The Way of the Apprentice

[Aren D'Shade]

It was obvious to anybody that might be watching the coversation take place that Ar'ekk did not really like what she had been saying about people. Paying attention to what he said Rann though, Aren didn't want to intrude past that blockade placed there. It was there for reason...

"Are there creatures trapped down there?"

What he said about some people though was true. There were a few, mostly religious, that didn't expect any compensation for doing good work.

"I guess you're right. Not sure if I would ever be able to do that though. Like I want to be able to do stuff for myself because of work I've done, not rely on people to show me good will because I did something good. I don't know, maybe I'm not even making any sense."

Skeeter let out a little whine at something, but Aren couldn't tell what it was for and looked at him oddly. Listening to what her brother said about the Force and that it was everywhere, made her hold up one of her hands and poke at it.

"How do you know I can use it too?"

Rann mentioned about finding another way in, but she didn't think that was their purpose here. Right now it felt more like a history lesson about Ar'ekk than anything else. Something was here to be learned, but it was lost on her.

[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"]​

"We're going to another set of ruins not far from here. It's an ancient place of knowledge, you'll see when we get there."

In the Quel-Dora Ruins, Ar'ekk would be able to teach the duo more about the gift that was alive within them. The place was strong with the Force however nothing else was shared by the Knight, being cryptic as always.

"It's not a long walk. Once we're inside, our next lesson will commence. I know things have been tedious from the start but you'll see how empowering this visit will be."

A rocky path would lead the group towards the outskirts of the Quel-Dora ruins, its entrance blocked off by massive chunks of rocks. The weather started to become stagnant as time moved on, going from a sunny cloudless day to a rainy one. Very strange for Voss but not surprising at all.

By closing his eyes and moving his hand forward, Ar'ekk reached beyond and attuned himself with the Force to lift the blockade of rocks and move them away so they could enter. Such an effortless act yet it required the most serene of minds. To control such power was difficult but not impossible.

"Go, I will follow. You're walking the same road as I am, if you get lost... Follow your instict. Trust in yourselves. That's the key."

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[Rann Thress]

As if on auto-pilot, Rann walked ahead. He knew, in his heart, that what he sought lay beyond. With barely a glance backwards, Rann proceeded into the room. Anxious, yet excited, Rann waited ahead for his compatriots to join him.

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

 

[Aren D'Shade]

She followed her brother and walked next to Rann as he led them to different area of the ruins around them. Even though she couldn't the Force yet, it felt different here. Like its age had seeped into things and the even air seemed changed.

The air had changed around them, but that was also in part due to the weather. What had been a sunny and clear day changed to one that was laden with an incoming storm. Maybe that was what had upset Skeeter. Since he couldn't speak, Aren couldn't know for sure.

Ar'ekk lifted the rocks and told her and Rann to continue on. If they got lost, to trust their instincts and themselves. That it was the key to something. Maybe to unlocking her ability to use the Force or help Rann in some way.

Looking at Rann, she would step in the direction Ar'ekk had opened for them and hoped he would follow.

"What do you think we will find here?"

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

 

[Rann Thress]

Aren's voice was distant, as if she was behind several panes of glass. Rann looked at her, a confused expression on his face.

"I have no Idea." came his response. Already Rann felt more 'enhanced'. As if his senses were dialed up to eleven in this one area. He felt as if he could hear the air. His heart beat quickened.

"We best get a move on." Rann said as he trudged forward.

He wanted to leave this place. It felt as if the spirits that inhabited the area were welcoming him. And that was unsettling. The Force seemed amplified here, but not the warm feeling he had felt before, this was cold. The area felt like it, like Aren, was distant. Like there was no longer any warmth in the galaxy. Suddenly, Rann had turned to where Aren was, or had been, to find she was no longer there. Instead, an alleyway on Onderon stood in her place. Rann turned back around to find the scene had completely encapsulated him. Finally, he turned back around to see a hooded man laying against the wall. Rann called out, but the figure did not hear him. Rann looked passed the man and could see two young boys peer around the corner, laughing and pointing at the man. The man stood and reached out, willing some evil thing to happen to the boys, but nothing did. Dejected, the man slumped back to the ground. More children joining in to his derision. Rann had never seen the man's face, but knew it was him. He had guessed pretty easily what was happening. This was a fear he had. That he'd be nobody and powerless.

