Chapter 04 A Water World & and an Offer
Skye stepped off the Rebel Transport and made her way ahead of the others deeper into the Eternal Vigilance. She wanted to be alone, to be away from Darex and the confusion he created in her. She wanted action before but now that they were in their new home she felt differently. Finding a nice quiet area in a tranquilly decorated room and she sat down cross-legged on the floor to meditate.
Drawing a deep breath she took hold of her amethyst pendant and sunk into a trance, concentrating on calming her emotions, on cantering herself back to a peaceful state of serenity. She concentrated on creating a bubble of white light, surrounding herself with it, making herself feel like she was floating in the centre of it.
Very softly and taking comfort in them, she murmured the words of the Jedi code:
There is no emotion .... There is Peace. There is no ignorance .... There is knowledge. There is no passion .... There is serenity. There is no chaos ...There is harmony. There is no death .... There is the Force.
Completing her mediation Skye opened her eyes and looked around the room she had chosen, noticing that it was one decorated in a forest theme. It reminded her very much of her mother's forest retreat on Corellia, even to the point of being able to hear the sound of trickling water down a waterfall encased within one wall. No wonder she was drawn to it. It had a single bed along another wall, a desk, chair and a hidden wardrobe. All that was needed now to make it feel more like home was some pots with herbs growing in them. She wondered who she could speak to in regards to getting some. It was a pity that her ship had been destroyed on Hoth as she had had seeds and plants scattered around Star Dancer, making it feel homey.
She headed out the door, wandering around the empty corridors, exploring and wondering if she will be taken on as a padawan soon. She hoped so, she would like to be able to learn how to use her Force Powers, she especially wanted to know how to Force Heal. She had always used natural remedies which was why she loved having herbs around her, not only that but the aromatherapy oils and healing crystals and would like to be able to incorporate their use with Force Healing.
Skye had been quietly wandering the corridors, exploring, when she spied someone who looked alittle lost. She thought she might have seen him on Hoth but wasn't certain. Making her way over to him she introduced herself, finding out his name was Xel Navith. She asked when he'd arrived and if he was exploring their new home also. Discovering that he was hungry and feeling alittle that way herself she led him to where she found the mess hall.
"Thanks. I'm gonna get some food. You're welcome to join me if you want." Xel said to her.
Finding that some of the others had already made their way there and that the cooks had been hard at work. She waited in line until she was served her meal and then went to find a table with Xel.
Skye looked up from her meal when Ish arrived at their table and asked if he can join them. She indicated to a vacant chair as she didn't wish to speak with her mouth full. Finishing it, she asked Ish if he still wanted that spar later on, thinking that they still hadn't gotten around to it with all that had gone on. Seeing him nod affirmatively she rose from the table, letting him know that she would catch up with him later on but for now she wanted to continue exploring – she wanted to see where the hydroponics station might be.
She wandered slowly around the corridors, taking in the beauty of the architecture. As she turned another corner she came across two familiar figures. Darex was one and the other was the Master that had distracted the Sith Neo, back on Hoth. She was pleased that she had run into him as she wished to thank him for assisting her, for allowing her to escape Neo's attention.
The two look to be in a discussion so she hung back as not to disturb them, but so that she would be seen.
Skye observed the two head into a room to speak privately. She interested herself in looking at the wall hangings in the corridor while she waited. Considering their last conversation, Skye was unsure of the reception she would get from Darex, but was willing to do anything to remain his friend.
Getting a signal to enter the room, Skye made her way in. Darex looked up at her as she entered, a forced small smile on his face. "I can leave if you'd like," he told her.
"It's ok Darex, you don't have to if you don't want to. I don't mean to interrupt...", Skye answered him as she came forward, the beginnings of a smile appearing on her face, "Friends?" She asked him before turning to Master Tares.
"Master, I would like to thank you for what you did for me on Hoth. I don't think I would have had much of a chance against Neo if you hadn't of intervened, being as I am yet untrained in the Jedi arts." Skye shyly fingered the lightsaber that Orrick had given her, that was hanging on her belt.
"It was no problem at all. I'm sure you could have held your own, I just figured two heads are better than one. Speaking of your untrained state, I'd like to talk with you alittle later about that. For right now, I have a council meeting to attend."
Master Tares nodded to both Skye and Darex and left the room, heading towards the council chambers.
