Mission to Seltos (Master/Apprentice Mission)

[Kian Karr]

"Relax your mind....allow the force to flow through you....to help guide your movements." Kian said. Before him in the hold of the Hammerhead Class Frigate was [member="Spike Arrel"], his apprentice, with a blinder on and four training remotes hovering around him. Their difficulty rating was not quite maxed out...but it was set higher then was typical. They were squeezing in some last minute training while enroute to the latest mission.

As the training remotes hovered around Spike and fired at varying intervals, Kian took the moment to go over the reports once more as he knelt down in front of the training space. The research station on Seltos wasn't a particularly important outpost in regards to the One Sith war efforts, so it was unlikely that the sudden lack of communications were related to a Sith attack....still something had caused the facility to go silent and Kian and Spike were tasked with finding out what it was.

They would be leaving hyperspace soon and then settling down on the planet. It was a heavily forested planet, and they would land several cliches from the research center and enter in on foot.

 

[Spike Arrel]

Spike was in meditation aboard [member="Kian Karr"]'s ship, he was taking a few moments to think before he would train with the remotes hovering around himself. He was thinking back to a time when he didn't have to worry about war, and death. It was making him cry inside, and he was keeping his emotions bottled lest he show them to the outside world. Spike was also holding the Lorridian gemstone he was given, this only further affected his mood as he was also thinking about his mother.

After a few moments he returned to a zen state, and began channeling the force. He could visualize the four remotes hovering around him, and he knew at this point that he was ready to proceed with the training. He began by rising in a fluid motion and quickly dispatching the first droid with a swipe of his training saber. Then Spike moved his attention to the next droid, all while seeing through the force. After another few moments the droids were all gone, Spike had bested the training session, he waited for further instruction for his master as he took out a datapad and began reading about lightsaber crystals.

 

[Kian Karr]

As Kian looked over the files before him, he felt something in his apprentices force aura. Stretching out his feelings, he caught what he thought was sadness.....but then it was gone. Kian watched him as he finished up his training and continue to focus on him. He couldn't be sure but it seemed as if something was bothering him.

"We'll be leaving hyperspace soon." Kian said and waved [member="Spike Arrel"] over to where he was sitting. "I get the sense that something is bothering you......why don't we talk about it?" Kian asked. He was the young man's master and as such it was his sworn duty to see too it that he was prepared to face a great many things. One of the greatest things he would have to face is his own emotions.

 

[Spike Arrel]

"I was just thinking about my hand. . ."

Looking down at his prosthetic hand now, Spike thought he'd be somewhat truthful, but still not giving [member="Kian Karr"] the full story. He didn't want to distract from the mission, and he still didn't feel confident to talk about his personal matters fully.

"So. . . uh, whats the security around the research facility like?"

 

[Kian Karr]

Kian considered his apprentices statement and something told him it wasn't the whole truth. It was a feeling in his gut and in the force.....but he wouldn't press it. While the two were getting to know each other better on their missions together, their relationship was still a relatively new one and Kian was aware that trust was built in time.

"Not particularly heavy. From what I can tell just enough to keep the beasts of the jungle at bay." Kian said as the comm system went off.

"We're approaching the drop location." Came the voice of the Republic officer with whom Kian had gotten transport.

"Time to go." Kian said rising up and leading [member="Spike Arrel"] toward the bay they would be exited from. There was a small transport shuttle there waiting to go. "We're take the ship down and signal for pickup when the time comes." Kian said to Spike, explaining the plan. There were several Republic operations in the area and getting transport home wouldn't be difficult. Entering the transport, Kian took over the controls and piloted them out into space and toward the planet ahead of them.

"So....what do you think we'll find below?" Kian asked, "What scenarios have you come up with?" Kian asked. He had been asked a similar question on a mission with his master Talon Vosra when he was a padawan and he had found it a difficult one to answer....but it taught him to be an investigator. To evaluate a task before you even begin.

 

[Spike Arrel]

Spike thought a moment before answering [member="Kian Karr"]'s question, as there could be any number of beasts in the forest below.

"There will probably be at the least some kind of predators below. As for the research center itself, I would think they have some kind of electrified fence, and probably guard towers as well. I think we should obviously try a stealthy approach if possible. I would suggest using force cloak if you have knowledge of this power, but if not we should instead try to disguise ourselves and enter though the front gate."

