Faction (NJO) Freedom at Last

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Zavra Shae OPEN TO NJO MEMBERS

Landing in the hanger bay just outside of the Jedi Temple was always a bit of a delicate operation. Still, Jonyna had a purpose today, returning home. After a short trip to Tatooine, then a short stop at the Coruscant transit hub, Jonyna had let off most of the now freed slaves that she had saved. But still, one remained onboard the Reaper. One she had taken in, and offered a chance to be something greater.

Jonyna didn't often get the chance to see the light in the eyes of the youth. The wonder of seeing the temple for the first time. She was too busy signing papers, too busy doing her job to visit the incoming younglings.

Today was an exception.

"Alright, careful down the steps." Jonyna said to the girl with a soft smile. "Don't want you to fall..."

 

[Zavra Shae]

The arrival at the Jedi Temple is marked by the landing of Jonyna's ship. Her eyes fixed on the viewport, the young woman could hardly believe what she was seeing. A fully futuristic installation where Jedi train in combat and in mastering what they call the Force.

Zavra keeps her gaze on the window of the ship, watching her pilot execute the landing. The maneuver looks delicate and difficult, but it's no trouble for her companion.

Once their ship is settled, the ramp lowers, allowing the two women to step out. She follows closely, walking into the immense Jedi Temple that is the Coruscant Academy.

"It's so huge I'm going to get lost in a place like this."

She's wearing a coat to shield herself from the cold, as it's much chillier here than on her home planet, which is a constant desert. Here, she'll have to be mindful of the ambient temperature. But this time, she's free no longer does she have to fear electric shocks or being forced into work she doesn't want to do.

She turns to the Cathar and offers her a polite smile as a gesture of gratitude. There is still so much left for her to discover. The promise of wonders and new experiences lies ahead.

Jonyna Si

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Zavra Shae

"Oh trust me, I still get turned around sometimes when I'm roaming the temple." Jonyna chuckled as she led them to the steps of the temple. "But you'll get the hang of it eventually. I'll show you around a bit, then we'll get you your new room. And yes, you're getting your own room." She answered before the girl could ask. "Just remember, you don't need to fear anyone here. We're all here to be your family now."

To be a slave, it was a horrid life. Jonyna wanted to make sure Zavra never saw that life again. Only a life of honest work, measured training, and a chance to help others.

The massive staircase up to the main entrance loomed over them, Jonyna seeming entirely unfazed by the massive sight, as she walked up the steps, though seeming to be taking measured steps as to not make the same mistake she had when she first arrived.

She didn't want this new padawan to see her fall on her face again.

 

[Zavra Shae]

Zavra followed Jonyna in silence, her eyes fixed on the massive temple in front of them. Every step seemed like a mountain to climb, but she tried not to show her fatigue. Jonyna's reassuring voice encouraged her, easing some of her apprehension.

"A room just for me..." she murmured to herself, as if the words were too unreal to be true.

Each step echoed in the silence, the weight of her past still heavy on her shoulders. But here, in this imposing yet promising place, Zavra felt a small spark of hope begin to grow. Jonyna's promise echoed in her mind: "We are your family now."

She placed a hand on the rough fabric of her tunic, as if to make sure this moment was real. Her eyes swept over the tall columns and the symbols carved into the stone, absorbing every detail. It was so different from everything she had known. No chains, no masters, just a chance to become someone.

She finally broke the silence, her voice soft but filled with sincere curiosity:

"And you... were you scared at first, here?"

The question wasn't asked out of simple curiosity. She was looking for a reflection of her own fears, a sign that it was possible to overcome them. She hoped that Jonyna, with her confident presence, had once been lost as well. Maybe then she could believe that this place, and these people, could truly give her a second chance.

Jonyna Si

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Zavra Shae

"Oh, terrified." Jonyna admitted. "I spent 20 years wishing I could go here before I finally made it. First day, I fell flat on my face in front of the Grandmaster. Felt like a doofus." She chuckled at the thought. "But, I kept at it. I kept going. I made a name for myself. As a fighter, as a mentor, as a jedi. The code we follow...it's more than just a bunch of thoughtful words, it's a way of life. It's a message to the stars."

 

[Zavra Shae]

Zavra Shae shifted uneasily, her hands clasped in front of her as she listened to Jonyna's words. Her gaze wandered to the floor for a moment before she looked up, a mix of awe and uncertainty in her eyes.

"I... I don't know if I can be like that," Zavra admitted quietly. "I'm still so new to all of this. I've spent my life running from one thing to the next, never really having a place to stand. And now... I'm here, starting over, and it feels so big. So much bigger than anything I've ever faced before."

She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "But... hearing you talk about it, about how you kept going no matter what, it gives me hope. Maybe I can find my place here too. Maybe I can live up to the Code one day, just like you."

Zavra gave Jonyna a small, unsure smile. "Thank you for bringing me here. I don't know where this path will lead, but... maybe I'll find my way, with time. i do my best i promise!"

