The Way of the Apprentice

[Arekk]

VOSS​

THE OLD JEDI TEMPLE, OUTER RIM TERRITORIES​

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INTERACTING WITH: [member="Rann Thress"], [member="Aren D'Shade"]​

A decade.

You'd think that after the One Sith, the ravaging of the temple and Malachor V, Ar'ekk would never return to a place like this. Everything he knew from a young age as a Padawan learner and all his belongings left prior to the conflict he had taken part of was gone in a matter of months, never having the chance to return here.

It was until now that the young Knight turned Master (albeit temporarily, for now) wanted to show his now apprentice, through his eyes, what this place meant to him and for the Jedi he knew. Even though that Ar'ekk felt more attached to the Galactic Republic than the Silver Jedi, the latter only playing the most important chapter in his life as he defended their affairs on Malachor, he still wanted to make Rann presence and feel the place where the half masked man had taken his first steps. Of course, to Aren as well.

"All what's left of the temple is a memorial, from what I've been told. We shouldn't run into any trouble but stay in alert, you never know."

Those were the words of the mentor for his young learner before shoving a DH-17 blaster pistol against his chest. Knowing that Rann did not possess a lightsaber yet he provided a weapon small enough to be concealed but also fast to shoot and neutralize any objective.

"Aren, you can stay in the ship and continue with the repairs or come down with us. Your choice."

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[Rann Thress]

Rann looked at the blaster that had been shoved into his hands. At least this was something he understood. He'd never actually fired one before, but he was sure he understood more of the basic principle than how the Force worked. After he put the blaster safely under his belt, safety on, he looked around and took in his surroundings. Yet another planet he had never any original intention of going to, but another so vastly different from what came before. Rann had no idea he'd leave Onderon, let alone see two brand new planets. The whole ordeal had been a little overwhelming for him.



"I'm as eager as I've ever been. I'm ready." Rann said to no one in particular. It was as if he was more psyching himself up than anything else. He'd come farther then he ever expected to, but was not yet satisfied. Something within him yearned for power. It was something he could not quite explain.



[member="Arekk"] [member="Aren D'Shade"]

 

[Aren D'Shade]

Luckily Aren was working on something nearby to the two of them as they chatted or she wouldn't have heard that anything was going on around her. Finishing up with what she was doing after a second or two, she looked up to see Ar'ekk looking at her like he had just said something. Letting out a sigh, she took one side of her headset off.

"What was that, Ar'ekk and why does he have a gun?"

He repeated what he said about her either staying or going down to the planet and she stood up.

"I've only ever seen one world, so here is a chance to see another. Where are we?"

Putting away the tools she had just been using, blowing on the device she had fixed and closed the panel on it, she indicated she was as ready to go with them. Picking Skeeter up and placing him on her shoulder, Aren wasn't about to leave him behind.

"Sleep well, Rann?"

[member="Rann Thress"] [member="Arekk"]

 

[Arekk]

VOSS​

Outskirts of the old Jedi Temple, Outer Rim ​

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INTERACTING WITH: [member="Aren D'Shade"], [member="Rann Thress"]​

Ar'ekk gave Rann a reassuring nod and a pat on his shoulder blade before turning his attention towards Aren, who didn't hear properly what they were chattering about since she was focused on her own "musical world", something that the young Knight didn't really blamed her for.

Too many things had occured and having a clear mind was the best approach to the whole ordeal.

"We are in Voss, ancient home of the Silver Jedi Order. This is where I took my first steps with the Jedi and their teachings."

Being back to where everything started, like in day one when Ar'ekk was just a simple apprentice. Not having even developed his bearings about the Force or knowing anything about lightsabers, much like Rann in this occasion.

Learning from the ruins and trying to follow the same path that Ar'ekk followed would aid the Padawan in his training.

"The planet has been abandoned for months now and we don't know what we'll encounter here. It's safer that way."

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[Rann Thress]

"It's odd sleeping on a spaceship. It feels unnatural. I mean, it is unnatural. But you know what I mean."

Rann turned to Ar'ekk and nodded. He was now at the point whether he trusted Ar'ekk or died. Everything in his urban upbringing told him not to trust anyone but he could not help but trust the masked Jedi. Rann wasn't too sure what having a blaster would do what having a lightsaber would not, but still. He found comfort in the weapon.

"How about you Aren? Pleasant dreams I hope."

[member="Arekk"] [member="Aren D'Shade"]

 

[Aren D'Shade]

Taking the head set off totally not, Aren kept it wrapped around her neck and slightly displacing Skeeter who squawked at her. Petting him, she gave Ar'ekk her attention when he answered her question.

"It will be neat to see where you got started on things and I'm sure it'll help Rann get one as well."

