Faction The Brightest Stars have Hearts of Kyber

[Matsu Ike]

Caltin Vanagor

THe jedi master looked at Caltin in the room and set the settings to be careful but still test. The more robust training drones and computer would look at how he was preforming compared to what he wanted and aadjust as needed... which came in handy as it meant gradual increases to the gravity and temperature... to really push oneself but could also rapidly reset to normal for medical droids if he got hurt. She moved up to one of the observation platforms that hovered and looked on it as she crossed her legs and floated there in the heavy gravity with a look of serenity on her face. No need to move but she was keeping the external forces from weighing her down body her own willpower and strength while watching him in the force.

 

[Caltin Vanagor]

“You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice.” - Bob Marley​

The increasing gravity made it exponentially more difficult to focus, if he thought about it, this would probably be a time where he would be glad for the changes to his personage. He would not be able at this point to reach out through the Force to attain his needs, it just would happen now. It was getting more difficult, slowly but surely, but the big man was able to fight it and the more he did, the easier it became, much like a workout.

The electrical field around him was increasing with each move he made and the more that the big man attempted, the more of a field encircled whatever his mind was set out to do. Even with the elements, a simple rain was turning into a thunderstorm. He was getting stronger, keeping his mind sharp was becoming the challenge now.

Matsu Ike

 

[Matsu Ike]

Caltin Vanagor

She continued to watch and observe mostly to ensure he was safe but also because this sort of training you wanted to make sure you got the full effects and experience from it. "You are doing well now don't just use the force to move objects use your muscles... if you stand in one plaace you'll be able to withstand the gravity but you won't train your body to operate within it." She stayed up therre and was hovering to the effect but moved around under the strain of it as the jedi master dropped some small discs for emphasis of the level. "Each one of these is fiarly light flimiseal for looking at datascreens and making messages." As she dropped them the lightweight discs fell like stones to the ground and cracked from the strain. "By now they are around a few hundred pounds... your limbs shoulld be a few hundred times heavier when you move."

 

[Caltin Vanagor]

“All progress takes place outside your comfort zone.” - Lauren Gleisburg
​

Jumping off the machine, the big man immediately felt the increased gravity even more. When this happened, he indeed stopped. As the discs dropped, the big man went to pick them up but they felt like he was picking up a Star Destroyer. His body felt like a Death Star, yeah, the Death Star, you know that “moon” that was built and destroyed nine hundred years ago? He felt like that and didn’t stop him. It wouldn’t stop him.

It took effort.

It took focus.

It took determination…

… but he lifted the disks… over and over again.

Matsu Ike​

 

[Matsu Ike]

Caltin Vanagor

She watched and listened to him.. that internal feeling she knew well and didn't have to read his mind... it was something easy at first and then you focused on it and moved yourself to push forward. The jedi master touched her feet to the floor aand looked up at him as he moved. "You are around a quarter of the way there... just reaching one hundred times normal gravity. This is where you want to pace yourself... control your breathing and know what you can do.. allow the force and your body to tell you before you try as you do not want your bones ground to dust." The jedi master remained there and the focus was also to pace himself with the force as she stepped around njad made the strain look more effortless. "Now it is something to be reflexive... tell me Caltin, how versed are you in esoteric force orders?" She did have a captive audience after all so chance to practice her lecturing skills.

 

[Caltin Vanagor]

“Out of Left Field...” - Hank Williams Jr.
​

The big man was working the discs with a laser intense focus. There was less a showing of strength as it was about will at this point. The big man was still going to push himself more and more until he could not. He would have to be carried out of there. The strain was brutal but he was not going to falter. This was not a test of what he was comfortable with, it was a test of his limits and he was going to push them. As more and more the gravity increased, more and more he struggled but more and more he pushed. Then out of nowhere, she asked him about Esoteric Force Orders.

​

Huh?

​

Stopping to look up, the big man felt the pull of the gravity again and almost fell on his posterior. Planting his feet, he forced out (no pun intended).

