Kel'Al Raganella
The Jedi Order - Corellian Jedi Academy
Posts: 530
Affiliation: Corellian Jedi Academy
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Post by Kel'Al Raganella on Oct 17, 2013 21:32:42 GMT -8
The pilot's response was measured, but firm -- exactly what Kel wanted to hear. He knew the injured pilot's abilities were still limited, but so long as the man believed in himself, the Jedi Master was going to give Cal a chance to prove what he could still do. At the same time, he needed honesty about what Cal could really do, rather than what he wished he could do. If the man got too high or too low on himself, he wouldn't hesitate to back off and ground the man for a little while. But they would need to formalize their chain of command if this was going to work long term. If anyone had to be grounded, for any reason, there couldn't be doubts about the validity of such an order.But then, the lift came to a stop, and a soft 'ding' indicated their arrival in the Academy's main hangar ...
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Ael Jade
The Jedi Order - Corellian Jedi Academy
Posts: 1,544 
Affiliation: Corellian Jedi Order
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Post by Ael Jade on Oct 21, 2013 13:03:49 GMT -8
Jade walked down the corridor looking at the door tags as she passed them trying to remember which one Serrin had assigned to her. It felt like that was months ago now, if not longer. Anyway, she stopped outside a door which didn't seem different from any of the others, except that there was a miniscule 'Jade' written on the tag beside it. She pulled off her right glove and placed her palm upon the edge of the door, then pushed it open. Once inside she closed and locked it behind her. There was the briefest of flickers in the Force before Selaya pounced, landing on the petite female with enough force to knock her flat on her back. "Ooof! Selaya! Kriffin predator..." Jade grumbled, trying to get her wind break with the heavy vornskr standing on top of her and sticking a wet snout in her face. She felt a prehensile tail wrap around her left calf and squeeze enthusiastically in greeting. Giving in, she reached up and ruffled the large feline's ears before pushing her away and getting to her feet.
She looked across the room to her window, currently standing open to let in fresh air, as well as provide entry and egress for Selaya directly to the outdoors for acquisition of snacks and exercise. Walking over to it, she leaned upon the window frame and gazed outside in silence for a few moments, reflecting on recent events particularly as they dealt with the Mandalorians. Finally shaking herself from her reverie she undressed and stepped into the 'fresher. It always helped one feel better to cleanse after a long stint in confined quarters such as a fighter cockpit.
Afterwards she got dressed in her undertunic and then laid down on her spartan bed for a long sleep. Her datapad went off with a ding around four o'clock in the morning, Corellian time. She slept straight through it. Then, when she woke up, she stretched, and noted the flashing indicator light on it. Her name had been flagged in---a Wanted Ad? Well, that was fast, I thought to myself, wondering if this was truly who I thought it was. Z'har had never been the type to let a challenge pass, and he normally responded ruthlessly. He must have known it was me, and ... at least for now, he wanted me alive. She closed her eyes, letting the datapad fall to the floor as she thought about all this, remembering the dream she'd had back on Carida: a dark figure from her past seeking her, and calling her by her real name, a name she didn't give out to just anyone. At that time only three people other than herself had even known that name.
Deciding quickly, she got dressed with meticulous care as the precision calmed her mind. She clipped her weapons in place and fastened her katana in its sheathe across her back before wrapping herself in her voluminous black outer robe. She patted Selaya and sent her off outside to hunt, not sure when she'd return. Then, she stepped outside her room, closed the door, and headed down the hall.
Halfway along she stopped, wondering which room belonged to Terra Kiros, or if the young woman was still in the barracks. She frowned. Then, she decided to just send a message to the young padawan's comlink. Terra, I'm headed off --- she hesitated, deciding what to say, then, --I hope I'll see you soon, relatively. If Serrin has not contacted you, I could perhaps help you prepare for your remaining Trials if you wish. Selaya is wandering around somewhere.Abruptly she ended it. Jade had never been a person for goodbyes. She headed off to Coronet City to book passage on a public transport.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2013 12:44:05 GMT -8
Terra entered her room and set about putting some of her things away, not that there was much besides her lightsaber that she had brought with her to the camping trip. It had certainly been a memorable few days, and she was in higher spirits now than she had probably ever been since arriving at the academy. Hopefully she could channel of this new energy into her training and finally pass the rest of her Trials...
