The Water of the Way

[Laira Darkhold]

DAC​

Coral City​

The Mon Calamari Capital City's spires stretched high into the clear blue skies out in front of Laira's cockpit. Blue water stretched from the spires and floating buildings in every direction as far as the eye could see, calm waters on a beautiful day as far as the princess could tell.

Outcast Squadron, a group of rebellious freedom fighters she had assisted several times, were looking for supplies to continue their fighting and dispatched the young redhead to acquire them something from the Mon Calamari, hoping their ancient allegiances to the Rebel Alliance would buy them some sympathy.

The princess was however quite torn in her mission. By all accounts her loyalties were spread across several places in her heart: her family, her home, and what she wanted from her own life. Everything was coming to a point and her Mother and Father were pressuring her to fulfill her responsibilities as Princess of Alderaan and as far as she was aware Laira wasn't looking forward to settling down and being a good little princess. She was an adventurer at heart, she wanted to see every star and spend the early years of her life running around the galaxy to experience as much of it as possible before her future caught up to her.

"Ready for landing proceedure Ee eight. Cut thrust and go to repulsor." Her hands unbuckled the crash-webbing around her shoulders with her one good hand to stand and move around the cabin while the droid handled the simplistic landing procedure.

"The Mon Cala said they'd take a few days to work out what they would give Outcast so we have a few days vacation. Don't know what I'll do but, I'll find something." The droid acknowledged her with a simple nod and took over the controls at the co-pilot's chair while Laira went into her room. With a couple days to spare on an aquatic world she could always go for a few leisurely swims, however most of the time she would need to move around the waterways in the city.

"Water gear it is." She opened a drawer and pulled out her helmet and pressure suit, a little too small for her but it was made of stretchy material. Then a nice pair of boots that went with the outfit and had just a little bit of a heel on them from her closet. Once she was dressed she pulled her belt with her blaster and spear, and her vest with a little repulsor pack to help her move around in the water, which was especially necessary since she was still missing her left arm from the elbow down. Cybernetics hadn't appealed to her and the Royal Medical University had told her that it would take time to clone an arm and build its musculature to mature her own, encouraging her to continue what exercise she could with the stub until it was completed and she could undergo the replacement surgery.

A moment later the ship landed in the berthing the Mon Calamari assigned it and allowed her to leave, still under her alias as Laira Darkhold. More and more she had grown accustomed to being that person, but it seemed that reality was swiftly catching up to her. Almost a year on her own without having to worry about anything, without having any responsibility. Sixty years of responsibility ahead.

She had come to Dac for another reason. The Jedi.

Her mother had raised her, telling her stories about the Jedi Knights and how their bravery and courage had always inspired members of her family. Many Jedi even having been sons and daughters of House Organa in ancient times. Then her father had been very different, warning against the dangers of devoting oneself to the Dark or the Light, claiming they were both capable of corrupting those who pledged to them fully.

Her friends, Joza and Elpsis had also had thoughts on the Jedi that bothered the young princess. Stories of their members being evil and talk of their rigid celibacy always bothered Laira. She wasn't a fan of celibacy or surrendering everything to join an order, but in her youth she had romanticized them as heroes. As Legends that could perform real miracles, even compared to someone who could use the Force. Her mother had always spoken highly of them and the Enclave on Alderaan was filled with stoic Knights and gentle Healers. But they would never treat her as a learner. To them she would always be a princess, and that was not what she wanted.

With a sigh, Laira dove into the waterways, kicking her legs in a smooth, deliberate rhythm passing Mon Calamari as she went through the warm tropical waters making her way to through the city until she stopped a passing Mon Cala to ask for directions, "Hi there sweetie, would you mind showing me how to get to the Jedi Enclave?" Most alien species weren't as prone to simple flirtatious manipulation like younger human males, but she was naturally a flirt. It was just something she didn't turn normally trying to turn off.

