A Wandering Mind [Training]

[Rosa Gunn]

Rosa had always been patient, understanding that her wants came second to others needs. All the same as she sat on the bench, hugging one leg while the other bounced on the ball of her foot, her patience slowly wearing away as she watched the lines of traffic above her.

She expected to be seen sooner because of her father, but it quickly became clear that after three days of visiting the temple and asking after a master, that disappearing off the grid for three years did a lot of damage to ones contacts.

Believing she might as well bide the time she closed her eyes and allowed her force empathy to spread from her. She picked up on the calm aura that was the Jedi in the temple and slowly spread beyond the temple walls, picking up a variety of emotions; fear, joy, anger, love. Drawing away she opened her eyes a hollowness settling upon her as she realised it had been a long time since she had felt love.

 

[Jacen Cavill]

Dressed in a plain black tunic and black trousers, the Jedi Master made his way through the throngs of people at the temple's entrance. His utility belt with his lightsabers clipped to it and his combat boots the only indicator that he was a Jedi. Most simply moved out of the way when they saw the tall, well built man making his way through them. Other's simply stared at his lightsabers and sized him up as he walked amongst them. You'd think after thousands of years with the Jedi on Coruscant, that the locals would be more used to us walking among them.


Darron was still not back on active duty, but the Council had requested that he asses those with Force potential and take a Padawan if he found any fit for duty.  The twenty seven year old Jedi Master had taken to his new mission with some enthusiasm, as he had spent the greater part of his morning talking with those who had potential and assigning them Master's and turning those away who lacked the necessary potential to be molded into future protectors of the peace.


The Jedi Master was about to give up for the day on his assignment and return to training himself when he felt something trigger his senses in the Force, extending his sphere of responsibility the Jedi Master could feel someone using the Force. There was some power there, looks like I found someone with some actual potential.

Without making haste, he made his way to a clearing where he saw a young woman sitting alone, deep in thought. Clearing the distance clearly, Darron stopped a few paces away and brought his arms behind his back in what appeared to be a parade rest. Standing to his full height he addressed the woman before him. "My name is Jedi Master Darron Wraith, are you here seeking the Jedi? I could feel you reaching out with empathy from the other side of the pavilion."

 

[Rosa Gunn]

Rosa watched the Jedi, approach here eyes flicking from his head to toe as if she was assessing him. his physique placed him instantly as a warrior, yet as he drew closer she recognised his face, though she was unable to say where from. She remained as she was as her approached her stopping a few paces away and addressing her.

An image of a statue flashed through her mind as she realised who this was. Sliding her leg off the bench she sat up right and smiled, hopeful that this might lead somewhere, she blushed slightly at the mention of her force empathy. She had been so used to doing it around none force users that she had forgotten the Jedi could feel such an intrusion "Rosa Mazhar," she replied rising from the bench and offering her hand "I'm sorry if I intruded with my empathy, Master Wraith. I am seeking training." She felt like she needed to back the simple statement up with something.

"My father was a Master here, some years ago. I was hoping to find peace following in his steps."

 

[Jacen Cavill]

"Please don't apologize Ms. Mazhar, empathy is one of the most understated abilities of the Jedi and I truly wish all beings in the galaxy shared it. Things would be much easier, and I would probably never have to activate this." Darron motioned to the two lightsabers clipped to his belt as he continued. "All you were seeking to do was to feel the life around you and understand it, no harm there."

A smile crossed his face as she mentioned that her father as a Master. If that was so, there had to be a reason he wasn't training his own daughter, and why she was alone. Sensing that that line of questioning would need to be saved for later, he instead opted for less delicate topics. Though he was a warrior, he had learned enough during his various missions that it was best to avoid personal minefields unless it was necessary. This woman was seeking training, not having to bring up any painful topics.

"Well judging from what I can feel, you possess the potential. If you will please come inside the temple with me we will need to discuss much and I need to test your midichlorian count before we can continue. This way ma'am."

Darron motioned for her to follow him as he continued to talk. "So tell me about yourself Rosa...if I may call you that. Also, if you have any questions please ask. My duties on this day are to help those like yourself so don't feel like a bother." The Jedi Master tried to convey a true caring tone to his words, his appearance often scared most due to his size and the scars on his body from his many encounters with the monsters the Council often assigned him to take down.