Speaking of Trials, she had an unheard message from Master Jade on her comm, which had seen no use during her trip with Ralph, and she listened to the message. Jade must have left some days ago for wherever it was she was going. She wasn't surprised to hear that Selaya was still wandering around, and made a mental note to go check the gardens a little later. But what interested her was the part about her Trials, and she wondered why Jade would offer when Serrin should be presiding.
Come to think of it, she hadn't seen Serrin when she had returned, which was kind of odd since Terra had guessed that her master would have been the first one to greet her on her return. She would have to ask about it...
Terra quickly showered and dressed and went back to finish putting away her things.
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Ael Jade
The Jedi Order - Corellian Jedi Academy
Posts: 1,544
Affiliation: Corellian Jedi Order
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Post by Ael Jade on Oct 23, 2013 14:28:53 GMT -8
Travel by public liner certainly had one thing in its favor at least: one could ambulate the corridors and sleep stretched out in bed in relative comfort. It was leagues beyond what a starfighter could offer, not to mention it was a little less obvious to potential watchers that one's personal fighter was missing from the hangar.
Jade stopped by her room only long enough to drop off a couple items, most notably a small glass box that contained one velvety black rose in full bloom, frozen in time due to having been placed in stasis. Was Jade sentimental? Hardly. Yet, for one with very few possessions, almost all of which were practical in nature and had some sort of combative aspect, the keepsake rose appeared to be opulent by contrast. She also left behind her voluminous black outer robe and exited her room, heading down the hall in an outfit that stood out as stark in contrast to the muted tones of the resident Jedi. She wore a black form-fitting tunic, breeches, and boots, and from her belt hung two knives and two lightsabers. Her left lightsaber still had blackened burn scars on the hilt, whereas the one on her right was fairly pristine with only a few residual nicks and dints in its hilt.
She continued on down the corridor, noting that Terra Kiros seemed to be in residence. Jade stopped outside her door and knocked.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2013 18:04:13 GMT -8
Terra crossed the room over to the door and opened it, and she was surprised to see Jade standing there, thinking that she had been away from Corellia. Maybe she had just gotten back recently. She smiled at the older woman."Hey."She put a hand over her mouth."Oh! I-I mean M-Master Jade. Um...hi."If she had to guess, Jade was likely here to discuss her Trials, but she also hoped the older woman would know where Serrin was...
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Ael Jade
The Jedi Order - Corellian Jedi Academy
Posts: 1,544
Affiliation: Corellian Jedi Order
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Post by Ael Jade on Oct 23, 2013 18:41:14 GMT -8
Jade smiled warmly in response, noting Terra's surprise. Evidently the young woman hadn't used the Force to see who was at the door. Given that they were in the Temple it was a pretty safe bet that one would not come to harm, still that was no absolute guarantee. Sensing her concern, and surmising that it was over the state of her still-missing Master, Jade attempted to set forth the facts without alarming her. Naturally, they were few: "Serrin has still not replied to me, and I assume from your expression she has not spoken to you either." Jade was not pleased about this. She knew the Twi'lek hadn't come to harm, but she also missed her old friend very much.
She did not enter Terra's room, guessing that doing so would place the shy padawan on the defensive by intruding into her space. Instead, she remained at the door,hardly looking up at Terra even though she was a good inch shorter than the much younger girl. "How have you been?" she asked, as a more natural conversation starter, adroitly looking over Terra's earlier startled embarrassment.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2013 18:51:18 GMT -8
Terra hadn't even asked about Serrin yet but Jade was already telling her that she didn't know where her master was. She was disappointed and it showed on her face, but there wasn't anything she could do about it. She just hoped that Serrin was all right...
She shrugged when Jade asked her how she had been."Well...I've been good I guess..."She noticed that Jade was still standing in the doorway and she managed a smile."Do you want to come in?"
