. So I jumped from ship to ship, doing just enough to get by - mostly buying and selling." Now a broad smile played across her face. "Which is how I met you."'

 

[Alexandra Feanor]

"Very interesting, most would have been caught or sold in some way considering the nature of your existence... im sure you understand what i mean. Its certainly an interesting story though and i am grateful you told me it as it will help me tailor your own path to fit the one you are on now while still letting you change it if you so desire... i must ask a few questions though, and i ask you fully explain your answers to them as i ask them. Which is more beautiful, life or death? And do you ever feel like you know something may happen before it does, for better or for worse?"

[member="Maja Vern"]

 

[Darth Zilti]

Maja considered the questions, her head cocking slightly to one side as she did. It was not like her to ponder a question - she typically said the first thing that came into her head. But she felt these questions were important and therefore deserved some time to consider.

"I must answer honestly. First of all, I find neither life nor death beautiful. I experience life and therefore have a view on it. I don't know death and so it's hard to compare the two. If I was in a life-threatening situation, I'd do what I could to remain living - but that has nothing to do with beauty. I've seen some dead people and they seemed at peace in a way that I've never seen a living person be. Again, I'm not sue that's beauty either? In truth I can't answer that question with an informed answer, so any response I give would be meaningless."

"In terms of seeing into the future, no. I've never glimpsed what is going to happen any time before it happened." She paused for a few seconds - as if troubled by her own reply. "But then, sometimes I know what's going to happen just before it happens. I know when a door is going to open, or which hand someone will try to strike me with. Isn't that just good reflexes? And sometimes I get a good or bad feeling about something that helps me decide what to do. When my parents died, people said I was where the explosion happened but I cried and cried until someone took me away from my parents to stop the noise - just a minute before they died. If I hadn't cried, I would have died too. Does that count?"

[member="Alexandra Cinthra"]

 

[Alexandra Feanor]

Alexandra smiled, at both answers in truth as she began to speak. "Your first answer was more truthful and insightful than you know, you neither commit yourself to the preservation of life and see it as the beauty and death as a demon, or vice versa. You are far more than a simple weapon or tool like some gifted with the force could be called, such as the Jedi forge tools and Sith weapons, i forge something all in its own, a self service to be what ever it is you wish whether a ruler of trillions, or a follower of one." She paused for a moment to fully understand her words as in terms to seeing ahead. "What you experience is an early form of precognition, the ability to react to things before they even happen. Now this does not mean you can learn the power in its fullest, but it is a tell tale sign of your force sensitivity if only a small level and a low level. This low level instincts, things we chop down to luck and reflexes before we truly know what we are, is how we can pull of the difficult and mentally exhausting use of the lightsaber forms and force powers that let us further our abilities. I have another question though, have you ever felt there was something always with you, helping you even when it was so much as your mind and emotions growing unstable, something as a support?"

[member="Maja Vern"]

 

[Darth Zilti]

Again Maja paused before answering. "Sometimes, when I just go with my instincts rather than think through a situation, I feel that something is guiding me or perhaps helping me. I never really thought of it before, as I figured we're all like that. I also used to just think I was luckier than most. Is that what you mean?"


[member="Alexandra Cinthra"]

 

[Alexandra Feanor]

"Luck, and intuition are two very different things. I like to think while they are both connected it is not by the force that the connection is made, atleast not directly. I like to think of luck as the product of the actions of the lesser beings, like you and I, that effect another soul that it was not intended to. Intuition though, that is a direct action made by one that sends them upon a path that they either find lucky, or unlucky... confusing i know, but atleast i am not making you sit and meditate on what i just said. If you want to do that, find a Jedi."

[member="Maja Vern"]

 

[Darth Zilti]

Maja waited a few seconds as if waiting for another question. She desperately wanted to ask what was next, but despite her natural instincts, she was smart enough to remember her recent teaching about being patient.

So she remained quiet and waited for Alexandra's lead.

[member="Alexandra Cinthra"]

 

[Alexandra Feanor]

"You know, your curiosity is not impatience, go ahead and ask wat you wish, i am happy to answer things, the outburst before was something im trying to control... i am slightly shattered on the inside and am trying to fix." She closed her eyes and waited for the woman to ask her question before opening and speaking again, waiting for things to come to pass.

