ashwriter101

Journal of a Jedi Padawan
2011-06-04 01:18:34 (UTC)

FEILD TRIP

"So, which do you want to learn first," he asked, standing up. We were still in the night garden, alone. Shaden looked at me with mentor eyes almost hidden by the darkness that surrounded us in the night.
"Umm, whichever you think I can," I shrugged. Although he probably couldn't see it in the darkness.
"You have the power to do all of them," he stated simply.
I rolled my eyes and didnt care if he saw. "Let me rephrase that, then. Whichever you think I can learn now," I replied putting emphasis on the now. I know he thinks I have the power to do all of them, but there had to be one that was cooler than the others and was easy and quick to learn. At least for a beginning.
"Which one would you like to learn? All of them are the same difficulty, some just take a longer time to learn than the others," he smiled putting the ball in my court again, arms folded.
"You pick. You're the mentor here," I replied waving my arms at him. Finally I think he got what I wanted to show him.
He smiled, not even having to think about it. "Alright, follow me," he told me as he stood up and walked to the door and walked out into the empty halls quietly, not a footstep to be heard. Sometimes, this guy was too good, it was almost scary. I quickly darted behind him, trying not to make much noise and follow along silently behind him, trying to silence questions. He got to the hangar bay and put coordinates in his ship once he boarded. I followed along quietly, knowing that he knew I had questions and he would answer them if and when he wanted to. Finally, after putting in the coordinates, he turned to me. "I will teach you how to wrap the rain around you. It is for defense. In essences, you will be creating a shroud around you, almost like a cyclone. Any questions that you have you may ask, since it will take us 15 minutes to arrive there," he informed me.
"You already answered them. Alright, I'll try it," I smiled and nodded. Another thing I liked about him? He doesn't always give the 'do or do not, there is no try' yoda-ism.
"I've actually been trying to turn this technique into an attack, as well as keeping it as a defensive one. But I think I'll need your help in order to do it right," he smiled at me. I knew that smile.
"My help? Seems easy enough to make it into an attack if you can keep it together," I shrugged and took a seat in the co-pilots seat.
"You know how lightning is formed in thunderclouds right," he asked. He was a major storm fan and so was I.
"Yeah," I trailed off, wondering where he was going with this.
"Ok, well, the attack I want to do is to turn the shroud, or cyclone, horizontal and basically turn it into a lightning cannon. Have the rain make the static for the lightning, store the energy within our bodies, and then release it in one big blast at the unlucky sucker is in the way," he smiled. I thought about it for a second and couldn't help grinning too.
"You'd have to have an insane amount of control of the lightning to hold it off that long and not let it hurt you as well. Good idea though, and I bet it can be done," I replied grinning, leaning back in my seat, still thinking about it.
"Which is where you come in," he gestured to me smiling, "Everytime I've tried to do it, I end up passing out from the electrical overload. I can't hold that much energy alone... but if we did it in a pair, it would be half the stress, and double the charge!" It didn't seem too complicated, hard, not complicated. And I'd love to help him with it!
"Alright. I'll do it with you," I smiled excitedly. "It may take a minute for me to get used to that much electrical charge even still, though, but it shouldn't be too hard to master." Think about how cool it'd be if we mastered it! We could take out a droid army easily.
"I think you're going to be able to master it by yourself before I can," he smiled placing a hand on my shoulder.
"Yeah right! You've had more experience with this stuff than I have," I smiled at him.
"Perhaps," he trailed off smiling at me. "Take the controls. I'll be in the back getting ready. Standard landing procedures on the eastern most platform. They're expecting us." He stood up and went to the back. "Oh! And the landing code is on the dash," he added.
"Yes master, I'll take over from here," I flipped a switch as we entered Kamino's atmosphere. I radioed controls for permission for landing. "Shaden Kelrune and Alix Kenobi requesting persmission to land on platform 2203," I stated clear and firm.
"Reason for arrival," a mans voice calmly asked.
"Visiting a friend and training," I replied. I gave them the ship's landing code.
"Permission granted, and welcome to Kamino Ms. Kenobi," they allowed. I couldn't help but to smile and once we were landed in the storm. Shaden came out.
"Thanks for the code," I smiled, flipping switches and making sure it was a perfect landing. So far, so good.
"You're welcome. I've got a friend down there. He wants to spar, but only after I teach you the technique." He paused and shot a sideways look at me. "Perhaps you've heard of him, Alex Darkstar?"
I shook my head. "Sounds familiar but I cant place it."
"He's a bit of a loner. He's the one who told me where to find my brother," Shaden explained looking far off, as if seeing it again.
"Anything else I should know about him before I meet him?" I checked a few more things as I talked, finding something to do with my time before we went out in the rain.
"Don't use Force Lightning on him. He has the ability to absorb it, and I've heard he can either turn himself into an energy being, or project himself as an energy creature. I dont know if he can control it though," Shaden said matter of factly.
"Noted," I nodded. I paused and turned to him. "Is that really possible?"
