And About Time Too!

[Jaret Sha'Co]

Jaret sat at the under a tree at the Voss Academy, the leaves rustled and the grass swayed in the light breeze. It was a peaceful place, the sound of animals could be heard somewhere far away, but Jaret's concentration was on something else. A small pebble laid itself out in front of Jaret. The rock and Jaret seemed to be having a staring contested, the rock started to tremble, as Jaret stretched out his hand in an attempt to lift it.

"I can lift it. I mean it's a rock." His hand turned his palm facing up as he felt the rock in his palm. The Force flowed through his body, and he hand began to tremble, as the rock began to lift from the ground.

[member="Kei Amadis"]

 

[Kei Amadis]

Usual camouflaged temple robes, forest colors more often than not, cut short so not to hinder his movement too much. Kei had thick black boots on, the usual thin line of stubble framing his jaw, and his saber unity somewhere on his black utility belt, that ran around his waist.

Getting the message from Jaret, Kei had turned up bright and early. It had never occurred to the young Epicanthix to train a student, it had been natural in his army days to train men and women but Jedi were different in many ways. Still he did what he always did, rolled his sleeves up and got stuck in.

Much like his student was trying to do, that was promising, a man after his own heart.

“Focus on lifting it, not the rock, or what it is.” Amadis called out, rolling his shoulders and neck around to warm up. “Otherwise you’ll second guess yourself.” Weight and size were tricky things in the force. You’d get Jedi saying they didn’t matter, but in reality try telling your head that, or the amount of energy needed to move them. Nobody was moving suns or planets any time soon for example.

[member="Jaret Sha'Co"]​

 

[Jaret Sha'Co]

"Ahh!" Jaret quickly jumped to his feet, with as much grace as a drunk Shaak. Realising who it was, Jaret quickly brushed down his clothes and make himself look presentable. All he was wearing were a pair of brown pants, a cream underhsirt which could be tied up the top, and a brown shirt. He gave a short bow. "Sorry. You scared me!"

He began shifting his weight from one foot to the other, unsure of what to do. Jaret began to breath in, calming himself. "I was hoping to discuss something with you?" His eyes dropped down to the rock, and began running his foot over it, letting it roll underneath.

[member="Kei Amadis"]

 

[Kei Amadis]

“No problem, it's Jaret right?” Amadis grinned broadly, Kei would have to work on that with him, couldn’t have a student breaking his feet. “What made the rock drop?” That was something to rattle around in Jaret’s mind for later. The manipulation of a rock could be swift, slow, gradual to release, it might even carry on when you were distracted, it all depended how you learned it.

The Epicanthix returned the bow with a firm nod of his head instead, “Fire away.” Kei said, not standing on ceremony. As far as he was concerned, “Important that you know, you can ask me whatever you like, whenever you like.” Kei nodded to Jaret firmly again, “Same goes for the other teachers here, though there’ll give you their own answers.”

With that he put his arms behind his back and stood facing Jaret, like he was addressing his soldiers back on Coruscant years ago now, old habits for a general that were slowly relaxing.

[member="Jaret Sha'Co"]​

 

[Jaret Sha'Co]

"Yes sorry. Jaret Sha'co." Jaret shot out his right hand to shake Amadis' "And your Master Amadis, I think.". His eyes were still staring at the ground as he spoke. "Well I was wondering if maybe-" Jaret's eyes came up to meet Amadis. "Well just maybe you might want a Padawan?" Jaret knew his skills in the Force were rivaled by those of a child, but he was hoping if he could get a Master that he could learn.

He stood in front of Amadis shyly, but this time he managed to keep his eyes looked with the Knight. There was determination in those eyes, determination to learn. To become a Jedi.

[member="Kei Amadis"]

 

[Kei Amadis]

“That’s right.” Kei’s grin deepened, pulling his hand around in front of him, Amadis shook the padwan’s hand firmly, before replacing his large hand behind his back to be linked with the other. “Pleased to meet you Jaret Sha’co.”

Amadis’s manner tended to be reassuring, often brotherly to the padawans especially if one was nervous, his grin and look held that quality. “Thought about the idea, be happy to help you.” Kei had the impression that’s why he’d called him. He’d be his first Jedi student, better make Coci proud. [member="Coci Heavenshield"]

“Tell me about yourself, and what training you’ve had or picked up, and I’ll do the same.” The Epicanthx shifted slightly at ease, relaxing.

