New School

[Raph]

Kairos’s ship pulled up alongside the praxeum, the Guidance, and came to dock with it. That was the first odd thing: due to the volume of students being sent out places, Kairos had been told that he could bring his ship, a small one, not his new one. So thus Aerlson’s Lance pulled into the hangar bay of the Guidance and landed. Checking his datapad, he found the room, A-115; supposedly it was a meeting room. There were… a lot more people with the force on this ship, that he could feel as well as see, than he’d ever even seen on Viscara. There was a sudden, if strange, sense of community that hit him, and it wasn’t something that he was used to.

A female aide, non force sensitive, which lightly surprised Kairos, approached him; he must’ve looked lost. “Excuse me, sir. Are you looking for something?” Her voice was kind and gentle and there was a strange sincerity to her eyes. Kairos merely lowered his gaze a moment, pretending to look at the small datapad in his hands.

“Y-yeah. I was looking for room A-115.”

She nodded a bit, looking over a pad of her own and smiled, ushering him to come along. “This way please. Room A-115 was actually in the other direction.” He cursed under his breath. Of course he’d been going the wrong way… And now he was going to be late. “I’m quite happy that I was able to find you, Mister Ward. Originally we were concerned that you would simply go walking the ship, as it seems you had intended, until you found the room. Knight Qualim would’ve been a bit displeased.”

“What…can you tell me about Knight Qualim? She told me that she was a demanding instructor, when we spoke via holovid.” He gave a bit of a nervous chuckle, showing that he was a bit anxious to meet her. “Almost like my former master.”

There was a light giggle that seemed to escape her. “Well, let’s just say that Knight Qualim has a way of bringing things out in people that they themselves either didn’t see or didn’t understand. She will be your martial instructor, as well as one of two instructors in jedi philosophy. She will be your instructor on the code and the tenets, while Knight Sarue will be your instructor in history and Force related philosophy, as well as your therapist.”

“I’m going to guess a Jedi Guardian and a Jedi Consular, then.” He remarked idly, as they walked.

The woman shook her head, taking a moment to look back at him. “A consular for your therapy, yes, but Knight Qualim is actually a follower of the sentinel variety, though she does oftentimes say she blurs the line between guardian and sentinel. I would advise you not just classifying her as guardian directly to her.” Then, finally, they stopped in front of a room. “Here we are. Room A-115. Both knights are waiting to meet, and talk with you.” He bowed, thanking her, before entering the door.

The room was smaller than he’d originally expected, only slightly the size of his ship, so a few meters, at best. There was a table and several chairs, across from him were two people seated, in jedi robes. Obviously the knights. One was a female twi’lek with a steely gaze, while the other was a male echani with an uncharacteristically warm smile. He stood simply and at attention, until addressed.

“Approach, Corpsman Ward.” The twi’lek was the first to speak and he walked towards the table. “First off, welcome to the Guidance. I am Knight Tel’thana Qualim.”

Then the echani spoke up, “And I am Knight Falius Sarue. I will be your therapist for your time here and—”

“We will both be your instructors.” Sarue nodded a bit as Qualim made a motion for him to take a seat, which he gratefully did, as she leaned forward, fingers interweaving together. “I will be quite candid with you, Kairos, when I heard that you had been assigned here and more importantly, that you’d been allowed to keep your saber, I was…intrigued. Not to say that I question Master Shax, but… I’m curious as to why he thought it prudent to allow you to keep your saber.”

Sarue nodded a bit in agreement. “Indeed. It is quite irregular that you were allowed to keep it. He cited the reasons of war but… Surely there are other weapons and ways for you to assist in this war effort. Afterall, the highest level of training sabers are, in essence, lightsabers without kyber crystals, are they not?” Qualim nodded to his words.

“Indeed they are.” Yet still she didn’t move back, watching him. “Be that, as it may, we’re largely here to attempt to ease you into your attendance on the Guidance. We have a fairly intense regiment for you. You will be here for several hours every day, just about every day. Knight Sarue and I will convene on your condition and decide on whether to have you come in on the weekends as well. Regardless, I will be your martial instructor, as well as the on instructing your Force philosophy class with the other students. While Knight Sarue will guide you in therapy and your history class.” The echani nodded, still smiling. Then, without warning, she rose. “Come, corpsman. I want to, at least, see what I’m working with for the next little while.” Kairos obeyed, without question, leaving a slightly perplexed Sarue in the room alone.