​

Do you mean like that Cult of Ashla?

Matsu Ike​

 

[Matsu Ike]

Caltin Vanagor

"Yes or the Bendu, the Shapers, the advisors, the zeison sha, jal shey." She said it and was looking at him as she stood there. "There are a hundred more spread across the galaxy, some light.. some dark... some in the middle but all view the force in different ways. The Aing-Tii for instance see the force in many colors and within the rift one can do things few others understand... the Ta-Ree force tradition is what other species in the rift use... there are the vahla and their goddess of the darkside.. the shapers and their spirits. Witches and their magics, the Jenaasari with their armor... all of them have something you can learn about the force aand that is before the Falanassi and disciples of twilight." SHe stayed there though and motioned with her hand. "You are doing well though keep it up."

 

[Caltin Vanagor]

“Opinion is the medium between knowledge and ignorance.” - Plato
​

So she was asking as a whole, in general, not specifically. Okay. Practicing isometrics and holding the discs out with his arms fully extended, Vanagor gathered his thoughts for a moment. There were hundreds of ways to approach this question, but she would probably see right through them. It was not like this was some kind of test for Knighthood, or even Mastery, however, the big man wanted his own intelligent response. Maybe it was a test to promote his physical strength further or to test his mental acuteness but the increased gravity was proving more and more of a strain.

I’ve learned from the Bendu… nice… but strange and roundabout being. I know of the others. Do not really care to debate with them as I have my beliefs and they have theirs. I think everyone is welcome to their own beliefs which are all there are. The… the Force is not “light” or “dark” or “grey”... there is no “Ashla” or “Bogan”... there is just the… the Force itself. Everything else is just an interpretation. Sith can heal, they just do not choose to learn how. Jedi can crush, but it is against their beliefs. The Force does not discriminate, we do.

Matsu Ike​

 

[Matsu Ike]

Caltin Vanagor

She looked at him as he continued and stayed for a moment listening to his interpretation of the force and it was close in some ways to hers. She had found a number of things but light and dark were difficult to see as the only options.. though they were certainly much more the aspects that were easier to work with. "Interesting." She said it and stayed there near him for a moment floating up to observe him as he was going through the changes well enough. "Now feet in front of the other, move small distances and allow yourself to adjust more. My daughters took some time to get used to this but it did help them reach the rank of maaster with the old silver jedi." She stayed there though and crossed her legs to sit there in a meditative pose with a look towards Caltin. "So tell me what happened to change you. last time we met you seemed very much the noble and steadfast jedi."

 

[Caltin Vanagor]

“Stay true to yourself, an original is worth more than a copy.” - Suzy Kassem​

Vanagor was going to follow Ike’s lead on this, but he was still going to keep his arms outstretched and extend these disks out further, like wings. Slowly, step by controlled step he moved as the challenge of keeping the weight up and keeping balance became more and more intertwined and thus exponentially more challenging. It was now becoming a fight between his will and the increasing gravity, a true workout indeed. The strain on his muscles, his body, was becoming almost too intense to handle and while he did not do so subconsciously, whatever was going on inside him was doing something about it.

Maybe he was still connected to the Force, maybe it was a different type of connection like he had thought, maybe he was no longer touching the Force at all, but his body was reinforcing itself to ease the strain. The energy output coming from him was growing to match the increasing gravity and his very skin was surging with power all over him. The big man was starting to sparkle, crackle, and shimmer as his body was acclimating to the changing geo-climate over and over again.

Her question would have been insulting if he was not expecting it. Truth is he expected this from everyone to whom he had known, might as well shed some light on the subject.

I still am the same person that you met previously. I have always believed that I am not a Jedi because I have to be, but because I choose to be. Ideologically I have not changed, but naturally, over time the galaxy did. While I will always try to adapt, I will not veer away from who I am to fit into a time that has forgotten me, and it is okay that this has happened. I consider myself a “Jedi”, but not one of those of today, we are simply of different times and mindsets.