[member="Jaret Sha'Co"]​

 

[Jaret Sha'Co]

A giant grin spread over Jaret's face. He had a master! Was this a dream!? But then grin soon subsided as Amadis asked about his training. "Well, I grew up with my family on Naboo. My Dad, he tried to teach me the ways of the Force but he couldn't so he sent my sister and I here to learn." Once again the Padawan's eyes dropped to the ground, he had just got a Master and he was already about to disappoint him. "I haven't had much training, I can barely lift a damned rock!" His emotions flew from his brain and through his body. Ohh the joys of being a teenager.

[member="Kei Amadis"]

 

[Kei Amadis]

“I still fail at some techniques Jaret,” he grinned, “got to either just try again, switch your approach or pick a different technique to focus on.” Kei took a look around the new outdoor training area, a lot of work had gone into putting this place up recently. The academy had inside and outside sections but bright, fresh and new was definitely the feeling out here.

“Everyone’s got their natural skills. You can train, but some you’ll always be better at.” That was natural, every Jedi had their gifts, heck knows he wasn’t naturally gifted at mindspeak, or force sense, far from it. In fact he was very much of average ability when it came to the force, as far as he could tell, there were a lot of Masters stronger than he was.

“You are going to fail, a lot in life, that’s just part of it.” The Epicanthix added, better to learn that early. Letting his hands go from behind him, he decided to work on the basics first to get off on the right foot. “Close your eyes, and reach out, take a moment. You are the force, rock, tree, ground everything. Go from there and extend the rock up.”

[member="Jaret Sha'Co"]​

 

[Jaret Sha'Co]

Jaret nodded as he took in on what his new Master was saying. Although it didn't make sense to him, he thought that all Knights and Masters alike had mastered everything, but that was all part of the learning process.

"Yes Master." Jaret closed his eyes and cleared his mind, he began to feel the Force around him. He let his breathing become natural, in through the nose, out through the mouth. He slowly brought his hand out, his palm and fingers facing the sky.

The rock at first began to tremble as the Force began to take hold. Then it started to leave the ground. Jaret's arm began to tremble as he lifted it more, the rock came to knee height. A frown began to cross Jaret's face as he held the rock there. This would be a super simple task for a Master or Knight even most Padawans, but Jaret was new to all of this.

[member="Kei Amadis"]

 

[Kei Amadis]

Seeing his apprentice’s hand shake and the frown Kei nodded, grin remaining and his voice encouraging, “Don’t think about it, just lift it.” That was the best advice he could give Jaret here. The Epicanthx and soldier’s training kicking in. “You can do it, keep going.” Another Master might have taken a softer or even harsher approach, but Kei was direct, encouraging like he often was.

He was still new at training Jedi but plenty of raw army recruits dropped or sagged, and he’d be there behind them getting them moving again. Sure he wasn’t screaming in their ear here, but was in his own way pushing Jaret to find his feet, his voice and tone remaining strong.

“There isn’t any distance or weight in that rock,” because the rock was “part of you.” In his practical mind distance made a difference to most Jedi because the energy had to travel further, and was harder to focus on, but this close that rock might as well have been Jaret’s arm. At least that was how Kei Amadis looked at the force.

“Open your eyes slowly and keep focused.”

[member="Jaret Sha'Co"]​

 

[Jaret Sha'Co]

Jaret heard his Master's voice, taking in the words. The words seemed to help him, his arm began to shake less. Jaret slowly began to open his eyes staring down the rock, this seemed to be getting easier for Jaret. Perhaps the calm words from his Master, or what his Master was teaching him. Most likely a mixture of both.

His eyes were now fully open and focused on the rock. Jaret slowly raise his hand more, bringing with it the rock. This time a smile began to spread its way across Jaret's face. He was learning a new ability.

He was on a path to becoming a Jedi, and he would have his Master with him the whole way, guiding him, mentoring him, teaching him. His Master was essentially going to take place as a father figure. Not just teaching him the ways of a Jedi, but the ways of society aswell.

