Private A New Light Rises

[Valery Noble]

Outfit: Combat Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery stepped closer, her gaze dropping briefly to the crystal in Kell's hand. She didn't reach for it, but there was respect in her expression. "Then it's already special," she said softly. "Carrying a piece of your Master with you... that connection is worth more than any tradition. And no, the Gathering isn't required for every Jedi anymore. But it is something I'd still encourage you to experience."

She folded her arms and glanced back toward the terminal Kell had been working at earlier. "You're absolutely allowed to build more than one. Some Jedi carry two lightsabers by design. Others build a second later in life, when their path takes a turn or when the Force calls them to it."

Her eyes returned to Kell, a small smile forming. "So yes. Keep this one, build it, honor what it represents. But if you're willing, I'd still like to take you through the Gathering. Let the Force speak to you directly. Help you understand more about who you are, and who you're becoming."

Valery's tone stayed even, but there was a clear sense of purpose behind her words.

"If you're ready, we'll begin preparing for the journey soon."

Kell Masaara ​

 

[Kell Masaara]

Boy howdy, that sounds like an adventure! And so soon! Sheesh, she didn't even get to drop her bag off, the weight of it - while not necessarily cumbersome - suddenly coming to the forefront of her mind, the sparkle of wonderment coming back to the practical reality of the situation. "Then let's get after it, I'm game if you're game. I, uh, still need to put my crud somewhere before I'm ready to do anything though, unless you want me to carry a couple band T-shirts and some womp rat jerky across the galaxy with us," she says, thumbing the strap of her bag. She's probably going to take the jerky anyway. Nothing like a tasty snack out on the ol' dusty trail.

"You guys still do Ilum for this? I know it's super crazy cold there." The thought alone was almost enough to make her shiver. Nar Shaddaa was always on the warm side, between the heat of industry and the choking clouds of pollution that wrapped a blanket of insulating smog across the skies, but maybe a chilly wonderland wouldn't be all so bad - she'd get to see snow! And ice! That didn't come out of a machine first and into a cup right afterward! Kell wears her thoughts on her sleeve, as Valery has clearly seen plenty. The up-down-up of shifting expressions, some more subtle than others, giving away plenty when words weren't spoken.

"...Might need to borrow a coat for that."

Valery Noble

 

[Valery Noble]

Outfit: Combat Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery's smile widened a little at Kell's quick stream of thoughts, and she motioned for her to follow. "We can take care of that first," she said, starting toward one of the side halls that branched off from the archives. "I'll show you to your room so you can drop your things off and get settled before we start planning."

As they walked, Valery kept her tone easy and open. "And yes, Ilum is still where most Jedi go for the Gathering. It has remained a strong place in the Force for generations, even with everything that has happened there. There are other worlds with crystals, but each of them comes with its own dangers. For now, Ilum is what I would recommend. We know it, we can prepare for it, and it will give you the experience most Jedi have shared at some point in their lives."

She glanced back at Kell with another small, warm smile. "Once you have your things put away, we will talk about what you will need for the journey. And yes, we will make sure you have a coat."

Kell Masaara ​

 

[Kell Masaara]

Ice planet party! Let's go! Kell backs out from the various menus and search results she dug herself into, leaving it at the home screen for the next person that might need it, and hups her bag a little more securely on her shoulder as she turns to follow Valery Noble . Surely the bedrooms have to be a little more understated - how would anybody get to sleep? Well, rich people do it all the time. So maybe not. Only one way to find out, either way.

"I've heard the crystal caves are gorgeous, can't hardly wait to see them for myself. Probably a good thing that I don't have a lot to put away! What sorts of stuff's been happening in that neck of the galaxy?"

Truthfully, she did have more than a few shirts and snacks - constant travel has a way of putting knick-knacks, souvenirs, and a variety of oddities in, on, or around you. The subtle jingle-jangle and slight bulging of the fabric in both the main body and the pockets belie the true volume of the contents. She sure didn't come with nothing.

 

[Valery Noble]

Outfit: Combat Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery walked at a steady pace as she led Kell through the quieter halls of the Temple. The noise of the archives faded behind them, replaced by the distant murmur of activity elsewhere in the temple. These particular corridors were more residential, their walls marked by subtle signs and room numbers tucked discreetly beside each door.

"You're in luck. The Padawan dorms are just up ahead," she said, glancing over with a slight smile. "They're not as flashy as the archives, but they're comfortable. Enough space for your things, your datapad, and some privacy when you need it."

She slowed her steps as they neared one of the doors, then turned to look at Kell. "Ilum itself has been peaceful for a while now. It's still in Alliance space, so we've been able to protect it from most threats. But it wasn't always like that." Her voice lowered just a little, touched by memory. "There were times when it was fought over. Even now, if you go far enough from the temple site, you'll see some of the scars left behind."

