A New Start [Phelan]

[Valae Heavenshield]

Silver Temple - Landing Pad
Voss

Valae Kitra stood at the landing pad, rocking gently from heel to toe as she waited. Her hands were clasped behind her back, and her eyes cast up towards the afternoon sky. It was a pleasant on Voss, and she hoped it would be a nice welcome for a newcomer. The most recent addition to the ranks of the Silver Order was a young man called [member="Phelan Howell"]. During a simple research mission, Valae and [member="Arisa Yune"] had discovered that the scientist was special. Indeed he was intelligent, but there was more -- he was force sensitive. The afternoon they had parted ways, the two Jedi had left the young man with much to ponder.

Though he had accepted an opportunity to continue his research under the wing of the Silver Services Corp, they had also given him the chance to learn the ways of the force. Given that he would be working in her branch, Valae had hoped to take Phelan as a padawan. However, she had left this quite opened ended -- she had not wanted to pressure him. And so, she had invited him to tour the Silver Temple before making a decision.

No doubt this had been quite unexpected, and everyone handled this sort of news in different ways. Valae wasn't sure exactly how Phelan had taken to the new knowledge that he could train to become a Jedi. She herself had been astonished to learn that there was anything extraordinary about her. It was still something that surprised her to this day.

Pulled from her thoughts, she spotted a transport ship setting down.

During her trip to Naboo, she had dressed casually, but today she wore the brown robes of the Jedi to make a better impression. However, her brown hair was still quite wild and untamed. She smoothed down her robes and finger combed her hair before stepping forward. When Phelan came down the ramp, he would be greeted by a wide smile.

 

[Phelan Howell]

It was surreal, almost as surreal as when his mother passed away. With a single revelation, his life changed. In this case, though, it was probably for the better. It was not a call that his petition to return to school had been rejected and that his future was gone, shattered, destroyed. Now, it was a revelation that would provide opportunity.

Hopefully good opportunity.

It really was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, as cliche as that thought was. Train as a Jedi after discovered to have sensitivity to the Force? It was something that only happened in the holovids or fiction holodiscs. It didn't happen to anyone in Real Life. And now it had happened to him.

The two Jedi had promised nothing, only that he now faced a choice: Take a chance at a new life or continue his old. It had taken Phelan several hours after leaving the lab before he had reached a decision. His life was at dead end. He was stuck as a lab technician with no future, especially not in medicine. That life was too expensive, too much time commitment for uncertain gain. But now...

Doctor Ikanzi had been nothing but supportive. The old scientist had lamented the loss of one of his most talented technicians, but he had also remarked his pride at seeing a pupil succeed. Goodbyes were made and promises to return had been given.

The trip to Voss had been non-descript. Phelan did his best not to think too much about this new path in his life. The galaxy had let him down one too many times, and he knew that hope was only the first step on the road towards disappointment. It was better to manage his expectations, less they be dashed again.

Then again, Phelan was curious what this Jedi training would entail. Science was his world. This new universe of manipulating the intangible would be completely alien, and that lone fact excited his intellectual curiosity. Plus, the fact that he now had a non-zero chance to become one of the fabled Jedi, that fed his optimism. A little.

And thus Phelan strode down the ramp of the cargo freighter, duffel bag slung over a shoulder. It carried all of his worldly belongings, mostly mementos and other trinkets. He had otherwise packed light, knowing that furniture and the like would be provided. He hoped.

The cool air of Voss greeted him, and after blinking against the glare of the natural light, Phelan spotted Valae.

"Hello, Valae," Phelan said, looking around at the surrounding mountainscape. A grin that matched her smile blossomed on his face. "I never imagined a planet to be more beautiful than Naboo, but Voss certainly is."

For the first time in forever, optimism replaced his normal cynicism.

[member="Valae Kitra"]

 

[Valae Heavenshield]

"Hello, hello!" Valae said, "It's good to see you again, Phelan."

She motioned for him to follow, and together they left the landing pad behind them. The stately Silver Temple was visible in the distance. While the natural beauty of Naboo had been quite a lovely sight, there was nothin' better than Voss -- in her own opinion, at least.

"Yeah, it's nice here." She agreed, blowing out a content sigh. "I'm from Tatooine, so Voss was a very welcome change."

However, there were times that she actually did miss the desert heat -- and even the sand, too. As they arrived at the Silver Temple, there were Jedi of all kinds bustling about. Most were clad in the emblematic brown robes and simple tunics. The students at the Silver Temple were a diverse bunch, there were many different species, all were welcome here to dedicate their studies to the light.

