Keys To The Future

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It wasn't often that the students interrupted Cedric's meditation, but when they did it tended to be important. The Jedi Master had listened patiently as the scribe had gone on about a new student arriving at the makeshift training facility on Carida. Given how few initiates were showing up these days, any new student was something to be celebrated. The Jedi Master had decided to make sure each new arrival was familiar with him, so that they would not feel they had been passed over during their studies. An absence of teachers tended to create Sith-to-be, and he had no intention of being the cause of such failings.

Not for the first time, Cedric found himself looking forward to building the temple he and his peers had planned to erect on Tython. It would be a grand structure; one from which the Jedi Order of old would be reborn again. Such glories would have to wait however; Cedric contented himself to the plainness of the training facility for the moment at hand.

Clad in his ceremonial armor, the masked Jedi came to a halt outside of the new arrival's assigned chambers. He stood up a bit straighter, swallowed, and knocked on the door three times.

[member="Oz Sill"]

 

[The Dapper Mog]

Oz's arrival at the training facility had been somewhat sudden. It felt to the young woman like she had already gone through a life time of training before she would even receive legitimate training from the Jedi. Of course, since arriving here only a few short hours ago, she knew immediately that this was different. The air here, it felt different. Heavier. Oz wasn't certain if this was more so just the atmosphere of the place, or the weight of the force in the area. With all of the jedi personnel here, someone of them being masters no less, it wouldn't be surprising at all.

The newly defined padawan learner of the Jedi Order had been sitting on her bunk, going through her small pack of belongings consisting mostly of books, when she heard rapping at her chamber door. With a raised brow, the young woman rose and moved to her door, adjusting her robes as if she had any need to look presentable to a stranger knocking, before opening the door to see the masked man. The padawan took a small step back as she opened the door, looking up at him with a friendly smile. Oz bowed her head in a respectful gesture before standing upright and proper, beginning to sign.

'Hello, Master. Do you sign?'

Oz was well aware that many people in the galaxy didn't know sign language, but, she preferred to try first. Especially, since she was sometimes surprised. If anyone would have a way to communicate with mutes, she figured it would be jedi. Just another reasons he desired to become one. Unfortunately, if she didn't sign, she wouldn't be able to read his lips thanks to his mask. No matter, they could figure it out.

 

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He hadn't gotten many details about the newest addition to the order, but then the scribes were often sparse with their descriptions. He was momentarily taken aback as she signed at him, as he unfortunately was not versed in the language. Fortunately he was wearing his mask, and the HUD translated her gestures into words that played in the back of his mind via the mask's neural receptors.

'I do not, but I can speak in the mind's eye if that does not make you uncomfortable, and I can read what you sign to me adeptly enough.' Cedric's voice would come as a low baritone on the back of the padawan's skull. It's voice was not unalike what her own internal monologue might have sounded like, but it was clearly coming from an outside source. Had she not known it was Cedric doing the deed, the poor girl might have thought herself to be schizophrenic - Cedric had made the mistake of making mental contact without clarification before.

The Jedi Master stepped into the room, and quietly regarded her, evidently waiting for some confirmation as to whether his method of communication was accepted or not before continuing.

[member="Oz Sill"]

 

[The Dapper Mog]

Oz visibly recoiled at the mental intrusion. It wasn't unpleasant or painful, just new and confusing. It was fortunate for her that he was polite enough to explain what he was doing. Of course, she knew it was commonplace for Jedi to be able to read minds, and odds are, to even communicate via telepathy. That would definitely make communicating with others much simpler. As long as they were capable of handling it, of course. After all, some didn't take the intrusion well at all. Once he had stepped into the room, the young woman would also step back to allow him entrance.

Once he looked to her again, she would sign again.

'My apologies, Master. I am afraid I cannot speak. My name is Oz, it's nice to meet you.'

Oz was completely uncertain as to what this man would be like. She had been told that some of the masters were very forceful individuals, capable of being decent people while still harboring a sort of powerful presence that was unnerving to those whom weren't familiar with them. While not entirely the meek type, Oz wasn't one who liked dealing with aggressive people. It was nice though, she would have to admit, that a master was willing to come and check on her as a new student. It went a long way to help people feel welcomed.


