An Alien and a Cyborg Walk Into a Hospital...

[Valae Heavenshield]

“Good to see you again, Zavii.” She spoke with a small nod. “And nice to make your acquaintance.” Valae said to the Zabrak’s companion.

As the two visitors entered, she made her way back around her desk and had a seat in her chair. Leaning forward slightly, she folded her hands atop the wooden surface. Her eyes tracked ever slightly towards the bits of dirt that had been tracked into her office by the man’s bare feet. Well, this was already turning out to be quite an interesting visit. The Grandmaster only smiled, paying no mind to the mess.

“Not at all,” She replied when the man spoke up, and then her gaze shifted towards Zavii.

Her brows lofted slightly. Quietly, she began to take in the young woman’s force presence. What she sensed was raw and unrefined, but there was much potential here. She could tell that Zavii was energetic and enthusiastic, but perhaps a bit impulsive and rash. There were the makings of a great Jedi; she needed only to have the right person to show her the way. And that’s when her eyes shifted back to the barefooted man.

“Go on,” Valae nodded, motioning for him to continue. “I’d like to hear what you have to say.”

Valae did hope that they were here today to submit their request to be Master and Apprentice… but perhaps it was just wishful thinking.

[member="Arekk"], [member="Zavii"]

 

[Arekk]

Accepting the offer to sit down, Ar'ekk took the chair next to the young Zabrak and met eyes with Valae. He tried to keep his feet away from their vision and to finally stop thinking about that embarassing thought, that's not why they were here for anyways. To feel embarassed.

"Grandmaster, it is my pleasure. I'm Ar'ekk Daesharacor, Jedi Knight. Former Silver Jedi and war veteran of Malachor V. Also former Padawan of Jedi Master Rasu Gan which I believe belonged to your council a decade ago. Shortly after the war in Malachor, I left to seek refuge with the Galactic Republic but the One Sith struck and was left with nothing."

The man tried to explain the cause of his disappearance for over ten years to this young grandmaster who probably didn't even know about such things. Regardless, this was something that Ar'ekk had planned to say for years and finally letting out was a relief on his shoulders.

"Now that we've gotten out of the way, I'd like to speak with you regarding Padawan Zavii here. She has taken an interest in learning the ways of the Force and the path of a Jedi, of course I've advised her it isn't easy without a mentor. That's why I'd like her to come with me, train her to become a Jedi. We'd like your opinion on this matter."

[member="Valae Kitra"] | [member="Zavii"]

 

[Zavii]

Zavii put on a warm smile that belied her excitement as she sat under Master Kitra's probing gaze. When Ar'ekk introduced himself, she listened raptly and forced herself not to fidget as she usually might at such a meeting. She had to show both the older Jedi that she was ready to take the next step in her training. When he finally voiced his request she turned her head to the woman on the other side of the desk and nodded.

"I'm ready, Master Kitra. I don't know any other Padawans at the Rest who've lived with the Silver Jedi for longer than i have. I've trained as long as a youngling of Old Jedi Order who'd been taken at birth and i want to use my skills to make this Galaxy a better place." She had spoken quickly and with conviction. She wanted nothing more than to do what she'd been trained for these past eleven years.

[member="Valae Kitra"]

 

[Valae Heavenshield]

Valae listened as Ar’ekk provided her with an introduction and a bit of his history. Indeed his time with the Silver Jedi was before her own, but the name of Master Rasu Gan was quite familiar. Though Valae had never had the chance to meet the woman, she had heard of her before.

“Thank you, Knight Daesharacor.” Valae said with a steady nod. “I’m very glad that you found your way back to the Silvers, we’re happy to have you. As for the Padawan, I am inclined to grant your request.” She smiled to each, and then canted her head to the side slightly.

The responsibility of a Master was that of teacher, protector, and guide. It was certainly not something to be taken lightly – not that she suspected this pair of doing so. However, she did want to make sure that the two would be able to work together in concert. From what she could tell, Valae felt they would be able to accomplish a great deal side by side. They both seemed to have warrior hearts and strong resolves.

“The two of you seem to be matched quite well, I will admit. There is both strength and harmony here. But before I do grant this request, I’d like to hear from each of you.” She turned a smile to Zavii. “Padawan, please tell me what you hope to learn from Ar’rek.” Then, her eyes would shift to the man before her. “And please, Knight, tell me how you would teach these lessons to Zavii.”

[member="Arekk"] [member="Zavii"]

 

[Zavii]

Zavii practically held her breath as she waited for the Grandmaster's answer, and when it came her lips split in the biggest smile of her life. Her eyes brightened visibly, becoming almost pink and she heard a crescendo of possibility erupt in her future travels with Ar'ekk. The older woman's next sentence gave her pause, forcing Zavii to focus on the moment again. With this question posed before her, the Padawan knew that her answer had to be meaningful, so she took a moment to think.

