It Starts with Curiosity

[Makari Valeal]

Makari smiled at her answer. That was his type of robe. He had never liked wearing armor. It was uncomfortable, and it was always more expensive than it was really worth. He had always preferred to take chances with just wearing the clothes on his back. It was dangerous at times, but at least he didn’t have to worry about lugging some heavy junk around everywhere he went.

“I think I’ll have to try on one of those robes sometimes,” Makari grinned. He didn’t own any Jedi clothing, but he thought the robes she mentioned was a good start.

When she started to talk about the Sith, Makari frowned, “Well that’s pretty unfortunate to hear. If they’d deliberately go after a healer just for a easy kill, that’s pretty lame of them. I always thought the Sith were after power and respect? I don’t think they’ll get that by intentionally picking on weaker opponents. But of course, I’m sure you showed them what healers were capable of. Considering your still standing here alive, I’m sure you must have taught them a good lesson.”

Makari hoped she did. The sith were getting too out of control. He ate quietly for a while and then he said, “Do you think the Jedi will ever come together as one? You know, like one body, one faction?” Makari scratched the back of his head. “It shouldn’t be that difficult when One Sith is threatening the peace of the galaxy right now. I would think everyone would put their differences aside and do whatever it took to bring them down already. But it doesn’t seem to be happening? Is there a history between the Jedi that I’m missing? Something bad happened?”

[member="Cathbodua"]

 

[Cathbodua]

[[oh my god I am so sorry I never got a norification]]

[member="Makari Valeal"]

She looked at him when he spoke and had a look but it was more the one of seeing someone realize a truth. "Sith crave power, they desire it. They breed the idea that only the strongest can rule which means they must eliminate the weak. That comes in a number of ways and most judge it by bodycount. What is better to have ten thousand corpses and being called a slayer or being a sith who only kills one or two. No one can measure your power, no one will believe that you can just beat one person a battle instead of armies. So the weak ones they can kill bolster their reputation and they go after power." She remained there looking at him and some of the things. "There is always history between different groups of jedi, more so with some of the dangerous things. You just have to try and navigate it because it is not really what matters in the end. Usually it is for reasons that exist only in the minds of the different jedi instead of actual reasons."

 

[Makari Valeal]

OOC: Lol, no problem. I'm pretty relaxed when it comes to RPing anyway. I would have given you another week before I PM'd you :lol:

[member="Cathbodua"]

Makari reflected on her words for a while and wondered why power meant so much to the Sith. What was it they didn’t have now, that they needed power so badly for? Was there a great cause? He shook his head. There couldn’t have been. They often seemed to do things with no rhyme or reason, just conquer and genocide, no plans for a better tomorrow, no plans for an empire that would stand the tests of times, just mayhem and destruction.

Makari couldn’t understand it. What was the point of having power if you didn’t have a goal? What was the point of seeking strength if you didn’t have something to protect? He rubbed his forehead and thought of all the Sith he had encountered in his lifetime. There weren’t many of them, but they all had shared something in common. A hideous appearance from experimenting with the dark side of the force. Was it worth mutilating your body for a power like that, he wondered. Was it worth the sacrifice?

He chewed on his protein bar and thought the answer was no. At least for a person like him. He rose to his feet, and he could still feel the aches all over his body. He looked at Cathbodua and said, “Well, I think my body is calling it quits on me for today. Do I come back here tomorrow or was there something else you had planned for our training tomorrow, master?”

As he waited for her answer, he started to stretch and twist his torso. Today, had certainly been painful, but he thought he had learned some valuable lessons in the end.

 

[Cathbodua]

[member="Makari Valeal"]

Looking at him as he spoke she thought about it. Really he had done better then many had thought as they were finishing up. She would stay and continue to train as needed before going back to her room. "No you have done well, reflect on what you have learned and return in the morning as you need it." She motioned with her hand that he could go while returning towards the center of the room to meditate and work on some of the things. "I will be here should you need anything." She really had nothing better and with all of the work that Sakura was doing to get their doctors nice and secured in hospitals they could build up replacing the ineffective, outdated system with better trained healers and medics.

 

[Makari Valeal]

[member="Cathbodua"]

Makari gave his master a bow before he left for the evening. He wandered through the corridors and ran his fingers across the walls in absent thought.

What was he after, he wondered. For whose sake was he trying to learn the force for? He sat down on a bench and thought on the possibilities. It couldn’t have been for himself. There was nothing he needed. There was nothing he desired. He didn’t need the force to achieve something he could already achieve with his own two hands. Then was it for the sake of others, he wondered? He wasn’t sure if it was that either. Who was there for him to protect? His parents? They were fine. His sister? Hell, she had always protected him. Then a lover? A friend? He didn’t have those. He was a loner.

