To Go Underground (Alaina Merrill)

[Veino Garn]

[member="Alaina Merrill"]

Waves crashed on the stony beach, sending chilled spray across Veino's face and hair. It felt good though, crisp and cold cutting through the fog of nightmare-plagued nights that never went away, not anymore. He took a deep breath, pushed his hair away from his face and turned to face inland. His potentially new apprentice should be arriving soon and he had arranged for this to be the meeting place. It was a good place. Mostly empty except for the Jedi Academy embassy compound several miles away. A speeder was parked not far away, as he had an idea for the first test of his new student. Small time drug dealers. Not particularly dangerous, but enough to be a test for Alaina, if she was ready for one yet. If not, no concern. That would come in time. it always did.

He strode a bit further from the waterline and turned to watch the sun begin to rise above the horizon, burning the early morning mist the palest orange that drifted around him, draping from his hands and trailing away as he moved. There were a few training aids in the speeder if they were needed, but he tried not to use them too often. Rather, he'd try to teach and encourage improvisation and resourcefulness. Old habits from hitching rides, he supposed.

 

[Alaina Merrill]

It wasn't because she had to pick out the right out fit or even to curl her own hair. Nope not at all, with her it was plain simple it was the best for her to be like. Even so she couldn't help it right now. Call it some of her own personality showing up. Not that she was nervous about anything or one thing. It was the whole thing about the force it was still unknown to her for the most part, it hasn't like she hadn't dib in a little while she was with the RR. No that learn very much while she was there. Not at all, one thing she was hoping to learn much more then she didn't know before.

To do so she had to branch out seeing another trainer or what some would call a master. One that would challenge her in the right direction of the force also. In all she was like a newbie when it came to any knowledge of the force but for the story pass by mouth on who and what her lovely cousin did with the aid of the force. They was many talked about during family gathering.

Slowing her own bike down until it came to a stop beside the only other one out here at this time of the morning. Nope it wasnt like she was a early far from it. Nope if she could she would sleep the morning, then have a few morning brews before getting her day started behind a desk. Today was different even as she felt the sun to start to break through on the fog.

Putting her gear away before walking over to what she hope to became her knew Master, looking him over before getting in a distance to speak to him. Before that would happen she, had to push up her very large glass, which most wouldn't bother with , but to her it gave her that add security. After which she smile her friendliest smile to great him with.

"Master Garn, I greet you this lovely morning, I'm would be Miss Merrill." wondering if she should have give him her first name if this was a situation like in her line of business that one would use former title.

[member="Veino Garn"]

 

[Veino Garn]

[member="Alaina Merrill"]

Veino paused and crossed his arms to listen more closely. A speeder was on the way, its whine strangely steady beneath the ever-changing symphony that was the sea. He turned and uncrossed his arms as it drew closer and he felt the presence of the rider. It was faint, but definite, and not settled quite yet. That would be his student, no doubt. He waited as she parked, hovered away, and then finally approached him. He gave her a warm smile as she approached and introduced herself.

"Glad you could make it, and please, just call me Veino. The only titles I hold here are Defender and Warden," He pointed up the coastline to where the compound shimmered in the fog. "We don't have a master title here on Susefvi." He took a few steps back towards the waterline and took a deep breath. This was the challenging part. He was never quite sure how to start these relationships with students. Most of them end up going their own way and leaving him without a word.

"May as well introduce myself. I was born here on this moon, raised on the other side under the tutelage of another Jensaarai Defender, and then left for a host of complicated reasons. Spent time with the Army of Light, Fel Imperium, Order of the Grey, Galactic Republic, and Omega Protectorate before coming home again to work with the Aacademy and our mutual network." He turned to look at her. "And what about you? What brings you here and what do you hope I can teach you?"

He knew what he could teach her and what he would probably teach her, but it was important he knew what she had in mind, so he could either assist there or correct any misunderstandings she had. Better to sort those out quickly before situations got bad.