Little did she know it would her too, but the other two probably already realized Aren could use the Force. It just needed to be awakened within her. Perhaps this trip to Voss would do just that.

"I don't think sleeping in a bed or bunk is that unnatural really. The location might not be normal, but for now, I think this ship is home."

Giving Rann a sly look that covered him from head to toe and back up, she nodded with a slight smile.

"Yes, they were quite pleasant."

[member="Rann Thress"] [member="Arekk"]

 

[Arekk]

VOSS​

Aboard the Ebon Hawk, Outskirts of the old Jedi Temple, Outer Rim ​

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INTERACTING WITH: [member="Aren D'Shade"], [member="Rann Thress"]​

The man moved close to Aren and skeeter, patting the head of the Porg gently as he conversated with the two of them.

"Very well, you can come with us. It could help you, who knows?"

BMaybe hinting at Aren's undiscovered Force sensitivity could spark up the young girl's power hidden within her, seeing the same places his brother had seen early in his life. Many of the structures and places throughout this planet were strong with the Force and continue to be.

Arching an eyebrow to the two of them as if they were hinting something behind his back, Ar'ekk saw the opportunity to chime in and interrupt their little coy scene.

"Alright, alright. How about we get moving? The faster, the merrier. Go grab your gear."

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[Rann Thress]

Upon being asked to grab his gear, Rann looked at the blaster he held and down to his feet. He looked back up to Ar'ekk, "Ready."

He figured what gear was to be grabbed belonged to Aren. Rann did, however, collect his outerrobe and donned it. The traditional Jedi Cloak weighed heavy on a man who was used to the thinnest layers of clothing. However, he felt at home inside the complete ensemble of the Jedi. What's more, he was ready to belong to the Order of Jedi whose uniform he wore.

[member="Arekk"] [member="Aren D'Shade"]

 

[Aren D'Shade]

"Help me with what, Ar'ekk? I don't think I'm mental or have anything wrong with me. Are you suggesting something is wrong?"

Her eyes narrowed as she looked at Ar'ekk and her tone totally serious. The girl still hadn't accepted the answer from the test fully and the information was sinking in slowly. Right now, Aren viewed him more as employer or companion than real family or blood.

Not worrying about changing her clothes, she grabbed the pack she had brought with her. It contained everything she might need while on Voss or so she hoped.

"I'm just as ready as he is."

[member="Rann Thress"] [member="Arekk"]

 

[Arekk]

VOSS​

Near the old Jedi Temple, Outer Rim ​

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INTERACTING WITH: [member="Aren D'Shade"], [member="Rann Thress"]​

"That's not what I meant. Let's leave it at that."

Accepting this bond was the first step to coming into terms with the entire situation between the two of them. Of course, Aren would take her time on the matter as she deemed fit but Ar'ekk had already embraced the truth. Blood is blood, after all.

Reaching for Rann's shoulder and squeezing it tight with his cybernetic hand, the man commented on his perfectly ironed and taken care of clothes. The cloak and robes of a Jedi were as important as a lightsaber or even greater than that, it's what gave you an identity. Peacekeeper of the galaxy, not soldiers.

"Here's where our journey begins, my young apprentice. I will do my best to teach you the ways of the Force and become a Jedi Knight."

Before leaving the Ebon Hawk and in everyone's sight, Ar'ekk reached for the medical bag and reached for a synthflesh container. Synthflesh is a meltable material that imitated natural flesh and was used to cover prothestic replacements, in this case the man's half face scarred. Once it was applied, the results were immediate and his skin was cured.

Why he didn't use this before remained a mystery.

As he grabbed his leather jacket from the pilot's seat and clipped his lightsaber to the utility belt he used, Ar'ekk opened the metallic ramp to head outside.

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[Rann Thress]

Rann was incredibly unsettled by Ar'ekk's sudden facial change. He was curious why Ar'ekk never used it before but just put it out of his mind. A lot of firsts have been happening for Rann in the past few weeks.

Rann straightened his robes and nodded at his master. He was ready for whatever trials or teachings lay in his future. He looked at Aren, who had a pack of things and to Ar'ekk who had a utility belt and remembered just how illprepared he was.

[member="Arekk"] [member="Aren D'Shade"]

 

[Aren D'Shade]

Only a partial answer happened to Aren and she shook her head at her brother. At least he didn't mean to imply she was soft in the head. Observing the rapport between Ar'ekk and Rann, she wondered if she would she would have that eventually with the two of them. She assumed she would, but it would take time.

"What's the deal about being a Jedi anyway? Peacekeepers and makes sacrifices, good for all people. What about themselves? What do you get out of it?"

Aren might be young, but she had seen some interesting things on Zakuul so when Ar'ekk placed the synthflesh on his face, she barely blinked an eye.

