Shifting Sands [Open]

[Lief]

Kära inhaled the crisp clean air of Voss-Ka as she stepped from her ship into the wide courtyard which adjoined the hangar. While the journey over from Midvinter was not the longest she had undertaken, after so long stuck to one world it felt almost jarring to travel. Once upon a time she had loved nothing more than watching the stars zip by the viewing ports, but now it made her feel nauseous. Then again, everything did these days.

It was estimated that she had just a couple of weeks left, though the healers back on Midvinter insisted that he could come at any moment. Perhaps it was foolish of her to make this journey then, so close to the due date, only... If it was one thing Kära knew it was her own body. And the babe which resided within. He wasn't ready just yet, and neither was she.

Mind on the present, Kära, you have a task to do remember? There is a reason you are in the Capital after all.

For a great many years she had lived within the toxic web of the Darkside. As pawn, as student, as soldier, as manipulator, as Master, as Lord... Up and up and up. Never truly out of choice, but necessity instead. Survival. Dragged along for so very long on the whims of her so called peers. Propelled by a false prophecy.

The prophet Master is no longer here, however. He cannot weave his spell on me these days, I am not a child any longer. And my mind is not so easily swayed.

No, it was not the Darkness which brought her to Voss but the Light instead. Her time on Midvinter, since reconnecting with her beloved daughter and her childhood friend, who just so happened to be the Grandmaster, had left her feeling anew. Reawakened. But not quite purged. She had a lot of making up to do.

Neutral though she may have been, there was still a lot of work to do before she was redeemed. Sitting and thinking on her sins would never do, however. A waste of time, simply impractical. Instead she had spoken with [member='Thurion Heavenshield'] and asked if there was some way she could help the Order.

He had agreed in the end, though with how much reluctance she could not tell. They were family now, tied through marriage, and he knew her better than even herself. Trusted her. But did she trust herself?

You cannot mess this up, Kära. Redemption is a long path, fraught with temptations and difficulty. Do not rush it, do not push it, just trust in the Force and allow it to carry you. At least until you feel a little more confident.

So what, pray tell, was she doing here, you might wonder?

A student had arrived, a Doctor no less, with little in the way of direction. While she could have been put in with the other new arrivals, as part of the Youngling plan, she was quite a bit older than the standard. No sense in humiliating anyone, after all age played no real part.

Kära had seen an opportunity, and she had grasped at it. A chance to teach and train. Despite her darker background, she knew a surprising amount about Jedi Ethics and Philosophy, and while she was learning appropriate ways to teach a student through the Light she had a couple of more basic tricks up her sleeve.

Redemption through tuition. Not only would the Doctor learn, but Kära would too. In a way that did not undermine either of them. A mutual arrangement. Of course, Kära would no doubt be monitored. To begin with, at least. In time, however, she sincerely hoped their trust would blossom. She sincerely hoped that she would rise to the occasion.

After all, she had a family to think about now. A future. A life. Darkness could hold no sway over any aspect of that.

Kära blinked. Apparently she had thought herself all the way to the laboratories without walking into anything or anyone. Quite a feat. Lifting her hand she gave a very light knock to make anyone inside aware of her presence, before pushing open the door.

Hopefully she would find her soon-to-be student inside.

[member='Taygeta Lightkeeper']

 

[Taygeta Lightkeeper]

Cygnus X-1 Book II, Hemispheres (Rush)

[member="Kära Vi'dreya"]

Taygeta was indeed inside. The lab doors weren't locked and inside, the sound of Music could be heard at a fair volume. Dr. Lightkeeper was running test after test, sequencing the genes of local lifeforms and comparing them with data she kept of Naboo lifeforms on her datapad. She thought little of the philosophical lyrics of the song filling the facility as she went about her business, nor did she hear the knock.

