The Force is strong in this one too.

[Cambria Zadira]

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[member="Judah Lesan Jr."]​

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Cambria Zadira stood facing the transparisteel window in the observation lounge overlooking the Deneba Enclave's hangar bay. The Rutian Twi'lek's two-tone blue lekku swished calmly behind her back as her hands were clasped loosely in front stashed inside the arm sleeves of the Jedi Knight's brown-hued robes with dark-lashed eye lids closed in light meditation.

Today was a monumental day from a certain point of view. She was patiently awaiting her new padawan learner to arrive on the bi-weekly transport carrying supplies and personnel from Commenor. This wasn't just any apprentice the Jedi Guardian had agreed to take as her student. This one was the son of a very close friend. The stakes seemed higher for that very reason, though it felt right and a honor to do it for him.

Judah Lesan Jr. or "JJ" as he preferred to be called was the only child of Jedi Master Judah Lesan and his wife, Katara Starkos. Cambria had met Judah Sr. when they were both young Knights with the Galactic Republic and helping the Army of Light fight the Sith. They had come close to pushing the limits of attachment between Jedi. It had tested Cambria's resolve and core belief in following the Jedi Code for the betterment of serving the Light side of the Force. In the end, an endearing friendship would be their destiny as it should only be for them.

Gold-speckled hazel eyes opened with awareness of a Force presence she had not felt in a long time right before flight control made an overhead announcement alerting the hangar crew a ship was inbound. Cambria watched as the transport entered the hangar bay, then set down upon it's landing struts. She turned and exited the observation lounge to make her way down to greet her new padawan as he disembarked from the ship.

Was Bri apprehensive about this pairing? If she was honest with herself, yes, but it would be good to get to know her godson and what better way than to mentor him in the ways of the Force his father could not at this stage of JJ's development. The Corellian-born wanted to be a Guardian as she was not a Sentinel as Judah was.

 

[Judah Lesan Jr.]

Judah was nervous. There were no two way about it. The young guardian to be had been training with his father for some time, but in the end it was clear that his training could not be completed that way. Time had led them both to the conclusion that [member="Cambria Zadira"] was the best choice to finish the young Lesan's tutalege in his path to knighthood. Her traditional view of what it meant to be a Jedi would certainly test JJ's mach 7 with his hair ablaze attitude whicb clearly came from his Corellian mother. Where Judah was strategy then action, JJ was action and make up the plan as you go. His approach to life had been like that in many ways.

The flight to Commenor and on to the Jedi Enclave was mostly uneventful. JJ had a lot of time to reflect on the meeting which He was about to have. He knew of the close friendship his father shaired with the Rutian Twi'lek, but was unaware how close they really were. JJ often wondered why there was a twinge of wonderment when he talked about the woman, as though Judah sometimes thought about what life would be had things between them been different. The padawan was too ignorant to know that's exactly what Judah was doing and the the two had nearly crossed a line they could not have walked back from.

It was for the best that JJ only saw Cambria as his mentor, and godmother. The few times she had stayed with them when JJ was younger he'd come to call her auntie Bri. In that sense JJ was happy that his training would remain in the family. The was going to be good, at least he reminded himself.

As the transport landed, JJ was quick to unfasten his restraints and grab the duffle which contained the few amounts of clothing the Encoave would not provide. JJ was used to not wearing robes, and when he could avoid it, he would. Even now JJ was dressed in denim pants, boots, a gray v-neck t-shirt, and a bomber jacket that he'd picked up from his grandfather. JJ was Corellian so he didn't just look like a pilot, he was one. Katara made sure of it.

Cambria came into view as the ramp lowered. The whirring of the gears came to silence before Judah walked down the ramp. He'd forgotten how pretty she was, or maybe he'd been too young to notice. JJ was eighteen now, and he always noticed pretty women. Being a Lesan and Corellian was going to get him into trouble, he knew it. Hopefully his new master could keep up.

Judah didn't stop when he came to Bri. Instead he wrapped his arms around her as though he was hugging a relative he had not seen in some time because that's exactly what he was doing.

"I know this might have to change later, but for now I don't care," JJ said as he gave her a squeeze. "Its good to see you Auntie Bri. It's been a long time, and I'm glad you agreed to let me come out and finish my training."

JJ was happy, and it was obvious.

 

[Cambria Zadira]

Gold-speckled hazel orbs followed her new padawan learner as he walked down the boarding ramp as Cambria waited to greet him a few feet away. [member="Judah Lesan Jr."] was not the boy she remembered that last time they saw each other on Corellia before it was broken in two, but a young man. He was taller than her now and shoulders were broad like his father's. A small smile grew upon her naturally colored berry lips as JJ approached.

The bear hug caught the Twi'lek Jedi a bit off guard so it took a moment to return the affection in kind, though she was genuinely thankful Judah was there and seemingly so excited to be so. It helped to relieve some of Cambria's anxiety. She hoped that his pawadawship was not forced on the boy by the adults rather he wanted it to be so.

"It is good to see you again, my godson. You are a perfect mix of your mother and father. I am honored that you and your family have asked me to do so. It will be challenging yet rewarding. We shall do our best to make them proud, yes?" Bri said patting the young Lesan on the shoulder, then turning to lead them out of the hangar bay.

"Let us get you settled into your quarters first, shall we, then I can give you a tour of our Jedi temple here within Mt. Meru. The Enclave of Deneba is ever so evolving. We are in our early stages of formation yet, though it does not really matter where the Jedi reside as the Force is always with us where ever we are. Remember that building a strong foundation in which to draw from and using the Jedi Code as your guide will keep you centered in the Force during these trying times we find ourselves in. I hope to see you are ready to face the challenges the galaxy presents as a fully trained Jedi Knight just as your father and I were," the blue-skinned Guardian nodded sagely with a swish of her lekku as they walked along a long corridor taking them deeper into the mountain's core.

 

[Judah Lesan Jr.]

It was on odd feeling to suddenly realize he was taller than his master. Cambria had always been taller than him, but now she wasn't. Though regardless of the changes, Judah was happy to be there. The young man was looking forward to the training and getting started, and it would in time. Still the idea of a tour was the last thing he wanted.

JJ had never liked tours. He though they were boring and a considerable waste of time. It was easy to figure out where to go on his own. Really it was a matter of liking his independence and to satiate his curiosity when he wanted to as opposed to following a group around. Some things Judah wanted to blow past and others he wanted to stay around for good long while. Bri still made sense though. It was better to get settled, learn the compound, and then go from there.

"Finding my quarters and getting semi-situated would be nice. The trip was a lot longer than I expected." JJ had to admit that even he could get tired.

"Sometimes I don't recognize the galaxy anymore. Dad tells stories of how bleak things seemed when you faced it all, but I've never seen things so dark. Now though.... The Sith are gaining momentum, the First Order is always knocking at the door, and the Silvers... We are a galaxy in turmoil again."

JJ followed Bri as she moved them along the Enclave. He voiced his thoughts because of what she had said. Judah Lesan and [member="Cambria Zadira"] had always been the heroes of his bedtime stories, but now he was living them it seemed. Judah had to wonder if he could live up to the example in front of him.