 

[Rosa Gunn]

It was bizzare being called ma'am or even miss Mazhar, it had been a long time since anyone had called her that and she wasn't entirely sure if she liked it. Following nonetheless she clasped her hands behind her back as she walked with Master Wraith.

"Please do call me Rosa, I never did like formalities." she smiled and shrugged slightly "I would say there isn't much to tell, but I would be lying, so i'll give you the nutshell version. I was raised on Kuat, and despite my father's determination to bring me here, I chose to go into politics. I served on the Interspecies Advisory Comitttee for seven years." she paused, it seemed like a lifetime ago, she considered explaining why she left but a sharp pain in her heart told her she was not ready yet. "They were...some of the best years of my life, but politics has a way of making or breaking people and it broke me." a sad smile touched her face "I spent a long time hiding before deciding it was time to take the path I should've taken from the beginning."

She had a hundred questions, a lot of hows and whys but she had to order her mind. "I have some limited abilities, empathy is my greatest strength though. How will you know if I am to be trained, aside from midichlorians?"

 

[Jacen Cavill]

The pair walked together slowly through the crowd towards the temple entrance, he enjoyed Rosa's frankness and honesty. Judging from her words though, he knew he would have to eventually prod about her career and politics and learned why she had left that behind for the Jedi. For the time being though he could just listen to her talk about her past, and with his other senses judge her feelings through the Force. There was great pain when she mentioned when she mentioned leaving, and that would have to be addressed should she be cleared for training. Pain and sadness would only lead to anger...and that lead to the darkness. A lesson the Jedi Master was all too familiar with.

"Well you will be judged based off of your emotional make-up, as well if you can physically handle the rigors of training. It's not a super elite testing process, I just need to get a feel for who you are as a person and make sure i'm not putting too much on your plate." His boots echoed off of the marble floors as they made their way inside. " Some have all the potential in the world, but emotionally they can't handle it, and some are vice versa. I've seen many who have come in and have the right mental and spiritual make-up for the Jedi, but they aren't strong enough in the Force to manage it."

As they rounded the hall, Darron gestured for them to go in a room with some testing equipment. "Come sit, and please fire away with your questions. I'm about to test your blood for midichlorians and we will have a few idle moments as I get to know you. I need to know general facts about you as well, such as age and the like if you don't mind Rosa."

 

[Rosa Gunn]

Rosa could not help but smile about emotional capability and having too much on her plate. Her history dictated that she had no problems handling a great amount stress, but this of course was another matter. Emotionally, she felt relatively stable, granted she was still in pain from her parents deaths but when she looked at herself now and compared it to when she had first left she had come a long way in dealing with it. They had been her everything, her only family.

The more she though about it, however the more anxious she became. Settling in the seat Darron offered her she took some deep slow breaths and brought them back under control as he explained the testing. "Oh, ok. I'm 28, my favourite colour is purple and I like spicy food." she joked with a wide smile. "What else would you like to know?" She shrugged sheepishly, before asking "Will you turn me away if I am not emotionally capable?"

 

[Jacen Cavill]

"You're actually the same age as I am, and to be honest if you weren't emotionally capable you wouldn't have waited as long outside as you did." The Jedi Master grabbed the needle and motioned for her arm. "Sorry but I need some of your blood for a moment." He quickly cleaned the area he was going to inject with a sterilizing wipe.

Without hesitating a moment, he stuck the needle in her arm and withdrew a tiny amount of blood that he would need for the reader. "I'm really sorry I had to do that, there are some bandages next to you. Just compress for a moment and it will stop bleeding. I would say I'd heal it with the Force but I prefer letting things to heal the old fashioned way." The Jedi made his way to sit across from her and he plugged Rosa's blood into the reader. He went through the list of options on the menu and told it what to scan for. Blue eyes intently tried to read the woman before him, he wouldn't invade her privacy with his senses unless he absolutely had to.

"Ok, while this is scanning, use your empathy on me. Read me like you were reading all the others outside the temple." Curiousity laced his voice as he intently watched her for her reaction.

