The First Steps (Ar'ekk)

[Tugoro Taidarious]

Indeed the next day was upon [member='Ar'ekk'], maybe faster than he had initially expected. As soon as the sun peaked over the ridge, sending bright rays of light all throughout the temple, the Jedi were out and about, Padawans and Younglings alike quickly getting ready for the lessons ahead of them. A beeping could be heard within Ar'ekk's room, as his personal computer terminal received a message, instructing for him to show up at one of the nearby temple courtyards. Hopefully he had no trouble adjusting to his new sleeping schedule.

Tugoro, on the other hand, was wide awake and yet not at the same time. Still in his Jedi tunic and robe, the man was seated motionlessly within the small courtyard, beneath a tall tree that stretched upwards and out of the open-roofed ceiling. The style in which he sat was unmistakable meditative, anyone trained in the force able to feel the energy that swirled around the brown haired individual. He had spent the night in that very spot, unable to clear his mind normally despite how wise he had acted in front of Ar'ekk.

The truth was that Tugoro was nervous, worried about taking on a student and how it might turn out. He had once been appointed a Chiss Padawan, who had unfortunately fallen to the dark side before they had even gotten to know each other. There were countless other Padawans of his time and beyond, all that sent an ominous chill up the mans spine. So, he had decided to isolate himself for the night, lost in the force as he meditated.

 

[Arekk]

As expected, Ar'ekk's sleeping schedule was messed up during his first weeks in the Jedi Temple. As the sunlight hit his face, he slowly started to wake up. He noticed a beeping coming from his personal computer terminal and got out of his bed to read the new incoming message. Then, he realized he was late. A sudden change of mood made him be more alert and changed into his Padawan outfit immediately, rushing out of his bedroom towards one of the nearby temple courtyards.

He greeted a couple of Jedi Masters strolling around the courtyard as he made his way towards his masters' location. Although he was nervous, Ar'ekk felt happy to be there to become a Jedi. It was no secret that Ar'ekk was a heavy sleeper, but he was really late this time.

His outfit seemed to be clean but he didn't had time to pour some water in his face to actually wake up completely. It was a funny sight at first.

He encountered [member="Tugoro Taidarious"] meditating in the courtyard, so he decided to walk up to him and break his concentration unwillingly. "I'm sorry for being late, master." the Padawan said, excusing himself with a grin in his face as he bowed.

 

[Tugoro Taidarious]

The trance Tugoro had been in for hours on end was finally broken, as the voice of [member='Ar'ekk'] declared his apologies. The man's eyes slowly opened, adjusting to the bright rays of sun that shone down from overhead, before taking in the sorry sight that was his new Padawan. A brief smirk would cross Tugoro's lips, as he shook his head from side to side. He had been the same in his days of apprenticeship, just a bit younger. "You're lucky I myself have learned patience, my Padawan," he responded, before lifting an arm and gesturing towards the grass nearby under the tree. "Have a seat," Tugoro offered, closing his eyes once more and returning his arm onto his lap.

In his meditation, Tugoro often followed the ebb and flow of the force, losing himself in the world around him, though sometimes revisiting memories of the past. Even the act of simply being inside the temple made the Jedi remember things he had thought long forgotten. The memories were good and bad, some of his friends and the times they had spent together, while others consisted of defeats and failures. Over the years, so much had changed, the Republic's good name tarnished by corruption and alleged war-crimes. Tugoro had distanced himself from the politics of war and the Jedi Order overall during these events, and now was a new era.

Visibly, the man frowned, finding discomfort in these thoughts before realizing this time around he could make a difference. Maybe. Knowing his meditation was done for, the brown hair man simply smiled in a defeated manner, opening his eyes and turning his emerald gaze upon Ar'ekk. "Tell me of your previous life, Padawan. Everything up until leaving Coruscant." The Master instructed, waiting patiently for Ar'ekk to respond. He hadn't gotten around to reading his file, and so he found it more appropriate to discuss the matter first hand.

 

[Arekk]

The Padawan felt relief as his master didn't seem to be angered about him being late to the meeting. He sat down next to him, copying his stance. That morning went pretty normal for Ar'ekk, considering this was his first day on the Jedi Temple. The memory of [member="Rasu Gan"] and his own family came to his mind as [member="Tugoro Taidarious"] brought the matter about his past.

He turned to Tugoro and said with the most sincerity and without skipping any details the story of his life.

