A/N: This chapter will go more into the Deaf culture in the Star wars universe. I couldn't find a lot of information about Deaf culture already in the Star Wars universe so I placed (more American based) deaf culture in the Star Wars universe. I changed things slightly so that the culture is still there, but that it could change based on the planets they are on, how a new extremely technological world could change the culture, etc. If someone does find resources on legit headcanons/info about deaf people in the Star Wars universe then please let me know. Also, if I say anything very offensive please let me know. My intention is not to offend, but provide a new way of outlook on a character in this world, especially as a Jedi that will also be in a war. Also, one planet is not meant to look like a specific group of people or a specific group of deaf people in real life in a negative way. It's just meant to show difference. Also, if you have any ideas about what I could put in, please let me know!
P.S. Also, Trukki is a planet that I made up.
Chapter Four
"You have quite the aim." Obi-Wan complimented Ana as she deflected a blaster bolt to the actual blaster, hitting it square on, "it's your speed and flexibility with your lightsaber that you need to work on."
Ana looked at him and he looked back at her, making sure he was facing her fully so she could see his lips easier. He also signed when his hands weren't carrying his lightsaber, but he found that it would be better she could still see him in case he made a mistake so she knew what he was meaning to say anyway. He tried not to make too many comments while the mock blaster was firing so that she could focus on them, at least for now. Once he was sure she could do both well enough simultaneously then he would talk normally, as he did with Anakin when he was teaching him. He had to keep reminding himself to keep his comments to himself until the blaster sequence was over. He knew that she had some practice of deflecting techniques, but a refresher was not bad. Plus, by watching her he could see what he could help her improve on.
Obi-Wan and Ana had been at practice for hours now, almost all morning. They had planned the night before that they would find her a Padawan outfit before going to practice techniques in the morning and then going to meet Cody and the rest of the Attack Battalion. Her and Obi-Wan had spent the rest of the day, and night, just talking. They talked about hand gestures they could use for missions, how he had already talked with Cody and the other men in the 212th that they would have to get used to Cody being by her more than him if they got separated because he was the only clone who could sign so far and who could interpret for her among the other clones, if there were routines they should make for practicing lightsaber techniques, if she had any routine (which she didn't really, but she liked to work out in the mornings or found it her personal best to meditate at dawn or at sundown),
And talking did really help her too. It made her feel more at ease with Obi-Wan but it also helped Ana to understand his mouth movements. Although some of them were troubled and hard to really see because of the beard at first and at the start she would piece words that she missed or didn't quite see right in the sentence, Ana got used to how he talked, the way his mouth moved on certain words. It helped her to get used to his talking.
Finding something hadn't taken too long. This was something that Obi-Wan didn't know how to anticipate. With Anakin, finding robes was easy because he knew the boy well, and was a boy himself, finding something was easy. He thought it was best to let her decide on her own and show him when she found something. But Ana had been surprisingly quick. She seemed to know what she was looking for. She had told him something with bare arms because that was what she was comfortable with and it helped free her arms. So she had found something that was a dark brown, tank-top like shirt that moved across her chest like a crisscross before it went down straight. It was made of a tough, thick material. It was comfortable and for how thick it was pretty lightweight, but durable and meant for protection. You couldn't rip it easily, you could barely get a normal knife through it unless at a particular angle and with enough force. And it had an ability to absorb most of a blaster's energy so any injury would not be as severe. It had thick and slightly wide straps around the shoulders. Although Obi-Wan didn't like that they were bare and how he could now see the freckles that sprinkled her shoulders and arms as well as a brown birthmark on her left shoulder, it wasn't the most horrible choice she could make. There were more…provocative looks that female Jedi have taken on and Obi-Wan had respected them as he would respect Ana's choice.
She then chose tan, sand-like coloured lightly lose pants, kind of like his. And she wore a black belt where she kept her lightsaber clipped on. She had come out to him, her hands out as a non-verbal 'is this okay'? And he agreed. They were normal Jedi colours and although they weren't robes they were practical.
From there they went to the training centre. The started the training with seeing her defensive techniques. He had been easy on her as their two blue lightsabers hit each other, making a small noise each time. He had spotted the obvious problem. Ana had some technique. She had good balance and her stance was good, and for a beginner she had good technique.
