The Mando and The Master

[Kiber_Thaxton]

[member="Vassara Raxis"]

Location: Vassara's homestead

Kiber had been feeling quite strange for several days now. Feelings of nausea, and some slight pain, wracked his body. He had no idea what it meant. He decided to visit Vassara and see if she could decipher his feelings and see what was happening. He prepared his Joben T-85 and was soon heading for her home. While out on the road, the nausea and pain would come in short bursts. He just had to hope that he would make it in time.

Arriving at the homstead, he wandered up the path, up the stairs and to her front door. He knocked loudly on it several times and heard movement coming from inside. So she was home.

"Vassara, it's me, Kiber. I, uh, don't know how to explain this, but I think there something wrong with me. I thought you might be able to help me decipher what it means," he had never felt this way before though.

 

[RC 212]

[member="Kiber Thaxton"]

It was a very dark night. Vassara was laid back in front of the fire in her favorite rocking chair. A cup of whiskey was swilling about in her hand. It was warm inside the wooden cabin, and it was cozy. Here she was tucked away from the troubles of the worlds. The war, the chaos. Here she had time to be a Jedi once more, but more secretive.

There was a rampant distrust of the Force among the Mandalorians. It was something she had taken to heart and thus had concealed or tuned down her use of it. Still they knew who she was, especially after the recent battle. Just as her eyes were beginning to close, and the meditative state of the force was dropping over her she heard a rap at the door.

Immediately her Czerka Machine Pistol flew across the room from a holster at her bed. As it smacked into her palm she jumped to her feet, whirling just as Kiber burst through.

She could sense it right off the bat. He was hysterical, in great pain and he looked haggard. It almost appeared as if he hadn't shaved in days much less slept. And the strangest part was that he was out of his Beskar'Gam. Something she'd never ever witnessed. There were waves of chaos roiling through him, casting off from him and it almost floored her.

He was awakening....

For a second she simply stood, mortified. The force, in Kiber? Something was stirring. Yes she could definitely feel it. It was no curse either, not like the Witches curse on her. But it was uncontrolled, and raw.

She tossed the pistol and smiled, rushing to prevent him from falling to the floor. Ever so gently she laid him down upon the floor boards, dragging his body over in front of the fire. Her eyes locked with his, blue piercing orbs that were now softened with concern.

"Calm down Kiber, calm."

He was definitely sick. Her palm reached out and touched his forehead, caressing it. The sweat glistened as her rough palms met his skin and wiped it off.

"I have some tea and food. Fungi from Endor that will calm your nerves. Stay here."

She rose in a silent movement, leaving him as the embers crackled on the fire. The soft glow cast a sheen over his prone frame and in the kitchen the sounds of clinking dishes could be heard. She was back suddenly and as silently as she had left, placing a steaming cup of fungi tea and a loaf of bread beside Kiber. She sat crosslegged, just above his head, so the fire could warm his bones.

"Eat, drink and then calmly, repeat to me what is wrong."

 

[Kiber_Thaxton]

[member="Vassara Raxis"]

Kiber drank some of the Fungi tea and coughed some up and moved onto tearing off a hunk of bread and slowly chewing on it. "A few days ago, I felt something really strange, as if someone, or something, was trying to send a message to me. That's when the nausea and pain got to me. And the strangest of all? I was staring at my helmet on the dresser and somehow became focused on it, and the damn thing levitated in mid-air. I have tried it a few times with small things and I can move them all around without too much difficulty," he sounded confused by it all and he looked into Vassara's eyes, searching for an answer as to why he, of all Mandalorian bounty hunters, was feeling like this. They were supposed to be strong and iron-hearted, not wracked with pain and receiving messages telepathically from all over the place.

 

[RC 212]

[member="Kiber Thaxton"]

Moving things? Visions with his mind. She was surprised about how forthright he had become. Usually the Mando'ade eschewed such magics, being wary of any who used them. Vassara felt a small lurch in her stomach and it was the confirmation of what she thought. She was becoming more aware of Kibers inner emotions as he spoke. Somehow he was able to move things, which was a start. But to master the newly awakened force within him he would need much more. So much more.