 

[Alaina Merrill]

Listing to what he said to call him, "Understand, Mr. Veino, mm excuse me Veino.", still a bit of that awkward to herself being in a place like this. Then again most places she felt like this. It wasn't as if she had a reason to act this way. No just the way she was came put together. Even so as she lifted her own hand to shade as the sun trying to peek through the fog as it burn off. Seeing the place, it being some what of a mystery place. Telling her that there was much to learn, was she a welling student. To answer that question one must answer this first. Anyone that had the force inside oneself even how weak, must want to explore what ones is capable of achieving with in the force itself.

Jensaarai this wasn't something she heard every day or even for that matter every, but in maybe old old history books. Knowing that there was much she still was learning in the galaxy at larger groups with in groups planets that had long ago been forgotten or left unexplored. Even so she couldn't help want to answer his question.

Even then she took her time. "I was raised on Corellia, but born else where." just how much of her family would she get into for now not much of the family business. After all what needed to be know would make its present when need to be. Now for what could learn from him, much she knew that by far but for herself what brought her here to choose this one instead of any others. That was left up to her next answer wasn't it, in a way with this was a very complex answer couldn't be such a straight forward.

"I would like to learn, all I can what I am capable of with in the force.", was she to say something about how she wanted to used it or not for now she would keep this to herself for now. It was more to work towards a goal just what was that, it was to help the galaxy to stop that evil that had taken a hold of the galaxy to bring the end to the many lives that seem to be done away with weak or not. No she knew that something had to be done about the darkness and the sith.

"I want to know what it is to use the force for the good of the galaxy what every it may require of me." , if it met giving her life so be it.

[member="Veino Garn"]

 

[Veino Garn]

Veino nodded as she spoke, listening and absorbing her words. Those were good reasons to learn. Ones he could respect, encourage, and cultivate into something more. A way of life, even. It was what they tried to do with Jensaarai apprentices and had been instilled into him over the years. He took a deep breath and began sorting out his reply. There were things she was not telling so far, he could sense that easily enough, but it would come in time. All things came in time. Many forget that and rush ahead to their own ruin. He had done that once and as a result his best friend was buried several hundred miles away from this exact spot and far beneath the ground. He shook it off. No use in dwelling on the past. It was a trap that would drown a person if given the chance.

"That is an excellent goal and journey I can assist you on, but," He added after a pause, "The destination will be on your shoulders to carry. I will assist you in any way I can, however." He turned and walked into the surf, bracing himself as the waves beat against his legs. Not huge ones, but enough to feel their impact. He let himself rock with the impact and flow with the water.

"For this first lesson then, it will to set the ground for you to begin learning to connect with the Force at will without any difficulty. Everything else builds upon this and it can only be gained through practice and experience.' He took a few steps out deeper into the waves, until they were to his waist.

"People see the Force in many ways. For me, I see it as a bottomless pool that is absolutely still." Much like the pool in the enclave, but that was a Jensaarai secret. "It is also like an ocean, with the stillness disturbed by the Dark Side our own minds. We must learn to find the stillness with the storm. That is where our strength is. For the Dark Side, they access the storm. It's easier and flashier, but it is not more powerful." He placed the emphasis on those words because it was easy to think it was, with the galaxy the way it was. "Meditation is the path to the center, so we'll begin there. Stand in the waves and find your center, that place when you're calm emptied of yourself with the Force guiding you."

He paused for a moment and then added, "There's also a den of drug dealers within a quick speeder trip we should take care of once I know you're ready."

[member="Alaina Merrill"]

 

[Alaina Merrill]

Watching Veino start to go into the water as it went around him batting at him. Everything inside of her letting off the fear, it wasn't as if she wanted this to snake out like it was coming. No far from it it. Her and water wasn't the best of friends, but for the nice long soak now that she could do with the water. After all what girl wouldn't want that to relive some stress once in a while.

Wanting so much to call out to him right there to tell him to stop how dangerous it was to be out like that. After all there was creature that lived under the water that one couldn't see with the naked eye unless they put their face full under water. Water there it was staring at her like it wanted to say it got her. Closing her eyes now as he spoke more as if it wasn't bad enough he had step out deeper when her eyes had open up.

