Catalyst

[Aren D'Shade]

The girl surfaced and was wearing a scowl on her face for just a few moments, but it didn't actually very long.

"I'm just glad these headphones are waterproof..."

She took them off and rested them on her neck as she watched what Lan-Dai was doing. The hook flew past her and landed on the offending rock she had fallen from. Aren took a hold of the line and followed it to the hook to take it off the rock. Soon enough the soaking wet girl stood next to him on the bank.

"You should really try the water. It's quite refreshing!"

Right after saying that, she would attempt in a totally playful manner to pull him into the water with her.

 

[Lan-Dai Navras]

It was noteworthy to see that the scowl she wore lasted for only moments, this denoting that she would take at her training in a more optimistic and even cheerful disposition. As soon as she had grabbed onto the hook the rewind mechanism was activated, pulling her upwards to him promptly.

As comical as the situation had turned out, Lan-Dai remained unfazed.....

Sensing the intent behind her comment, Lan-Dai nimbly sidestepped as she missed her mark and was on her way back to the lagoon she was just pulled out of. Catching her before slipping, the Emerallian pulled her back into a solid stance. His demeanor stifled, Lan-Dai removed her headphones as his expression remained serene.

"Do it again..............."

 

[Aren D'Shade]

Letting out a small grunt at her failure to pull him into the water with her, she was happy he had stopped her from going in the second time.

"I'll get you in there sometime. Just wait!"

While he maintained a serene and calm face, she was having a bit of a fun and it would show on her. The threat was said with a smile in her voice and twinkle in her eyes.
​
It was only a few moments before he took her headset away and told her to do it again. Holding a hand out, she waited for him to give her the head set back. She had been using the music to move before and wanted it again.

[member="Lan-Dai Navras"]

 

[Lan-Dai Navras]

Her comment at how this attempt would not be the last only caused a sensation of exasperation. Aren failed to notice that such playful demeanors and intended antics were easy to read, and thus easily anticipated and countermeasured.

Saying nothing at the comment, Lan-Dai simply placed the headphones over Skeeter before seeing Aren's gesture and shaking his head in disapproval.

"One thing you must learn is focus, both amid the distraction of noise, and the lack of stimulation or guiding factors............ a lesson I believe you are lacking in............ So no............."

This was all he would say before motioning for her to repeat the exercise, his expression unchanging.

 

[Aren D'Shade]

In some aspects Aren could be such a child still, but knew now wasn't one of those times. Suddenly her attitude changed and she listened seriously to what Lan-Dai was saying. At the back of her mind though, she was plotting on a way to get him into the water.

"May I suggest a compromise?"

Plucking the headset off Skeeter, she gave him a quick pet and put them on around her neck. They did not cover her ears and weren't even playing music. In a way, they were sort of like a security blanket for her.

She walked over to the edge she started from before, closed her eyes and in her mind the music played. It might not be exactly what he would want from her, but right now it was the best she could do.

Once Aren latched onto the rhythm of her internal music, she opened her eyes, plotted her course and went into action. Still not as graceful as he was, there was more surety and confidence in her movements. Like the first time across, when Aren reached the other side, she stopped again and plotted her course back. Still listening to her internal music, she danced back to hopefully land on the bank next to him not soaking wet.

[member="Lan-Dai Navras"]

 

[Lan-Dai Navras]

Reading her emotions, yet doing nothing about it. Lan-Dai Navras held back only due to the fact that she had not put back on her earphones.

Seeing her make a more grounded attempt without the headphones on caused him to ponder what techniques would work best on her, and how long it would take her to assimilate them..........

Gauging her movements and gestures, the Emerallian deduced that she was moving to some sort of music mentally. While it wasn't something he planned on, it wasn't something he would rule out completely.

Should Aren make it across, he already had their next lesson planned.

 

[Aren D'Shade]

Since the music Aren listened to was in her mind only, she made it back across to Lan-Dai without any serious hitches. At least not as bad as landing in the water. It took longer than it had taken him, but the movements and actions were new to her. In fact, this was essentially all new to her.

The girl had grown up on Zakuul, was born on Coruscant and only knew planets that had high technology. This world was new and while she felt the need for something familiar, that would soon be leaving her.

Landing on the bank next to Lan-Dai, she made no move to attempt to pull him into the water and looked at him with a bit of a smile. She had accomplished at least some of what he wanted.

[member="Lan-Dai Navras"]

 

[Lan-Dai Navras]

Nodding in approval, Lan-Dai explained the next dynamic.

"Bear this exercise in mind, as we will return to it in due time...... Follow me for your next lesson..........."