The problem was, Obi-Wan quickly realized, was that the technique she had was of a beginner. She had better flexibility and movement and strength in each move she made than a nine year old Padawan, but the moves were about the same. She didn't have a lot of guidance on this part. Her defensive techniques were graceful yet cut very concisely, and she had a tight stance, but could still move in it. Soresu was going to come easier to her. She already had that defensive stance in her movements where she wanted to defend herself, not attack. However, he also noticed that her defensive stances could improve as well; she had many wide openings for attacks.
After, just to see her more of her skill level of technique, he asked her to try and attack him. That was another thing he knew she should work on. Even though Obi-Wan could tell that she tried to keep her stance and confident tightness, the moves were sloppy and her strength wasn't where it should be. Although Soresu did follow along in attack lightsaber techniques, he knew that Ana should know some techniques in case they were needed to protect herself. From there, they took a small break before he had her try to deflect blasters. He was surprised about how well she was, especially in deflecting back at her target, or away from it but still right where she wanted it to go. However, her stance was tight and she didn't have the speed and flexibility for them at a greater rate than a couple at a time yet.
Looking at her mentor, Ana nodded and Obi-Wan offered her a smile, as though trying to tell her that she wasn't terrible. She had taken all of his criticism well, reflecting on it before doing it to the best of her ability. He could already see from the comments that she was improving, becoming more self-aware of her movements, but Obi-Wan knew that it would take some more time.
Obi-Wan walked over to her and took out his lightsaber as well to demonstrate to her. He moved his head to the side so she could see him clearly and told her, "your wrists are too tight. Your body can stay stiff, however you need more flexibility and comfortability in your arms and wrists. You need to get them to have a natural role so that you can move the lightsaber easily without you moving too much, but to still keep them strong and still when the blasters do hit. That's how you can keep up with the speed to make sure you don't get hit."
Ana nodded and Obi-Wan stepped back and demonstrated as he moved his lightsaber around, his stance still the same. Ana watched him, focusing her attention on his wrists as they moved with ease. His arms sometimes barely moved too, she noticed. When he was done, he looked at her and she stepped back once more to try what he demonstrated. She tried to move her wrists as he did, but there was some strain. Her face twisted slightly and he smiled a little before waving his hand slightly to catch her attention. Ana looked up and he told her, "it'll come easier with time. Your wrists have to get used to the movement."
Ana nodded and he told her, "your stance is very good and you will do very well with Soresu. You have a tight, natural movement however your arms are still a little too wide out. You need to keep them in tighter, but your shoulders looser to help with more flexible movement."
She nodded. Obi-Wan noticed that she hadn't talked a lot in the past hours. He didn't know if it was because she was discouraged or because she just didn't have anything to say. He looked at the time and saw they were getting into the early afternoon. He turns back to her and says as he signs to her, "you have a really good base, a natural defensive stance."
"I know I wasn't great," she told him, "I didn't expect I would either."
"You just need guidance and practice. But I believe that you are a quick learner," Obi-Wan encouraged her, "and you didn't have many teachings on this level of one-on-one before so it's understandable at first you aren't where you want to be. But you have a lot of potential."
She watched him and took his words to heart. Ana gave him a smile and nodded, "thank you."
He smiled as well and tells her, "I think we had enough lightsaber practice for the day, don't you? Perhaps we should get something to eat before going to meet Cody and the rest of the Attack Battalion."
Ana smiled as well and nodded in agreement. She answered verbally, moving the lightsaber to her new belt, "that sounds good."
Obi-Wan waited for her and shut off the equipment before both he and Ana left. Moving down the hallway together, when passing other Jedi Masters they gave respectful nods and smiles, but Ana stayed silent. The new apprenticeship was very different. She was in a different room and a different bed than what she had been used to for years. The covers were different, they felt slightly stiffer, and furniture was on the other side of the room than her old room. It took her a little while to get comfortable and fall asleep, but she finally did at an odd hour of the early morning. It was still new to be called a 'padawan', especially to a respected Jedi Master like Obi-Wan. It was weird to wake up the next morning with someone close and to make some morning caf in their own shared space instead of going to the mess hall.
Entering the mess hall, it was almost deserted. There were a couple of younglings eating and talking with each other. It was later in the afternoon. Ana shrugged it off before her and Obi-Wan got their trays before sitting down. Both were mostly silent since Obi-Wan knew they couldn't get a long conversation going if she couldn't see his lips to know what he was saying.