"Well, here it is. Quite somethin', isn't it?" She grinned, and waved to a couple of padawan learners that passed by. "This is the main complex, where we all come to study and practice. There's a library over there," She pointed to a tall building, "Practice gymnasiums that way, class rooms, quiet spaces for meditation..."

And most importantly:

"The cafeteria is over this way --" She almost started walking in that direction, out of habit. But she paused, her face flushing slightly. Valae didn't want to completely overwhelm Phelan on his first day here. "Sorry, got a bit ahead of myself there. You probably want to settle in a bit, right?"

She smiled sheepishly, sparing a glance at the bag slung around his shoulders.

"The living quarters are this way, I'll show you to your room." Once the two had arrived, she handed over the card key and stepped to the side. "Go on in, take all the time you need to get settled... I'll wait for ya outside."

[member="Phelan Howell"]

 

[Phelan Howell]

Phelan had followed mostly in awed silence as Valae introduced him to the Silver Temple grounds. It really was just like his first tour of the University of Naboo. Cafeteria, dormitories, libraries, and other facilities were all there. There were far fewer students, of course, but even the setting brought back memories of Naboo's primary educational center.

But those same memories also carried with them melancholy, as Phelan remembered the dreams and hopes of his younger self. Of the acing of exams, the long study nights. Of the achievements and success in conquering the academic challenges. Of his classmates who were now certainly physicians and pursuing their professional careers.

Phelan sighed and shook his head to dissipate the ruminations as Valae showed him to his room. "I'll just be a minute to drop off this bag."

The door slid open with a muffled hiss and Phelan found himself stepping into memory lane. The room was pretty much his college dorm room except it had a single refresher unit, which was a nice change from the public units he was used to. Otherwise, it was what he had expected. A single bed. A desk with a computer terminal. A dresser. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Dropping his bag next to the bed, he stepped into the refresher and splashed some water over his face. The crisp liquid cleared his mind and helped him focus on the here and now, instead of all of those memories he had long buried. That was the past. He needed to remain in the present. That's where the opportunities are, he reminded himself.

Pulling a towel from the wrack, Phelan dried his face and then stepped back into the sunshine. "I'm good now, Valae." He pointed in the direction of the eatery. "You mentioned the cafeteria? How's the food? Honestly, I'm a bit hungry since I haven't really eaten since leaving Naboo. It probably wasn't the smartest idea to skip breakfast."

[member="Valae Kitra"]

 

[Valae Heavenshield]

Valae nodded and stepped back outside to wait. She furrowed her brow, and gave herself a stern mental reminder not to overload Phelan. Everything here was new. Well, mostly. She recalled her own first days here on Voss, and how overwhelmed she had been. Of course, not only had she been adjusting to the fact that she was about to train to become a Jedi, she had also been grieving the death of her father. It hadn't been an easy time, to say the least.

Her smile returned when Phelan reappeared.

Brows rose slightly, thoughts of warm meals were never far from her mind.

"The food is great! Really, it is." Valae nodded, "C'mon, I could use a bit to eat as well. It's never a good idea to skip a meal." She added a lighthearted chuckle.

It was a short walk to the cafeteria, the area was already bustling with people ready to eat lunch. But that was good, it meant that the buffet would be well stocked -- and they were just early enough to beat the rush. The staff smiled and nodded to Valae, she was a familiar sight here. As they entered the line, Valae handed Phelan a tray and then took one for herself.

"The pot roast is excellent," Valae pointed, and then smiled to the cafeteria worker. "I'll have just a little bit of everything, if you don't mind."

Once her plate was full of savory offerings, she placed a cup of blue milk on her tray, followed by a slice of cake. Possibly, she should have been embarrassed about the amount of food she had taken -- but she wasn't. As she joined Phelan at an empty booth, she took a large bite of mashed potatoes.

"So, why don't you tell me a little about yourself?" She smiled.

[member="Phelan Howell"]

 

[Phelan Howell]

Phelan took a seat across from Valae and speared a piece of pot roast with his fork before drowning it in gravy. He had a soft spot for gravy.

"Well, there's not a whole lot about me, nothing special at least," Phelan said around a mouthful of roast. He took swish of water. "I was born on Lianna, where both of my parents were factory workers. My father died from some work accident. I never learned the details, but my mother took me and left Lianna soon after. We moved to Naboo. After that, I grew up, went to college, and got into med school.

"A few years into med school, I learned that my mother developed leukemia, so I took some time off to care for her. She fought for a year before she lost. After that, I tried to return to school, but the administration said I'd taken too long of a break and I lost my placement."