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Ael Jade
The Jedi Order - Corellian Jedi Academy
Posts: 1,544
Affiliation: Corellian Jedi Order
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Post by Ael Jade on Oct 23, 2013 19:11:11 GMT -8
"Not to worry overmuch Terra, our Twi'lek friend vanishes for months at a time on a distressingly regular basis and nearly always turns up safe and sound." Once she'd turned up with a child! Of course, it had been her own, but it was still a surprise. She was a magnet for trouble, true, but it generally seemed to avoid her as if she was a rock in the way of the incoming tide.
She noted the shrug, "Why are you guessing?" Jade almost took up Terra's offer, then replied with something else, "How about we go hunt up some food?"
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2013 19:41:28 GMT -8
Terra nodded, though Jade's assurances that Serrin always turned up in the end didn't really make her feel any better about not having her around. Still, she had just returned from a wonderful vacation of sorts and her sour mood was already fading when Jade asked her if she wanted to go find some food. She smiled and nodded."Sure."
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Ael Jade
The Jedi Order - Corellian Jedi Academy
Posts: 1,544
Affiliation: Corellian Jedi Order
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Post by Ael Jade on Oct 25, 2013 17:59:17 GMT -8
Suiting their actions to their words, the two of them headed off to the mess hall.
Jade figured that this would initially be a better platform for the two of them to talk. She was aware that her attempt at explaining Serrin's behaviour fell vastly short of what her padawan considered to be acceptable; however, it was all she had to offer on that front at this time.
Even though she and Terra had not caught up yet, she could tell that the girl was feeling a bit more comfortable with herself, more assured. It was a definite improvement. Meeting Ralph had pushed her comfort zone in a familiar environment, not like throwing her up against a Sith lord.
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Ael Jade
The Jedi Order - Corellian Jedi Academy
Posts: 1,544
Affiliation: Corellian Jedi Order
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Post by Ael Jade on Nov 21, 2013 19:56:10 GMT -8
Almost without thinking about it, Jade reached out and placed her gloved hand gently on Terra's shoulder giving a brief squeeze that was meant to be comforting. "Terra, we all have things we regret, and things we'd prefer to keep hidden. It's alright. The past is the past and your future is up to you. You are fully capable of making your own choices."
She stopped outside the door to her quarters. Giving counsel like that felt a bit strange. It was true on one level. One a deeper one though, it was more complicated than that. One's choices often were reactions to circumstances and people surrounding one's self. Everyone had a history. Millions of thoughts, words, and actions combine to form the character of one single person. The universe is a widely complex organism filled with billions of 'puzzle pieces' living out their lives.
Jade keyed open her door, "Care to come inside?"
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2013 12:44:24 GMT -8
Terra was surprised to see Jade attempt a gesture of comfort, given her much sterner approach to teaching, but she appreciated it all the same, even if the shoulder squeeze was a bit more rough than expected. Of course, that was probably a response to her very poorly hidden feelings both towards that Twi'lek slave Five and the less than stellar first spar...and there was more than that, too. It had been her dreams lately...
She looked at Jade for a moment, then nodded slowly."Sure..."
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Ael Jade
The Jedi Order - Corellian Jedi Academy
Posts: 1,544
Affiliation: Corellian Jedi Order
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Post by Ael Jade on Nov 22, 2013 13:29:40 GMT -8
Jade followed Terra into her room. It was a typical suite, or so she thought. Serrin hadn't really showed her around the personal quarters of the Academy residents. She'd just told Jade this one was hers. There were only a few obvious personal touches to the typical furniture. The most notable of these was a velvety black rose preserved in full bloom inside a crystal box upon a small shelf.