[member="Cedric Grayson"]

 

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Though his visage was hidden by the combination of mask and cowl, Cedric's presence within the empyrean implied he was pleased. He had learned to translate his emotions through the current of the Great Ocean to those that might hear it, rather than express them with words. In a way, it allowed others to understand one another in a far more deliberate way than word of mouth or facial expressions ever could.

"That's alright, you've been saved from the curse of talking too much, something I suffer terribly from." Cedric intoned. His voice took on a more animated style of speaking, and the monotone with which he had greeted her melted into pleasantness. "Welcome to the order Oz. My name is Cedric Grayson, and I suppose I am the resident expert on lightsaber use here, though what I might offer you in way of teaching extends far beyond solely bladework."

The disembodied voice paused, "What brings you to our temple?"

[member="Oz Sill"]

 

[The Dapper Mog]

Oz chuckled inwardly at the master's words in regards to her avoiding the curse of speaking too much. It was true that she had known people who did in fact seem to lack the ability to stop talking. The tone of the voice in her head had changed, sounding more pleasant and friendly. That was a good sign.

'Thank you for welcoming me, Master. I am looking forward to seeing your swordsmanship, the lightsaber is a keen interest of mine.'

When asked about what brought her there, it gave the young woman pause. She had asked herself many times as to why exactly she had decided to become a jedi. There really was no easy answer. She felt conflicted, and part of her saw the jedi as a form of living balance, that maybe if she could apply herself in a positive way with them, she herself could find balance. Besides, weren't the jedi one of the best ways in the galaxy to actually do good? After a moment of pondering, she signed again;

'Truthfully, Master, I want to become a Jedi Knight and serve the Republic. No, the galaxy as a whole. I also want to be the best version of me that I can, and I believe the Jedi are the key to that.'

[member="Cedric Grayson"]

 

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Cedric took longer to reply to the girl than most would have, but that was because he was having to translate the signs with his HUD. A few seconds would pass after she had finished speaking that might seem like uncomfortable silence: in reality Cedric's visor was simply taking its sweet time in doing its job. The Jedi Master made a mental note to learn the language of hand signs when he found the time.

"It's certainly a fun hobby," Cedric replied with good humor, "We'll see if the blade gravitates toward you. There have been few padawans with a keen interest in the lightsaber lately, which leaves me with a lot more time on my hands than I would like." That wasn't the whole truth, but then he didn't need to worry young Oz with the many grim duties required of a Jedi Master.

"Couldn't give a better answer. I find the greatest Jedi are those that chose the path simply out of a desire to serve. It's a good way to be happy with yourself; to know that your existence has been a positive addition to the galaxy, and not a detractor." The master folded his arms behind the small of his back. "You've come to the order in a dire time Oz. Some of my peers might have sugarcoated things, but I feel its important for all students to know the gravity of the situation before they fully commit themselves to the order."

His tone took on a grimness that was almost sad in its tone. "The Sith Empire is coming for the core. The next galactic war will break out within five years, or so we've predicted. The order is scrambling to train as many knights to halt the tide of imperialism as we can before they finally strike, but we only have so much time." He shook his head, "I welcome you into the order Oz, and I will happily teach you whatever I can, but you must know the risks before you consign yourself to us. There is nowhere in the galaxy that is safe from the Sith or their imperial allies. Not until we carve one out for ourselves."

[member="Oz Sill"]

 

[The Dapper Mog]

Oz was uncertain about the Master for a moment before she realized the delay was probably because of her method of communication. It was convenient that he had any way understanding her at all, she would have to admit. When he began speaking to her again, the young Zabrak listened intently, her posture remaining upright and proper. She felt a small swell of pride when he said her answer was a good one, but her attitude would falter immediately once he began mentioning the gravity of what was going on in the galaxy around them. Sure, Oz was well aware of the growing conflict, and the ever rising risk of a grand war coming. Things were dire, and they were only growing more so. The young woman's posture faltered, if only for a moment, and her expression hardened.

'I know what's coming, Master. But, that's just another reason I know I'm making the right decision by being here. By being a Jedi, I can make a difference.'

