A Little Fight In You. I Like That.

[Connor Harrison]

The Isolated Gardens
Silver Jedi Temple, Voss

​

It hadn't been long since helping Padawan Terrek tap into Soresu, before he'd heard from Coci about another seeking help in combat - a Padawan by the name of [member="Nagate Hei"].

He'd conveyed to her that he would wait in the clearing of the Isolated Garden to the rear of the Silver Jedi Temple; a place away from the eyes of others and a place of great peace where Connor had been able to train alone in months gone by.

With his greatcoat and thermal jumper hanging from a tree, he stood in his black combat trousers and vest, walking in a circle stretching his arms casually as he waited for what new surprises the future defenders of the light would have in store for him.

 

[Nagate Hei]

Working his way through the trees, Nagate was on his way to meet his trainer. Coci had told him to head for the Isolated Garden. The trees were thick and kept snagging his trench coat. He got fed up with almost ruining his coat, he pulled his knife and liquid cable, and launched into the trees, swinging for one knife point to the next.

He came upon a clearing where a tall man was stretching. He figured it had to be the man who would train Nagate. Coci told him the mans name was [member="Connor Harrison"]. A well know and successful Jedi of the Silver. Nagate swung down to the clearing, landed in a slight jog, he tugged his knife free and replaced it in its holster under his arm.

Removing his mask, Nagate bowed to Master Harrison. His social skills would become apparent.


"Hi...I am Nagate Hei...Coci said to...to meet you here...I think...I'm right, right...?"

 

[Connor Harrison]

He wasn’t paying much attention to the Force around him (he wasn’t a machine) and the first he knew of the Padawan was the rustle up above in the trees. Looking up, Connor saw a figure move, swing and land with a crunch. Seemed the youth had a taste for theatricals.

And he wore a mask – interesting. And the weapon he carried – also interesting. Connor was curious, and interested. Obviously.

”Welcome, Padawan. My name is Connor Harrison – please, just call me Connor. You’re in the right place.”

He rubbed his hands together, furrowing his brow slightly.

”Ok tell me. What’s the mask about? What are you hiding? And the weapon – why do you feel a knife could protect you over a lightsaber?”

The lesson unknowingly began now – to build confidence, self-belief and assertion.

[member="Nagate Hei"]

 

[Nagate Hei]

Nagate looked at theask for a moment as if deep in thought, but in reality, he was looking for the best words to describe how strange his attire and weapon of choice was. It was hard to explain amnesia. He looked back to Connor and figured it be best to just tell what he knew.

"I...uh...I don't know. I don't know anything really. I...uh...woke up on Coruscant, at the bottom of a crater with the mask in my hand, and the knife in this very holster. I only knew my name from a piece of parchment in my pocket and...that's about it. I haven't seen much use for the knife aside from me knowing how to get around tough spots with it and liquid cable...hehe..." Nagate rubbed the back of his head.

He wasn't known for his public speaking skills. Come to think of it, he wasn't known at all. He'd spent months moving and never found anyone who knew him at all.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor listened, and knew he had to strike hard to bring the real youth out of his shell.

"Uh, uh, uh...I, I....what. You hesitate. That will get you killed. If you think too hard about what you think you need to say, don't say anything."

He walked forward towards the Padawan.

"You can dither all you like away from here. If you want to be one of us, the Silver Jedi - " he pointed at the boy's chest, " - you need to believe in yourself first. Right now, I'm not convinced you even want to BE here."

Shaking his head, Connor turned away and headed for his clothing.


[member="Nagate Hei"]

 

[Nagate Hei]

Nagate felt his heart steel. His mind became clear in the moment. How would he know where he wanted to be when he didn't even know who he was. It was unclear, as it was the day he awoke on Coruscant.


"You're right. I don't know of I want to be here. I don't know anything. How can I know where I want to be when I don't know where here is. I've wondered the galaxy since I woke up in a crater. No memories, no life, no family. What is there to be sure of? All I know is that I'm here now, my path took me here and I'm here to see it through to the end. How can I know this is where I want to be without being here to find out? I'm not convinced I don't want to be here, so convince me otherwise. If not, I'm staying. It may not be my true home, but until I'm able to figure out where that is, I will play the hand I'm dealt. Is that good enough for you?"