[member="Kei Amadis"]

 

[Kei Amadis]

Jaret was making progress, settling, good because you needed calmness to be a part of you for what you faced out there. When the pressure came or a Sith try to poke you, make you uncertain of yourself, “sometimes that calmness is all you have out in the black, get to know it as an ally and friend when times are tough.” The black, space, when you could end up alone facing a Sith or worse, Kei’s expression strengthened.

Leaving his padawan to hold the rock, to focus on it and keep it lifted, “balance it, let it settle there, easy and calm as anything.” Easy and settled, calm, he was hoping that calmness and peace of mind would settle in his student as well from the very beginning.

Proudly he could see his student was now able to look at what he was doing, not doubting himself or the force as much, which was good because the doubt rarely helped. “We have to question our actions Jaret, as Jedi, but never our ability to do them when we have to, that’s why we train.” He’d imparted a bit of sage wisdom? Yeah well don’t let it go to your head Amadis, you still hadn’t shaved in a week! Moving on!

“Now throw the rock hard, don’t let it drop, put it where you want it and bring it back.” Control, strength but calm control. Something he’d never had as a padawan, but he’d learned his lessons, and then some, able to impart that here.

[member="Jaret Sha'Co"]​

 

[Jaret Sha'Co]

The Padawan nodded. Calmness was a friend. He began to think back to the calm fields of Naboo, the peaceful mornings out fishing. Those were calming memories, and the thought of them seemed to make his job easier.

The rock stayed motionless in the air as Jaret held it still. Then the next order came along, throw the rock? He had only just managed to hold it here. But Jaret did as he was told. Jaret extending his arm further out, the rock going with it. Before it could get too far, Jaret quickly brought it back, continuing to think of his days back on Naboo. The rock stopped, for a moment, Jaret's arm once again shaking at the effort.The rock slowly began to flow back towards them, before it stood still in front of Jaret.

"How am I doing Master?" Jaret's eyes didn't move from the rock as he spoke. He really wanted to impress his new Master, and he didn't want to disappoint him.

[member="Kei Amadis"]

 

[Kei Amadis]

“Doing just fine Jaret, steady and in control, acting with the force.” He wasn’t a great philosopher Kei Amadis, however you wanted to look at it, but he was a big advocate of having a level head when it came to using the force, and that brought his own brand of direct but sage advice, “respect the force and it’ll respect you, it’s your mirror.” The force could mirror your anger, your serenity, your passion, your loss, your joy, but “you can always guide it where you want it to go, same with the rock.”

Kei nodded firmly, his own brand of practical advice, crossing his hands behind his back more casually, but still the old soldier in him. He could see his apprentice hand's would shake but that was like training the muscles the first time you lifted weights, they shook and strained at first.

“Now bring that calmness inside of you out, and hold the rock, while you jump over it.”

That wast trickier because Jaret had to do two things at once, jump and hold the rock. What Kei was doing, was getting him to connect the sense of calm with his force action, “focus that calm center, and act with it to keep the rock balanced. Focus” He nodded firmly, visibly encouraging Jaret, however this went he’d be there to pick him up or encourage him at the end of it just the same.

[member="Jaret Sha'Co"]​

 

[Jaret Sha'Co]

The positive feed back went along way to help Jaret. He took in the next thing that Amadis said. "Respect the force and it'll respect you, it's your mirror."

The next thing Amadis said, was absolutely impossible! Jump over the rock while holding it there, Jaret had just learnt how to lift it properly now this man wanted him to jump over it. The hesitation was obvious but Jaret didn't want to disappoint his new Master.

"Respect the Force." Jaret muttered that sentence as he began the process of jumping. First he steadied the rock, holding it in place. The he crouched, his hand still outstretched, and leaped off the rock. It all seemed like it was going well, Jaret had the height, but as he was passing over the rock, he loss concentration and the rock fell to the ground. As he landed Jaret quickly spun around and looked to the rock, then to Amadis, the colour rising in his cheeks.

"I'm sorry Master!" The words practically lept from Jaret's mouth as he realised he failed. He bowed his head and eyed the ground, refusing to look up.

[member="Kei Amadis"]

 

[Kei Amadis]

"Good jump", he'd got half of it right. Jaret needed to get ready to do the impossible, and quite often as a Jedi. Amadis grinned firmer, patting Jaret's shoulder reassuringly, “you are going to fail at least as often as you succeed in training,” The Epicanthix took a step back and raised the rock up for Jaret, “take your time, focus and have another go, if you fail so what, that's why we train.” The Epicanthix nodded firmly, releasing it for Jaret to take and stepping back further still to clear the way.

