Take Over Control

[Allyson Locke]

The sun rose over the temple grounds, Spencer had just finished getting lectured by one of the Masters for disappearing again. The man had grown stressful with the girl’s antics and running off. He didn’t understand why she felt the need to run off into the unknown galaxy. As he thought more, he figured it was because she was ready to be assigned to a Master and allow her to finish her training. Against his gut feeling he leaned back and assigned her. So now, Spencer waited for the woman she was assigned too. Also because the Master had a feeling Spencer would be a brat he wrote the woman’s name on a paper which was pinned to the teenager’s chest.

“Phylis Alince…name sounds familiar…but she sounds kind of like a prude…”

Sighing softly Spencer stretched and rested her hands in her lap as she sat there. She had mixed feelings, she was excited to have a Master and go on adventures. Though she wondered if the woman would like her or if she would be kind, knowing her luck though Spencer figured the woman would be a nightmare! Closing her eyes, Spencer meditated for a moment a grin swept her face as she remembered her most recent adventure alone. She got into trouble, but there was always the Garhoon to save her. Now, she’ll have a Master to look after her too, she will be safer in the horrible place the Galaxy had become.

 

[Phylis Alince]

Phylis received the news in silence. It was going to be her first assignment as a Jedi Knight and she wanted to do her best. On the other hand she was resentful that she'd been allocated a padawan without any choice.

What if this 'Spencer Jacobs' didn't get on with her? What would she do?
With a sigh she set out through the temple to meet her student.

Finally she saw her - a teenager with blonde hair and a name tag pinned to her shirt. That in itself wasn't a great sign. Did the girl even know her own name?

She approached. "Spencer? I am Jedi Knight Phylis Alince and I believe you're going to be my padawan."

 

[Allyson Locke]

Spencer stood up quickly and gave the knight a respectful bow. She didn't know how she was supposed to act around her Master they had just met, although she recognized the woman's face the longer she stared at her. Realizing that she had just stared and never answered the Knight, her hazel eyes fluttered and a soft blush spread across her cheeks. She didn't look at the Knight in the eye, but stared at her boots. Nodding, Spencer spoke quietly and introduced herself.

"Yes, I'm Spencer and you're to be my Master, Phylis Alince."

Looking up from the woman's boots she grinned happily. The more she thought about it, the more she grew excited. They were going to go on adventures and now she didn't have to worry about getting into heaps of trouble with no way out, well besides the Garhoon dropping in when ever it was necessary.

"What are we going to do first?! Expore? Fight a war?"

In her excitement she focused the force and pushed it towards her new Master...

 

[Phylis Alince]

Phylis was caught off guard and stumbled back as she reflected the Force push. The energy reflected into an unfortunate pot plant, knocking it over.

Phylis looked disapproving at this excessive enthusiasm. She had not expected the sudden burst of energy.
"We will be doing no such thing until you settle down and control yourself!" She said irritably.

"Now come with me and we'll begin your training," she ordered.

 

[Allyson Locke]

Spencer got a hit of the grumpiness through her empathy. She figured that she should control herself a bit, though Phylis should have gotten warned about the girl’s lack of control. Still, Spencer followed quietly and groaned about the lack of adventure. Her eyes wandered around wondering if this was going to be no fun at all.

She decided to have a bit of fun on her own especially since she figured everything was going to be boring. Reaching out, she focused the force on the hairs on the back of Phylis neck and started to pull at them slightly. Nothing too painful, but enough to be an annoyance. Grinning, she chuckled and responded to her new Jedi Master.

"I've done enough training, we should go on an adventure...I'm tired of being cooped up in the temple"

 

[Phylis Alince]

Phylis irritably brushed her neck, and when it continued she glared at Spencer. "The Force is a gift and a responsibility, not a toy. Your first rule from me is not to use the Force unless you have very good reason. Am I understood?" she demanded.

"Going on an adventure is something that will happen when you show me you are capable of it! Otherwise you are certainly not going anywhere. You learn control and we go on an adventure, you continue to be a little girl and we go nowhere."

Phylis clearly looked put upon, and not very happy at all. She had clearly expected that things would be more...respectful. At that point though she didn't seem like she was going to give an inch until Spencer acknowledged her status as Master.

 

[Allyson Locke]

Spencer stopped in her tracks as she was lectured quite roughly. Phylis words were sharp and struck the young woman in the heart. She didn’t understand the way Phylis was acting towards her; none of the Masters had expressed this sort of hostility. Frowning, she followed the woman and had her head down. Spencer was taught to enjoy the Force and during her time at the Temple it was her only friend sometimes.

“Why are you so mean?”

The blonde looked away from the situation as she continued. Spencer was excited to finally be paired with a Knight and adventures were something that she had finally looked forward too. Her hands twisted at the collar of her tunic as she continued to speak in a low and soft tone.

“You don’t want to be my Master do you?”

