Trying to Connect
Gavyn watched the sun rise over the horizon of Tirahnn, leaning against the wooden fence between the Agricorps camp and the fields stretching into the distance. He had returned late the night before, but the Jedi had never been much for sleeping in.
After Tyro headed back home, Gavyn had gone to the spaceport. Of course, security had locked it down for the day, until the terrorist network had been cleared up. There had been three incidents in twenty-four hours. Most of the city had shut down as a result, and the transports were the first thing to go. Nobody wanted this sect to escape off-world.
Instead, Gavyn spent the rest of the evening helping the police the best he could. Mostly, it involved seeking out any hiding terrorists, through the disturbances they left through the Living Force. Most of the operations had been handled by the time he found his way to the front lines anyway. By the time the core of the extremist group was detained, however, it was late into the night. Once again, Gavyn found himself borrowing a speeder from the local security force to ride back to Agricorps.
There was something peaceful about being surrounded by these tranquil farmers, and Gavyn had a very long day. Oddly enough, he didn't find himself worried about the terrorists or exhausted from the adrenaline and the carnage in the street. He felt exhausted because over this past day, he hadn't felt so connected to another jedi as he had felt today with Tyro since his last Padawan. Now it seemed he spent all his time with clone troopers, who had become his closest friends, but they could never share the invisible bond through the Force as two jedi could. It was like being torn open, exposed. It was a muscle that had atrophied, and then suddenly ran a marathon. It was exhausting, but at the same time it breathed life into him like he had forgotten was possible.
The spaceport was probably going to be back up and running in a few hours, enough time for Gavyn to return the speeder and get back to the front. He continued to lean against the fence, however, enjoying the warmth of early sunlight breaking through the crisp air. It wasn't simple pleasure that kept him rooted, however. His instincts urged him to stay, as though the Force had some kind of unfinished business.
Tyro pulled himself out of bed as the alarm he had set on his datapad went off. His deliberate effort to do anything other than think too much into the the events of the previous day had been the only thing that had kept him from a second night of tearful sleep. He did the same now, grabbing his things and preparing for the day's chores. There was quite the list he needed to get to after having to spend yesterday re-buying all the machine parts, or rather, about three of them in total after the market pretty much shut down. It meant some people were going to have to wait even longer unfortunately.
As he stepped outside into the morning light Tyro felt his thoughts drifting once more. Determined to put a stop to this once and for all dumped his bag by the nearest fence post and sat down. He needed to just take a moment and meditate, for the second time since he came here. It was he had always turned to in his days as a Padawan. It was what they were supposed to do, but more importantly being present in the force was what always helped calm his emotions and work through challenges. Closing his eyes, the realization dawned on him-nothing about agricorps had challenged him in the last month or so until yesterday-and then…
Any sense of focus disappeared from him as his mind reached for the past two day's events. Feeling what little calm he had managed to muster slip away from him he buried his hands into the soft soil around him as though he could physically ground himself. Determined he sat there for five minutes; the dead man and all the others on the train, the injured people in the market, they were going to torture him, and the Jedi Master, somewhere confusingly in this whole mix.
Finally, absently rubbing a dirt-covered hand across his face, Tyro gave up.
Gavyn was about to return to the camp, maybe pick up a bite at the mess hall before making his way back to town, when he was hit with a sinking disturbance in the Force. Trusting his instincts, Gavyn started to run urgently along the fence, unsure of what he would find.
He couldn't say that he was surprised to find Tyro. The Force had pulled them together again and again in the past few days. The Jedi Master was alert and tense, sure that there was something terrible happening. "What has happened?" He demanded with fierce military presence. He glanced around, as though there might be some kind of threat, but he could feel that the disturbance was from within the boy in front of him. Something in him had changed.
Letting out a yelp of surprise Tyro scrambled quickly backwards under the fence. He was on his feet and running between the lines of crops, pure instinct and adrenaline, before he realized what he was doing.
Gaining some semblance of control over the initial shock he came to a stop by the river. Breathing heavily he crouched down at the bank, sitting on his heels as so to avoid the mud that oozed between the grass on the banks. Tyro dipped his hands into the water, letting it wash away the mud before splashing it on his face. He had forgotten his bag. And clearly he had forgotten how to mediate.
