Private Learn to Lose

[Ran Serys]

Ran considered the question as she followed the padawan. "I don't think they do, Sazo. And I am in agreement. There is little admiration and respect shared between the Dark Lords of the Sith." She answered. "Warlords, sorcerers, and hedonists are much too selfish to honor their predecessors. I think the tombs and temples that honor the darkside and its agents are built on the backs of the ignorant and oppressed." She continued. "I feel confident in saying that because I've seen it. I've been a cog in their machine, a slave to an Overlord that profited from my strength. I was an unwilling servant but there were many, and there are many who would follow more powerful, cunning, and conniving minds both fervently and fanatically." Ran explained, her tone not without the slightest hint of venom.

"These tombs aren't often made for veneration by others, they are made in a premature and failed effort of vindication by one." She added. The Sith Ran had met were all ego. She imagined many throughout history tried to preserve their memory and legacies, even their failed ones, especially the failed ones.

"Do you think that's a fair assessment?" Ran asked as the forest brush they walked through became thicker and more unruly. The dark side's influence on this temple and the forest around it was apparent. Trees were pale and dying, and their branches twisted around others as if they were trying to choke the life out of one another. A breeze rolled through but somehow the trees remained quiet, with none of the natural whistles and melodies of nature. It was unsettling.

"Have you ever come in contact with an agent of the dark side, Sazo?"

Sazo Vass​

 

[Sazo Vass]

Sazo nodded in understanding. That Bogan would build temple on the backs of the oppressed in an act of vanity and self-aggrandizement- and a grab at immortality- made much more sense then to honor their fallen.

She tensed as the dark side began to permeate the forest; fear, anger, hatred festered in the air. She gripped Talionis with one hand tightly as the forest became wild, unruly, untamed like the dark side. "I think that's a pretty good assessment", Sazo responded tightly, exhaling a deep breath. "I have heard tales of the Bogan, from warriors who fought the Great Hyperspace War. They boast of their great power, but what they fear is ignominy- that for all of their great power, they will be forgotten in a generation."

Sazo paused, swatting away forest brush. Absentmindedly, she was happy that, at the bare minimum, there were no flies buzzing around, like you'd find in a jungle deep in Haruun Kal.

Wait.

No flies?

'CORRECT YOUNGLING- NO LIFE AROUND US FLOURISHING. EVERYTHING HAS BEEN TWISTED BY THE DARKSIDE, OR SHALL SUCCOMB. BE ON GUARD, YOUNGLING', Talion projected from the sword, no amusement in his voice.

"Yes Master- a group of Padawans were sent to Myrkr at the beginning of the war- to investigate a disturbance. It was a trap by the Sith; we barely made out alive", Sazo responded, shuddering as she remembered how easily the Kiffar Sith disarmed her.

"We can't be much farther. The dark side...grows stronger", Sazo continued, clutching Talionis tighter as they descended deeper into the forest.

Ran Serys

 

[Ran Serys]

"Are they truly forgotten? We are speaking of them now. Not by name, but still their influence remains." Ran replied. She wondered if the tomb they sought belonged to such an individual. Their name lost to time, and their tomb ignored for hundreds, maybe thousands of years. If the tomb was indeed touched by the dark side, maybe they'd be dealing with a bitter spirit, angry at their failure to leave a lasting mark on the living.

"Yes Master- a group of Padawans were sent to Myrkr at the beginning of the war- to investigate a disturbance. It was a trap by the Sith; we barely made out alive", Sazo responded, shuddering as she remembered how easily the Kiffar Sith disarmed her.

Ran put a comforting hand on Sazo's shoulder as the young woman shuddered. "I'm glad you're still here then." Ran said. She wouldn't push the subject any further. She trusted that if Sazo wanted to speak on it, she would. The young woman seemed tough enough, but judging by the shudder it must have been an experience she wasn't ready for.

"We can't be much farther. The dark side...grows stronger", Sazo continued, clutching Talionis tighter as they descended deeper into the forest.

