Take The Moment

[Kriel Firin]

Kriel was aware of the emotions in the cockpit. You didn’t need to be an Empath to understand what Ara was going through. And she had the former Jedi to help her.

He’d purposefully held back – as he believed she was more likely to reveal her frailty to this newcomer than to her – and he knew she would only progress if she embraced her fears and beat them. Fear was a powerful emotion for a dark-sider to use. It was potentially the most powerful. But it was also the hardest to harness and Kriel knew that if she emerged from the trial, she would be significantly stronger as a result.

So he finished his paperwork and then meditated. He could do no good by intervening now. She was going to have to work this one out all by herself.

[member="Ara Ren"] [member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Ara Zambrano]

She resisted the urge to pull away automatically when [member="Connor Harrison"]’s hand covered hers. It was a reflex, to pull away when she was afraid or hurting, to hide her weaknesses from those around her. But here she couldn’t do that. Not and come away as having passed this test set forth by [member="Kriel Firin"].

She did as instructed, pushing the button that was illuminated, smiling grimly as she heard and felt the corresponding mechanics answer. Her hand returned to the throttle, the direction to hold steady a major concern. Her left hand shook as the fear washed over her. She was sure the ex-Jedi could feel the corresponding shaking of her right hand, and resolutely started ahead, unwilling to see if he was amused by such a visible since of weakness.

”You keep saying that…If you’re wrong, it’s your funeral.”

Sarcasm was one of her coping mechanisms and she clung to it like a lifeline. Between the two of them, the Disciple and the ex-Jedi, they made it out of the Spaceport and broke through the atmosphere, surrounding Dosuun.

She let out a breath she’d been holding, closing her eyes momentarily and forcing herself to swallow past the lump in her throat and the ball of nerves her stomach had become.

She turned just slightly and raised an eyebrow at Connor, smile still tense.

”I don’t suppose you know how to get to Virgilia from here?”

She looked at the mass of flashing lights and buttons in front of her pointedly.

 

[Connor Harrison]

With a wry smile, Connor pointed to the break in atmosphere before them heading into low orbit, and beyond that...the stars.

"You've done one of the hardest parts. Control and guide the ship. And we're still here.”

He span around and looked over the controls, the ship shaking gently as it broke through. His eyes cast over the nav-computer and he activated it, and took a moment to figure out what to press and when.

"Nav-computers. Key in coordinates, and it'll get you there. Now you just have to make the jump to hyperspace with that lever there when I say. Otherwise we'll fly right into a star and be destroyed in seconds.” He winked at her. "Trust me.”

With the location keyed in, Connor judged the jump and raised his finger, waiting.

A few more seconds, and with a glance up to the stars, he pointed.

"Hold her steady and punch it. Now.”

[member="Ara Ren"] | [member="Kriel Firin"]

 

[Ara Zambrano]

Her knuckles gripped the controls tighter, eyes slamming shut, as the ship shook.

”Nav-computer, jump to hyperspace, crash into a star, easy as can be.”

She leveled a narrow-eyed glare at the panel in front of her. If Talon wanted her to have a full-blown panic attack, this would do it. She was amazed that he had the confidence to stay away from the cock-pit with an untrained and incompetent pilot in control.

She shot a side-long glance at [member="Connor Harrison"] , shaking her head with a rueful smile. Trust him, he said. It was her she didn’t trust in this situation. Well, that and the floating death-trap of metal around them.

Regardless, she stared straight ahead, throat dry as she beheld the mass of space and stars around them. Gripping the handle he’d indicated, she nodded once, indicating he’d be ready when he was…maybe.

At his signal, she initiating the jump to hyperspace, the invisible hand wrapped around her internal organs squeezing until she thought she was going to pass out. The knowledge that this was a test, and that both men were judging her in some way kept her gaze and grip steady as they traveled, despite the fear and nerves threating to take over.