"I dont know. Theoretically it is. I've never seen it done before though. Theoretically it would run on the same principle I used against you. The one where I made you feel like you were being touched and poked," he explained. I didn't see how though.
"But to become an energy being... you'd almost have to become the Force, wouldn't you?" I looked up at him in curiosity and awe.
"It's just a rumor. I dont know if he can actually do it or not," he replied.
I shrugged. "If he can, I'll be amazed. But I'm still not sure its possible."
"Neither am I," he smiled.
He slipped on his cloak, resistant to rain, and headed to the door of the ship. I followed behind him, raising my hood over my head. He pressed the hatch button as the ship set down, and walked onto the platform. I was a bit more hesitant but I followed. "Alright, I left my sabers in the ship. For this technique you will not need them, but if you want them on you, you may keep them."
"Not need them? If its alright with you, can I keep them on me, but not use them or set them aside if I have to," I asked looking up to him. I always had my lightsabers near by. Not for paranoia, but to know they're there. Especially Gallen's.
"If you wish to that's fine," he nodded. "Alright, first part of the technique is the stance. Start it as if you were going to do a push."
I spread my feet shoulder width apart, turned my feet out a bit, and bent my knees ever so slightly. This was youngling stuff! Easy. "Like this?"
"Slightly widen your stance. You're going to be taking a lot of water and moving it around," he added, folding his arms, tightning his cloak against the rain.
I felt like an idiot standing there. Covered in a brown cloak slowly getting wet, hood up even though it didn't do much good. I was just standing there, while he leaned against the ship. Wind and rain nipped at my skin through my robe, whipping it around me. But I stepped wider, bending my legs even more, feet out more.
"Yeah, like that. Now, what you want to do is use a Force Pull, and as it gets close to you push it around the front of your body. It's easiest to do it with both hands. It takes time to get used to switching back and forth so fast, but once you get the hang of it, it is a great move," he stated.
With my legs bent, leaning forward slightly, I held out my hands palms up infront of me and brought them in a counter clockwise circle, infront of me, brining it as close to the sides, just getting the gesture down, as I brought it around again, like I was stirring a pot around me. I looked more like an idiot than before. "How fast does it need to go," I asked trying to get my mind off it.
"The tighter the vortex around you, the easier it will be to move, and the more control you will have over the shroud," he pointed out.
"I'll try," I nodded. I brought my arms closer and increased the Force pull more than the push. It got closer and tighter. I felt it slowly speed up, but I still had perfect control.
"There you go. You got it!" His encouraging words made me smile slightly but I tried not to get too confident. "If you can do it fast enough, you can use the winds inside the vortex to lift you up, then movement is just as easy as directing the wind."
"I think I've just about got it!" I focused on speeding it up increasingly, not too sudden. But my feet were losing grip! I took a breath and readjusted my stance so I braced again, looking for a stronger foot hold. I sped it up again slowly.
"Yeah, like that. Now when you push it back around yourself, if you push it up slightly you can access the winds within your vortex, that's how you get lift," he directed.
I felt my feet slide even more, losing my stance. I ignored it after making a split decision and felt myself rise up after pushing down lightly, no longer slipping. I grinned from ear to ear. "Ok, now this is fun!"
"Isn't it though? Once you get the speed down you'll be able to rise into the center of it. Make ya feel like Storm from X-Men," he laughed.
I laughed too. "Although she doesn't have to put as much effort into it, so it seems," I smiled at him. I felt myself get higher as my speed increased. But I suddenly felt I couldn't control it. "I dont think I can much longer," I called down to him. I was pretty high, and the rain no longer effected me from the vortex I had made, and falling was not something I looked forward to. I strained to being it in, with no avail.
He kept a calm face, but I could tell he was very concerned. "Take it easy, don't rush yourself! It takes time to master that technique. Through practice and meditation on the skills being used, you'll get it. And with me helping you, you'll get it down faster than I did," he called to me.
I nodded slowly and tried to ease down. Apparently the Force had other ideas. The vortex suddenly disintegrated just as I was 3 stories high. I used the Force to slow my fall some, but I still fell hard on my knees on the slippery ground. The rain I had been bending suddenly fell around me in a circle like a cold shower.
I panted as I stayed there on my hands and knees. The landing hurt, I felt like I was completely drained, and at this point I was soaked through and through, almost shivering from the cold. I just stayed there to catch my breath and gain my strength back. Closing my eyes, I just panted. I felt my master's eyes on me, but I wasn't embarrassed. He knew.
Maybe 5 minutes after I had fallen I stood up shakily again. My legs hurt from the fall still, I was even more soaked through, but I had my strength again. It was enough for me. I was going to ask to try again, but Shaden spoke before I said anything.
"Well, how do you feel," he asked as he walked to me and put a stable hand on my shoulder, giving me support.
"I'm ok. No points for the landing, but the vortex was very cool. Although, to be honest, I feel a little drained still. Not as bad as it was a minute ago, but still drained," I looked up at him.
He smiled knowingly. I could just tell this happened to him, and he didn't have to say a word about it. "It can drain you quickly, just wait till you get to the lightning. But you've got the hang of it. You just need more practice," he smiled. "A lot of it too. Took me years to get this down."