 

[Phylis Alince]

Phylis stopped and looked back at Spencer. She sighed and passed a hand over her brow. The Jedi Knight looked at the ceiling, not meeting Spencer's gaze.
"I don't have anything against you, Spencer, I'm not trying to be mean. It's just I don't know if I am good enough to be your Master, or anyone's. I'm not even sure if I should be a Jedi or not. When I was told that I'd have a Padawan though...I don't know what I expected. I came here and I see you're young, enthusiastic, determined. I don't know if I can teach you properly, or I should even try. I don't know, Spencer."

She finally looked the blonde girl in the eye. "I'm only a few years older than you, I've learned a lot as a Jedi, but whether it's enough to train someone else I don't know. We'll give this a try, you and I. We need to work together though, alright? The Force is what gives us both power, but you need to listen to what I say as I know at least a little more than you I think!"

 

[Allyson Locke]

Spencer listened while Phylis spoke; she fought the urge to interrupt the Knight in her speech of doubt. Frowning, Spencer didn’t like the sound of her doubt with her abilities. This was not what Spencer needed in a Master, she wanted someone who was sure of themselves and could teach her what she needed to know so she can explore the galaxy. Spencer held her breath as she touched the side of her neck where the faint scars of the Garhoon’s bite lingered. She remembered her adventures and how the only reason she survived was because of him.

Her face softened as she met her Master’s gaze.

“I understand you’re doubt Master, but I trust you will succeed with this as you have succeeded with your Master. We’re not perfect, but maybe that’s a good thing. We can teach each other something.”

She took a few steps past Phylis as she headed towards one of the training rooms, she knew the temple like the back of her hand. Looking over her shoulder, Spencer flashed Phylis the most adorable smile she could muster. The young padawan was adept at basic force skills because of her living in the temple for so long – she will be a challenge to train, but it would keep things interesting hopefully.

“I warn you my Master you should stay on your toes around me.”

As quickly as Spencer spoke, she unleashed a force push on her Master – the Padawan was eager to learn and wanted to push her Master as much as she wanted to be pushed by Phylis.

 

[Phylis Alince]

Phylis was ready this time, almost expecting it from what Spencer said, and she reflected the Force energy directly back at Spencer! She grinned as her Padawan dealt with the double push.
"And you had better keep yourself ready around me as well, Padawan," she said smugly.

She became serious again, frowned. "Yes. We both have a lot to learn. Come on, Spencer, let's get started." She held out her hand for Spencer to take.

 

[Allyson Locke]

Spencer was quickly caught off guard, the push was stronger as it reflected her own and was added in with Phylis own. It was as if the wind had turned against her, the loud thud echoed in the temple as Spencer landed backwards and tumbled over herself. Laying there for a moment, she listened to what her Master had to say. The woman was strong and Spencer was thoroughly impressed. If anything, Spencer would need to keep her on her toes around her.

A hand reached out for her and Spencer paused for a moment. It was something she wasn't used to from the Masters. They knocked you down and expected you to learn why you fell and get better. Blinking a few times, she reached out and grasped Phylis' hand and stood up. A smile spread across her face, she was happy to have a Master now. At least she wouldn't be alone in the temple anymore. It was a relief.

"What are we going to do first Master?"

 

[Phylis Alince]

Phylis walked along beside Spencer, thinking. "Hmm, I think the first thing I want to do is find out more about you. I've been given some notes about you, but I want to know more. Tell me how you came to be here, where you came from, and what training you've had with the Force. If I'm to teach you I need to know all the information I can."

They reached Phylis' room and she let Spencer in. It was a bit of a mess, with clothes and other things strewn around, the bed unmade and the curtains astray. Phylis seemed a touch embarrassed at the mess for a moment, and hastily shoved some things out of sight.

"So, tell me everything you can, Spencer."

 

[Allyson Locke]

Spencer walked in and with the mess she felt right at home. There was nothing wrong in her eyes with everything being unkept as long as things were easily found , then it was in order. Looking about she listened to her new Master's questions. They were somewhat confusing since she really couldn't answer much of anything. All she had known was the temple, so things were going to be a bit vague.

Tapping her chin slightly, she leaned her backside against one of the desks. Her eyes caught a top that she would eventually ask the girl to borrow, but that was for another time.

"Uh, well I grew up in the temple. From what the other Masters have told me and from what I remember I was taken from my parents since they couldn't raise me in the first place. The Jedi recognized my connection with the force and the way I reacted with different emotions around me. They call me an empath, though when there's too much going on around me I get overwhelmed and tend to freak out. I uh...really don't know where I came from...honestly. No one has ever told me..."

The thought of not knowing where she came from showed some signs of her being upset. She wondered if Phylis knew where she came from, like all the other padawans they either joined later in life or were discovered at a time they still could remember their parents. Spencer looked away from Phylis as she sighed softly.