Jonyna Si

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Zavra Shae

"Hey, no problem." Jonyna offered a small smile. "Let's get some grub in you. A proper meal. You like steak?"

She was sure the girl had never had a proper steak in her life, but Jonyna was always happy to blow the kid's mind with good cooking. As she led them into the grand lobby of the temple, a few familiar faces to Jonyna waved to her. A knight she had worked with, a fellow padawan who gave Zavra a kind smile, a fellow master who seemed engrossed in a book.

Back when she was just a padawan, Jonyna wouldn't stood in awe of the idea of visiting the temple. She still felt a bit of wonder at the thought. 3 years here, and yet the chill of walking up the steps and into the lobby was a thrill to her, even still.

She hoped this padawan would never lose that.

 

[Zavra Shae]

She suggests we eat a steak, but I have no idea what that is. I've never been able to taste that kind of food every time it was reserved for the bosses. We were given something else, and it was much less appetizing. It was more like mush than anything else, just the bare minimum to keep us working, and that was it. No culinary pleasure was ever granted to us.

Being allowed to taste that kind of food was usually a privilege reserved for those who had credits or were free to do as they pleased.

"A… steak? Am I allowed to eat that? ...I... I.. Okay, i follow you."

I remain skeptical but decide to follow her. After all, she brought me here, and I have to trust her. It's true that now that she mentions it, I'm still hungry, even though I ate on the ship to meet my needs. I probably didn't take as much food, likely out of habit.

I follow her through the long hallways of the Coruscant academy. This temple is truly impressive; the Jedi lack for nothing. My gaze wanders in every direction, though I don't have time to take it all in. I suppose I'll be able to explore later and familiarize myself with every corner of this new environment.

It will also be time to trade my desert robes for a Jedi Padawan outfit so I won't stand out because of my status as a former slave. The mark on my wrist from the bracelet is beginning to fade little by little. I still can't believe it is this what freedom feels like? To think I'll have a room of my own it's so unexpected.

Jonyna Si

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Zavra Shae

The winding halls seemed to be navigated deftly by the Cathar, even if to the padawan it felt like a maze. Soon though, they came to a small kitchenette, one of many throughout the temple. While the temple did have a primary cafeteria, it also had several smaller nooks for masters to eat up during long hours.

Jonyna was quick to open the fridge, pulling out a package of two decently large ribeyes, smiling as she walked over and started the small grill. "Of course you can. You're free now, remember?"

It was hard to internalize that, she knew. Jonyna knew she would need to help the girl slowly remember that, yes, she was in fact, free. Free to do whatever she wanted.

 

[Zavra Shae]

Freedom is an abstract concept for me. It's hard for me to imagine that I'm free and that I can now eat whatever I want without having to answer to anyone. I watch her take out some good pieces and tend to the grill. Machinically, while she's busy preparing the pieces of meat, I'm busy cutting up vegetables and peeling them cleanly to go with it. Well, when I say vegetables, I mean potatoes.

"It's true that the notion of freedom is still a little abstract for me, sorry, I'll help you cook."

Without thinking, I cut the number of potatoes needed for two people, after having peeled them properly and cleaned them well, then I plunge them into the oil to prepare the rest of the meal. We then head for a traditional steak frites.

It's starting to smell good in the kitchen, making me hungry. As far back as I can remember, I've never really been able to taste the food I used to eat as a slave, and it wasn't very good. It had no flavor whatsoever. I look at the steak and potatoes, curious. I still have so much to discover whether it's about the force plane, lightsabers, Jedi, even food in general.

"It's nice of you to give me the opportunity to eat a good meal. I don't know if I deserve such an honor."

You had to work hard to get a mediocre ration, I still don't know the taste of good things everything remains to be done.

Jonyna Si

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Zavra Shae

"Hey, it's only fair. You need some meat on your bones." Jonyna chuckled as she began searing the raw steaks. "Soon you'll find a master, and someone who'll teach you everything you need to know. Until then, I'm happy to be here for ya."

She couldn't fault the girl for falling back on habits she hadn't had the chance to break yet. Still, she hoped that as time would go on, the girl would have the chance to free herself from the mentality of a slave.

 

[Zavra Shae]

The contrast is so stark between what I can and cannot do, my old slave mentality makes me normally forbidden to have meat and vegetables. I didn't have the right to enough food to meet my most basic needs; I just had to have enough energy to be able to work.

All the nutritional needs, all the little pleasures one could afford, those were for the rich and the free. All I was allowed to eat was a small ration that was barely nourishing enough to keep me alive. Moreover, it had no particular culinary flavor. It was like mush. It was mush, really the nutritional tubes we were given were of very poor quality. They were cheap, inexpensive to produce, no need for cooking.

All I have to do now is prepare the fries, I dip them in the deep fryer with very hot oil to cook them properly.