"I feel it too. The air is dry and the area suspiciously soundless, save for us." Ran spoke softly but in the stillness she almost had never heard herself so clearly. "Not even the static of an insect's wing." Ran marveled. "Stay alert, Sazo. We may not be alone." Ran focused. She wondered if they were the only beings out here. She reached out with her external senses but something was clouding her use of the force and she was quick to see what it was.

As the duo continued their march, the forest became enveloped by gray. In front of the duo was smoke. No. It was fog. A dry fog? It perplexed her. She could feel the familiar touch of Sith Sorcery in the unnatural occurrence. She could feel it even if it was weak and old, so old the slightest touch would eradicate it. Her yellow eyes glowed in the fog's presence, a symptom of decades of Sith Sorcery forced on her mind and body. She had some hard spots when it came to sorcery, and it always put her on edge.

Maintaining her nerves, Ran put a hand out in front of her and reached out to the force. It stood there for a moment as the Jedi concentrated. She swiped her hand smoothly to the right and the unnatural fog traveled in every direction before dissipating completely.

"We've arrived." Ran announced. As the tomb came into full view. It was dark, broken, and made of black stone slabs and minerals not native to Velmor. The craftsmanship was amazing even though much of its intricacies had been lost to time. Ran pulled a small datapad from her belt and preserved its image on it.

Without a word, Ran stepped forward and took the lead. With the mysterious fog gone, she could feel her Jedi senses return to full efficiency. There were still no signs of life, but there was also no sign of any interference. She marched to the large arched doorway of the temple. The double doors were made of heavy stone and were hidden below a layer of thin, weak, and dried, gnarled tree roots that crawled up from the ground. She pulled them away easily enough. Set her hand on the door and pushed open.

As the door opened a gust of wind rushed past Ran and Sazo. Dark side energy spilled out alongside it.

"Freedom. At last." Ran heard the sound of a man's hoarse whisper in her mind, but felt no danger of a mental invasion. She turned her head to Sazo. "Did you hear that?"

Sazo Vass​

 

[Sazo Vass]

"Are they truly forgotten? We are speaking of them now. Not by name, but still their influence remains." Ran replied. She wondered if the tomb they sought belonged to such an individual. Their name lost to time, and their tomb ignored for hundreds, maybe thousands of years. If the tomb was indeed touched by the dark side, maybe they'd be dealing with a bitter spirit, angry at their failure to leave a lasting mark on the living.

Sazo tilted her head to the side, as she pondered that statement, humming thoughtfully as they made their way through the forest. The Bogan's actions reverberated through time, even if few remembered their names. Maybe because the legacy of Sith was so caked in blood, that it took someone truly horrific to be remember them.

Ran put a comforting hand on Sazo's shoulder as the young woman shuddered. "I'm glad you're still here then." Ran said. She wouldn't push the subject any further. She trusted that if Sazo wanted to speak on it, she would. The young woman seemed tough enough, but judging by the shudder it must have been an experience she wasn't ready for.

Sazo smiled tightly, appreciating the gesture while attempting to forget the truly horrific escapade. But maybe it was fate?

'If I don't go, I don't get the vision that leads me to Talionis.'

Any further conversation was cut short as the forest became...denser.

Thicker.

Darker.

Sazo tensed even further as they came upon an elegant tomb...and the fog dissipated. She followed behind Master Serys into the tomb and...

As the door opened a gust of wind rushed past Ran and Sazo. Dark side energy spilled out alongside it.

"Freedom. At last." Ran heard the sound of a man's hoarse whisper in her mind, but felt no danger of a mental invasion. She turned her head to Sazo. "Did you hear that?"

Sazo drew Talionis in response.

"...Who's there?", she said softly, her breath coming out in front of her as her eyes darted around the room.

Ran Serys

 

[Ran Serys]

The disembodied voice gave no answer to Sazo's question. Just the brief silence of a moment. Ran looked to Sazo, only for the silence to be interrupted by a faint but hearty and evil laugh in her mind that had gone just as quickly as it came. It faded out and grew distant. Ran let the eerie feeling she had settle in her stomach before moving.

"That was… concerning," Ran said plainly. "But not unexpected." She added. "Ancient spirits too weak to do anything but feed off the fear of the living. Let's not give this one the satisfaction Sazo. Let's keep moving." The Knight suggested and walked through the tomb's main entrance.