Talking of a storm that was raging if one would go embraces it or stand against it. This her own inward test to see if she had what it took to train by his side. Focusing only on her Master as she took a step towards the water edge. Knowing that she was taking her time. Knowing that the task at hand was to have the goal, one wanted to take down the bad guys. It was now the challenge of how she would get there. As she touch with her own toes, she hadn't brought a suit at all, still clothes was this also a test if one would think of one self before doing what need to be done.

This wasn't so bad was it only up to her ankles now, knowing that she would have to come all the way into the spot next to him. As soon as she took a few steps more. Finding herself on her behind as the water went all around her. Right there was the run or flight stage for her. Seeing that he wanted her to be calm at peace she couldn't be self doubt was taking a hold of her like no tomorrow.

Picking herself up as she slowed down until she had herself balance in each step trying to make sure her glasses didn't get knocked off. Why had she wore her glasses out there. Yes because she was half blind with out them right or was there other reason. One like herself couldn't think about that right now. All that matter is that one like herself needed to stop thinking could she. Falling once again only in a deeper as the wave came at her like it wanted her life.

"I...", then she keep her mouth shut as to the fact that she started to takes that saltiness if that what she was truly tasting. Patients she hope that he had a lot of that coming to him from her being so unable to just go right out there do this. After that she couldn't help but do more and think less as she tried to do both keep from falling and empty her own mind.

Looking at her master what for was it for encouragement or something more. Wanting to say she was trying no she be doing this ask this was her first task she couldn't let her Master see her give up. It was her fear of water the most troubling it was something that happen early in her childhood. Wanting nothing more to scream out as if she once again finding herself going under the water to never come up again but she did.

[member="Veino Garn"]

 

[Veino Garn]

[member="Alaina Merrill"]

She was scared. He could feel it and see it, the way she almost said something and stopped. No, this was not quite what he was expecting. He'd forgotten that not everyone grew up on islands and spent long hours in the sea. But it would be a good test, one that pushed her beyond what she thought was capable of. Hopefully he hadn't accidentally pushed her too far too quickly. That was a risk he'd already taken, so it was too late now. He would try to alleviate some of the distress though and took several steps towards her. He sensed a school of fish not far away but a quick mental nudge with the Force sent them off in the opposite direction. The birds wheeling far above would most likely not be an issue, he suspected. But he kept aware of them, just in case.

He started speaking, just low enough to be heard above the gentle murmur of the waves that lapped at the shore and flowed around his body, although seemed intent on knocking Alaina over. He held up his hands in an attempt to soothe her and sent a gentle touch of the Force to calm her.

"Don't fight it," He said, "It can't be done. Flow with it. Reach out and touch the Force. We can't fight the universe and bend it to our ways. That's the way of the Sith and tyrants." He paused as a swell rose up behind him, seeming as if it would flatten him. It didn't. He rose up with it, feet leaving the surface and bobbed along the top, until being gently deposited back on the sea-floor. He shook some water from his hair. "The first lesson we must learn is to let go from our need to control everything and let the Force guide us."

He paused and let himself sway with the waves, moving gently with the war. "The Force will lead you if you allow it. That is where our strength comes from once you learn to trust and channel it."

 

[Alaina Merrill]

Coughing some of the water out of her mouth again. Don't fight it, can't be done. Driving force behind her wanting to fighting was it fear itself. Speaking that it was the way of the sith, if that was true then she would need to drive out this fear of the water. Letting go of everything letting the force guild us. Just wanting to say something right there there was another wave that took her off her feet. This one she struggled with more then the others that came after him.

Coming up once again, trust that didn't come easy. Coming to it be her up bring or did something happen before coming to him for the force training. That was her to keep or did she have to deal with it the hear and now. No now it was time to come out with one that was her greatest fear right now. "I can't swim, I was born on planet with no ocean, there I grew up in space, Veino."

