Move

The lesson comes to a close and you all head off to perform your various chores and traing schedules. After a short while, Master Selak comes and finds you. He takes you deep into the caves and into a room with a thin bridge which spans a rather large pit. The two of you cross the pit and then your master takes a seat and gestures for you to do the same. With a slow, deliberate gesture you see him point towards a switch on the far side of the room. The switch activates and you watch as the bridge retracts, stranding you on the far side of the room.

Meditate. He orders, simply.

Everything is connected through the force. The cells in your body connect to form your organs, bones and other various pieces. This is obvious. What is less obvious is that you and I are also connected, just as we are connected to every rock, animal and plant in the universe. Before you can move an object you must feel this connection. Know it, see it and then you can manipulate it, just as I did in the meditation room.

He closes his eyes, reaches out towards the switch and you watch as it activates as if by magic. The bridge comes out again. Master Selak slowly gets to his feet, walks across the bridge and presses the button deactivating the bridge.

Come and find me when you get out, he says simply and leaves.What do you do?

A bit of irritation crosses Ian's features as his Master introduces the bridge to him. "Uh, I gotta logistical question if you-" He sighs as the Nautolan walks away. He puts his hands on his hips, "Gee, sir, I got me'a question about when y'had time to install a damn bridge in here instead'a, I dunno, literally any of the eight hundred'n thirty-two things what would'a been time better spent?" He grumbles again, scratching the side of his head as he lets go of his anger and reaches up to flick the switch. Whether it's focus or irritation he finds his connection to the Force easily enough and goes to follow his Master across the bridge as soon as it comes out to meet him.

As he does, he frowns back at it, eyes narrowed in a considering look back at the control. "Waste not want not . . ." Then he goes to leave the room.Once out Ian does as he is instructed and goes to find Master Selak, though it seems the young human has his own reasons for doing so, based on the seriousness with which he searches. Since Ian had moved quickly on the switch he presumes the Nautolan can't be too far away. When he does catch up he doesn't wait for the Jedi to express his thoughts on his test, instead launching in with, "Hey, so, can we talk fer'a bit? I got stuff I'm awfully concerned 'bout." It's as if the test or even the promotion to Padawan matter less to him than the subject he has on his mind.

Master Selak raises an eyebrow, but you are unsure whether it is an invitation to as a question or in response to your quick handling of your task.

Taking it as the former, Ian glances around as if to check to make sure they're alone. He regards the Jedi steadily for a few moments before blurting out, "Y'know that at least half'a us are shit Jedi, right?" He gives only a beat to make sure he's heard before continuing, "Taryn'n Avi're about three unsupervised hours away from takin' the hover train ta Pound Town, Zeph is bored by'the Force an is more likely ta fuck off'n be'a park ranger somewhere, Kit's preferred method of diplomacy is ta hold people's heads tagether an whisper 'kiiiiiiss' until they get along an I'm about as far from'a model student as you is from bein'a model fer'a hairstylist. What's the plan here? Like, long term."

Long term? Master Selak repeats with a raising intonation. He turns and gives you a long look. What would you do if you were me?

Ian gives him a equally long look back. "I swear if you is just gonna say 'that's a good guess' or 'an interestin' idea' I will be -super- pissed." He sighs and scratches the side of his head. "Okay, -fine-." He lets out a short breath from his nose, "Assumption one: There are other Jedi. You are probably one of the last Masters if not -the- last 'cause there were less of them an they're higher priority targets. -But- there are more likely to be Knights or Masterless Padawans such as'the case with our group." He seems to have thought about this beforehand, not coming up with it on the fly but rattling off something he's thought about it. "Assumption two: we have'a target on our backs. As soon as whoever offed the Jedi finds or detects us they'll come at us, probably with an overwhelmin' force." He frowns at Selak, blinking his indigo eyes for just a moment before he gives him his suggestion, "We need ta make'the first move. We is under-equipped an, frankly, under-trained fer'the task of both defendin' ourselves an restorin' the Jedi Order. We need'a more defensible ship, supplies, intelligence on'the current state'a the galaxy. We need medical supplies, sustainable food'n water on'a mobile platform. We need weapons. Actual lightsabers but other weapons might be needed too." He glances aside a moment, "'cause some of us ain' so good with'em an there's no time ta fix that now. Fer better or worse our trainin' is mostly done."

He scratches his head, giving the Nautolan a helpless shrug, "First order'a business, paradoxically, is fer lightsaber crystals. Weapons is least important but they're gonna be the hardest ta get once we make our presence known. Right now they're probably bein' watched'n guarded but that shit'll get reinforced the -second- we get made, so . . . despite weapons bein' what we need least, we need ta get'em first."

Master Selak smiles and says Good guess. Your insight serves you well but it is unfocused.

The Jedi are no more. Some still live. Thst is certain but not for long. I have seen the future and all Jedi will perish. I am a Jedi... I am sure you can see where this is going?

So time is something I simply do not have. Given that time is limited, what other choice do I have but to train a group. Teach them parts, so they can teach each other. Together you will become jedi, but only if you work together. Hence the accelerated training.

I am not expecting you to go to war. Fight these Jedi ir other force users. My only wish is for you to survive and pass on what you have learned.

I will be with you for as long as I can be but when I tell you to run, take your brothers and sisters and run like you've never run before. DO NOT COME BACK!

Ian regards his master evenly before giving him a solemn nod. In those few seconds Selak can see his humor and antics stripped away as if they were a mask the human was removing just for a moment. "You don' gotta worry 'bout that. I'mma survivor. I managed b'fore the Jedi, I'll manage after. A grim smile flickers onto his innocent features, "But, b'tween you'n me, I actually like bein' a Jedi so I hope y'won' mind me playin' the part after yer . . . gone." The smile falters as Ian looks away, shaking his head and looking resigned, as if he expected this conversation, not through the Force but by just working things out.

"Anyways,"He holds up the training saber in front of him as if asking Selak to take it. "Tell me where'I go fer'the real thing. This toy ain' gonna cut it." His indigo eyes regard the Nautolan calmly, steadily and unafraid.

That is the idea, Master Selak says with a sly smile.