Spike was pleased with his answer and waited for his masters response.

 

[Kian Karr]

Kian nodded along as his apprentice spoke and he guided the ship into the atmosphere of the planet. As they cut through the atmosphere of the planet, the beauty of the planet below became evident. It was a lush world, covered in jungles.

"Yes this is likely. However, we will know more when we arrive there." Kian said.

"We'll need to adapt whatever strategy we might plan to the circumstances that are laid before us." Kian said glancing at the prosthetic hand that now made up a portion of [member="Spike Arrel"]'s hand.

"We haven't had much time to discuss the mission to Gyndine.....what did you learn there?" Kian asked as they broke through the atmosphere and Kian put them on course to touch down at their designated location.

 

[Spike Arrel]

Spike looked down at his hand, he was filled with thoughts on how to respond to [member="Kian Karr"]'s question. He wanted to say that he was just going to kill Sith outright lest they cut away pieces of himself until nothing was left. Instead, he decided it was best to say something much less harsh. The phantom pains from his hand would remind him of what happens when you let your guard down, and at least he cut down the Sith who took it, flesh for flesh.

"Never let your guard down." Spike raised his hand. "This is memory to me of what happens if you don't."

 

[Kian Karr]

Bringing the ship down, Kian landed in a clearing on the edge of the jungle housing the research center. Kian turned in his chair to look at his apprentice.

"Against a Sith, that is a good rule to have. However, we should always be open to the possibility that a peaceful resolution can be achieved in combat.....even against a Sith." Kian said and rose up from the pilots seat.

"Gather your things," Kian said, "it is going to take a while to reach the labs.....it was put in the middle of no-where on purpose. So pack accordingly."

"I'll meet you outside the ship once you're ready." Kian said and made his way toward the exit, stopping at his quarters on the way to grab his pack. They would have to camp in the jungle that night.

[member="Spike Arrel"]

 

[Spike Arrel]

Spike took his time looking over his gear and making sure everything was here, it was generally good practice to do so he thought. When he was ready he gathered his things and left the ship to meet with [member="Kian Karr"] outside the ship.

"Alright, it looks like all my gear is here, and I'm ready to depart. Where do we go from here?" Spike said quizzically.

 

[Kian Karr]

Kian glanced at his datapad and then returned it to his utility belt.

"That way." Kian said pointing toward the tree line to the west and turning back to seal and secure the ship. Turning back [member="Spike Arrel"] and he made their way from the ship. Kian pulled his black and green Jedi Shadow robes tight around him as they went. The planet was warm and muggy, but not unbearably so.

As they came under the shade of the trees canopy, Kian turned to Spike.

"We've not had much of a chance to get to know each other over the course of our missions. Do you have any questions for me?" Kian asked as they continued to walk. He felt like he had neglected to get a better understanding of his padawan in this way and wished to improve the mentor-apprentice relationship.

 

[Spike Arrel]

Spike followed [member="Kian Karr"] as they walked along in the muggy planet, Spike wasn't fond of this kind of weather, but the body glove from his robes kept him relatively cool. While under the shade of the trees his master asked him a question, or rather he presented him with the chance to ask some himself. This interested Spike, but he had to take a moment to think about something to ask, he could ask any number of questions but Spike thought to narrow it down to one or two as to not keep them from the mission for long. When he was ready he spoke up.

"Whats has been your main goal to strive towards inside the Jedi Order? What has been your motivation to stay?" Spike asked.

The question seemed kinda simple, at least to Spike they did.

 

[Kian Karr]

As Kian and [member="Spike Arrel"] continued, Kian listened carefully to his padawan's question and considered them for a moment before answering. The jungle was becoming denser and harder to walk through, and the two had to be careful of their footing as the landscape was beginning to descend. Kian knew the way from the landing zone from the maps he had examined. Eventually they would come to a cliff that would need to be climbed and then they would camp down for the night.

"Like most Jedi, though regrettably not all, I've really only ever strived to do good and to defend those who need defending. I have other goals as well, like re-vitalizing the Shadows, but these peripheral goals all go towards making the world a better place for those who are in it." Kian said using the force to push aside a hanging branch and motioning for Spike to step ahead.

"And in all honesty, leaving has never crossed my mind. I love the Order and those who are a part of it. They may have their differences, but ultimately we all want similar things and we do what we can to help others."