The older female walked into her small dinette-area and switched on her kettle of water for tea. Hydration after fighting was always a good idea, and tea was good for calming and focusing the senses. She began speaking while getting out two cups, "Terra, this is the last I'll say on the subject because I know what it's like when people pry into one's personal affairs. If you need to talk about anything that is bothering you, I have two ears and am quite capable of keeping confidence. However, unless circumstances seem to require it, your life is your own." She smiled, assuming that Terra would realize that she had made a standing offer to help her if she should desire it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2013 21:30:12 GMT -8
Terra looked around Jade's quarters, a bit larger than the room she had, and a bit more decorated. Her own room was almost devoid of any kind of personal touches, as she wasn't always in her room anyway. Her eyes lingered on the black rose for just a moment, then she turned back to Jade. Despite the older woman's assurances that she didn't have to share anything she didn't want to, there was something that Terra wanted to discuss. And since Serrin wasn't here, Jade was pretty much the only one she could trust..."Well...there was something I wanted to talk to you about..."
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Ael Jade
The Jedi Order - Corellian Jedi Academy
Posts: 1,544
Affiliation: Corellian Jedi Order
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Post by Ael Jade on Nov 25, 2013 5:10:01 GMT -8
"Go on then," Jade replied encouragingly. From what she knew of Terra, she suspected she did not have many close friends, and even more so, very very few that she allowed to become close. Jade wondered fleetingly where Ralph had gotten himself to.
She poured nearly boiling water into two cups. Steam twisted up into the air as she set the kettle back down. She calmly stirred the steeping tea slowly and then walked over to Terra and handed her one of the cups. This was a compilation of herbs and spices that she had gathered to form a specific concoction that was relaxing. Generally in times of stress she used it to help focus her inner self for a deeper level of meditation.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2013 13:53:17 GMT -8
Terra sighed softly and took a seat, the steaming cup of tea in hand. Normally she didn't drink tea, but it would be rude to refuse and maybe it would help calm her nerves. She was silent for just a moment as she took a few sips of tea, then, unable to find any other ways to delay, looked over at Jade."It's my dreams lately..."She sighed again. Sometimes she had bad dreams but these were different..."I started having them after the Conclave on Tython."
She sipped her tea again, figuring she may as well try to describe the dreams she was having."I...I hear chanting...I see fire...darkness..."She shuddered as she recalled what she had dreamed."It's getting worse every night too...the chanting gets louder...I feel like I'm there...I'm surrounded by fire...and...and...I'm so afraid..."She shuddered again and closed her eyes, her voice trembling as she spoke."I stopped having it for a little bit...but last night...it was back...and worse than ever."
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Ael Jade
The Jedi Order - Corellian Jedi Academy
Posts: 1,544
Affiliation: Corellian Jedi Order
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Post by Ael Jade on Nov 25, 2013 15:03:17 GMT -8
Jade considered quietly. She had had some dreams herself, but for the most part, they were simply dreams. Only occasionally had the Force shown her visions. She was grateful for that. But, it seemed Terra was not so lucky. She sat down across from the girl, legs tucked up under her in lotus-fashion, and took a sip of her own tea. "What exactly are you afraid of, Terra?" she inquired gently, "The chanting? The fire? Or...the people who are chanting?" She thought a bit, quietly. Serrin's file contained astonishingly little on Terra Kiros, aside from the fact that she had amnesia-degree not yet determined. Regardless, something traumatic had happened to her. And now perhaps vestiges of that were bleeding over into the person she had become.
She decided to address it calmly, academically, hoping that her own manner would in turn calm the young girl she'd taken as her padawan. "So, the beginning of the dreams was immediately following Tython, and then they stopped for a time and now have returned? What happened or where were you when they paused? And again when they recurred?" She set her teacup down on its saucer and leaned towards Terra, "Exactly what is this dream? Is it the same every time?" Emerald eyes blinked once as they met Terra's, "Narrate to me the events of your dream exactly as they occur to you, and tell me, if you can, wherein the difference lies between last night and your other dreams."
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2013 19:27:36 GMT -8
Terra sighed and thought back, and yes the dreams had started a little after the Conclave on Tython. For whatever reason, they had stopped when...when she had left for Felucia! In fact, during her entire stay on the jungle planet, she hadn't had the dream one time. And then she had come back to Corellia, and it had started again, even one time during the camping trip with Ralph. That was...odd that it stopped when she had left Corellia...