It wasn't often that Oz had a chance to show the metal of her silent courage, but here, in the face of a master jedi, she had to show that she was adamant in her resolve. The Galaxy needed protectors, and the Jedi were just the sort it needed. Oz could become a valued member of the order and the Republic both, and serve as an example to others. Maybe some day, she could even be the hero that she hoped she could be. In the mean time, she would need people like Master Grayson to teach her. After all, even the greatest heroes started as wide-eyed newbies.

'I look forward to learning from you, Master.'

[member="Cedric Grayson"]

 

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Though Cedric did not speak it for fear of inflating the padawan's ego, he was pleased with her answer. There were few with the mettle to actually fight for their beliefs these days; too many were content to simply fold to the demands of their conqueror's in order to maintain the peace. It was an issue Cedric had grappled with many times throughout his own training, and he had come to the conclusion that while peace was the ultimate goal, peace beneath the boot of a dictator was not. The only way to achieve the paradise that Cedric dreamed of was through the fair rule of democracy, and he knew he would not live to see that dream realized.

Perhaps, however, his descendants would.

"I think you'll fit in with the rest of us just fine," Cedric mused as he took measure of the girl. She was a slight thing, small even for a girl of her age. They would need to put in quite a bit of work before she could ever hold her own against the legions of the Sith Empire.

"If you've time, I can give you a lesson now, though I need to know exactly what you know of the force so far."

[member="Oz Sill"]

 

[The Dapper Mog]

Oz tapped a fingertip to her lips as she pondered what to say. Her instructions so far had been very bare bones and introductory. Actually using the force thus far was difficult to do, simply manipulations of objects, reaching out with her senses, things of the sort. So, the basics, of course. Still, she would have to admit that she was happy with his words. It was good to know that he expected her to fit in, as opposed to being alienated. To feel like that among the jedi, how awful that must be. The young woman brushed her hair behind her ear as she spared a glance at her bunk, and her various books spotting it, then looked back to the master at his mention of a lesson.

'I have time, Master. That is why I'm here, after all.'

Oz chuckled to herself as she signed to him, wondering what kind of lesson the master would have for her. After all, with her rudimentary knowledge of the force, there wouldn't be a whole lot that she could really do.

'I'm afraid I only know the basics so far. What kind of lesson do you have in mind, Master?'

[member="Cedric Grayson"]

 

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A great number of possibilities filled Cedric's mind, and it took him a moment to settle upon one that seemed appropriate for Oz. If she knew the basics, then he did not need to start her out with a lecture.

He ended up settling upon something most masters would have reserved for far later in a student's training, but Cedric had a strong understanding of temperament and the way it affected one's connection to the force. Given the way Oz composed herself, Cedric was not worried for her. If anything, it might jump start the girl's journey down the path.

The Jedi Master motioned for Oz to sit down upon the floor, and he did so as well. Once settled, the lightsaber at his belt hovered up from his belt, and suspended itself in the air between the two force sensitives. It was a large and ancient weapon bound in phrik and leather. The symbol of the Jedi Order had been emblazoned upon its hilt, and the hilt itself was large enough to require two hands to wield efficiently.

The weapon gave off the pure energy of the light side of the force. It filled the room around them, and sent out waves of warmth and peace that calmed all anxieties, and allowed one to truly focus on their own thoughts. It was as much a holy relic as it was a weapon, and Cedric regarded it with great reverence.

"This is the Blade of Ruusan. The weapon is a nexus of the light, and was crafted several thousand years ago specifically to end the Sith threat. I'm lucky to be its wielder," he gestured toward the blade, "The blade amplifies one's connection to the Force. With it, even with your small amount of training, you can connect to the empyrean. It is the realm beyond life, in which the Force truly resides, and where we go when we finally meet our mortal ends."

The masked Jedi stared the padawan down. "The key to defeating the Sith will be found within the darkest corners of the Force. I have been using this weapon to search for those answers for some time now. If you wish to see a hint of the Force's intentions, then focus upon it, and I will guide you as best I can."

[member="Oz Sill"]

 

[The Dapper Mog]

Oz followed the master's instruction, taking a seat across from him comfortably. He continued to speak into her mind, and if she were honest, even with the tone shifts it was becoming pleasant to her. Almost as though it was becoming like a dull music in the back of her head. The Zabrak female couldn't help but smile to herself as she looked over at the masked man, his words seemed to carry more than just knowledge and experience, but a certain understanding and warmth that she couldn't adequately describe. The weapon that he spoke of, even just looking at it, she could feel its power. More than that, she could feel the very Force within it. With it floating between them, the force emanating from the item, Oz felt at peace, almost indescribably so. That feeling...