The young woman, in her twenties and already the holder of a Theed University doctorate in the field of molecular biology, was dressed rather plainly, apart from her labcoat. Her sandy hair done up, seemingly in haste, in a messy, loose bun with a rainbow scrunchie. She wore a simple blue tunic under the labcoat and white capris. On her otherwise bare feet were simple sandals of common, padded synthleather featuring little more than an upper strap and a loop over the greater toe. She also had a pair of glasses of a weaker prescription over her green eyes, eyes that were glued to the readouts on the computer screens.

As she moved one set of genetic code, nothing more than a scrolling series of A,T,C, and G letters following a green line that slid through the DNA molecule being examined, she replaced it with yet another, narrowing her eyes expectantly as she started to sing along.

"... Then all at once the chaos ceased. A stillness fell, a sudden peace. The warriors felt my silent cry and stayed their struggle mystified!" she said, trying poorly to match the octave of the band's vocalist's voice. "Apollo was astonished. Dionysus thought me mad. But they heard my story further and they wondered and were sad. Looking down from Olympus on that world of doubt and fear, its surface splintered into sorry hemispheres."

A musical interlude came as she jotted down notes on her datapad, lofting a brow with interest. It would seem that Naboo's lifeforms and some of the ones she was examining were fairly similar. She hypothesised that at some point, the ancestors of these organisms may have orginally come from Naboo, which lead her to wonder just how many were truly native, untouched by the genes of foreign organisms.

"They sat a while in silence, then they turned at last to me. 'We will call you Cygnus, the god of balance you shall beeeeeeeeee." she said, mocking granduer with a snide grin to herself as she raised her arms in what was really a 'eureka' moment. She didn't notice the presence of another until she did this, however. It was at that moment blood rushed to her face, reddening her countenance. Apparently, she had been so caught up in her studies that she had momentarily lost awareness of her surroundings... how embarrassing... so like an eager young researcher. How stereotypical....

"...Hi... " she greeted, in a feeble attempt to ease the newfound tension. "... I'm Dr. Lightkeeper, Taygeta Lightkeeper. Is there something I might do for you?" she asked.

 

[Lief]

She stepped into the stark white laboratory within which a young woman was hard at work, Kära's eyes taking note of the sequencing almost instantly, even from afar, before she gave a very subtle nod of approval. A true Doctor, then, not one of those fools with a doctorate that knew nothing of science or medicine.

Settling her hands to her back, the Lady in White regarded her from afar. She seemed ordinary enough, in fact more ordinary and down to earth than most. Of course that was likely because she'd had a productive and aspiring existence prior to finding herself in the Jedi's lap. Confidence in her work, a slight hint of social anxiety given the way the music was set to drown almost everything else out...

Embarrassment as she saw Kära stood there. Clearly not used to being interrupted.

Kära had no time for embarrassment, however. She slid over the ground so effortlessly it was as though she glided instead of walked, and glanced over the project Taygeta was working on. Extremely fascinating business. Perhaps she would press the girl for answers to the many questions she had at a later date. Kära was no stranger to genetics, after all, her Daughter was a product of genetic manipulation... Honed into perfection.

"Intriguing work, Doctor Lightkeeper," she said, finally turning her gaze back to the young woman, "I would hate to drag you away from it, so we can talk here for now and when you hit a logical point at which you can pause we can go elsewhere."

She waited for some sort of an acknowledgement to the fact, before continuing.

"My name is Kära Vi---" She wasn't a Vi'dreya anymore, was she? Such a habit, one she would have to learn to break. With a slight cough, and the brushing down of her dress over the bump, she corrected herself. "Hearthfire. Kära Hearthfire. I'm here to discuss your future with the Jedi."

[member="Taygeta Lightkeeper"]

 

[Taygeta Lightkeeper]

[member="Kära Vi'dreya"]

Taygeta would lower the volume a little to accommodate present company and glanced at the screen again. "Well, I'm simply comparing some data I brought with me from my homeworld, Naboo. My hypothesis is that some of Voss's plant and animal population may be the result of transplants from other worlds that are adapting to survive the planet's climate." she explained. "It's just to keep my mind busy and satisfy a curiosity."

She set her datapad down and let the scan continue, the computer recording the sequences. She then turned to Kara, catching the slip in surname use.