Matsu Ike

 

[Matsu Ike]

Caltin Vanagor

She listened more to him and contemplated it a different perspective was always fun to hear and the jedi master clasped her hands on her knees as she watched him and move with ease. "I see." Her words came out but she was able to see much of it here. Her interest in learning what she could about and from him there but it would also serve to get him distracted and not thinking aboeut the fact one small slip up would and could mean the heavy gravity grinds and shatters his boness where he is standing or that his spine is going to be so compressed he might become shorter. She was watching the energy ripple along him as she spoke. "Focus yourself.. the energy can be impressive but just crackling it everywhere can be wasteful you are leaking like a sieve."

 

[Caltin Vanagor]

“Embrace each challenge in your life as an opportunity for self-transformation.” - Bernie Siegel​

Stopping as she told him to focus himself, Caltin could tell through her voice that Ike was worried he was losing it. Nothing could be further from the truth though as he was beginning to “feel the burn” so to speak and he was getting more able to continue. He also had nothing to do with the power emanating around him but the easier it became for him to move (he was now backstepping), the less energy spilled out.

Matsu Ike

 

[Matsu Ike]

Caltin Vanagor

The jedi master stayed there and she watched him as her interest stayed... She was watching him and continued to make it look easy enough. "You really are doing good for a first timer in the chamber. You haven't had your spine feel like it is going to collapse." At least he wasn't verbally complaining about it.. she dind't know how to tell him warmasters like Sarianna used training cuffs that took the room with them for combat and other purposes. Or that some pushed themselves so hard it was dangerous for them outside or it like a matukai who couldn't turn off their strength. "And big plus... you haven't had to go to the bathroom. The pressure this room can put on your bladder makes it like the size of a coin purse and most people greedily drink water for the increased heat."

 

[Caltin Vanagor]

“I believe in destiny. There must be a reason that I am as I am. There must be.” - Robin Williams​

The increasing gravity was taking its toll on him, his bone structure was strong, always had been, the big man could thank his bloodline on his mom’s side for that. Even then it was having trouble countering the ever-increasing weight on his body, the musculature felt like it was tearing itself to pieces. No matter though, he was going to persevere. There had to be a way to fight it and he was going to find that path. The massive wander’s body itself was doing so, whatever energy that was inside him was increasing in output to reinforce bones and repair damaged tissue.

He was getting stronger.

It seemed almost out of spite though that as this happened, the gravity seemed to be “ramping up” so to speak almost like those controlling this room were doing it just to be mean. That was alright though as while he was starting to succumb to it and slowing down in his movements, Vanagor was inwardly fighting.

” No… not going to fail. Won’t fall. Not like this.”

That seemed to spark him further. He may not be overpowering everything but the big man was not going to let this stop him. They were going to have to carry Caltin out. He was going to pass, or fail this stress test fighting and leave it with his head held high.

Then she mentioned the bathroom.



Matsu Ike

 

[Matsu Ike]

Caltin Vanagor

The jedi master was looking at him and she waited for a moment before holding a hand out and allowing the force to form a cup and then a liquid. Staking molecules and atoms with art of the small was easier the more you practiced and you could end up doing a whole lot more if you practiced it. "Oh boy I am parched." She said it with a grin to let him know she was mostly being funny... humor was important when you were trying to not fall to the ground and be unable to get up. "Would you care for some, or something to eat... we have developed energy bars and ration packs that give you everything you need with a single bite that matches a full meal."

 

[Caltin Vanagor]

“Some people want it to happen, some people wish it would happen, others make it happen.” - Michael Jordan​

She was trying to be funny.

Key word: “Trying”

Probably any other day, the big man would share in the laugh or even a smile. He may even do so in an hour or two. Right now though? All the Jedi Master was doing was tick him off. He did not hold any malicious opinion or intent towards her, after all, she was out to help him. It was just annoying right now is all and would simply push him harder. So in a way, the big man should probably thank her.