“Let’s go again,” so many Jedi got hung up on failing, well good thing Jareth was going to experience plenty of it here! By the end of the session Kei was hoping he wouldn’t care less, and just do it again. “How can you keep that rock in the air while you jump it?” Could Jaret throw it a short way up, catch it before it landed? Could he focus on bringing the rock underneath him while he jumped a short way?

Lots of ways to do something, and Kei was waiting to see what his padawan came up with.

[member="Jaret Sha'Co"]​

 

[Jaret Sha'Co]

Jaret caught the rock as Amadis dropped it. If Jaret had learnt one thing so far it was how to levitate an object although he was still a novice.

The young Padawan would begin to calm his mind concentrating on the task ahead. He began his jumping process again, and plan set in his mind. This time when he went to jump, he didn't do it the normal way. Instead he dived over the rock, letting it pass under him as he held it with his force. He then began to roll so that he landed on his shoulder and rolled up to his feet. But his focus wasn't on the rock now as it was positioned behind him. Quickly Jaret spun around and caught the rock just before it hit the ground, he slowly began to bring it up.

"Is that what you wanted Master?" A giant grin spread over Jaret's face as he caught the rock. He hadn't let his Master down, well at least he didn't think he did.

[member="Kei Amadis"]

 

[Kei Amadis]

“You got it Jaret.” Kei nodded firmly, putting his hands behind his back again. “More than one way to skin a bantha.” Stretching his legs, he looked out over the grounds. “Most of the time you’ve got to be able to move with the force, and in time allow it to move you.” It was a balance, because you were the force, it was in you, like every living thing, and most of the time you were not standing still when you were doing this.

Nodding to a path with some trees ahead, a small stone path which stretched out around the academy grounds “Let’s get those legs moving,” his grin broadened, “hope you are in good shape,” if Jaret wasn’t he was about to be!

Force Run

Starting off at a jog to get the legs warmed up, Kei began a brisk but steady pace along the path, brushing past trees and bushes, then around the temple grounds. The Epicanthix ran often, and physically he was in good shape, which made up for him lacking some of the subtler techniques or intricacies of the force. “Moving with the force your legs can feel lighter, it can help you keep from feeling tired, or losing your breath.” Which is what Kei started to do, steady at first.

[member="Jaret Sha'Co"]​

 

[Jaret Sha'Co]

"In good shape?" Jaret was a bit confused then he began to run with Kei. Fitness wasn't exactly Jaret's strong point. Lucky for him he was able to keep up with his Master's warm up pace.

Jaret began to concentrate as he was told to move with the Force. He didn't know how to do it, but he assumed it was the same as funneling it through your hand. He felt something akin to what Kei had explained usually by now he would of had to take more breath and quicker, but the Force was guiding him and making sure that he didn't need to. But as Jaret was a beginner it didn't last long, Slowly his breathes began to come in ragged gasps as the running wore him out.

"I think I might have to improve on my stamina." He looked to Kei and gave a slight smile. It would seem that the Padawan was beginning to feel more comfortable around his Master.

[member="Kei Amadis"]

 

[Kei Amadis]

Kei slowed but didn’t stop his pace, moving through the few trees that lined the path, and over the grass to another larger ring path around the academy. He was moving steady but still moving, and grinned when Jaret spoke next, “look around you Jaret, all this is your stamina,” or could be if Jaret concentrated on it. Their run continued for maybe 5 more minutes at the same pace, he didn't want his padawan collapsing but being healthy was important.

With a quicker burst of force speed Kei ran to a tree ahead, and ended up standing beside it. He wasn't a blur by any means, but it did visibly allow him to run faster than a normal man would.

Squinting through the high sun, he waited for Jaret to catch up, “everything here is the force,” his Master tapped the tree, there was a small amount of sweat on his brow and he rubbed it with the back his wrist. Not the short burst of speed though, that hadn’t tired him, because it hadn’t come from him. “Look at the tree, what do you see?”

Amadis linked his arms behind his back as he was often prone to do, nodding to the tree to indicate it. “Take your time and look.”

[member="Jaret Sha'Co"]
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cmp5fr4wUEA​