It took a moment for her to snap out of her reverie and pay attention to his words again, but once she was focused on a task at hand, breaking that focus was a difficult feat to achieve. Oz nodded briefly, not bothering to sign anything to her master. For a brief moment, she worried that she wasn't ready to do this, that the weapon's connection to the living force was too strong for her to be able focus on it without some kind of negative feedback. But, she had already been training, and her connection to the force already felt so strong, that when focusing on that feeling of warmth around and within her, the young woman believed in herself and her ability.

Oz reached out with her mind, with her feelings, focusing intently on the weapon before her. The design, the emblazoned insignia, the energy blade it could create, and most of all, the connection it had to the force. Her mind cleared, and she could feel her consciousness expanding around her, outward in every direction. Yet, it felt as though her mind were being led to a distinct destination, pulled far far away towards a central location out there, somewhere in the grand universe. Flashes of images blinked before her eyes, so quickly and intensely that catching anything short of the most insignificant details. The Force, it was speaking to her, trying to show her things. But, either her inexperience or her mind's need to focus on singular details at a time simply wouldn't allow it. Her consciousness continued to spread, speeding through some sort of mental cosmos.

Finally, it stopped, an open field, a meadow of some sort. It was serene and beautiful. It looked empty, but Oz could feel the opposite. This place was teeming with life. Vibrant and powerful. Her mind couldn't quite comprehend what it was seeing, what she was feeling. Is this what the master felt when he focused on this weapon? Was this what concentrating on the light side of the force felt like to others? It was all hard to say.

Oz opened her eyes, looking to the master with wide eyes, wondering if the man had any idea of what she had just felt and witnessed. Her mind raced again, unable to put how she felt and what she was seeing into words. She wanted to "say" something to him about it, but what could she?

[member="Cedric Grayson"]

 

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The empyrean was as familiar as it had ever been.

Cedric watched from what he perceived to be a far away place as the padawan was thrown out into the void. This was one of the experiences that tended to make or a break a student; if they reacted well, then they had a place within the order. If not, then perhaps they needed more training, and if they reacted particularly badly, perhaps no further training at all.

The Jedi Master appraised the padawan curiously as he drew himself back from the ether. Accessing the empyrean felt more like coming home for Cedric than any sort of overwhelming sensation, and slipping away from it always left him feeling somewhat cold when he returned to his physical body.

"The Force can show us many things, and it showed you a vision of a possible future. What sort of significance it has for you, I do not know, but it's worth remembering." The master found himself smiling beneath the mask. "The more powerful your connection to the force becomes, the better you can make out what those visions are trying to tell you."

Cedric rose to his feet, and offered the padawan a hand.

"There aren't many masters here to teach you, but you have a particular talent. I would like for you to join me in the field when I'm next called off to a mission. Think of it as a pretest of things to come. Should you pass, I'll teach you the ways of the Jedi Guardian. You'll be the first of the next generation."

[member="Oz Sill"]

 

[The Dapper Mog]

Oz found herself wishing her vision had been more clear, especially after the master mentioned that the force was trying show her something about her future. Of course, it was likely just a matter of inexperience. With her understanding of the force being so new and untrained, it wasn't the least bit surprising that she wasn't able to glean much from it. It took some effort to prevent her mind from wandering towards the force again, to seek out that feeling that she had just experienced. In that regard, it was best to just follow the master and his guidance. After all, she couldn't guarantee that she wouldn't get lost or something. Once Cedric stood and offered his hand to her, Oz happily took his hand and rose to her feet.

Again, that small swell of pride from the compliment, noting her potential. His words intrigued her. Oz was a newbie, barely considered ready to begin study under a jedi master, yet here this master was, insisting that she join him on a life mission. It sounded like it could be dangerous, but, if she had his confidence, she had her own. Oz smiled at Cedric and nodded, accepting his invitation.

'I accept your invitation, Master. I won't let you down.'

Oz Sill, Jedi Guardian. She couldn't lie, she liked the sound of it.

[member="Cedric Grayson"]