As Skye and Darex followed Master Tares out of the room, Skye looked up to see Ish coming towards them from the opposite direction from what Master Tares took.
""How are you doing," Ish called out to them as he neared their position.
She greeted Ish with a smile and the three of them headed back to the mess hall, Darex to eat while the other two kept him company. Skye was sipping at her caffa when another sat down opposite them.
"Hi Ben'a." She said looking up at him, "Where is Aryian? I haven't seen him for a while, is he ok?"
Skye sat quietly sipping at her caffa as Ben'a, Ish and Darex ate, getting a silent message from Ben'a that he needed to have nourishment before answering her questions. Once he'd finished eating, he spoke to the three hopefuls.
"First of all, I have not eaten in quite some time, so I apologize for my haste. And in regards to my padawan, he is...asleep...that is all I can say to explain it. Thankfully, he should be well cared for by the medical droids, so I need not worry about him for the time being." Ben'a drained his glass, then continued. "My other apprentice is, I fear, lost...but not dead. He is out there, somewhere, but before I can look for him, I have matters to attend to.
The three of you, Ish, Skye, and Darex, share a bond, though it is ill-defined at the moment. I feel that, through continuous training between you with the guidance of a Master possessed of great wisdom, you will be a great force within the Order. However, I am not anywhere near that, and so I fear you will have to wait until someone long in service to the Jedi comes along." Again, Ben'a paused to regard the three.
"The best course of action for now, I feel, is for you three to sort out the feelings you have for each other. Passion, emotions, and chaos that serves no useful purpose must be purged from yourselves if you wish to avoid corruption from the dark side. Though I suspect you may grow sick of being lectured on this, it is nonetheless true; unrestrained emotions lead to unfettered passions, that result in chaotic actions that disrupt and destroy. But I have faith in the Force and in you three, that you can work it out, and that you will acquit yourselves exceptionally well in the trials that lie ahead. But in the meantime, I must leave you. May the Force be with you..."
Skye listened carefully as Ben'a began to speak and was surprised by his words. She felt herself blush when he instructed the three of them to sort out their feelings for one another. She knew how Darex felt about her and had been fighting the mutual attraction but she had been unaware of Ish feeling anything other than friendship for her. If this was the case then it was no wonder Darex had shown jealousy when she had gone off with Ish to the gym before. She had been treating Ish as she would a younger brother and hadn't realized that her actions might be taken in a different context. She observed Ben'a rise from the table and make his way out before she turned back to the other two men.
"Well, I think we should take his advice," Darex said slowly. "We should talk. I don't want to fall to the Dark Side, and if talking out our feelings will help, I'm ready."
Skye agreed with Darex that they all needed to talk about this and followed him to the small water decorated room, saying to Ish as they went that she would spar with him once they had spoken of these matters.
Taking a seat she thought back to her last conversation with Darex in the medical bay, back on the Rebel Transport. "Darex, I know I hurt you with what I said before and I am sorry for that. I really do like you. I just don't want you to get hurt because of me. If we get into a situation that we both need to make spit second decisions, I don't want our feelings getting in the way of the greater good. I hope you can understand me in this. If there is a way that we can deal with our emotions without falling to the darkside ... well, how about we just take things day by day, step by step and see what happens. I think we both need to seek out the guidance of a Master before we can take things any further."
She paused, taking a deep breath to settle herself before turning to Ish. "I've come to think of you as a younger brother. I hope that this doesn't offend you in anyway. If you're ready for that spar now I think it might be a good time." She slapped her hands on her legs as she stood up ready to go.
Seeing that Darex was lost in his thoughts and feeling his need to meditate they leave him there while they seek out the gym. Skye paused to say, "May the Force be with you" to Darex before leaving the room.
"Too many interruptions!" Ish exclaimed harshly with a cynical laugh. He hopped up from the table, and nodded to Darex and then extended his hand in the direction oh the doorway to show Skye out.
Skye preceded Ish out the door and headed down another corridor thinking that it wouldn't hurt to explore abit more on the way to finding the gym. Hearing the annoyed tone of Ish's voice, she turned back to him saying, "Patience is a virtue ... easier said than done I know but we will get to spar". She gave a little laugh trying to lighten the darkening mood.