As the fire crackled Vassara nodded and spoke once more to the haggard warrior.

"You have a gift Kiber. And I sense it is awake within you now."

Standing she retrieved a small square from deep within her pack. It had been tucked away for many years, never once taken out. She thought herself now rather foolish for it. After all even a Master should never stop learning. It was a bi product of the war no doubt. Too much time to fight and none for learning.

"You are becoming attuned to the force and this is its first manifestation within you.
But to master it and understand it, is going to take a lot of training."

She set the square on the floor.

"This is a datacron given to me by my mentor. Master Karren Roberts. Go ahead and try to lift it now."

 

[Kiber_Thaxton]

[member="Vassara Raxis"]

Kiber nodded, and he began to focus on the small square in front of him. It slowly began to hover several inches off of the floor, but with some more intense concentration on his part, the square rose to eye level hovered in mid-air. "How's that for a beginner?" he said with a chuckle, as he focused on moving the square around in circles in front of him, before putting it back down on the carpet. This was about his limits for now, but he knew as time went on, and Vassara taught him the mysterious ways of the Force, he would be able to do so much more.

 

[RC 212]

[member="Kiber Thaxton"]

His focus was good and she was doubly surprised to see the square actually move in patterns. It seemed Kiber was fast recovering now, making great strides in his cognition and focus. Focus, the pinnacle of the force arts. Without it nothing could be achieved. Kiber had an advantage already, a warrior had a highly refined focus, which was a result of survival instinct and battle.

"It's actually quite good."

She was at a crossroads. Not the most saintly of Jedi herself and somewhat slipping from the tradition itself she was split in two directions. Would she let hi learn by himself, or did she have the strength to teach one more? Kiber could be worht it. He could be the apprentice that changed it all, or just another wayward force user. One among many she had sent into the void, never to hear from again.

"What do you most desire Kiber. You realize the power you've been introduced to has its high points and low points. It's dangerous, especially uncontrolled. It can be your salvation or your damnation. You can chose to learn with me, or you can choose another path. Which will it be?"

 

[Kiber_Thaxton]

[member="Vassara Raxis"]

Kiber looked up into Vassara's eyes and knew what he wanted to do. "I want to learn with you Vassara. I will not let you down, I promise," he gave her a smile and relaxed on the rug. As his head touched the soft rug, he began to wonder what the Mandalorians would say when they found out one of their most respected bounty hunters had tossed aside all negative notions of the Force and embraced it as part of who he was and who he would become in the years to come. "Do you think they will think differently of me?" he asked her, feeling a little bit upset.

His father, and deceased mother, had honed into him, his brother and two sisters, that they should rely on brute strength and combat training to overcome any obstacle. They were with the Mandalorians who eschewed the Force as something warriors should not be blessed with. But in his mind, Kiber knew that being highly attuned to the Force, and learning how to control it, would become a major asset in his arsenal.

 

[RC 212]

[member="Kiber Thaxton"]

"So long as you don't flaunt your powers in front of them, I've found them to be generally accepting."

Vassara chuckled a bit at the notion. The locals had the idea that a crazed Witch woman lived on the outskirts of Keldabe. Most of the time she kept to herself, as yet not a fully accepted Mando'ade. Though through her good works she was gaining recognition from the clans. Working from the Red Legion, a collection of non traditional Mandos and outsider mercenaries.

But it wasn't all bad. She knew some heads of clans were especially steeped in the traditions of the force. The Rekali clan for one and Ember himself a Warlock. Sometimes the locals came to her to get a small healing for an ailment. It was cheaper than conventional medicine. Despite that she was absolute crap at healing she could still work small miracles.

"The Rekalis and Anja Betna are force users. It's not all bad."

She shifted backwards a little, readjusting her seat and pulled Kiber up by his hand from the floor to face her in sitting position.

"I know a few force traditions. I can instruct you mostly in the way of the Jedi. Though there are a few old places I've searched that have the Jed'aii faith, the precursor to the modern faith and slightly different. Any skills I posses can be passed to you quite easily and with enough determination and focus. But for today I'll simply give you one lesson."