Nagate took a step towards Connor as he felt his heart swell with emotion. His hand clenched the mask it held. His nerves shook and his breath was deep. He'd never experienced a rush of emotion like this, or at least not that he could remember.


[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

The youth's tone and short speech didn't phase Connor, not until he had reached his thermal jumper, which he toyed with in his hands. He folded it over a branch and tapped his finger gently against his thigh.

"Did I...did I hear you correctly?"

The Master turned to face him, a curious and irritated look in his eye.

"You think I'm going to stay here and preach to you why you should remain with the Silver Jedi? Why I should use my time to tell you why you will one day be a great warrior and defender of the light?"

He took slow steps towards Nagate.

"When I arrived here I was even more confused and hurt than you were, but I was given the chance to either embrace the past and dedicate myself to the Order, or leave and continue wandering aimlessly and die alone in a gutter. Same choice to you right here, right now."

Connor tapped his palm with two fingers.

"Do you want to leave your old box of memories at the door and start a fresh today as a Silver Jedi, a tough, isolated but rewarding journey, or do you want to leave without any questions until you find someone who can wrap you up in a fluffy towel and make all your worries go away with a kiss on the head and some warm Blue Milke?"

[member="Iella E'ron"] would probably berate him right now if she heard his...unique style of vetting.


[member="Nagate Hei"]

 

[Nagate Hei]

Nagate took a step back, in confusion, not fear. Leaving memories at the door? Nagate had nothing to leave behind. He stood firm, Connor was right. There was nowhere else that would offer an opportunity like this.

Nagate cleared his throat and nodded. "I'll stay, because what better chance do I have to find myself than here."

He release his grip on his mask and tucked it I to his jacket.


[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor gave a firm nod and clapped his hands, a clear sense of relief in his voice.

"Right answer. Now, Master Sinopi knows what I'm capable off so she must feel you have great potential to be guided along the right path."

He linked his hands behind his back and walked, back and forward, in front of the youth.

"My time is yours this morning. What do you want to learn - anything I can teach you, I will. You've already learned to stand your ground and be assertive with your decision."

[member="Nagate Hei"]

 

[Nagate Hei]

Nagate pondered a moment, what could he learn. He hadn't the slightest idea where to start. It's not like there a direct knowledge source to all the "powers" unless you were standing in front of a Jedi Master.

"In all honesty, I have no idea where to start. I don't even understand the Force to begin with. So far the only reason I am even here is because I followed my instincts. If you want to go over the basics, that would be my more favorable option."


[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor’s eyebrows rose slightly as the youngster’s admission.

”You don’t understand the Force, or what it stands for? Have you had no experience of the gift you hold?”

He brought up his fingers in a steeple and tapped them against his lips.

”Hm. Who is your Master.”

[member="Nagate Hei"]

 

[Nagate Hei]

[member="Connor Harrison"]


Nagate nodded to Connors questions. He indeed had no idea what the Force was or it's purpose.

"Well, I'm sure before the amnesia in was a professor, but now, I know of it's existence only when someone emotions it in conversation. Otherwise, no. I have no real experience. As for a 'master' I was under the impression it was you. I met with a Jedi on Naboo by the name Jericho and traveled with him for a while. Even fought Sith. As far as him being My master, it seemed he was trying to be, but I left when he did."

 

[Connor Harrison]

Exhaling softly, Connor brushed his palm across his face. This wasn’t going to be easy.

”So, no experience in the Force, and you don’t have a Master? Forgive me, I thought you had a Master – I was simply alerted to your desire for combat training.”

His nervous twitch came back, fingers tapping gently on his thighs as his brain worked to think of how best to approach this.

”I think we need to get you wto understand the Force first, and the effect it will have on you as one who wants to stand alongside the Silver Jedi. If you can’t understand or control that, your time here will be limited – in the case that it could be your downfall if called into battle. And I don’t want that.”

He flicked his fingers to assorted debris and chunks of rock and earth over on the ground.

”Move those for me, would you, over the other side of the clearing.”