"Since I have a memory, I've had a stepbrother and a stepmother. His name is Sodden and she is Lira. I don't know what happened to my real parents or if I have any siblings. My stepmother never addressed the matter and I didn't want to ask at all, so I kept everything to myself rather than talking it out. "

The boy took some time to think about what he was going to say.

"When I turned eighteen, I began to feel strange things when I was sorrounded by living things. That's when I realized I was force sensitive, that's what I was told because I simply didn't know. I kept that secret to myself as I didn't want anything to happen to me or my family. That changed the day I was spending my day on the trade hub of Coruscant when a woman approached me out of the crowd. She said she was a Jedi and that her name was Rasu Gan with The Silver Sanctum. She told me I had a gift and she wanted to help me with my training, so it was of my best interest to head for Yutan with the Republic. Master Rasu Gan told me she'd come here soon." the young Padawan said, concluding.

You could see some of the details would deeply hurt Ar'ekk, keeping in mind his tough upbringing. However, he felt at peace with everything he's done during his life.

 

[Tugoro Taidarious]

Sitting silently beneath the tree next to [member='Ar'ekk'], Tugoro listened to the memories recalled aloud by the Padawan. As of late, it appeared as if many newcomers to the Order were getting older and older, an issue frowned upon by the traditional Jedi of past and present. Most Younglings started their training at an extremely young age, allowing themselves more time to become disciplined and honed in body and mind. After Ar'ekk finished his abridged life story, the man spoke, "It sounds like you've already had some fine mentorship. I trust you understand the danger of attachment, which is why I wanted to have this talk," the Jedi paused, choosing his words carefully as he spoke.

In a way, during their entire time together, Tugoro had expressed some of his ideologies and beliefs on life, and the force altogether. He wanted to continue doing so, hoping that they could be easily understood. Ar'ekk was smart, but his emotions were powerful as well. "Even though you may never see them again, you can still protect them by devoting yourself to your duty to protect others, including your family. For with or without the force, we are all just citizens of the galaxy, and that is why the Jedi exist. We serve the innocent and defenceless, not those above us in offices. Know this." The Jedi urged Ar'ekk, hoping he would not get caught in the politics and overall drama of war.

He realised the topic at hand had taken a drastic turn, even so he felt that it was an appropriate train of thought to take into consideration, for Ar'ekk at least. It would take some time for the Padawan to adapt. Tugoro was unsure if the Padawan understood exactly what he was talking about, but he would see whether or not judging by his response.

 

[Arekk]

The Padawan was sitting next to his master, nodding as he explained certain aspects of the Jedi life and its commitments. He understood the fact that attachment led to the darkest path of the Force and as such, he had to control it. Ar'ekk was still young but enough powerful although this was unbeknownst to him. He took [member="Tugoro Taidarious"]' advice at heart because he didn't want to fail the task of passing his Trials and you could see it in his eyes.

"We're guardians of peace, master. I will do my best to learn the ways of the Jedi and protect those who are in need." the Padawan said, taking into account the seriousness of the conversation. He was aware that war and politics was a sensitive topic to discuss so he did his best to make out the best of it. He didn't want to be entangled in such things and he reassured Tugoro his decision by giving the answer he wanted to hear.

Ar'ekk looked different this morning. His outfit was no longer the one he arrived with to Yutan but the one a Padawan would use. The iconic brown Jedi apparel with boots, loose-fitting pants and an utility belt accompanying this garment. Also, his hair was different as it was cut short and he was now using a Padawan braid.

 

[Tugoro Taidarious]

"Very good, Padawan," Tugoro spoke softly, turning his head away from [member='Ar'ekk'] before closing his eyes once more. He knew that further meditation would be futile, but just the thought was relaxing in itself. He wasn't sure if the Padawan had understood at all, but Tugoro still gave him the answer he wanted to hear. Some things could only be learned with time and experience. With that thought running through his mind, the Jedi Master would suddenly stand up, walking a distance away from Ar'ekk, before turning to face him once more upon the soft grass of the vibrant courtyard.

"Today, we will go over the basics of lightsaber combat, specifically the first form, Shii-Cho." The man would reach down to his belt, grasping the metallic hilt of his saber and clipping it free from the restraint. "Shii-Cho laid down the fundamentals of battle for those who developed it, its practices still employed to this day. Body target zones are numbered areas of an opponents body that can be struck, which we will go over while sparring. Ready?" The man questioned, the blue beam of plasma igniting by his side, before being lifted and aimed at the Padawan. "Our sabers are set on training mode, so we cannot do permanent damage. I will guide you as we go along. For now, do what you feel is right." Tugoro instructed, waiting for Ar'ekk to make his move.