"Recently married?" she asked with a small smile.

She'd give her her full attention at this point. Perhaps now she might have a mentor to teach her how to make use of her Force sensitivity.

 

[Lief]

Oh, Kära liked this one. How many times had she come up against angsty students, or those who did not really wish to be there, or who had no drive or desire to learn... And wished only to be consumed by the Darkness?

Yet here sat a perfect balance of curiosity and control. Knowing what she was looking for, knowing what she hoped to find, able to distinguish the facts in her head from what she wanted to see...

She smiled a most genuine smile, and listened as the explanation came to her.

"That does not sound too implausible, now, does it? Poachers have been known to take specimens from distant planets so that they can be implanted into new ones. Sometimes due to a curious mind, hoping to discover more about the creatures and how they might adapt. Sometimes due to a paranoid mind, someone wanting further defense in the form of over-glorified guard dogs."

She offered a shrug, before flicking her gaze up to meet Taygeta's gaze.

"Ah, yes, very recently in fact... Is it that obvious?"

Kära had never thought it possible, that she of all people could fall in love, could wed, could have children... Mysa was an experiment, a very successful one at that, and she loved her dearly. But no deed had to be done to create her, genetic splicing and artificial insemination... Her mother's daughter through and through. But the life within her... That was different. Unique. Special. Not that Mysa wasn't, of course.

"We thought it prudent to offer you tuition and training away from the initial Youngling program. Usually that's there to give new students a fair start before a Master picks them up. That way they can be monitored, and a good match made for their long term Apprenticeship. Alas they tend to be far younger than yourself."

Kära tilted her head a touch, watching for any non-verbal response, before continuing.

"And that's where I come in. If you'll have me, I would very much like to kickstart your journey as a Jedi until such a time as a Master is matched to you. Who knows, perhaps you and I will gel enough that we'll decide to make it official ourselves."

She wasn't going to force the girl's hand though. She needed a Master she could trust, one she could confide in, and one she could learn from. Kära wasn't even technically a Jedi at this point. But with time, who knew...

[member="Taygeta Lightkeeper"]

 

[Taygeta Lightkeeper]

[member="Kära Vi'dreya"]

Taygeta listened to Kara, her bespectacled eyes sizing the woman up a little. The young scientist didn't really know the history of the woman who stood before her and didn't have the skill in Force augmented senses to feel anything different about her yet. However, it had been her hope someone would approach her about this very subject eventually.

"Alright, I've only been practicing the basics, like control of my bodily functions and feeling the force itself. I'm not sure just how good I am yet, lacking an experienced mentor to guide and measure me. Like, I have managed the ability to move a leaf without touching it physically, but it isn't easy for me." she explained, giving Kara a rundown of where she was, approximately. "I've seen others move things I'd never be able to physically move by just lifting a hand up and wishing for it." she added, a distant glimmer of awe in her sea-green eyes.

Taygeta would rotate her left ankle a little, flexing her toes a little as they were beginning to stiffen a little from standing for a couple of hours straight. "So, what is your history? Where are you in the jedi's arts?" she asked.

 

[Lief]

She let the girl speak all she wished, before giving a subtle nod of her head. Untrained, but willing to learn. An attempt at Telekinesis but a difficulty toward it. Kära was not surprised, sometimes the scientific mind overcomplicated matters. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but it was something that would have to be overcome.

Telekinesis was as easy as you let yourself believe it was. The difficulties, the limitations, were mostly in your head. But even knowing that didn't make it easy to remedy.

"That you have even attempted without tuition is a good sign, and the fact that you did not try anything too difficult is an added bonus. Taking your own steps into the Force allows you to have a better grasp of it in the long run, but making too big a step without prior knowledge can be dangerous." Not impossible, but dangerous.

The question caught her a little off guard. Kära knew better than to lie to a potential student, however. She did not want anything to be brought up in the future as a falsity. Did not want resentment to be harboured. She was hoping for redemption, after all, not further strife.