[member="Nagate Hei"]

 

[Nagate Hei]

[member="Connor Harrison"]


Nagate pondered his latest combat scenario involving a swarm of giant space bugs and Nagai. He then looked to the rocks Connor mentioned. He guessed he meant without his hands. What the Jedi called telekinesis, using ones mind to will an object to another location.

Nagate looked at the rocks and rubble, he figured it couldn't be too hard to will an object to the other side of the clearing. Focusing the empty mind he had, nothing but the rocks entered his thoughts, he imagined them moving to the opposite side of the clearing.

His mind was moldable and flexible, room to learn the techniques of the Jedi. The movement of the rocks in his mind felt as normal as the beating of his heart. Nagate knew the rocks would move and watched them follow his minds instructions. Lazily the rocks drifted through the air and dropped to the ground across the way.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor watched both the rocks and the Padawan, and without any strain or doubt, the Force flowed from the nature around the two and the rocks moved exactly where he wanted.

”Good. Good.”

He turned to Nagate and raised a finger into the air.

”But, I’m sure you know, rocks are rocks. They don’t fight back, think or read you. However, good work.”

Connor stepped back a few paces across the clearing and turned around with his back to the Padawan.

”Tell me what you want to become in the galaxy and why you feel the Silver Jedi could help you achieve it.”

[member="Nagate Hei"]

 

[Nagate Hei]

(Sorry for the late reply. Got busy with other threads.)

Nagate pondered a moment, the person he wanted to become was a good question. What did he want to become. Who did he want to become. That seemed easy to answer until you were asked. It was something that every person wanted, to become someone. That's it, that's who he wanted to be. He wanted to be known. To be somebody people look to.


"What I want to be in this life is Somebody. A person others look to for guidance and aid. I'm tired of being a nobody."


[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

The same old response; a Padawan wanting to amount to something great. It was a good response, but a dangerous one. If they felt a failure serving the Light, they often gave in to temptation to serve the Dark with a promise of unlimited power with no control or understanding.

Connor turned to him, a questioning look in his eye.

”What would you give to be somebody great? Would you speak with words, or a weapon, or both?”

He wanted to know just how the Padawan felt about being a nobody, and what it would take to make him feel like a somebody before he knew which path to take him.

[member="Nagate Hei"]

 

[Nagate Hei]

Nagate looked into his jacket and drew his knife. He looked at it and thought of how he'd used it since he awoke. Not a single person has ever tasted this blade, that wasn't already trying to kill him. A handful of Nagai and dozens of giant space bugs were the only ones.

"I don't know what I'd do, because I haven't been there yet, who's to say that I use this over words when the event ends in aggressive negotiations. I never have hoped for it to end deadly, but it's happened. It's the risk you take with acting in any cituation. If I am to be famous for something, let it be that I didn't use this when others did." He looked up at [member="Connor Harrison"], his eyes sincere.

"I see this as a tool, nothing more. If a cituation requires it, then it comes out, but not always in a negative cituation has it been used. As you saw when I arrived, it's a tool for another mode of transport, and in a mining cave on Halm, it gave way to what I'd been seeking. Aside from that, I've woven my words into a tool as well. First words are more affective than the first blade in an opponent, though, the same can be said in the opposite for those who've elected to use blade over word. Intention is key in that time, if you intend to kill, you more than likely will, but deflection is just as effective when your words are your dual blade."

Nagate spun the blade in his hand as he spoke, a practiced motion. It kept his mind moving, a tick, like talking with your hands or not sitting still.

 

[Connor Harrison]

Nodding, Connor saw the sincerity and heard it in the young man’s voice.

”That’s a good answer, Padawan. I like that. A tool to be used only when you need to.”

Sizing him up, Connor loosened the muscles in his neck and shoulders.

”Ever been in a hand to hand fight, without your tool? How do you think you’d cope?”

[member="Nagate Hei"]

 

[Nagate Hei]

Hand to hand? He hadn't needed to do so much. He can defelct a few untrained Nagai fine, but he wasn't trained himself. Just a bit quicker than others.


"I've never been trained. I've survived on instinct alone. I've had luck on my side the last few times, but I don't know how long that will last."


[member="Connor Harrison"]