Private A New Beginning

[Nir Si]

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Tag: Taam Moghul

Nir pouted slightly, causing his saber to disappear in a flash of light. In it's place, Nir's sword.

<Identifying subject. Taam Moghul. Jedi Knight. Ally.>

"You can ignore him." Nir deadpanned as he handed his sword over. "I thought it would be cool to made the sword a droid, but...it was kinda dumb."

<Retort. No You.>

"Shut up."

 

[Taam Moghul]

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Having Nir give a moment to look over Kta Dom Lya, the younger Cathar offered little response to the weapon. With a shrug, the knight returned the large sword to its place on his back, and watched as the padawan exercised once again his curious gift, the lightsaber disappearing from his hand, a sword appearing out of thin air in it's place. Then it spoke.

Taam's brow raised and a surprised smile touched his muzzle. That was unexpected. He chuckled a bit as he too the sword from Nir. "Well, its good to know it sees me as an ally." He jibed, carefully handling the weapon. Smaller, with a curved blade, it's design was much different that the great sword. It had more aesthetics too, and of course, the voice. And there was no doubt the Force moved through the sword as strongly as it did through Kta Dom Lya.

"I wouldn't say it was dumb. It's innovative." Nir wasn't afraid to think out of the box, that was a good quality in a Jedi. "Which weapon are you more comfortable using?" Taam inquired, trying to get a feel for Nir's martial skill.

Nir Si

 

[Nir Si]

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Tag: Taam Moghul

"Well, that's kinda the thing. All of them." He answered honestly. "I've spent the last six months learning to get comfortable with every single one of my weapons. Blasters, axes, lightsabers, swords, heck I even have a blaster cannon in there. I've made sure to get comfortable with all of them, because I switch between them so often."

 

[Taam Moghul]

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As Nir named off the weapons with which he was proficient, Taam became more impressed. The young Cathar had martial skills the knight didn't expect. He had a feeling Nir had been underestimated because he didn't fit the mold of a typical padawan, himself included, at least before he met Nir. Taam intended not to struggle to make Nir conform to something he wasn't, but to build upon his strengths.

"I've grilled you enough for now. Its your turn to ask me questions. I am getting the feeling you are skeptical, maybe not about me, but about having another mentor. Unless, of course, it is about me." Taam smirked at his last comment. He wasn't everyone's cup of tea. But he wanted their relationship to begin with honesty. "You can be honest with me."

Nir Si

 

[Nir Si]

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Tag: Taam Moghul

Nir paused, thinking for a moment.

What would he ask? The last few masters hadn't given him the opportunity.

"What kinda music do you like?"

The priorities of a teenager.

 

[Taam Moghul]

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Music. It was clear that was Nir's passion. It was as question Taam didn't expect, but after meeting the younger Cathar, he couldn't say he was surprised. A deep hum resonated in his broad chest as she pondered the question, leaning casually again against the stone railing.

"It depends on my mood, really." Taam offered thoughtfully. "I play the halikset, mostly folk stuff. I also grew up on Kashyyyk, so I am into tree-drum music, and anything with a strong drum beat. Smazzo if I want to relax. Rock when I'm in the mood, but certain kinds, something with solid string and drum rhythm." He replied.

"I've listened to some of your band..." Taam had prepared before meeting Nir, "... I like your stuff, strong guitar."

Nir Si

 

[Nir Si]

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Tag: Taam Moghul

"That's our guitarist's doing. Who's...also a wookie, for that matter. Avalanche, great guy, oldie who keeps us out of trouble." Nir smiled. "I can introduce you if you want. He's a pretty chill guy."

His previous masters had never really taken an interest in his music. It was...nice.

 

[Taam Moghul]

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"Maybe that's why I like his style." Taam replied with a short laugh. He came from a diaspora Cathar tribe on Kashyyyk, and the Wookiee culture had become a part of the Cathar one. "I'd like to meet him sometime."

Taam turned and leaned his elbows on the railing, looking out at the jungle beyond the temple gardens, then he turned to look at the ginger Cathar teen. Was he so different at that age? Well, yeah. Taam didn't have half the potential, and only half the rebellious nature. But he had some of both.

Enough talk. Taam wanted to see what the kid could do.

"See that large tree at the edge of the garden, with the burn scars? Race you to it." With that Taam planted a large hand on the railing and vaulted off of the balcony. He employed the Force to slow him just enough not to break bones as he hit the ground, rolled and took off running. The garden was a maze of paths, trees, plants, benches and tables. Not as fun as racing through the jungle, but it was a start.

Nir Si

 

[Nir Si]

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Tag: Taam Moghul

"Wh-CHEAT!" Nir let out an exasperated growl as his master took off before him.

Nir vaulted over the balcony, but rather than rushing to the ground, he strided across solid air, just far enough so he could reach a nearby tree, and began the Denik tradition that had kept his people alive. Sliding across a branch, he employed one of the few new powers he had gained from his era of being masterless. Force Speed. He could only do it in short bursts, but it allowed him to up his momentum into each new branch, and find his footing into each new one, gaining more speed little by little.