When Rann looked at her and then her pack, if he paid attention to what was in it, there wasn't anything in that would help in a fight. Aren wasn't a fighter and didn't carry any weapons unless you counted the little blaster that was more for stunning a person than hurting them.

"What's our objective here?"

[member="Rann Thress"] [member="Arekk"]

 

[Arekk]

VOSS​

Near the old Jedi Temple, Outer Rim ​

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INTERACTING WITH: [member="Aren D'Shade"], [member="Rann Thress"]​

"To learn about the Force and ancient places of knowledge like this one. It's important to learn about the Jedi's history to move forward and understand the present."

Perhaps, all of this would sound like a bunch of mumbo-jumbo to the young slicer girl but his explanation was heartfelt and sincere. The two of them didn't know the importance of setting foot here unlike Ar'ekk who hasn't done that in decades, before Malachor V. Before everything changed.

As the trio walked out of the legendary Ebon Hawk and the metallic ramp closed behind them, the Knight began to scout the sorroundings only to stop what seemed the ruins of the Jedi Enclave. The green pastures of Voss were vibrant and full of life despite what happened here.

"We're walking the same steps I took when I was a child, the ones that looked for inspiration and to know more about this gift that awokened inside me. Now, you're doing the same."

Of course, he was speaking in plural but at the same time made it sound like it was aimed only for the young Padawan Rann. Aren's attunement with the Force hadn't flourished yet but soon it would, one way or the other. Some wise master once said that "It worked in mysterious ways."

"Come on, through here."

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[Rann Thress]

Rann eagerly followed Ar'ekk through the old temple. Once again, as it was when he first stepped on the Hawk, he felt a intense presence through the Force. He stopped for a second and looked at Ar'ekk. Unlike the time on the Ebon Hawk he could not feel a warmth or a welcoming. He simply just felt. The Force was there and he felt it, but it wasn't particularly calling to him this time. Never the less, Rann continued on. Determined to learn all he could about the Force and the Jedi way.

Rann tried not to telegraph his startled facial expression and simply decided to continue diligently following Ar'ekk. However, he was curious as to the state of this place.

"What happened here?"

He asked, looking around. Either it was abandoned or sacked. But he didn't really know which. It had looked like either way, scavengers ventured around here.

[member="Arekk"] [member="Aren D'Shade"]

 

[Aren D'Shade]

She gave Ar'ekk a dirty look since he seemed to ignore her first few questions, but listened to his answer on the last one.

"Learn from the past so it's not repeated? C'mon, the battle of Jedi and Sith have been around for as long as anybody can remember. Light and dark, never going to end. I'm not stupid enough to think that is ever going to happen. Are the two of you?"

A small sign of her being rebellious popping up now and then and it picked this moment to do it. Aren was old enough to know better than to say this stuff, but young enough to not really care.

"Ar'ekk, you were picked from the orphanage right? How come I wasn't...oh never mind, maybe I was adopted before you were."

The thought that maybe she could use the Force too came to mind and she wondered why it had not been discovered she could. Maybe she couldn't and did a mental shrug. Her affinity to fixing and working with electronics should have been a clue, but she was blind to it.

She walked next to Rann as they followed her brother into what would have been the temple there. Skeeker sat on her shoulder quietly and looked around them. Two heads turned to look at Rann when he asked his question.

"Well, there's no sign of battle, so I think they just moved away."

[member="Rann Thress"] [member="Arekk"]

 

[Arekk]

VOSS​

Near the old Jedi Temple, Outer Rim ​

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INTERACTING WITH: [member="Aren D'Shade"], [member="Rann Thress"]​

"Good and evil will always be there fighting. It's inevitable. Being a peacekeeper should be good enough, a Jedi doesn't look for recognition or self praise. They do it selflessly because it's the right thing to do."

Aren's question was responded promptly after he noticed the rebellious attitude pouring out of her skin and mouth, she was definitely his sister. The same strong willed personality, striving forward to know all the answers to their questions.

Her next question was left in the air, answers would come soon enough. She had a gift not yet discovered by either that would flourish when the time was right. Maybe now, maybe tomorrow. No one really knew at that time.

"You can feel what happened here if you reach through the Force. The Sith came and destroyed everything they've built, making sure nothing ever came out of this again. They were wrong but Voss was left alone, that's why the Silvers left. I wasn't here when it happened, having moved to Yutan with the Galactic Republic to join my new master, the one who taught me everything I know. My old mentor, [member="Rasu Gan"]... She disappeared shortly after we returned from Malachor V. We were there, together."

Memories, memories. Talks of a bygone era not rendered to nothing but ashes and ruins, a memorial laying nearby with the names of those who gave their life for the Jedi and the temple against the oppression of the One Sith.