Qualim didn’t stop, even when questioned, her head never turned, her stride never broke its purpose. Aides rushed up to her, asking questions of all varieties, different students’ needs, dietary measures, new training weapons, and she kept going. Kairos followed behind her, rushing in her steps a little to just keep up. “I assume that you’re familiar with how a master and padawan interact, yes?” Kairos shrugged a bit and she suddenly stopped whirling around to face him. “That is no an answer, Mister Ward. I asked you if you’re familiar with how a master and a padawan interact.” The words were less soft this time, more biting and direct.

Kairos immediately shot to attention. “Yes ma’am! I am somewhat familiar.”

“Somewhat?” Her inquiry made him stand almost straighter, were that possible. “Were you not a padawan, yourself, before reassignment?”

“Yes, ma’am, though my master was a bit more hands off. We did have a few lessons, it’s true, but it wasn’t like what you might expect. He was busier than I think either of us were hoping for…and—” He slowly tapered off, looking at her. There was a look of almost…pity?

“I see.” She sighed out of annoyance but whether for him, Master Shax or the situation in general, was impossible to know. “Forgive me, Corpsman Ward. I was under the impression that he’d been there for you more often. However, my question is why did you not simply step forward and say that the two of you were not a good fit?” Kairos seemed to look embarrassed a moment. “It did not occur to you, did it?” He shook his head and she sighed once more. “Regardless, while here and when you are not at other duties, I would like you to stay by me. I would have you learn more of the praxeums. Is that understood?” Kairos nodded, not wanting to say anything, but followed once more, as she began walking again.

[Raph]

His ship came out of lightspeed in the same system as the Guidance, and he quickly made his approach, docking within moments. He still couldn’t thank Eamuna enough for the ship; the Absolution made him fear pirates much less than used he used to in Aerlson’s Justice. Still, he felt like two ion cannons was a bit too much and a third combat laser would’ve been better. Whatever, he could still fix that later, couldn’t he? Yeah, he definitely could. He checked over his datapad as the last of his landing was being assessed. Training hall six was where he was supposed to go. Alright. That worked. Though one part confused him: Bring your lightsaber. He was still surprised that he could was allowed to keep it, after all… He shook his head. Best not to think about it. Don’t question your master, even your former master.

Once more, he had to ask an aide to point him in the right direction, but this one was much easier to find than A-115, which was apparently a meeting room. When he entered the training hall, he saw her kneeling in the center of the room, a saberstaff sitting to her right. He knew that she was meditating without needing to really see her, and so, he walked in and knelt at the edge of the room waiting on her meditation to end.

It didn’t take long.

“Welcome back, Corpsman Ward. I take it that your time on Viscara was fruitful?” She paused for a second, but quickly continued. “I apologize for making you wait. I needed to meditate to fully prepare myself for everything. This is a wholly unique experience, I hope that you understand.”

Kairos bowed his head a bit. “Of course, Knight Qualim. I wasn’t expecting it to necessarily be immediately.”

She nodded once, turning to him and extending her hand. “Your lightsaber, if you please. I would inspect it.” Kairos unclipped the weapon and held it out in front of him before slowly floating it over to her. Slowly she took it and looked it over. “Hm. An interesting design. Though… You were from a mining colony, yet your family was from Corellia, yes?” She kept inspecting it as Kairos nodded. “I would think that you would’ve gotten something from Corellia to have it be connected to you more.” She let it go allowing it to simply levitate in front of her and then she looked to him. “Do you mind if I see the kyber and see it as well?” He nodded, holding out his hand as it slowly came apart, revealing the kyber. “…a yellow crystal. Fascinating.” She took it in her hand and turned it around a few times. “…two crystals merged. Experimental and dangerous to attempt. Requires a complete trust in both crystals and the Force.” She looked at him as the saber slowly put itself back together, and then floated over to him. “We will not be starting with using a lightsaber.”

Rising to her feet, she held out her hand as a quarterstaff and a wooden training sword floated to her and then she tossed him the wooden blade. “You are fairly well trained in shii-cho, yes?” He nodded. “Assume the stance and prepare to defend.”