"I... Am technically not a Jedi. Simply put, I am on a path of redemption. Formerly Sith. I do so hope that will not cause you anger or judgement, I stepped from that path a great many years ago and now I reside on the Silver Protected world of Midvinter. If you know of it? I would protect it with my life, and almost have done in the past, and I would do the same for the Silvers. This is my home, my family reside within it. You need not worry, I promise you that... But if you have questions, about myself or my past, then know that I will always answer you honestly."

She exhaled slowly. One more thing to confess to.

"This will be a learning experience for the both of us, provided you wish to go ahead with it knowing who I am... Was, even."

[member="Taygeta Lightkeeper"]

 

[Taygeta Lightkeeper]

[member="Kära Vi'dreya"]

Dr, Lightkeeper fixed her with a blank stare. True enough, she had been stalked and eventually harassed by an adherent to the Dark Side, which was what brought her here in the first place. "I... I see. " she began, but didn't for a moment forget and dismiss the the mention of redemption.

True, Taygeta knew barely the basics of what a Jedi was all about, but she had slowly come to accept that the Dark Side's grip was rarely complete on anyone and that one could be redeemed, regardless of how heinous their crimes. She had actually written a paper about a similar subject regarding opposition to the privatisation of criminal justice for a sociology class in college. It had been mostly an ideological testament, but the premise of her theory explained therein was that wrong-doing in virtually all cases was to be regarded as a disease, similar to addiction, and had to be treated similarly. To reduce crime, one had to rehabilitate the criminal's behaviour and life situation, which took the profit out of the business of justice. It was no different in one's alignment in the Force. To redeem the dark-tainted, one must seek the opposite and accept cleansing natural Force. Just like cancer, one had to go to the source of the corruption to rectify it.

Taygeta passed no final judgement, having largely let go of the traumatic experience. Instead, she'd divulge the details of the ordeal. "Where I came from, the Techno Union occupies Naboo. I was born and raised in Theed, the Queen's capital. My parents are both physicians and I had originally intended to become one myself, but wound up getting caught up in biological sciences on the way to Medical school. The end result was a doctorate in molecular biology. Well, what brought me to Voss was a Tech Union Dark Jedi monitoring my lab work. I did my own bloodwork one day out of sheer curiosity and the results seemed to be of interest to the Dark jedi. I found out that the results indicated I am Force Sensitive and I presume that meant I was a target to swell the ranks of their Force users." she explained.

She paused a moment as she gathered her composure. Reliving the experience was difficult for her. "Well, I started receiving threatening messages from someone whose identity remained withheld from me. I would often lock myself in the labs or in my campus flat out of paranoia, getting social only on the local Holonet. Turns out that was traceable as well, except that it wound up saving my bottom. A Jedi by the name of Heavensheild arrived and tracked me down to the biology lab at my alma mater right when a Dark Jedi had me cornered. there was a fight like the kind straight out of action holovids and next thing I know, I'm in hyperspace. That's how I wound up here."

After explaining herself, she would tap the padded synthleather sole at the toe-end of her right foot on the floor nervously, then twisting it around a little as if putting out a smoldering cigarette. "If you're seeking redemption, but are not yet a full Jedi, are you able to help me? Is there an approval process we need to go through?" she asked, still interested in the offer. Clearly, Taygeta was willing to give her a chance.

 

[Lief]

Not exactly a vote of confidence, but what she she expect? Most Jedi despised Sith though they hid it well enough behind all their Codes and their professionalism. A lot had been harmed in some way either directly or indirectly. The Sith killed my parents! A comment she'd heard far too many times for her liking. An eye for an eye... Vengeance did not suit them. So they hid behind false pretenses, until they could exact revenge. Paint it up however they wished, that was usually the crux of the matter.

Except when they were borne into the Jedi. Then they were just cold, rigid, unmoving. Barely human.

This one though. This one, again, was different.

"Some people do not know when to leave well enough alone. They believe that Force Sensitivity is something which simply must be harboured, must be taken advantage of. As though there are not enough of us already in the Galaxy, hm?"

