Denon

[Jsc]

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Denon Academy of Science​

Republic Space - Dusk​

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It was a grand balcony hanging high in the sky. Large enough to land a whole star vessel upon it and with many luxurious table settings from which to enjoy the view. The sights and sounds of the busy city where everywhere. A sharp counter to peace and quiet of the digital library within. This was a happy place. This was the Denon Academy of Science. The center of technological research and development on the whole planet. Where all the brightest minds of the modern century gathered to change their planet for the better.

Karen Roberts sat out at one of the tables nearer the balconies center. It was marked by a table setting for two and large red umbrella covering from which one could hide from the rain. The perfect meeting spot for an evening social. Even if the sun was setting rather early. Karen was busy writing in her journal when her newest student would arrive out from the busy library within. Exactly as her email had instructed. Now they could finally meet face to face. Just as the sun was passing into the horizon.

[member="Aitis Powarth"]

 

[Julius Sedaire]

Aitis wasn't entirely sure he had made the right choice to rejoin the Galaxy, as it were. Though he hadn't denied his connection to the Force, the visions had again spiraled out of control, haunting his sleep and shadowing his mind and soul even in the light of day. Nothing had quite been right since returning to Nar Shada and speaking to that strange creature, since the mindless slaughter he had committed. There was a void in him, though he hid it fairly well. But he had been compelled by the dreams, which had quieted as soon as he had finally given in and sought out their message after months and months of running, to come to this place.

This woman, who he had heard of here and there, would help him, he was sure of it. Though he was far from trusting his visions anymore, at least blindly like he had, they were insistent, and so he had reached out across the stars. She herself may not know how to fix what plagued his mind, but she would be part of the solution and resolution of his mindless terror. And maybe, just maybe, he could bring himself to touch the lightsaber that hung hidden inside the folds of his tunic, without feeling the nascent echo of the men he had taken the life of in a misguided attempt at vengeance disguise as justice. Who knew?

Walking out, he spied Karen and made his way over to her, nodding. Noticing the light and admitting the absurdity of wearing a hood drawn up in it, he drew his hood down to pool around his shoulders, eyeless face shouting his heritage as he sat down next to her in what would amount to simple wayfarers clothes that were almost reminiscent of traditional Jedi robes, but with a change in hem here or a tug in snugness here, the chief departure being a hooded tunic trimmed in faint geometric embroidery.

"Hello.... Would you be Karen Roberts, then?"

[member="Karen Roberts"]

 

[Jsc]

The woman smiled and put down her journal. Easily. As if contemplating life only in a passing. She shifted in her chair to get a better look at her newcomer. Ah. Fascinating. She'd heard of these ones before. Miralan. Natural Force Adepts. Perhaps a far advanced evolution of human kind too? Mm. Who could say. Karen smiled brightly and trimmed the canopy against the light. Knowing full well that sun glare affected her companion, very little.

"Welcome to Denon. I hope you had a pleasant journey. I am indeed Force Master Karen Roberts, yes. Commander of the RnR PMC here on the far stretches of Republic Space. A pleasure."

She turned fully to face [member="Aitis Powarth"] . As if suddenly interested in the conversation or surprised,

"So? What can I help you with today Master Powarth? I don't get many Miralan visitors."

 

[Julius Sedaire]

Taking a seat, Aitis seemed to try and get his bearings for a brief moment. Out of habit, and often distracting, his face followed what and where his focus was, even if his attention flitted about quicker than someone with eyes might have. It gave him the native appearance of bird-like mannerisms, and to some perhaps some sort of odd tic in his neck or cranial muscles. Nodding to Karen, he spoke finally, if quietly. The words weren't terribyl mind bending or thought provoking, and the young Miralukan had crossed one leg over the other as he relaxed.

"Hopefully you can help me, at least with some of my problems. I believe you are one of the ones who can help guide me to become stronger with the Force... How exactly... I'm not sure... Precognition is a wonderful ability, and Farsight even more so... But they are terribly imprecise and vague when it comes to such situations... I am a Force Adept without much formal training in anything, and am looking to change that."

[member="Karen Roberts"]

 

[Jsc]

Interesting. A native Miraluka who struggled with their most prominent skills. Karen was surprised by this. Surely, if anyone would know how to control precognition and force sight? It would have been a Miralan. Not a human woman.

"That is a fascinating request Master Powarth. I myself would have thought that a mere human would be asking a Miralan like yourself for such advice? Hehe."

She smiled and waved the comment away. It was obvious the male was in distress.