The tomb was dark and musty. Ran cracked a temporary torch. It's yellow light illuminated the next few meters in every direction. Ran passed the torch to Sazo. She didn't need it. While Ran's mutations persisted she'd be able to see in several different light spectrums including the infrared.

As they continued down the hall and further into the tomb, Ran could see just how old and cake-layered with dust the tomb truly was. There had been no visitors in a long time. Ran thought the fog might've helped with that.

Ran reached a hand out and closed her eyes. She used the force like a dowsing rod. She didn't know what she was looking for exactly, just that she was looking for a strong force energy. She was looking for whatever had made the tomb so strong in the dark side of the force. Ran's thoughts and feelings were able to latch onto one energy signature. It was strong enough, but Ran couldn't shake the feeling that somehow the feeling of the temple felt more diminished now that they were in it.

"Sazo, do you feel what I am feeling? As if the temple has somehow lost its potent darkside energy?" She asked the learner, and wondered why that could be, as they walked past sections of wall that had been carved out and lined with coffins. Ran saw them to be servants and spouses of the Ancient Sith Lord the tomb had been dedicated to.

Sazo Vass​

 

[Sazo Vass]

"That was… concerning," Ran said plainly. "But not unexpected." She added. "Ancient spirits too weak to do anything but feed off the fear of the living. Let's not give this one the satisfaction Sazo. Let's keep moving." The Knight suggested and walked through the tomb's main entrance.

Sazo opened her mouth, and gagged on the pungent stench of stilled air of the course of millenia, before quickly nodding, gratefully accepting the torch. The tomb was clearly...untouched, judging by the amount of dust on almost everything. A monument to the hubris of the Bogan. Sazo grimaced.

'Untouched and lost to time, until we arrived.'

"Sazo, do you feel what I am feeling? As if the temple has somehow lost its potent darkside energy?" She asked the learner, and wondered why that could be, as they walked past sections of wall that had been carved out and lined with coffins. Ran saw them to be servants and spouses of the Ancient Sith Lord the tomb had been dedicated to.

Sazo started, lost in thought, before composing herself. "It feels..."


Her eyes, darting around the carvings, before settling onto the knight.

"...Like we're on the edge of something. Like the dark is waiting."


Ran Serys

 

[Ran Serys]

"Waiting, watching, and poised to strike, Padawan." A voice rang from behind the duo. Ran turned to see a Mandalorian in full armor. The same mandalorian from the port, but changed. His voice was about an octave higher, with an accent that screamed haughty and elitist. Ran sensed the darkside upon him. Through the force, Ran probed at the Mandalorian's mind. He was there but taking a backseat, with someone else at the helm of his body. Ran could smell the Sith Sorcery at play. Her toxic yellow eyes glowed as she remembered so many years spent under the influence of Sith mind control. A wave of anger ran through her before a deep breath calmed her.

"Release the Mandalorian, Spirit!" Ran demanded. The spirit that controlled the Mandalorian laughed. "You are observant. I'll give you two that. But not observant enough, if I was able to reach you in this sneaky Mandalorian's body."

"I am only going to repeat this once, Spirit. Release the Mandalorian." Ran disregarded the spirit's words. She wouldn't indulge them in any way they wanted.

"As stubborn as a rock, you Jedi. Even in my time it was much the same. Shall I introduce you to your kin then?"

Ran's brow furrowed at the question. Before she could react the Mandalorian leaned over and shot a rocket from the crest of his jetpack. It impacted on the stone ceiling. A loud boom. Fire and shrapnel. Rock and stone broke and fell as centuries old dust whipped about. As the dust danced, Ran lost sight of Sazo. Overhead a giant dagger-like stone fell and pierced the ground between them and collapsed the floor out from under their feet. The impact sent Ran's body flying. She cracked against another falling rock and slid down the newly created chasm and into the unknown depths beneath the tomb. "Sazoooooooo!" She called out until her voice disappeared into the depths.