Scoffing, Rann turned to leave through the back of the alley, only to have the scene change again. This time, it showed Onderon in ruins. Flames building towards the heavens and corpses littering the streets. Once again, Rann saw the man. Still slumped against the wall while Iziz burned.

"What is it trying to show me?" Rann whispered to himself.

"That you will fail." Came the reply, from the hooded man.

"That I will fail? I do not care for Onderon. I hated it here."

"Onderon may, or may not, burn. It does not matter. If it did, it would with or without you. Your failure is nothingness."

"Nothingness? How Poetic." Rann chuckled back.

"You can joke all you want, Rann. This is your future. As it was mine. Your power will disappear, your name will disappear. You will be no one and nothing. And, at the end of the day, you will change nothing."

The hooded man slumped over, dead, and the scene burned away. Iziz, a ruin. And nothing Rann could do would change that.

Rann understood. His fear. He was still nothing. And, in the grand scheme, nothing he did would change anything. Rann was a cog in the machine, if that. And amounted to nothing.

However, Rann did not know whether the vision had worked. He did not have some world-shattering revelation, however the vision stuck with him. However, he did not resign to his fate.

In his heart, he knew what he saw was his fear. That he would be no one, powerless. As the vision finally burned away, leaving Rann is a dark void, he vowed that He would never be powerless, and he would be remembered. One way or another.

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

 

[Aren D'Shade]

As she and Rann walked through the door into the room beyond, things became hazy around her. A distance grew between her and her companion. Even Skeeter seemed to drift away and he was secure on her shoulder. As if a curtain came down, Rann disappeared and a wind came along blowing it away.

When the scene became clear again, it was of a similar setting to that of what Rann saw, but for her it was Zakuul. Here her past mixed with her future as much as it did for him. She had left Zakuul because she didn't want to be under the control of the First Order. Her unknown skill in the Force was still locked, but it had been felt by the Ren...

As she walked down the street from completing some work for a friend on his droid, one of them stepped into the light of a streetlamp. The covered face looked in her direction, a hand beckoned to her to join. Shaking her head, Aren refused. She wasn't going to join them. Turning to run, she found another Ren coming for her. She wanted to be free from their control. Her fear was be controlled by others in this case. To not have a real say in what happened to her. No control for herself.

At every turn, another showed up until she was surrounded. The Ren circled her like birds of prey soaring above searching for food. They enclosed on her until she had no place to go. Crouching down, Aren closed her eyes and something snapped within her. Her will to get away, to be free lashed out and shoved the Ren away from her. An uncontrolled explosion of a Force wave extended out from her to those around her and they flew away.

Like the vision, they faded from view and when she opened her eyes she found herself back in the room she had been. Skeeter was on her shoulder seemingly untouched by what she had seen. He did look at her with curious eyes and fluffed up his wings as if he wanted to fly away. The silly flightless bird that he was though stayed put. He would remain loyal to his owner until he died which they both hoped wasn't going to be any time soon.

"Rann, you there?"

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

 

[Rann Thress]

The haze surrounding Rann slowly started to disappear, gradually returning to the room he and Aren had "left" earlier. Her calling out to him seemed to quicken his visions end.

"Yeah I think so. Are YOU here?"

He responded, looking at Aren, trying to make sure she was real.

He felt that she was, but was willing to believe, or disbelieve, anything.

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

 

[Aren D'Shade]

"Is there something to see with in here? I got a flashlight, but it's really little since it's meant for working on small electronic parts not big areas like a room. What is this place?"

Some of what Aren said was directed at Rann, the rest of it was her more or less speaking just hear something in the silence around them. When he answered, she turned to face the direction of his voice. The fog that had been from her vision cleared away and she found there was enough dim light to see, but nothing much more than outlines. If they were going to stay in here, more light would be needed.

"Yes, I'm here. What happened?"
​
[member="Rann Thress"] [member="Arekk"]

 

[Rann Thress]

"I have no idea. I saw something in the shadows. But that's all."

Rann wasn't entirely eager to reveal what exactly he had seen. He knew what it meant and knew what it would look like to others. Rann's deep dark desire for power and fame. He knew he had to hide it from Ar'ekk. And would have to hide it from Aren as well.