They wandered through several more corridors before Skye caught a particular scent in the air. Quickening her pace to a sprint she flew down the corridor, laughing as she skidded to a halt in front of a wide doorway. Taking a deep breath then sighing as she released it she gently pushed the door open, not waiting for Ish to catch up, but sensing that he was not far behind her.
Inside she found the hydroponics station. Her eyes widened at the extent of it and she slowly made her way around the various forms of plant life. She went from plant bed to plant bed, caressing leaves and identifying some of the plants but not all of them, seeing herbs, vegetables and fruits amongst others. She found that each one had been planted with companion plants alongside and each look very healthy indeed. She touched a mint leaf, gently bruising the leaf and inhaling the scent.
With her eyes sparkling she spun around to where Ish was standing, watching her. "I'm in heaven now Ish!" She performed a joyful pirouette and broke into laughter. "You probably think I'm crazy now... come on, we'll head to the gym now. I found what I'd been looking for."
She then led him down to gym, taking up two bamboo poles and throwing him one before moving to the center of the mats and taking up a defensive stance. Ish moved straight into attacking her, his first blow directed to Skye's right side as Ish crossed over his own body holding the pole with both hands. She blocked him and concentrated through the force, trying to pick his next moves before he made them. Ish dashed back using the force quickly and hunkered down. In and instant he lunged out from his crouched position and jumped over Skye and twisted himself in mid air so he was positioned to strike at her when he hit the ground. He swung his weapon at Skye's ankle so as to take her to the ground, and he succeeded with a hit.
Surprise showed on her face after his successful hit but Skye recovered smoothly, a mask of calmness dropping over her face to hide her next move. She let the Force dictate her actions, feeling it swirling around her and didn't resist it, instead she let it guide her moves. After flipping back to her feet she went on the offensive using the force to push Ish backwards and followed quickly with a flurry of strikes to his upper body, then swiftly to his legs.
Ish was sent reeling as he attempted to block Skye's strikes. One hit him in the shoulder, but did not fall him. The next strike however met his shins to which he fell and rolled so as to keep his momentum going. He recovered and hunkered down so as to keep a low target. Both combatants were separated by about three meters. Again Ish crouched down extending one of his legs out from under him and held his stick diagonally across the front of him.
He leapt up at Skye who had her stick right at his sticking point already. Instead of using his stick, he swept his leg towards hers to trip her, but she barely hopped over his long sweeping leg. Ish resumed a more standing posture and came at Skye with a barrage of swings that were small and concise. Each swing accept for the last was parried with ease by Skye. Both Ish and Skye were moving at frantic paces. His last strike hit her squarely on the upper arm as she had it extended holding her pole out. She winced mildly then regained her stern composer and came back at him.'Hmmm that one's sure to bruise...', Skye silently said to herself. She gathered herself quickly and sprung over Ish, striking as she sailed over him before landing nimbly on the mats. Spinning back to face him she noticed he was closing the gap between them so extended her hand towards him with a gesture to sweep his feet from under him, feeling the force do her bidding. She hadn't yet gotten the control needed to complete the action but it was enough to stop him in his tracks. 'I'm getting the hang of using these Force powers ... they could come in very handy if I learn to use them right.' Using another flurry of strikes she moved against him once more.
Ish sprinted around her, circling and attacking her on all sides as quickly as he could. Skye instinctively closed her eyes and let the Force help her deflect his blows. She could see where he was going to strike before he moved and could move to deflect accordingly but she could feel herself tire and knew the same of Ish. She wasn't going go back down yet. She was enjoying stretching and testing her limits and new skills. In a slight lapse of concentration one of his blows got through her defenses to land on her hip. She used the momentum of the blow to roll with it and away from him pushing the pain from her mind for the time being. Rising to her feet once more she looked warily at him, just watching and waiting for his next move.
In a sudden move she straightened up, still slightly defensive and allowed a smile to come across her face, bowing slightly to Ish. "I think we're well matched here. I know I'm feeling the strain of this battle and I think you are too. How about we call it a draw?"
Ish agreed emphatically with Skye's request. He bowed to her as well and they both put back their bamboo poles on the rack. He walked with Skye over to the shower blocks, Ish going his way, while Skye went hers. He called out as he went,
"I'll see you later! Maybe we can meet up for something to eat again when you want."
Skye started to head towards the shower block but stopped realizing she had nothing to change into. She went in search of a clothing store, wondering if she would be able to find something suitable. She eventually came across one and asked the protocol droid what he had in the way of ship suits. She chose one in a deep midnight blue and made a beeline straight back to the shower block, sighing as she stepped into the cubicle and the hot water hit her.
