The Great River

[Oros]

Auxiliary Learning Hall, Main Dome
Jedi Temple, Sullust


Knowledge, throughout the crowded chamber, the thoughts of the Jedi Knight were projected into the minds of those focused upon him, It is the greatest defense we as Jedi possess. This is not just a figure of speech, for it is not the lightsaber in your hand but your ability to react, not just quickly but intelligently, that will save your life should you find yourself in the midst of more...aggressive negotiations. To think critically, analyze your surroundings and the tools at your disposal, these qualities are crucial for anyone who seeks to serve the balance. With the Force as our ally we Jedi are capable of great things, but one thing it can never do for us is to make the right decision, to decide the best possible course. And yet, the choices we make in the moment can save or cost lives, can define our relationships with those around us, and also sometimes lead us down a temptatious path toward the Darkside.

Oros droned on much in the same way, telepathically guiding the repulsors back and forth of the life support tank the cyanogen-based Celegian required in order to survive in Type I atmospheres. The movement back and forth across the lectern space served no real practical purpose, and only caused the sentient invertebrate to bob up and down in the life sustaining mixture of the tank, his voice reached everyone at an equal volume and he had no senses at humanoids comprehended them. But after delivering several previous lectures while remaining absolutely still, several of his peers had informed him that some in attendance found that a psychically delivered lecture by a completely motionless 'speaker', uncomfortable bordering on creepy. And so he drifted back and forth, in an imitation of what the bipeds referred to as pacing.

Already more than halfway through his second century, Oros was used to enough by now not to take any real offense. The oxygen based lifeforms could often be a little touchy concerning matters of sensory aesthetics, and his species wasn't exactly the closest to the mostly dominant near-humans on the evolutionary chain. At least here on Sullust, the Jedi Academy had made a serious effort to make him as comfortable as he could possibly be away from Type IV atmospheres like his native Celegia. In return, he provided a variety of services for the Temple itself, including consultations as a member of both the Circle of Healers and Jedi MedCorps, as well as these regularly delivered lessons to assortments of younglings and some of the less experienced Padawans.

The younglings were often much the same, blank slates more or less that with any luck the proper teacher would mold and set into a harmonious way of thinking and approaching the galaxy. It was the Padawans who were often times more interesting, as they had learned just enough to be dangerous. They were beginning to develop their own ideas, and interpretations, and flexing against the restrictions of the Jedi philosophy to see for themselves why things were as they were. Ultimately, it was the only way any of them truly learned in the end, by doing. But at least, with these talks, Oros could do what he could not to send them into the krayt dragon's den ignorant of the challenges and dangers ahead.

One aura in particular within his audience caught the Knight's attention. He had not been paying enough attention to know if she was part of the class, or had simply been wandering by and stopped to listen. The Celegian kept a more or less open door policy on attendance for any of his lectures, but there was definitely something abut this one that stood out somehow. Perhaps it was just that she was unfamiliar to a Jedi scholar that had been living on the temple grounds for just about as long as they had been built, but listening to the light at his core, in his 'heart', he felt it portended something more. Perhaps she would approach him after he had finished speaking, but if not he fully intended to seek her out and solve this little mystery himself.


[member="Jade Whisperwind"]

 

[RC 212]

[member="Oros"]

She had entered the room and taken a little reprieve in the corner. She decided to stand rather than sit and her eyes roved over the younglings. They were the next generation of the Jedi. They were still all as clueless as she had been when she had first enlisted into the order back on Coruscant. That was when the Old Order and Republic were still well renowned and pure.

Now the Jedi were scattered, and in shambles. Some were here, others there. Many had fallen to the Darkness or just disappeared to be independent. But there was a need for those rooted in the old ways, and she aimed to fill that need. Even if her methods were a little heavy on the violent side at times. A galaxy at war demanded soldiers as well as scholars. She tried to find that balance.

When he was done she approached and bowed.

"Knight Oros, that was a moving speech. Tell me more about your philosophy? If you have time I'd very much like to learn more from you."

She paused and then continued.

"But first where are my manners? Padawan Whisperwind, I joined a few weeks ago and have searching for a tutor. The Silver Jedi seemed too complacent for me, and being Rogue can only take me so far. Besides I ascribe to an older methodology. One closer to the Old Jedi way."

 

[Oros]

[member="Jade Whisperwind"]

At the end of his lecture, Oros was greeted with a polite round of applause by students to grounded already in the harmony of the Jedi path that it gave him no real indication of whether or not his words had actually been impactful or it was simply appropriate to clap. The mechanical praise did not bother the Celegian so much, he was not doing any of this for fame and accolades after all, but it did frustrate him that the litmus test by which he could normally judge and if necessary alter such things to be more effective in the future was so ossified in such an environment of mutual tolerance and respect. Gathering their belongings, mostly datapads and training sabers, the younglings and Padawans all filed out of the smaller learning hall tucked away down a corridor away from the huge chambers dedicated to the more practical aspects of a Jedi's training.