Phelan recited those last few sentences without much emotion, as if he were relaying simple facts from a text book. "I've been working with Doctor Ikanzi since then."

He looked up and found Valae's brown eyes. "But, with this whole Jedi Force thing, I'm actually looking forward to it all. Something good might be back in my life.

"What about you? How long have you been a Jedi?"

[member="Valae Kitra"]

 

[Valae Heavenshield]

Valae continued to dig into her food, taking rather large bites. She listened to Phelan as he spoke, and his words made her set the fork down on the edge of her plate. It seemed that they had things in common -- parents that had died in the past, and ones that had passed more recently. In a way, she would liked to think that she knew how he felt. However, the way he recited the words like a report made her wonder. There was very little emotion betrayed in his tone or expression.

Was this a simple mask he wore? Or was it something more than that? Valae had made her own efforts to bury the grief of losing her father, but it had only made the process of leaning the ways of the force more difficult. A tough lesson, to be sure, but a useful one. Over the years, she had properly grieved and let him go. Though she missed him dearly, she was no longer conflicted by his passing, and no longer held onto the feelings of resentment that he'd left her with.

She offered a smile, pleased to hear that he was looking forward to his training.

"Well, let's see." She blew out a breath, "I've been with the Silver Jedi for about eight years now." Her chestnut eyes widened slightly. Had it really been that long? Valae supposed that it had, after all, she had started as an apprentice and now she was a master.

"My story isn't so different from yours -- mother died when I was young. I lived on Tatooine with my father, where we ran a small scrap yard. I didn't have dreams of education, like you... I was rather set in my ways as a salvager. But my father passed unexpectedly, and the former Grandmaster found me during his burial rites. I left for Voss that very night -- and the rest is history, as they say."

She paused to take a drink of blue milk, and then resumed.

"So, what are you most excited to learn about?"

[member="Phelan Howell"]

 

[Phelan Howell]

Phelan nodded as Valae recounted her story. Her history wasn't that much more different from his, except perhaps the part about having his dreams and aspirations crushed by the vagaries of fate. Her cheerful demeanor seemed to indicate that she had come to terms with her losses, and so had he, to an extent. He'd accepted his parents' deaths, but to be kicked while down? To have lost his seat in medical school because of circumstances outside of his control? That was a wound that was still struggling to heal.

But that was his lot in life. He'd at least come to accept that.

He smiled and took a sip of water. "Well, I'm excited to see how the Force works. I mean, I spend my day in a lab, right? So I work with the tangible. Things that produce results, that can be tested. It would be very interesting to actually get to work with something that's intangible. The Force."

Phelan paused and glanced down. "And well, you and Master Arisa came to Naboo to assist with some of our medical research, so I assume you've both got talents in the healing arts. I was trained as a physician, mostly, and I'd love to be able to go down that path again. To be a healer, that was my dream, and if I can't do it from the science end, well, maybe the Force will provide another way?"

Another pause, this one followed by a sheepish grin. "And I'd be lying if I said that lightsabers aren't really cool.

"But yeah. What is Jedi training like?"

[member="Valae Kitra"]

 

[Valae Heavenshield]

“My specialty is healing,” She replied with a wide grin, “I could definitely see you traveling that same route, and I’ll be here to help. And maybe you can help me with the medical side of things, all that just seems a bit… complicated.”

She couldn’t help but chuckle at Phelan’s comment about lightsabers. Valae’s own saber rarely saw any action, but she recognized the importance of the weapon. It was emblematic of the Jedi, and also something of a rite of passage. Of course, she hoped for days when she wouldn’t need such a weapon – but it was useful knowledge nonetheless.

“Now, I’m not much of a fighter.” She started, and paused to dab her mouth with her napkin. “But we have many Jedi here that are skilled fighters. I can certainly help with the basics, and we can find someone to help where I can’t -- even if you become my apprentice, you’re free to train with others.”

The Silver Temple was full of valuable resources. Every Jedi here was different; it would be good to experience different ways. Valae recalled her first days of training. Though she remembered those times fondly now, back then it had been very daunting. The very first thing that came to mind was… meditation. Lots of meditation.

“You will have group classes with other learners, these classes generally focus on the basics. You’ll spend quite a lot of time meditating and focusing on your connection to the force. Once you’re comfortable with that step, you’ll move on to utilizing that energy.” She finished off her roast, and nearly cleaned off the rest of her plate. “Additionally, you’ll learn and train on missions – training on the job.”