[member="Maja Vern"]

 

[Darth Zilti]

Maja grinned. "I thought I was going to burst just then. I have so many questions. Like...how long will the training take, where will it take place, what does it involve, are there standard Force skills, do I get a lightsaber, do I have to wear robes, do I call you Master, am I light side or dark side, which is better or stronger, will you be my only teacher..." Her voice petered out. She was regurgitating all of the knowledge she had of Jedi and Sith in the form of questions - but her enthusiasm was plain to see.

It was as if the recent encounter had started a spark that was growing into a flame that could only get brighter and hotter. The question is, would it end up burning her, or others around her.

"Sorry." Her voice was genuinely contrite for the first time since they met. Possibly the first time ever. "That's a lot of questions - but you did ask!" That infectious grinned played across her lips again, and she stared expectantly at Alexandra.

[member="Alexandra Cinthra"]

 

[Alexandra Feanor]

Alexandra laughed as she apologized and shook her head from where she sat down, her back leaning against the bench. "Dont worry about that, curiosity my kill but it is also the mother of invention. As for your questions, lets see here. The training will take as long as you wish it to, i will not hold you to training for months or years if you no longer want to pursue the path that i can grant you. It can and will take place where ever you so wish, for now i currently and in the payment of the Sith as i actually work more like a mercenary than i do a Jedi or Sith, fighting for whoever pays my bills. The... well i guess you could call them standard, include such things as telepathy, telekinetics and meditation. The Lightsaber is a sign of knighthood but if you so wish to use one i can get you a training saber that should work just as well. Call me Alexandra, i hate when people use titles, students or not. You are neither light or Darkside, those paths are for you to decide as i will force you on neither path and one is not stronger than the other, trust me when i say that as i have experienced the power of both and prefer the light. Lastly, i can be your only teacher, or you can also seek others, i hold no reason to restrict you."

[member="Maja Vern"]

 

[Darth Zilti]

Maja mentally ticked off the responses one at a time. ”So that sounds like it could take a while to train fully. I get it, that’s why the patience test. So it’s up to me? I can live with that.” In truth, Maja had no concept of the timescale required to fully develop her skills, but she latched on to the phrase months and years as some sort of reference.

”And logic says I go where you go.” Seeing the woman came from a more affluent background than her, Maja was pleased to hear this aspect. ”And would I get paid too?” She may have had a fundamental change in approach due to her recent experience, but some things would take longer to be driven from her approach to life.

Before Alexandra responded, she carried on with her musings.

”Those skills sound…useful, but a training saber sounds lame – like a toy! But knighthood sounds cool, I bet if I ask you how long, I’ll not get a straight answer. I know, patience!” She said the last part with a smile on her face, clearly understanding the stupid nature of the question she answered for herself.

”So…Alexandra…I like the fact that I get to choose so much. For now, I’d like you to teach me and I’m sure we’ll tell each other when that no longer works. For now, I just wonder where this speeder will take us when it gets here.”

[member="Alexandra Cinthra"]

 

[Alexandra Feanor]

Alexandra only pointed straight up, and low and behold resting out of earshot was a landspeeder that sat in the sky above them. "Its already here, been here for a minute or two, but as to answer your question, we will be going to the place that i call my temple so to speak." She keyed into her datapad for the driver, who would turn out to be the nine year old clone of Alexandra that held an AI in its head, as the landspeeder would drop from the sky and rest in the street near them.

[member="Maja Vern"]

 

[Darth Zilti]

Maja was impressed by the speeder. She was used to travelling in freighters that were held together by hope and prayers. Otherwise she walked everywhere. This form of transport was for those with money - especially one as shiny and bright as this one.

The driver looked young - ever younger than her - and seemed familiar, but Maja didn't know why. Once it stopped next to them, she jumped in (quite literally) and looked to Alexandra - that grin now an almost permanent feature on her face. "To your temple then..."

'Think I'll have to get me one of these. Most definitely. Think I'd prefer to drive myself though. Well, we'll see when I get one. And I think I want an orange one. A nice bright metallic orange - no, perhaps a copper colour? Decisions, decisions.'

[member="Alexandra Cinthra"]