"Uh, um. I've not been there very often so let me think for a moment." His bulbous eyes looked her over, glancing across her curves before returning to look into her storm grey eyes. "Ah, yes. I think its just below the surface in the Rainbow Coral sector. I can take you there if you like."

She smiled at the fishy being, "That'd be so nice of you to help me like that. Here," she held out her hand, "You lead the way."

[member="Valiens Nantaris"] [member="Phylis Alince"]

 

[Phylis Alince]

[member="Laira Vereen"]
“Hmmph, I never thought it’d be so difficult to get even the most basic of supplies,” Phylis grumbled as she walked.
Her droid beeped something.
“Yes, it did have to be gold! How can I properly make items out of base metals. Hmmph, not possible.”
Another beep.
“Iron! Where is the artistry in that, Six-Nine? It had to be gold, I still have enough silver.”

She headed out of the enclave, holding the heavy bag with difficulty.
“Hmm, should have got you a travois to put this in. I forgot how heavy these ingots are.”
Six-Nine beeped indignantly.
“Of course you are a beast of burden! Hmmph. Come on, let’s get back to the ship.”

However, she would not get that chance, as she would meet someone at the exit of the enclave….

 

[Laira Darkhold]

The Mon Cala lead Laira through the water ways in a criss-crossing path until they finally left the submerged aquatic tunnels and onto a dry hallway, obviously made as an attempt to make off-worlders feel mildly welcome. Laira disengaged the transparent field that surrounded her head and kept walking alongside her companion. Her vest was a little wet still, but otherwise she did not seem like she had just gone swimming. Dry clothes, dry hair, fixed make up and her little necklace helping out with just the right kind of pheromones. Despite her willingness and eagerness to rough it and spend time in the wild blue yonder, Laira was quite vain.

"There it is, right there." The mon cal waved a flipper at a relatively plain looking entrance for something as grand as a Jedi Enclave, but then again as far as Laira knew Jedi were supposed to be humble and forfeit material wealth.

"Thanks sweetie. See ya around." She called, walking towards the door, heels clicking prominently against the deck of the corridor as she walked. The Princess had met a couple Jedi, and a couple not technically Jedi like Jorus Merrill, in her time and thus knew that they came in all shapes and sizes. However she was not expecting what appeared to be a relatively young brunette woman to emerge from the temple, followed by a screeching old R-Series astromech droid.

"Oh, hi there." Laira called, putting on her best face and most polite voice. First impressions were important after all. "I was hoping I could find a Jedi around here. Could you perhaps point me at someone who has time to take on an apprentice hun?" The redhead added a wink for good measure, to match her roguish grin. Certainly the princess didn't look like someone who would normally come to a temple in search of a Master with a synskin wet suit a size or so too small, vest, and knee-high boots. She wasn't looking for a long term padawanship, nor was she looking for training in the basics. The Solo Holocron could show her all of that, but it could tell her what it meant to be a Jedi. What it cost, and what it did to someone to be a Jedi. A real one.

[member="Phylis Alince"]

 

[Phylis Alince]

[member="Laira Vereen"]
In contrast Jedi looked the most archetypal of Jedi possible. Her brown hair was pulled back into a sensible ponytail, her brown and cream robes looked straight out of a Jedi catalogue. At her side hung a single bladed lightsabre of standard design.

However, one thing was different. The robes this Jedi wore fairly glowed through the Force with the power of the Light, as did a necklace hanging below the robes.

Phylis glanced over the stranger, putting down her bag with a heavy clunk.

“You have found a Jedi. Phylis Alince, Jedi Master,” she said with a small bow. It was always good to be polite.

“An apprentice? I sense you have the Force, but what training do you have? Why do you want to join the Jedi?”

Her droid beeped something.