With these words, Lan-Dai made his way across and into the undrestory that he had seen further inwards.

Waiting for Aren to arrive, Lan-Dai simply gestured at the network of trees, branches, and vines. The more open grounds would be a focal point for another time.

"While you know how to use the Force to manipulate technology, you must now learn to use it in order to manipulate the environment around you........... and more importantly, yourself...."

His words finished for now, the Emerallian once more gestured at the understory, emphasizing the tree trunks and the sturdy branches.

"Now, show me how good you are at acrobatics....... Consider all of this your playground for the task....."

 

[Aren D'Shade]

The exercise she had just done had nothing to do with the Force, but she wasn't sure what the lesson was he had been trying to teach her. Lan-Dai told her to follow him. Shrugging her shoulders, she picked Skeeter up and wondered how he was supposed to get across.

"I think you need to stay on this side with EL...I'm sorry Skeeter. I'll figure out a way for you to get across and join me."

Setting him back on the ground and pointing to where EL was, she would make her way across the platforms and pillars of stone again. She was happy Lan-Dai had waited for her to catch up with him and looked in front of them.

"But I don't, I just do it."

[member="Lan-Dai Navras"]

 

[Lan-Dai Navras]

Given his analysis of Aren, her answer was expected, and thus not beyond a measure of counter-preparation.

"I have since come to that conclusion, that you know without knowing......... That is one of the first goals during these sessions, to teach you to know what you are doing with the Force. Once you have that knowledge, you can then broaden what you can do with it, as right now your abilities are limited....."

With Lan-Dai's explanation, he once more gestured towards the understory as if to tell her to carry out the next portion of her training for the day.

 

[Aren D'Shade]

What climbing around in trees and swinging around on vines had to do with learning how to use the Force...well it was beyond her understanding. Still being young though, she looked forward to the fun that was going to happen.

She let out a sigh, set her bag on the ground, but kept her headset around her neck. Still not yet ready to part with it.

"What exactly do you want me to do?"

Shaking her head, he had already told her what he wanted and waved a hand off to say don't worry about answering.

Aren took time to look at the land in front of her. Lan-Dai wanted to know what she knew of acrobatics which was next to nothing, but she didn't want to totally disappoint him. Admitting it though would probably prove to be the wiser choice.

"Nothing. I mean I can somersalt or do a cartwheel, but nothing great."

[member="Lan-Dai Navras"]

 

[Lan-Dai Navras]

Her reply did not take him aback, and he simply began to pry into his apprentice to begin the learning process.

"That is fair enough, now watch..........."

With those words, Lan-Dai simply performed a series of backflips and somersaults that were for the most part, average looking. Having finished, he straightened and faced his student once more.

"There is nothing fancy or extravangant in what you saw, now.................... look again"

As soon as he finished, Lan-Dai sprung into a Force sprint followed by flips, somersaults, and other acrobatic insanities both on open ground and the trees that surrounded them. When finished, Lan-Dai walked to stand in front of Aren.

"I trust you noticed the difference.................. but before you answer, I ask you......... Do you believe that what you saw right now, or what you saw outside of the restaurant, has anything to do with my muscles? Or my body in and of itself?"

Aren's answer would provide insight on how best to get through to her, and how many steps it would take to do so.

 

[Aren D'Shade]

She was silent as she watched Lan-Dai perform his acrobatics without him using the Force. Whether he used it or not, Aren wasn't aware, but they appeared normal to her. He came to a halt in front of her and told her to watch him again. He again came to a stop and walked to stand in front of her.

His second showing gave her the idea there was much more involved, but she had no idea how he did it. Lan-Dai asked if she believed what she saw had anything to do with his body or muscles. Tilting her head to the side slightly, she did think on her answer and nodded.

"Well yes, because if you didn't know how then no Force Skill would grant you the ability to do what you did. Right?"

[member="Lan-Dai Navras"]

 

[Lan-Dai Navras]

Her reply was gauged, and a reply of his own was waiting.

"You mistake knowledge of combat and acrobatics with knowledge of the Force.............. Granted, both are necessary to perform, however, one alone is border-line meaningless without the other......."

Allowing that first statement to sink in, Lan-Dai paused before continuing.

"The first time was a display of what an average, well-trained acrobat can accomplish. The second time around, was what an acrobat can accomplish when aided by the Force. I will be the first to tell you, there is no way that I could've taken on all those men outside of the restaurant using just unarmed combat without the Force. The Force itself is what augments any and all physical activity, whether the one using it is aware or not, and whether the one using it knows how to do so or not. This is what accounts for your ability to manipulate droids and technology, yet you don't know how you're doing it, and this will be our main focus......... Once you know how you tap into the Force, your skill can evolve, and the true learning can begin....."

