Mike Frantz
Databank Operations
That Guy
Posts: 712
Affiliation: The Jedi Order
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Post by Mike Frantz on Dec 28, 2023 14:40:28 GMT -8
*Adorned multipocketed grease stained mechanic's jumpsuit that was my usual attire and devoid of the blue jedi robes that I usually wore over them I could have blended into the crowd with relative ease. Just another old spacer, looking for a new berth. My position perched on top of one of the large screens announcing arrivals above the heads of the mass of people in the main arrival hall made that blending in a bit unlikely. Fortunately spaceport security had long ago gotten used to the antics of their resident Jedi headmaster and had barely batted an eye when I had jumped up to wait for my apprentice's arrival.
Fortunately the wait was short and a few minutes later the boy's flight had arrived and I leaned back off of the hanging screen at just the right moment, casually summersaulting down from my perch to land precisely in front of the younger jedi, usual half-smile splayed across my face, startling other nearby passengers as I landed.* Hey Kid, how was your trip?
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Kay'li Raganella
The Jedi Order
Posts: 180
Affiliation: All living things
Traffic Light: Orange
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Post by Kay'li Raganella on Dec 28, 2023 20:17:43 GMT -8
Coronet Spaceport, Commercial Passenger Shuttle Sector
=Raja= Raja's head jerked upward the instant the elder Jedi detached himself from his perch, and the boy's face lit up at the sound of his Master's voice. In hindsight, he should have expected as much. In a lot of ways, Master Frantz was nothing like the serious and solemn Jedi his parents had told him so much about---Jedi like Master Hunt and Master Coral and even Master Roma. But his unconventional behavior was actually a much better fit for training a boy who had long been raised in the wilds of the Outer Rim by a Raganella sibling, a fact Raja was only beginning to appreciate.
Unlike other nearby passengers, Raja stood his ground unflinchingly, somewhat (but not entirely) used to such entrances. "Hello, Master! It went fine. Very long, but peaceful. I did some reading on the way to Brentaal, but after that my thoughts have been focused here, on home." His attention strayed for a moment, scanning the terminal around them. It seemed this part of the spaceport had either been untouched by the invasion, or had already been fully repaired, he couldn't tell which. "How is everyone here? Are things returning to normal? We heard the casualty list from one of the Jedi Knights on Ossus." His face and voice took on a note of concern. "How are the recovery operations going?"
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Mike Frantz
Databank Operations
That Guy
Posts: 712
Affiliation: The Jedi Order
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Post by Mike Frantz on Dec 30, 2023 20:17:23 GMT -8
I couldn't help but smile at the younger Jedi's talk of yearning for home, especially since Raja hadn't set foot on Corellia until recently. The Raganella blood ran deep in the boy, wherever he had been born. There was no missing my apprentices looks around, as if he was trying to see any signs of the recent attack. "Luckily most of the damage was contained to the orbitals. The shields around both Coronet and the Academy held and most of the fighting was in orbit." Flashes of faces crossed my mind as Raja brought up casualties. Jedi Knights who'd fallen in the fighting and who'd haunted my recent dreams unfortunately drained the usual good cheer from my face my voice shifted slightly, becoming less emotional, more cold and clinical. "Recovery will take time, but as always Corellia will endure."
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Kay'li Raganella
The Jedi Order
Posts: 180
Affiliation: All living things
Traffic Light: Orange
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Post by Kay'li Raganella on Dec 31, 2023 21:40:05 GMT -8
Coronet Spaceport, Commercial Passenger Shuttle Sector
=Raja= The young Jedi was visibly relieved at his master's explanation of the limits to the damage. He knew Corellia had been attacked many times before, and rebuilding was nothing new to the Jedi or the Corellian people. That part didn't worry him. But he had been dreading what scene might greet him upon his return, and moreso, what that kind of surface destruction might mean for the civilians who lived, worked, or played there. He cracked just a slight smile as he replied. "That's good. The reports we heard were not very detailed." The smile faded as he sensed a bit of the cold, dark tone of his master's inner thoughts. "I am glad the people of Coronet were spared."