After sitting down, it was Ana who decided to start talking first. Signing as she talked so he would be around it more and could pick it up easier, or learn new signs to words he didn't know they belonged to yet.
"How does Anakin feel about you taking another Padawan?" Ana asked him, her fingers moving with ease.
Obi-Wan thought for a moment before answering, signing the best that he could as well: "I think he was surprised, but he's not upset or anything if that is what you are worried about."
Ana nodded, starting to eat before Obi-Wan asked her, "you and Anakin trained sometime together, if I remember correctly."
Ana nodded again, "a long time ago. He became your apprentice very shortly after coming though so it wasn't for very long. And it was only a couple of times. He was two years older than me too."
Obi-Wan nodded, remembering that there wasn't a large age difference in his former and new apprentice. An interestingly, both were nineteen when entering and participating in the Clone Wars.
"So you are the same age as Master Luminara Unduli's padawan." Obi-Wan commented, saying his words slowly as he signed the Jedi Master's name per letter.
Ana smiled slightly. He was putting in a lot of effort and she was touched. She tells him, "yes, Bariss and I are the same age. We trained a lot together growing up. I know her well." Although they did train together Bariss was shy to talk to others. It was also to keep respects of not foreign attachments, though being friendly. They knew each other and were friendly, but they did not talk too much.
She put her fork down and told him, "also, you can create signs for people's names so you aren't constantly spelling them out. Deaf people are supposed to give them to you. It can combine names with personalities, things like that."
Obi-Wan nodded, remembering that. And she had signed their names differently, but he didn't know what they meant specifically but thought he could catch on by himself. And he knew that sometimes naming people in sign was sometimes a personal thing for the deaf person to decide. He didn't know which was a good question or not.
"So, for Master Luminara, I use the signs 'teacher' as I do for all of the Jedi Masters, and then the sign for big then light. Like she is a person of light in the darkness, and it matches her name with luminous and light." Ana explained.
Obi-Wan nodded and commented, "you have name signs for all the Jedi Masters?"
Ana nodded, "it's just simpler than spelling them out, but I did get quick at spelling things out by doing that before I researched more about the culture and some…norms in it."
Obi-Wan nodded. He didn't know that it was something she researched, or something that she even needed to.
"Can I ask what mine is?" Obi-Wan asked.
Ana smiled and signed the name. He recognized the sign for teacher, but not the other.
"Can I ask what that means?" he asked.
"It's basically means a centre in orbit." Ana answered.
"So I'm the centre of attention?" he asked jokingly.
Ana chuckled and clarified, "more like people are drawn to you and you hold things together and in balance."
Obi-Wan smiled, flattered by how she called him. He wondered what everyone else's name was, but he was sure he would learn those soon as well.
"Do you have a name sign for yourself?" Obi-Wan asked.
Ana shook her head, "No. Other deaf people are supposed to give it to you and since I haven't met any I don't have a name sign. Not to mention but my name is easy to spell by letter because it's just the thumb going across my knuckles and back."
Obi-Wan's eyebrows shot up in confusion.
"You never met another deaf person before?" he asked.
Ana was now confused. She answered him, "No. The only people I know are here or are clones and no one else here is deaf."
"You're not connected to any deaf people then?" Obi-Wan asked.
Ana shook her head. He was surprised that the Order never gave her a connection like that. Although Ana couldn't form attachments, he thought that it was important for her to connect with someone who was also deaf. Perhaps that was something he could look into. He didn't know exactly what he could do, but surely she wasn't the only deaf person on Coruscant. Did she not have a connection at all to her culture? If she didn't know anyone from the deaf community then how did she connect with it? He had heard of deaf culture and it's community, but he also knew that with the access of audio implants that was easily accessible on most planets that it was a culture that was quickly dying out except for certain planets where the majority of it's citizens were deaf like Trukki in the Outer Rim. Maybe that was why she had to read up on the deaf community and what many did in it.
"Is that something you would want?" Obi-Wan asked, "it just seems to me that you don't have a connection with your own culture."
"Well I know…of it." Ana answered a little self consciously, "I know how it changes on different planets, especially based on their values."