 

[Taam Moghul]

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Taam slowed enough at the ground to look upwards for Nir. The padawan leaped after him, but didn't fall. The kid ran on air to a nearby tree. "Damn." The knight murmured. Taam started running again. His large frame didn't hinder his feline agility, that Cathar trait that would benefit his opponent, but more so.

Taam vaulted over benches, juked between bushes, employing the Force in bursts of speed and vaulting over ponds. His amber eyes kept watch on Nir, who had taken to a practice with which he was all too familiar.

"Son of a... " He murmured to himself as he watched the young Denik race along high tree branches, practically surfing on them. Taam grunted in frustration, then laughed. Jonyna had beat him in a race using the very same skill on a visit to Cathar. It looked like another Si was going to beat him that day as well.

He picked up the pace, still trailing Nir. Coming to a tree, Taam finally vaulted into it, large claws extending to dig into the wood as he too scampered across the limbs. While he moved with surprising agility through the trees, he had to chose thicker branches that would hold him. And still, Nir was ahead, drawing closer to the tree that marked the finish line.

Nir Si

 

[Nir Si]

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Tag: Taam Moghul

Nir seemed to keep up his pace, but it was clear he was slowing bit by bit. His body was only capable of handling so much at this point, and he struggled to push it beyond it's limits.

Just as he was about to leap off the final branch, his legs gave out. He tumbled, and fell right towards Taam himself, flailing as best he could to try and make it known he needed to be caught.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH"

 

[Taam Moghul]

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Taam kept an eye on Nir as he navigated the foliage as quickly as he could. The race was more than just fun. He had a padawan again, and the Cathar knight felt the weight of responsibility again. Everything he did involving Nir would be an opportunity to teach, to test, the high-potential. It was also a test for him, if he could be the mentor Nir needed after losing Kalisha.

Nir had gone full tilt since he hit the ground, or rather the air. Bursting with speed, parkour through the trees, and Taam could perceive the subtle drop in speed. The young Denik wasn't pacing himself, didn't assess what he needed to make it to the end with enough steam left.

The padawan paid the cost, lost his footing and tumbled from the high branches. Taam and nearly caught up with Nir by then, and seeing the Denik fall, skidded to a halt on a thick limb, much lower than the smaller once Nir traversed higher in the canopy.

Reaching out with the Force, Taam grabbed Nir, arresting his fall. Then he moved the younger Cathar to the limb Taam stood on, and set the teen gently upon it before releasing the telekenisis.

"You are an excellent tree surfer, like your ancestor." He complimented. "What happened up there?" Taam asked, giving Nir the chance to assess the situation for himself.

Nir Si

 

[Nir Si]

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Tag: Taam Moghul

Nir was...sore. Sore all over.

"Body gave out..." Nir admitted, letting out a growl and a groan. "Guh...I need a nap, and a snuggle with my girlfriend..." He sounded slightly out of it, though it was clear it was more exhaustion than anything.

 

[Taam Moghul]

Taam chuckled. It had been so long since he had been around a teenager. "You went full force from the start, how do you get through a whole show, do you pace yourself?" Taam asked, leaning against the trunk of the tree, glancing down.

"And...tell me about this girlfriend?" The knight asked, not wanting to get too personal, but also wanting to know as much about the padawan as he could. Anything he could learn could help him teach more effectively.


Nir Si

 

[Nir Si]

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Tag: Taam Moghul

"Getting through a whole show is different." Nir groaned as he too, leaned against the tree. "I can take breaks, ask for water, Hell I asked a PA for a sandwich once between songs. People are pretty cool with it so long as you're entertaining them."

Nir paused, making a face at his new master. "She's...patient with me. Too patient. Sweetheart, but she's usually the one who's also keeping us on schedule. She's our bassist, by the way, so she keeps all our tempos, as it were." Nir chuckled. "Heck of a performer though. Last show, she dipped me mid-solo just to prove a point when some fan flashed her-"

Nir went on and on. He could talk about Erika all day. Known her since he was a kitten, seen the whole city-tree with her, how he used to sneak off and climb to the canopy with her...

 

[Taam Moghul]

Taam listened, learning more about Nir. It was clear he loved to perform, and given what the Denik had already shared, it made sense. The way Nir talked about performing, and especially his girlfriend, those were things very dear to him, sources of joy. They could be sources of strength.

"She sounds like a great girl." Taam complimented. He definitely would have to catch one of Nir's shows. He wanted to learn more about that side of his life, and the people in it. It was the only way he could truly serve him as a master.

The older Cathar laughed at Nir's stories, allowing them both a chance to rest. Finally, Taam leaped from the thick branch, sinking his claws into a lower one as he passed, using it to sling himself out and somersault before landing on the jungle floor below.

"Come on, music man, I'm hungry." He teased.


Nir Si