 

[Arekk]

Ar'ekk broke his meditation stance and followed [member="Tugoro Taidarious"]. As soon as the Jedi Master grasped for his lightsaber, the Padawan did the same by unclipping the hilt from his utility belt. After igniting the lightsaber, he adopted an aggressive style to face his master during the training. The blue beam coming from his saber's plasma was so bright that it reflected powerfully on his face.

"I'm ready, master." the Padawan said firmly as he positioned himself infront of Tugoro.

The trainee's personality changed completely when it came to combat. Even though this was part of his training, his attacks became really offensive and somehow uncontrolled by his passion and emotions flowing through him.

Keeping the training lightsaber at his side, he lounged into an aggressive attack towards Taidarious' upper and right sides. This fightstyle didn't really match the Jedi way and there was a lot to correct, as expected from someone who never received proper training the arts of combat.

 

[Rasu Gan]

It felt rather strange to be surrounded by the Jedi of old once more, Rasu thought having arrived at the temple only moments ago. While she had once embodied the values of the men and women on Yutan, the Shi'ido had definitely changed since her time with the Republic and Jedi Order. The Silver Sanctum had adopted the title of Jedi but their tenets differed from the traditionalist codes of the group she now walked among. She felt almost foreign, no longer recognising the next generation that had taken her place since her departure for Voss. It was a strange sensation, knowing she had once called the Order home and family, to know no longer feeling familiar whatsoever. However she was sure the same would not be said for Ar'ekk.

Her time away had resulted in new knowledge and new scars, however she had longed to be beside the young man as his eyes were opened to the wonder that was the Force. She had been directed towards the courtyard by one of the younger initiates, leaving Rasu to make her way there alone. As she journeyed through the temple, she couldn't help but notice themes reminiscent of the Coruscant temple, with each sight bringing back an ancient memory of her youth. No doubt the original temple had been ransacked, but it was nice to know that Jedi principals endured.

As she neared the presence of the two Jedi, the Shi'ido reduced the size of her Force aura, so to not distract the two from their training. She had inquired about the unknown Master teaching the new Padawan, however had been left with many unanswered questions. The Shi'ido had no doubt he was more than capable to take on the training of Ar'ekk however she would feel more comfortable seeing with her own eyes. As she entered the courtyard, she quietly shuffled to one side, observing the pair as one instructed and the other listened. It was a foreign concept for the woman to be a witness to process however she happily took her place against a wall and watched the pair continue with the lesson.

[member="Tugoro Taidarious"] [member="Ar'ekk"]

 

[Tugoro Taidarious]

Still holding his blade aimed towards [member='Ar'ekk'], Tugoro would follow it's line of sight, examining the Padawan and his every move. More importantly, the Jedi opened his mind to the force, allowing him to feel the emotions and intents of those unguarded. The adrenaline flow had begun, his opponent having given in to his own instincts, aiming to attack with untamed passion.

Jerking his torso to the side, Tugoro would make just the slightest adjustment to his saber angle and position, pulling it closer to him while shifting to the right. The two blue beams of plasma crossed paths for the briefest of moments, Tugoro's own attemping to redirecting Ar'ekk's to the side only with the momentum applied in his movements. "Clear your mind, Ar'ekk. Forget what you know of combat, do not let your instincts drive you," the brown haired man instructed, taking a single step backwards to put some distance between the two.

"Instead look to the force, and let its instinct guide you. Your swings must be calculated, your guard efficient. Jedi do not strike out recklessly, remember this." He concluded, preparing for another attack from the Padawan. However, from the corner of his eye, he noticed [member="Rasu Gan"], a faint energy signature he had not felt before. It appeared as if she wanted the opposite of interruption, and so Tugoro said nothing to Ar'ekk. If she wanted to observe his progress thus far, she was free to. Hopefully the Padawan could impress.

 

[Arekk]

The Padawan falled back on his attack once he realized he was doing it the wrong way. He closed his eyes for a moment and allowed the Force to guide him through this lesson and as such, he took a defensive stance this time. His attacks were more calculated, less frenetic and more controlled. As the lightsabers clashed, Ar'ekk would fall back and swing his hilt passively, waiting for [member="Tugoro Taidarious"]' move.