That was something that Obi-Wan didn't know. She read his expression and explains, "well it's like going from one planet to the next. You all hear, there are humans on other planets, but not every culture is the same, sometimes not even the language is the same."
He nods, "that's fair. Can I ask how they change?"
Ana shrugs, trying to think of a simple way to think of something, "well, I don't know everything for certain. I never really discussed it with other deaf people. It depends greatly on people who are deaf in a hearing based environment and the environment being deaf-based, like on Trukki where the population is born without ears because of the sound vibrations that echo between their six moons and how they quickly move. It's one of the reasons why if people go there they usually come back with sickness, ear infections and even sometimes popped eardrums if it is during the months where they move more rapidly than others. Such as, it's not…well it's not exactly bad but it's not widely accepted either to talk while you sign. On planets like Trukki and other planets with a wider population of people who are deaf and hard of hearing believe that sign language is our language and that's what we need so if we learn Basic or another language it is like we are forced into it and it is unneeded. On Trukki the only people who can speak are in the government and they only speak it when meeting with international people. There are even different sign languages, such as a universal basic one, but then planets can have their own, such as Trukki. But even on planets where the majority are hearing, not a lot of people speak Basic, but it is more widely accepted, but from one planet to the next it could become more accepted or more taboo than the next. Some deaf people do speak Basic, some don't. It usually depends on the family or the individual, if they were given speech therapy like me. There are a lot of different factors. I speak and sign though because sign is my first language, but I'm around people who don't speak it…or very often. I was also given a lot of speech therapy so I'm comfortable speaking. And I also talk while I sign because you are learning and you won't learn if you see a sign but don't know the word that I mean. When you get more comfortable with sign then I'm sure we can sign without speaking."
He nods, quite interested. However, Obi-Wan was beginning to think that perhaps he should do his own research. He didn't realize that he was so clueless until talking with Ana. But he was still surprised that she didn't know her culture more hands on. There were Jedi where Basic was their second language and the language of their planet was their first and they still had a connection. He wondered if the reason Ana didn't have the same option was because she was from Couscant, not a world with a large deaf culture.
He asked her, "is there a way you want to connect to your culture?"
Ana stared at him and bit her lip as she thought over her words carefully. This wasn't something that she specifically wanted to talk about. Even though Obi-Wan was her mentor now, it was still a personal question. And she knew that her answer would be long and he might not completely understand.
She finally answered, "um…could we talk about this later? It's kind of personal."
He raised his eyebrows again, "you don't have a connection, do you?"
Ana shrugged, "no but…lets not talk about it."
Deciding that he wouldn't push her, he began eating again and Ana ate some of her lunch as well. She looks back up at him and explains, "it's just…confusing and long and I'd rather not do it until I'm completely sure what I want to say too."
He nods and tells her, "I'll be ready to listen whenever you want to talk about it."
She gave him a smile, "thank you, Master."
He couldn't help but smile back. One of the perks of having an older padawan was the maturity and conversation. Anakin asked a lot of questions when he was younger and manners were not exactly his forte, although they still weren't now. There was mutual understanding as well. Ana wasn't hyper like Anakin either, and she listened to instructions and didn't get frustrated. Intellect was also something that the two were close with as well. Of course Anakin was young and couldn't help these things, but there was a calming difference. He hoped that it would be the same on the battlefield. He knew that it would be somewhat chaotic at first since only a couple of people could speak her language that she was with, one of them wearing a helmet so even if he said something she still wouldn't know. So he hoped that their first mission wasn't a full blown battle. He at least hoped she could follow orders better.
Ana tried to turn the conversation as they ate so that it wasn't in silence.
"I'm guessing if the Captain knows about me then the rest of the Attack Battalion does as well." Ana commented.
Obi-Wan nodded, swallowing and signing 'yes' before answering verbally as he tried to sign as well, "yes. They have all been informed. I don't believe all of them are expecting you today, but they were aware that sometime this week I would introduce you."
Ana nodded. She didn't like catching people off guard, same as how she felt about those situations. A surprise could be normal, but being completely turned in a 360 rotation was another thing. At least they were prepared to know that they would be working with a deaf Commander. She wondered how all of them would…like their new commander, especially a deaf one. She had met a lot of clones and most of them were nice enough not to say anything rude and respect her, but working with her was another thing. But she doubted that anyone judgemental would slip past Master Kenobi.