Feeling one hundred percent better she headed to a laundry mat to clean her clothing. Sitting on the floor in a corner she meditated while she waited. Collecting her now clean clothes she headed back to her room to put them away, debating whether or not to grab something to eat or to lie down and sleep. Sleep won out, she curled up on her bunk and was soon sound asleep.
Skye woke up refreshed and relaxed after a good night's sleep. She quickly got dressed and headed to the mess hall to break her fast. She looked around, not seeing anyone she knew in there yet and thought that it must be too early for them. She went over to a table that was covered with breakfast items. Skye grabbed a bowl of cereal and a caffa and headed over to a corner table to have her meal, wondering what she would get up to this day.
"Mind if I join you?"
Skye glanced up to see Master Tares standing by her table and nodded in agreement.
"I don't mind Master. I would be glad of the company."
They ate in companionable silence until they were joined by someone else that she hadn't met.
"Master Vortex. I am in search of Kirlocca. I was left on Hoth after a stone crushed my legs. I guess the Jedi just forgot me in the rush. I heard Kirlocca was here but I have not seen him."
Skye shifted over to make room for the newcomer as he sat down beside her after speaking to Master Tares.
"Hi there, I'm Skye... and you are?" She says with a welcoming smile.
"I am Ryan." He offered her his mechanical hand.
"Hi Ryan, nice to meet you," Skye replied shaking his hand. She noticed that it was mechanical, assuming that he must have lost the limb in a battle somewhere. The fact that it is artificial didn't concern her as she had known someone in her past that had the same injury. She released his hand and took a sip of her caffa.
"So how long have you been with the Jedi, Skye?" Ryan asked her, making conversation while Master Tares was busy eating his breakfast.
Placing her cup back down on the table Skye turned slightly to face him.
"For a bit over a month. I'd only just begun the class lessons before the Sith struck at Hoth." Glancing back at Master Tares she again said to him how grateful she was for his intervention, before turning back to Ryan and asking him the same question in turn.
"I've been with the Jedi for a few years, and still have not been trained that much. As you can see, I am mostly machine. And this is because of the Jedi. I have fight with the Jedi lots of times, each time I end up with a new bionic part. But I stay with them. I believe I am probably their most loyal padawan."
Ryan looked into his cup watching the swirling drink, then looked over at Skye and smiled, adding:
"Sounds kind of funny does it not."
Skye became thoughtful "I wouldn't say that it was funny. Your loyalty is admirable." She gave him another smile before taking another sip of her caffa, soon finishing her cup of caffa and thinking of getting another.
"I'm glad someone thinks that." Ryan says to her.
Master Tares smiled at him then, "If you remain here, you may just become a droid if you aren't careful. Have you ever considered alternate means of replacing your lost limbs?"
Before Ryan could answer him, another had joined them. Skye looked up to see a Wookie observing Ryan and guessed correctly that he was Ryan's Jedi Master.
"Do you mind if your Master sits with you and tries to take some stuff off his mind?"
Ryan got up quickly to his feet bowing to Kirlocca.
"Yes master take a seat. I have been talking with Skye. So Master, what have you been up to."
Kirlocca sat down and breathed deeply. He looked at his padawan with a sombre look on his face.
"My padawan, I am sorry for all the trouble I caused you. But my life, my mission as a jedi, is one that is hard to have a padawan. My life must be devoted to this mission, I can understand you if you don't understand. Being my padawan will be a hard life, harder then any other jedi life would be. You are a good padawan, I can ask for nothing more then that."
Master Tares had finished his breakfast by this time, standing he nodded to Kirlocca, and smiling said, "Well if you excuse me, I think it's time for my morning run."
He left a datapad infront of Skye and when she glanced down at it, she saw his "padawan proposal letter". She watched Master Tares leave then glanced at the datapad again, a feeling of excitement overcoming her. Ryan had glanced down at the datapad as well but she wasn't concerned. She was too happy to be concerned, she was about to become a Padawan. Skye struggled to keep a smile from her face as she turned to Ryan, Master Kirlocca and to Jedi Knight Hou Jo Poleb who had just joined them at their table.
"If you will please excuse me I have somewhere that I need to be." She gave them a bright smile that she can no longer contain and turned to leave. Ryan spoke just as she stood up.