Foolishness in her eyes. Alas, that was simply the way of things. The way it had been since the Je'daii came in their great Tho Yor and began plucking innocent Forcies from their beds. And who was she to mess with tradition?

Now, this mention of Heavenshield had her smiling. A genuine smile. The irony was not lost upon her.

"Which Heavenshield, might I ask? The Grandmaster? His wife? Their child..?" Nina wasn't a Knight, she wouldn't have been referred to as Master, but Théodred was...

"Dear girl, the name you just provided, the one who saved you from that threat, belongs to the same group of individuals who are my reason for being here. My reason for redemption. The Grandmaster is a dear friend of mine, and in truth my brother-through-law. Making his wife a sister to me, and their children my niece and nephew... They would not put you in harms way, nor would they put me in a situation they did not feel me ready for."

She tilted her head to one side.

"I would not risk your future by offering my services if I was not allowed or able. This I swear."

[member="Taygeta Lightkeeper"]

 

[Taygeta Lightkeeper]

[member="Kära Vi'dreya"]

Taygeta listened to her and then answered, "[member="Coci Heavenshield"]." she said, dropping the name of the Grandmaster's wife. "She was the one that saved me from stars-know-what and brought me here."

She had a feeling that an ex-Sith's every move would likely be watched and thus didn't feel nearly as threatened as any lesser person might. Further, somehow, she wasn't surprised that Kara had joined the Heavenshield family. It would seem the two of them had something in common beyond the obvious. The Heavenshield family was cropping up more and more in Taygeta's life, it seemed. For all she knew, she owed Coci her life, whether literally or figuratively she hadn't quite figured out yet.

"Well then..." she began again after a pause. "...where to start, I guess. I don't know what is supposed to come first."

 

[Lief]

A slight nod of her head. Coci was a good woman, great even, caring yet straight to the point. Tay was lucky to have been picked up by a Heavenshield, especially one such as her sister-in-law.

It seemed as though the name had dispelled any doubt, though there remained a touch of hesitation. That could be ironed out with time, Kära simply had to prove herself. To this student, to the Jedi, and most of all to herself.

"Tell me about the assailant, Doctor."

Kära was interested not only in the identity of this individual, but how well her new student was at recalling information without having any real time to think on it...

[member="Taygeta Lightkeeper"]

 

[Taygeta Lightkeeper]

[member="Kära Vi'dreya"]

Taygeta answered, "I didn't ever get a name. Further, the situation happened so quickly, that what details I can recall are sketchy at best. The stalker was female, Human or near-Human. Had a lightsabre, but never used it against me. Kind of a slight build... dainty, not unlike myself, but fast." she said. "I was scared, though. I wasn't sure I was going to leave the lab alive."

She thought a bit, trying to remember any other details. "White hair.. she had a hood up, so I only saw a little of it. It might be cropped short, like a bob-cut. I don't remember eye colour. What little skin I could see was pale... like, paler than me." she added, pointing at her legs, which weren't terribly tanned. "And the outfit was skin-tight, black and red... even the jacket that had the hood seemed fitted. She moved almost like a dancer, but with an aire of aggression about her... and unnaturally fast."

Taygeta then lifted her tunic, showing a precise-looking bruise, light in colour, on her left side. it didn't hurt terribly bad, even when it was fresh, but when the kick landed, it certainly knocked her back against a wall. "She kicked me and somehow it didn't hurt alot when it hit and still doesn't. But it knocked me against the lab wall, which is how I got cornered."

 

[Lief]

At first Kära had wondered if it wasn't a fellow Umbaran that was being described, or an Arkanian though they had rather tanned skin... But at the mention of the dance-like movements and agility she could come to just one conclusion. Echani.

Of course she could very easily have been incorrect with her deduction. There were so many types of people in the Galaxy, different races, different professions, different body types... Sometimes though you had to go with your gut.

Her eyes flickered to the presented bruise, before a very subtle nod left her.

"My guess would be an Echani. That was a very precise strike, meant to incapacitate but not to cause any real damage... Whoever it was knew what they were doing."