"What about you? What are your goals?" Kian asked turning the question around.

 

[Spike Arrel]

Spike listened to his master [member="Kian Karr"]'s reply to his questions. Spike thought about the answers for a moment, and thought of them to be more or less what he had expected to hear from Kian Karr.

Now Spike himself was faced with a question asking about his own goals, obviously he knew the answer almost immediately, but he didn't blurt it out and be so obtuse. So he thought a moment on how to construct his answer carefully and present it in a less obtuse way. It took a few seconds, but not long enough as to give the impression Spike himself went into intricate detail about what he was going to say.

"I wish to strive and become the best Jedi I can be, to achieve this I wish to gain knowledge on many Jedi subjects and learn the ways of the force, and of various force powers. I extend this to learning many different lightsaber forms as well, possibly not them all extensively, but at least passing knowledge in them all."

 

[Kian Karr]

Kian listened to his apprentice as he spoke, and he considered himself when he first came to the Jedi. He had had similar goals. He had wanted to succeed, to achieve vasts amounts of knowledge and skills....but those goals had changed with time through exposure to combat and to the evil of the Sith. As Kian became more familiar with the duties of the Jedi he had become more and more aware of the vast suffering in the world, and he realized he had to do all he could to aid those who suffered.

"It is good to wish to extend your knowledge and your skills....but always remember that it shouldn't be the only driving force behind what you do." Kian said, using this conversation as a teaching moment. "There have been many a force user who strayed into darkness because they sought forbidden knowledge." Kian said, not worried about [member="Spike Arrel"], but wanting to warn him none-the-less.

Their walk continued to descend until they came to a small but fast flowing stream. This was the point on the map where they would change direction.

"We follow downstream for a while." Kian said to Spike and turned their course.

"So, perhaps we should also use this time to get to know each other better. Why don't you tell me a bit about yourself? Where are you from?" Kian asked wanting to get to know his padawan better.

 

[Spike Arrel]

Spike dipped his hand into the stream while [member="Kian Karr"] asked his second question. Spike watch the water flow around his hand, cooling it. He was using this moment to think for a second about what to say about himself, he didn't want to pour his heart out, but he needed to give something.

"I am from Coruscant, I can't say I really miss the place, filled with bodies and pollution, but its still home. My parents ran a diner, so we were reasonably well off, it was a local hot-spot, I would see any number of different people in a given day. You weren't likely to see the same person twice unless they really like the place. I honestly can't remember too much else though, I was taken in by the order at such a young age that recalling memories from a time when I didn't train to become a Jedi is difficult at best. Maybe I just didn't have a very eventful childhood, who knows."

Spike figured he'd spoke enough, so he would let his master say something.

 

[Kian Karr]

Kian looked up at the sky, the sun would be setting soon, but they still had a ways to go. Soon they would come to the cliff that they needed to scale, and he hoped they would reach the summit before nightfall.

"Have you had any contact with your parents since you joined the Jedi?" Kian asked as he continued to follow the stream.

[member="Spike Arrel"]

 

[Spike Arrel]

"I haven't." Spike replied

It was short, and to the point. It was the truth, except for Spike leaving out the point about not being able to visit his mother on her deathbed. Spike liked to keep this a secret, and it seemed like it was staying that way for now.

 

[Kian Karr]

Kian made note of the short response but didn't press his apprentice on it. Besides, they had finally come to the cliff face, and it was time to start climbing.

"This shouldn't take too long." Kian said turning to [member="Spike Arrel"] and securing his pack. "But be careful....we aren't using a line." Kian said and found a good hand hold before lifting himself up and began to lead the way up the rock face. It wasn't a hard climb, but it was slow, and as they began, Kian noted the spreading darkness. When they reached the top it would be night and they would have to camp down.

"I can't imagine what it feels like leave your family," Kian said as they climbed, "when I came to the Jedi my mother had already died and I had no family left."

 

[Spike Arrel]

Spike followed [member="Kian Karr"] down the rock face, making sure to check his grip and footing as to not slip and fall into the abyss.

"It certainly isn't a fun experience, but I don't tend to dwell on it too much. Maybe one day I'll return to see if anyone I know is left." Spike replied.

One day he would return Spike thought, he just wasn't sure yet when. The time wasn't right, but one day it might be, and that is when he would make a name for himself.