"Skye, if its what you want, you should go to Tares. He is a good Jedi and knows his stuff. I think you should go train with him."
Hearing Ryan's comment confirmed that she was making the right decision. She gave a quick wave as she left them. "I'll see you later Ryan, nice meeting you."
Quickly she left the mess hall in search of Master Tares. Her search ending soon as Tares found the young hopeful, instead of the other way around. With a smile he spoke.
"Ah, good to see you got to read my letter to you. May I assume that you accept my proposal?"
"I would be honored to accept your proposal Master" Skye replied, a smile lighting up her face. She gave a slight bow and tried to contain her excitement.
Tares smiled, "Very good, when would you like to begin?"
Skye felt like she may burst with joy at being chosen to be a padawan. Her thoughts then sobered as they centered on Darex and Ish, who had yet to be chosen and she wondered how they would take her news, hoping that they would be happy for her. Pushing those thoughts aside for the time being she met Master Tares eyes.
"Anytime is fine with me Master."
"Well, if you are up for alittle running, we can start now if you wish." Taking off in his normal jog, he began, "So tell me what you think about the force...."
Skye joined him in his run, matching his pace and giving careful thought to his question.
"To be honest, I don't know that much about the Force, having only found out in the last few months that I had the ability. I know that many have the ability to use it, or be used by it, for either good or bad purposes. I guess it is up to the individual which way they use the Force... for the greater good or for evil. I know I have a lot to learn and am more than willing and I have a habit of letting my conscious dictate my actions."
Tares smiled as they neared a doorway, "Very interesting. I believe we should start with some combat training."
Entering, he made his way over to a control panel and activated the holographic display. In the middle of the room, a brown robed being appeared. The holocron quietly smiled as he waited for instruction.
Loading all the information on known combat styles, he turned to Skye, "As a Jedi, sometimes the need to fight arises. It is in these situations that knowledge of combat is key. Through my teaching, actually learning a style will take but a few moments. However, training is still required since knowledge alone isn't comparable to experience. I will let you decide what you wish to learn...."
Skye had slowed her pace, stopping just inside the doorway, quietly observing as Master Tares headed over to the control panel. Seeing the holocron appear and smile, she responded in kind.
She nodded her head in agreement as her Master informed her about the need for knowledge of combat and, because of her inexperience knowing only too well the need for learning those techniques after what had happened on Hoth.
She fingered the lightsaber Orrick had given her that still hung on her belt. She hadn't used it at all during that battle as she knew she would need training on how to handle its use, instead she had found a vibroblade and used that. Lightsaber training being another thing she wanted to rectify.
Out of the combat styles, she was partial to both Stava and K'tara styles. The idea of stealth caught her fancy. Her thoughts went back to the battle at Hoth and she thought that Stava would have given her a better chance in close combat when Neo had attacked her. She informed Master Tares of her choices.
Tares nodded, "Very well."
Motioning for the young padawan to sit on the floor, he himself took a spot on the floor and relaxed. "Over the years I have discovered a focus of a specific mental aspect of the force. Whereas the normal force user uses this mental aspect to do things like mind tricks, I've developed several techniques to form mental links with others. Between these links, there is a world the users share in which time is different."
Drawing up the force, he breathed in, "To teach you these arts, would normally take many years to just know the techniques. However I can reduce this portion of training by placing a link between us. However realize that even if you know the techniques, it will take much training to make them effective in combat. Let's begin."
Following Master Tares instructions, Skye sat cross-legged on the floor facing him and let herself relax. She nodded her head in acceptance when he informed her about creating the link between them. She had often wondered about these links, or Force bonds, having read and heard stories about them and now she would find out about them first hand.
Her only hesitation was that she was unsure of how she would be able to hide her emotional confusion and attraction for some of the men on this ship from her master, if he wasn't already aware of it. So far she had found him to be very perceptive.
She closed her eyes, pushing that doubt aside and opened her mind to him. She was unaware of the time involved, only aware of the knowledge her master imparted to her was now there in her memory.
With a link between them, what seemed like months spent learning, passed with in a few minutes. After sometime, the two woke up, "How do you feel?" Master Tares asked....
Hearing him ask how she felt, Skye carefully gave consideration before answering. Her eyes fluttered open and she met her master's. She tried to order her thoughts, to put them into perspective.