She tapped her chin for a moment, before glancing around the lab. "How long ago did this happen?" Perhaps evidence may remain, though this is not the laboratory in question... Likely any samples would have been tarnished already.

A shame. All the same Kära would put out her feelers and keep an eye out for anyone who matched the description.

[member="Taygeta Lightkeeper"]

 

[Taygeta Lightkeeper]

[member="Kära Vi'dreya"]

"Almost a week ago. I hardly notice the bruise anymore." she said. Being jet-lagged, her sense of time might be slightly off, too. "Once I had been shown around, though, I just jumped straight into my natural environment in the hopes of letting it go and starting over."

It was true, while like any person, Taygeta could hold a grudge, but she wasn't generally a violent person nor prone to blatant acts of revenge by nature. "So far, I've been successful. I'm becoming more enlightened by the minute here, so perhaps the experience, as undesirable as it was, wasn't so bad for me, given the intervening circumstances."

Honestly, the scientist didn't really know what becoming a Jedi meant getting herself into, but at this point, she would stay positive and optimistic.

 

[Lief]

A week. Bah. No good.

Well, at least she had some sort of description to go by. Maybe she would have the Judgement keep a watch for anyone following them if they left Voss. Mention it to some of the other Jedi...

"Let's not worry about this individual for now. Know that I shan't let them get to you, though."

She glanced around the laboratory for a moment, before looking straight back to Tay.

"Working is good, especially with a project in mind, but you cannot hide away in here forever. That is not why you were brought to the Jedi, though I have no doubt they'd benefit from your expertise. Tell me, in the week you have been there have you learnt anything not directly tied to your field?"

[member="Taygeta Lightkeeper"]

 

[Taygeta Lightkeeper]

[member="Kära Vi'dreya"]

Taygeta looked back on the brief timeframe she had been here. "Not alot. I have become aware of the concepts of Control, Sense, and Alter, but I don't know how to apply them yet. Like, I've picked up on meditative practises and have attempted to control bodily functions, to clear my mind... easier said than done, though."

True to her kind, her mind was always running a kilometre a minute. She was always thinking. Learning to control her mind might well become her greatest challenge in recent times. But she was vaguely aware that if she could control that, she could theoretically control the rest of her being. "I have, as stated before, managed to move a leaf... barely.... without touching it. I'm having difficulty keeping a... I guess 'grasp' is the word?" she asked, thinking of a better way to put it.

 

[Lief]

Nothing that hadn't already been mentioned. She had suspected as much, but there was no harm in making sure. With a slight nod of her head, she pondered over which route to take here. Such a keen mind, it likely wouldn't be the theoretical aspects which she would struggle with, and Kära was most definitely not the kind to throw a reading list at her students.

"Then perhaps that is where we shall begin. May I ask, why did you choose a leaf of all things?"

Usually people tried to start with something they saw as easy, light... Feathers and leaves were not unheard of, but they also were not a true test. The slightest of breezes could lift them up, move them, even inside a room such as this all that was required was a slightly ajar door or window and the moment is lost.

Something more tangible, while theoretically heavier, worked best. After all, it is not the physical weight that matters at all. It entirely comes down to your will. Have that, and anything is possible with enough practise.

 

[Taygeta Lightkeeper]

[member="Kära Vi'dreya"]

Taygeta answered, "Well, Apart from the obvious superficial reasons, such as light weight and low mass, it was also safer should I have a stroke of 'beginner's luck' and manage more than merely popping it up in the air briefly. Had it been something heavy or expensive, then there might be damage. It was overall safer... and of course, leaves are easy to come by." she said, bending her fingers as she said 'beginner's luck' to represent the intended quotations.

She then looked at a cryo-crate that perishable biological specimens were stored in. It was much heavier than a leaf. "I don't know how mass comes into play in this, however. I have observed things that have some weight to them being moved effortlessly by children... so I assume that mass figures differently using the Force than with more conventional, physical means."

Dr. Lightkeeper truly didn't know how correct her empirical assumption really was.