All save one, just as he had suspected she might. Soon they were the only ones left, the mysterious little aura and the floating invertebrate. Maneuvering the repulsors on the bottom and sides of his life support tank, he delicately maneuvered the attached grabbing claw collect the few sparse accouterments he carried with him outside of the vaccum-sealed, cyanogen based private apartment the New Jedi Order had been kind enough to provide him deep in the subterranean levels of the Sullust Temple. Feigning ignorance of the lingering pupil, in reality the Jedi Knight could perceive the full three hundred and sixty view of his surroundings at all times with more or less full clarity, but taking advantage of this biological nuance was another characteristic he had been informed was often too unsettling to be worth the trade off. People didn't like it when you could always see them, as a general rule.

Ah, why thank you, little flame, he bobbed up and down congenially in his tank as he turned in response to Padawan Whisperwind's words, Not just a student of metaphysics, I sense, but indeed one searching for a Master. This is what you mean by learn, yes? You wish me to prepare you for your Knighthood Trials.

At the Padawan's nod of assent, Oros continued, Bold you are, little flame. It is usually down to the master to select the student, and yet I do sense that, being so new among us, your situation is perhaps unique.

The Celegian's projected thoughts trailed off suddenly, and all motion inside the tank froze, as if dormant in deep thought.

Will I train you? he projected at last, the timbre of his words suddenly flat and emotionless, No.

He turned away, his thoughts continuing in her mind as he began to float out of the room, You are too arrogant, too self-righteous, too old. You are unfit to be trained as a Jedi, and I will have no part in it.

As he reached the doorway to the training hall, he paused and swiveled as if to glance back at the Padawan, Well? Are you coming? You have until I reach my quarters to convince me I'm wrong. If you are successful, then I will tell you my philosophy, and we will proceed from there.

 

[RC 212]

[member="Oros"]

She pondered his words and nodded. He was a structured man, or blood, whichever. The morals and Guidance were strong in the knight and she had to respect that. By any Old Jedi Standards he was right. But also wrong.

"Well Knight Oros I'll put it to you this way," She said, matching his pace with her steps. Eat boot fall on the floor rhythmic and measured.

"Would you prefer I learn from you, an Old Jedi practitioner, or another less moral Jedi Knight or Master?"

She kept moving, following him, but slightly behind.

"Yes I am all these things and I struggle sometime to remain in the correct path of the the old ways, but can you honestly say you never did? What Jedi has not questioned their place in the order, nor their values v.s. that of the Code? It is better that one such as me have a dedicated teacher to mould her potential then fall off to find it on her own."

She paused and then faced him.

"For you and I both know, experimentation is a thin line between rogue and the Darkside."

 

[Oros]

[member="Jade Whisperwind"]

Oros kept a brisk pace as the two traveled together through the main atrium of the learning annex, Padawan Whisperwind's voice echoing off the ornate craftsmanship of the structure around them as she spoke. Seemingly heedless of the struggle with which her shorter gait attempted to keep up with his repulsorlifts, the Celegian was nonetheless intently focused on Jade's words, though if he showed any external reaction it was not discernible by the limitations of humanoid sensory perception. Instead, the Jedi Knight remained silent and allowed his potential pupil to express her thoughts fully. By the time she had finished and halted momentarily to face them, they were outside the learning hall altogether and on the steps leading down to the garden paths of the dome itself.

The main grounds of the Sullust Temple was like the tranquil eye in the center of a roiling storm, as just beyond the garden's protective shielding was the savage and terrible beauty of Sullust's volcanic vistas. Some of his students had confided him over the years that such an exotic and jarring landscape served to center them, while others confessed they had never quite adjusted to the dissonance and had been eager to request postings offworld upon completion of their training. Oros usually didn't have the heart to tell either camp that the surface of Sullust kind of reminded him of home.

Ah, train me or else, he projected solely into her mind as he too halted briefly, but there was no edge in his tone, An interesting approach, and refreshingly logical. True, as a Force latent but with little experience, you are effectively a loaded blaster. In the wrong hands, you would be bound to inevitably cause serious harm whether it be through incompetent instruction or malicious intent. So now, tell me, why should I not simply sever your connection to the Force entirely? There are ways it can be done, you know, old ways. Such as the ones you speak of as if you even know which path you should be walking. Would it not be more merciful?

You speak of philosophies, and the Code, and rogues, but these are just constructs we use to understand that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent. You've told me the consequences letting you learn from another may bring, but I wish to know what benefit training you properly will provide this Order. Why you, Padawan Whisperwind? Why is it that you believe that when the Force calls to you, you must answer? Perhaps this will surprise you, but there are many who can feel it, but don't. Many even, who do not discover this until they have already begun their training. Are you one of these, little flame? A false spark? Why are you so certain this is to be your path?

 

[RC 212]

[member="Oros"]

His questioning made her raise an eyebrow.

"Why would you sever the force from a pupil that could be your legacy as a Jedi? Is it not our job to teach the proper use of the froce according to the code? I find as I grow older that folks grow less careful with the power they possess."

She chewed on her next words, never one to spit out anything without care. Some people said the tongue is as deadly a weapon as any. She subscribed to that methodology.

"You ask what I can provide the Order? I can bring the old ways back into the fold. I can be a beacon of light, a defender of what's right by the code, and servant of the force. I would like to think I can provide service to the Galactic Alliance, but that would be a folly in my eyes. Jedi are capable warriors, but I believe we must return to our roots.

I can provide a steady shoulder for others to lean upon and a stern teacher to those padawans that are having difficulty keeping true to the Jedi way. The more folks we save from the Darksides crippling embrace, the better."