He went to bed with this question on his mind, and when he woke up, that question was still there. Why did he want to learn the force? He wasn’t sure. But he thought if he kept training in the gravity room he would find his answer.

As he entered the gravity room, he gave Cathbodua a morning greeting and said, “I’m ready to begin when you are, master. Just say the word.”

As he waited for her instruction he started to do a warm-up to loosen up his body.

 

[Cathbodua]

[member="Makari Valeal"]

THe night she had been working on her training and harder work, some of the things before she was turning over some of the attention. She had been working on most of the things until she heard the padawan arriving. Her own stamina still going as she stood in the bodysuit so she could go outside when he arrived. Working on many of the things they could do. "Welcome." Starring for a moment she was prepared and ready to begin what was needed for another day of training. "I do hope you are ready." She stood there turning down the gravity to normal levels while taking a small drink for herself with some of the food provided. She had all of the work prepared while she was securing the gear.

 

[Makari Valeal]

[member="Cathbodua"]

"I do hope you are ready."

When she said that, Makari only gave her a grin. “Give me your worst.”

As he waited for the training to begin, he started to reflect on the lessons he had learned the previous day. He remembered the mindset he would need to have. The feelings he would need for the force to flow through his body. As Cathbodua turned the gravity to normal levels, he became anxious with anticipation. Today, he would push himself harder than yesterday. Today he would advance another step towards understanding the force.

He started to head for the middle of the room, where his training had begun yesterday. He closed his eyes and started to clear his mind. Whether it was the sudden increase of gravity or the burners that had tired him out yesterday, he would be prepared for anything.

“Let’s get down to business.”

 

[Cathbodua]

[member="Makari Valeal"]

She looked at him and remained impassive while going over some of the things. "Not quite yet, there are other things to train you in." Motioning for him she provided one of the packs for him while getting her pack with a medical kit. "We have other things to train you in and the best place to do that is in the field." Also helped that Voss had several very large caves they could use while outside the temple away from most of the other people. A second bag of supplies for food and drink was there along with some of the smaller things. "Come along." She was moving and the large temple coming out of the sub basement levels with the jungles of Voss. She rolled her shoulders walking and it was a nice feeling to be outside in the bodysuit heading towards some of the sections of cave for other training without risking the temple.

 

[Makari Valeal]

[member="Cathbodua"]

Makari was surprised when she handed him a pack to carry. He blinked at the mention of “field” and he wondered what sort of training she had in mind. When she grabbed a medical kit for herself, he knew it wasn’t going to be anything pleasant, yet there was a part of him that was excited. He had always enjoyed the outdoors, and that was why he had moved from job to job so often. So he could travel and see new places.

When she told him to come along, he nodded. He followed behind her with eager steps. The sub-basement was a place he had never gone, but he had heard of the tunnels that led of out of the temple. As they emerged in the jungle that surrounded the temple, Makari wanted to ask where they were going, but he thought Cathbodua would reveal it with time. Instead, he focused his attention on the sounds of the jungle.

It was familiar.

Reminded him of his trek into Dagobah where he chanced upon that hermit who was the first to tell him he was force-sensitive.

He thought of her from time to time, although it was mostly negative, because there were times when he wished he didn’t know he had this ability.

But he couldn’t change the past, and he couldn’t change his current course.

Or at least he didn’t want to for the moment.

He looked at Cathbodua and started to ask her a question, but a cave appeared in the distance. He looked back at Cathbodua and wondered what she had planned.

 

[Cathbodua]

[member="Makari Valeal"]

The cave was there as she entered it, rich veins of crystals going throughout the walls and there was machinery from the researchers that had been around. Working on equipment that the jedi could work with as she was helping get crystals and testing the robes. The newest model robes were being held up to rigorous testing in its abilities. The Ossus Robes were silver and somewhat white when she came into the small lab area where the researchers were looming it together with the crystals and weaved sections. "Here we are, you get to be one of the first fitted for the new robes. We'll be able to see how they look and work for some of the nicer things." With her attention going to him she pulled the robes out touching them. "The fiber mesh is designed to offer superior levels of protect as well as augment the force for the ones wearing it allowing you to channel your own energy to strengthen it."