She closed her eyes, and let the calm stillness of the room into her heart.She could feel the force flowing, and ebbing about him and herself The abundance of life across the planet leant immense energy, galvanizing her connection to the mystical energy field.

"The first lesson every padawan learns is meditation. Meditation gives you focus and lets you connect to the force. Without focus the powers that you wield will be weak and unrefined. Focus is the base of all things, the deeper you go, the more focus you have the more power you can achieve. Think of the force as an energy filed. It's all around us, binding us, and penetrating us. It comes from life itself. You have to quiet your mind and simply feel it. Let it's energy into you and connect with it. The more calm and quiet your mind becomes, the greater your connection to the force will become."

 

[Kiber_Thaxton]

[member="Vassara Raxis"]

Kiber nodded. "I will try. My father, brother and two sisters are rather skeptical of the whole thing actually..." he sat down opposite Vassara in the sitting position and readied himself for his first lesson, the first of many to learn how to control the Force and manipulate it. He was more determined than ever now to successfully complete his Padawan training and to use the Force for good and protect others from harm.

He closed his eyes, focusing as Vassara had instructed. He could feel the Force flowing through him, so he focused even more now and felt his mind gradually becoming quieter and serene. The Force's energy entered into the Mandalorian's body and then felt the first strong connection between himself and the Force. He continued to focus and could feel his connection becoming stronger and stronger as every minute passed by. In the quiet of his mind, he could hear thousands of telepathic messages crossing back and forth across the Force.

 

[RC 212]

[member="Kiber Thaxton"]

She could feel his energy increasing now. It was radiant and lush, almost as if he were a worldtree on Zonoma Sekot growing ardent above the landscape. As his energies increased Vassara spoke once more softly, and guiding.

"Now hold that focus. Remember the force is an ally. You ask of it and follow the current. To manipulate it and use it as a pure weapon is the path to the darkside. You should strive to let it in while projecting your needs outwards. Never mistreat your power, do not attempt to assert dominion over it, and it will give you nourishment and strength."

She placed the block in front of the young Mando'ad and nodded.

"Think of your focus as a wheel, spinning round and round. Project onto the datacron, use it to lift it and move it around."

 

[Kiber_Thaxton]

[member="Vassara Raxis"]

"I promise to never turn to the dark side Vassara. I've seen the results of the dark side while out on some of my bounties," as soon as he told her, the experienced Mandalorian bounty hunter felt the Force flowing through him stronger than before, replying to his words positively.

Kiber did as he was told and he projected himself onto the datacron and managed to lift it and move it around the room. "How am I doing so far?" he moved the datacron back down to the floor and smiled at her. "So you think I might be able to teach others in the future?"

 

[RC 212]

[member="Kiber Thaxton"]

"You could in time. For now take the datacron and read the lessons from it. Should be a section on the Jedi code and some other stuff about Lightsaber construction and Form I on there."

Vassara lifted the cube with her hand, dropping it into Kibers palm. His journey through the mire and the fog of the force was about to begin. After this she would check back up on him. But for now it was best to let him rest and do whatever he needed to do to clear his mind and get his studies complete.

"I'm afraid that's all I have for you right now. Go home, meditate, and clear your mind. Once you focus on the datacron you can read it through the force and in meditative state. Take care of it, it was a gift from my Master long ago. When you are ready to return I'll assess your knowledge and give you another lesson. This time in the field."

 

[Kiber_Thaxton]

[member="Vassara Raxis"]

Kiber nodded and took the datacron, reading through the required sections, taking it all in like a sponge. "Thank you very much Vassara," he said happily, going over page after page. "I will deeply cherish it and shall practice," he bid Vassara farewell and held her in warm embrace - he had really learnt a lot from today's lesson and Kiber would definitely come back when he was ready for the field test.

"Thank you Master," the Mandalorian said, as he put the datacron into his pocket and waved goodbye, heading to his speeder. Deep down, he knew that his journey was just beginning and there would be plenty of trials and tribulations along the way. Waving once more, he kicked the speeder into gear and headed home to return to a deep meditative state and read up some more on Vassara's datacron.