"However, yes. I would be happy to help you control your talents to the fullest of my abilities. Including taking you on as a full-time student here on Denon. If that is your wish? Naturally. ...Now. Tell me then? How much formal training have you received? I'm not familiar with your history. Perhaps you could share with me where we could start?"

[member="Aitis Powarth"]

 

[Julius Sedaire]

Sighing, Aitis rubbed at his temples, but smiled all the same. Thinking back did fill him with some little bit of shame, but he had set the course. One day, if he saw [member="Corvus Raaf"] , he would apologize. Until then, he had left her tutelage and the Jedi Order. Some of their tenants chafed too much at him, and in other places he believed they ignored aspects of the Jedi Code which should be stressed of a greater import. But philisophical musings would do little.

"I was briefly under the tutelage of Grandmaster Raaf, as well as after I left the Republic some training with [member="Coryth Elaris"] , primarily in non-Force related healing, and some concepts of meditation. And some sessions with Jannik Morlandt as well, on Farsight and being a Seer in general. I have made an extensive study of a number of meditative techniques. A base knowledge of Makashi and Ataru, though I didn't display any particular amazing skill at dueling, I did not need remedial instruction either. Some talent with telekinesis. And, obviously, Force Sight and related precognitive ablities. Simply seeing with the Force I probably could teach you things on.. .But Farsight is.... Different... Especially with how my gift works. Most often they come in a sort of 'Second Sight' layered over my "normal" vision, as it were. I would welcome any training, in anything really. I have neglected my abilities and duties long enough, and I feel the press of time now. Something comes, and I must be ready."

[member="Karen Roberts"]

 

[Jsc]

She nodded and tapped her chin,

"I see. Very well then. Since you seem to have firm grasp on your own strengths and weaknesses? We'll start where ever you would like. Then I can gain a feeling for your powers and go from there."

Karen took a moment to muse that over before deciding. Yes. That would do fine. [member="Aitis Powarth"] was no mere child Padawan. He could control his own destiny just fine.

"Alright then. So tell me Master Powarth, what area of training would you like to begin with? What do you feel is most pressing upon your mind?"

She would ask him about Jedi philosophy next. His perspective on how to approach the religion as a whole. However. For now? They should stick to the intro topics. Keep it simple.

 

[Julius Sedaire]

"To be honest? I believe I could use to learn a bit more on how to utilize the Force for defense, things like barriers and such. As well, I suppose healing couldn't hurt. I know quite a bit of the Physicians ideals for it, thanks to Master Coryth. I do not believe my destiny lies down the path of War, and these seem like places to start"

With a hesitation, he clenched his fists just so, trying to relax. Stretching his consciousness, he assumed a sort of waking trance, a form of meditation he had been taught. There was a pulsing in his mind, splinters of visions he could not grasp or focus upon.



[member="Karen Roberts"]

 

[Jsc]

"Ah. Very well then. I'll mark that down. When we begin your training, we shall start there."

She pulled out her datapad and slowly began taking notes and scheduling other activities.

"I should also note that I will require a full medical check up before classes begin in earnest. A common cause of unstable Force Powers is often bodily irregularity. Including physical and mental disabilities. Now, yes. I'm sure you don't have anything wrong with you. But? ...That said. I would like to have the clean bill of health on record. Just for paperwork's sake."

Karen smiled as she mentioned visiting the doctors. She was committed to helping [member="Aitis Powarth"] live a calm and collected life. Part of that commitment was making sure he was a healthy and as mentally fit as possible. Modern medicine included.

"Before we move on. Tell me? Do you have any hesitations about visiting the doctor's office? Any qualms about seeing professional health and mental physicians?"

 

[Julius Sedaire]

"No hesitations or qualms what so ever... Some of the literature I read on primitive Force Orders has philosophy and systems of belief that espouse deeper connections to the physiological and psychological realms than the Order. I can say, through my studies and forays into meditation, that there is a great deal of truth to that. So long as you aren't asking me to do leg presses.. I hate leg presses and squats."

The last bit was delivered in such a dead-pan manner, the only clue it was a joke was a wry twitch of the corner of his mouth, almost a spasm, as he fought to keep his face under control and composed.

"I also suppose, at some point, I should probably make something more than the training saber I waltzed out of the Temple on Ossus with. They don't cut terribly well."

[member="Karen Roberts"]

 

[Jsc]

She smiled as Powarth expressed a more comical side to himself. Karen could appreciate an alien with a sense of humor. It made him seem more... Human. I suppose.