“Hmmph, I did not mean that in a derogatory way, despite what my droid claims. I am curious why someone of your…profession…would wish to join the Jedi.”
Was there a hint of disapproval? Possibly. She likely took Laira for one of the innumerable types of spacers, smugglers, pirates or drifters which occupied the galaxy.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Laira's expression changed to one of surprise. She hadn't expected to bump into anyone important on Dac, just to get a name or number of someone she could talk to. This was a pleasant surprise however, something that fate seemed to provide for her benefit.

"Pleased to meet you Master Alince. Laira Darkhold." She extended her hand in a polite manner, her grey eyes studying the woman before her. "No offense taken. I don't know about joining officially or anything, but I've always heard stories about the Jedi when I was growing up and always encouraged, at least by my mother, to experience the Jedi Way." Faith had always been trusting and fond of the Jedi Orders, even when it became clearer and clearer the waters around them had become murky and tainted by disreputable members.

"I've had access to a couple simple Holocrons and time in the Outback gave me some exposure to the Aing Tii, but I don't have much formal training." Certainly the truth, though given her profession, it wasn't likely she would have encountered a Holocron through above board means. Her father had trained Theo and Laira in a very informal manner that did not show emphasis on the Force, or understanding it. His instruction focused on mental and physical control much more than anything else, which extended to their uses of the Force. "It helps me get around and hold my own, I just don't know all that much about it."

[member="Phylis Alince"]

 

[Phylis Alince]

[member="Laira Vereen"]
Phylis took the hand and shook it with a nod.

“An independent Force user, hmm? Very pleased to meet you, Laira. This is ERP-69, my droid.”
If she recognised the amusing nature of the name she gave no sign.

“Well, I’m always happy for company beyond the usual people one finds. If you wanted to come back to my ship I would be happy to discuss some things with you. The Jedi Orders are…confused at the moment. I don’t have any especial loyalty to any of them, but more to the ideals of the Jedi Order.”

“Though I am sure you know the dangers, using the Force merely as a tool…hmmph…it raises many potential problems. Anyway, if you’d like to come back with me I’d be happy to talk further.”

 

[Laira Darkhold]

It was certainly good to hear that this Jedi Master also didn't have any loyalty to any of the varying Jedi Orders that existed around the Galaxy. Although she was mostly just a flirt, she blinked blankly at the Jedi. It wasn't uncommon that people propositioned for her to follow them to their ship and discuss things, but she hadn't expected a Jedi to say something like that either. "Um... I suppose that'll be okay." Laira smiled and regained her composure, taking a more playful approach, pretty sure it was just a misunderstanding. "Just don't get the wrong idea about me."

"Yeah, I know about the dangers of the Force. Corruption, Darkness, evil and all that jazz." Laira started walking alongside Phylis, becoming a bit more comfortable with the idea of learning the Jedi Code from someone much closer to her age than the venerable Master's she had seen elsewhere. "I've gotten a look at the Anil Kesh memory banks once, and saw bits and pieces about the Je'daii Code while I was messing with it, but reading codes and understanding them are different things, ya know."

She was deliberate with each step, putting one foot directly in front of the other with a bit of a sway to her hips, chatting like the two of them were having very normal conversation between two sorority sisters. "I'd really like to understand the spiritual and metaphysical side of the Force. Application and control I've had some lessons in."

[member="Phylis Alince"]

 

[Phylis Alince]

[member="Laira Vereen"]
Unfortunately Phylis was completely unaware of the possible implications of her words. Instead she just looked puzzled.
“Wrong idea? Hmm?”

“To read and to understand are indeed very different things. Codes and laws have two ways to read them; the literal and the interpretive. I do not approve of people who follow only the letter of a code and law. This leads to, hmm, rigidity, inflexibility. A trouble so many Jedi groups have is the rigidity of their dogma.”

“I would be happy to answer your questions. However, if you would like to join me for longer, hmm, that is something we can discuss.”