"I feel the same, yet somehow different. More... aware I guess." She mentally reviewed the new information, visualizing the actions of what had been implanted.
Tares smiled, "Good, from this point on it will be your job to train in these arts each morning. With in time, they will become second nature to you. Just remember, the ability to fight is only one component to being a jedi. The ability to only fight when needed, is something else."
Standing up, he stretched for a few moments, "So tell me. What direction do you see yourself heading in during your training. What kind of jedi do you wish to become?"
Skye automatically returned his smile and gave consideration to his statements, agreeing with an incline of her head, her acceptance of training every morning.
Standing also, Skye pondered his question.
"I am interested in the healing arts master."
Nodding along, Tares thought for a few moments. It was rare to see a Jedi these days interested in something other than battle. "The healing arts are a noble thing to dip into. I think you will find them quite an experience."
With that he brought up the holocron again and keyed up some information on the typical Jedi healing arts and healer....
Skye took in the information, eager to learn all she could. Some of her idea's on healing seem more unorthodox and varied to the holocron's information but she found herself enthralled by it none the less. The idea of being able to save lives instead of destroying them was foremost in her mind.
Once again nodding, Tares smiled at the thought. It seemed he would finally get to dip into the healing arts once again, instead of being used as a war machine."Very good. In that case, lets talk for a bit. What path led you to becoming a jedi?"
Sinking down to the floor again and getting comfortable Skye tilted her head to one side and looked up at Master Tares.
"Well, I guess the turning point was at Telos ... I saw a canine hit by a speeder and went to it's aid. I thought it would die but somehow I revived it, I still don't know how I did it." A look of puzzled wonder crossed her face as she paused to think back on it for a moment.
"Whatever it was that I did, it was witnessed by someone who I now realise was a Jedi. He told me that I shared the gift of the Force and that if I was interested in developing the talent that he would give me the co-ordinates of a training establishment. That turned out to be Hoth."
"Once at Hoth I had an overwhelming need to speak with my mother on Corellia. I spoke with Orrick about it and came to a compromise, that I would try and contact her via comm link rather than to leave off training to go to her. I got straight through to her and found out that the she had been worried about telling me who my father was." Skye paused again, struggling to control her roiling emotions. She fingered her amethyst pendant and took a few deep breaths before she continued.
"She only told me because I had started training. My father was a Jedi, strong in the Force. I had been told that he was just a family friend on the few occasions in which he visited us and it was he who gave me this pendant..." Her voice trailed off and she waited for her Master to say something.
"Hmm, an interesting path to say the least. Life has a seemingly random way of bring an unlikely bunch together under one purpose."
Taking a seat on the floor next to Skye, Tares took a couple breaths then continued, "There is no denying that like your father, you as well are strong in the force. Your early talents at healing are a testament to that. However, there is also no denying the deep emotion you hold with in you. Some would label these emotions good and bad, obviously the bad ones straying you towards the darkside. Yet I would call them human emotions. Now the question is, what will you do? Suppress these emotions, let them control you, or you control them?"
Skye felt a slight shiver go through her at the thought of the darkside getting a hold on her, but at the same time she didn't think she could remain 'emotionless' as she had heard most Jedi referred to as. Besides which, she very much doubted that she could handle a life without love in it.
"I don't think it would be healthy to suppress emotions Master, but at the same time I don't want them to control me. Can you teach me how to control them, so that they won't lead me astray. I would hate to fall to the darkside." She glanced across at Master Tares. "I... uh... don't think I could live without love either," she added softly, blushing, her voice just above a whisper as she said the last. She knew it is a subject that needed to be broached, her thoughts going to Darex and the other good looking men aboard the Eternal Vigilance at the present moment.
Tares laughed, "To live a life with out love is not life at all. Sadly, it's merely like an empty shell, nothing there but space, and pain. I would hate to condemn any padawan of mine to that fate."
Stretching out with the force, the jedi could sense thoughts of Darex in her mind, "I figured this would be a subject on your mind. If I may ask, and hopefully offer some help in such a confusing situation, how do you feel towards him?"
Skye could feel herself blushing furiously in embarrassment. She only meant the question in a general sense and didn't mean for her thoughts to go in his direction, least of all for her Master to pick up on them.