"I want..." she bit her lip and looked down at her hands. She knew that she was a good fighter. She knew that she was strong and fast and friendly. There were so many things she wanted to see and do in the Galaxy, but she could spend a day and a night trying to list it all. She thought about what she knew about the man who would be her teacher and decided that a simple, practical answer was the best.

She looked back into the elder woman's eyes, her own having reverted to their dark violet, and she spoke evenly. "To be honest, Master Kitra, I want to do and see and meet everything, but i know that's impossible, even with the Force. I know what i'm good at, and that's why I asked Ar'ekk. I want to follow the Warrior's path, to use my talents to fend off the Dark Side at the front lines, wherever they may be, before it has a chance to harm innocents. I belong in battle, and i want Ar'ekk to show me how to survive long enough to be of use. That is enough for me."

@Arekk [member="Valae Kitra"]

 

[Arekk]

He waited until the young Zabrak apprentice had finished explaining her point regarding the future and everything that awaited for her. Zavii was just like Ar'ekk when younger, with a drive for adventure and seeking to become something greater than he could imagine. That took a lot of hard work and rescilience to achieve.

"Grandmaster, it is within my duty as a Jedi to pass on what I've learned from the more elder masters that taught me everything I know. Zavii has the potential to pass the trials the way same I did and I plan to show her the path but she's the one that has to walk it. Discipline, know that the Jedi are keepers of the peace and not soldiers. I don't wage in wars anymore, that's a fact. But if I have to teach young Zavii here the ugly sides of conflict, then I shall. She will learn, practice and put into action everything that I will teach her. The Force, art of the lightsaber, etcetera."

Caressing his jawline for a brief second, the half masked man stopped talking as he felt he had provided a more than contundent answer. He was up to the task to take a Padawan under his tutelage, a necessary task to finally step up and take the final road to become a Jedi Master. That was his ultimate objective besides, of course, training a new generation of Jedi.

[member="Zavii"] | [member="Valae Kitra"]

 

[Valae Heavenshield]

Valae listened intently as Zavii spoke, voicing her wish to learn. The young woman had a yearning for more experiences, bright eyes looking towards the future with anticipation. She was pleased to hear that Zavii wished to keep the dark side at bay and use her skills to defend others. However, there was an eagerness for battle that would need to be tempered with a careful hand.

Next, she shifted her attention as Ar'ekk provided his explanation.

The corners of her mouth remained pulled up into a patient and kind smile. He saw potential in Zavii – Valae could see it, too. And as the man spoke, she became increasingly confident that he was just the battle-experienced guide that Zavii needed. He would be a strong pillar, a well-defined, fixed point for her to focus on.

“This is just what I needed to hear.” She said, nodding. “I can already tell that the two of you are ready to get started, this is very encouraging.” Slowly, the Grandmaster rose from her seat and walked around her desk to stand closer to her guests. She bent into a respectful bow to each, her smile grew.

“Please continue on your journey together – look out for one and other, keep each other safe.” Valae gave the pair a small nod; they were free to leave at any time, unless they had further questions or concerns. “I look forward to seeing more from you two in the future.”

[member="Zavii"], [member="Arekk"]

 

[Zavii]

The Padawan watched and listened closely to her potential Master's answer, then set her attention back to the Grandmaster. Her giddy smile returned at Master Kitra's concession and she stood along with her to return the low bow. "Thank you, Grandmaster," she smiled from ear to ear and then turned to Ar'ekk with her hands behind her back in reverance. "Where do we go from here... Master?"

 

[Arekk]

Leaving his seat and taking a bow towards Valae, Ar'ekk showed his utmost respect for the decision given. The path of a Jedi wasn't the easiest to teach or learn from, it'd take much resilience and discipline to understand its intricates and how to truly understand the gift that was present within those who wished to acquire the knowledge of the Force.

The young Zabrak had the will and enthusiasm to become a great Jedi, just like Ar'ekk had become as well. In his hands was her future and disappointing her newly acquired apprentice was something that he promised right there and then to never occur.

"We'll depart Kashyyk in a few hours. Grab your belongings, pack them up and bring them to our ship. I will show you around."

Taking a moment to glance at Valae for the last time, he bowed again. She could see in her eyes the firm and strong will of a good leader.

"Thank you for your vow of confidence, Grandmaster. I will make sure Padawan Zavii becomes a Jedi."

[member="Zavii"] | [member="Valae Kitra"]

 

[Zavii]

"Y-yes, Master. I'll have to say a couple of goodbyes, but i'll be there by sundown."
Zavii was surprised that they would be leaving so soon, but she was glad. This was what she had wanted for a long time. The young woman turned to the other Master in the room and bowed again. "Thank you so much... for everything. I look forward to the day that our time and place match again." After another glance at each face, she hurried from the room to prepare...

[member="Valae Kitra"] [member="Arekk"]