She sighed softly and thought back when Jade asked her to narrate the dream to her, and to relate the differences between when they had first started and how they had been different lately. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath."Well...it starts out...I'm somewhere cold...I don't know where. I hear chanting...it's quiet at first. I don't recognize the language..."Terra took another sip of tea before continuing."Then I see fires...like they set the whole room on fire but...I still feel cold...the chanting gets louder..."She shivered a little."Then I...I see someone standing there...I can't make out his face...but...s-suddenly I....I get really scared...I want to run...as fast as I can b-but...I c-can't move....and..."She took another deep breath to calm herself and took another sip of tea before continuing."It's the same every time I have the dream. But...lately the chanting's been getting louder and louder...the fires going higher...and that...man...he...gets closer..."She shivered and closed her eyes, trying to shake off the feelings of dread that always came up whenever she recalled these dreams.
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Ael Jade
The Jedi Order - Corellian Jedi Academy
Posts: 1,544
Affiliation: Corellian Jedi Order
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Post by Ael Jade on Nov 27, 2013 8:38:32 GMT -8
Jade thought about this. Her first supposition, malignant Dark Side presence tied to old ruins nearby, didn't hold water here on Corellia. After Order 66 those Jedi who had tried to survive had done so by masking their Light-sided Force signature by hiding in places of strong Dark side proclivities: old Sith temples and the like. Later, some of the Jedi academies had been founded in similar locations. Yavin 4's Praxeum for instance, was located near an old Massassi temple. And then after the defeat of the Empire, Luke had lost several students to Sith spirits in his initial training endeavors. But, none of that was the case here on Corellia. The academy was located near-ish Coronet City on a thriving Core World.
So, either Terra's dreams were the past leaking into her consciousness, or one potential future path. Regardless, the girl was terrified. "Often we are spectators in our own dreams, and from that powerlessness comes the fear, because we cannot do or say anything." She tentatively offered. "So, your dream remains essentially the same. But the event pictured within seems to be coming closer, correct?"
Jade wondered where Selaya had gotten to, and sent a tendril of summoning in the direction of the Gardens.
A few moments later the large predator had leaped through the window, gathered herself on the floor, and after greeting Jade, lazily flopped between the two of them and curled her tail around Terra's left calf in a proprietary squeeze. Her muzzle rested on her paws, but her ears flicked alertly between the two people.
Jade smiled. She hoped the vornskr might calm Terra a bit. The feline had a limited Force presence, since her species had often been trained and used to hunt Jedi. In an ironic twist of fate, she was now the companion of one. Jade never really thought of her as a 'pet' since if one thing was true, Selaya definitely was not tame. Perhaps she might sense something when Terra was dreaming.
"Selaya will stay with you." She thought that might be less intrusive than keeping an eye on the shy and scared girl herself. Terra seemed to be a very private person. If this continued to happen, or worsen, she'd have to recommend a visit to the Infirmary. "Have you ever, to the best of your knowledge, run into a Sith Lord? Or anyone that would derive pleasure from you falling to the Dark Side?"
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2013 22:00:14 GMT -8
Terra smiled a little when Selaya appeared, and she hoped that the vornskr's presence would at least offer some kind of comfort. It was a little strange to be hoping for such a thing from a vicious Jedi hunting predator, but from what Terra knew of Selaya, she could be trusted. She took another sip of tea and sighed softly, nodding at Jade. Same nightmare, but getting more intense every night she had it...
As for any out there who would want her to turn to the dark side, her thoughts immediately turned to Rathdukat, the Sith who had first taken her in, but it didn't take her long to dismiss that. While Rath had never been the most pleasant or kind person, that wasn't his presence she was feeling in the dream. Plus, she hadn't heard from him since she left Contruum, and that was a year ago now. It couldn't be him, which left her with no answers as to who the shadowy figure was in her dreams.
She sighed again."Well...I was in the company of a Sith a year ago...I had just woken up on a shuttle with no memory of getting there and...he took me in for a little while."She shook her head quickly."But it wasn't him in my dreams."Truth be told her time with Rath had been short and she had been glad to leave his company, but she had only told Serrin about her time with the Sith before now.
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