A Shield, A Key, A Tool [Solo]

[Kafh-en-ma-nofre]

[Excerpt from Kafh's Journal]

The Lightsaber is the tool of the Jedi. Don't be confused. It's not a weapon. It's a shield. It's a key. And at times, it is a sword. It's important that you know how to use one. - Kahlil Zambrano

...

Somewhere on Naboo

Kafh-en-ma-nofre sat at the bank of a river. Watching as the water flowed. It was definitely peaceful, like the currents of the Force constantly flowing. Kafh closed his journal and put it into his backpack and pulled out a Marksman- H Training remote along with a training saber.

He placed both things down and stood up. Taking a second the peel off his shirt and roll up his pants The ex slave reached into his backpack again. And pulled out a blindfold, then reached to the training remote and saber. Kafh-en-ma-nofre moved closer to the bank of the river. Letting the water touch his feet. Kafh tied the blindfold around his eyes and activated the remote. It hummed to life. He stepped further into the water, letting it submurge his ankles. The young man activated the saber and moved into Shii-Cho's opening stance.

 

[Kafh-en-ma-nofre]

Kafh took a breath allowing his body and mind to calm down. Allowing the Force to guide him, flow through and around him. The sounds of the slow moving river, the animals in the trees, filling his ears. Soon the training remote fired. Zone 6 Kafh thought as he brought the training saber quickly to Zone 6 with a flick of his wrist. The beam was deflected with ease. Kafh smiled and moved back to the opening stance. Thinking back to when he first picked up the training saber. His thoughts were quickly disrupted by the sound of another shot. "Oh gods." Kafh panicked as the bolt hit him in the arm.

"Right...distractions." he stated as he went powered down the Droid for now, and deactivated the training saber. The young man brought it back to shore and placed it down. "I have to clear my head of distractions, to properly do this." Kafh said to himself as he walked back into the water. He stood in the center of the river, the water going just below his knees. He had to center himself and let the Force lead him.

Kafh-en-ma-nofre took a breath and closed his eyes.

 

[Kafh-en-ma-nofre]

"You're gonna get shot. A lot. Just trust in the Force and let it guide you." That sttod out in Kafh-en-ma-nofre's mind, that's what Kahlil told him when he first started to practice with the Droid. Kafh had to let go of his doubts and follow his Mentor's words. He had to trust in the Force. Kafh figured the best place to start was through meditation.

Kafh focused on his breathing. Then the sounds around him, birds chirping and water trickling. Then Naboo itself. The wildlife across the planet, the speaking cities. Everything. He felt the water flow around him, the sun warm him.

Kafh focused on the feeling of the water and sun. Those feelings reminded him of the Force. It touches all things and flows like an endless stream. Kafh felt it. The Force. That same feeling he felt back on the Bastion, back on Kashyyyk. That feeling that was warmer than the sun.

Inner peace. Was the only way it could be described.

 

[Kafh-en-ma-nofre]

There is no emotion, there is peace. The first part of the Jedi Code. Kafh wondered what it meant to him. He had to find out for himself. "There is no emotion. Only peace." Kafh said aloud. To him emotions chained you, kept you from trusting in the Force. It makes you do rash decisions on a whim. To find peace is to set aside your emotions and put your trust fully into the Force. That was what the first part of the Jedi Code meant to him. Kafh-en-ma-nofre took a deep breath, clearing his mind again as he thought of the next line.

He was determined to search himself and find out what the Force truly meant to him, where he stood. If he was really cut out to be a Jedi. And if he determined he did? Train.

It wasn't complicated no. In fact it was fairly simple. It was a matter of letting the Force guide him. Yet at the same time trusting in the Force was going to be a small obstacle for the young man. Yet was it no different than trusting in the gods?

 

[Kafh-en-ma-nofre]

There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. Nobody is ignorant, there is knowledge through the Force. Kafh thought about that. To him the Force has opened up many doors, to be apart of an Order, to find a group of people that are willing to train and have his back. The Force opened up a knowledge the young man hasn't known. That there is peace in the Force. A tranquility that he'd never experienced before.

