Bright, Mildly Shocking, and Show-Stopping!

[Jannik Morlandt]

[Prior to the One Sith Invasion of Coruscant, between this thread and that thread...]​

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LOCATION​

RUUSAN​

​

Slowly, steadily, the number of worlds he visited was climbing. There was the consideration that if he was not imbued with the power of the Force, if circumstances had not lead him to the life of a Jedi, he would have spent the rest of his life on Coruscant, ignorant and afraid. There were still fears and concerns in his mind, but the lessened by the day. The counsel and training provided to him by Master Draclau helped some, and the good nature and training from Kira did much to improve his confidence and dispel his distrust in the all-encompassing Force - the very same thing that had saddled him with his particular abilities. he was a little less afraid of his own head, knowing that there were ways it could be helped, but there was still a long way to go.

Anxieties and fears aside, Jannik had taken the time to read a bit about Ruusan, prior to departing for the planet with the blonde Lorrdian. The 'Valley of the Jedi' piqued his interest. The thought of Force nexuses intrigued him. He wondered if there would be time for a little sightseeing. He was curious about how the planet might feel. As exciting as yet another new world was, the unfamiliarity pulled forth some anxiety. The flight to get here was a bit easier on his nerves than the time before; flying was becoming more of a regular thing, but he was still a small ways off from taking it for granted.

He glanced at Kira, shifting slightly in his seat. They were just heading down to the planet now, having not yet landed.

"So, ehm... why 'ere and not somewhere else? Why Ruusan?"

For as exciting as it was, he still didn't know why she had chosen Ruusan for... whatever it was they were doing today. He had his thoughts as to what the reason might be, including the possibility that she simply may have chosen at random. Spontaneity seemed very well within her personality.

[member="Kira Liadain"]

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Jannik Morlandt"]

A chuckle would come from the bubbly blonde, and a wink would be cast at his direction, "Every environment is to be used as an opportunity to learn." she would tell him.

'Ruusan holds a special meaning simply because of what it stands for. " she would drift her blue gaze out through the viewport. "It was the sight of a bloody fight, millienia ago. Between the forces of Dark and Light. One can still feel the residue of such an act. And in this, we can test ourselves to find out just where we stand. What we do. "

Kira would turn to him, "What demons we take with us."

"This won't be easy. But we will be able to progress with your training here. Explore just what are your limits, and perhaps see just where your natural talents lie beyond that of the mind," she'd say with a faint encouraging smile.

"How are you doing with Master Draclau?" she'd ask then, their shuttle drawing near towards the planet with every passing second. They would come to a small spacesport soon, hidden from view and from any outside the Jedi Order.

 

[Jannik Morlandt]

He nodded, almost solemnly.

"Ah think ah ken feel that residue all th'way up 'ere," he mentioned, as a matter of fact. "It's a strange feeling that's been getting bigger e'er since we dropped out o'hyperspace."

His eyes tracked away from the viewport over to his master, listening to her speak of demons and what they might be able to accomplish on Ruusan. Everyone had their own demons, their own skeletons in their metaphorical closets. He had been slowly coming to terms with his own, at least to a certain extent. 'Beyond that of the mind'? That piqued his interest, somewhat. He often wondered if there was anywhere else he was just as strong, outside of the purely 'head-stuff'. He already knew some other things, from before he met [member="Kira Liadain"], and since.

When she asked after his time with Erinyes Draclau, he considered his response for a moment or two before giving it. There was a certain amount of separating how he felt about it, and what was actually accomplished.

"Ah'm, eh... ah'm doing well. Ah think. She seems tae think ah am," he replied, finally, rubbing a hand at the back of his neck in largely unnecessary sheepishness, "an' she wants me tae practice wha' she 'as taught me once a day, t'get better used tae it."

Having to do that was an uneasy thought for him, but how else was he to acclimatise to the conditions of his psyche, and what that meant for him for the rest of his natural life? In fear? Certainly not.

"It should help with..." he brought the hand from the back of his neck, to tap at his right temple, "...with me noggin."

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Jannik Morlandt"]

Kira gave a nod and a warm smile. "She'll do right by you. Won't overwhelm you at all. " her smile would get wider. "An endless patience Master Draclau has."