"Have no fear. Making lightsabers is something of a specialty of mine. You'll have one very soon. I'm sure."

She leaned back and rubbed her chin. Impressed with how the interview was going. This wasn't her first student meeting but it was one of the best.

"To continue talking about setting up an Apprenticeship, I'd like to ask? What are your thoughts about the destiny of a Jedi student? In a galaxy filled with thousands of Force Orders and Jedi Academies. Where do you think you fit in? Philosophically speaking?"

To teach a student you needed to know his goals. His perspective. This was especially true of Jedi students. If the teacher misjudged their student's wants and needs, they might lose their interest entirely. Or worse. Watch them shift towards darker, easier, paths.

[member="Aitis Powarth"]

 

[Julius Sedaire]

"Where I fit in? Well, I'm honestly not sure... I'm not terribly fond of battle... I mean, I fight well enough if I must, especially in dueling. But as an active participant, my talents don't lean that way. I'm honestly not sure any one particular Order has a yoke that will fit just right... I care little for who holds what world, excepting when suffering is intentionally and willfully inflicted on those on the world without their willing participation. So into orders with systems of Government, like the Republic, I fit poorly. Peace and prosperity are not defined by one bureaucratic body. Never have been, never will be.

When you see as I do, through the Force, into the many futures that may be, it feels foolhardy to commit to a singular cause. Such things will rise and fall, inevitably. I care more for the cogs in the machines than the machines themselves, if I am honest. I have spent close to half a decade wandering the galaxy, searching, and have not found such an Order that shares those views. Does that answer your question, at all?"

Having said his piece, Aitis leaned back, his head cocked to the side as he stared right at Karen, calmly. He hadn't ever really thought of such questions before, but that was the answer: He just wasn't sure, really. He knew a lot of what he wasn't, but less of what he was.

[member="Karen Roberts"]

 

[Jsc]

Mmm. It was hard for Karen to tell if [member="Aitis Powarth"] was comfortable about what he said. Not fitting in is something usually reserved for teenagers. If Aitis didn't know his place in the galaxy just yet? Well. His training was even more behind schedule than she had first anticipated.

"Well. That is disappointing. But not unconquerable. Given enough challenges in this life and you will be forced to make moral choices. Which, thereby defining your personality and your destiny as an instrument of the Force."

She was still pondering upon the future. Planning ahead. Something even a human could do. Without the distractions of Farsight.

"Very well. I believe I have information to create your dossier now. We can begin your training in earnest then."

Karen withdrew a small device from her satchel and put it on the table. A datacron of curious bronze workmanship.

"This is a Jedi Datacron for your personal use. Inside you will find not only my Textbook Entries for New Padawans (Karens Blog) but also access to the most common Jedi Topics of today (Wookieepedia). ...So, naturally I expect you to study them. Learn, explore, and ask questions. Indeed. You may not profess a Jedi Code or creedo just yet? But in time. You will. And these resources will help guide you in that pursuit. Study them well."

She leaned back and nodded. It was enough.

"In the mean time. I must reschedule you for your first training session. We'll hold court here. In the Denon Acadmey of Science. Their quiet libraries and holographic test labs will be perfect for our needs. ...This will take time. So I expect you to visit the physician and receive a clean bill of health in the mean time. I'll keep an electronic record of your advancement as my Apprentice back at Ranger HQ. We can add your health report to the list when it's all finished. No rush."

Roberts was an organized woman. Often more General than Master. Such was her background in the Sith Wars anyways.

"So? Before we part ways and reconvene. Do you have any remaining questions for me Apprentice Powarth? Now is the time."

 

[Julius Sedaire]

Sitting back, Aitis took the datacron in his hand, turning it back before it disappeared up the sleeve of his tunic with a quick roll of his wrist. Apparently, the young seer had pockets secreted in many places, for he then proceeded to take out a small datapad and tap at it, nodding slightly as whatever he searched out popped up. There was a few moments of silence as he thought on it, then smiled, turning his gaze to Karen.

"I have questions enough, but something tells me the answers will come in time, as we grow in knowledge of the other. I see there is a physician just down the block I can visit, unless you have a pre-chosen one... I don't know of any immediate or chronic issues I might be suffering from... Well, other then insomnia and a slight bit of chronic fatigue from that. But, as my dreams come more steadily and at my behest, the whole issue of sleeping as often and as much as I need is less and less of an issue. Hopefully command over the Force and growth in general will stim such a tide... When and where would we next meet, Master Roberts?"

[member="Karen Roberts"]