Kafh-en-ma-nofre smiled as he felt the water continued to flow around him.

There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, only knowledge. He continued to meditate on those two lines. Peace and knowledge through the Force. Through the Jedi. It felt as if the gods willed Kafh to be a Jedi, that it was the path they wanted him to follow. To submit fully to the Force and it's will.

"There is no passion, there is serenity." Kafh said aloud. He sipped his hands in the water, letting the stream flow through his fingers.

 

[Kafh-en-ma-nofre]

There is no passion, there is serenity. Kafh thought about it for a while. Passion. Something that is very uncontrollable, intense. It leads to attachment, and in turn attachment leads to the dark side. Kafh himself never had a chance to form any real attachments to people, the closest form of an attachment would be to Thiavi, she was the first real friend he had. But through the Force there is serenity: a calm, peacefulness, untroubled. That was the feeling Kafh felt every time he meditated. From the first day he found the Force through Kahlil's teachings, to today, where he stood in a river contemplating the Jedi code.

Kafh took a deep breath and began meditating on the next line of the Code: There is no Chaos, only Harmony.

Though Chaos rages all around you, as a Jedi you are in harmony with all things beliving and not. But even more so, you are in harmony with the Force. Jedi should not create Chaos. They should be in harmony with all things.

 

[Kafh-en-ma-nofre]

There is no death, only the Force. The last line of the Jedi Code. Kafh ran his hands through the water. Death was an illusion. The Force flows in all things living and dead. Energy never dies, it's a constant flow. Kahlil explained it as a river, never ceasing it's flow. Much like the river Kafh stood in, it provided life to all things the trees, the wildlife, the surrounding cities. There was no reason to fear death. Not anymore, not to Kafh.

To him, he was in harmony with the Force. He just had to trust it more. Kafh opened his eyes, exhaling. He definitely was to be a Jedi. That much was true. The Code resonated with him. It felt as if a weight of troubles was lifted from his shoulders.

The young man walked back to his stuff and picked up the training saber. He was ready to begin his Shii-Cho training again.

 

[Dominic Shiro]

Dom was simply strolling around the woodlands of Naboo, trying to clear his head and become at peace with the fact he was now with this.... ragtag group of.... missfits. In reality, it shouldn't be that hard to come to terms with this, he had been forced to live on a slavers planet and Felucia for a decade, yet this was the one time he had chosen to go somewhere, yet it just didn't feel right. "What's wrong with you? The one time your not forced to do anything, and your unhappy?"

He continued to stroll for some time until coming across a river, and on the other side, stood kafh, holding one of their glowsticks and that small droid he had seen a few times, deciding he had nothing better to do and cause he was bored he entered the river reaching down into the water with his hand, "Heads up!" using the force he threw a large amount of water toward the jedi to be, smiling as the water came ever closer.

 

[Kafh-en-ma-nofre]

Kafh-en-ma-nofre was just about to power on the Droid when he heard Dominic say heads up. What in the gods... Kafh looked towards Dominic. But more importantly the large swell of water that was thrown towards him. Kafh didn't have much time to react. He deactivated the saber and tossed it to the bank along with the Droid. As soon as he did, the water crashed into him, submerging the young man for a few seconds.

A few seconds later Kafh pushed himself up into a standing position. The Ex-Slave would shake the water out of his hair and turn to Dominic. Irritation spread over his face, but only for a split second. He gave the younger man a smirk.

"I see, keeping me on my toes...smart" Kafh said, he realized though it was probably to annoy him, he could turn it into a lesson to always be on guard.

"It seems unlike you to be out for a stroll so early in the morning." Kafh said as he stepped out of the river. The older man looked down to his soaked pants, he was irritated sure, but it couldn't be helped. He reached into his bag and pulled out a towel. Kafh began to dry his hair.

"Got tired of doing whatever it is you do?" Kafh asked as he continued to dry his hair. His gaze avoiding Dominic's.