This defensive combat stance allowed him freedom of movement and attack his opponent easily without giving up away much. The lounges were precise and fairly good. Every instruction was taken into account and you could see the progress as the duo kept training. He still hadn't felt [member="Rasu Gan"]'s presence in the courtyard as his mind was fully concentrated on learning the basics of dueling.

It seemed like the fight was in total control of the Jedi master but the Padawan managed to impress him with a couple of surprise attacks, leaving him defenseless at times.

"That wasn't so bad, right?" he said, laughing for a brief moment.

 

[Tugoro Taidarious]

Tugoro noted [member='Ar'ekk']'s change in behavior, watching as he stepped back and took a moment to calm himself. Stepping forward, Tugoro would transition into a Makashi stance, the wrist of his blade arm flicking as he spun his saber briefly in front of him, before angling it downwards in the Padawans direction. It seemed as if Ar'ekk had adapted and somewhat copied his earlier style of Soresu, so the man decided to keep transitioning in order to introduce the Padawan to the different forms of saber combat.

The two continued to exchange blows, Tugoro making sure to match the speed and strength of Ar'ekk's attacks. It was simple training, perhaps in his younger days the Jedi would have shown off his more advanced styles, but he knew this would be setting a bad example for his student. Ar'ekk was successful in landing two blows, though whether Tugoro had allowed it or not was unknown. Two small black scorch marks stained the Jedi's robes, one upon the left side of his torso, the other upon his left leg. "Body target zone three is my left arm and side, six is my left leg," Tugoro explained, a brief smirk upon his face.

Appearances could be deceiving, and what Ar'ekk perceived as defenseless could have been a trap to lure him into a false sense of security, or even worse. The Sith played dirty, and the Padawan would need to be prepared for anything. A lesson for another time, though. Stepping forward with a distinct swiftness, Tugoro's blade would unleash a series of timed and precise stabs and sweeps, his weapon withdrawing after collision with the Padawan's in order to move gracefully into the next attack. Tugoro's movements were fluid, his footwork and balance allowing him shift almost seamlessly from one spot to the other. Of course, he made no effort to outdo the Padawan, making sure to stay at a pace Ar'ekk was able to keep up with.

 

[Arekk]

Ar'ekk remained at a defensive pace, countering [member="Tugoro Taidarious"]' blows to his lightsaber. Both beaming plasma sabers collided as the training went on. The Padawan seemed to casually freestyle his movements and shift slowly to the sides. Once the attacks were more direct, he would step back more and more. Swinging his lightsaber around, he waited for the right moment to strike.

He grew tired eventually and was hit once in the arm, grimacing at this action. He caressed his arm as it hurted slightly and said with a grin on his face: "This drains your energy really fast, master."

As he constantly switched positions, Ar'ekk noticed [member="Rasu Gan"] watching the duel from close range. He would lose his concentration briefly because of this as his eyes met with the Shi'ido's, something that would probably get him in trouble. The young learner would put his lightsaber aside as he continued to look at Rasu with a smile upon his face, losing his focus.

 

[Rasu Gan]

Rasu watched in silent pleasure as she reveled in the young man's progress. Ar'ekk appeared completely changed to the young man that she had met only a few days earlier; now dressed in Jedi attire and possessing an eager, excitable attitude that was common in most initiates. The overwhelmed young man no longer existed. Rasu could only imagine that it was the Jedi trainer that she would have to thank for the transformation.

Smiling as Ar'ekk became aware of her presence, she offered a small wave before approaching the pair. She found the area quite tranquil, reminding her of the meditation gardens that had been on offer in the late Jedi Temple of Coruscant. It was very nostalgic to be around such familiar designs; one's which were absent in the layout of the Coalition Order.

"I see you've fit in quite well Ar'ekk." she said, signalling a break in the pair's training. "How have you found the past few days? Anything like you would have imagined?"

[member="Ar'ekk"] [member="Tugoro Taidarious"]

 

[Arekk]

Arekk, as a sign of respect, bowed at Tugoro and excused himself for a brief moment before approaching Rasu.

As the Padawan met again with the Shi'ido, who he hasn't seen in a while, a smile could be seen in his face.

"Rasu. It's great to see you again. This doesn't compare to anything I thought before coming here." the young man said. He called Rasu by her first name rather than using the proper title, unlike he did with Tugoro.

"How are you doing? Everything okay during your journey?" he inquired.

His demeanor changed during the time the duo haven't seen eachother. You could still sense the struggle going in his mind and emotions but in deep control. He was no longer dubitative, agitated and overwhelmed by his true reality. His appearance also took a drastic change, as expected from a Jedi.

