Up, Down and Sideways

[Dax Perl]

The man shook his head. "No, I only became a Knight a few months ago. Besides, I don't really think I'm the best person to train someone." he admitted, "Not sure I'd have the patience to train someone." the man looked the woman up and down briefly. She didn't seem that much older than him. Yet, she seemed confident in herself, enough so she trusted herself to train others. "How do you manage that anyways? The training others bit?"

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel nodded. “I was rather nervous when I took my first Padawan. But the thing is, I think I’ve learned more from training others than I did as a Padawan myself. I’ve honed skills I only dabbled with before and I’ve learned new ones just so I can teach others.”

“So once I took my first Padawan, I just realised how enjoyable it is and I haven’t looked back, believe me. They don’t all make the journey – but I’ve not lost one to the dark side, which is a positive.”

“And patience comes with practise, so don’t wait for the right time, for it will never come. Instead jump in with both feet and you’ll not go far wrong. Trust in the Force, it won’t let you down.”

[member="Dax Fyre"]

 

[Dax Perl]

The student/mentor relation was a two way street it appeared. As much as the Padawan learned from the Master, the Master learned from the Padawan. Still, there was that fear of the apprentice falling. Something Dax had completely forgotten before. A very distinct threat regarding the man....

"How many have you taught?"

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel started to count on her fingers. Once she’d exhausted both hands she chuckled and had clearly given up.

“Lots. Not all made the grade but that is the life of a Jedi I guess. None have reached Knight rank yet, so that is in many ways my current priority. I suspect it will be rather fulfilling to know that you’ve helped someone become a full Jedi.”

“Do you have Padawans in general where you are now, or only accept Knights? Just curious if you had an Academy or anything?”

[member="Dax Fyre"]

 

[Dax Perl]

"Well, the Outback doesn't really have a formal Forcer order. If a higher up decides you deserve a promotion, there you go. Course, you can take on an apprentice if you want. Me on the other hand," the man took another sip of drink, "Let's just say I wouldn't make a good teacher."

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel was not entirely surprised by the response. There were a lot of Jedi but relatively few Orders – with many preferring to go where their whims and the Force dictated.

“You mention higher-ups. Is there a leader or a council? And don’t sell yourself short, I suspect you’d make a good master.”

[member="Dax Fyre"]

 

[Dax Perl]

The man couldn't help but laugh, "Just trust me, I wouldn't make a very good teacher." he said. "Anyways, I guess to say that there is a council is...well not a stretch but, there are a handful we all just kinda listen to by default. Anyone can step up I suppose." The Outback could be confusing at times. Especially in their government. Regardless, it worked and that's what it mattered.

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel mused at Dax’s words. “It’s funny. You probably think your Outback is unstructured and the Silver Order is regimented. Yet we have no Council. If a decision has to be made, any Silver can turn up and pitch in to the debate. The Grand Master and the Master of the Order are just two more Jedi in that conversation.”

“Yes, their views are sought and when diplomacy is called for, they are part of the team, but they always stand as part of that team. It is others, I suspect, that put them at the head. Figureheads, yes – and there is no disrespect in that title. They embody what we stand for and live under public scrutiny daily. But they wield only as much power as their wisdom allows.”

[member="Dax Fyre"]

 

[Dax Perl]

Well, Dax couldn't exactly argue with that. "I guess that's one thing that the KO has on you guys. We're outright smugglers and mercenaries. We're not expected to be the pillars of society." The Knight said the latter bit with heavy sarcasm. "That takes a whole load off our shoulders." Public scrutiny could topple a government just as easily as an invading army could. Maybe even easier if Dax were to be honest. If the people weren't willing to follow their leader, what nation even existed?

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel shook her head in mock admonishment. “I’ll obviously not chastise you but it will always be a point of contention for me. Rogue Force users that do good most of the time are no doubt good for the galaxy. But when people call them Jedi, they muddy the waters for those of us that follow the Code and uphold what it means to be one.”

She grabbed another drink and took a long sip. “But as I say, I’m not bent out of shape over it. I do my job and you do yours. Overall the galaxy is a better place for our intervention.”

[member="Dax Fyre"]

 

[Dax Perl]

@Well I do make it a point that people know I'm not a Jedi." the Rogue said putting the drink to the side, "I typically start laughing whenever someone calls me a Jedi. No offense." Personally, the man would never identify as a Jedi...well not unless it got him something...