 

[Rosa Gunn]

"Really?" she exclaimed at Darron's age, she was certain that the statue she had seen of him had been but up some years ago. "I mean, not that you don't look my age its just that...well, I'm pretty sure you went missing when I was 8." She realised that she may of crossed a line and closed her eyes in dismay at herself before opening them again "I'm sorry, that was really uncouth of me. Please don't justify it with a response."
Rosa gave up her blood feeling somewhat foolish, she used to be so good at keeping her surprise under wraps, but it would appear three years out of the game and spending too much time alone had taken the years of practice from her. Pressing a bandage to the pinprick wound, she gave a small smile at his request and closed her eyes.
This was something she had not lost touch with. She would spend everyday reaching out across Kuat with her empathy, seeing each day just how far she could go. the force expanded from her and where Darron had only felt her touch his mind before, she enveloped it. The first and foremost thing she felt was his curiosity amid the sea of calm that she always found with the Jedi, but there was more beneath that. Cautiously she pushed deeper catching a hint of annoyance before she retreated from him and opened her eyes.

"Something is bugging you." she said, it was a statement, not a question "not here and now, but its there."

 

[Jacen Cavill]

A slight grimace crossed his face as she squarely notified the elephant in the room, this is going to be a problem in the future I can already tell. Part of him wanted to make a complaint to the council for putting up that statue and letting him be the poster boy for the Jedi for so long, their kind gesture of respect was now making things awkward for him. It also didn't help that Rosa had just made him feel incredibly old. Wow, I'd almost be fifty years old and probably a grandfather had things worked out just right...

His face went cold at remembering his son for a moment, and her empathy was spot on. The whole situation bothered him terribly but he couldn't put his finger on why. Blue eyes looked at the reader, it was almost done scanning. "I'm very impressed, you read me correctly. As to your first statement, it's a long story for another day. Let's just say I got frozen in carbonite by means that I'd rather not discuss so yes I should be older. Turns out with enough force of will you can stay alive that long while frozen."

A beep interrupted him, and the numbers were well above what was acceptable. A smile crossed his face as he looked to Rosa, "so the good news is you have a great number of midichlorians. How should we proceed from here, you need to get any and all questions and doubts removed before we go any further."

 

[Rosa Gunn]

Rosa smiled at her achievement and carefully placed the 'frozen in carbonite' story in the to talk about another time pile in her mind. It would be quite a story, but from the way he spoke, she imagined there was a lot of pain behind it too. Pain could be shared at another time. She had her own and until they were both ready, neither would discuss it, an unspoken agreement.

Her face became serious at his push for more questions. "Master Wraith, I have spent the past three years doubting everything. If I continue to do so I will get no where." she smiled then and said "I only have two more questions; did you know Master Gareth Mazhar and when can we start?"

 

[Jacen Cavill]

He clasped his gloved prosthetic with his hand of flesh and looked her straight in the eyes, searching her soul and not hiding it one bit. If there was one thing it knew, it was that his honesty was respected so he decided to keep playing it that way. As a career politician Rosa would probably find that rather difficult to grasp at first but she would learn. Yes, I will take her as my own Padawan. He had heard tales of Master's and Padawan's instantly clicking, and it was striking how he could feel one right now. "Well, first you have to find a Master....and I'm volunteering to be yours."

The name struck him as familiar, and he looked down at the table trying to get his mind to give him the details. "Yes I knew the man, he was older than I and he served on the Council. He taught me Djem-So after I became a Knight before I progressed in my skills as a warrior and surpassed him. I even went on a few missions together with him and he was quite the honorable man if memory serves."

Darron stood and motioned for her to follow him, he continued to speak as he did. "Should you accept me as your trainer, you will be given a room and we will start tomorrow morning. So what shall we do Rosa?"

 

[Rosa Gunn]

Rosa did not flinch from Darron's searching gaze, if anything she opened her soul and let him see. She had nothing to hide from him, nor anyone else. When he spoke of her father her heart swelled and she smiled. "He was more than just an honourable man. He was a great man, he taught me that even in politics, honesty was the better path."

Rising from the chair she followed, "I would be honoured to be taught by you, Master Wraith. My father always spoke highly of you."

 

[Jacen Cavill]

Darron motioned to stop momentarily and he walked to face Rosa, she was a rather long and lean woman but at 6'5 he still towered over her. He placed his arms by his sides as he bowed to her, a sign of respect to her and to her father before her. As he rose his eyes met hers once more, "your father was one of the best men I ever knew. He trusted me when few did, I was not always so calm. I had my conflicts as a boy, and he was often the voice of reason to the council and he was the one who got them to trust me. Believe me when I say the galaxy is not a brighter place without him in it, he personally saved my life a few times and I repaid the favor myself."