Kairos raised the single bladed weapon and began to parry her attacks from the quarterstaff, head then left arm, then right arm, left and right leg and then spinning walking around him to the back. They continued, for some time, strike. Strike. Strike. Strike. Strike. Then she backed off and nodded moment and began to swing again, velocity increasing strike, strike, strike. While one hour had passed, by the time that they’d finished this second part, two hours had passed. Kairos could feel himself starting to sweat.

“Come, Corpsman Ward! We are not done. Your master might have trained you hard but I intend to train you harder! Come now!” Once more Kairos raised the weapon and she increased the velocity even more, now throwing the sarlaac strike into the end. While Kairos was always able to parry her strikes even while he was beginning to sweat at the fourth hour of their sparring session. Once more, they’d stopped and stepped back a moment. “Good! Good!” She nodded, and Kairos was starting to notice that only NOW was she starting to sweat! Internally he groaned and then suddenly he took a blow to the head. It wasn’t super hard but it was enough to catch his attention. “No thinking about anything but training right now. Come! The velocities are getting quicker now and now I will strike at random zones. Now, defend!!” It was another hour for them both, swing, smack, parry, block, strike, smack, block, smack, smack. Then, finally, as the fifth hour came to a close she finally pulled back before wiping her forehead with a sleeve and setting the staff against the ground. “Excellent! Even with me striking at random zones, you were able to only take five strikes within a matter of an hour! That was three-fourths of the attacks that I threw at you. I’m glad to how see you’ve been working hard on your shii-cho.”

Kairos, however, was panting heavily as she tossed him a towel. “Dry yourself off,” she said to him “and then come with me. We’re going to the bridge.” She laughed. “It’s been a while since I had someone that could really keep up with me like that.” Qualim started for the door before stopping and tossing him a canteen that he caught. “Stay hydrated! There are many things to cover.” He simply stared at her and she at him before her voice snapped to, “Come now, corpsman! We’ve much to do! And leave the wooden sword here.”

The two of them headed through the halls towards the bridge, her with her confident stride and Kairos struggling to keep up with her. Finally they came to a stop on the bridge and she stood at the very door with a smile and made a sweeping motion towards the viewing port. “Look, Corpsman Ward! What do you see?” Slowly, though he watched as her smile disappeared and she seemed to wait for him to answer. “And don’t say something obvious such as “stars” or “space”, please.”

“Uh, I see potential, Knight.” She made a motion with a hand, encouraging him to continue the thought. “I see…potential for what we haven’t found and what we haven’t mapped yet.

She nodded. “…I understand. I also see potential, though different from yours. I see potential battlefields, combat over resources.” She sighed before looking to him. “That is why opted to come to the Explorer Corps. I needed to rebalance myself, as well, and learning to be a teacher was a nice addition to the choice.” Kairos could only watch her a bit confused. “But we’ve things to work on with you. Your pride is one and your propensity to form attachments is another.” Her brows raised as Kairos tapped on his small datapad. “Corpsman? Who are you speaking with?

“Uhm, Sentinel. She’s a friend.” Knight Qualim nodded, and Kairos stopped mid tap.

With a wave, as if to dismiss it she nodded. “Keep going.” After a few minutes, she finally spoke again. “I can tell that you’re in pain, Corpsman Ward. You are indeed in pain. Tell me why.”

“I…wish that I’d had this kind of sat Master Shax down and us just talked like this… Him talk about himself and me talk about myself.”

Qualim nodded with a light sight. “You wanted to learn more about him, you wanted him to learn more about you.” Kairos nodded. “You need not do it, if it makes you uncomfortable, but can you tell me about yourself, as well? Just a little.”

“Do…” He looked up. “Do you not have my file, Knight?”

The twi’lek jedi nodded, simply keeping her gaze out the viewing port, before suddenly turning on her heels. “Come with me, Corpsman. I would like to sit and talk a bit more.” They walked together, Knight Qualim seemed to have slowed her gait, somewhat, as they approached room A-115. The door opened and she went over and sat down at the table, before once more gesturing Kairos to sit across from her. “Co—Kairos Ward. I do have your file, however I’m wanting to learn about you from you.”

