My Favourite Colour [Nima Tann]

[Théodred Heavenshield]

Voss Temple​

Garden of a Thousand Fountains​

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[member="Nima Tann"]​

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For once, Théo had permission. He had grown a lot in the past months, a year older and wiser and able to walk without tripping over his own feet. He is a man now, or at least that is what he think, his father [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] tells him so. My little man. But Théo still have his love for speeders, toy speeders that is. And so sitting by the man made pool fizzing with many fountains, Théo pays them no attention. His hand skimming the toy speeder through the foliage that blankets the ground under the trees in the garden, they are position within a bed stone walled and restricting. He does not care of it much, sculptured and fettered, the jungle on Tabaqui is what he prefers where everything is wild and unpredictable. Or the vast forests of Midvinter, tall and majestic and heavy with snow, dangerous and unforgiving to those that give little respect to the clime.

He sits dressed in jedi robes, no saber of course not even a training one which really annoys him, but one day. And one day soon.

His head lifts up as if sensing a presence of someone approaching, but he does not see anything. He looks around the tree trunk with his head tilted to the side hoping to find the presence but no. He shrugs it off and goes back to play.

 

[Nima Tann]

After a good day of missions and training, Nima knew where to go, actually she always loved the pure silence and peaceful aura of the place, towards the beautiful fountains of Voss. After remembering some bad things about her past from her training with her Padawan, [member="Taiden Keth"], she needed some peace as well, not just the exhaustion. The Grandmaster [member="Thurion Heavenshield"], and his lovely wife [member="Coci Heavenshield"] ordered some decorations around the gardens, new flowers and much more color, which made here as lively and lovely as possible, she was grateful for their work towards the Order. And also now they had a little one together, and he was such a cute boy, running around the Temple and playing games, just what Temple needed, pureness and energy.

As she continued to walk, she sensed a familiar aura, a little loneliness maybe but high energy, yes that was their son, [member="Théodred Heavenshield"], playing all by himself. She examined him first, and wondered that if he ran away from his parents again like he always did, and the thought made a small smile appear on her face. She started taking small steps towards him, and he was so into his toys that he didn't even sense her footsteps. This would turn into a good lesson for him.

Now she was near enough to scare him, with a grin, she suddenly shouted. "Boo!" The expression of his face was so cute that she already felt bad scaring him like that. "What's my favorite little fellow doing here all alone?" She said, with a loving tone, almost an apologizing one for the previous action.

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

It was Knight [member="Nima Tann"] and Théo's cheeks flushed. Not from a fright or being caught out but because she is so pretty. Having no training in recognising signature in the force, the only two that he could conclusively say he knew well was those of his parents. A connection through the force established the moment of his birth with both mother and father. He had had no choice in the fact, and at times it annoyed him no end as he found it near impossible to get away from them both. They knew all the time where he was.

Although he is pleased to see Nima, his eyes only lifted slightly to look at her, he is shy around her. "Just playing", he finally said, have good manners instilled in him by his mother. He continued the adventure of the speeder through the low laying foliage, "You want to play?", he asked her in hope as he stopped the speeder.

"How.. how did you sneak up on me like that?", he finally asked curious to the fact and maybe he might learn how to do that to others, especially his parents. Forever the prankster he would practice on them in the future. Théo is a little older now and had developed a better understand of language in both speech and comprehension.

 

[Nima Tann]

"Hey, can't say no to that face." She patted his head and sat down beside him. The fountains making their sounds, peaceful and energetic. And now this little man wanting to play with her, yes, the day was starting to go better already. "What are you playing today? Which princesses do we need to save?" She said, a small laugh followed afterwards. And for the other question, she was happy that he took the lesson as she intended. "Well, being a Jedi you gain skills like that." She laughed, and more serious explanation came afterwards. "Theodred, don't let anyone else do this to you. You need to be careful about your surroundings, there are dangers everywhere. Even Voss." And then smiled afterwards. "Next time be more careful, okay? Don't want someone to hurt you, none of us do." And winked afterwards, not wanting to continue this cold weather.

After being in Voss for years, he didn't even get older in her eyes, he was still the baby running around in the Temple with a big smile on his face. But in reality, a year or two later his time for the training was coming. Yes, they were growing up so fast. Well, was she getting old? No, she wasn't. Oh... The thoughts were kicking in again. Better just stop thinking and become a child with him today.