He took a couple of steps toward the terminal exit, his feet making almost no noise on the flagstone platform, then glanced back at his master, his voice taking a more earnest tone. "Master, I don't want to be sent away next time. I want to stay here and help prevent suffering." Mike's apprentice patted the side pocket of the satchel that was slung over his left arm and shoulder, where he kept his datapad. "I spent the entire trip down the Hydian Way reading about force techniques for medical diagnosis, and how to channel the force into targeted healing." Medicine and force healing were not new interests for Raja. In fact, one of the ultimate goals of his time on Corellia would require obtaining a certain level of medical knowledge. However, the recent attack was a great reminder, and an opportunity to redouble his training. His parents were depending upon him.
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Mike Frantz
Databank Operations
That Guy
Posts: 712
Affiliation: The Jedi Order
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Post by Mike Frantz on Jan 3, 2024 16:46:23 GMT -8
*It was good to hear that my apprentice wanted not to be sent away, and instead be part of whatever efforts to preserve life that are available to him, but I'm not sure that that was a promise I could make to him. It was right and proper for a jedi apprentice to want to help where he could, and it was even more proper for him to be by his master's side whatever the danger they found themselves in, it was how apprentices learned. Raja however was no normal apprentice, and beyond that I was never supposed to have been his master. He'd been sent to the legendary Serrin Roma for his instruction and had instead ended up in my care. I hadn't been ready to face the possibility of facing the boy's family if anything would have happened to him and so I'd sent him away to be with most of the academy's younglings and younger apprentices. I'd never been one to send my own apprentices away, but I'd succumbed to my own fears for the boy. In truth there was a lesson in that. No matter your age or experience, fear can sneak up and augment your judgment. *
*I pause as we exit the terminal and head toward the waiting speeder, looking directly at Raja and Kneeling to look him straight in the eyes, locking his gaze with ice blue eyes that had seen far too many young jedi meet an untimely end.* "It is good to want to help, but there is danger even in helping behind the lines. No matter how far behind the lines of battle you are or how honorable your foe is anyone in the area is in danger. Beyond that healing is a noble art, but it is fraught with dangers as well. All it takes is a single small mistake to end a life." *My eyes flash with knowing for a moment as memories of a friend screaming in agony wash across me.*"I was never as renowned a healer as Master Coral, but I spent a number of years practicing that art, until I made a mistake that nearly killed a friend and came to an abrupt conclusion that that was not the path for me." My voice softened as a pulled myself out of memories and back to the present and my young apprentice. "I do not tell you any of this to frighten you, but I've never been one to mince words and I want to make this decision with eyes wide open and the facts in plain view. It is noble to want to help and heal even where there is danger, but before that path is open to you I need YOU to know that you are ready for what is ahead of you."
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Kay'li Raganella
The Jedi Order
Posts: 180
Affiliation: All living things
Traffic Light: Orange
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Post by Kay'li Raganella on Jan 12, 2024 20:08:31 GMT -8
Coronet Spaceport, Public Speeder Parking Area
=Raja= The serious topic seemed to spark a tiny amount of conflict within his master, although the padawan's senses were not sharp enough to detect the exact reason, at least not without an invasive amount of probing through the Force. He said nothing as they walked, giving Mike time to consider his response. Passing through the terminal's exit doors, they approached a waiting speeder. Raja's eyes went to the familiar green stripe running the length of the vehicle, tracing it from nose to stern, and he smiled wistfully. That paint scheme was a recurring reminder of his other home (his parents' YT-3000 light freighter The Golden Wolf had similar trim) and simultaneously, the familiar feeling it conjured in him was confirmation that he was a true son of Corellia, despite his many years away from the planet.
As Mike knelt to address him, Raja met his Master's gaze evenly, and nervously combed a lock of blond hair out of his left eye. "Yes, Master, I understand. But there is danger everywhere. With the Force as our guide, if we truly listen to it, we can avoid that danger, wherever we are, or stand and defend those around us. So teach me, and I will do whatever I need to do." He winced at the mention of Mike nearly killing a friend, and his eyes widened slightly, but probably not for the reason his Master would expect. Even at his young age, the boy had seen a lot of rough stuff in his years on the run in the Outer Rim, and the story itself didn't scare him. His resolve to increase his training was unshaken. But what did surprise him was the idea of his master failing so completely. It was a good lesson, a good reminder, that all Jedi are fallible.