"So what now, then, master," I smiled up at him, expecting him to say practice.
What he said was the very last thing I wanted to hear.
"Now, you meditate. I'm hungry, so I'm going back to the ship for a little bit. Would you like me to bring you something back?" He was already turned on his heels, headed to the ship.
I sighed but nodded slowly. "Ok, and yes please!" I heard my stomach growl and a tinge of hunger pains as my hunger gnawed at my stomach.
"Ok, I'll bring ya something back," he called from the platform of the ship. The rain was still coming down hard and made a pitter patter sound on the metal of the ship. It was hard to hear him, but I got the message.
I sighed and mumbled, "Thanks." I watched as he disappeared into the interior of the ship, his black cloak seemingly not wet at all as it billowed behind him. I looked around for a second, taking in my surroundings. Water above, water below. If you didn't know how to swim, I wouldnt recommend coming. I shivered from a gust of wind that nearly pierced through my skin. How did he expect me to meditate in this? My stomach growled again, and I slowly started to feel sore. Oh yeah. Great meditating conditions. Nothing like back at the temple where you're fully fed, you have a quiet room thats warm and dry, and you're comfortable. I started to miss my bed/cot. It wasn't much, but it was better than these conditions.
I shook my head. No, bad thoughts. Be content. I dont have to like it, after all, I'm not staying long. Meditate and do as my master told me to, and I'll be warm, safe, dry, full, and well rested soon. Deal with the conditions and I'll be able to meditate anywhere.
So I leaned up against a support pole for a building. It sheltered me from most of the rain and icy wind. I leaned back out of the rain some, closed my eyes, and sat with my legs crossed. I held up my head. I took a deep breath in through my nose, and let it out through my mouth. In through my nose, out through my mouth. I felt my chest rise and fall with each breath. With each in breath I focused on an area. Head, neck, shoulders, chest, stomach, lower stomach, back, thighs, knees, legs, ankles, feet, hands, and arms. With each in breath, as I focused on an area, I imagined I was sucking all the negaitve from that area. No soreness, no hunger, no cold, just me and my breathing. As I sucked the pain with each in breath, I let it out as I breathed out. Then, I was relaxed, not worried about any pain or hunger I felt, and completely in tune with myself and the Force, which seemed to be in every drop of the rain that felt slowed around me. I listened to every drip and drop of the rain, every hush of the rushing waves below me, and every ting of the rain hitting the ship. It felt like time was frozen and the rain drops slowly coasted to the ground. I was at peace, feeling energy all around me. Some more so than others, especially Shaden. I focused on what I had done, even for a short time. I thought about the bending wind currents, the rain controlled by my hand, the feeling of the vortex at my hair and feet, the movements that I did. The control of the instable winds, and the Force it took to use that elemental power. But then, I felt eyes on me.
I tuned into what was watching me, eyes still closed, and saw Shaden. He was watching from the ship. After a minute, I sensed he turned away, picked up his lightsabers and placed them on his belt. The opened up the refrigerant storage containers, and pulled out two bottles of juice, and two sandwhiches. But that was as far in detail as I could go, I couldn't tell what kind of sandwhiches they were. But he closed the lid and turned away.
My stomach growled louder, demanding that food. I didn't feel too drained anymore. Or sore! I slowly counted to ten, breathing deeply on each count, slowly returning. 10. I oppened my eyes and noticed the water droplets had frozen around me, and I was slightly dryer. I touched one of the droplets in awe and it all fell around me, soaking me again. Stupid idea. Then I headed inside the ship, grabbing my lightsabers.
"Shaden? Can I eat now? I've meditated, but my stomach is growling too loud for me to concentrate any more," I mumbled, and looked away slightly embarrassed.
He looked at me and laughed. "You don't need to ask permission to eat unless we have limited supplies, which we dont. Eat up, you'll need your strength for what lies ahead," he smiled at me and gestured to a seat. I sighed thankfully. But he said I had to meditate before I ate! I meditated, but he didn't say how long, or come and get me. Thanks so much, Shaden.
As I sat down and ate, with my cloak off and hanging up, trying to dry. I just used the Force to dry me with a very very small Force wave. Gotta love the Force. A mini hairdryer. I pulled out a holocron, set it on the table, just infront of me, and activated it.
Shaden looked at me with an eyebrow raised.
"As you know I was a Sith. But since I'm a full Jedi now, I decided to have a bit of fun. I made a small holocam and stuck it in a corner of the room. Now, I can keep an eye on the Sith, without their noticing. Sometimes it helps too," I smiled at him. He knew I was on the Jedi Council, and he hated them. I still had a responsibility to them though. No one else checks up on the Sith, so someone has to keep them informed. I made a motion for him to be quiet, so we could hear every word said. I turned it on. The best part? I broke the reverse, so it doesn't show we're there in holocron form. We watch them though, and it was live.
I'll tell you what was going on when we return. Till then, may the Force be with you!




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