Walk The Long Road [To'pau]

[Coci Heavenshield]

Voss Temple​

​

​

It was time to get to know each other better, and officially take To'pau as her Padawan. Today they met on the upper levels just outside the main quarters of the Padawan residences. Coci would lead To'pau to one of the more quieter rooms to speak about their road ahead.

There is more to training then lightsaber and force skills, even though they are important and necessary for protection and service to the Order and those they protect, but there is more to life as a Jedi, if they are to embark along the path of the Jedi Way.

The quieter room which they will spend some time in is located within the library here in the Temple. But now she waited for her Padawan and together they will walk the long corridor to the life before them both.

@To'pau Namman

 

[To'pau Namman]

To'pau donned his Jedi Robes, and checked to make sure that everything he would need for today was in place. His Master, Coci Heavenshield, had instructed him to meet her in the upper levels that were located just outside the main quarters for all the Padawan residences. Nervous, and unsure of what was in store for him today; To'pau took a breath and exited his room.

He quickly raced towards the appointed destination, and as he turned a corner his Master came into view. Immediately To'pau slowed down his pace for he did not want to appear hasty in front of his new Master. His nervousness only increased as he finally became face to ace with Coci. 'Thank god we don't sweat, otherwise I'd be soaking wet right now.'

To'pau Namman: To'pau bowed his head respectfully, the traditional greeting from a Padawan to his Master. He cleared his throat before speaking, "I am here as you have requested Master. I await your command."

[member="Coci Heavenshield"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="To'pau Namman"]

She bowed back as her Padawan greeted her. "Please call me Coci, To'pau, and no more bowing", she smiled as she turned to walk along the long platform.

"No commands today, we are going to perform a certain ceremony and talk", she informed him as they proceeded. Running off the corridor are several rooms apart from the Padawan quarters. The mess hall, small research portals, a lounge room for the Padawans to relax and socialise, and meditation rooms.

Coming to door and keying in the security code, Coci lead To'pau into the first of the meditation rooms.

​

She immediately entered and stood beside one of the cushions. "Please take your pick", she indicated to the cushions.

 

[To'pau Namman]

To'pau merely nodded in acknowledgement at his Masters words and mentally filed them away for the future. He followed Coci through the corridors of the academy wondering where they would headed to. Yet he bit his tongue and waited. Controlling his tongue bad become something he'd grown rather apt at the more years he spent in the Jedi Temple. His instructors had certainly taught him the virtues of patience well.

Once the door opened, To'pau slithered in and casually leaned against one of the cushions. The lower half of his body curled up to become a bit more compact and To'pau studied his Master. He hoped she wouldn't take his posture as a sign of disrespect or apathy. After years of adjusting to furniture created for humans, To'pau had discovered this was the most comfortable position for him.

Looking up at Coci, his eyes inquisitively studying her; he patiently waited instruction.

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

@To'pau Namman

Only a small amount of amusement would settle on her face as To'pau settled himself. Yet he never ceased to amaze her.

"I wish to give you your Padawan braid", she said reaching into a pocket and removing a long silver chain, holding it up for him to see. "Tell me where you would like to wear it?", she asked.

"Today, I want to talk to you about many things, partly your direction within the Silvers, but mostly about the force. And we can get to know each other more too", she smiled waiting as she considered his physic .. hmm maybe the upper arms, or neck? however she would let him decided on his choice.

"Most of the Silvers live by a code of the Jedi, some will live by the code of Master Skywalker others by that of the old. What is your choice and why?".

 

[To'pau Namman]

Speechless, To'paus mouth opened but no sound came out. He quickly closed it and gathered his thoughts together. Finally, after a few moments of calm meditation; he composed himself before speaking. "I am honored by this offer Master. And though I understand this is an honor commonly bestowed upon all Padawan who join the Order, it does not make it any less of a monumental occasion for me."

Lowering his head, To'pau patiently waited as Coci fastened the braid onto his skull. He chastised himself mentally once he realized he'd slipped up and called Coci Master once more; contrary to her requests. 'Oh well. I do hope she'll understand.' Once she was done, he straightened and resisted the urge to go and admire himself in a mirror nearby. He would never describe himself as a vain person; but this had been an event he'd only dreamed of for the past several year.

He considered her question quietly. It was certainly an interesting one, and something he had never really given much thought. "Much of the time I've spent in the Jedi Temple has been in the library. I enjoy learning about the force and our order through books sometimes almost as much as I enjoy learning it through a teacher. In my "studies" I've always imagined myself striving to exemplify our faith in the Light side of the force."

"While I understand that many of the things once so heavily enforced by the Jedi are now considered archaic and out of date, I can not allow myself to forsake the old beliefs that were held in such a high esteem simply because it is difficult or hard to understand. I hope I've answered your question sufficiently."

[member="Coci Heavenshield"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

After Coci had placed the Padawan chain on To'pau, she moved to sit on one of the meditation cushions. "Some would consider the old codes or beliefs archaic, and to modern eyes I can see why".

She adjusted herself to be more comfortable. "But I am not entirely convince, even in the past that an understanding of the codes and beliefs had truly been realised. The old code for example was .. is very open to interpretation and naturally each individual had their own view of it".

"Today we are allow the freedom to choose, you may live by your code of choice as long as it aids your purpose as Jedi and progresses your growing within the force as well as life".

"The Silver Jedi have always been progressive in this sense. I live by the old to the best of my ability, not the rules of the old orders where certain things were forbid, but the code. One could consider the old, a code of conduct in which one uses as a guidance".

