Third Times The Charm

[Jsc]

DAS
Holographic Suite

Today's simulation was an old bar in the wild wild west. A wooden saloon situated in the middle of a dusty little town in the desert's of New Spain. It was a busy watering hole too. Cowboys from all walks of desert life were sitting down on the bench tables. Playing cards, drinking beer, and cussing like there was no tomorrow. Everybody owned a gun and the bartender carried at least two everywhere he went. Of course, aside from the fact that everybody here was human? It could have passed for any crappy cantina on the Outer Rim.

Karen just kinda enjoyed the atmosphere.

She sat at the bar. Her clothing woefully out of place for the era. With lightsabers instead of pistols on her belt. She was just finishing up her lunch too. Wiping a red napkin across her chin as [member="Cloudburner"] rezzed into the hologram.

"Good afternoon Apprentice. Come. Join me for a drink."

 

[Cloudburner]

"Thank you, master. I have been meditating a whole lot frequently now. It seems I am getting more in touch with the Force than I expected to."

He was becoming a Jedi. His life ideals had been changed drastically ever since he was an evil corrupt soldier.

[member="Karen Roberts"]

 

[Jsc]

Karen nodded with a shrug,

"Good. Come. Join me at the bar."

She shook her head and waved [member="Cloudburner"] over. Don't just stand there Apprentice. Saddle up cowboy.

 

[Cloudburner]

He walked in to the bar after the hologram disappeared.

"Hello Master, great to see you again!"

He would then reach out and greet his Master with a hug, as Master and Padawan.

[member="Karen Roberts"]

 

[Jsc]

Alas. Karen was sort of enjoying that hologram. Oh well. I guess they could do the whole Wild West thing later. She shrugged and accepted [member="Cloudburner"] 's hug. Which, was unique. She'd only known the man for what... Three days now?

"Ahem, yes well. Hello to you too Apprentice."

She disengaged and looked the man over. He seemed healthy and in good spirits. That was well.

"So. You seem in a good mood today? Tell me? How have your adventures been? ...What have you been up to this past week or so?"

 

[Cloudburner]

"I have been great over the past week, Master. I have meditated many times and my spirit is in great shape. I hope you feel that way too, Master. After all, what is an apprentice without it's Master?"

He ordered an alcoholic beverage and sat down.

"I have been practising the Form I part of Lightsaber combat you taught me for the past week too, I feel I am getting better and better as the days go on."

[member="Karen Roberts"]

 

[Jsc]

She laughed. It was good that he was doing well. It meant that the dark times were behind him now. They could focus on the future. Make the galaxy a better place.

"Good. I'm glad to hear that. Life is about making choices and making something of ourselves. I think you've done rather well for yourself too. It's only been a few weeks and already you seem much happier. I'm grateful that you decided to change your life and live so much better. Good for you."

She gave him a thumbs up and snapped her fingers. Instantly everything about the simulation came to a halt. Frozen in time. Only Karen and [member="Cloudburner"] seemed able to move about freely. Interlopers in a still-life painting.

"So then? What lies next for you eh? What are the life goals of the infamous man named Cloudburner?"

 

[Cloudburner]

"Perhaps I should talk to my former boss, the guy who set a bounty on me, get it removed, and live a Jedi life. My goals are to become a Jedi Knight, gain an Padawan, do what you are doing. My destiny lies hoping for the best of the Jedi, not myself."

He then noticed that everything was just, still. He could move around and so could his Master but nobody else could.

"Is this a Force Power you set or...?"

[member="Karen Roberts"]

 

[Jsc]

She smirked. Force Power. ...Cute.

"It's just a simulation Apprentice. The computer can create any number of wild things while we linger here. It's why I picked the DAS as our meeting place after all. Nothing better than a Hologram Chamber to host all your parties. Hehe."

Just wait until combat training starts. This whole arena will be filled with tanks, soldiers, and Star Destroyers. Oh my.

"And... I see you've decided to become a full-fledged Jedi Knight then? Interesting. I didn't realize the Force meant that much to you? Perhaps I should seek out a proper Jedi Mentor for you then? Someone who can show you how to be a traditionalist. Hmm."

Karen pondered that for a moment. Looking around the frozen saloon. Hmm, indeed.

"Yes. I think that's an excellent idea. Apprentice. You should seek out the rest of the Silver Santum's Jedi Masters and request a lesson from them. It would do you good to experience the variety that comes from having many Mentors. I think you would learn something about what it really means to be a Jedi traditionalist that way."

She nodded. It was an excellent idea.

To note. Karen wasn't actually a Jedi Master at all you know. Oh no. She only received the rank of Jedi Knight under Grandmaster Ben Watts seven years ago. A title which she had recently given up too. Indeed. Karen Roberts didn't keep a rank anymore. The Omega Protectorate disbanded too so her rank of Rogue Master was also null-and-void. Only the Silver Jedi seemed to mark a Force Master these days. Which was fine. Karen didn't care for titles anyway.

"Oh yes. While I might be your Master now, Apprentice. It will not always be so. ...Mm. In fact. In the eyes of the Jedi Order of the Republic? I'm not even a Jedi anymore at all."