Their ship came to a quiet landing at the spaceport. It wasn't much to look at and small. Security was at an all time high, however, and it took a mouthful of clearance codes to be given the go ahead.

Minutes later, they would make their way down the airhatch and into Ruusan itself. She took a deep breath. While some Force cleansing had certainly gone down to purify some of the more negative aspects of that ancient battle, she could still feel a smidgen off into the distance.

A smile would perk over to Jan. "Ready? The temple shouldn't be too far from here." she told him. While that was to be one of their destinations, she wanted to go off into the wilderness to teach him more about a more... tingly sort of skill.

Keep your mind out of the gutter there!

 

[Jannik Morlandt]

He nodded, looking off through a viewport again as the ship came in to land. As the months with the Jedi distanced him from his prior life, things such as the apprehension he had once had for space travel were diminishing with each trip, each new visit to a different world. This was simply becoming a fact of life, as normal and as easily taken for granted as running water, electricity, clean robes, and his quetarra.

Okay, perhaps not that; he had worked hard for it, and had learned to take painstaking care of it. That was one thing in his life he most assuredly did not take for granted. It was too important... but, so was all of this. So was every little mote of learning he absorbed from [member="Kira Liadain"] and Erinyes Draclau. And Kira was right - Master Draclau had such an enormous depth of patience, one that was doubtless necessary in helping him to vanquish his fears, so that he might fully come to terms with the gifts he had been given. The solemn, serious, often introspective gift of vision, most of all.

"That she does, and her being so has helped."

And that was the truth of it. With the hatch opening, Jannik followed his master in her movements, gathering himself and whatever was needed up, and making his way out and down the hatch along with the blonde Lorrdian, and taking a long, deep breath of the Ruusan air. It, like the air of every other world, had a different flavour, and it felt alien to his tongue and his mind. He returned her smile, instilling a few motes more of confidence than there might have been five minutes before.

"Ready as ah'll ever be, missy Kira," he replied, coming up next to her to look over the landscape ahead, "So, what ken ye tell me about this temple? How long 'as it be 'ere? Is there anything unique about it, compared t'th'other temples, elsewhere?"

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Jannik Morlandt"]


"For the most part, it has gone underwraps," Kira began to tell Jan, guiding him along as they would walk towards the temple. "A few years ago, Master Boolon and Jedi Knight Adonnai came to Ruusan to attempt to purge as much of the dark as they could from the area. Several other masters and knights were involved in the affair -- quite taxing if i remember correctly. From there rose the new Jedi Temple for Ruusan." she explained, sparing him a small glance and a smile.

"However, one can still feel a bit of what lingers here in places we weren't able to reach." they'd make their way as other Jedi Masters and Knights would nod in greeting. It was a small temple, so travelers were few and far between. Kira's face was one of the few well known, so they didn't have any issues continuing on.

"Perhaps one day, we'll be able to completely purge the dark." she said with notable hope, then a wider smile. "Maybe you'll be part of that one day, hmm?" enter another wink.

"Come on, we'll get started on a few things here with you." stormy clouds would start rolling over head, but this was no worry. They were to embark on a new venture in Jannik's training.

"So, how comfortable are you with the Alter aspect of the Force?"

 

[Jannik Morlandt]

"Mayhaps, ah just might be!"

He too offered the other Masters and Knights a respectful nod as he passed along with [member="Kira Liadain"] into the small, sparsely populated temple. The thought of being a part of something as significant as setting a planet completely right brought a smile to his face and put a light spring in his step. Doing something good with the power he had been given held a certain appeal, and he filed away that thought for future consideration. What if?You never know. And there was a lot, so, so much, that he didn't yet know. There was no telling where this path, this life of the Jedi, would take him, and that was wholly frightening and enticing at the same time.

"Alter?" He sounded a soft hmm, thinking on what was meant by 'Alter' - a small part of an early lesson during his first days with the Jedi, at the temple on Tython - and what fell under that category. After a moment or two it came to him, along with the memory of the day they had met, and the diner that was the setting of their earliest discourse. He snapped the fingers of his right hand, and wagged that index finger at the blonde Master. "Y'know..."

He grinned at the memory.

"...d'ye remember th'day we met, an' how ah'd shown ye th'telekinetics ah'd learned up tae that point? Wi'the salt and pepper shakers?"