[member="Rasu Gan"] [member="Tugoro Taidarious"]

 

[Rasu Gan]

It pleased the woman to see he had finally come to terms with his role in the galaxy. While it would only continue to grow and strengthen in intensity, the first few steps were essential to a solid position in the Order. Ar'ekk would find the next few steps all the more easier for this fact.

The woman's smile grew as the man answered, not flinching as he used her first name. Rasu wasn't one for titles or formalities. She took a much more personal level with her students and she was glad to see that Ar'ekk shared a similar mindset in this case too. The bond between Jedi such as Rasu and Ar'ekk was never going to be as simple as a teacher and student. Rasu had been the one who had brought him into a new world, acting as a guide and friend rather than instructor. However Ar'ekk's relationship with Rasu would only be one of the first, the woman thought, turning to face her fellow Master. Already she could sense the respect the Padawn radiated towards the instructor. The seeds had been planted, now all they need do was wait for them to take root.

"Oh I'm fine Ar'ekk. Trust me you haven't missed out on anything to exciting." she said, her smile radiating the pleasure in being reunited with the young Jedi. "What have you been up with your fellow Jedi so far?"

[member="Ar'ekk"] [member="Tugoro Taidarious"]

 

[Arekk]

It was exciting for Ar'ekk to share his stories with Rasu. It's been only a couple of days since he had arrived to the Yutan and had many things to tell.

"Oh, you know. Tough training and all. I never thought it would be this tiring" he said laughing, before continuing. "But it's rewarding. Have you met Master Taidarious yet?"

He felt it was good for Rasu to meet Tugoro. He was the perfect master for the young troubled Padawan and seemed to know all his strenghts and weaknesses by just looking at him. Could this be just a coincidence or it's something more? Only future can tell.

"He's a great master. Although, I think he's a bit busy so I think I'll make the introductions soon. Will you be staying, Rasu?" the young Jedi inquired.

[member="Rasu Gan"] [member="Tugoro Taidarious"]

 

[Rasu Gan]

Offering a smile in the direction of the Jedi Master, Rasu bowed her head in respect and gratitude for all he had done so far with the young man. As far as first impressions go, the Shi'ido would be more than happy to see Ar'ekk continue training under Tugoro. The respect that the Padawan already displayed to the Master was a testament to the relationship that would no doubt flourish between the pair.

"That's good to hear. I'm glad you found a mentor so quickly Ar'ekk." she replied, smiling brightly. "Most Padawan's find it quite a trial to acquire what you have gained so easily. I hope you will be very appreciative and grateful for all the lessons that continue from this." As she spoke her mind would race back to her own apprenticeship. She had waited many a decade before a Master had taken an interest in her, however with an extended lifetime such as the one she possessed, she had been grateful for the extra time to study. However Ar'ekk was indeed a lucky one, or perhaps the Force favoured the young man. Only time would tell.

"My visit will be short I'm afraid. I am needed elsewhere and with the decline of the One Sith, the Coalition will need my guidance in the coming months." War was receding finally it seemed, however that did not always mean that peace was restored just as easily. The galaxy would see the end of the One Sith's oppression, but that would leave a vacant seat of power that would ultimately be filled. "You're welcome to stay or visit me on Voss. It would be good for you to explore more of the galaxy as well. I had always intended for you to experience multiple galactic organisations; the Republic being only one of the many that exist."

"I will not linger though. This was mainly a reason for me to check up on you and now that I see you're in good hands, I should really return home."

[member="Ar'ekk"] [member="Tugoro Taidarious"]

 

[Arekk]

He bowed before [member="Rasu Gan"], acknowledging her words. Ar'ekk felt a bit saddened that she would be leaving but deep inside knew she was needed elsewhere. It was time to go back and finishing his training with Tugoro, which couldn't be extended any longer out of courtesy.

"I'm glad we were able to see eachother again. I'll visit you there, no doubt. You must go and do what you have to do. May the Force be with you." he said to her master. The one who made this journey possible. They were going to meet really soon.

Ar'ekk signaled at Tugoro he would be with him shortly. He turned back to the Shi'ido and with the best of smiles said: "I will be fine here. If it wasn't for you, this wouldn't be possible. You will see the results soon."

The duo said their goodbyes, saddened by such short visit. The Padawan returned to his teachings with his new master.

They would meet again.

Soon.

[member="Rasu Gan"] [member="Tugoro Taidarious"]