“I…” He took a deep breath, remembering Sentinel’s words a few moments ago, as he’d messaged her. “I was raised by Marh Gella, a former jedi that left when I was born. She tried to raise me in a way similar to jedi so that I could control my ability and trained me in martial arts. She, unfortunately, died when she was crushed by a meteor on our mining colony.”

There was a small smile from her, not like the powerful ones she’d had and nodded. “Thank you, Corpsman Ward, thank you…for starting to let me in.”

[Raph]

“Ah… Kairos, good to see you back.” Knight Sarue smiled to him as he entered the meditation chamber. It was an odd place to have a therapy session, but he was the knight and Kairos had asked for, and agreed, to this. “I know that it probably feels a bit strange to have therapy in meditation, doesn’t it?” Kairos nodded. “Well, I am here to assure you that it’s a wonderful way to have therapy. Here you are more open, more receptive, to the treatment methods. And, if needed, we can use more advanced and deeper methods to assist. Though you probably want to learn more about me, don’t you?”

Kairos nodded a bit. “Yes, I was wondering why you, an echani, opted to walk the path of the Counselor, sir.” Unlike Knight Qualim, his smile was by no means faint. In fact he wore the friendly smile quite well.

“Yes, indeed. My people tend to be very martial in focus, so I can understand why it might be a surprise. I, however, am a bit of a pacifist and was never very good at fighting, you understand. Though, from what I understand, you and Knight Qualim have been getting along quite well!” Kairos nodded and Sarue smiled, nodding. “Yes indeed… Yes indeed. I was hoping that you two would get along. To some, especially those that are more rigid in their following of the code. Many would’ve simply left you alone, though when you were assigned to her you should’ve seen how oddly elated she was.” Sarue smiled before ushering Kairos to sit down which he rapidly obliged. “You have two main flaws, from what I was able to read. The first was your pride which caused…” He looked at the file on his datapad. “Many of your issues seem to have actually stemmed precisely from this. Meditate with me, open your mind to me, lower your defenses and we shall explore what happened. These sessions might be a bit more than what you’re used to. Just relax.

Kairos did just that, in his sitting meditative position, he slowly relaxed his mind, mental defenses lowering and suddenly the memories all seemed to hit him at once, like reliving his life in the flash of a second. A breath, and a tear before Sarue spoke again: “Ah… I see it now. While you’ve released the attachment to your mother…the echoes still resonate…and the scars continue to haunt you… This is the foci of your mental pain. While it is possible to simply remove that memory, that would also remove important parts of you.” The chronometer in the meditation room suddenly gave a loud chime, a single long note, and Knight Sarue rose, Kairos still bewildered. “This is why these sessions are only an hour.” He stepped forward and wiped a few tears from Kairos’s eyes. “To you, it seems as if a second passed, but realistically, we just relived your entire life, up to this point. It…” Sarue looked sad a moment. “It was difficult. You’ve touched many lives, as they have you. Each of you has marked the other, even the revanites, as much as you wouldn’t want to admit it, nor would they.” He held up a hand as Kairos moved to speak. “I know. I sensed it. It’s not a problem here, where you’re far from her, where you’re safe. On Viscara, on Tatooine, however, you must make sure to gather your resolve. There you only have the Temple’s light to protect you. Now…” Sarue sighed a moment. “I’m going to go and do some deep meditation, myself. I know you’ve already had yours for the day. Knight Qualim awaits you on the bridge.” He stepped around Kairos, the door opened and then shut. Kairos was left there, for a few moments to ponder what had just happened when suddenly the chime rang out again.

He slipped his upper robe back on and got to his feet. There was still work to be done. He had martial practice later and then he’d have to get back to Viscara and make sure everything was ok. Stopping himself just outside the door, he shook his head. He knew better than to constantly think of Viscara while he was here. It was best to put it from his mind currently. He rushed from the room and headed to the bridge.

The bridge of the Guidance was as orderly as the rest of it was; aides rushed to and fro while pilots and other jedi knights discussed different planets. Yet, as always, he found Knight Qualim near the back where she could look over everything. Calmly, Kairos approached, and, as he did so, there was a sudden rush of pinging from his smaller datapad.