He knew, however, that it would come off as suspicious and unfair to not reveal what he had seen, so Rann decided to not ask Aren about her experience. Instead, Rann decided to focus on Aren's first question. But, sadly, his answer was the same.

"I have no idea what this place is. I don't even have a saber to light the way for us." Rann sighed sadly, and motioned for Aren to follow him. He wondered whether the vision was the only thing Ar'ekk wanted them to experience or if there is something deeper inside. Either way, Rann wanted to continue exploring the ruin, eager to see what lay inside.

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

 

[Aren D'Shade]

Accepting what he said to be true, Aren nodded. What he said sounded accurate though. In her own turn, she kept what happened in her vision to herself. She was in control of where she was going, not one to fall for schemes and what others wanted her to do. She would do what she wanted to do and that was that.

He said he didn't have a light to use so she took out the small light she had in her bag. It would help a little at least, but it was made for looking at small areas that were more enclosed and specialized than something as large as a room.

True to her expectations, it didn't provide more light than what maybe a candle would in a room. However, it would keep them from running into anything.

"What do you think we will find here?"

Four eyes looked at Rann when she asked that question and both parties waited for an answer from him.
​
[member="Rann Thress"] [member="Arekk"]

 

[Rann Thress]

"I have no idea. But I am determined to find out."

Seeing that Aren had a light, Rann offered his hand so the two could advance together and stay within the very limited source of light. Rann's face retained a very stern expression, eager to get out of this area as soon as possible.

He had Aren and Skeeter, and was grateful. He was sure he'd be less eager had he been alone but the comfort the both of them offered just by their presence made him feel a bit more secure.

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

 

[Aren D'Shade]

She sensed a similar determination within Rann that she had as well. They may not always have the same type of determination or rather it may not be directed at the same goal, but it was something they shared.

He held a hand out to Aren and she took the opportunity to take a hold of it as they continued on.

"I'm just sorry I don't have a greater light to see with."

In the dim light, the physical connection came as something welcome and she walked close to Rann as they went further into the ruins. What more they were here for, she didn't know, but it would become clear soon hopefully.

[member="Rann Thress"]

 

[Rann Thress]

Rann gripped Aren's hand a bit tighter as they advanced further into the dark hallway. As they advanced, the walls of the hallway seemed to become more battleworn, with "fresh" scars upon them. And, Rann noticed, the walls started widening ever so slightly, a final door way infront of them. Beyond the door war lay a slightly more well lit round room. Not wanting to let his fear get the better of him, Rann turned his head towards Aren,

"Do we go in?"

He asked, not wanting to be the only one to want to finish this journey.

[member="Aren D'Shade"]

 

[Aren D'Shade]

Taking comfort and security in the hold of Rann, they continued on through the passage in front of them. The chars of battle, scars and marks indicated this place had seen a lot of fighting. They walked together, with her little light revealing details they would have missed. Discarded tools, expended weapons and destroyed droids. None of which would be any use to them. The people that died here, their bodies removed luckily.

The hall lead to a room with a gradual widening as they approached. It was a round room, with this appearing to be the only way in or out. Perhaps this was a council chamber of some sort. As there was some natural light coming from somewhere, maybe mirrors reflecting from outside to light the room. When Rann asked if they should continue in, Aren turned off her light and nodded before speaking.

"I think this is why we are here. To learn, discover and find something. I don't think there's anything alive in here to murder us."

Not wanting to show any fear herself, she would take the first step into the room.

[member="Rann Thress"]

 

[Rann Thress]

Rann couldn't help but admire Aren and as she stepped forward into the room, a smile formed. Not one to be out-done, however, Rann followed, matching Aren step for step. He, too, noticed the discarded weapons and droids lying about the room with some destroyed lightsabers being scattered about the room. The Force emanating from the room was almost overwhelming. Rann felt he could stay inside the room for weeks and still not see everything inside it or know the story of this room. However, there was a pulse in his mind. Something drawing him in. Without thinking, or much resistance towards the influence, Rann allowed himself to be sucked in towards whatever called to him. A small pile of rubble near the far side of the room, shrouded in darkness. Without thinking, Rann reached out with the Force, easily lifting the debris from whatever was calling to him.