Tyro stared at his hands; they were shaking. It had just been that Jedi guy. Thinking about that more now he realized that the guy was being defensive; not yelling at him exactly. Must have been more of that stupid force connection stuff or something. So he couldn't even suck at meditating in peace now. Look force, I get it. Tyro thought directly off into the distance, I'm not supposed to be doing this Jedi thing anymore. You've convinced me, you don't need to keep rubbing it in.
Brows knitting together, Gavyn watched Tyro dash off. He realized he must have startled him, particularly if he was as troubled as the Force was suggesting. Gavyn followed his trail through the crops until he caught sight of the boy.
"Tyro?" Gavyn asked softly, keeping his distance. He wasn't sure what to say. He could feel that Tyro was conflicted, but he did not know by what. It had been a long time since he had last counseled a young Jedi. "Ease your mind, Tyro. Let this turmoil pass." He suggested, wishing that he could give advice to act upon, instead of requesting for the boy to just do nothing and hope to find peace.
Tyro bristled when he heard movement behind him, but it was only Gavyn. Despite what had happened earlier, he could tell the man meant no ill. Tyro nodded slightly at the advice. Jedi stuff. What he had been trying. "I know that," he said quietly, embarrassed it was that bad someone else had to tell him.
Gavyn took a seat next to the riverbank, crossing his legs in front of him. He sat in silence, watching the water leap and swirl around the rocks just under the surface. It was a long moment before he spoke. He wondered if Tyro had noticed the connection they had foraged, and whether he had reconsidered the offer that brought him to this planet in the first place, but Gavyn dared not ask. He had a feeling that it might be the source of what was bothering him.
"We made a good team yesterday." Gavyn pointed out. "It was fortunate we were there. We saved a lot of people."
"Yeah?" Tyro looked up to Master Jervada as a slight smile spread over his face, but he kept his distance from the man. He turned back to the water, feeling the cool river flow around his hands for a moment. Normally he turned to technology to find calm, but there was something fascinating about the way the crystal clear water moved. They didn't have rivers like this on Coruscant. Something about the way it moved reminded him of the force, but not quite; it moved around him instead of through. "...Glad we were there too. I can't imagine if…" Tyro cupped his hand, watching as the water spilled up and over it, splashing onwards despite him. He scooped up a handful, pouring it over his other hand upstream, watching as it seamlessly rejoined the rest of the river, flowing onward regardless. "You think it was what the force intended?"
"I think so." Gavyn said confidently. If anything, it was a fortuitous break that they were able to thwart the terrorist threat on this planet. If he hadn't come here seeking Tyro as a Padawan, then many people could have been killed.
Glancing back at Tyro, he seemed so young. But he was also a Jedi, and the Galaxy needed him. If the past few days proved anything, it was that he would not be able to hide quietly on a farm. This war afforded few people childhoods anymore.
"Look," Gavyn started empathetically. "I wouldn't wish this war on anyone, but I think you could do a lot of good out there, Tyro. If not during the Clone Wars, than after. When the Jedi are peacekeepers once again instead of generals, you'll still be growing crops. Do your instincts tell you that is your path?" Gavyn asked.
Excuses were what came to mind first. About how what he was doing here was important. How the force must have made all this happen for some reason. His mind could still rationalize it innumerable ways, but if Master Jevada was going to ask about his instincts, well… Tyro shook his head in response.
"Your chance at becoming a Jedi Knight isn't over. You could still come with me." Gavyn offered kindly. He could hardly imagine leaving Tyro here after the bond they had foraged. Sure, they didn't know much about each other yet, but they were connected through the Force. He could only hope Tyro could feel it as well.
Slowly Tyro withdrew his hands from the water. The Jedi General was fierce, and Tyro would be lying if he said not just a little bit terrifying, especially considering how they had met this morning. After everything that had happened with his last master Tyro had to be cautious. He had learned the hard way that just because someone held the title of Jedi Knight or Master, it did not mean they embodied or even fully followed the code. He had heard quite a few things about the huge man sitting imposingly behind him.
Tyro wiped his hands dry on his tan agricorps issued pants - worn for the repair work he was supposed to be doing today - before working up the nerve to face Gavyn. Over the last two days the Jedi had proven himself to be anything but what he had thought. He seemed to genuinely care about other people. To Tyro's last master, every person and interaction had been calculated, tactical, a means to an end. It had made sense at the time, it was logical. Gavyn was nothing like that at all. He could tell, he could feel it.
It was something he would have never done with his former master, he had kept his distance, saying it was out of respect. Considering his former master had specialized in manipulation, it had always made sense to Tyro. He didn't want to know what his master was thinking and feeling against his will. He didn't want to use the force to influence him. His former master had respected that boundary as well, keeping his distance, never using the force against Tyro.