He slipped his left hand into a pocket on his outer robes. That first day was a fond memory, and the start of days that served to boost his weak confidence in the new and entirely unfamiliar life he had been transitioning into, while Master Draclau helped to solidify his faith and sense of purpose.

"Well, there's that. An' ah' ken do the jump."

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Jannik Morlandt"]

Kira gave him a grin. "Exactly -- just like that." she'd pause with a wiggle of her blonde brows in impish mischief. "But we will be altering in a most unique way."

Two fingers would beckon him to follow her anew, this time down a series of steps.

"With the Force one can do many wonders. There are no limits to it. It is just energy-- an energy that can be transformed at your will." from one hand she would show him, as tiny sparks of aquamarine sparks would snap from her right hand, dancing across her fingers.

" Cause... and effect. Causality." She'd finally stop at the seat of what would appear to be the ruins of an amphitheater.

"Manipulating from the tiniest of particles... sped up.. and then finally... " the sparks would suddenly turn into a bright flash of light, intense enough to blind.

"Formed into something new with that same energy." She'd grin once the bright light and the stars would fade from his eyes.

"We will start with Force flash first."

 

[Jannik Morlandt]

[member="Kira Liadain"]

He squeezed his eyes shut at the flash, opening them to blink, seeing spots and stars. He rubbed at his eyes, then fixed her with a look that was not-quite-annoyance, a measure of indignation, and a spot of disbelief. Oh, the things this woman could do! It was impressive, sure, and her methods certainly kept him on his toes. Made him forget entirely about how much he still felt wary of the daily meditations he had been assigned to further work on the skill of Farsight. His comfort was increasing, but it was a hard, slow process from fear to confident familiarity.

"Y'could've warned me, lass!" he exclaimed, rubbing again at his eyes when he saw a great big spot where her head was supposed to be, but the spottiness was fewer and further between now, the stars no longer seen, "But ye never do. S'pose ah should be used tae that!"

At least it was often fun. The same couldn't be said for every instructor he'd had over the course of his life.

"So, ah take it this is for blinding people, then?" he said with a thin grin, "How d'ye go about doing it?"

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Jannik Morlandt"]


A cheeky grin would shine at him -- once he managed to wipe the stars from the back of his eyes. "Heh, round about the same kind of manipulation for anything having to do with the aspect of alter really. " She'd tell him.

"Folk tend to start these lessons with learning how to alter the flow and the current of the Force," a wink would be tossed over at his direction, "But you've graduated beyond being able to do that already. All that is required is focus -- and a picture in your mind on what you so desire to do."

"The Force in itself, what it is around you, is pretty much chock full of molecules and atoms just waiting and dancing 'round with a heck of an amount of potential. You just happen to be the potter to its clay.

Setting off a flash of light like this is a matter of speeding up the molecules, much like one would to gather heat or cool oneself off with Tapas -- only that you are focusing all of your energy within the palm of your hand.

This is a basis for other powers I'll be teaching you after this -- but let's start with light first... then we will get to the reaaaal interesting things for a rush of energy later!"

 

[Jannik Morlandt]

[member="Kira Liadain"]

The fact that it had some basic similarity to things he'd already learned was rather helpful knowledge. He'd be easily able to draw from that experience; aside from the matters of the mind, the aspects of the 'Alter' tree of Force abilities were the next area that he'd found the most affinity with. This was where most of his offensive and defensive capabilities were liable to come from, he'd learned, outside of anything he might learn that was purely physical - and that was something he was unsure of. He didn't know how he felt about the thought of using a lightsaber. But that had nothing to do with the here and now!

So all he had to do was picture it, right? Well, and focus. So focus he did, closing his eyes for some moments as he stood there, sinking himself in the Force just enough to find that calm that Master Draclau had lead him to, for focus was easier to find and maintain in this way. A small frisson of worry spiked and promptly tapered off, as this centre of calm he had learned only had lead to the practice of Farsight thus far, but it had application beyond that and once it was attained, he opened his eyes, breathed out slowly, and held out his right hand, turning it over, examining it. He nodded, the small act bolstering his confidence a little, and began to form the image in his mind as he looked at his splayed hand, the particles of energy needed being herded by his will in the Force to where they'd be of use, speeding up to a warmth that cast a faint glow over his fingers.