"I wish I could have met Master Coral." He said a bit wistfully, at last. "I mean no disrespect, of course, Master. But I know of one particularly obscure medical mystery concerning the Force, and I am sure he could have explained it to me. My parents--er." He caught himself, remembering that they were in the public spaceport. Master Mike needed to know about this at some point, but it was dangerous for anyone else to know about it until the time came. "Forgive me, this isn't the time or the place for that." He fell silent as he tossed his bag into the back of the speeder, and then climbed in beside the elder Jedi.
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Mike Frantz
Databank Operations
That Guy
Posts: 712
Affiliation: The Jedi Order
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Post by Mike Frantz on Jan 19, 2024 10:08:33 GMT -8
*I kept the tide of conflicting emotions well under control as I took my seat at the airspeeder's controls and began to head back toward the academy. I was proud of the boy for being able to make the choice, as well as in his desire to work hard and learn. That pride was mixed with curiosity, this was the closest the boy had been to revealing what was going on with his parents, or even really mentioning them, in the time that we'd been together. I wanted to press for more, but long years had taught me patience and my apprentice would share what he had when he was ready. All of those other feelings were somewhat overshadowed by an unavoidable pain. I couldn't help but be reminded that I was standing in the shadows of giants and that Raja must have grown up with stories of their legends, and then sent to Corellia to learn from Serrin Roma, instead he'd fallen under my wing. I am generally a positive person, but even I know that I am a shadow of the masters that came before me. But I was determined to do what I could for my apprentice even if it might not have been what was promised to him when he was sent to Corellia.
It was long moments of silence as their flight began before I spoke, but when I did it was with an expression of fond remembrance and determination on my face.* "Master Coral would have liked you Raja and you aren't alone in wishing he were here now. If anyone could produce a medical miracle for you it would have been him. I suppose that just means you'll have to walk your own path and find your the cure for yourself. It's not as easy as having someone do it for you, but in the end it will be much more satisfying." *I flashed a conspiratorial smile.* "It will take time and dedication, but one day they might speak of you in the same breath as the great Corellian Jedi and I'll simply be a footnote in your story." *Some might have thought of that as a sad though, but I'd never been under any illusions as to my place in the history of the Corellian Jedi and I was content the play the hand I was delt to the best of my ability.
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Kay'li Raganella
The Jedi Order
Posts: 180
Affiliation: All living things
Traffic Light: Orange
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Post by Kay'li Raganella on Jan 19, 2024 18:04:36 GMT -8
Aboard an Airspeeder, Coronet City
=Raja= As Master Frantz pulled out of the spaceport parking area, the passing wind whipped through the open airspeeder and tousled Raja's blond locks, sending his padawan braid gently bouncing against his right ear. Squirming at the tickle, he tucked it back behind his head once more. The events of the past few weeks had given the boy a good chance for introspection. Now that he was acclimated to academy life, it was time to start pushing forward on his true purpose here on Corellia, which meant acquiring the skills necessary to complete his mission. His parents had worked out a system that would allow them to hide nearly indefinitely, but it was a lonely life, and he missed them immensely. The patience they had drilled into him day after day was starting to crack, and he was eager to move faster. He owed Master Frantz a more complete explanation of the situation sometime soon, but despite his master's nostalgic words, he didn't sense that now was the appropriate time. He needed to catch up on his studies before he requested another trip off world.
"Yes, Master, all in good time, and with the will of the Force as my guide. But there are many Jedi healers here on Corellia, and on Selonia. I am sure someone will be revealed to help me when the time is right." He cracked a smile at his master's self-deprecating comments, but privately, he thought Mike was an amazing master, and much more likely to tolerate his free-spirited shenanigans than your typical tightly-wound Jedi Master. "In the meantime," He said as he glanced over, looking the elder Jedi in the eye, "The Force brought me to you, so I'm counting on you to teach me all the other things I need to know to be a good, well-rounded Jedi, not just a good doctor." Raja fell silent, and stared out at the passing landscape, which was switching from industrial factories to the downtown core of the city. His thoughts shifted from his parents' situation to his uncle, long missing and for very different reasons, at least so far as anyone knew.
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