Private Color Trials

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with: Iris Arani

Zaiya's skin wavered between a muted silver and contemplative amber, her bioluminescence dimming as she thought back to that moment -- the moment. The way the Force had surged through her, Kahlil Noble 'sLight Rune pulsing, Corazona von Ascania guidance, and then the blinding and immense, wrapping around Nulgath Zardai like a thousand burning threads. The way the act had overwhelmed her as the darkness was torn from him. How, even now, she could still feel the echo of it in her bones.

Her mottled spots rippled a rich ochre as she gave a sharp exhale.

"Yeah," she murmured, voice quieter than usual. "I get it."

She shifted, crossing her arms over her chest, unsure if the shiver down her spine was from the memory or something else entirely.

"I...I don't even know how I did it," she admitted, brow furrowing. "It wasn't like I planned it, or trained for it. It just happened." Her gaze flicked to Iris. "And I felt him break, Iris. Like something in him just... snapped. Is that really peace?"

Her mottled spots dimmed and grew darker, hints of deep pewter grey threading through the amber. She knew logically that at the time back at the station, the dead needed to be stopped. But the Jedi taught that the Force connected all living things. And she'd somehow severed him from it -- but Iris considered to be healing instead?

Granted, on Ukatis months after the fact, she had also felt how the Force had reacted to Nulgath after their conversation, how it had all of a sudden transported him from that field beside the creek, and how it had felt thereafter. He had told her then that hoping in him was in vain, as he may very never do so, that he might let her down. But she had told him that she could at the very least continue to hope for him. She wondered how he was doing now.

Zaiya let out a laugh as Iris groaned at her own pun.

"You're lucky I like you because that was awful," she teased, forcing a grin that didn't quite reach her eyes. But the weight in her chest remained.
Because deep down, she wasn't sure if she'd done the right thing. Or if she ever would be.

There was another pause as the lift slowed and then came to a stop. Now they were deep underground and she could feel the Force stronger here, tugging at them both.

"So... how does Force Light work? And would I be able to do it again?"

 

[Iris Arani]

​

"When you amputate a limb, it's not a peaceful thing. It's a traumatic, terrible thing. They will feel that loss for the rest of their lives. Phantom pains, uncomfortableness, forgetting they'd even lost it in the first place only to feel that loss all over again when they do remember. When we have to do those things, we're not helping them find peace. We're helping them live so they can, eventually, find peace."

There was a soft grumble though as Zaiya pointed further at the pun. No, she didn't want to think more on it. She waved her hand briefly, still grumbling as she did. "It was- it was. We don't need to talk about it any more. Force Light. I don't know how it works, or if you'll be able to use it again, or how you did in the first place. From what I've read it's something a Jedi truly in tune with the Force can use to defeat the corruption of the Dark at it's source. If you want to learn more, reach out to those who can use it. They'll be better to help."

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with: Iris Arani

"I see." Zaiya replied quietly, before turning back to Iris regarding what she said about helping others live so they can eventually find peace. That made sense. She nodded adding, "Then I hope Nulgath Zardai is able to find peace."

As the lift doors hissed open, a rush of energy surged over Zaiya's skin, sending a shimmering wave of teal and amber through her mottled patterns. The room ahead was vast, its walls lined with faintly glowing symbols despite its age whispering through the Force like echoes of a forgotten language. The air itself thrummed, heavy yet electric, as if the Force was woven into every stone.

She took a hesitant step forward, her bioluminescent glow pulsing softly in reaction to the shift in energy. This place is alive.

Zaiya glanced at Iris before moving further inside, her fingers brushing against the wall where the symbols shimmered at her touch.

"This place... it feels different. Stronger." Her voice was hushed, reverent, as though speaking too loudly might disrupt whatever unseen presence lingered here.

The conversation about Force Light still circled in her thoughts. She let it simmer as she turned toward Iris.

"So, if I do want to learn more... do you think Master Kahlil or Cora would actually teach me? Or would they think it's too dangerous?" There was curiosity in her voice, but also something more...determination. That light, whatever it had been, had come from her, and she needed to understand why.