[member="Dominic Shiro"]

 

[Dominic Shiro]

Dominic stumbled about in the stream as the water crashed against kafh, who was clearly unaware of his presence, as kafh stood back up he stated how it was an attempt to keep him on his toes "Yeah, to keep you on your toes, always gotta be ready for those dastardly sith" He still wasn't taking anything seriously, despite the threat that the sith posed to the galaxy. To Dom, the 'duties' the crew of The Bastion had were nothing more than a way to get by in life.

Running his hand through the water again, he heard Kafh asking why he was up so early and if he was bored of whatever it was he did. "i'm just trying to clear my head a bit, Being off of Felucia is.... A bit stran-" Before he could finish, the current picked up in the river, tripping the young man over, realising that he was probably even more soaked than Kafh was, he stood back up and shook his head and arms in an attempt to shed any excess water "Well that hasn't worked out well has it?" looking back toward Kafh, well looking wasn't exactly right as his hair had dropped over his one good eye, reminding him "By the way I've been meaning to ask, would you be able to fit a new eye?"

[member="Kafh-en-ma-nofre"]

 

[Kafh-en-ma-nofre]

Kafh-en-ma-nofre glanced over to Dom. It was very clear that the younger man wasn't very serious. It was as if sarcasm was dripping from his voice. He draped the towel over his shoulders and smiled. "Laugh about it now, but it's a good reminder." Kafh said with a dry chuckle.

Dominic explained why he was up early. He was trying to clear his head, but before he finished, the current picked up. Taking Dominic off guard and getting him soaked in the process. Kafh watched as Dominic tried to dry off. Saying it hasn't been going well with him. Kafh offered a warm smile. Walking towards him staying just out of the water. Dominic asked if he would be able to fit a new eye for him.

Kafh tilted his head. Studying the younger man's other eye. He waved his hand in front of Dominic, watching for any response. There was none. Kafh rubbed his chin.

"Hm it's possible, I could talk to Thiavi about the cybernetics. And it'll take a bit of research on my part, but of course." Kafh smiled and pulled off his towel. Holding it out. "Here dry yourself off." He said,

Kafh-en-ma-nofre smiled. "Being off felucia must be hard. I know the feeling of being shackled to familiarity. I was born a slave. Grew up in slavery. It's hard adjusting to normal life." Kafh paused

"What do you want in life Dominic? What do you think the gods are calling you to?"

[member="Dominic Shiro"]

 

[Dominic Shiro]

Dom stood in the river, the water rushing past his feet, and out of every bodily orifice on his body, he was still trying to shake some of the water out of his sleeves and trouser legs, however avoiding the large amount of hair over his eye, due to this, he completely missed Kafh's attempt to obtain any sort of response from his damaged eye. Dom removed the hair from his vision and began to wade toward the shore, moving toward Kafh who had stated that a new eye should be possible. "It may be a tall order... And if your not up to it... I won't pressure you..." He said as he neared the edge.

Kafh had offered his towel for Dominic to dry off with, which Dom took from him, still stumbling at the water's edge, before coming a shore and drying his face. Kafh said about it being hard leaving Felucia, In truth, Felucia was a hellscape, But, it was the only place he had known for half a decade, in a way it was his home, He almost treasured it... Even Brutus.

Kafh.... Was born a slave? He was older than Dominic, and Dom hadn't been taken into slavery until he was seven, He couldn't imagine how bad it was for him... As he was about to respond... Kafh asked another question, What did Dominic want in life? This was something he had never thought of, What did he want? Freedom? Security? People to call a family? "I don't know... For years I've just wanted to be free from Felucia... And now that I'm here... I'm just searching for a purpose" Dom sat on the shore line, questioning everything in his life... The usual cocky attitude of his.... had disappeared and subsequently replaced with a pondering serious persona...

[member="Kafh-en-ma-nofre"]

 

[Kafh-en-ma-nofre]

"A tall order? Maybe. But it's worth it. The gods didn't break my chains to have me sit and watch others be hindered." Kafh said with a smile. No he was freed to help others, to be a light among all the Galaxy's chaos. The younger man said that he dreamed to be free from Felucia for years, and now he was just searching for a purpose. Kafh nodded, understanding what the feeling was like.

"It's something you have to find on your own, through the Force and the gods. Let the Force guide you through whatever you do. Light or dark. Find what it wills for you and don't go against it. Fighting it would be like trying to swim up a raging river." Kafh said was he looked to the river.