"There is no emotion, there is peace". she looked to her Padawan, "Tell me what you think this means".

[member="To'pau Namman"]

 

[To'pau Namman]

Merely nodding his head, To'pau was sure to commit every word that Coci said to memory or at least he tried his best to take down every detail. Thoughts continued to pop into his head while Coci spoke but he repressed the urge to shout them out. 'Now now. Be calm, be patient. Do not forget what you have been taught. There will be another time and place for you to mull over some of the things that are being discussed. For now we shall remain silent.'

Once Coci finished her explanation and asked her second question To'pau's mind once again launched itself into analysis. He responded more quickly then he did the first time. "I believe the saying is meant to illustrate the fact that those who consider themselves true followers of the force and the Jedi Code must not allow emotions to guide their path or sway their decision's. People who allow their emotions to guide them will often find themselves straying down the wrong path."

"Allowing our emotions to control us will lead us the Dark Side. The Light Side is the only true path, and that is undeniable. Therefore if you stray away from the Light Side you are essentially turning your back on the very ideals of the Jedi Order and the force itself. Allowing emotions to control you opens up the possibility of corruption. So you must train yourself not to feel emotion. Only the force. That is what I believe the line means."

[member="Coci Heavenshield"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

"This is a very good opinion but for me it is only part. Control is the key here, but bad decisions can still be made if you simple hold control. Emotions are not all that is required to begin a path to the darkside. It is not that simple. Jedi can get angry, even fear things and that is normal, after all we are beings not Gods". She began to voice her thoughts on the subject.

"There is no right or wrong answer to this question, I want you to know this. And you are on the path in it's meaning and it means so many different things depending on ones point of view on life".

"We train to control the emotions, not to rid ourselves of them, if we do that, we become nothing more than robots and how could we have empathy or simpathy if we do not possess them? How could we recognise a wrong or even care about that wrong if we remove the ability to sense it".

"We control our emotions, in order to ascertain options ... removing the emotion that clouds the judge in order to reach a solution. If you see an injustice in progress, lets say a woman is being assaulted by a man. Immediately we want to react by jumping in and helping her and on the face of it that would be the solution. However, we removed the emotion anger at the injustice and seek more knowledge by clearing our minds, than we discover more. The woman for example may have just killed the man's wife or child or robbed him".

"Of course we still stop this and she would have her day in court, but that is what this means for me. It is the Jedi way to seek solutions and options through peace of mind".

"Uncontrolled emotions, I agree with you are dangerous and lead to clouded judgement". Coci waited for To'pau's reaction and to see if he had any questions.

[member="To'pau Namman"]

 

[To'pau Namman]

Shrugging his multiple shoulders, To'pau inclined his head towards Coci slightly. He considered her words, and she did bring up several good points that he would need to consider in the future while he was meditating. Though he still wasn't in full agreement with her. "You are right when you say that us Jedi experience emotions. These emotions can be fear, pride, jealously, even hate; and it is near impossible to rid ourselves of these things because we are as you said. Normal beings."

"But, I do not believe that this does not excuses us from trying. This merely proves the point that a Jedi's training is never over. Even when he becomes a Jedi Master. Even when he exhausts all the resources that the vast libraries of Voss might have to offer. We will forever be striving to achieve unity with the force, and the best of us do. But only in death."

"As for whether or not eliminating all emotion is helpful or not, your argument hinges on the fact that we need emotion to guide us. To make the right decisions. It is my belief that emotion merely clouds our judgement, and the only thing that can truly guide us to the right path is the force. Take your analogy for example."

"If anything, this proves my point. Emotion will cause us to make a split second decision whether it is for the man attacking the woman or for the woman being attacked. That is simply unavoidable because it is how sentient creatures like you and me think. Emotions are meant for us to make knee jerk decisions in fight or flight situations. Millennia ago when we were primitive beasts fighting the elements to survive, with no knowledge of the force; this helped us."

"Now though, it is only a burden. It hinders stimulating intellectual conversations. It is the bane of unbiased decision making. If a man without emotion stumbled upon the scene which you described, you can be sure that they would act rationally and act out the proper actions that would have been needed to be taken, in said situation. The same cannot be said for a man who relies on his emotions, because even the strongest Jedi have been known to succumb to such things. This is why I believe emotion is unneeded."

Taking a deep breath, To'pau leaned back on the little sofa behind him and allowed a smile to form on his face. 'My my, I haven't had a conversation as interesting as this in a long while. Today has truly been a treat.'

[member="Coci Heavenshield"]

 

[Coci Heavenshield]

[member="To'pau Namman"]

"No To'pau, I don't believe emotions are there to guide us. What they do do is remind us that we are beings and need to be constantly check. But they are what informs us, for us to know what is right and what is wrong, we need to know how to love or hate, we need to know anger so that we can control it, so we can make the decisions needed. But you are right they do cloud judgement if not controlled and that is where the problem is. Not everyone can do it, even with training but as you said the journey of the Jedi is never ended".

The two may never see eye to eye on this topic but that is precisely the beauty of the code, it allows those open interpretation to be able to discuss as they do now. A padawan can learn mush from a master, and a master can learn from a padawan. She hoped their relationship as such would develop this way. To be able to question each other without fear.

"You are very thoughtful and I hope you will ever remain that way", she said liking his attitude and mind. Coci stood up, the lesson completed for the day. In time they would train further after she has more ability to do so when her child is born.

Spoiler

To'pau I ended this thread here, but feel free to post a reply if you wish. We can now jump time line to after the birth of Coci's child and continue if you wish