Picking up her heavy bag they walked back towards her ship, the Jedi’s droid trundling along behind.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Laira kept pace with the brunette Jedi Master, her heels clicking against the deck of the corridor each time she placed her foot down. "Well, I'm actually quite flexible. I had some lessons to that end with a pretty Zeltron." She grinned mischievously, wondering if the Master would get that particularly obvious joke about her dance lessons with Joza Perl or not.

"Well, I'm not sure exactly how long I could stay with you but I'd like to if you have enough space for me." Before agreeing outright to stay with someone she wanted to make sure she had enough personal space that she could have her own bed and preferably her own room. "If you have a spare room and bed for me, I think I could stay for a week, maybe ten days."

The princess considered a list of things she would need to bring with her on an extended trip, she could certainly rough it for a while. Days with some discomfort, weeks if she needed but if possible the redhead wanted to avoid such discomforts. "I may need to pack some spare clothes and grab something out of my own ship before we leave for another planet. Move my fighter over to your hangar and some spare clothes."

She stopped for a moment while she considered what might help break the ice with her new companion, "Speaking of clothes. Should I pack a slinky black dress, just combat clothes, or perhaps something a little more comfortable. I do have a dancer's outfit in a closet somewhere." Laira was a flirt after all. She might pack a new outfit she had picked up from Heart Beat just for this purpose.

[member="Phylis Alince"]

 

[Phylis Alince]

[member="Laira Vereen"]
Phylis frowned. She had trouble sometimes determining when people were playing her and when they were serious.

“Hmmph, there will be no dancing, I can tell you that now,” she said sternly. “I am not sure what sort of Jedi you are used to, but I am not one of them,” she added primly. "Hmm, you weren't sent by Siobhan were you?" she asked suspiciously. [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] had pulled pranks on her before.

Her droid beeped something.

“No, stop trying to cause trouble,” she said to the droid.

“As for space, I have a lot of it on board. It’s usually just me, Six-Nine here and my two pets. We’ll see how things go before we start making big plans.”

They entered the hangerbay where the Wellspring sat. It was quite a ship for one person to use.

With a pass of her hand the ramp lowered and they entered in. The ship was somewhat haphazardly tidy. Some rooms were meticulously clean such as an area with what looked like a forge and anvil. Others, such as her bedroom and a workroom were covered in a variety of items.

A small blur and a small rat ran up Phylis’ leg an sat on her shoulder.
“Hmm, Laira, this is Nibbles. He’s very smart…for a rat. I infused the Light into him…a Jedispawn if you will!”

 

[Laira Darkhold]

No dancing! What was this, the town from Footloose? Regardless Laira smirked to herself about that. "Shame, its a great way to loosen up before a training session." The redhead might still practice her dancing when she had time, if you didn't use it you loose it after all.

"Well," She looked at the Jedi Master, noting her 'taste' in clothing if it could be called that. "I suppose I could wear whatever you have aboard to offer me," A small sacrifice to make in order to complete her personal mission to understand the Force. "So long as you are willing to return me here when I have to leave, I suppose I can go without. But trust me, we are both missing out without my clothes. Not to brag, but I'm pretty fun to look at." All she would have was this skin-tight body suit and a vest, but she could still turn heads with that.

When the little rat ran out Laira was quite beside herself. The little minion was absolutely adorable. Rats were traditionally ugly and dirty, but this little Nibbles was quite clean and cute. Its little whiskers twitched at her and the redhead had to fight back squealing with glee at the sight of its adorable little face.

"OH! He's sooo cute!" She let out in a high pitched voice. Laira took a moment to collect herself before she could take a chance at continuing their conversation. "Jedispawn huh," She'd heard of a few types of Force-crafting associated with the Lightside of the Force. Jal Shey, Force Imbuement. Then there was her father's discovery of the Anil Kesh Holocron, which included information on Alchemy of the Flesh and the creation of Rancor-Dragons so this wasn't exactly crazy, it was just through a process she'd never encountered. "Light-Side Uplifting of non-sentient creatures. I've never heard of anything like it. I've heard of Dark Sider's uplifting Tuk'ata and granting them sentience for whatever purpose, but never anything like it with the Light Side."