The Jedi Master extended an arm towards the reception desk before him, and he nodded to the receptionist. "That woman will see you to your room, and see you fitted with proper training attire. Any personal belongings can be had, and please make this place your home. I have urgent matters to attend to myself, so please get adjusted this afternoon and tonight. Tomorrow we start training together, and you will not leave my side ever unless I instruct as such. Enjoy your last night as a free woman, tomorrow will be rough."

Darron walked towards another door and left her with one more thought. "I owe it to your father to train you to the best of my abilities, and I promise to do any and everything I can to help you in any way. Know that you can always count on me for anything Rosa...and don't ever call me Master. Be at the training room numbered 3113 tomorrow before dawn."

 

[Rosa Gunn]

Rosa laughed at his referral to her last night as a free woman "I never thought I would hear a man say that to me." She joked before giving him a grateful smile. she watched him go, a warm feeling settling in her heart, then he stopped at the door and spoke again and for a moment she was speechless, she dropped her eyes to the floor feeling her face growing hot, his words touched her deeply and it took a moment before she was able to look at him again. "Thank you, Darron. I will see you in the morning."
She turned to the receptionist who offered her a knowing smile before handing Rosa her robes and leading her to her room. Making small talk along the way until they reached her room, once there she opened it, showed Rosa around it quickly and made to leave. "You're lucky to have Master Wraith training you. He's one of the best."

Rosa smiled. "I know" she responded, placing her robes on the bed. She returned shortly after to the hotel she had been staying at and retrieved the few things she had brought from Kuat with her, one of which was a photo of her parents. Once she settled herself in, she spent the evening at one of the republics private clubs catching up with old friends before the opportunity slipped from her.

In the morning, clad in her padawan robes with her hair tied up in a high pony tail she made her way to training room 3113, arriving while Coruscant was still shrouded in darkness.

 

[Jacen Cavill]

Fresh off his morning briefing with the Council, the Jedi Master calmly strode through the halls dressed in a simple black, sleeveless tunic and black pants. His boots echoed loudly through the halls, and he waved to a few Padawans, and a smile formed on his handsome face as he saw some younglings sleepily making their way to morning meditations and calisthenics. I remember when that had been me, Jason reacted the same way. His heart hardened for a brief moment before he allowed himself to breathe in his pain and exhale the acceptance. No, his past defeats wouldn't weigh on him today. His Padawan needed him to be at his best and he refused to be anything but his best.

His lightsabers gently swayed with his steps his belt hanging loosely around his waist, as he walked down the familiar hallway he adjusted the glove over his prosthetic before he say his new student sitting in the doorway waiting on him. Good, she's just as punctual as her father. A smile crossed his face as he remembered the man, and he could see a great many of his best traits within her.

Crossing the distance quickly, the Jedi Master tapped Rosa on the shoulder before walking past her and into the large training room. It's walls adorned with weapons and different training devices, the floors were simple and made of a simple wood. Two mats awaited them on the floor and he made no haste to get to his mat and take a seat. A wonderful view of the skyline of Coruscant greeted him as he sat out there looking at it through the vast windows. Rosa's mat was directly infront of his and he smiled as she joined him.

"Good morning Pada-...I mean Rosa. How was your night? Please tell me how it was, and while you do so please try and focus and calm your mind. I need you to have a clear head for any of these lessons today to stick with you."

 

[Rosa Gunn]

Rosa grinned at the tap on her shoulder as she followed Darron into the room, settling herself into a crossed legged position opposite him, she smirked as he stumbled over his greeting before continuing smoothly. "Good Morning Darron." she replied taking a moment to glacne around the rrom at the weapons around them, pondering what lay ahead or her today.

Pushing the thoughts aside however she looked back at Darron and began gradually pushing her thoughts of the evening from her mind as she spoke of them "It was pleasant enough. I went to the republic club and caught up with a few old friends and made a new one too. Its amazing how much the galaxy can change and yet most politicians still remain ignorant and stuck in their ways." Her mind threatened to wander off as various faces form the night popped into her head, including the Vice chancellors. Pushing them all out of her mind she focused, instead on Darron. "What will you be teaching me today?"