"I... uh... I'm not sure Master. I mean... I like him, but... oh... I don't know!" She shook her head and tried to order her flustered thoughts. Taking another deep breath she tried again. "I do like him Master, but I am not sure where it will lead. He is much younger than I am and I'm unsure what to do about the age difference... if anything at all." She looked down at her twisting hands than gasped as she realized what she had just said, a guilty look crossing her face. She didn't mean to speak so candidly.
Tares just kept smiling, "There is no reason to feel guilty about your feelings. The position you find yourself in isn't all that uncommon. Infact, I faced a similar situation when I was but a child. A girl was involved one of the same training programs as myself. Unfortunately, the program forbid any type of 'useless' relationship as they defined a boy's crush on a girl. Looking back, I know now it was probably just lust. Yet love and lust seem to be nearly identical at times. I never acted upon those feelings, and here I am today still loveless."
Keeping his smile, Tares began to stretch, "I'm afraid my experience with love is limited. However, I can tell you that from what I observe of you, your emotions at this level are natural, and well under control. I believe that the answers you seek will present themselves in time...."
Hearing her Master speak of his own experience made Skye feel alittle less embarrassed and she looked up at him. She knew only too well the difference between lust and love and wasn't quite sure what it was she actually felt towards Darex, while she couldn't deny that she was attracted to him it could be only lust. She also didn't know if she really wanted it to go any further.
"...the answers you seek will present themselves in time..." these words echoed around her mind.
After the conversations she had had with Darex she didn't know how he actually felt anymore. Tapping into the Force she stretched out her senses to see where he was, finding him wandering the corridors of the Eternal Vigilance. Stretching them further she located Ish in the arboretum, her feelings towards him were easy to fathom. She treated Ish as she would treat a brother.
Opening her eyes once more she met her Master's gaze. Curiosity getting the better of her she found herself asking, "You haven't been in love Master?"
"Love takes time to grow beyond the stages of lust. Unfortunately, I never have gotten past the lust stage." He said with a smile.
Sensing Keiran from behind, Tares raised his hand, "Let me ask you Keiran, have you ever been in love?"
Skye felt sympathetic towards her Master when he told her he hadn't felt more than lust but couldn't help trying to hide a smile. Her thoughts briefly went to her last 'love'. He had been tall dark and handsome and she had felt special when she was with him. Their love affair had lasted only six months though as she caught him cheating on her. Her thoughts were then tinged with sadness as she remembered the pain that moment caused. Yes, love could feel great, but just as easily it could cause pain as well. It was an experience she thought everyone should be able to share. This had happened well over a year ago and she hadn't been involved with anyone since, for fear of getting hurt again. Now that she had gotten over that pain, she was ready to let love back into her life again... if she found the right man.
Her thoughts were brought back to the present as she realized someone else was with them and heard her Master address Keiran, asking if he'd ever been in love. 'Hmmm passing the buck are we Master' ...she cheekily thought, her previous embarrassment forgotten as she listened for his reply.
Keiran stood with a smirk on his face before answering Master Tares.
"Love? No, too young, and I'm generally not looking for it. However like you, lust has come and gone multiple times. As a matter of fact there was this one dancer at Whyl the Hutt's palace during my bounty hunter days. Perfect thighs... Gorgeous face..."
Keiran trailed off, then realized he was ranting and shook his head.
"Anyways, I wished to inform you of my rebirth after my death. Jareth and I met in a separate dimension of sorts, we discussed and explored the force in ways not possible for the living. I feel like a whole new jedi now, and I plan to bring my new insights out in my work. Onderin and I completed his basic saber training at my penthouse on Coruscant. We then returned to Hoth, not sure of where the jedi had relocated to. We found a 500m radius circle of devastation. There was no snow in this circle, it was all melted, by imperial bombardment. I found a survivor of the barrage who informed me that the imperials had infiltrated the research lab. The survivor did not know what type of research the lab specialized in but he did tell me of our new base here on Manaan. Unfortunately, the survivor wanted die in peace, so we let him be and came here. Onderin has completed his basic saber training, and I feel the next step in his training is to progress to the real world. If you have any assignments you wish completed, please, tell me of it and we will do our best to complete it. Real world experience is what Onderin needs now."
Skye stood silently beside Master Tares, listening to what was being said. She was amused by Keiran's answer to her Master's question but kept a straight face. She concentrated then on what else Keiran had to say, about what had happened with him and the Sith, Jareth on Hoth and then to what had happened on his return to the icy planet. She watched Master Tares get to his feet before he answered Kieran.