He swallowed, quelling the sudden surge of surprise at the glow on his digits, and applied further focus, the glow becoming brighter until the ramped-up activity of the particles could no longer be sustained, being pushed over the edge and winking out in a flash that was perhaps not as brilliant as the one he'd witnessed from the blonde Lorrdian, but was a flash, nonetheless.

Oh, he was going to have to shield his eyes or simply not look directly at it in subsequent attempts, he realized, pinching the corners of his eyes, which were promptly squeezed shut upon the advent of the flash.

"Well, ah s'pose ah ken see a use f'that," he said, blinking away spots for the second time in so many minutes.

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Jannik Morlandt"]

"It is pretty handy when you need to make a quick getaway," she'd tell him, nodding at his ability to manipulate and pick up on it so fast. It wasn't as bright as hers, but it would do. Practice would make it easier.

She at least had some sun glasses perched upon her face to quell the bulk of the light.

"Nothing like a quick flash to get folk stunned," she would chuckle. She'd pause for a moment, mulling over things. "There are other things that can serve as a basis." she told him.

Her right hand would extend out towards him, while her left would slide her sunglasses forward down her nose. "Speed things up and you'll find a method of altering the Force into energy with a bit more of an electric boom." her hand would start to glow, but unlike the time with the flash, it would turn a faint cerulean aqua blue.

"However with this one.... this one you have to be a bit more careful. It is the foundation of where one can cross the line a bit too far. Force Spark.

Just a tiny spark of energy," electricity would start to crackle over her hand, until finally it let out a tiny spark of charge that went flying towards the ground.

 

[Jannik Morlandt]

[member="Kira Liadain"]

He rubbed the spots out of his eyes a little more, seeing them fade once again as she explained the next skill on the docket for today. More flashiness, more brightness, more light, except this time the glow took on the colour of some tropical waters, before the energy built up and release from her hand in an electric rush to the ground at his feet, making him jump ever so slightly. He knew what it looked like, and he had heard of something like this, heard tales... and it made his brow knit in concern.

"What line," he asked, carefully, in that brogue, looking her straight in the face with his eyes, "is this a foundation for? To what end, lass?"

He was wary, alright. Though it was just a little spark he'd seen... where was it to lead? What applications could it possibly have? He stared at the spot where that spark had hit, eyes downcast for a moment, before looking back to the hand from which it had come. It didn't occur to him that the colour of this foundation indicated a different core from the examples he held in his memory, and for the first time he felt real doubt creep into his thoughts about the bubbly blonde that related to him as 'master'.

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Jannik Morlandt"]

She'd see the rise of wariness come across his face. "Good. You're hesitant. That's good because I want you to remember this well, Jan."

Her fingers would slowly wiggle, sparks of aquamarine light dancing over those slender digits. "A Jedi sufficiently strong in the Force can be trained to produce a facsimile, but not true Sith lightning." She told him.

"The Darkside is easier, faster, and always rift with temptation. It is fueled by anger and aggression." she'd say carefully, pointedly, as to have him engrave that in memory.

"It takes Jedi who is perfectly calm and in control of there emotions to create a facsimile of this electric current through the Force. To cross that line into raw emotion to fuel this particular manifestation of control of the Force is what crosses that line.

A Force spark is but just that -- a spark. But to grow in practice and strength will create larger sparks, an arc, until finally..." she'd say quietly as she would manipulate the Force to form a small handsized electric sphere of energy.

"One can cast what Master Plo Koon called Electric Judgement." the ball would crackle, but not with any sort of malevolent intent, but more pulsed with active kinetic energy similar to that of Kira herself. " It is a rare power -- controversial as you may gather, for it is very similiar in both appearance and usage to Force lightning. However... instead of the typical blue or white arcs of energy, it appears to manifest in those experienced Jedi as yellow or green energy instead."

She'd crack half a crooked smile at him.

"Or in my case, I say looks like the color of the sea of Spira."

 

[Jannik Morlandt]

[member="Kira Liadain"]

The explanation set him a little more at ease, but at the same time, given the particular applications of it (how they mirrored the uses of Sith-employed Force Lightning), he was still slightly wary. Overall, he did trust his master's judgement; she had set him on the 'scent' of Erinyes Draclau, who had turned out to be a great boon to him. Given another moment he could reason that building up to that skill might be wise and even if he never made use of it, having the possibility in the bag was not necessarily a completely bad thing. Electric Judgement - he'd have to remember that.