[member="Phylis Alince"]

 

[Phylis Alince]

[member="Laira Vereen"]
Phylis gave her an odd look when they discussed clothes. She didn’t understand what was fun to look at. The girl was well toned and attractive in a wild kind of way, but as also over fifteen years younger than the Jedi Master. She understood the girl was trying to flirt or tease, but Phylis remained as chaste as ever.

Fortunately there was a cute distraction. Nibbles looked at Laira thoughtfully, his little eyes glowing slightly with golden specks.

“Ah, hmm, yes. Everyone has heard of Sith Alchemy and Sithspawn, products of the Dark Side and many unfortunate millennia of experimentation. I reasoned that the Force, being a dualist energy source must allow one to do with the Light what had been done with the Dark. Certain groups have done this before, but never to this extent. I call it Alkahest.”

She removed the necklace she wore and handed it over. It was warm to the touch, and not just before Phylis had just worn it. The Force flowed through it, and Laira would sense the Light strongly woven into it.
“It is, hmm, a work in progress, but I am making good progress. I believe that soon enough I will be able to prepare an object with the ability to exorcise even powerful Dark Side spirits no matter where they might lurk.”

“Hmmph, but I am rambling. Please, sit. Can I get you a drink?”

 

[Laira Darkhold]

"Well, he's precious." Laira said, rather interested in the little rat as the trio entered onto the Jedi Master's ship. Laira took a look around the vessel while she followed, stealing glances and little waves at Nibbles while they walked.

"No not at all Master Jedi. You're just going into detail about something you care about. I hope that I can understand the Force half as well as you when I'm your age." The redhead found a seat, stretching out her legs and making herself comfortable on the little vessel. It was tidy, like someone was a bit ocd when it came to cleanliness. Laira was very much the opposite in that regard, happy to let her droid clean up after her and ensure the cabins remained liveable.

"Ah, yes a drink would be nice. Do you have any jawa juice?" The mild alcoholic beverage was common on the outer rim, and one of Laira's favorites. It was just strong enough to give her cheeks a blush but not enough to throw off her equilibrium or inebriate her.

"So, I don't really know where to start, so how about at the beginning. Act like I have no formal training I suppose and I'll just sit here and look pretty." The princess grinned, batting her pretty grey eyes at the brunette Jedi.

[member="Phylis Alince"]

 

[Phylis Alince]

[member="Laira Vereen"]
“I do!” Phylis said. She went to a small but well stocked bar and extracted two glasses, pouring a small measure of the spirit along with some water for herself.
“Hmmph, well, I’ve been a Jedi all my adult life. One does not just pick all this up in an afternoon.”

They sat, Phylis ignoring the batting of the lashes, though she was concerned that maybe the girl had something in her eye. Eye conditions were no joke!

“Well, your questions have been twofold; you wish to learn about the Jedi and about the Force. They are not one and the same.”

“A Jedi is, broadly, one who uses the Light Side of the Force whilst adhering to specific codes or guidelines. In the same way that not every Dark Side user is a Sith, so not all who use the Light are Jedi. What codes and guidelines a Jedi follows though, now that is the question. The Order has been in existence for over 25,000 years in many and various forms. As the galaxy has changed so too the Order has too. Several times it seems as though the Jedi came very close to extinction, but yet they adapted enough to survive every time.”

“What and who a Jedi is a vexed question. Is a Jedi a pacifist who avoids fighting, a crusader of the Light or an enlightened diplomat serving the galaxy? It can be all of those things and more. The problem is that there is no certain way to tell what is and is not a Jedi. Therefore each group and indeed each individual often must choose what they will follow.”

“Even the Jedi Code, the most basic of tenants, has varied over time. The original tenant being a simple five line mantra, but over time it became a more philosophical statement of intent. Now, it’s clear to me that the Jedi of the Old Republic primarily intended the code to be….”