There were endless opportunities for growth within the ranks of the Silver Order. She had a feeling that they would need to plan a trip to Felucia to visit the healers in the jungle, the Shrine of Healing in Voss-Ka, and to the crystal caves on Ossus or Ilum.

“Don’t worry; you’ll have some free time, too.” She said with a smile. “In fact, I’d encourage you to spend some time exploring the temple on your own and socialize with others. I know all of this is new, and I don’t want to overload you… but we can even start training today, if you’re ready.”

[member="Phelan Howell"]

 

[Phelan Howell]

Phelan had mostly forgotten the food on his plate. As Valae explained the basics of Jedi training, his excitement grew, and that in turn drove away any remaining traces of hunger. (Phelan didn't realize it, but his mind classified that action as a simple reaction to the adrenaline leeching into his system, an effect he had learned as the fight-or-flight response.)

He listened carefully, noting that the Jedi training didn't seem all that different from his medical training. Learn by theory, then learn by experience. See one, do one, teach one, as a professor had once remarked. At least, the comparison seemed apt at the high level. He was sure that once he started, he'd discover there to be far more to it. As it was with medicine, as well, he realized.

"I'd love to start today!" Phelan said. The excitement was real in his voice. "This is the first time in a long while that I've really, really looked forward to something. Overload or not, I'd rather begin now than wait longer."

He thought quickly back to what Valae had said earlier. "But, a quick question. You said that you were healer, but that I could help you with the 'medical' side of things. What do you mean by that? Wouldn't you have to be trained as a traditional physician, even if a little bit, to be a Jedi healer? I mean, even with the Force, you'd be acting upon body systems and functions. You can't heal something if you aren't able to diagnose it. Or does the Force not work like that?"

[member="Valae Kitra"]

 

[Valae Heavenshield]

Valae grinned at Phelan’s enthusiasm; this was an exciting time for her as well. It was always a big commitment to take on an apprentice, but she felt ready. However, the fear of failure was there too. Her brows rose softly as Phelen posed her a question. Indeed force healing was not an exact science. She based her diagnoses on how it felt, and how she perceived it through the force. It would be difficult to explain. Pushing her lips to the side slightly, she sat in thoughtful silence for a moment.

“Well, I know enough about physiology to get by.” She said with a nod, “I may not be familiar with every illness in the books, but the force has a way of guiding me. It’s like being able to see the areas that need to be fixed, and then you’re able to repair the damaged cells or draw out the bad.”

She scratched her head, realizing sheepishly that she probably did not sound very convincing. Valae pushed out a breath and let her eyes match Phelan’s.

“You’ll see what I mean.” She resigned with a chuckle. “Anyway – there are still times when we need to resort to conventional medicine. Sometimes when we work out in the field, the conditions aren’t quite what we need to do force healing.” Things like Ysalamir interfered, and many of the SJO rangers carried them along their armor. “I can treat basic wounds, but can I stitch something up? Probably not very well. At any rate, I bet there's a lot that I can learn from you, too.”

Valae stacked her plates and then slid out of the booth.

“C’mon, we’ll stop by one of the meditation rooms.”

[member="Phelan Howell"]

 

[Phelan Howell]

Phelan nodded as they left the cafeteria and couldn't help a chuckle as he thought about what Valae had just said. "Sorry, I was just thinking that at any other time, what you just said about Force healing would sound suspiciously like homeopathy. No offense intended or anything. But, if Doctor Ikanzi specifically requested Jedi to help with his research, that means what you do is real and effective, and I trust his judgment."

The walk to the meditation rooms was fairly quick, and Phelan spent most of that time taking in the campus and realizing how much he missed being in a center of academia, even if said academics were Force studies instead of typical scholarly studies. He saw many Jedi going through their training. Meditating. Sparring. Practicing Force techniques.

Most of all, it was inclusive. Everyone was driven and united by a common goal and characteristic. Though he didn't know any of the other Jedi yet, he still felt a sense of camaraderie that had been missing in his life ever since he'd left medical school.

Phelan glanced from the fairly empty room to Valae. "So, meditation? I assume that's the foundation of everything else?"

OOC:
Sorry for the late reply. Work has been very busy.

Also, I have never RPed a Jedi going through formalized training, so I'm mostly following your leads.

[member="Valae Kitra"]

 

[Valae Heavenshield]

“Homeopathy?” Valae chuckled, too. “I know, it all sounds a bit like voodoo or magic.”