The mandalorian's body hovered in the air using his jetpack. From his wrist the Spirit activated one of the Mandalorians toys. A grapnel hook shot out to bind Sazo before she too could fall into the hidden depths. The spirit laughed. "This Mandalorian really doesn't like you, young one, but that's okay because soon I will be in control." The spirit taunted.

Sazo Vass​

 

[Sazo Vass]

There was an old Korun proverbs: "Things happened slowly, then quickly." It called for the listener to practice vigilance, and watchfulness.

And as the Mandalorian- apparently possessed, probably how he was able to get the jump on both of them- appeared around the corner, Sazo cursed the ancestors.

One moment, Master Serys was talking down a Sith Spirit. Correction, demanding the spirit leave the physical vessel. The next moment, Master Serys was plunging into the depths, and Sazo was only held aloft by the binding, the Mandalorian hovering overhead.

The spirit laughed. "This Mandalorian really doesn't like you, young one, but that's okay because soon I will be in control." The spirit taunted.

Sazo hyperventilated, tearing up. She was alone. Truly alone. Master Serys...she was in the depths of the tomb. The only thing seperating her from life and death of a possessed Mandalorian- and even if he wasn't possessed, it would spell doom.

YOUNGLING. YOU ARE NEVER ALONE.

And suddenly she found herself in her own mindspace, facing Talion Vass.

DO YOU NOT REMEMBER THE PACT I MADE TO YOU, WHEN YOU TOOK MY BLADE? DO YOU THINK I WOULD BREAK MY COVENANT, ABANDON MY KIN?

Talion took a step closer, tapping her .

THE POWER OF TALIONIS IS TWO-FOLD. ONE, IT IS A FORCE-IMBUED BLADE; THE DARK SIDE CANNOT STAND IT'S TOUCH, INCLUDING THIS...FELL SPIRIT. TWO, YOU HOLD IN YOUR HANDS, THE CULMINATION OF THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF KNOWLEDGE- BOTH OF MY OWN, AND OF PAST WIELDERS. YOU, MY DEAR SAZO, ARE THE BEARER OF A LEGACY GOING BACK 10,000 GENERATIONS. IT WILL NOT MAKE YOU UNSTOPPABLE, OR INVINCIBLE. INDEED, IF YOU ATTEMPT TO USE SOME OF THE MORE ADVANCED TECHNIQUES, IT WILL KILL YOU. BUT IT WILL BE A RESOURCE ON YOUR ROAD TO GREATNESS.

NOW OPEN YOUR EYES.

With a gasp, she opens her eyes- her viridian, bright green eyes. She craned her neck to look up at the possessed Mandalorian.

"Fell spirit", Sazo intoned, with the duality of two voices booming through the tomb. "My Master gave you mercy. A chance at absolution."

Sazo, with her weight, swung backwards, hitting the wall. With a grunt, she tapped into the Force, strengthening herself, then kicking forward, and swinging upwards. With another grunt, she pushed out with the Force, giving her the real estate to loosen herself from the bonds, unsheathe Talionis. At the climax of the motion, Sazo felt herself touch a surface. She pushed off, speeding herself towards the Mandalorian like a cannon, Talionis primed to exorcise the spirit from the vessel.

"You should have taken them, Bogan."

Ran Serys

 

[Ran Serys]

Behind the visor, the mandalorian's eyes went wide. The dark side spirit realized his target was no run of the mill Jedi apprentice. He could feel the wisdom and potential unlocked by the young Jedi and her blade. It frightened him, because it would mean his end. The dark side spirit could feel tremors of its brief future. It was almost time to leave this world forever, but not if he had anything to say about it.

The spirit used the force to push himself backward through the air. It was not enough. The Jedi padawan was flying at him too quickly and with great might. He would be cut down and excised for good unless he angled himself, so he did. What would be a fatal wound to both spirit and mandalorian, became a shallow gash underneath the mandalorian's stomach plate. The dark side spirit screamed and then so did the mandalorian as the spirit was expelled from the body. Red energy expelled from the wound and the dark side's hold on the tomb grew that much more weak.