Whatever he could feel from Gavyn was different than that though. It was different too from all the other beings he could sense around him through the living force. The man had stood out to him so brightly in the force since he had first seen him. Tyro looked him over guardedly, as if he could see something with his eyes, noting that he seemed the picture of kindness, openness. He seemed like he could be trusted. Cautiously Tyro reached out through the force.
Trusting Tyro, Gavyn did not shrink from the Force connection. He let Tyro see him for who he was. The impression Gavyn left in the Force was overwhelmingly honest, loyal, and caring. He was dutiful, but his sense of duty came from a genuine concern for the well-being of others. The impression was not entirely innocent, however, and the weight of suffering and guilt rippled underneath, like the scars barely visible under the hair on Gavyn's graying temple.
All Gavyn could hope for now is that he would be enough. Tyro's high standards had brought him to this planet, and now it came down to this moment of judgement.
It was instantly clear, Gavyn could be trusted. The man was honest about who he was, inside and out. Tyro was not sure he had ever met someone that straightforward. Sure, there was something else there too, something darker, heavier, the man had a reputation for a reason, yet that was reassuring in its own way as well. Gavyn hadn't made that his identity, nor had he forgotten or disregarded it.
Tyro hung out with all sorts, had plenty of friends in the undercity. Some of his best friends had been criminals, but as a Jedi, Tyro focused on the present. He had one standard for the people he placed his trust in, and that was that despite it all they were good people with good intentions. There was no ulterior motive in Gavyn, darkness did not motivate nor guide him through the force, he was open, selfless, honorable.
What was more, Gavyn seemed to trust him. Feeling that, Tyro looked away quickly, staring at the grass. He still held onto the connection between them though. It took him a moment to find the words to ask what Gavyn surely had already felt from him by now, "I could still go with you?"
Gavyn nodded gently, concealing the joy that started to bubble inside of him. After such a long time of resisting taking on another Padawan, he finally felt ready and even eager to mentor another student. When he had arrived, the sense was merely intellectual, knowing he should take an apprentice. Now he could see Tyro's potential, as well as his struggles. Gavyn wanted to coax him through challenges, share his wisdom, and grow together through the Force. When this war was over, the galaxy would need wise, young Jedi like Tyro to take the helm of what was quickly becoming a fractured and warlike order.
"We can leave - and return to the Temple - whenever you are ready."
Tyro fought back a smile, he couldn't entirely get his hopes up yet. "I would need a few days to show someone else how our database is set up and teach him or her how to manage it...and I would need to finish the repairs I promised people, and assign out the rest of the jobs to someone else who could take them. I know that's a lot to ask but I've made promises, people are relying on me...I never thought that…" Tyro trailed off, not sure if he was hoping Gavyn would just tell him no now and get it over with, or if this was really happening.
"Let me know if I can help you with, uh, any of that." Gavyn offered. Everything Tyro mentioned sounded a bit out of his scope, but maybe there was something simple he could help arrange for him. Gavyn was good at delegating, perhaps he could help the administrators find new people to fill the jobs Tyro left open.
Gavyn also had people relying on him, back at the front. He had accepted it would be some time before he would be able to make it back to his troops, but he did not want to dawdle regardless.
Tyro met Gavyn's eyes, he could feel the guy seemed to be happy about this, but at the same time there was something else on his mind. "You mean it then? The council is really okay with this after everything? Not that I ever did anything that had anything to do with...but...there's reasons I ended up here."
Gavyn didn't know if it was the teenager's rebellious haircut or simply his youth, but he did not expect Tyro to be concerned about asking the Council's permission. Without thinking, Gavyn laughed out loud before realizing it might be insensitive. Tyro was so far away from the war here. Sure, he was repairing the damages, but that paled in comparison to the front, or the senate floor (which seemed even more cutthroat most of the time). Out here, he was removed from the overwhelming concerns of the Jedi across the galaxy. Gavyn shook his head as he stood up and dusted off, but he did not shake off the undertone of amusement.
"I wouldn't worry about that." He assured confidently, as he started walking back towards Agricorps. He called back as he walked, "They need all the help they can get."
A/N:
Thank you so much everyone for reading! Please let us know what you think, we'd love to hear your suggestions, comments, or critique!
But wait! There's more! Stay tuned for another story coming soon, about Clones, Coruscant, and war.