"Now..." Then took one of the speeder toys lying on the ground and then started to swing it around, an excited tone in her voice. "Let's go on an adventure shall we?"

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

[member="Nima Tann"]

Princesses? Oh Théo could not think of anything worse than Princesses. Besides to Théo there is only one Princess and she was sitting with him now, she is so pretty and nice. But he looked at her a little puzzled, not really understanding what she meant, dangers everywhere? Yes he had been protected very much so by his parents and here in the Temple of Voss, one could not be but safe? To young to have witness anything dangerous or mean, certainly not from the Jedi for the Silver Order, but Nima seemed to know of something that intrigued him. And in time he would unfortunately get to know of it.

"How do I be aware of my surroundings?" he finally asked as this toy speeder came to a halt. He like the idea of talking to Nima she is so interesting and fun.

"An adventure yes, no princesses .. yuk!". he smiled his best smile to her. "Let rescue someone, maybe a Jedi Knight in trouble".

 

[Nima Tann]

"You need to listen the environment, if it has something wrong, you'll know. Also, since your parents are both good Jedi, you will have an ability to sense it. Whatever you do, don't get so lost on it and always be on alarm. But today, your lovely Jedi Knight is here to protect you, so don't need to be worried." She winked, and then joined his little game. He said he didn't like princesses, yes, romance wasn't one of her best traits too, she could say. A little smile placed on her face, she patted his shoulder. "Okay, no princesses. Then..." She had to think a quick scenario, "Well what about... Ah yes." Creativity, she could say that it was her one of the best qualities, she knew that he would be interested in her story. And he could learn a thing or two about the Jedi and Sith that way. Yes, he was still a boy but he wouldn't always stay that way.

"Master Theodred Heavenshield and his apprentice Nima Tann is on a mission to save a general from the Imperial Forces. The general is being interrogated by the scary Sith Lord and they had to act quick to save him before it's too late. Now, Master Heavenshield, what will we do? I see an Imperial patrol just there, we need to act quick if we want to save him and not get caught." She said while moving the toy speeder forward, also pointing the direction of the imaginery enemies she created. One of the teaching techniques, usually used for the younglings, were using their imagination powers. It wouldn't be as effective as real practice, but the time would come for that too.

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

[member="Nima Tann"]

He looked up at her, "Listen to the environment? You mean through the force? I don't know how to do that", Théo looked do back to the toy speeder. He is aware of the force, but does not understand it, he knows he gets strange feelings for time to time, and knows when his parents are about, Nima too. From time to time, he had moved objects, sometimes they would come to him if he wanted something badly enough. But that was not some he could control.

"I would like to be your apprentice some day", he said to her without looking up as he was busy with the speeder skimming over the foliage to the rescue.

"We need to take cover Padawan Tann, behind those rocks", Théo moved his speeder to a small group of pebbles at the base of the tree. "We will wait until the patrol passes and move out".

"Zzzzeerrrr", the sound of the speeder "Follow me!".

 

[Nima Tann]

"Don't see with your eyes, don't hear with your ears. Just trust in the Force and you'll be able to see." She then realized that he was still a child, and probably he didn't understand anything from her words. "For example, think as we are the Force and those toys are the people who feel the Force, we just said that there were enemies nearby, and they acted, hearing us and they hid from the enemies." This was much more effective, teaching with toys. "And when you are big enough I will maybe take you as my Padawan, who knows. Maybe you'll find a better teacher than me." She smiled, teasing him a little.

Then she took the toy speeder nearby and started following the Master around, hearing and seeing his movement he seemed happy and also learning. She parked the toy speeder and waited with Theodred, as soon as he gave the command they would move. "A good tactic, you should always keep safe if you are outnumbered, also if you acted carelessly they would call for reinforcements and we would be in a bad situation." Then she praised, patting the boys head. "You are going to make a good commander some day."

"They are slowly leaving, now what to do Master Jedi? I see an opening there, and I sense that our commander is near." She continued this lesson, leaving the choices to him to see what he would do facing those situations.

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

[member="Nima Tann"]

"So we are toys to the force?", he asked but not out of innocence but metaphorically, "It uses us?".