[member="Kriel Firin"]

Spoiler

I assume Talon just wants us to get there so I went ahead and posted. I hope that’s okay with everyone

 

[Kriel Firin]

Kriel was a genuine passenger right now and simply meditated, awaiting their arrival when he could complete the formalities and allow the former Jedi to join the Knights of Ren. He had avoided using his name on purpose and would continue to do so.

As he waited, he wondered if the man in the cockpit would take a Master – not that he needed to – and if he would change his name to a Ren nomenclature. It had never been enforced, but neither had anyone chosen not to.

[member="Ara Ren"] [member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

With a little sigh, Connor wasn't going to lie; the blue void of hyperspace was a welcome sight as the ship would travel their programmed course to the Bastion...or Virgillia. Wherever that was.

Sitting back in the seat, he nodded, and his job, for now, was done. He glanced back, noting the edge of the Ren in the rear, keeping himself quiet. Probably evaluating her progress.

"Doesn't say much, does he.”

He looked back around to Ara and smiled.

"See. You did it. Trust me, and you'll go far. And when the nav tells up to drop out, then you do what you did before but in reverse. Take us in gently, slow and steady, and dock.”

He tried to look away from her, but he didn't want to. She was nervous, but always fighting chains that held her back.

"So what's at this Bastion? Is it more of a hideaway than Dosuun?”

[member="Kriel Firin"] | [member="Ara Ren"]

 

[Ara Zambrano]

She risked a glance over at the man beside her, but wasn't comfortable, or brave, enough to glance towards the figure of her master who had yet to say anything since directing her to pilot the craft.

"He says what is needed. I find it peaceful."

One corner of her mouth tugged up in a smile as she teased the ex-Jedi despite the tangle of nerves and fear present. She glanced at the nav-computer, noting that it was a much shorter trip than she expected. Although until now, she had spent most of her time travelling curled up in a corner trying to forget that she was hurtling through space. She supposed it took less time when one had something else to focus on instead of the internal torment that accompanied a jarring fear of heights.

Turning back around to focus on their path, she rolled her eyes at his simple description of a wholly monumental task in her eyes.

"Yes, all I have to do is the same thing I did before, but this time, we'll be hurtling towards the ground. Somehow I doubt gentle or steady will apply."

Her gaze dropped to the nav-computer, noting that they were significantly closer to their targeted location than before.

"I hope your faith in the Force is strong, Mr. Harrison. You're going to need it."

She gripped the controls with white-knuckles before dropped out of hyperspace with her heart in her throat. The imposing stonework of the Bastion built into the side of the mountain and surrounded by jungle spread before them and for a moment Ara was breathless, this time not from fear but from beauty. She'd never opened her eyes long enough to watch their descent to another world and the view from above was simultaneously one of the most beautiful and fear-inducing experiences of her life.

Once she was sure she could speak around the lump in her throat with as little warble in her voice as possible.

"That is the Bastion of Ren."

She let the structure speak for itself and the computers guided her to the hangar in the lowest levels of the fortress. Biting her lower lip, she focused on the task at hand, her fear and anxiety brining everything into hyper focus. Somehow, she landed the craft without destroying any significant machinery from their landing site or the craft itself, a shuddering impact as the landing gear hit the ground the only signs of their less-than confident pilot.

[member="Connor Harrison"] | [member="Kriel Firin"]

 

[Kriel Firin]

Kriel prepared for the arrival. All of the paperwork had been completed and the former Jedi would be shown his lodgings once he arrived. Classes would also be offered to him on the aspects of the Force he was less likely to have used – such as Force Drain and Lightning.

His experience and history suggested he would be a quick learner and with the power of the dark side to fuel his ambition, all he had to fear was ambition itself. The dark side was seductive – that’s why so many Jedi were prone to fall. But the seduction was addictive and many Sith died young through burning themselves out or ageing their bodies prematurely through the use of the dark side.

The Knight wandered through to the cockpit. “Home…if there is such a thing. Our headquarters and the seat of the majority of our learning. You will have unfettered access to materials and training – and if you require any specific lessons, you will invariably find me here.”