She was glad that the mood was light as they walked the campus. Valae allowed Phelan some peace and quiet as he observed his new surroundings – even though he would soon be experiencing the peace and quiet of meditation. There were small jitters within, a sensation that seemed to rise from the pit of her stomach. Her eyes shifted to the side slightly, she wondered if Phelan would be able to feel that she was nervous. Even though he had not completed any formal Jedi training yet, there was still a chance that his senses were sharper than he realized.

The room was dimly lit and quiet, just like it should be. Valae nodded to Phelan, addressing his question.

“Correct – it’s the very foundation of all that we do as Jedi. It’s an important self-disciple skill that we must practice daily. Many apprentices devote time to five or more sessions per day! I’d encourage you to work up to that, don’t try to push yourself too hard at first.” She nodded, and sat a seat on a comfortable cushion. “Have a seat next to me,”

Valae demonstrated a deep breath, inhaling through her nose and exhaling through her mouth.

“Meditation will help you center and connect to the force. We aim to empty our minds of all thought – but especially the negative ones, and allow ourselves to step away from attachments, doubts, or fears.”

She offered an encouraging smile.

“I know it sounds like a lot… just go ahead and close your eyes. Take deep breaths; focus on making your exhales long. Let your mind grow quiet, see where it takes you.”

[member="Phelan Howell"]

Spoiler

I don't mind waiting, take your time!

 

[Phelan Howell]

Phelan took a seat next to his master. It was actually difficult to view Valae as his master, given that she was probably around his age, so he viewed her more as a teacher. An instructor. He nodded, closed his eyes, and concentrated on her directions.

He took a deep breath, and then another, not unlike the type of breaths he had instructed patients to take when he needed to listen to how their chests sounded. He tried to clear his mind as Valae had instructed, and found success. At least for a few seconds. And then that peace was interrupted by thoughts and thoughts of clearing his mind of thoughts.

It went like that for a few minutes. Phelan tried to think of nothing but the effort to do so meant something filled the void. Sometimes it was memories of his past, his failures at school, the death of his parents. Other times it was just the sheer puzzlement and amazement that he was here, at a Jedi temple, studying to be a Jedi.

But after a bit, he focused on the breathing, counting his breaths and then his heartbeats. In and out. Thump and thump.

It was calming. Peaceful. Quiet. He thought it might be like the state of serenity some surgeons described when they were "in the zone" while operating.

In that pool of peace, he felt just a tad of something else. Nervousness? Uncertainty? Anxiety? Whatever it was, his untrained mind didn't place emphasis on it, and he naturally assumed it was his own emotion. He tried to ignore it.

And there was something else. He couldn't describe it, just an odd sensation of not being alone. That was of course obvious, since Valae was sitting next to him, but it came from farther outside of the meditation room. Just that feeling that there were others around him, going about their business. It was like an itch that he couldn't scratch, something hovering just below the threshold of concrete identification.

Phelan frowned and that broke the spell. The sensation was gone and he was back to his thoughts. He opened his eyes. "It's odd. The harder I tried to fill my mind with nothing, the more things filled my mind. Concentrating on my breathing seemed to help though." He turned towards Valae. "But what was I supposed to be feeling? I thought I felt something, like, I could see those outside on the grounds. I think. It's hard to say because it was more a feeling than anything else, and when I tried to focus on it, I lost it. Is that what we're going for?"

OOC:
Sorry, sorry, sorry!

[member="Valae Kitra"]

 

[Valae Heavenshield]

As the silence settled between them, Valae let her own mind grow quiet. She could still recall the difficulties she’d had when she first started meditating. It had been a challenge for her to find that connection to the force. And now, she could feel the energy all around her with ease. With her eyes closed and her breaths flowing evenly, she could sense the calm and quiet in Phelan.

An eye opened momentarily, and she smiled as she observed.

For the moment, she wanted to see what he was capable of. It seemed that he had ‘tapped in’ to the power they knew as the cosmic force. That feeling might have been fleeting, but it was a very good first step. Valae sensed the connection start to wane, and she opened her own eyes. She drew in a breath as she considered his questions.

“Well, it’s like…” She paused, “It’s a feeling that’s--”

Valae pressed her lips together for a moment, unsure how to begin to describe the force.

“For me it’s a feeling of being connected… sensing those around me. If you were able to glimpse those outside, then you have made some great progress! You could sense the living force within them, and the cosmic force that binds all of us together.”

She shifted slightly, crossing her legs. Valae placed her hands atop her midsection.

“Mindful breathing is quite helpful,” She said with a smile, “In time, it will be easier to filter out the thoughts. For now, focus on any emotions that come to mind… and then simply try to let them go. I know, it’s much easier said than done.”

[member="Phelan Howell"]