When… when I’m… I’m… I’m done…

Stopping again, fighting the feeling to squat, he pushed for eye contact.

Turn up the juice… as far… as far as you were gonna go.

He would walk, or be carried out.


Matsu Ike

 

[Matsu Ike]

Caltin Vanagor

She listened to him wanting it to go all the way up and she remained there watching him. "As you wish but I recommend pacing yourself... the heat is going to get hotter and hotter the more gravity and it will do much. THis isn't just meant to be for the body it is mentally training and force training in many aspects that your mind and body can learn to use without thought like muscle memory." She said it and muscle memory was the best way to say it but it was all about creating that unconscious ability to use the force and she held a hand out to adjust the controls but wasn't going to slam him. THe gravity was still ticking up and up but she could watch him closely to make sure he was okay. "I've adjusted the controls, the further out you go the more it increases incrimentally so you walk into what you can but be careful you are getting to the levels only a handful have been able to reach and sustain for any amount of time."

 

[Caltin Vanagor]

“It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” - Walt Disney​

This was not the best time for someone to hold back like she was. There was no question as to why the woman was not going to let him fall at her complex. The thing is, though that he was too stubborn to die. The big man has cheated “being one with the Force” more times than he could count. It was almost as if finally succumbing was insulting to him sometimes.

If… if others ha… have done it… I will… do… it!

Make no mistake, the more he fought, the more his body felt like it was going to collapse under its own weight. The more he pushed himself, the heavier his limbs became. The pain was excruciating but it was also inspiring because her warning gave him purpose. Not to compete with those who had reached that mythical level, but to prove to himself that he was doing the right thing. This was no longer a test, it was a quest. A quest to evolve and grow as an individual.

Was this going to be a success though? The weight, the heat, it was becoming too much too quickly, he was being pulled down until he finally stopped and fell to his knees. Vanagor could no longer hold himself up and fell to his hands, but before anything could be done, one of them was raised. Simultaneously the energy emanating from the big man was all but blinding in electricity and light.

NO! Not like this! I can do this!

Slowly, inch by inch the massive wanderer fought his way upwards. Gravity for the moment was his opponent, his enemy, and the massive wanderer was taking the fight to his opponent the only way that he knew how directly. It took what felt like forever every inch brought what felt to be exponentially more excruciating torture, the scream coming from it getting more guttural, but Caltin was back on his feet.


Matsu Ike

 

[Matsu Ike]

Caltin Vanagor

She listened to him and watched staying there in place and only rotating on her feet to watch him. Seeing him fall to his knees she wasn't going to rush unless he seemed to need it but he was strong she had no doubt about that... he just needed to see that strength and iron willpower was as much a part of it as knowing your limits and that it could be okay to keep them for a time... though she often tested her own and had many many times worked to push past them... that she was walking effortlessly here was a testament to that since she often meditated here and further out. The dimension compression and pocket design allowed for near infinite space which only got more oppressive and more dangerous the further your went out from the doorway. "I have no doubt you can do it Master Vanagor but the question is whhy do you need to? Me, my daughters, we are not competing against you... there is no prize for surpassing how much one can last in here."

 

[Caltin Vanagor]

“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” - Leo Tolstoy​

No, it was not a competition. No, there was no prize. He was not saving the galaxy by doing this. He was not helping or doing this for anyone but himself. The big man was here and doing this to not only find and know his limits but learn what it takes to surpass them. Before this change, he knew his body inside and out physically, mentally, and emotionally which meant that he knew how to push himself, and he knew when to hold back. Caltin was falling back into his old ways, he knew this, and if that was going to happen, then he repeated his past enhancement actions and learn just what he can and cannot do.

I told… you… testing… and le… learning... my limits.

Slowly… step by step… he continued to walk out.


Matsu Ike