With the obstruction cleared, Rann continued. What he saw was unmistakable. The forgotten remains of some unfortunate soul, a dark-side user if his cloak was any indication. Rann wondered what it possibly was that was drawing him towards the remains of someone that, by all means, should be his enemy. But, as he approached ever so slightly closer he saw what it was that drew him. The object this dark-sider no doubt held more dear than most everything else in the Galaxy.

A small, silver and black tube on the floor. Rann knew what it was immediately. He bent over and removed the object from the decomposed, bony hands of it's former master. after a brief observation Rann found a small red button on the side and, being sure to face it towards the roof, he pressed it. A crimson blade erupting from the top.

Rann marveled at it for a second, admiring the construction and look of this lightsaber. He wondered how it had survived this long, but quickly understood that THIS is what was calling him. The implications of why a Sith weapon was calling to him did not immediately dawn on him but, later, he would dwell on it more, the implications becoming more clear.

"I no longer require a lightsaber it seems. This one is mine. For now."
He smiled and turned towards Aren, deactivating the saber and placing it on his belt. He removed the blaster Ar'ekk had given him when they landed from his robe and quickly dismissed it. Despite very little formal Saber training, Rann felt inherently more skilled with the blade than the blaster.

[member="Aren D'Shade"]

 

[Arekk]

VOSS​

THE OLD JEDI TEMPLE, OUTER RIM TERRITORIES​

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

From the shadows emerged a dark figure tall enough to recognize it as Ar'ekk, who had been watching his apprentice and sibling throughout their journey inside the cave.

Most of their actions had been heavily scrutinized and accounted for, Rann finding an ancient lightsaber that did not function properly as it shortcircuited overtime when ignited and Aren proved to be a very brave young woman.

With some assistance of the slicer girl and the experience of the former Jedi Knight, the Padawan would be able to reconstruct the lightsaber and make it work decently.

The crimson blade and hilt's design dated back to the days of the Old Republic, property of an old Sith warrior that gave the weapon as inheritance for the next generation to come. It explains how it reached the cave the group found themselves into, thousands of years after.

"You have done well, young learner. Found the relic, passed through the cave blind and trusted the Force."

This would prove a successful first test for Rann as a Padawan, getting acquainted with the Force and his instincts as a whole. The new weapon acquired was another milestone to completing his trials yet a long way to go still remained to complete.

"That lightsaber belonged to an unknown Sith that perished right here, trying to escape after the invasion and destruction of the enclave.

While it no longer holds any darkness, you should know that wielding a lightsaber is a tremendous privilege. A Jedi never uses their weapon for attack, only defense."

This was just the first of many situations he would have to face, mostly ones hard to convey and understand.

"Let's go outside, we need to talk."

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[Aren D'Shade]

Finding it odd when Rann pulled away from her in the mysterious room, Aren let him go. Something was speaking to him, but it was not something she was aware of. Not yet at least, while her ability was awoken, she had no training in its use.

As he went and discovered his lightsaber from the corner, she went through the room with her eyes. Noticing the pieces of discarded droids, Aren would wander around the room picking up pieces that were still usable.

Going through the rubble, what she didn't notice or feel was the Force guiding her much like it had Rann moments before. Sitting down on the floor, opening her bag, she attached her light to her headset and went about putting together the various parts of the gathered droids.

They were all of the same model so getting them to fit together wasn't an issue and with her tools, a companion for her soon came into being. The programming would have to wait since she didn't want it trying to kill her.

Standing up when she was done and hoisting the droid onto her body in a way where she could carry the weight, it probably weighed a couple hundred pounds. Somehow easily fielding the weight, Aren looked up as her brother stepped out of the shadow. When he spoke, he didn't even look her way and addressed Rann only. Shrugging her shoulder without Skeeter on it, she fell into step carrying the droid on her back, hip and other shoulder.

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

 

[Rann Thress]

Rann followed Ar'ekk outside after making sure Aren was also safely outside the ruin and everything she grabbed was brought out with her. He proudly hung his new semi-functional lightsaber from his belt and eagerly awaited his Master's instruction and further training. Now that he had the weapon of the jedi, he was ready to repair it and begin training in saber combat. Rann dreamt that one day soon he'd be a master of Saber combat.

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