 

[Jacen Cavill]

His mind emptied, Darron extended his field of responsibility through the room and opened his senses to the view ahead. He could feel Rosa's heart beating, he could feel the goodness and purity of her soul. Beyond the room he could feel the frantic energy that was the very heart and soul of Coruscant, it's rhythm a stark contrast to the calm that was the Jedi Temple behind him. He had chosen this room for two reasons, mainly because of the dichotomy of the feelings one with empathy such as Rosa's would detect. The other...well that was a secret he'd reveal at a later date. No need to spoil anything Darron, a grin broke across his face as he closed his eyes.

"You know, I often have found that many politicians simply speak of peace and improving society. Yet I always seem to get the call when they make mistakes because they didn't do as they said or they let another agenda take over the one they promised to see through. I've found that their words are only words, and when they fail to do as they say, I have to rescue them or fix their mistakes." He tried to not let his disdain for the majority of politicians show. So instead he simply stopped himself and just took a few moments to consider her words.

"So you enjoyed your night out? I'm glad." He wouldn't dig too deeply in how she spent her free time, that was her personal business and he wouldn't delve into that unless she gave him permission.

Considering her words for a moment, he turned to look at her before speaking. "Today, you will learn how to truly focus your mind and allow the Force to be your greatest ally. Also, you may learn to hate or love me, we shall see." He laughed for a second before turning serious. "Now extend your empathy, your senses. My father called it my field of responsibility because as a Jedi it is considered your job to protect all the life you can feel. Tell me what you feel, and allow yourself to empty like a cup, and let the Force in like water. It will magnify your senses and I want you to tell me everything you are feeling, don't hold back."

 

[Rosa Gunn]

Rosa could not help but chuckle at Darron's small rant about politician's. He was of course right with what he said, most of them just spoke for the sake of pleasing ears, rather than truly believing and doing what they said. It was a fact that make her glad she was no longer among them. She listened intently to his lesson, smiling at the term responsisbility, it was a good term.

Closing her eyes she focused firstly on slowing her breathing before she expanded her mind, feeling Darron first. "Always so calm, Darron." she said with a smile before pushing further "I can feel...the other padawans, fortunate enough to still be sleeping and dreaming." she pushed herself further rising through the temple "Every is so...calm though there is worry in some minds..." she focused on those minds and felt them reach back to her their power far greater than hers "Master's," she said with a smile before pulling away and moving out into Coruscant.

"Chaos...regret, anger, hate,.."she skipped past the minds of these emotions her face wrinkling in her dislike of them before she found something she liked "A child...pure of heart and full of joy, a father, full of love and concern..." her own painful emotions began to wrap up in the ones she was feeling and she tried to control them, pulling away from the family and heading above coruscant "A technician...bored with his day before its even begun."

 

[Jacen Cavill]

"Yes, do be careful when reaching out to Masters. We have a way of reaching back and knowing how to put up defenses so we aren't read." A little too much honesty rang though his words, he was doing that just now. He noticed the ting of sadness in her voice and aura upon mentioning the father. He could feel them himself, and his heart ached for his son one more time. A beat passed before it struck him, we both seem to be missing something in our lives. He allowed his calm to wash over himself again, before standing.

"So, what happened to your father. I've been avoiding it but it needs to be addressed, your emotions are a window to weakness that enemies can exploit. It is our responsibility to always remain calm not for ourselves, but for those we protect. Being a Jedi is a privilege, and I'm not saying emotion is weakness. Don't misconstrue that, but any and all issues must be handled so that you are a clear vessel of the Force."

Crossing the floor, Darron reached inside a chest and pulled out a few silver orbs before going to sit with his legs crossed again facing Rosa. He held the orbs in his hands, fingers open and palms up so she could see them. "Now that you figured out the empty cup concept, allow yourself to be filled with the Force again. Don't be overwhelmed or try and use it as a tool. It is your ally, and as such you must work with it as it works with you. Extend your senses to theses orbs and allow them to float like this." Right on cue, the two orbs floated about his hand and he made them spin around each other before returning them to his hands.

"Picture it in your mind and allow the Force to help you, don't bend it to your will."