"I'm willing to learn everything you know, I've learned basic combat along with other basic skills as you could tell when I force pushed you. I've been taught about the force since I arrived here as a child. The advance technique along with the ways of the world is what you're supposed to teach me...right?"

 

[Phylis Alince]

Phylis nodded slowly. Spencer's history mirrored a lot that she knew about others brought into the Jedi Temple early in their lives. The galaxy was a harsh place, and those who were Force sensitive often suffered from discrimination or punishment unless found and given to the Jedi.
"My parents were spacers, moving between planets in one of the great merchant convoys. Never settled down for long, never got much of a break from all the moving, a new planet every week. I knew I was different though. Things happened around me that I couldn't explain. My parents gave me to the Jedi, told me that being a spacer was no life for a child. So now I'm here, and I've not seen them since," she said with a trace of bitterness.

"I joined the Jedi at age fifteen. I guess that it was the best thing," she said, though didn't sound like she believed it at all. "So what are your interests and hobbies? Is there one subject you like above all others?"

 

[Allyson Locke]

Spencer looked over at Phylis, she picked up on the woman's bitterness. It didn't take much for her to do so, it was literally like Phylis was bleeding the feelings. Her story was interesting, Spencer wondered what it was like to be a spacer...to see all the planets and the stars. It was like a fairy tale and she wished just for once day she could live it. Trying not to let her jealousy and admiration seep too far into her words Spencer worked her way onto the desk. Crossing her legs politely she rested her hands on her knees as she rocked backwards slightly thinking.

"Despite the fact that your parents left you here with the Jedi, it must have been pretty amazing to see different planets. I've always stayed here at the temple -- no one's wanted me as a padawan so I kind of just do my own thing here. I'm sorry about your parents...I like to imagine mine to have been some great republic officers or they could have been space pirates. I know its against our code to feel this way, but I am jealous that you knew your parents."

Spencer bit her lower lip as she forced it to stop quivering, her fingers dug into her knee as she tried to focus pain somewhere else. Remembering the rest of Phylis' questions she quickly pulled her attention there.

"Um I really like hanging out in the archives and reading the maps. I like to draw too, but in school I was better at history and geography. I guess it helps that I have read almost all of the star maps in the archives..."

Tilting her head slightly, Spencer continued to smile.

"What about you Master?"

 

[Phylis Alince]

"Oh, sure, it's fun enough I guess. But after a while doing the same thing becomes dull no matter what it is. You might love apples, but eating apples with every meal makes them wear a bit thin!" she added gloomily.

She brightened though when Spencer mentioned her interests. "I've always loved history, and I spent most of my time down at the archives when I was a Padawan. I guess I didn't always fit in with the others," she said ruefully. "I did my major presentation on the decline of democratic institutions in the time leading up to the Clone Wars!" Phylis commented eagerly, hoping that Spencer would be interested too.

 

[Allyson Locke]

"That sounds amazing, I'd love to read it sometime. I bet you're pretty smart!"

Spencer was excited, it seemed that the force as right in pairing them off. She moved off the desk and stretched a bit, she was growing restless and wanted to do something more than just talk. Spencer looked around again and then back towards Phylis.

"So are the clone wars your favorite part of history?"

 

[Phylis Alince]

Phylis looked really happy now. Someone wanted to read her work, and it was her Padawan too! She'd not detected any sarcasm either, which she had been looking out for.
"Sure, I'll get it for you when we're settled in. The Clone Wars is a fascinating period of history, and the Galactic Civil War era as well. I do like to think of myself as an expert of that time!" she said, preening herself a little.

Standing, she took one last look around the room, and then gestured to the door. "Now we've gotten to know each other a little, let's go and do something. Have you used a proper lightsabre before?"

 

[Allyson Locke]

Spencer pushed off the desk and headed towards the door. She pondered the time that she did use her lightsabre. The sabre had malfunctioned for some reason and she had to be saved by the Garhoon who seemed to linger in the shadows behind her. Biting her lower lip, she decided to keep her mouth shut on that situation for the time being. Shrugging, she folded her arms behind her back as she looked back towards her Master.

"I've used a lot of the training sabres in my youngling classes. Not so much anymore because I'm a bit too big to go against children."

She chuckled softly, yet she felt a bit embarrassed that she was before today considered a "youngling"

 

[Phylis Alince]

"At least you've got a good chance of beating them," Phylis said dryly. "Either way, as my Padawan you will need a lightsabre, though I'm going to modify it so the beam is not fatal. When it is time you will receive a temporary weapon before you go ahead and make your own lightsabre later on."

Phylis produced her own, a beautifully made and engraved handle. A green blade shot into life from the handle for a moment before she deactivated it. "This is mine...it took me over three days to construct it. When it was done I was so happy...." She smiled.

They reached a storage room and Phylis produced a rather battered looking lightsabre, clearly modified so it wouldn't kill, but might provide a nasty zap or burn.
"We seem to have only blue or green blades. Any preference?"