Now herself wet and shivering but she pushed on as she closed her eyes feeling his present calming of her just want to flee. Heart that beat inside of her was racing. Opening up to the force itself, feel something but wasn't enough for the next way but it wasn't as if before with the panic. Hearing once again her Master voice that nothing would happen. "Trust"

[member="Veino Garn"]

 

[Veino Garn]

Spoiler

So sorry for taking so long! Everything happened at once and things went rather crazy

[member="Alaina Merrill"]

Veino nodded as she spoke. Not knowing how to swim would be terrifying when suddenly thrust into the ocean. He kept himself from grimacing. He probably should have asked, but still. That was so hard for him to fathom. Then again, he had grown up on an island. He had to know how to swim or he probably would have died. Not that he didn't almost die a few times on the planet, but that wasn't because he didn't know how to swim. That had been because he had been stupid.

He walked closer to shore then. Time to change the plan. One could not learn a later lesson without first knowing the basic. "Head back to shallower water then. This will be more harmful than helpful in that case." He gestured up towards the beach. "But you should really learn to swim at some point." He glanced skywards. "There are a lot of planets with water and you'll probably end up in dangerous situations on quite a few of them."

He paused, standing where the water was less than knee deep and surf splashed around his sodden boots and pants. He brushed a strand of hair out of his eyes. "We'll try it here now. You won't drown. I promise you that. I won't throw you into something above your head that I know you can't handle." He shook his head to emphasize his point. "But I will push you beyond what you're comfortable with. Can you trust me with this?"

 

[Alaina Merrill]

Giving him a nod of her head, as more salt water seem to made it to her mouth. In a way her stubbornness wanted to keep on to show her Master that could put her fears behind her. Even this met coming to met her death in water above her chest. Moving quickly towards the shallow end of the ocean. "I put it on my list of do's to find someone to teach me" as she give a nod. Even with her hair now having droplets coming from her long strain.

Listen to the rest of what her Master had to speak. All was going through her mind as she was one that didn't trust a lot could it just be her personality of not wanting to trust anyone. Did it have to do with her past only time would tell as of right now wasn't the time for her to shift through her mind to find the answer.

Closing her eyes for a time, only to have it open up again to find his eyes upon her waiting for answer. He had been welling to take her on as his apperience at less could do is that that step be on, "Yes I can trust you with this." there it was her first big step not knowing if Veino really knew how big of a first step it really was to her to make.

This bring her closer to him now to start the lesson once again, even here she could feel the current and the waves roll upon them. Bring herself once again to calm herself so that they could continue.

[member="Veino Garn"]

 

[Veino Garn]

[member="Alaina Merrill"]

Yes I can trust you with this.

Veino let out a silent sigh of relief. Good. If that didn't work, nothing would and things would have quickly gotten very complicated. All good relationships, especially student-teacher relationships were founded on trust. He would be leading her into situations she would not believe herself capable of and it would be his duty to ensure that she would be pushed to grow to meet the challenges. Not in a brutal manner like the Sith, but it would still be hard. His teachings had come form experience and left with more scars than he ever wished on anybody.

"Think of the ocean as the universe," He said, lifting his arms out to encompass the sea that stretched out behind him. "And the water is the Force." He held up a finger. "It may seem the ocean is the water. The two are separate, with the ocean existing through the water. Same with the universe. The Force is an inherent part of the universe, surrounding all living beings and binding us together into one net, one ocean of life. What I will teach you is how to be aware of that net, how to feel through it, and how to manipulate it to better defend others."

He let himself float off the surface, bobbing up and down on the waves. "Our power comes from the Force moving us and guiding us. We direct it to an extent, but the greatest power comes from floating in it. As you just learned, resisting the movement of the waves leads to struggle." He let himself settle back onto the bottom, still swaying slightly with the water. "The first lesson is stillness and trust. Let the water, and the Force fill you and guide. Move with their guidance."

A thought struck him and he paused to formulate it before explaining. Because his author feels the Socratic method would be a great way to teach Force stuff

"With the metaphor I just told you, why do you think it would be such a horrific thing to use the Force as the Sith do?"