His face held his concern or lack of understanding regarding how one sees without the use of the physical body, but in time he would come to understand it. "You mean I will be able to see without using my body? that is so cool". He smiled up into the face of the pretty Nima. He closed his eyes and tried as best he could to see using the force, but nothing came to him, but he thought he could sense Nima's presence, but that might have been because he knew she was sitting close to him.

But, there was more to it. He could feel her strength, a warmth emitting from her toward him and a sense of caring for his well being. Maybe that is what she meant, he thought.

"You ... you would take me as Padawan one day?', now becoming most excited. "I would like that", he added with a slight flush to his cheeks. No one is better than Master Tann, no one!

He thought about the next move, and her words. "Padawan Tann contact the commander and tell him to move in the troops we will follow the enemy closely to see where they go and what they are up too". Théo moved the speeder forward slowly as if to follow the imagined enemy at a safe distance.

 

[Nima Tann]

"The Force, unlike us, is not a living being, Theodred. Only living beings have the desire to use or control someone. The Force, instead, is a source of power that guides us in our Path, the Path that every Jedi has to take for the rest of his life. But again, The Force is little significant if you want to reach your goals, it is up to you to take the guidance and act as the way you should act." She told the curious boy, hoping that it was an enough explanation, not more, not less. He was still 3 after all and she didn't want to fill his head with all the Jedi wisdom, there would be the times for all of that later.

He had the passion and excitement for learning, that's for sure and also he had pretty good tactics in his mind. No matter that they were playing with the toys but if they were in a battle that the boy could save lives with those tactics. And he was pretty excited that she told him she would take him as Padawan. She smiled softly and patted his head. "I wouldn't find a better student." Yes he was still three and he could change his mind but she was happy that he was thinking she was a good teacher.

"Okay Master Heavenshield, I informed the commander and they asked our password to make sure nobody is imitating us, only I know the password and... wait a minute what is that? Oh my. Look out!" Taking another speeder she fastly moved it towards herself. "Master Heavenshield! The enemy is here! I'll hold them off, give the order and save the general and his men. I'll... be... okay..." She opened her mind for him to learn the password, and he had two options in front of him. Save his Padawan and leave the general and his men to their deaths, or save the general and let his Padawan die. The Jedi's life was a sacrifice, and she wanted to see how he was making his decisions.

[member="Coci Heavenshield"]

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

[member="Nima Tann"]

He did not really understand all her words to describe the force, and in time he would, but some had made an impact. "So the force is like my mama and papa, they give me guidance when I do something wrong, or if I have a problem", he said looking up into her pretty features. Of course the force is more than that, but to him his parents are all powerful and wise, even though they might put him in situation that he does not like, like day care.

He turned away to look down at the speeders, his hand moving the speeder forward to sit along side her's. "How do you know what is the dark side and what is the light side, I mean how does it feel inside?". He wanted to know how a person recognises it.

But after Nima had moved the game on, something triggered in Théo, some feeling from the past as if the warriors of old entered his heart. The blood of the Valkyri awoke in him and a need to protect surfaced. Whether it was the blood line or simply a want to protect Nima he would not be able to answer. But the idea of her dying he could never tolerate.

"No Padawan Tann, I order you to go and lead the General away from danger and have them regroup behind the tree. I will go and face the enemy, I am the master after all". Without waiting for her response, he moved his speeder out to meet the foe.

 

[Nima Tann]

"Yes Theo, you can say that. The Force is like your parents, it'll help you and guide you, but the choices are still yours to make." She said smiling as she saw he was examining her. The boy was a cute one, taking the goodlooking side of both his father and mother, and she was honored to be his first crush. Smiling once more, she heard his other question. And her face suddenly get serious.

"Dark and Light side... That's a question that you don't need to know about right now, you are only three. But let me quickly explain this, seeing that you are curious. Light side of the Force feels like... umm... When your parents tell you that they love you and hug you, the feeling you feel inside is similar to the feeling when you embrace the Light side. You always feel in peace, happy and loving yourself. As for the Dark side... It is when you do stuff that your parents wouldn't like. For example, if your parents tell you to do something and you don't. You feel free, you feel in power, you feel that you can do everything you want. But at the end of the day, when your parents catch you... then those feelings will turn into regret, and sadness." She sighed, but then quickly realized that she would make him sad so she placed a little smile. "But you are such a good boy that I am sure you won't need to worry about those things."