She realised that she had started to ramble on a chosen academic rabbit hole and stopped.

“Hmmph, apologies, perhaps you should define what you wish to know exactly so I can better answer.”

 

[Laira Darkhold]

"Hmm, alright. Let me see if I can narrow it down a little Master Jedi." Laira said, considering the massive sweeping ideals she had requested to know about and understand.

There were so many things that could fall into the categories she had asked, they were simply so broad she could spend a century listening and still not finish the explanation, much less understand it all.

"I want to know what it means to be a Jedi to you. Your interpretation of the code, your ideals on the rules of the Order." The redhead paused, wondering exactly how in detail the Jedi Master might respond and thinking about how to clear away any unwillingness to answer. "I know it may be a little personal, but I could ask any philosopher to speculate on the beliefs of others. But only you can explain your beliefs truthfully."

[member="Phylis Alince"]

 

[Phylis Alince]

[member="Laira Vereen"]
“Hmm, yes, well, that’s an easier thing to tell. What does it mean to be a Jedi to me? I am not given to political ideals and grand historical precedent. To be a Jedi for me is to be one who uses the Light and who attempts to make the galaxy a better place. Everything else is window dressing. Hmmph, it is not these robes, or a lightsabre or a code. Those are all things which help a person better achieve their goals. I wear the robes because it is recognised and is a symbol. I use a lightsabre as it is the best tool for one to carry. I follow a code because it encapsulates what I am trying to achieve.”

“I am not a dogmatic fanatic though. No code, no matter how lengthy can possibly hope to define and measure one’s role. It is a mantra one can follow though, change when needed and make their own.”

“I have seen many Jedi Orders come and go, seen conclaves and convocations fall into cesspits of disunity and backbiting. All of it is because the Jedi have no central pivot to work from. Once the Republic fell into a death spiral the Jedi of the galaxy splintered. Which of the so many groups is right, wrong, misguided? At this point I care not. I have forsaken organised Jedi groups in favour of doing what I can to help.”

“Being a Jedi means being focused on others at the expense of yourself. Being a Jedi means opposing tyranny and evil even if it makes you a target. Being a Jedi means true to yourself and to others. In all things there is always two choices; what is right, and what is easy. Knowing which is which, when to be firm and when to yield, that is what makes you a Jedi.”

She paused, too a drink, frowned. “Hmm, that was still a little rambling wasn’t it?”

 

[Laira Darkhold]

"No, no. Well, yes but I was more along the lines of what I was hoping to learn from you." Laira smiled politely and decided she had best start taking a few notes to go back over, but over all she was pleased with the conversation.

Being a Jedi meant doing what you think is right, and doing it despite difficulty and opposition. Holding to your convictions and morality throughout dark times, and coming out of them as a beacon of light.

That was something she could understand. An old proverb from Atrisia had declared that a true warrior was always reluctant to draw his blade, but never hesitant to use it. There were stories of great atrisian lords in the past who had spent their entire lives becoming master swordsmen who at their height were considered the greatest of their time, only to have never killed another sentient being. Her grandfather and father had both been very quick to use their weapons and quick to permanently put down opposition, but the proverb meant that violence should always be a last resort when no other option presented itself as reliable, only when needed, and only in the pursuit of what is right.

The Jedi Phylis described were not so different in this manner to Laira. "Please continue if you'd like, or we could talk about what you think of the Force. I'd love to understand some of the metaphysical side of it from a Jedi Master's perspective." Almost as an after thought, as though she had been to enthralled with her musings and note-taking, she added, "Sweetcheeks." in a flirtatious tone.

[member="Phylis Alince"]

 

[Phylis Alince]

[member="Laira Vereen"]
At that last word Phylis choked on her drink, giving the redhead a peevish look. “Are you sure Siobhan didn’t send you here to…hmm…troll me?” she asked.

