Jedi Academy: Chapter 1 - Boundless

Zatee walks down the ramp and notices his Padawan talking to the others. He stops halfway down a calls out to him, "Ah, Ian there you are. You missed check in you know... I would have thought someone so eager to leave Coruscant would have been the first to check in. He turns back up the ramp, "come, let's get you checked in so we can depart."

The droids finish out their sad, little dance routine for another half minute before it runs its course and they go back to work. The one that Lark was working on ends the performance a little earlier thanks to his efforts and the younger Padawan can tell that the code will have no lasting effect.

As Zatee calls out, Ian rolls his eyes before turning back towards Alyx a moment. "Please. If I literally took on a Sith Lord, by myself, an kept'im from eatin' a bunch'a babies they wouldn' make me'a Knight." He gives the Zabrak girl a playful wink as he lowers his sunglasses for a moment, "Nice thought, though, Captain Shale. Keep up'the good work."

Spinning on his heels to head towards the Boundless, he raises his voice loudly enough for the other Padawans and even Zatee to hear him. "Place yer bets, ladies'n gentlemen. How long b'fore Knight Ros gives up on'is Padawan. House is bettin'a a week." He wears a pleasant smile on his way up towards the corvette. He seems totally at ease with having been caught disrupting the departure of the Boundless from Coruscant.

When he catches up to the older Togruta, Ian offers him a small bow, overly flourished and unconcerned. "I must apologize Master Ros." He pauses a beat, like he's a stand-up comedian. "There was another two verses that I'm afraid you'll never get ta see performed, now."

Errad's jaw dropped. After all of that, this delinquent did not even get chastised by his Master?! What was the Jedi Order coming to that they would let someone like that train to become a Jedi Knight?

Errad collected himself with an effort. The calming and centering exercise he'd learned at the Temple barely did the job, but after a moment he had regained his composure. He remembered the younger boy who had been so enthralled with the capering droids had greeted him. Well, he didn't want to be rude. That was a mark of weakness.

Errad walked over to Lark. He was still tinkering with the now inactive droid. Errad took a deep breath and cleared his throat.

"Forgive me for being rude earlier, uh, padawan" ,Errad said, trying to sound sincere, "I'm Errad and we did not meet earlier because I came here directly from the Temple. I can't believe they are letting that guy stay in the Order. His Master must have the patience of a stone. Uh, do you know who your Master is yet? The Council did not tell me. They just told me to report here."

Merrick followed Master Zatee on to the ramp. He took in the scene before him. Droids arranged in a dancing array, holos, music, and a swinging padawan to boot; this kid had talent. Merrick stifled a snicker as Master Zatee lightly chided his padawan without losing an inch of his serenity. Zatee definitely had the skills to handle difficult padawans; much like Merrick's own Master Sahren Fel, though Master Fel preferred silence over gentle coaxing.

Merrick checked his datapad. He had been assigned a young Togruta named Zambar. The Council had been vague, but they suggested that Zambar was more accustomed to study rather than action.

Merrick sighed. Leave it to the Council to assign him a padawan exactly the opposite of himself. He scanned the platform and found Zambar. The boy was exactly as the Council had described him: 15 standard, lithe frame, and his nose in a book.

He finished walking down the ramp as Master Zatee and Ian passed him. The young Togruta had not moved from his reading. Merrick closed the distance between them and looked down at his padawan.

"You are Zambar, I take it" ,Merrick said, "I'm Merrick Durn. It seems you got stuck with me as your teacher. I'll be up front with you, kid, I've never done this before, but since we're both here, we might as well make the best of it. Deal?"

Merrick allowed a small smile. Perhaps the kid might work out. Time would tell.

"I don't know what the Temple prepared you for, Zambar, but I can guarantee you are not going to find it on your datapad or a flimsiplast. My own Master believed that experience was the best teacher for a Jedi. I hope the work we do on Arcania will be a good proving ground for you, but that will only be the beginning. Before I present you for the Trials, you will be ready for the calling of Knighthood.

I spent many years among the worst dregs of galactic society. I know better than most what you will be facing when you are on your own in the wider galaxy. Your training will not be easy. At times, you may hate me. That is fine as long as you embrace what I teach you.

I may make mistakes. So will you. We will both learn from them and become better for them. The important thing is we learn from them.

I expect you to be ready at all times. Your robes will be neat and well-cared for. You will learn how to take care of your equipment. You will keep it in top working order.

We will both meditate and exercise daily. I expect you to be equally diligent in training your body as you are in deepening your connection to the Force. They are both interrelated and if one suffers, they both suffer.

During our time together, you will be expected to learn a great deal. Your Masters at the Temple speak highly of your scholarly abilities. I expect you to be better. If you are to learn all that you must to be knighted, prepare to be overwhelmed.

I know this sounds daunting and it should, but I believe you will do well if you apply yourself. Do you have any questions?"

Errad smiled nervously at Lark. The younger padawan's optimism was growing on him. Maybe this assignment won't be the black hole he thought it would be.

"I don't know who my Master is yet" ,Errad said, "The Council did not tell me before sending me here. I would very much like to see the ship. Hopefully, whomever my Master is, they have more information than I do. I'm not accustomed to not knowing what to expect."

Errad began walking up the ramp into the Boundless.

Lillian slowly stands up from behind one of the crates in the docking area. Removing her fingers from her ears she asks, "is it over?" Looking around she sees that the robots have stopped acting strange and makes her way towards the ramp. As she passes the others she says in a soft voice, "I'm going to have a look around the ship."

He glances at Ian when he catches up. "I'm very disappointed Ian..." he pauses a moment to see his reaction. "I didn't even get to hear your performance. He acts as if he is lost in thought then suddenly, "I've got it. Why don't you sing for us all in the mess hall at dinner. We can have everyone give you constructive criticism afterwards, and if it goes well we can have you sing every night. He smiles to himself as he continues walking towards a steward to get Ian checked in.

Dynnyana steps outside, robe tied around her waist and her datapad in one hand. She moves to one side, as she has not been assigned a padawan. It's possible she never will be, but she is fine with that. Instead, she smiles as she watches the padawans meet their masters. She sees Kaine holding back, and nudges him in the shoulder. "Your padawan destroyed property. Are you going to punish her?" She smirks, assuming that this paradox is what has him befuddled.

Alyx looks around, a bit lost with all of the socializing. Holding her data pad close to her chest, she watches Ian's new master actually talking calmly and - if possible - casually, with Ian, and she smiles a little. Looking over the crowd again, she sees Kaine waving to her where he hadn't been before. Looking down at her datapad again: 'Master: Knight Kaine,' she starts pushing through the couples. "Excuse me," she murmurs, using her slight height and slender build to slip through the chatting Jedi.

She finally gets past and breathes a bit easier in the clear, and smiles a bit nervously up to knight Kaine. "Master." She winces and wonders if he will mention how she destroyed a bunch of electrical cords and wires. I really hope Ian brought those himself instead of stealing them from the hanger bay . . .

As he was walking up the ramp with Lark, Errad noticed a middle-aged man looking around the platform. He had the look of a Jedi, but what was he looking for? Errad excused himself to Lark and walked back down the ramp.

"Excuse me, sir" ,Errad said, hoping not to offend bu not using a title, "are you lost? Is there somewhere I can help you get to? My time is a little limited it seems, but I am happy to help if I can."