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 Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2018 6:18 pm
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away....
The Old Republic
The Clone Wars rage across the galaxy. It seems as if these battles will never come to an end. The Jedi have taken on too many losses and their numbers are starting to dwindle. They are becoming more desperate so the latest Jedi Knight to receive the title of master is in the outer rim.
Orion Starfall has requested a new padawan since his previous one died from war injuries. He is still struggling to come to terms with the loss of the young man who once looked up to him. Now he must start over and the task is more than daunting.
The Jedi Council has ordered him home and as he races back in his small ship he can feel something isn't quite right. The closer he gets to home the more he wonders if his instincts about this war are true. He wonders what he'll learn if he investigates and what trouble this may bring....
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Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2021 3:23 am
The war has left the Jedi order short handed. Upon my arrival at Coruscant I managed to maintain an air of distinct calm. I exited my little craft with that feeling of uneasiness. Something in the force was alerting me and I refused to ignore it.
Obi-Wan met me at the bottom of the ramp with a rather serious expression. I said nothing.
"Normally there would be a little more celebration to this occasion but we barely have enough strength to keep carrying on this confounded war. On this day we grant you the rank of master." I listened closely and I could hear the concern and anxiety in his voice.
"Thank you." I said simply. "What does this mean for me? Do I get another padawan?"
"This means you are going to be training younglings in the way of the force. Yes, she is coming to you tomorrow morning. Her name is Lenaea Ishtahl." The shock almost made me trip up my step.
"A member of the royal household of Ishtahl has taken up the Jedi code?" I asked curiously.
"Yes, it was no easy task to convince them to let us train her. She is third in line for the throne of Hapes. This is one of the reasons why you are training younglings at the academy, instead of out there because they would never let their daughter fight in war and risk losing an heir. She is very strong with the force but she is also stubborn and a little reckless. I am hoping you can teach her to be a little more like you." His smile was wry and his eyes spoke of deep sorrow. I suppose he read the discomfort on my face.
"I will do my best as always Master Kenobi. How is Master Yoda? Has he healed from the battle?"
"Yes." His smile brightened a little but the demeanor was still rather stiff and hesitant. I followed him down hallways through the Jedi Temple. I rather enjoyed knowing generations of Jedi were all around us. It felt a little lighter but the air was still filled with battle fueled anxiety. The war had cost us so much. Even as young as I was I felt older and worn down. My deep injuries exacerbating.
"I am... sorry... for your loss." Obi-Wan said softly.
"As am I. I feel like I failed him. Being captured and unable to escape. He didn't stand a chance. I barely made it out and only because he force pushed me through the door and sacrificed himself at the last minute. ... All I have left of him is his lightsaber." Still vividly recalling the moment I felt my back hit the large metal door and calling out his name and seeing the bravely terrified expression on his fourteen year old face as he bravely sacrificed himself for me. Holding his lightsaber to my chest and so weak I had to be carried back by troopers.
"I can't even imagine...." Obi-Wan replied in a soft, comforting voice that had given away to a soft pained one. He lay a hand on my shoulder and we both took a moment together. Facing so much loss can be overwhelming.
"I'm not sure I'm ready..." I replied even more softly. I breathed in deeply. We walked slowly to the gardens and sat by a roaring fire talking about everything that happened through the night. By the early hours we were joined by Master Yoda and Master Windu. They all sat with us and listened as I reiterated my story. Windu had also lost a padawan and Yoda who had been there when it happened felt my loss.
The masters accepted the boy's lightsaber and added it to the growing Jedi memorial which now had thousands of lightsabers in various states and other tokens. They placed it carefully among others and I broke down in tears.
The sun rose over Coruscant making all the buildings pink and light orange in the rosy colours of first dawn. I yawned into my dark blue Jedi robe sleeve. I was completely exhausted but feeling more confident. That is until...
I watched as she stood there. Her brilliantly shiny blue eyes looking deep into my soul. Like his brown eyes used to. Her beautiful red hair done up elaborately in multiple braids with one long braid casting down her back like a tail. Her robes were a light blue and dusky grey. She smiled so brightly at me. I could for a moment see his face shine up at me as if to beckon me to move forward with my life. There was no anger, no resentment as I felt his spirit move into the flow of the force. I knew then his image and loss would never haunt me again.
All is the force wills it I reminded myself. This bright impish girl stood before me looking like she was about to burst.
"Ah, the first meeting of a padawan." Smiled Obi-Wan reminiscently. I stood there silent looking at her, unsure of myself, this war, taking on another student. My injuries reminding me of my weakness. That weird sensation of feeling everything and nothing all at once.
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Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2021 4:17 am
I could barely sleep a wink. I was finally ready to get my own master only he wasn't here. He was in a little ship in the outer rim. I lay there staring at the ceiling wondering what kind of teacher... master I'd be getting. Would he be kind? Would he be understanding? Would be hard? Angry? Maybe he'd be the strong silent type. I could feel a tremor in the force as if alerting me to something but I had no idea why. Like there was a storm coming but the sky seemed calm. I wonder if he'd recognize my family name. Of course he would, everyone does. Would that make him treat me differently? A thousand and one questions filled my head. What if he was absolutely handsome? What if I fell.... no, I'm a Jedi. I must stay focused. I closed my eyes begging for sleep but it avoided me like a poor hapless soul tossed into a Sarlacc pit and scrambling to get out.