The entrance to the enclave was closed off by a large rock so going inside was a no-no. Even then, they still had a bunch of places to explore.

Pressing down on his datapad, Ar'ekk marked the location of the Quel-Dora Ruins.

"There's nothing for us here. Follow me."

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[Rann Thress]

Rann looked at Aren. The question she asked burned through his mind as well. The Jedi and Sith will ALWAYS fight eachother. It is inevitable. And there will never be an end to the fighting as long as there is the Force. But Rann did not concern himself with the greater workings of the Galaxy. He joined the Jedi because he had power yet untapped and he wanted it to be released. He still did. Rann did not come to Kashyyyk with the express interest of saving the galaxy. He came to better himself. Anything else that happened past that was just lucky. Rann was not eager to give of himself simply because it was his 'duty'. He did not want to be expected to rush head long into danger to rescue someone that, not only would he never have met, but, he feared, would not do the same in Rann's shoes. Rann wondered if he'd be pulled to the darkside but quickly cast the thought aside, not wanting Ar'ekk to catch on to his inner conflict.

Still, what Aren had said resonated with him. There were thousands of Jedi and thousands of Sith. To join their war would be to add another statistic to the long list of casualties. Tens of thousands of years of war later, and they were no closer to ending it. Rann decided he did not want to fight that war, he would not win it singlehandedly and it would nto end in his lifetime. Instead, he decided, he would live. He'd live to the best of his ability and fight for what he believed in, not what a code said he should believe.

But what did Rann believe in? He wasn't even sure he knew. He had hopes, however, that exploring this ruin would help give him purpose. However as it stood, his purpose was power. A uniquely Sith trait.

Rann did not press Ar'ekk about his old master. It seemed to still leave a wound on him. Whether it did or not, Rann thought it best to not reopen it. He was, however, curious as to why Ar'ekk did not move the boulders with the Force.

"Could you not push the rubble aside, Master?"
He figured it sounded more insulting than he meant, but did not have time to correct himself.

[member="Arekk"] [member="Aren D'Shade"]

 

[Aren D'Shade]

"People are always out for something, Ar'ekk. Look at me, I was out for your ship when you found me. I'm sure you're after something too or you wouldn't have taken me on. This was before we knew our relation."

It was the first she openly stated they were even related and did it not even thinking about it. Just letting her mind wander and voice her thoughts that were a little random right now.

"Right or wrong, nothing is ever free. You mention your master disappeared. Well, whatever you were doing peacefully may have caused it. The peace you want comes at a price. Same as the war others may want to bring."

Stopping to read the names, none of them meant anything to her. Looking at Ar'ekk, but not asking, she wondered if they did to him. As she was looking at her brother, Skeeter continued to look at Rann. It was almost as if he could sense something within him Aren was missing.

"I've not seen the Force is use, so would be interested in seeing a display."

[member="Rann Thress"] [member="Arekk"]

 

[Arekk]

VOSS​

Near the old Jedi Temple, Outer Rim ​

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INTERACTING WITH: [member="Aren D'Shade"], [member="Rann Thress"]​

"I could have pretty well, my apprentice. But one does not disrupt the peaceful resting of fellow friends and Jedi."

His eyebrows furrowed as Aren continued with her interesting monologue, the very same rebellious thoughts coming out of her mouth just like his brother once did. It was true in some extent and even though Ar'ekk had put aside his view of the Jedi to find a balance, he couldn't help but defend some of the points made.

"Some feel purpose in defending the light and being keepers of the peace. You're right in what you are saying but not everyone has something they want. There's people who just do things right because that's how it should be."

The names etched on the marble walls meant nothing to Ar'ekk, most of his fallen comrades rested where they perished: In the battlefield.

Bodies were never recovered, families couldn't find that awful "closure" that no one really does getting. That's the harsh truth of the war, there are no winners. Everyone loses something there.

"The Force is a gift that must be used with a clear judgement. It's alive within you, within me, within everything. Life. The birds chirping above us, the trees and the wildlife roaming in the forests nearby. It sorrounds us and binds us together. You've got that gift as well, Aren. Yet not developed or discovered. You'll see in time, if that's what you really want."

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[Rann Thress]

Ar'ekk's explanation made clear sense to Rann and suddenly he felt a little ashamed. He hadn't considered that this place was a graveyard. And he then shuddered to think about any lives that may have been lost in this particular collapse. He quietly nodded and fell in to follow his master. He gave a quick glance towards the wall filled with the names of the fallen but did not linger on it. He was here to learn, and to, however he could, help Aren unlock her power as well. He did not want to grieve or be depressed about the fallen.

"I am curious as to where we're headed. I can only assume we're just going to find another way in yes?"

Rann quickly decided he wanted to leave this place as soon as possible.

[member="Arekk"] [member="Aren D'Shade"]