And then they continued their little roleplay, him being the Master. The thing he has done made her proud of him, sacrificing his own self for his Padawan, but of course that was a Jedi's way, not a commander's. When life gave you choices you wouldn't always be lucky to create your own choice. "What you did... was a thing that your parents would do. I am proud of you, and I know that you would make a great Jedi. But what if, you didn't have the chance to help me? What would you choose? Would you be ready to sacrifice your loved ones to save million lives?"

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

[member="Nima Tann"]

He looked at her deep in the face and studied it for a moment. Nima's words grave as they are, did form in his mind to a point. He understood the point of good and bad and how that made you feel especially if your mother or father discovers you misdeeds. Théo will not forget the look on his father's face the day he and Zak destroyed his office. Although it was never their intention to do so. He simply does not wish to disappoint them again.

But to sacrifice someone he loves for others? others he does not know? that was too hard for him to answer. He simply could not image doing such a thing, and he frowned.

"I don't want my loved ones to die either, why do I have to make a decision like that?". He simply did not understand the oath of the Jedi as yet, but "I want to save people, protect them, but I don't want any one to die because of it. I would rather die before that happened".

"Would you Nima? would you sacrifice me to save millions?".

 

[Nima Tann]

The kid, despite his age, knew how to ask a good question. A sigh followed, while she was thinking a good way to answer. Of course, what she said would have a consequence, since she was his role-model of some sort. But she had to be honest with this, she always needed to be honest. And he had to learn that there was a line between being a follower, and a leader. Nima, wasn't a leader.

"I wouldn't, no." She said, with a careful tone. Don't say anything that can confuse the boy... Repeated and repeated in her mind. But life was confusing, and he was going to get some of it today from the Master. "But, there is a difference between us. I am but a soldier that follows orders, but you are born to be a leader, as your father and your mother. Leaders make different choices that any soldier can't. That's what makes you different from me. Life is not fair, Theo. You will face so many difficult choices, questions and sometimes, you will not have all the best answers. But, those soldiers will always follow you as their leader, no matter what the cost. And that's when you will know you are responsible for all the lives you swore to protect. Difficult, yes. But you are going to make choices for them, take their burdens as yours. " Wow, that suddenly got dark there... Good job, Nima. "Even though you have to sacrifice me, someone you love, or even your parents, to save millions, you should take that chance. Remember, soldiers won't follow a leader who doesn't sacrifice. Sacrifices make boys men."

"Do you understand, Theo?" She asked, she was serious this time, no joking around. When the talk was sacrifices, Nima was the master, she's made a lot of sacrifices to keep going, and she was just a soldier. When soldiers try to make their own decisions...

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

[member="Nima Tann"]

"I .. I think so", he tentatively said. The reality was that for the most part he did not. In his young age, the idea of sacrifice was unknown, save for having to share toys with his sisters. Oh what a burden they are! So Théo had little to do with any form of sacrifice especially of this magnitude. And yet, he had seen it, heard of it from other Jedi, including his parents, who have to go and leave him from time to time in order to run the Order. As much as they would want to be with him, they could not. They are leaders, that much Théo understood well and good. He looked up to his parents for it, proud of them for leading others but there is always sacrifices on the whole family, part of the down side of being a leader of men. In time, as Théo would grow, Nima's words will come back to him, and he would understand them fully.

Nima is right, one day Théo will be such a leader, and he is groomed to be so as well as the position written on the soul. "Is anyone ever really strong enough to do that? to let go of loved ones?". Although Théo moved the speeder around skimming over the foliage, he had stopped playing.

 

[Nima Tann]

"The history is full of them, Theodred. Full of the people who sacrificed everything to get wherever they are." She said with a calm, serious tone and a relaxed expression on her face to make sure the boy wasn't scared of this little talk. She knew that being the young boy he is, the truth would be a big burden to bear right now, so she tried to sound like more of a big sister, not a teacher. "Even there are people in the Temple that can tell you that they have sacrificed a good amount of their needs and wants to be the ones that are standing beside you." She gave a slight nod, and then sighed. Who ever didn't lose something to get where they were anyway. Be the ones that the people see you, not you feel how you are, this was one of the sacrifices she's been suffering all along the way. One of the sacrifices that the burden was very heavy to carry.