With these words, Lan-Dai sat in a meditational position, and motioned Aren to follow suit.

 

[Aren D'Shade]

Crossing her arms across herself, Aren listened to what Lan-Dai was saying, but her body language would tell him she wasn't open yet to his lesson. Not yet ready or maybe able to give up her mind set in reality. Technology is how she thought and that was with logic. So what he said did not really make much sense to her.

"Why wouldn't you have been able to take all of them without the Force? I mean...well, I disabled half of them...Oh."

And that home his point to her and her arms uncrossed. She may not be the greatest fighter, but Aren could disable any form of cybernetic she came across. Watching as he sat down and motioned for her to join him, she sat down on the ground in front.

"How?"

[member="Lan-Dai Navras"]

 

[Lan-Dai Navras]

Seeing her sitting down in front of him, Lan-Dai began to instruct.

"This is no ramdom planet we have landed on to train, truth be told this is a place where many aspiring Force users have come to train and hone their skills. Those who have come for so many eras before us have perfected themselves in their connection to the Force, and have all left some part of them around all that you see................. With that in mind, what you must do is find your center. To accomplish this you must focus as you delve into yourself. While you meditate, and while you train you must always listen for that which is found beyond the silence. The voices of those that have come before you are in many ways still present, and will guide you if you listen. Not with your ears, but with your mind, your heart, and your spirit.........."

With these words, Lan-Dai breathed deeply, and began to clear his mind to meditate in order to guide Aren through this crucial point in her training.

"Calm yourself, concentrate solely on reaching out for the essences present here in this environment, they will provide guidance..... Breathe deeply, focus, and you will expand your horizons."

Lan-Dai watched as they would meditate, ever prepared to assist.

 

[Aren D'Shade]

The girl listened to what Lan-Dai was telling her. This location he had picked had a purpose, but it was still lost on her. However, she would try and fail to find whatever it was he was attempting to get her listen to.

Silence was not something she was accustomed to and did not really like it. While she could have listened to the inner music she could create, Aren didn't think this is what he wanted. However, it actually was. That internal music she could listen to was the Force, but she didn't know it.

As it was, while he meditated or at least appeared that he was, she just sat there with her eyes closed and a wandering mind.

[member="Lan-Dai Navras"]

 

[Lan-Dai Navras]

The position had been taken, and her mind was succeptible enough for Lan-Dai to reach out to Aren by way of the Force.

[Listen to that which you hear in your mind when you use the Force, that which you know is calling you............]

With these words spoken while in meditation, Lan-Dai once more took a gamble in order to get through to Aren so that he could teach her better.

[Clear your mind, allow the Force to pull you, let it show you what it wants you to see..............]

 

[Aren D'Shade]

She wasn't able to catch onto the meditation he wanted her to because she did not understand yet what he wanted. So those random thoughts she had remained because Aren didn't think it was the music he wanted her listen to. When his voice broke through into her mind, she opened her eyes and looked at him. Lan-Dai, the ever patient was still sitting there with his eyes closed and meditating.

Narrowing her eyes at him only slightly, she wasn't mad or anything. More curious...

"How?"

The question was barely ​a whisper, but his instructions were much more clear. While she couldn't fully clear her mind, she could listen to the music within. That is what called her. And almost as easy breathing, that music was on in her mind. While there was nothing for her to see yet, she felt the music flowing and followed it.

[member="Lan-Dai Navras"]

 

[Lan-Dai Navras]

Amid the concentration on the Force, Lan-Dai could sense an honest attempt on Aren's part, slightly clarified by following her own instincts. Her curiosity was well-founded, and her question was audible enough to him. Before he could reply in any capacity, Lan-Dai sensed that something in and of itself beckoned. Taking yet another risk, Lan-Dai resolved to allow that which pulled her pull to her, what was more he resolved to encourage her.

[There it is.......... let it pull you in the direction it wants to take you, the rest will eventually be made clear......]

Lan-Dai's own voice in the Force was not above a soothing whisper.

However, in his meditation he saw a slight fluctuation in the Force, not lasting beyond a millisecond. The visage he could make out was either of himself as an older man, or someone that looked remarkably like him, locked in a fierce duel with an opponent. Beyond that the Emerallian neither saw nor deciphered anything more.

Regaining composure, Lan-Dai refocused his concentration on the task at hand.................