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

 

[Sorel Crieff]

“No offence taken,” Sorel replied, chuckling at the thought that being named a Jedi was in some way a derogatory term. “And names are just names. It is what we do that truly matters, not what we are called.”

“And on that subject, in terms of run-ins with dark siders, do you come across mostly Dark Jedi, Sith or this new cult – Ren or something? I’ve heard rumours of them but nothing concrete.”

[member="Dax Fyre"]

 

[Dax Perl]

Dax thought for a moment. "Oddly enough, I really haven'y met too many...aside from the one Sith who attacked me and my master, I really haven't." The Rogue decided to chalk that one up to the win column for now. Couldn't ask or much more than that he guessed.

"How about you?" the Rogue inquired, "Any run ins with the big bads?"

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel reflected on Dax’s question. “A fair few. Of course it’s hard to tell who’s a Dark Jedi and who’s a Sith sometimes. They tend not to wear badges and it doesn’t come up often in conversation. I mean, they don’t even have the decency to use different colour sabers for ease of recognition. Red for Sith, orange for Dark Jedi – that sort of thing. But I’ve faced a few. Although I still live, which must mean something. And I’m sure I’ve helped turn at least one to the light.”

“I say turn…I’ve shown them the light, no more. The path they walk is entirely theirs.”

“Has anyone you have known ever turned? Either way.” It was in many ways an innocent question, but there was a significant subtext to asking it.

[member="Dax Fyre"]

 

[Dax Perl]

Dax shook his head again, "No, I've really been floating around a lot since my master died. Can't say I've known anyone long enough. Friends come and go rather quickly for me." An honest assessment. As of late, he'd had little contact with others. Aside from droids that is...droids could certainly be interesting if you could find a good personality matrix.

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel shook her head. “My first Master died too. Half my lifetime ago, but I still think on it every day. Not with a sense of loss, but the image will not leave me. Perhaps it is a reminder of what might come to pass unless I am vigilant? He died at the hands of his brother, but that is a story for another day.”

“And friends are few and far between, but they exist for me. People I can go to. In a sense I trust all Jedi – but only with my life. Not my personal life. That I don’t share easily.”

[member="Dax Fyre"]

 

[Dax Perl]

The Rogue understood where she was coming from regarding her friends. Just cause they had your back in a fight didn't mean they were family. "Do you Jedi work together a lot or solo?" he asked. Most of the time Dax ended up working with smugglers, bounty hunters, and other less than desirable people. Maybe not the best choice of team mates, but they'd never failed at getting the job done.

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel smiled. “Both. Some tend to revert to type and either work by themselves or always as part of a team. Most, I suspect, are like me. We do both depending on what’s required.”

“But one thing that varies is who we work with. I rarely, if ever, work with anyone who is not a Jedi, or at least a Force user that focuses on doing good. I suspect that sets me apart from a lot of Jedi – even within the Silvers.”

[member="Dax Fyre"]

 

[Dax Perl]

"They like to mix their drinks?" Dax asked, using some old analogy that heard before, from where he had no clue. Personally he didn't mind working with anyone who could potentially help him out, granted that the only stipulation was that he had to believe they wouldn't stab him in the back one day...or at least they wouldn't have a reason to.

[member="Sorel Crieff"]

 

[Sorel Crieff]

Sorel laughed and wondered how long it was going to take for someone to come and collect the Sith. The painkillers were wearing off and combined with general weariness and lack of sleep, she was starting to feel punch drunk, and the sugar spike she was getting from the fruit drinks wasn’t precisely helping.

“I’m not sure what that means,” she said to Dax. She shook her head, “No, I definitely don’t understand that phrase.” And as her head tried to make sense of what was probably a clever metaphor, she sensed the arrival of Jedi and she stiffened. “We are about to have company,” she told Dax and gently eased herself off the crate the Sith was currently held in.

Sure enough, four Jedi and a repulsor-sled soon stood at the foot of the landing ramp.

“He’s all yours,” Sorel called – sounding a little punch-drunk. “Please take him anywhere that’s not on here and point me in the direction of the closest medical facility.”

The Jedi gave Dax a quick glance and then lifted the crate onto their sled before asking Sorel to sign a release form. “I wouldn’t trust any facilities here,” said one of the Jedi – a Rodian. “Best get back to Voss.”

Sorel nodded by way of an agreement and as the Jedi left, she turned to Dax. “Time to say goodbye, I guess?”

[member="Dax Fyre"]