“Corpsman.” As always, her statement was enthusiastic, though she seemed to stare at him a moment, perplexed. “What is that sound? Ah! Your datapad?” He nodded a bit, pulling it out of his pocket and sighed a bit. “What?” Then, without waiting for an explanation, she suddenly plucked it from his hands and stared at it for a few moments, face contorting in…concern? Worry? Frustration? It was hard to tell. Finally she handed it back. “…yeesh. That’s a wreck.”

Swiftly, he returned it to his pocket. “Apologies, Knight Qualim.” But she shook her head, lekku waving to dismiss the apology.

“It’s not a concern here. That is up for Master Atris, Master Vrake, Master Koll and Master Shax to work on and also a concern for the knights of the sector. We have different matters to discuss. Later on today, you and I will be sparring again, of course. This time you will use your actual saber.” Her frown was apparent, though he couldn’t tell why. “There’s something that I wish to confirm.” She said, as if answering his question, “Something that I saw the other day. Regardless! I was wondering if you had any thoughts on a personal project that you might want to do.”

Thinking, a few moments, he shook his head. “Not really. I hadn’t thought of anything, to be honest. I was just coming to the praxeum for the classes and all that.”

She nodded. “Then I have something to do, just so that you don’t get incredibly bored and to keep you busy. I would like you to perform a geological and ecological survey of the planets that you’re aware of, except for Korriban. Don’t go there. Not for you. The other planets, though. Examine the main fauna that you’re aware of and write up something. It doesn’t have to be super in depth, just something for you to really get an understanding of explorer corps work.” He nodded a bit, thinking. “Now, we go to the training hall! Let’s go.” And off she went, him trailing behind her, as usual.

[Raph]

Concern had won out, in the end, and he couldn’t allow himself much more time or even bear restraint. He’d told Sentinel, Eamuna and Ira, and both Ira and Sentinel would be able to keep an eye on where his ship went. He’d elected to take Aerlson’s Lance out there, in the end. Despite the armaments of the Absolution, the Lance was quicker, more agile and could get out of trouble faster. He’d also armed it to the teeth so, if he needed it, it would do. It was a fighter anyways, longer range than most, with a hyperdrive pushed beyond the normal limits so he’d be fine.

The ship seemed to practically scream as he shot into hyperspace, away from the normal lanes and down towards the normal system that the Guidance tended to stay in. He couldn’t shake this uneasy feeling in his stomach, even as the ship’s computer began flashing that he was nearly there. Slowly moving forward, he pulled the lever and his ship dropped out of hyperspace.

The sight that greeted him was what he’d been concerned about. The Guidance floated about the system in several pieces, and a few sith frigates drifted about the wreckage, seemingly picking it apart. Killing the power to his engines, his datapad began going off with a distress signal. The place that it was coming from was only a jump away. Yet… He looked forward. Already shuttles were launching from the frigates. There was darkness emanating from one of them. Kairos turned his ship and punched the coordinates into the ship’s hyperdrive before pulling the lever and launching in the direction that the shuttles had started going towards.

He was suddenly quite happy that he’d taken the fighter instead of his other ship. At least this way, if he was discovered then he could get away fairly quickly. The only concern was if the shuttles had better hyperdrives, which he was sure that they did. Yet he pushed his just as hard, soaring through hyperspace until, once more, the computer warned him that they were getting close. Once more he pulled out of hyperspace, but as he did, he noticed that the shuttles had beaten him. He cursed under his breath. If only the saber could’ve taken a stronger hyperdrive… Sensors picked up a camp and already there was a concerning amount of blaster fire.

Caution taking hold, he landed his ship, far enough away that he could not be seen readily and landed. Grabbing his rifle and training saberstaff, he headed out, stopping on a bluff overlooking the camp, he looked down at it with the scope of his rifle. It was bad. There was already a lot of dead. He saw Sarue battling with a few sith, saber flying but the force flying around as well. And then another man, tall and imposing approached, saber igniting, and parried Sarue’s saber three times, before punching him in the face and cutting horizontally along the man’s midsection. He felt his own breath catch, and then ducked down. The sun was behind him, thankfully, but the light had caught the scope and he could sense the darkness scanning the ridge, as he used the technique he’d been taught to make himself seem lacking in the Force. It’s attention dimmed and turned away and Kairos once more went to look through his scope.