He paused for a few moments, clearly weighing up his next words.

“Connor Harrison.” It was the first time he’d referred to the former Jedi by name. “Was a Jedi. You are now a Disciple of Ren. By what name will you be known?"

[member="Ara Ren"] [member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor smiled between Ara and the destination they were on, watching both the pilot do her magic and the world of Virgillia open up before them through thin clouds. Then, the mountains and jungles welcomed them in before a structure built into the mountains itself appeared almost out of nowhere.

He whistled slightly in admiration. It was a magnificent piece of architecture and one that already offered so much protection from external forces and detection just by being part of the mountain itself.

Ara took the ship in near perfectly, and Connor didn’t once feel in danger as he glanced up and down through the cock-pit as the Bastion swallowed them up.

The Master Ren from behind confirmed this was his new abode and where he would train, learn and develop. Connor stood as the ship land to disembark but was thrown by the next question, and had to double take as it sounded like a joke. But it wasn’t.

"A name?” He shot a glance to Ara. "I hadn’t thought of a name…I mean…”

He HAD a name. Connor Harrison. But, was Connor the Jedi Master who had died on Dxun and would be burnt to ash on Virgillia through his training? This was the final piece to cutting off the ties to his past.

"What constitutes a name, then? A meaning? A symbol? Personal choice? What.”

He knew Ara was…well, Ara, but that was it. He didn’t even know her full name. Her REAL name. He knew the monikers that the Sith used, but for him to do it himself and change his name? The thought scared him.

[member="Kriel Firin"] | [member="Ara Ren"]

 

[Ara Zambrano]

Releasing the controls with a rush of relief, and pride if she was honest, Ara turned to face Connor and her master as he entered the cockpit. She clasped her hands in her lap to hide the shaking that was a result of too much adrenaline for far too long a period of time. No doubt both gentlemen felt the churning in her aura and could see the tremors running down her arms, but appearances were as important as reality in some cases. She lifted her chin slightly, eyes defiant should the ex-Jedi chose to comment on the small movements.

Unsurprised by the offer of training, she was surprised when Talon asked Connor for a new name, a Ren name.

It should not have been as unexpected as it was, in fact, she didn’t even know Talon’s true name, only his chosen one. She had long since divulged herself of her birth name, and it was simple enough to turn the street name she’d used for so long into her new identity among the Ren. Raising an eyebrow, she stood as well, moving past the newest disciple and her master, ready to disembark. The sooner she could escape the flying metal death trap, the more content she’d be.

When he shot her a glance, she shrugged slightly, unable to offer the assistance he seemed to be seeking.

”For me, it was a personal choice long before joining the order.”

Glancing at the visor of her master, she tilted her head, expression thoughtful. For the first time, she wondered about his past and his identity. Had he renounced his name and his family when he joined the Ren, becoming Talon through devotion? Or was he like her, a rogue who disconnected from their past even before the Order gave them somewhere to go.

Letting the thought go, she filled the questions away. If she ever had the chance, she would ask, but for now it was unimportant.

”A name is an identifier. Ow you have a chance to choose your own. I am Ara by choice and I am stronger for it. Who will you be, Mr. Harrison?”

Ara turned and met Connor’s gaze, her own expression analyzing and curious. Would he choose a name for himself or cling to his old moniker? One side of her mouth quirked up in a smirk as she raised an eyebrow in question.

She moved towards the exit, waiting to see if the men would follow.

[member="Kriel Firin"] | [member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Kriel Firin]

Kriel listened to the former Jedi and his Disciple before responding.

“The Ren name is personal. Each takes one for their own reasons and personally I never ask why or any reason behind it. That is not to say it is discouraged to share, but it is not necessarily encouraged to enquire.”

“And there is no timeframe. Your development is not a sprint but a marathon. I chose my Ren name when I was knighted. Until that point I was referred to by my given name. There is no shame in that. Others choose a Ren name from the moment they arrive and that is also acceptable.”

