Private Hungry like the Wolf

[Zaiya Ceti]

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Decision made, Zaiya gave a wide grin, a sparkle of teal dancing over her rosy golden skin. "Perfect! Let's go to the mess hall then." Zaya exclaimed, already unfolding her legs and moving to stand. She grabbed at her bag of dried fruit and took her datapad.

"So how old are you Jacob? And how long have you've been in the Order?" She asked, curious, as they began to make their way from the observation deck towards the turbo lift with Jacob Solay .

"I'm all for learning as much as I can. I have a Master, but I really lucked out, because I met him before I joined, so I got to meet him before and it worked out really well. But I'm also learning from a lot of other people, like my friends too."

 

[Jacob Solay]

TAG: Zaiya Ceti

Now the questions turned personal. That was okay. This was how friends were made. Jacob was not used to having someone interested in getting to know him beyond a setting of training together. Among the Jedi he imagined this was essential, to know each other, it would help with the different number of people they would work with. Friendship could be the difference between success or not on a mission.

Maybe.

Jacob was certainly speculating.

“I am thirteen, almost fourteen,” he answered. “How about you?” His guess was she could not be much more than he was, though there was the fact she was a different species than him. Jacob could not really be too sure.

The Noble kids were like, tall. They had him by an inch or more, and Jacob was coming into his growth spurt. He could only imagine how tall they were going to get. He knew he was going to end up around where his dad was. That was how human genetics worked, unless there was some kickback somewhere that would make him taller.

They rounded the corner to the mess hall when Zaiya mentioned she had a master. Jacob nodded. It made sense if they had met already that it would work out for her to have someone teaching her already. Jacob was not with the Jedi because some master brought him in, and ever since something happened within the family, Lesans stopped training their own. It would make them all well rounded anyway, at least that was what Jacob thought.

“I hope to have one soon. There is only so much I am going to learn in class. I need… practical experience to really learn something.”

That was why this mission was good. Even if they had no master, aside from those supervising them, it was a way to get a feel for what being on the field was like.

“So you nervous?”

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

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"Oh, so you are almost my age! Well... as comparable as you are to Lovalla, I guess. I'll be turning fifteen in a few months." Zaiya explained, flashing a grin as joyful pale blue hues rippled her face. Yet this only brightened in vibrancy as the scent of sizzling food and savory aromas hit her nose. Jacob Solay should feel vindicated; Zaiya's hungry tummy gurgle was louder.

"Ahhahaha... guess I am really hungry too," Zaiya exclaimed, holding her hands over her belly, bright pink darkening the mottled spots and stripes on her skin.

"I think I'm always nervous honestly. I'm new to this and I know that others my age likely know way more and had so many years to get to where they are. " Zaiya admitted, joining the small line to the microprocessor that would be providing today's meal. It may not be as tasty as fresh fruit or a grilled burger, but it was nutritious, and they had a good variety.

"I've never been to Lorinia, but I have helped in getting preliminary set ups done. Dr. Isak had to do that a lot when researching, and I was his assistant." that had been fun.

"I hope you get a Master soon if that's what you want, but if not, I heard there are plenty of cool places to join in the meantime, like the Agricorps, Exploration Corps, Education Corps or MediCorps!"

The line would move quickly, and finally, Zaiya was in front of the microprocessor. With a hum, she pondered on what to select, settling on a Nuna Katsu with some pickled vegetables. That sounded super yummy!

"So, who else have you met so far?"

 

[Jacob Solay]

TAG: Zaiya Ceti

When Zaiya’s stomach growled, Jacob chuckled. He felt a lot less embarrassed about his own from earlier. It did seem that they were both hungry, and he nodded as Zaiya pointed that out. His mind also did some quick mental math. They were maybe about a year different in age based on what she was telling him. It was good to have others his age to train with even if he had a hard time connecting with them.

Jacob was also not alone in being nervous about the mission. Sure, he wanted the practical parts of it. He wanted to know they were learning what it took to be out on the field, but there were lives at stake. The people on the ship were trusting them to get to their new home safely. It was a weighty task, even if it was a simple one.

“Me too.”

That would be hard to believe through his more stoic nature, but it was the truth.

“I just think it is cool to see new places. That has been the best thing about being a Jedi so far. Rangers don’t get to see much until they are paired up with their Jedi counterpart. It is training until then. I’ve seen more in my short time as a Jedi than I think I ever encountered with my grandfather.”

Jacob was not looking for pity, it was just the facts. A smile stretched across his face as whatever it was the processor decided they were eating.

“Even this is better than the slop we would get back home.”

He did shake his head though.