It didn't stop her any less from being nervous and wanting to make a good impression. Ana was already nervous about going on a mission. If anything went seriously wrong it could be a termination of her Padawan status, or at least make it be placed on hold until after the war.
Obi-Wan felt her slight anxiousness and he tells her, hoping to ease some of her nerves: "they are all nice. They'll be curious and might ask questions and some of them will probably act awkward around you at first, but they are nice. And if you need any help, Cody will also be there."
Ana gave him a smile to show that his assurance was not in complete vain.
"Thank you. That makes me feel slightly better." she tells him.
Of course, Ana was still nervous as she and Obi-Wan made their way to the barracks. She had never been there before and didn't know her way around. So, she was sure she was following him at his heels pathetically as she did follow him. As they got closer she saw more clones. Most of them wore helmets so she couldn't know if she recognized them completely. She recognized some, she was sure, but she couldn't really be sure. They didn't seem to recognize her though because every clone they went past would stop and their gaze would follow them for at least a couple of seconds before they went back to what they were doing.
Obi-Wan was not oblivious to the stares either. He turns his head and tells her in a joking tone, hoping that it would show on his face, "I hope you enjoy being the centre of attention."
The joke helped Ana to crack a smile for him. She answers him, "I should be used to it. My hair kind of makes me stick out."
He chuckles and answers her, "you do have a very bright red tone."
She smiles and giggles lightly before Obi-Wan made it to a specific hallway. She follows him, looking around to take everything in before she is suddenly in a large training area. She didn't need to hear to know how chaotic and fast-paced the atmosphere was. She saw a couple of clones on an above level, where they were, and over the edge she could just see the rest of the Battalion running drills, working together to catch holographic enemy droids of different kinds.
Ana just managed to catch Obi-Wan's "ah, in some quick training I see".
She wanted to ask what he meant, since she was sure that they came here because he expected that they would be training, but she left it alone. There were more important matters. Ana followed him as they walked cross the small tarmac to the three clones. She could see yellow on the worn armour. None were wearing helmets, rather they were set off to the side, and the one on the far left noticed them first as they were closely approaching. That clone nudged the middle and the other two looked over their shoulders as well. They immediately turned around and stood at attention to them.
"General, Sir." The one in the middle said.
Obi-Wan offered them smiles. Ana did as well, wanting not her nerves to get the best of her. They stopped in front of them respectfully and Ana turned to the side so that she could easily see all of their faces.
"Afternoon. I see that we are gettign some extra training in." Obi-Wan commented.
"Yes, Sir. We got a couple of batches of shines and we thought with the time that we could get them to practice with the rest of us as whole to help ease them in," the one in the middle answered.
Ana's mentor nodded in agreement, "that's not the worse idea in the galaxy. While there is time, one might as well make good use of it."
Obi-Wan finally turned to her and smiled before explaining, "I thought that I would introduce you to our new Commander."
The clones turned to the red head and nodded. The one on the left smiled and commented, bringing his hand down first as the rest did theirs slowly, "so this is our new recruitment."
Ana smiled and gave a small nod and the middle clone stepped forward. She sees a deep and thick scar going from his left brow down to the side of his cheek. He didn't have any facial tattoos like some of the other clones and his hair was of the traditional buzz-cut.
"Captain Cody at your service Commander Staphos." the clone introduced, signing his introduction as well, "this is Radar and Rowe."
He finger signed their names as well to make sure that she didn't misinterpret their names. She nodded and gave the other two a smile as well.
"Nice to meet you." Ana told them, signing as well.
"We were just watching some training." Cody explained, still signing, "you are welcomed to join. Radar and Rowe are up here because they are our best air strikers, so they help me with overseeing on the ground training."
Radar smiles. He has a tattoo of a thin 'R' beside his left eye and his buzz cut was a lot more closely shaven.
"It's more like a self promotion, Commander." he explained, making all of them smile, "but I won't stay completely humble about it either."
"Radar actually had a really good idea about how to personalize and tailor some of our equipment and fighters for you." Obi-Wan explained, going back to signing as well.
Ana raised her eyebrow and Rowe told them, "I'll oversee the rest of the training. you all go off together."
Cody nodded and turned back to Ana, "well, Sir, I'll show you around."