 

[Iris Arani]

​

"We can't force peace on people. If he wants it, he will find it. But you gave him the chance, at least." That was the important part of it all. Was she certain that this undead of a man was going to be able to? No, not really. Not because she thought he'd turn back to the Dark, but rather the weight he carried wasn't the kind he would find peace with.

Once the doors opened though she tilted her head. The flow of colors, it was guided. Above it was a chaotic mess reminiscent of her street art. No form, no rhythm, just raw and pure instinct. This? It was a river of colors, flowing uniformed and neat. Clear. She was quiet for a bit, not even responding to Zaiya at first.

This was overwhelming in it's own way. She'd never seen the Force this clear.

".. Huh? Oh. Yeah. They should be able to tell you if it's something you can't learn yet or not. I think you can, personally. It's powerful, but it's good. Not dangerous. Maybe. They'd know best."

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with: Iris Arani

Force Light. Could she really learn it?

Her mottled spots rippled with thoughtful amber as she turned back to Iris, her expression uncertain but determined. "Yeah. I think I want to ask them. If it's something I can do, I should know how to do it, right?"

Her gaze flickered back to the swirling energy around them. Maybe, just maybe, this place had more to show them than they realized. Her bioluminescent markings flickered between soft teal and amber, reflecting both awe and contemplation. And if she focused a bit more, the Lovalla Padawan could see the Force here like Iris, not just feel it or merely sense its presence, but see its movement, its flow, its intent. It was nothing like the wild, chaotic bursts of energy she was used to -- this was precise, deliberate. Alive.

She took a slow step forward, her fingers twitching as though she could reach out and trace the river of light.

"What do you make of this?" she murmured, more to herself than to Iris. The energy wasn't just humming -- it was singing, thrumming beneath her skin in a way that made her stripes shimmer with an instinctive glow.

 

[Iris Arani]

​

"It's important to understand how something you can do works, yeah. But if it is dangerous, don't think you should have to do it." Iris had a feeling Zaiya would use it regardless, but the choice needed to be emphasize. They chose these paths, or at least to walk them of their own free will. Not that they had to. Not that they should.

Her focus though was around them. The Force, how it felt, it was still such a difference from what Iris was used to she was still going through some whiplash. Everything was ordered. Everything made sense. She could see the purpose here. "It's a challenge. A trial. Everything here is guided by the Force to challenge the Jedi. It was built with that intent, at least. I can see spots where time had worn it down, but.. It's not unrepairable."

She reached a hand out towards a console as they stepped further within, idly brushing away the dust. There were no proper controls, and yet, she could feel each within it. A couple of buttons were pressed before the dust around them shifted. Platforms rose, guided by the Force itself, beams of blue light that seemed to make the dust scatter, and beams of green that seemed to guide it into a more direct path.

".. They're puzzles, to help Jedi learn more of their abilities."

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with: Iris Arani

Zaiya's skin dimmed to a contemplative silver, her stripes settled in a muted amber as she sombered at Iris's words. Right, if Force Light was dangerous, she shouldn't think she had to use it. It wasn't about forcing herself into a role she wasn't ready for. The last time she'd done it, it had wrecked her. Passing out like that, left completely vulnerable, if Mahsa , Corazona von Ascania or Master Kahlil Noble hadn't been there… She wasn't going to let that happen again.

"Yeah…" she exhaled, nodding. "I don't think I'm ready to do something like that again unless I practice and really learn how it works. Like Battle Meld."

Domxite chimed in through their connection, a soft pulse of agreement that made her smile despite the weight of the conversation.

Her skin brightened, tinged with teal, as excitement flickered through her at the sight of the puzzles coming to life beneath Iris's touch.

A trial, guided by the Force itself? Now that was something she could get behind.

"Whoa, puzzles? Really?" She took a step closer, watching the beams of light shift and guide the dust into patterns. "Well, that's one neat way of training… like, way cooler than just doing katas over and over." SHe then gave Iris a sheepish grin, "NOt that doing morning drills are not fun... I just like puzzles too!"

Her stripes rippled bright citrine hue as an idea struck her. She turned toward Iris, eyes alight with curiosity. "You know… maybe we can repair the rest? Then I can try and see if I can work them out?"