“None of those corps for me. I know they’re meant to do a lot of good things, but I am a soldier. My mom is a Ranger, my dad is a Jedi Guardian. I know war is looming, and I’m going to fight.”

It was the one thing Jacob could say with confidence, more than he seemed to exhibit in his time among the groups of padawans he had recently met.

“Other than you, I have met Mahsa and Vera Noble . There is my dad, his master Cambria Zadira , and then, and you can’t tell the others, there is my grandfather, Master Judah Lesan .”

Jacob made his way to an open table where they could keep talking while they ate.

“So who is your master then?”

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

​

There were a few names there that Jacob Solay relayed that were familiar; Mahsa and Vera of course. Brightening, Zaiya gave a grin, moving to select a Blum fruit juice as they moved along the line.

"Oh I know Mahsa! She's one of my roommates on the Prosperity. Vera is my best friends sister." A curious expression dawned on her face and she quizzingly glanced over at Jacob.

"So what is a Jedi Guardian?" Were they more solider like? As she didn't have the typical Initiate education, Zaiya was learning so much from talking with others.

Finding an open table, the Lovalla teen sat down while waiting for Jacob to slid in. Always eager to dig into her food, Zaiya began to eat with serious gusto. It was evident that the girl thoroughly enjoyed food.

After chewing and swallowing, Zaiya licked her lips and perked up as thought raced through her mind,"Have you been assigned any roommates yet?"

 

[Jacob Solay]

TAG: Zaiya Ceti

Roommates? For force sake Jacob was glad that he did not have any currently. His routine would likely make them all want to kill him. For a thirteen year old his habits were more like that of a seasoned soldier. His grandfather had ensured they would be that way. By the time breakfast rolled around the redhead had already put in a 5 kilometer run. It was not just about endurance either. He timed himself. Jacob was always trying to improve his speed.

“No roommates, not yet.”

Though Jacob was certain the day was coming.

He shrugged. Though the fact Zaiya did not know what a Guardian was surprised him. She was new, but not that new was she? The girl had a master after all.

“A soldier, a Jedi focused on combat.”

It was the best answer he had.

“My father is one. His master was one. Not that every padawan takes the same path as their master, it just made sense considering the stories I am told about my dad’s mother. Mach ten with her hair on fire. I’m told she is where I get my red hair from.”

In the answer was another clue about his past. His grandmother had already passed by the time Jacob met his father. It meant he never knew his grandmother and only had holos to compare to. His blue eyes and red hair were definitely from her.

She was beautiful. Jacob would only be so lucky one day. Though if the Ranger code was drilled into him enough, the boy would push the idea of marriage out of his mind until his training was complete. He did not need distractions.

“Best friend… so far there is you and Mahsa, and maybe Vera, though I am not sure.”

His circle was rather small.

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

​

A thought came to Zaiya after she swallowed. Her eyes went wide and the pink returned to her patterns in embarrassment, "Oh I'm sorry Jacob, you asked who my master was. He is Shan Pavond . Sorry, I got caught up on eating and forgot you asked," She apologized, giving an abashed smile.

A nod came next, musing on that a Jedi Guardian was more like a soldier. " So what other Jedi types are there then? Sorry, I'm still new and this is information I haven't had a chance to read on." while she was trying her best to catch up, Zaiya had come from a place where she hadn't even known the Force, Jedi, or Sith even existed, much less, that there were different types of Jedi.

Glancing up at Jacob Solay 's hair, Zaiya gave a broad grin, "I like your red hair. It is very pretty. It looks good on you!" She complimented him, truly enjoying the color.

"My hair is white, but I like dyeing it different colors," She pointed out, her hand rising to play with her hair where the cobalt, magenta, and teal swatches of color would be.

"But I also like making myself look pretty and shiny." The Lovalla teen admitted, giving a little blush. It wasn't due to vanity, but more because she felt she had to make herself look more colorful and prettier than the other Lovalla who could make their skin far more vibrant and colorful than she.. "I like shiny pretty things."

"So what do you like to do Jacob? Do you have any hobbies? Do anything for fun?"

 

[Jacob Solay]

TAG: Zaiya Ceti

“Haha it is okay,” he said between bites of food.

Even though he was hungry, the boy had done so much talking he had hardly touched his yet. Allowing her to answer gave him time to put food in his mouth, and it was a good thing he did too. Of all the things Zaiya could say, complimenting his hair was the least of what he expected.

His cheeks burned as bright as the color Zaiya had just admired. She showed some of the color she put in her own hair, commenting how she liked to look shiny and pretty. Jacob gulped his food down as quickly as he could and took a drink of water. It was rare he drank anything else. With the constant training the boy did, he had to stay hydrated.