Knight Qualim… He could see her at the edge of the camp with a few sith dead around her as she protected several of the students from the praxeum. The soldiers were also seemingly lining up around her, with what must’ve been a sith lord approaching. Kairos leapt down the bluff, quickly, and made his way down to the camp. They were so focused on Knight Qualim’s defense that none of them bothered to keep watch and so he arrived at the edge quickly and easily. Sarue was dying…

“…Corps—Corpsman Ward…” he whisper-choked out. “Y-you should not be here… It is dangerous! Far too dangerous. You can—cannot remain here… Please… if you took a ship, get on it and go! The Sith Lord Vaerec is here. Get back to your Temple where you’re safe… You cannot…fi…ght…” The echani suddenly slumped back, eyes wide open and staring at the sky. With a frown and sigh, Kairos reached up and slowly closed the man’s eyes. He nodded, though, accepting the truth. Kairos couldn’t fight him. He could sense the darkness from the man a mile away. He had to go. He shouldn’t have hoped that he could save them. Once more the darkness seemed to turn, scanning, but Kairos was hidden behind a tent, it must’ve been his emotions.

“COME OUT, LITTLE MOUSE. I KNOW THAT YOU ARE THERE. AND I KNOW THAT THE ONE BEFORE ME IS IMPORTANT TO YOU.” He could feel the dark side wrapping itself around Knight Qualim. “ONCE I AM DONE WITH YOUR MASTER I AM COMING FOR YOU!! KNOW THAT!”

“I have no padawan!” That was Knight Qualim. But….something was wrong. He felt anger. A great deal of anger. “You’re a damn fool if you think anyone would be coming for us, but the Republic!!”

The darkness turned, though and Kairos, still keeping up that focus to make himself mute in the Force, knew that the man was looking in his direction. “You hide yourself well, child, but no well enough. Come out and face the darkness that stands before you!” But, Kairos, instead of just walking out like an idiot, and leaving his helmet on, took off running towards his ship. He had enough distance that he knew that the man couldn’t grab him with the Force. Then he heard the words, “Go, apprentice, bring him back to me.”

He heard the footsteps behind him, and yet already he was on top of the bluff. His ship wasn’t too far away now, if he could only. A figure landed before him, dark hood, dark clothes oh and the red saber. “You will not escape me. Return without a fight and you will not be harmed. Try to fight and I will hurt you badly.” The mirth he could feel was palpable. The man wanted to Kairos to fight back, not that it mattered.

“I’m not gonna give you the pleasure.” Kairos’s reply was swift and final, as the saberstaff unhooked itself and opened, before the weapon was imbued with the force, a golden light overcoming it. “Let’s dance, spooky.” And with that the sith ran at him, however, Kairos had other ideas, and after parrying three blows with soresu, he front flipped over the man, spun and unleashed a telekinetic blast of force push at him, launching he apprentice off the cliff and down the way that they’d both first come up. Then the saberstaff shut itself off and he ran for it once more. The darkness was approaching, but not in a hurry.
There was anger, however, an unquenchable rage that seemed to call to him. He didn’t wait. Once he was back on his ship, Kairos fired up the thrusters, lifted off, turned around and was off planet as quickly as he’d been on it. Once off planet, he turned himself in the direction of Viscara, punched in the coordinates and made the jump. No heroics. No foolishness. He’d learned from what had happened. But he wasn’t a fool any longer. There was no chance he would’ve walked away from that. Yet on Viscaran space, he allowed the reality of the events to hit him. The Guidance was gone, as was Knight Sarue and Knight Qualim. He hadn’t failed, in this case, however. There was nothing that he would’ve been able to do. The reality didn’t make him feel any better, but it made the mourning easier, even as he headed back to the planet.

The report he sent in was simple “Praxeum ship Guidance destroyed by Malakite warband. All knights, students and aides, except Corpsman Ward, are believed to be either captured, missing or dead.” And then he laid on his bed, curling up at the thought of what was going to happen to everyone. He could’ve tried to save them, but given an apprentice and a lord not to mention their soldiers, he wouldn’t have stood a chance. He sighed, at how south it had gone, but at least he’d learned to not try something dumb.