And then he followed Ara from the ship. It was a personal decision for the former Jedi and his choice would be honoured. “Welcome to Virgillia,” he said as they approached the now lowered ramp to exit the ship. “And good flying,” he added to Ara. “I never doubted you for a moment.”

[member="Ara Ren"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor was but the learner now, regardless of his past. His time as a Jedi meant nothing except he was still a liability and a defector.

The Bastion was mammoth. A structure like had never seen before, and to think his narrow view of the First Order at one point extended to them operating out of Dosuun, even the Knights of Ren. He had no idea they had a place like this.

"I have an idea for name,” he said as he walked with them, "and I think it fits my chosen path. It's in honour of someone who proved they can be true to themselves against great adversity and leave a lasting legacy, which is hopefully what I can do.”

He looked to the Ren.

"If, or when, I make Knight - then I will take the name.”

He looked at Ara and gave a confident nod.

"And am I able to take residence here in training and have access to Masters for learning and spar sessions? I know there is much I want to learn.”

[member="Kriel Firin"] | [member="Ara Ren"]

 

[Ara Zambrano]

Ara listened as they walked, staying a few steps in front of the men. The subterranean hangar was not somewhere she spent much time and so the disciple chose to ignore the hustle and bustle around her. At Talon’s comment, her lips quirked up in a grim smile. Internally pleased with the praise, she couldn’t help but think that both men had more faith in her, or at least in the force, than she did.

”That makes one of us.” She muttered under her breath, hoping the sounds of the hanger masked the snide comment. Louder, intended the be heard, she offered a tilt of the head, ”Thank you, Master. Your faith honors me.”

Turning to glance back at [member="Connor Harrison"] with a raised eyebrow, she wondered what name he had chosen and the significance behind it. Choosing not to question his choice or time to take it, she returned her attention to their path across the hanger towards the doorways that led deeper into the fortress of the Ren.

His next question, one about lodging and training, she left to Talon to answer, her own experience with the Ren limited to answering his questions about how they operated. Reaching the first of multiple doorways, she turned and bowed her head to both men.

”Master. Mr. Harrison.” One side of her mouth quirked into a small smile as she addressed the ex-Jedi. ”Thank you for your assistance with the flight.” The tone of her words was flat and respectful, the only sign of her previous discomfort a slight drawing out of the word flight.

”If you have no other need of me, I believe I will retire for the evening.” Remembering the last time she’d made such a comment towards her master had resulted in her taking the pilot’s seat of the craft they’d just vacated, her eyebrows narrowed suspiciously as she awaited his response. ”You will have my report within the hour.”

[member="Kriel Firin"]

 

[Kriel Firin]

“My faith honours you,” Kriel responded to Ara. “You give me too much credit.”

And then he turned to Connor. “Your proposal sounds logical and entirely fitting. I commend you for your judgement and your humility.”

And then he checked his datapad for an incoming message. “And this is where we part company, at least for now. I am sure our paths will cross again Connor.” He gave the slightest of bows to the former Jedi before turning to Ara. “I shall await your report and your training can resume tomorrow.”

And with that he turned and walked off, in the direction of his lodgings.

[member="Ara Ren"] [member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor turned, sensing the trinity was to break. He gave a grateful glance to Ara, and to the Ren.

"Thank you, Ara. And good flying again.”

His smile got a little wider, and he lowered his head to the Disciple. And then he turned to the Knight who had taken him in.

"Your faith will not be misplaced in me. Thank you again.”

Already he had ideas of training. Ideas of attire, and even to see if the cross-guard lightsaber he had seen once was active in the Ren ranks. As both parted ways, Connor turned to face the Bastion and nodded in satisfaction.

Who knew what the future held for him within these walls, and with whom.

There was only going to be one way to find out.

[member="Kriel Firin"] | [member="Ara Ren"]