"So. That being said. How much do you trust in the Force?" He asked as he went to sit under a tree. Reaching for his lightaber he'd look at the hilt. His lightaber, held a once tainted crystal. He would smile.

[member="Dominic Shiro"]

 

[Dominic Shiro]

Dom smiled, Kafh agreed, it was a tall order, but by the sounds of it, he didn't care, he seemed genuinely interested in helping the young man. Dom was quite surprised by this, they had known each other for a short time and yet he was fine with the idea, he picked up a stone, attempting to skip it across the river, trying to cease the thoughts of his past and what lies ahead for him.

Kafh began to speak again, saying Dom had to find his purpose himself, to trust in the force and those gods he believed in, light or dark, he said trying to fight against it would be like trying to swim up a raging river. Dom had already experienced that, though one thing about that sentence stood out to him, light OR dark, why not both? Surely the light and dark had a sort of middle ground? He had a lot to think of...

And something else to think of soon appeared as Kafh asked another question, how much did Dom trust in the force? He didn't have a clear answer though. "The force has almost been a guide for the last few years, it's helped me survive Felucia, the hunters and 30 feet tall rancors. To be honest, the day you came to Felucia, If not for the force, I would've been eaten, i've had to trust it, but at this point, it isn't telling me anything like it used to... So the answer to your question, all I can do is wait, and hope i get a sign..." He turned to Kafh who had picked up his lightsaber, stood up and strolled toward him before asking a question...

"Now that i've opened up a bit, i'm curious, tell me, what does the Force guide you towards?"

[member="Kafh-en-ma-nofre"]

 

[Kafh-en-ma-nofre]

Kafh-en-ma-nofre watched as Dominic attempted to skip a rock across the river. The younger man had been lost in thought.

Dominic explained that the Force guided him through his troubles on Felucia. He felt as if the Force wasn't telling him anything like it used to. Kafh nodded. Giving an understanding smile. It wasn't always clear, the Force was something that took time to understand.

Kafh stood up as Dominic started to walk to him. He asked what Kafh thought the Force was guiding him to. Kafh looked up to meet Dominic's gaze.

"The Force is...a strange thing. Much like the river, it flows...in all things. It's path is not always clear, just as things aren't always black and white. What can help you navigate it is simply meditation. But as for what the Force calls me to do..." He paused and ignited his lightaber, the white beam extending out with a hum.

"Simply to help others. Defend the innocent, not to judge others for the path they take." He said as he powered down the saber.

"To meditate. Or at least the way Kahlil taught me. Was to close your eyes. Listen focus on your breathing, the world around you, the creatures. The sun's warmth the breeze. Search for the Force and hold on to the feeling. It's a peaceful one."

Kafh gave Dominic a smile.

[member="Dominic Shiro"]

 

[Dominic Shiro]

Dom paused as Kafh began to rise and meet his gaze, Kafh spoke about the force, it was a strange thing, hard to understand and that it flowed through everything around them like the river next to them, he spoke of the force never being clear as most things are, nothing is as simple as black and white, Kafh then spoke of meditation, to which Dom never really considered as an option, with all the panic on Felucia, meditation would've been a death wish.

Kafh proceeded to ignite his white blade, and state that his purpose was essentially to help those in need and not to judge them based upon their life choices. This statement alone made Dom feel more at ease, slowly his obnoxious attitude returned, though not instantly, which allowed him to listen long enough to hear kafh's closing statement, meditating.... focusing on yourself, the surroundings, and the force simultaneously....

Dominic thought to himself that meditation may help in his endeavour to find his purpose. he placed his hand on Kafh's shoulder. "Thank you Kafh, I truly mean that" Dom passes the towel back to Kafh and begins to stroll back toward the ship, the water logged clothes were beginning to annoy him. "Oh and Kafh, not a word of this little heart-to-heart to anyone, gotta keep up appearances after all"

And with those words he began the hike back to the ship, armed with a new way of thinking about himself, the galaxy and the force.....

[member="Kafh-en-ma-nofre"]