“You do look pretty,” he said, trying to return the compliment, and he did mean it. “Mahsa’s hair changes color, but yours doesn’t. Your spots do though. The colors you put in your hair though they… go well with the way your skin changes.”

Details. It was what made Jacob a good soldier. He had an attention to detail that was more natural than trained. Apparently that was a Lesan trait. General Solay had simply been able to refine it, teach him how to use it to his advantage, and all without the force. Jacob could only imagine what he would be able to accomplish once he learned how to use the force with his own natural skills.

He ate more food and drank more water.

The last question should have been easy to answer, but the truth, Jacond spent most of his life training. It was fun for him. Hobbies, his grandfather had called them a distraction, so he learned to love reading. It was easy to make his grandfather think he was reading something useful, or perhaps the older man did not care because reading in itself was a good discipline to have.

Jacob smiled.

“When I am not training, I like to read. Stories reveal a lot about other cultures, and I like to learn. It is a discipline and a hobby I guess. What about you? What do you do for fun?”

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

​

The compliment that Jacob Solay gave Zaiya immediately made her blush as well, heat coloring her cheeks not in embarrassment but delight. It was nice to be told that one was pretty, especially since Zaiya was a bit self-conscious that her colors and glow weren't as vibrant or as colorful as other Lovalla. It was very nice to have that affirmation that dyeing her hair made her look pretty.

"Thank you!" She told him, giving a delighted grin, joy staining her mottled patterns in a beautiful rush of teal and soft, golden glow.

"Yeah! It seems that for Mahsa her color shifting is only on her hair. It was super nice to meet her cause I didn't realize there were other colorshifting species based off emotions out there besides my kind." It turned out to be super neat. The only thing was that Zaiya wasn't sure if the same colors meant the same thing for Mahsa as they did for the Lovalla. She'd have to ask to find out later.

"Ooo reading is fun. What are you reading right now?" curious at what he was presently reading. As for herself, "Umm, I like to tinker with cybernetics and build things. I also like to play with makeup and make jewelry! Otherwise, I'm pretty busy with trying to catch up with everyone while also working on my normal studies."

She dug into her Nuna katzsu, enjoying her food a bit more before asking, "Oh, so did you already build a lightsaber since you know how to fight?"

Zaiya wasn't sure what were the parameters there for building one, but she wasn't in a rush.

 

[Jacob Solay]

TAG: Zaiya Ceti

Somehow the conversation had turned to him building a lightsaber. Yes they had talked about a mutual… friend? Was Mahsa considered a friend, or were they just still acquaintances. Jacob really did not know how all this worked. They sparred, he taught her stuff, and they talked after. That had to count as something, just like the fact the conversation over food had to count as something with Zaiya.

Why was socializing so confusing?

"Uh yeah… I built it."

For some reason his father had insisted on it. It was their first major "outing." Jacob didn't mind. The trip to the crystal caves had allowed him to get to know his father better, and it turned out JJ Lesan was pretty cool. There was something to him that was down to dirt, and Jacob appreciated it. Maybe that was the same quality his mother had loved about the man.

"…was I not supposed to?"

Suddenly Jacob was concerned he did something out of order…

"Have you built one yet?"

Maybe it was off topic. But then again, the color of one's lightsaber was something personal about who they were. It had been a bit of a surprise that Jacob had felt called to a purple crystal, but it had been the case. Perhaps it would mean he would be a great duelist. A grin tugged at his lips thinking about it. Something about the look was what his mother called "trademark Lesan." Apparently his father and grandfather got the same look when something was crossing their mind.

His mind quickly went to speculating what color Zaiya might have… if she had one already.

"I bet yours would be teal or pink…" mainly because it was the primary shades he'd seen from the girl. Her hair seemed to indicate she liked those colors too.

"Just a guess haha…"

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

​

"Oh that's so cool!" Zaiya exclaimed, flashing a grin as she took another bite of her Nuna Katzu. At Jacob Solay 's question, the hues on her face swirling into an ombre of greys and oranges in her curious confusion, "Umm... no, I don't think there is a reason for you not to. I'm not familiar with the rules regarding it all, to be honest. I just thought it was cool." Zaiya explained.

"I'm barely learning how to use a Bokken, so I haven't built a lightsaber yet. That's fine though, I wouldn't be comfortable yet until I knew how to use one. I don't want to accidentally harm myself or others."

A grin flashed at the mention of pink or teal being the color of her saber. "You think so? What determines the colors of a lightsaber?" she hadn't figured that out yet. Granted, she did find one Kyber crystal while out with Braze, but since she didn't know how to build a saber or was comfortable building one yet, she made it into a hair pin instead; the one that she wore that pinned back her hair that is.

"What color is yours?"