Valery turned to the door panel and keyed in a short access code, unlocking the room assigned to Kell. "But even with all of that, the heart of the planet remained strong in the Force. The caves still resonate. The crystals are still there, waiting. That's part of why we still go."

She stepped aside to let Kell enter first. "Go ahead and get comfortable. Once you're ready, come find me in the main hall. We'll start preparing for the trip and make sure you have what you need." Her smile returned as she nodded at the jingle of Kell's overfilled bag. "Though judging by the sounds coming from that thing, you might already have half the supplies packed."

Kell Masaara ​

 

[Kell Masaara]

Valery Noble

Oh, thank goodness, nice and cozy. And private! Kell nods along with Valery's explanation - at least they probably wouldn't run into pirates or anything; that would suck, getting captured or sucked into space or whatever on her first proper outing. Way out in the boonies, too! They'd never find your body! Whoever they were! It always amazes her to think about the... durability, for lack of a better term, of the galaxy. Forgotten millenia have gone by, and so little has changed in the grand scheme. You could write a book or a fringe philosophy website about that. "If there's time and it's not too dangerous, I wouldn't mind seeing some, my dad was always a history buff."

Kell slapped the side of her bag as one might slap the panel of a particularly aged and reliable vehicle in a holofilm to denote its long service life, "Only the essentials! Ol' gal's taken me at least part way across the galaxy at least once, and she's held up fine." She sticks her head past the doorway, groping for a light switch, and casts a brief appraising gaze across her new accomodations. Yes, hm, sufficent indeed. If Valery sticks around, she'll witness Kell head straight to bed, upturn her bag, and unceremoniously shake out a veritable log of shockingly efficient packing. It's almost cartoonish, the sort of nearly clown car capacity of a decent duffel well-stuffed. Clearly the temple won't need to provide a supply of regular clothing or toiletries for quite some time - girl was packed for the long haul, though none of it cold weather gear, save for a single, fluffy red scarf and a long pair of socks. The knick-knacks must come later.

With a similar lack of ceremony, she flops down on her back, eyes closed and arms spread, next to her slowly uncurling luggage, "I'll be along shortly."

---

Shortly it is - meeting Valery at the appointed place a mere few minutes after the Grandmaster's arrival, she sports a much-deflated bag and a fluffy red scarf dangling over her shoulders.

"Ready!"

 

[Valery Noble]

Outfit: Combat Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery was already waiting when Kell returned, hands folded loosely in front of her and a faint smile on her face as she spotted the red scarf draped over her Padawan's shoulders. "Looks like you travel light," she said with a hint of amusement, though her eyes flicked briefly to the bag that was still clearly well-stocked.

She turned and gestured for Kell to follow. "Come on, the hangar's this way." Their footsteps echoed softly through the stone corridors until the hum of repulsorlifts grew louder. The corridor opened into the wide expanse of the Temple's hangar, where a large shuttle sat on its landing struts, its hull gleaming under the overhead lights. A crew was finishing their pre-flight checks nearby.

"This will take us to Ilum," Valery explained as they approached the boarding ramp. "Plenty of room, sturdy, and it'll handle the colder air well." She stepped inside, the thrum of the ship's systems surrounding them as they made their way toward the cockpit.

Glancing over at Kell, Valery asked, "Do you want to help me fly us there?" Her tone was curious rather than testing, eager to see if she'd jump at the chance or not.

Kell Masaara ​

 

[Kell Masaara]

Valery Noble

"Like I said, just the essentials," she says, slapping the duffel, which does not completely deflate - it's likely anything borrowed is in there, or maybe she'll just be doubling up? "The scarf's lucky." No elaboration as she bounced along after Valery, devouring every inch of the way ahead. She takes a deep whiff of the air in the hanger, the scent of oil, metal, and exhaust drawing a nostalgic smile across her face.

Kell follows her in. It's smaller than the ship she took to get here, but bigger than most of the things she's ridden in through the black. She gives one of the panels a thump with a fist in the way someone might lightly kick a repulsor lift in an outdated attempt to glean the build quality. Naturally, not knowing what she's looking for, she has no complaints, "Sturdy! And clean! What kinda shuttle is this? One of my friends back on Nar Shaddaa was a real junkie for this stuff very specifically. Made models and all that."

She paused at the offer of being co-pilot, her tone losing some of the carefree confidence she typically carried, "I, uh, can try if you want me to. Never been in the hot seat of anything like this before - wouldn't want to break anything."

 

[Valery Noble]

Outfit: Combat Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery glanced back at the shuttle with a faint smile. "I honestly couldn't tell you the exact model," she admitted as they stepped into the cockpit. "But I like it. Flies well, reliable enough, and that's all I really need."

She slid into the pilot's chair and gestured for Kell to take the co-pilot's seat. "Don't worry, you're not going to break anything. This is how you learn, and I'll be right here with you." Her tone was reassuring, but there was a spark of encouragement behind it, as if she was genuinely excited to see the Padawan try.