"Spira?" he said, taking a closer look at the ball of electric energy, "Aye, ah s'pose so," though he'd never seen the world beyond holographic representations. Well, he went back to the words she said on introducing this 'spark', and in the end figured it couldn't be a waste to at least try. He shot her a muted smile, then began employing the same tactic used to effect the flash he'd just learned, but as given, he sped the particles up far faster than they had went before - the second attempt was often more stable than the first - and began to see a glow of a very faint mint cream colour, and after a few more moments of pointed focus, a finger-nipping crackle formed at the tips of his digits.

It was fascinating, but the fact that he could do it was uncomfortable, without question; but it was over almost as soon as it had begun, zapping to the ground in a small... well, spark. His fingers still felt tingly, and he examined his hand, front and back, after it was done.

"Ah hope th'circumstances in which ah'd eventually use that are rare."

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Jannik Morlandt"]

"That's the point. " Kira would tell him, watching him carefully upon his use of Force Spark. "The intent, is to hopefully, never have to use it to begin with." this is where Kira would divulge the little often known galactic view the Lorrdian had involving the use of the Force and how one interacts with the rest of the galaxy.

"With the Force, one can do many amazing things. " she'd begin, closing her hand tight to snuff the ball of electricity. "But in my mind... the less you have to depend on it, the better.

If there are ways that you can complete a mission, render aide, or fight an opponent that uses the least amount of force and through normal means without the Force in itself, the better.

Having the ability to manipulate it and do wonderous things is nifty and all -- but we can't depend on it."

 

[Jannik Morlandt]

He nodded, understanding just what it was the blonde master was saying. She could be serious at times, amidst her joviality, and the fact that it happened often only served to cement thing further for him. He often thought he couldn't have had a better master than [member="Kira Liadain"].

"Ah think those o'us who've lived other lives prior tae this life o'th'Jedi are more likely tae depend on wha' we already knew b'fore'and, first."

He slipped his hands into pockets found in the folds of his robes, the metaphorical cogs in his head turning his intellect.

"An' ah imagine th'supply of energy... t'ain't infinite, aye?" he queried, largely in rhetoric, "P'haps wise tae conserve if we can?"

 

[Kira Talith]

The Lorrdian Jedi Master would give one of her few somber nods. "Aye. While you can do great things with the Force, one isn't all powerful or gain unlimited resources. The more powerful the use of the force, the more it an sap your strength. After all, you are the vessel used to manipulate that energy.

Your body is, well... fallible. Too much could burn it out and fast. Concentrating and keeping your focus over a long period of time could ease it, but even then, there is a limit you can't overtake." she'd tell him.

"Conserve what you can. Use it wisely, for when you truly do need it." her smile would widen. "Any questions?"

 

[Jannik Morlandt]

He nodded here and there with her confirmation and answer to his questions, and shook his head where she asked if he had any questions of his own. No, it all seemed to be well and truly understood.

"But if ah do think of any, ah'll tell ye."

He smiled back, with a matched and sombre calm. Every bit of knowledge, no matter how small, would benefit him and be put to use, someday, sometime.

"So, what'dye hae for me next, lass?"

[member="Kira Liadain"]

 

[Kira Talith]

[member="Jannik Morlandt"]

"What i have next deals with another method to manipulate electric energy... but instead of being able to be used for organics, this is more for inorganics" she told him, her hands gesturing as she'd explain. That was the Lorrdian in her showing. Every move, every twitch, every sign had a specific purpose.

"Droids really... or anything electronic. Don't get me wrong, a spark of the Force can zap things. But Ionized energy..." she'd grin, "That can really give a droid a bad day.

Or a datapad." she'd tell him. "There is a difference... the molecules and atoms are charged differently, ionized to be precise. While this could affect and short-circuit droids and other electronic systems, it is utterly ineffective against organics.

You could say that this is the counterpart to Force stun, which could incapacitate an organic being but not a droid." She would show him by manipulating the Force to do just so with a small crackling handful of the purple ionized arcs of energy. "Looks like this... see how it's purple instead of blue?"