The Mandalorian yelped and cried as his stomach faintly glowed. Instinctually, he grabbed a stim and injected its contents into the glowing wound. Those sensitive to the force, would know how loud his feelings were. The confusion. The pain. The uncertainty. His jetpack sputtered in his moment of confusion and he lost control. Slamming into the wall and grabbing it, he scanned his surroundings. He saw the tomb, and the padawan from the port. More confusion hit his mind as he stared at Sazo, clutching the open wound on his belly.

Meanwhile…

Ran disappeared into the hidden depths of the tomb. Initially she tumbled along the rubble, but caught herself with a cat-like grace and sent herself to her feet. Her first thought was on reuniting with Sazo, but before she could worry about the initiate she'd have to deal with any danger upon her. She scanned her surroundings. A large room with a single sarcophagus, and two sets of adjacent stairs leading up. She assumed, correctly, the stairs were the official path to this main room from the servant and soldier burials in the levels above. There was no immediate danger, but Ran watched and felt as the sarcophagus glowed a faint red from within and its energy signature weakened. She knew immediately that it was the resting place of the spirit. Their phylactery, their reliquary, their source of power, whatever it was that kept them tethered to existence was hidden inside. This is why the Jedi were here. To destroy the item and rid the tomb, the area, and the planet of this ancient and dark influence.

Feeling safe enough, Ran expanded her awareness in the force. She found Sazo in the level above with the mandalorian returned to normal but confused and wounded. She nudged Sazo with a feeling of urgency to enter the depths behind her so they could finish this, and to bring the Mandalorian if he'd allow it.

Sazo Vass​

 

[Sazo Vass]

Sazo landed, whirling around, staying in a defensive stance, keeping Talionis in front of her. She let out a snort of satisfaction as the fell spirit expelled itself from the Mandalorian in a explosion of red, miasma-like energy, before dissipating- like the hold of the Dark Side on the tomb had weakened.

Sazo sensed her Master's urgency, and exhaled a breath she didn't realized she was holding; Ran Serys was alive, and well. And needed her with her to finish this, and possibly the Mandalorian.

<Mandalorian Exton>, she said loudly in Korunnal, grabbing the confused man's attention. <Me and my Master are going down to the tomb of the spirit that suborned your will and used you like a meat puppet, to end this- once and for all. You are free to join us. You are free to leave, and hope that we don't fail and the spirit doesn't return to possess you permanently, as it seemed overtly fond of you as a vessel. Your choice.>

With that, she flipped into the abyss, slowing her fall with the Force, landing with a slight bend of the knees. Following her Master's presence in the Force led her to a tomb- a glowing red tomb.

"Very glad you are safe. So, it looks this is the source of our problems. How do we deal with it?"

Ran Serys

 

[Ran Serys]

"We follow our instincts." Ran replied to Sazo as she took a cautious but confident step toward the sarcophagus. Behind them Exton's jet pack sputtered just before his feet hit the ground, giving him a safe but slightly painful landing. It seemed he would've rather taken his chances with the Jedi than be at risk of possession once again.

"You're going to open that thing?" He asked incredulously with what little energy he had left only for Ran to ignore him. Despite the helmet Exton looked defeated. He held his wounded belly and shook his head as he propped himself against the wall.

Ran took a moment before the sarcophagus glowing red at the slit. She turned to Sazo and gave her a look. One that said ready yourself for what's next and I trust you to have my back. With that, Ran opened the sarcophagus. The glow grew brighter and bathed the dark room in crimson as Ran reached in the coffin and pulled a small phylactery from the grip of the mummified corpse inside. Normally Ran was against desecrating a corpse but this was a special circumstance. The brass, diamond shaped reliquary hung on the end of a chain. Ran lifted it with the force and suspended it between her and the Jedi initiate Sazo Vass.

"It is yours to destroy, Sazo." Ran said knowingly. She could feel it. "The energy that pervades this phylactery, the energy of the dark side spirit, it recoils from you and your blade." She continued. "Destroy it and we will find out if our mission was a success."

Ran waited with baited breath to see the outcome. Regardless of the situation being resolved or requiring more work, Ran decided the council was right to pair her and Sazo together. She wouldn't require anymore of a trial. Sazo would be her padawan, permanently, so long as it was what Sazo wanted.