She shrugged,

"So I wouldn't get too attached if I were you. I doubt you and I will train together for much longer than a few seasons. After that... Well. You'd be your own man again. Free to go and do as you like. Unless you decide to stay with the Silver Sanctum and become a true Silver Jedi. That might just suit you too."

Roberts smiled and nodded. [member="Cloudburner"] still had a wide open future in front of him. He was in control.

 

[Cloudburner]

"That's a great idea, Master. I might do that after I train myself in all of your lessons and your teachings. I'm aiming to be the best Jedi I can, even if I have to dedicate the rest of my life to it."

A sidesmile formed across his face.

"Master, thank you for all your support. In the eyes of many, I am unredeemable due to the course of my actions, but I am redeemed. You shown me the Force and how it saved me from nearly all my near-death scenarios in the past. I am forever grateful for you and the Force's support."

[member="Karen Roberts"]

 

[Jsc]

Ah. And now Karen had real cause to smile. [member="Cloudburner"] had discovered the great power of gratitude too. And a powerfully ally it is. For one cannot feel dark and also feel gratitude at the same time. A man must either be dark, or grateful. For he can never be both at the same time.

"You have chosen well Apprentice. For I sense that you are truly grateful for this second chance. That is good. For such an emotion will lead you into brighter pathways and a greater future indeed. I am glad that you are grateful. Well done."

She smiled and waved the comment away. It was enough.

"So then. Today we will talk about how to access the Force so as to gain new abilities. Learning Force Powers, so to speak. Though, I diminish the term."

Karen shrugged. She hated the term 'Force Powers'. It was so old school.

"So. To begin. Leave your drink at the bar and step with me out into the yard. We have training to accomplish."

...

Together they stepped out of the saloon and out the back door. Finding themselves in a dusty yellow yard. Set up for marksmanship training and perhaps for keeping sheep.

Karen grabbed two wooden chairs and placed them in the middle of the yard. Motioning for [member="Cloudburner"] to take a seat,

"Alright now. The first step in learning how to access your powers is, of course... Meditation. So have a seat and begin to mediate. When you are deep in the Force? We can begin."

 

[Cloudburner]

"Very well, Master."

Cloudburner sat down in the chair his Master had motioned him to. He sat down, and begin to meditate. He hovered above the chair, crossed his legs while connecting his thumb to his index finger on both hands, and closed his eyes.

[member="Karen Roberts"]

 

[Jsc]

"Your challenge is to reach out with your feelings and grab each of the large rocks in this yard. Lift them up with the Force and stack them together. One by one. The Jedi call this skill Levitation. ...And remember. If you need assistance? Call upon the Force with your mind. And it will teach you. It will guide you. ...I am not your trainer now, young Apprentice. Now..."

She smiled,

"...You learn from the Force."

Karen gave a wave to [member="Cloudburner"] and leaned back in her chair.

"You may begin."

 

[Cloudburner]

As he sat meditating, he used all of his most peaceful and joyful emotions such as when his cloned Dad taught him the ways of the Mandalorians, when he met the love of his life, but then the two separated.

He felt no anger from the outcome of this memory however, it was for the best, and he trained himself to overcome anger. Or rather, his Master had.

He lifted up a single rock and placed it onto another, from there he would repeat, eventually stacking them all up.

[member="Karen Roberts"]

 

[Jsc]

Excellent. [member="Cloudburner"] was indeed strong in the Force. He would not have much difficulty learning other abilities as well.

"Very good Apprentice. It appears you have the natural talent for telekinesis. That is good."

She nodded her head and placed two fingers against her temple. Creating a mind bubble and pouring new thoughts into it. Mmm. It was time to switch gears.

"Alright. Now focus on my mind and see if you can read into my thoughts. Can you tell me what I am thinking about."

Karen moved the thought bubble to the front of her mind. It was an image of a white stag standing in a dark forest. It would not be very difficult for Cloudburner to sense.

 

[Cloudburner]

His mind raced towards a new objective now. To try and read the Master's thoughts. He gritted his teeth.

"I picture an animal. It is white. In a Dark Forest. It has horns. Is it a White Stag?"

[member="Karen Roberts"]

 

[Jsc]

She nodded but kept her fingers against her temple,

"Good. You have the mentalist talent too. ...Now. Let's try a mind trick. Reach into my mind and see if you can change the stag's color. I've lowered my defenses, so there will be no interruption of the technique. Go ahead now."

This was a bit trickier as [member="Cloudburner"] had to both focus on the Force as well as trying to create a new illusion inside Karen's mind.

 

[Cloudburner]

Cloudburner shut his eyes and attempted to do so.

"The stag is blue."

He knew he had probably failed, yet he tried to maintain a confident attitude.

[member="Karen Roberts"]

 

[Jsc]

She smirked but the image in her mind did not change.

"Almost. Focus on your own will this time. Be confident in your illusion and so will I. Remember, a mind trick is as much about your mental prowess as it about mine. If you do not believe in your own illuion? How can I?"

She nodded and focused on the image again,

"Try again please. With confidence this time."

[member="Cloudburner"]

 

[Cloudburner]

"Yes, Master. I will try again."

He closed his eyes and believed that the stag was blue. His vision was now his Reality. He believed in his own lie.

"The stag is a light shade of blue, with purple horns and a pink tail."

[member="Karen Roberts"]