"Unfortunately our defeat at Hoth has stung alittle. However that should be no reason to take away from training. Now that you mention it, I just may have a mission for your padawan and yourself. You see, my brother just recently took the hideaway of Pacalis City on Munto Codru, and placed the city in space in his new space station. As a result, the rebellion has had to relocate their base. Because of this, we have lost contact with our allies, but I have a feeling more has changed than just their base."
He took a breath, looked at his padawan, then returned his gaze to Keiran, "It will no doubt be a hard task, however I have every confidence in Onderin and you. I want you to try and find the rebellion, if not their base at least make contact with them. If you do find them, tell them that the Jedi haven't abandoned them...."
Her ears pricked up in interest as she heard her Master speak then of his brother – she didn't know he had one. 'Well you learn something new everyday' she thought to herself, realizing that she didn't know that much about her Master. She followed the conversation with continued interest.
She sensed others approaching before they had entered the room and glanced towards the doorway just as Ben'a strode in, briefly meeting his eyes before she averted her gaze downwards, smiling slightly. Feeling a very familiar presence her eyes shot back to the doorway just as Darex and Onderin walk in. She smiled at both of them, nodding back to Onderin before looking back to Darex, wondering how he will take her news of being Master Tares padawan. She remained silent as Keiran again spoke.
"Find the rebellion? If their ability to stay hidden is as good as it is made out to be, then it will be a difficult task. However we'll try my best." Keiran turned to Onderin, "Prep the Strife IV for takeoff, and restock the armoury on board. After Hoth my weapons locker was slightly depleted."
As Onderin walked off to complete his tasks, Keiran turned back to Tares.
"Master Tares, there is one more thing I must speak to you about..."
"You can tell me later, right now we have a new arrival." Tares responded as he turned to Ben'a.
"Master Tares, I have been wandering about the ship, with nothing to do, for quite a while now. I wish to go out into the galaxy to do something useful, but something that isn't of a personal nature. When I brought Master Kenobi here, I thought that something might be achieved, but I was disappointed. I need not action or adventure, just something useful; a quest, if you will. Could you help me?"
Ben'a clasped his arms behind his back as he waited for Tares to respond.
As his comm beeped, Tares took it out and gave Kyp clearance to land. From there he looked towards Bena, "I am sorry that Master Kenobi left. The council was busy during the time, and unfortunately we freed up right as he left. Anyways, I do believe I have something in mind for you. We are currently in search for the rebellion. Keiran here and his padawan will be heading out to make contact, however we could cover more ground with a few more agents out on the field. Would you be interested in trying out different locations for Rebel Contact?"
"Yes, Master Tares, I will help the best I can. Your brother was formerly of the Rebellion, was he not?" Ben'a asked.
"For a short time. His connections may lead you to the rebellion. Good luck on your mission, but if you excuse us, I still have alot to teach my new padawan." He said with a smile.
Turning to Skye, he thumbed his belt, "I think alittle field trip is in order...."
Skye brought her gaze back to meet her masters, her eyes lighting up at the thought.
"Is there anything I'll need to take with us Master?" Not that she had anything apart from her one change of clothing she thought to herself.
Tares nodded, "Only basic supplies and whatever else you wish. Once you are finished packing I will meet you in the shuttle bay." With a smile he then excused himself to his private quarters.
Twenty minutes of packing led the Jedi to the shuttlebay where he waited....
Skye nodded her head and glanced in Darex's direction. "See you when we get back?" She quietly asked, then added "I meant to tell you that Master Tares had taken me as his Padawan but hadn't had the chance to."
She paused for a moment longer then headed out the door and back to her room, packing her spare change of clothing, in total one black shipsuit.. 'I really should try and get another set I guess, maybe something other than a shipsuit too' she told herself as she headed back out the door.
She quickly scanned the area, searching for Ish and found him still in the arboretum.
"Hi Ish, I haven't got long... I'm on my way to the shuttlebay. Ummm, Master Tares has taken me on as his Padawan and we're heading off world. I don't know when we'll be back but I'd like to catch up when we do?" She left the last as a question.
Sensing that her Master was already waiting for her she waves goodbye to Ish and raced down to the shuttlebay.
Once Skye arrived, both of them boarded his ship and took off....