 

[Makari Valeal]

[member="Cathbodua"]

As they entered the cave, Makari ran his fingers across the crystals that decorated the wall. He thought they might have been here to face some terrible creature, but there was some machinery that was sprinkled here and there. Maybe they were here to collect some crystals, he thought. He heard Jedi did this sometimes when they were constructing lightsabers. He kept this thought to himself though, and when they emerged in a lab-like area, Makari knew they were here for an entirely different reason.

“Here we are, you get to be one of the first fitted for the new robes. We'll be able to see how they look and work for some of the nicer things."

When Cathbodua said this, Makari blinked and stared at her in a peculiar way. Was she offering him this robe because of what he said yesterday? That he wanted to try one of them on.

He wasn’t sure but he was flattered either way.

As she explained to him the robe’s function and capabilities, Makari paid attention and took mental notes. He still didn’t know much about the force yet, but when he did know more, he knew this robe would be invaluable to him in the future.

He looked at Cathbodua and gave her a nod. “Well if you think I’m suitable enough. I’ll put it on right away.”

He would put on the robe when it was offered.

 

[Cathbodua]

[member="Makari Valeal"]

"Oh you are more then suitable, this is made for those who don't know everyting about the force." She brought it over and the white and silver robes looked terribly out of place in the jungle yes or in the cave but they also screamed jedi and were designed with the new weave they had developed. Everything going into it from the researchers before she motioned over towards one fo the alcoves with a curtain. "Go change and look presenatble, all padawans need to know how best to wear their robes and work with the restrictions it gives." The rest of the stuff there like the braziers and glowrods that were sell near infinite power for people or the fertilizer they could work with the agri corps.

 

[Makari Valeal]

[member="Cathbodua"]

When she told him that this robe was made for people who weren’t knowledgeable in the force like he was, Makari started to realize that Cathbodua was a considerate master. He had actually thought this yesterday, when she advised him to rest and recover, rather than push his body to the extreme limits.

He found a place in the cave where he could change in private.

He was never found of wearing white clothing because they got dirtier easier, but he couldn’t deny that the design of the robe was appeasing to the eye. He started to put the robe on, and he wondered if the Jedi of the Silver Sanctum would wear this eventually when they went off to battle. He had heard grumblings of their expansion into the neighboring regions, and oddly he started to think of the Republic too, and how they were starting to reform and begin their climb back up to glory.

There was no mirror for him to check himself out, but Makari thought he looked good in his robes. He made his way back to the lab area where Cathbodua was waiting, and when he stood in front of her, he spun around to give her a good look. “Well, how do I look, master? Presentable? Did I pass the test?”

He waited for her answer with a grin, and he thought to himself how the robe felt like it was a layer of skin rather than a piece of clothing. It was comfortable. Too comfortable to believe it was like armor.

 

[Cathbodua]

[member="Makari Valeal"]

"It isn't a test to be able to dress yourself." She looked at him more deadpan from under the mask getting all of it setup while she looked over some of the things. The production of the robes was serving Sasori for what they needed same as the crystals that were being used with a small smirk \. She might not be able to wearing them herself but taking the one robe in hand while she was watching over it with her hand. "However you have done well, the material will help you as well and any information about it will be put to good use." They even managed to eliminate the itching that came from wearing it thankfully while she stood there crossing her arms. "We do not have the heavy gravity room but remain focused while we go over some of the things you learned how to do yesterday."

 

[Makari Valeal]

[member="Cathbodua"]

Makari chuckled when she didn’t catch his joke. He could tell his master was all business when it came to training.

As she spoke, Makari continued to marvel at the comfort of the robe. He wasn’t even sure of what type of effects it was supposed to have, but Makari already felt like he was stronger. A little wiser. He knew he wasn’t, but he had never worn the robes of a Jedi before, and for the first time he actually felt like the padawan that he actually was.

When she spoke of a gravity room not being present, there was a sigh of relief. Although he had woken up today with the goal of conquering that beast, he was glad for a short reprieve.

His hands were behind his back as she told him to keep focus and pay attention for the task ahead.

He nodded his head, “I’m ready. We can begin when you want to. I’m focused.”

He started to remember all of the training from the previous day, and he knew he was ready for whatever she had planned.

 

[Cathbodua]

[member="Makari Valeal"]

Hahhaa he might regret saying that as her hand moved, the area they were in activating a ray shield to protect from the stuff inside so she wouldn't disturb the equipment for a moment. Shifting position slightly with her feet while the hilt of her blade was in her hand. The mechanical sounds of it as the thin wires came out going on the ground. THe sound of metal on rock for a moment as she moved her hands with a small flick of the wrist to extend and have all nine tails laid out. She could work with that as the snap hisses came. Curling in golden yellow light of the whips tails as they pulsed with the lightside of the force and the healing energies from the healing crystal of fire getting a small raise of her eyebrows. "Are you ready to dodge?"