Sazo Vass​

 

[Sazo Vass]

"It is yours to destroy, Sazo." Ran said knowingly. She could feel it. "The energy that pervades this phylactery, the energy of the dark side spirit, it recoils from you and your blade." She continued. "Destroy it and we will find out if our mission was a success."

Sazo raised Talionis in anticipation, ready to strike the final blow.

Then the reliquary exploded in a red miasma of Force energy, surrounding them in a dome. A high, keening voice rang out from all around them:

"We see your past, Sazo Vass. An orphan. Unwanted. Talented, yet shunted to the side. Do you think being a Jedi will get you what you want? Power is the only constant in this galaxy. Power will allow you to keep what you love safe, take want you want, and destroy your enemies. I am that guide to that power, girl. Take this reliquary, and it will be your first step into a bigger galaxy. Strik-"

Sazo cleared her throat. "I think that's enough." She raised Talionis, and the shrieking went higher, the winds howled. She swung it, and the reliquary shattered, and-

And then all was silent.

She turned to Ran. "Master Serys, if we don't come back to Velmor for a long, long time, I will be a happy girl."

Ran Serys

 

[Ran Serys]

In a last ditch attempt the desperate Sith spirit tried to play on Sazo’s desire for power. It promised power and disparaged the Jedi. It offered absolutes as if the dark side was the only way to have an autonomous future. Its only condition for power was the reliquary’s survival. Ran watched as Sazo’s desire for peace and staunch stance against the bogan was manifest. It seemed there was no question of what was right in her eyes as Sazo swiftly destroyed the reliquary. A spark and flash of crimson dark side energy popped and dissipated and Ran was proud of the Initiate. Lesser beings would be tempted by the Sith spirit’s promise, but not for a second did Sazo entertain it. Ran liked to think she’d have done much the same in her situation. Ran gave Sazo a look of approval. She was impressed and proud again. Sazo would sense as much.

“Don’t worry,” Ran smiled, enthused that Sazo could be so seemingly relaxed after their interaction with the ancient dark side evil. “I have no plans to return. Not anytime soon.”

Ran began for the mandalorian who was slumped against the wall. He muttered something to himself in the mandalorian language. A playful statement of disbelief that equated to “Crazy Jedi.” She put an arm under him to stabilize him, then stabbed him with a healing stim. It’d make him feel better soon enough, but the gash across his belly needed tending to. Even underneath the helmet, it was easy to read his surprise at the helping hand. “Let’s go, Sazo. The mandalorian needs medical attention and I am no longer concerned about the dark side’s touch on this tomb. It’ll never fully be gone, but at least the spirit’s taint is.” She focused on the force to confirm it, and confirm it she did.

______________​

As the trio made their way back to the Onyx Runner, the mandalorian revealed how he’d snuck after them. As confrontational as he had been, he wanted to see the tomb, to satiate his own morbid curiosity. He didn’t anticipate any of what had happened. He’d never encountered Magic or the Force. Even when the Mandalorians were attached to the Witches, he gave them a large berth.

He didn’t apologize for the rude words he and Sazo exchanged earlier in the day but he did offer the Jedi a way to contact him, should they ever need it. Sazo saved his life, at the very least his mind from being commandeered by the Sith and that meant something to him. It was a debt unpaid and he insisted he’d pay her back. Whether Sazo accepted this, Ran didn’t know. They dropped the mandalorian off at the nearest settlement that could give his wounds proper attention, and left a report with the necessary agencies on their mission's success. Then as quickly as the Jedi had come, they had gone, departed from Velmor.

_______________​

Ran sat in the pilot’s seat of the Onyx Runner and engaged the hyperdrive. Their destination was the mobile Jedi temple, Prosperity. She was to return Sazo there after their mission was complete, but as she turned to look at the young woman in the co-pilot’s seat she knew the feeling she had earlier was confirmed. It was time for Ran to become a teacher and her instincts told her Sazo was to be her student. The Jedi Council put them together as a trial run to see if the two would be a good fit, Ran decided that they were correct to do so.