 

[Iris Arani]

​

"I think repairing this place to help teach the others would be fantastic. Why not have us check how it all works first? Get a good grip on the curriculum here." Clarity. Of thought, intention. Iris was almost a different person here. Focused, smiling. This was something she could work with. Using these colors in a way that others could actually understand and see.

"We'll start with this first one. I believe it's a jumping puzzle of sorts."

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with: Iris Arani

Zaiya's skin rippled in joy with a soft, glowing turquoise. There was something about seeing her focused and smiling like that. It was as if a whole new side of Iris had emerged in this place.

"Yeah! That sounds like a great plan." Zaiya's voice was filled with enthusiasm as she took a step closer to the puzzle. She could feel the energy from the Force in the air, making her own glow pulse in a way that matched the environment's rhythm. Her stripes flickered a soft, eager yellow as her mind raced ahead.

A jumping puzzle? I can do this.

"Alright," she grinned, eyes bright with determination. "Let's see how this one works. I bet we can figure it out in no time. It's like… the Force's version of a workout."

The Lovalla Padawan gave a small frown in contemplation, dark amber now blooming over her skin as she began to think. After a second, the girl brought up her wrist, her bangles giving a melodic jingle. As one to work with technology and since this required fixing, it was best to start with a few scans.

"Let me get some scans... see what needs to be fixed and then we can get to it." she told Iris with a flashing grin. A second later, she sent up a small hovering scanning droid that began to take scans of the area. As information began to feed into her datapad, Zaiya's skin gave a sudden spike in a bright citrine hue in excited curiosity.

"Oh! There seems to be some sort of solid light tech here! Yeah I can work with this." she told Iris, getting even more excited. "It looks like some of the projector nodes may need to be checked out... give me a few minutes and I think I can get them working!"

 

[Iris Arani]

​

A Force Workout, then? Iris smiled softly as she nodded her head. It would be good for them both to use, eventually. Right now, though? Zaiya. There was a lot more Zaiya could do, especially here. The technology, if Iris had read it right, was very close to the bangle Zaiya sported for all her different needs. Technology was just as important to learn as the Force for a healer after all.

The Force was something Zaiya was still learning, but as Iris watched the gears in her Padawan's head get to work, it was clear the girl was far more advanced with the technological side than most other Padawan's would ever be. She found a spot to sit, nodding her head once as she let her senses drift to better understand the Force side of the puzzle.

"Go ahead. I'll figure out how best to get it started and going once it's all repaired."

Zaiya Ceti

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with: Iris Arani

Zaiya's skin shimmered with soft amber undertones, the mottled patterns along her arms and cheeks rippling into curious cyan hues as she crouched beside the dormant projection nodes. Her brows pursed in contemplation as she ran her fingers over the burnt-out ports.

"Ah-ha," she murmured, brushing aside a layer of dust. "Solid-state hologram receptors are definitely fried."

With a confident grin tugging at her lips, she tapped one of her wrist bangles. A delicate chirrup responded, and a toolset of solid light flickered into form in her hand, each piece outlined in crisp holo-blue, floating just above her palm.

"I knew this bangle would come in handy," she said, flashing a grin at Iris, a subtle flicker of teal lighting her bioluminescent spots in proud bursts.
Then she got to work. Her movements were fluid and practiced, with the light dancing off her rosy golden skin. She delicately replaced scorched plating, realigned filaments, and coaxed the photonic matrix back into harmony, one glowing adjustment at a time.

When the last connection hummed with power beneath her palm, Zaiya straightened. Her stripes surged with a pulse of bright teal and warm flecks of gold as they rolled in waves of satisfaction down her arms as the central controller lit up.

A soft chime echoed through the space and suddenly, pale violet blue spheres of light blinked to life in the air. One by one, the solid-light ledges snapped into view, suspended midair in shimmering columns. The platforms shifted subtly, cycling through different arrangements as if testing them.

Zaiya's whole body lit with excitement, teal and citrine tones dancing over her mottled markings in excited waves. "There we go!" she beamed.

"Dynamic sequences, shifting difficulty... whoa this is totally programmable." Turning to Iris with a glint in her eye, she added, "Looks like we're in for a real Force workout, huh?"