I got up so early the sun hadn't even rose. I showered and washed my face. I sat and combed my hair. I put on my fanciest Jedi robes. I knew this was a special day so I would have to be on my best behavior like when I'm around my Hapen Father, Grandmother, Sisters and Brother. My mother was from Alderaan. I lay there thinking of my family and drifted off a bit. It was then my droid came in and politely announced it was time to get up.
The sunrise brought a feeling of euphoria I have never felt. I walked down the stairs and onto the main balcony of The Jedi Temple. The bright pinks and light orange colours filled me with warm excitement as my world was about to completely change. Master Yoda happened to be wandering by.
"Ah yes. Good day this is. New day. New possibilities. Be mindful youngling. Know you the force does. Grace, patience and calm will be rewarded." He smiled with a slight all knowing smirk. I bowed gracefully to him. He really is a wonder to behold. So many hundreds of years he has been wandering these halls and giving sagely advice. I leaned down carefully and hugged him. He hugged back with a big smile.
"Much hope I sense in you. Much we can expect from you." He added.
I smiled sheepishly unsure I could live up to that or any expectation. I walked down to the main hall where I was expecting to meet my master for the first time. I was ready, not really but I had no choice.
I saw him standing next to Master Obi-Wan. It wasn't often I was lucky enough to even be in the same room as this warrior legend. His kind blue eyes matched by the kindness in the blue eyes of my own master. He stood tall, with one long brown, blonde ponytail. He had on dark blue and grey Jedi robes. Not unlike my light blue and soft grey. It was like we chose to match ahead of time. There are no coincidences, only the force. I smiled up at him. I could see so much pain and hardship etched into every line of his face. His eyes were like the sky after a storm. The force swept around him and told me of the horrible loss he now felt. A broken master from a devastating war.
"Ah, Lenaea. This is Master Orion Starfall. I know you have already been apprised of the loss of his previous padawan and his near fatal injuries, please take good care of him. He needs time to heal and recover." He smiled. I looked up at Orion and my heart nearly stopped. The whole universe fell away as I stood lost in his eyes. I could barely move. There was something about him. Like I already knew him, we were just picking up from where we left off. I felt lost but not alone. He was mine now. I saw this impossible life of growing up around him, getting married, having children and dying in his arms. The impossible dream. Just a dream. Get over it.
"It is nice to meet you Master Starfall." I replied in an almost protocol droid manner.
"Well, under the circumstances.. please just call me Orion. You need not be too formal." He replied looking sheepishly.
"That doesn't feel right." I replied softly.
"Well, I'll leave you two to get better acquainted. Sadly, Anakin and I are expected in a high council war meeting." He sighed seemingly unhappy at the prospect.
"Yes of course, if you need anything let us know." Orion replied to Obi-Wan. They in turn held up their right hands, clenched them together and patted each other on the back in a warm brotherly manner and Obi-Wan strode off grimacing a bit probably because of the meeting.
"Well, Lenaea, is it....? May I call you Len?"
"No! Um, Well... I guess so. I hate that nickname but coming from you it sounds nice. So... sure." I pondered.
"Thank you. Shall we head off then, Len? See what needs doing. Maybe get some practice in?" He also seemed to grimace a little. I think it was because he was nervous having a padawan again. I took his hand and lead him to the library and we were put to work collecting information for upcoming classes. Never felt so happy doing something so tedious. The warmth of his hand radiated. I never felt so connected to anyone in my life. I knew then I'd be spending my life with this man whatever comes our way.
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Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2021 2:32 pm
I held onto her hand gently but she squeezed back. Her demeanor hadn't changed but maybe the atmosphere had. We had done studying for the day and were thinking about getting some something to eat. Well, I doubted she had ever eaten at any fast food joint. So Dexter's seemed most appropriate. We took a speeder taxi there and she hopped out looking beyond thrilled. I came in and spoke to the droid that assisted him and asked to speak to Dexter.
"Sure Hon." Said FLO. "Hey Dex, Ori's here to see you!" She called out to him and he looked out and a shark grin came across his face.
"Ori! Good to see you. Been a long time. I heard about... Oh! You bring company. Hello little lady." He said with a jovial smile.
"This is Len, she's my padawan. It's her first time in a diner." I explained. The grin on Dex's face widened.
"So, you brought her here! Good!" He looked at her smiling. "I make the best Bantha Burgers ever! I also make a good Ronto Wrap. Unless of course you're vegetarian. I can offer you up some Besbin Cactus salad." He offered warmly. Len stood thinking for a moment.
"That Ronto Wrap sounds delicious!" She said softly.
"You two catch a window table and settle in. I'll send over a hot cup of Caf and a Meiloorun Juice with a couple of Ronto Wraps on the house." He smiled. "This is a special day after all! I'm really pleased for you both!" He added and then disappeared into the back to make the food. FLO brought over the drinks and boy did I need the caf! The juice from her glass was half gone by the time the food arrived and my caf had long since vanished. FLO refilled us both. I thanked her and we enjoyed our first meal together. The fear and tension had slipped away as we settled into a new routine.
"So..." I started but didn't notice my voice had trailed off. "The counsel has moved us to living quarters on the south side. I hope you don't mind. We have a shared living space and refresher. Of course we get our own quarters off of that." I started to feel stupid the more I spoke.
"Thank you Master." She said softly. Still, she insisted on calling me Master Starfall. I couldn't fight it.
"We'll be on the 7th floor and have a balcony." I added trying to sound a little more upbeat. She sat silently. "Dessert?" I asked. Hoping to earn more trust with sweets. Seemed like I was faltering. I never felt like I had to do this when was my padawan. I began to wonder if it was because she was a girl.
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