"Is this new master going to give me electric shocks?"

I can't help but feel anxious; I don't really know what the Jedi are like. I hope I won't receive too severe punishments; I better behave properly if I want to avoid that. But well, I was always among the model employees so it should be fine, yet despite that, I regularly received disciplinary reminders.

My question might be disconcerting, but it was my daily reality. Electric shocks were there to remind us that we had to remain silent and produce content regularly. If we were too slow, we suffered the consequences. Such are the joys of slavery.

Jonyna Si

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Zavra Shae

While one might gawk or look in confusion at such a statement, Jonyna simply shook her head. She knew what the girl had been through, and what she had dealt with up until now. "No. They'll train you in the ways of the jedi, and show you how to help people. There are lots of ways to do so, and they'll be your guide. I run the Service Corps for example, a group dedicated to helping saving folks from the dangers of the natural and unnatural. Fires, disaster, warzones. We come in, pull you out of the rubble, and then help you rebuild."

She offered the girl a smile as she reached over for her spices. "If that's what you wish to do, I'd be happy to find a place in that line of work. But there are plenty other paths you could take. That of a Guardian, a jedi who fights evil head on. A Sage, a seeker of knowledge. Or a Sentinel, someone who seeks out evil and does the dirty work so the Guardians can know where Evil lies."

 

[Zavra Shae]

My declaration seemed to shake her a little bit. At the same time, it's understandable I come from a violent and difficult environment where everything was an excuse to punish me. All I can do now is hope to lose those habits.

Then she starts telling me about the different paths available within the Jedi Order. I'm thinking of choosing the path of the Sentinel; if I can help track down dishonest people and send them to prison, then that's perfect for me.

"I think the Sentinel path would suit my character better. What spices are you preparing?"

Spices, steaks, and fries... I've never had any of that in my life. I wonder what it all tastes like. But one thing is certain it smells amazing, and I like the aroma coming from it. I help her prepare the dish, and once the fries are cooked, I carefully take them out without burning myself and place them on a large platter.

So, I prepared the side dish while she handled the steak pieces. That way, it's a collective effort. I don't like sitting around doing nothing, and in any case, I probably would have been punished for it.

"What will be the next step in our cooking process?"

Jonyna Si

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Zavra Shae

"Just a bit of garlic and some local stuff from my homeworld. Bet you've never had a steak that tasted this before." Jonyna smiled, before cutting into the meat with a small knife, before grinning. "Next, we eat!"

She pulled the steaks off the pan, placing them onto a pair of plates, and setting them onto the small table that was set up for people to eat.

Jonyna didn't seem to bother waiting for her food to settle, taking a steak fry and dropping it idly into her mouth. "Mmmm...you made these good. Try some steak!"

 

[Zavra Shae]

Intrigued by what we've just prepared, I can't help but start with a fry that I've cut from the potatoes when she invites me to eat. It feels surreal to me that I'm eating this kind of dish, considering my former nature. It tastes quite delicious; I could get to like this.

Then it's time to try the meat. I take a bite of the steak it has a particularly tasty and juicy flavor in my mouth. I am overwhelmed by such an array of flavors. It's quite different from the nutrient tube I used to eat; I take another bite, and it really feels strange.

'This is delicious, I didn't know it could taste this good. Thank you for allowing me to discover this.'

Like my partner, I devour my steak, savoring each bite. You can see on my face the preciseness with which I eat. There is still so much for me to discover and try. Eating steak frites in the cantina of Coruscant I would have never thought that possible one day, even in my wildest dreams.

'I could really get to like this, yeah...'

The steak is exquisitely seasoned, with a perfect blend of spices that enhance its natural flavors. Each bite is succulent, with the right balance of tenderness and a slightly crispy exterior from the sear. The fries are golden and crispy, with a soft, fluffy interior, seasoned just right to complement the richness of the steak

Jonyna Si

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Zavra Shae

Jonyna took her time eating her steak, seeming to savor the bits of flavor as best she could. She didn't seem to bother with utensils, instead picking up the cooked meat with her bare claws, and munching it down.

Unfitting of a Jedi Master, but Jonyna was never a regular jedi. "Alright then. Well...I gotta go, but try and poke around the temple, yeah? Meet some new friends, familiarize yourself with the place. And if you get lost, be free to talk to anyone nearby. Okay?"

 

[Zavra Shae]

The meal goes by so quickly that I barely have time to enjoy it before it's already over. In fact, I enjoyed eating something tasty for the first time in my life so much that it all went by in a flash.

"No problem, I understand that you are very busy. Thank you for the tour of the temple and for introducing me to it."

I give him a warm smile and bow my head respectfully. I can now go visit my new room within the temple. Everything seems so beautiful and so large. Thankfully, there is a map available because otherwise, I was sure I would get lost.

I give him a friendly wave of the hand as a sign of thanks, I will repay him one day, I will have to pay my debt.

Jonyna Si