“Hmm, very well, let’s move over to the Force. I’m not sure what you know already, so excuse if this is retreading ground. The Force is the thing which binds the galaxy together, living and dying, everything feels its touch. One attuned to its power can reach into it, use it, but you must always remember that it is not yours solely. It is that which binds all life together, and without it there can be no life.”

“There is also of course the question of the ‘Dark Side’. What is it? Is it a parasitic entity which preys on people? Or is it merely a manifestation of our darker emotions? Jedi and others have debated this for time untold. For me, what I have seen, is that the Dark Side is the darkness of the sentient mind unbound. Death is not darkness inherently, it is a natural process necessary for life. The Dark Side is the willing perversion and destruction of life and order. It’s important to remember that the Force is not a deity, it is not embodied and anthropomorphised in a being, it is diffused, scattered.”

“For me, the Force is an ally, a source of strength, a means to carry out my objectives. It is not a weapon or a tool, it is something we all share. When I use the Force it is to defend myself, to seek insight and to aid others. To strike out in anger or greed is to give in to the darker side of one’s nature.”

“Does that sound fair?”

 

[Laira Darkhold]

"Siobhan?" Laira asked, puzzlement on her face. She'd never met a Siobhan, though indirectly she'd heard about the legendary woman through one of her nieces who referred to her as Auntie Sio. The connection wasn't clicking for the princess though. "No, I was just remarking that you have such lovely cheekbones. They were the first thing I noticed about you." The redhead smiled mischievously before resuming her note-taking.

Much of what the Jedi Master was saying aligned fairly closely with what her Father had taught her in her youth. Draco had been one to teach them about safety and self control, but had deliberately avoid teaching any form of philosophy or heavy understanding of the Force. He warned against dogma to either side, claiming that rigidity and dogmatic belief, even in the pursuit of the Light, was one of the many Paths to the Dark Side.

However what the Jedi Master had said about the Jedi Way and now the Force, if one were to accept those beliefs and pragmatic view of the Code, the Jedi way didn't seem all that bad. [member="Joza Perl"] had mentioned in their dance lessons about a distaste for Jedi for one reason or another, and [member="Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori"] had likewise disliked their dogma. What Phylis was saying didn't seem so dogmatic.

"So, what in your opinion is the best way to keep from slipping and falling into the Dark Side? My limited studies inclined me to follow that any action could be for the light if taken with the proper, serene and logical state of mind. That while violence and killing shouldn't be the first choice, it could be one's first action against an enemy when no other rational possibility to de-escalate could be taken without risk to yourself or others." Laira was quite enjoying getting to see a Jedi's perspective, she just hoped she didn't seem too know-it-all with her comments.

[member="Phylis Alince"]

 

[Phylis Alince]

[member="Laira Vereen"]
Phylis, never having been complimented on her cheekbones before, frowned. Sometimes people were just incomprehensible.

Laira was getting to the crux of the Force, and why – in Phylis’ opinion at least – there had been so many Jedi Orders and such groups.

“That is a subject for much, much debate. To my mind though there are several ways. First, avoid rigidity and unyielding to a code or believe regardless of circumstances. Having beliefs and morals is necessary, but to let your pride and arrogance overrule any other need is foolish. Second, acting in a selfless way. When you go into an action believing that it will serve you over others then you let your needs and pride overtake your reason. Last, make violence your last – but necessary – resort.”

“The Jedi of old were never pacifists, hmmph they led armies in the Clone Wars, and as far back as the records go. What is important is intent. When you take up arms in defence of another, and your enemy will not surrender you are justified in fighting. There cannot be fighting without death, and if that is what it comes to…then so it must be.”

“You must be careful though to avoid the trap of not being impartial to events. If you go in thinking all your actions are justified regardless of what they are that is your pride talking, and a fall is not far away. To be a Jedi one must have self-reflection, critique one’s own actions, think about the consequences of their actions at all times. Do not assume you are right; know that you are.”