"Now..." This thing, she had to do one last thing to make sure he understood. She took one of the speeder toys and slowly rode to the imaginary enemies that they have created, and the same lines followed the action, some kind of re-enactment, the true explanation is. "Master Heavenshield! The enemy is here! I'll hold them off, give the order and save the general and his men. I'll... be... okay..." Let's see if the boy understood.

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

[member="Nima Tann"]

Théo watched as Nima moved again, then place her toy against the enemy. But Théo did not move. "Who is to say that my life if greater than yours?, simply because you say you follow? I am but one, you are a part of many".

Théo reached out and stopped her hand. "If anyone is to go and face the enemy .. I am".

Again, "Padawan Tann, pull back behind the lines and take the general and his men to safety. I will meet them head on and buy you time to escape. I am but one leader, and so another will take my place".

But he did not move his speeder, the game was over and he had little stomach for it. He looked up into her face and smiled. He understood alright, just did not like it. "Never will I place myself above another".

 

[Nima Tann]

"Uggh... Look..." No way to persuade him to other way, she knew it. She sighed uncontrollably as she heard his answer, the exact answer that he gave to her minutes ago before they had talked about all the sacrifice part of the life. Yes, it meant that he had a strong mind that didn't break easily, but sometimes he had to just accept that that was how it worked. But of course, he was just three. She couldn't expect from a boy to understand such heavy subjects in that state of mind. Maybe later, they would understand each other more, when he get to the age to be taken as a Padawan. Instead of the expression of disappointment, she put a smile on her face. Take a deep breath. "You are really special, aren't you?" She said, trying to sound that this was the answer she wanted to hear. This little game of theirs got serious for a moment so she left the speeder to the ground as well as little Theo. The little child attitude of his was replaced by a fire in his eyes, ready to sacrifice himself. Besides, this was the Jedi way, wasn't it?... She wondered if she sounded like a Sith now without knowing. Placing yourself above from others. But the Jedi Order, like its name, was an order. It had the chain of command, and when the leader became the soldier, it would let the whole order into chaos. And chaos wasn't the thing that they needed right now, since the place they live in was already a chaos.

Then she slowly stood up from her half lotus position, patting the boy's head doing so. "Do you want to continue this conversation later, perhaps? Nima needs to get to work now." She said with a big sister voice of hers. "But it was great talking to you." Then she stretched her legs that were hurting from sitting too much, by the Force she was getting old. Was she running away from him since he was talking the half-truth about sacrificing? Well... She didn't want to answer that question. Right now, she really needed to get back to work.

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]

 

[Théodred Heavenshield]

[member="Nima Tann"]

"Would you do that Nima? would you send me into a situation where you knew I would not succeed? Where if you went, you could have?".

He was surprised by her reaction, sensing a level of doubt in his Master's countenance. "I thought a Jedi served to protect those that are less strong, Whether they are citizens or Jedi alike?, as a Master I would not place a Padawan in danger".

He wanted her answer before she left him to return to duty. He too, would have to return to the Temple and his family.

 

[Nima Tann]

"Even in the easiest missions, there are dangers, Theo. And if I don't send you to that missions, I can't know that you'll succeed or not. I can't always be with you, you can't always have my protection. And it can be both ways for me too. You don't want to sacrifice anyone? Not a huge possibility since this galaxy we are living is not utopic, yet maybe you can. But then you'll need to be stronger than now. You need to become the leader that Silvers need, and rely on." She let out a smile as talking to the boy, the truth, no matter how difficult it could be, has to be said. "Even if you had the possibility to die in a mission, I would send you there. That's what makes us strong, and what makes us learn what it's like to be that always being in the claws of death. It can be me, you, or even your parents." She said, then nodded. "Don't want that to happen? Think about our little lesson today, work harder to make your dream come true. This world doesn't need more sacrifices than they had now.."

"Jedi protects the weak, yet who protects the Jedi?" She said, then continued to walk through the Temple Gardens towards her chambers. This little lesson, no matter how it was like a game, would be an important one for Theo to learn. And he would soon understand that sacrifices had to be made, yet in his age, with the mind of a 3 year old child, it was impossible to prove him otherwise. It was going to be another day of a busy Jedi works. Yet it was good to breathe once in a while. She shook her head and continued to move along away from the child, since she didn't want to confuse him any further with her Jedi philosophy.

----END----

[member="Théodred Heavenshield"]