 

[Cathbodua]

[member="Makari Valeal"]

Hahhaa he might regret saying that as her hand moved, the area they were in activating a ray shield to protect from the stuff inside so she wouldn't disturb the equipment for a moment. Shifting position slightly with her feet while the hilt of her blade was in her hand. The mechanical sounds of it as the thin wires came out going on the ground. THe sound of metal on rock for a moment as she moved her hands with a small flick of the wrist to extend and have all nine tails laid out. She could work with that as the snap hisses came. Curling in golden yellow light of the whips tails as they pulsed with the lightside of the force and the healing energies from the healing crystal of fire getting a small raise of her eyebrows. "Are you ready to dodge?"

 

[Makari Valeal]

[member="Cathbodua"]

As the ray shield went up, Makari looked around with curiosity. What kind of training were they getting ready to do, he wondered. He looked around for turrets to pop out, but there was only him and Cathbodua that were isolated from the equipment and the onlooking researchers.

Something told him to be on guard, but he was still caught by surprise when he noticed the weapon that was in her hands. At first he wasn’t concerned, because maybe she was getting ready to teach him how to assemble his first lightsaber, but when he heard that first hiss, his body shivered. He jumped back a little out of shock. He wasn’t expecting this.

When she asked him was he ready to dodge, he laughed a little. It was a nervous laugh to keep him from focusing on the fear that was building up within him. He wasn’t afraid of pain but it was something about those whip tails that made him think he was in for a harsh lesson. And not the kind from yesterday, where he was the one that was in control of how much pain he could tolerate. Today, he felt like Cathbodua would push him to true limits. Or maybe push him until she got enough research for the robes he was wearing.

He took a deep breath though. Now wasn’t the time to be whiny and pessimistic. Now was the time to steel his heart and strengthen his resolve.

“Let’s get to it,” he smiled with a growing confidence. He might not be able to dodge all of her attacks, but he’d be damned if he couldn’t miss a few.

 

[Cathbodua]

[member="Makari Valeal"]

Watching and she could feel the force energies as some of the jedi knights attention went to it and she flicked her wrist. The nine tails of the whip moving along the floor as they gleamed but weren't cutting into the floor. She had te power set to a safe level as opposed to some of the things there. THe new gincho cell was an important thing for the Ossus Guardian Robes as she spoke. "Don't worry, it is only dangerous if you can't take it serious. Then you can get hurt and a hurt padawan is hard to explain for the others. They seem to think you should have everything mastered right away." The black and purple bodysuit was there before she flicked her wrist again raising her arm up to cross her chest while they moved getting into an arc in front of her... Then she flicked her wrist with a quick lash to give him some long tails looking to swipe and make contact burns.

 

[Makari Valeal]

[member="Cathbodua"]

As he waited for her first strike, Makari raised his fists protectively, as if that could shield him from the upcoming blow. The truth was that Makari wasn’t a fighter. He didn’t know a thing about brawling, outside of a few scuffles in his school years. He looked at Cathbodua, and as her wrist moved, and the tails of her whip moved along the floor, he jumped back preemptively, although it wasn’t aimed in his direction.

"Don't worry, it is only dangerous if you can't take it serious. Then you can get hurt and a hurt padawan is hard to explain for the others. They seem to think you should have everything mastered right away."

He nodded at her words and understood the warning she was giving him. She didn’t want him to be like the padawans who thought they knew everything and didn’t pay attention to the lesson, thinking there was nothing for them to learn, but Makari wasn’t like that. Every advice she gave, he paid attention to, and as she whipped her wrist and finally sent the whip tails in his direction, he tried to prove that he understood her lesson.

The tails of the whip were fast and quick. Makari had experienced this type of attack before in the gravity room, although it was in another form. The beanbags that shot at him were also quick, but Cathbodua’s attack was more formidable.

He jumped back to avoid her attack, but he was too inexperienced and too slow compared to the Jedi Knight. He could barely see her attack, let alone dodge it correctly the first time. His hand covered the place where her whip tails had struck him and he laughed a little, grateful that he was wearing robes, although the sting from the contact burns made him grimace slightly.

He reset his position and prepared himself for the second swipe of her whip tails. He had failed the first time, but he was determined to keep trying until his eyes could figure out the pattern of her whip tails, and his body could move accordingly.