“Sazo, I’d like to ask you a question.” Ran alerted the Jedi Padawan. “Feel free to take some time to think on it, it is a big decision, and not to be taken lightly.” She continued. “But I have a few things I’d like to say first, that may make your decision easier.” She paused looking for the words.

“As you may know this mission was a trial run for both me and you, to see if this dynamic would work. Me as a Master and you as my Padawan.” Ran smiled. “My instincts tell me this is a good partnership, but so does the proof. In the short time we’ve been together you have demonstrated a strong will and a desire to proactively fight back the darkside. It is an undertaking that I have devoted myself to as a Guardian of the New Jedi Order and the Galactic Alliance. You have also shown me a deep desire to learn, and seem to be a quick study. I’ve seen it in our brief lesson on piloting this ship, and in our Teräs Käsi training,” Ran thought for a second longer.

“But what matters to me more than that is I’ve seen your willingness to grow and I thank you for opening up about the memories of your past. There is a strength in vulnerability that leads to growth, especially when shared with others. The significance of those acts is not lost on me. Finally, while you may have a few rough edges that I do not, I understand them and do not think they detract from your ability to become a fine Jedi Knight, with the proper guidance."

"My reason for telling you all this, is that I agree with the council. I would like to teach the ways of the Jedi to you, if you’d like to learn them from me. Would you like to learn the ways of the Jedi from me? Would you like to train to be a Jedi Knight under my guidance?”

“Search your feelings, Sazo Vass, and let me know what they tell you.” Ran instructed as she stood up from her seat. She lingered in the doorway of the flight deck for a moment in case of a fast answer, before she’d retreat to the ship’s kitchen to prepare their next meal.

Sazo Vass​

 

[Sazo Vass]

>"Little one...thanks"<<, the Mandalorian grumbled in Korunnal as he trotted away, free of the Sith Lord's corruption. Sazo mockingly quirked a brow at the Mandalorian, setting off another round of grumbling. >>"A debt, little one. On my beskar"<<, he grumbled as if in pain, staring at her hard until she inclined her head, then stalking off. Smiling cheekily, Sazo made her way back onto the Onyx Runner.

---------------

"Sazo, I'd like to ask you a question." Ran alerted the Jedi Padawan. "Feel free to take some time to think on it, it is a big decision, and not to be taken lightly." She continued. "But I have a few things I'd like to say first, that may make your decision easier." She paused looking for the words.

"As you may know this mission was a trial run for both me and you, to see if this dynamic would work. Me as a Master and you as my Padawan." Ran smiled. "My instincts tell me this is a good partnership, but so does the proof. In the short time we've been together you have demonstrated a strong will and a desire to proactively fight back the darkside. It is an undertaking that I have devoted myself to as a Guardian of the New Jedi Order and the Galactic Alliance. You have also shown me a deep desire to learn, and seem to be a quick study. I've seen it in our brief lesson on piloting this ship, and in our Teräs Käsi training," Ran thought for a second longer.

"But what matters to me more than that is I've seen your willingness to grow and I thank you for opening up about the memories of your past. There is a strength in vulnerability that leads to growth, especially when shared with others. The significance of those acts is not lost on me. Finally, while you may have a few rough edges that I do not, I understand them and do not think they detract from your ability to become a fine Jedi Knight, with the proper guidance."

"My reason for telling you all this, is that I agree with the council. I would like to teach the ways of the Jedi to you, if you'd like to learn them from me. Would you like to learn the ways of the Jedi from me? Would you like to train to be a Jedi Knight under my guidance?"

"Search your feelings, Sazo Vass, and let me know what they tell you." Ran instructed as she stood up from her seat. She lingered in the doorway of the flight deck for a moment in case of a fast answer, before she'd retreat to the ship's kitchen to prepare their next meal.

Sazo turned it over in her head, but not long.

Their adventure had solidified her belief that under Master Ran, she would find a mentor- and a friend.

"It would be my honor to learn the ways of the Jedi under you...Master Ran", she said solemnly.

Then she smiled cheekily.

"Dibs on piloting home!", she chirped before darting for the cockpit.

Ran Serys