Her hands moved smoothly over the controls as she began running through the startup procedures. Systems hummed to life one by one, indicators shifting from red to green across the board. "Alright, repulsors engaged," she said, guiding the shuttle off its struts and easing it up through the hangar's shields. The stars of Tython's skies opened before them, the faint curve of the planet stretching beyond.

Once they cleared the atmosphere, Valery pushed the throttle forward and the ship slipped into the calm rhythm of space. Her hand moved to adjust coordinates on the navicomputer, locking in their route. She leaned back slightly, then grinned at Kell.

"Your turn," she said, nodding toward the controls. "Take us into hyperspace."

Kell Masaara ​

 

[Kell Masaara]

Valery Noble

Kell visually scoured the instrumentation and control panels to glean any information as to which thing did what as Valery took them upward and outward. You see space once, you've seen it a thousand times, so the novelty in front of her face was far more engaging.

She swallowed. "My turn. Sure, sure, lemme just..." Deep breath in, big breath out. Most of this stuff is labelled, right, how hard can it be? Some of this was vaguely familiar from her time crammed into the rear seat of a cockpit, though most wasn't. She was kicking herself internally for not being more insistent on learning to fly that karking ship. Hand reaching forward, hovering over the options as she scans them, one tugs at her attention - a small switch next to a lever. Is that the thing? Surely Valery would stop her if it wasn't. Kell rubs her fingertips together before trusting her gut and flicking it; a small be-deep noise issues forth, and a display switches to a confirmation message before prompting her to engage.

Another quick breath out, "Okay, good, good, um." Searching the controls once more, her eyes are pulled again toward the lever/switch duo. Gotta be it. Why would they put the controls for the same system apart from each other? That'd just be bad and dumb design, and while a lot of things in the galaxy were designed in bad and dumb ways, this probably wasn't one. Somewhat more confident in her extremely good and logical reasoning compared to the first time, Kell only hesitates a little before pushing the lever up, the stress release leaving her body in a distinctly less rigid state as the shuttle smoothly enters hyperspace.

"Piece of cake," she says with a small huff of a laugh.

 

[Valery Noble]

Outfit: Combat Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery leaned back in her seat as the stars stretched into starlines, her lips curving into a warm smile while she watched Kell ease the shuttle into hyperspace. There had been a touch of hesitation, but the Padawan had trusted herself in the end, and that was what mattered.

"Good job," Valery said, her tone both proud and encouraging. "You handled it well. The first step is always the hardest, but it only gets easier from here." She let her gaze linger on the streaking stars for a moment, then shifted her attention back to Kell.

"It'll be a few hours before we arrive," she added, settling more comfortably into the pilot's chair. "Plenty of time to talk." Her head tilted slightly, orange eyes bright with curiosity. "Do you know much about the Gathering yet? How it works, or what it means?"

Kell Masaara ​

 

[Kell Masaara]

Valery Noble

Kell is less leaned back in her seat and more vaguely melted into it, turning her head to Valery as the casual conversation begins, "Thanks, always had a good intuition about. Stuff," she rolls a wrist, as if there were a litany of things she could be listing, but wasn't, "I just don't want to be wrong on account of it, especially when stakes are high. Your gut doesn't know everything your head does."

With a deep breath, she wriggles into a more reasonable and less spine-destroying seating position before answering further, "Beyond what you told me? Not a lot. Go to Ilum, find a crystal you vibe with the best, put it in a lightsaber. My master was more interested in practicality than tradition or history, so I didn't get many lectures on this kind of stuff, but I'm willing to learn. What's first on the Gathering docket?" There's plenty of teachable material for a few hours of space flight, she's sure, and leans toward Valery in a more attentive position.

 

[Valery Noble]

Outfit: Combat Jumpsuit
Weapons: Lightsabers

Valery listened with a faint smile, her head tilting as Kell leaned in with that spark of attentiveness she always hoped to see in a Padawan. "Your instincts are a strength," she said. "But you are right. Instinct alone is not enough. The Gathering is where those two meet: your gut and your mind. And where you learn how much you trust yourself when both are tested."

She shifted slightly in her chair, one hand resting against the armrest while her gaze lingered on the starlines. "Each Gathering is different. The caves on Ilum will shape themselves to you. Some Padawans face visions of the past. Others confront fears they've buried, or challenges they didn't know they were ready for. What you experience will be yours alone."

Her eyes turned back to Kell, steady and warm. "And only if you succeed will you find your crystal. There are thousands in those caves, but only one will truly call to you. When it does, you'll know it. That connection is more than chance. It's the Force showing you who you are meant to be as a Jedi."

She allowed the weight of her words to settle, then smirked faintly. "So, first on the docket? Trust yourself. The rest will follow."

Kell Masaara ​