Private Different Names, Familiar Faces

[Jasper Kai'el]

Different Names, Familiar Faces
Coruscant, Jedi Temple Hangar
Tags: Maran

It was time to get ready to head out again. Now that he was a Jedi Knight, Jasper would be working much more with the war effort, which he was okay with. Better him then those who haven't seen it yet. The Lonestar 1 had taken on all kinds of roles these past few months. Supply transport, drop ship, dog fighter. She was a stellar vessel, but not invincible. A little wear and tear had begun to creep in again, though nothing to extreme. Just some damage to the hydraulic pistons in the lift door. The cyborg was laid down underneath it, casually tinkering away with a whistle, a bit of a melodic tune to keep himself from thinking.

He couldn't stop himself from thinking. Jasper hadn't been a knight for very long, but he already felt that he wasn't doing enough. The young man tried his best to put those doubts in the back of his head. Iris had told him he was too much of a perfectionist, too worried about failure. It wasn't as bad as it had been, but he was always worried about things like that to some extent. The knights he had met and those he knew who became knights (though incredibly slim) already seemed to have everything figured out. Students, specialties, secret missions... and here he was living in a freighter, just like he had been as a Padawan. Jasper finally managed to push these thoughts back. Self worth or not, he needed to be out there on the war front. They were going to need him, which meant they were going to need his ship. So, the Lonestar 1 needed to be in peak condition.

That at least could occupy his mind.

 

[Maran]

Life was kind of a haze at this point for Maran. Panic, fear, she couldn't shake it. The feeling she'd done something truly wrong. She was absolutely terrible with the feeling of guilt. She lashed out at others to hide it, but it always made it worse. Why didn't it make it better? She frowned as she wandered through the temple. She didn't want to keep feeling this terrible. But what else was she supposed to do?

Admit she was wrong?

No, no. She wasn't wrong. She just needed to get over the fear. Then everything would be fine.

Wait, the hangar? She blinked, scanning around the room ever curiously now that she was here. She hadn't been here since she last snuck out. And just like that the panic was back. Her breathing quickened, her eyes widened. She clutched at her chest. The club, the drugs users, trying not to get caught, trying not to fall to her fear or panic. Only to do just that and have to be dragged along by another Padawan. She was useless. Scared.

And it only got worse. Wasn't time supposed to help? Maran pulled up her hood, hurrying along. Trying to escape at least these damn memories. Then a flash of yellow. Blonde, more exact. Jalen?

Jalen worked on ships?

Immediately latching onto something other than the panic she was feeling she strode right over, clearing her throat. "I thought you said it didn't work like that. Now you're working on a ship?"

Jasper Kai'el

 

[Jasper Kai'el]

Coruscant, Jedi Temple Hangar
Tags: Maran

"I thought you said it didn't work like that. Now you're working on a ship?"

Jasper paused, sitting up to see who had begun to speak to him. It was a young girl, no older than 13 if he had to guess, and she seemed to have mistaken him for someone else. She was also noticeably shaken and hiding that fact very poorly. The knight knew that face all too well. He had worn it before. It was like looking in a younger, greener mirror.

"Sorry," he apologized, "But I think you've got me mixed up with someone else. I don't think we've met."

He pressed a button on the lift door, letting it close before standing up to address the Mirialan in a more proper manner.

"Jasper Kai'el," he introduced. "I'm a Jedi Knight. Nice to meet ya."

Jasper turned, beginning to gather up his tools. Who had she mistaken him for? Probably any old human, really. With billions out there in the galaxy, there were bound to be a few look alikes.

"You picked a good spot to hide out," Jasper continued as he gathered up his things. "The noise is really good at drowning out your thoughts on your first couple of visits. Not so much when you get used to it."

The knight turned, a soft smile spread across his face, the same he would use when speaking to his brother. Even if he couldn't see it, the tone was always different when someone had a smile.

"So what's eating you?"

 

[Maran]

He also lost an arm apparently. And grew older. .. And new eyes.

Okay it wasn't Jalen. That got pretty obvious. Shit. Shit. She cleared her throat, glancing around the hangar in a hopes Jalen was actually there so she could just, drift off his way or something. Or literally anyone else oh god this adult was talking. This adult Jalen lookalike cyborg was still talking and- Wait what?

"Nothing's eating me. I'm fine."

She huffed. Crossed her arms. She wasn't that obvious, was she? Naw, she wasn't. No way she could be.

"Worry about yourself."

Jasper Kai'el

 

[Jasper Kai'el]

Coruscant, Jedi Temple Hangar
Tags: Maran

"Nothing's eating me. I'm fine."

She huffed. Crossed her arms.

"Worry about yourself."

"Alright," Jasper shrugged. "If you say so."

He wasn't gonna pry. That would be a waste of his energy, and he really wasn't in the mood to give some kid a panic attack. As he opened the door of his ship again, his small, orb-shaped companion droid floated out.

"Alright," Pyf buzzed. "That piece of kyber is ready for you to purify."

That was good news. He had gone after a Sith Holocron with his now Shadow friend recently and recovered a Sith lightsaber. The stone within had been blead, so he had committed himself to cleansing it.

"Thanks," he nodded to the droid before turning back to the Mirialan. "Ever purify a crystal before?"

 

[Maran]

Oh. That was easy. Why was that so easy? Wasn't a Knight supposed to like, keep prying or something? Not that she wanted him to. Pff no it was way better than he hadn't. She was fine and she would be fine and there was no reason to panic and already she was starting to panic oh god why was she panicking now there was no reason to please calm down already.

".. Huh? Purify a crystal?"

She blinked, immediately latching onto the idea that wasn't, y'know, panicking. This was gonna be fine. Perfectly fine.

"Sure. Why not. Sounds cool."

Jasper Kai'el

 

[Jasper Kai'el]

Coruscant, Jedi Temple Hangar
Tags: Maran

Jasper had taken note of a brief flitter of emotion in her face before he offered to bring her along. He knew exactly what it was: An ensuing panic attack. The knight had plenty of those before. Whatever it was, he'd figure out the only way that really ever worked. Building trust, that is. Natural, organic conversation. As he made his way onto his ship, he gestured for Maran to follow.

"Sorry about the clutter," Jasper apologized. "Got a few inventions lying around I haven't finished yet."

He'd been to busy. The clutter wasn't bad, just a little unorganized, typical of the standard workshop. He made his way up to a table with a light hanging over it, his main workbench, or at least one of a few. On the table was a disassembled lightsaber, a crimson gemstone exposed where one could assume the center to be. Jasper picked it up with a delicate hand, bringing it into the light for the young padawan to see.

"This here is kyber," he explained, "The genuine real deal... but something terrible happened to it. May look like an ordinary rock, but this stuff is alive. The only way it gains this red color is through torture. Darksiders put it through a painful process called bleeding. Not a bad way to think about it, really. The stone is injured, in a way."

Jasper clasped his hand around the kyber. He, of course, had a way to cleanse it: Force Light. He had done so a few times now, as Sith had become more frequent in the underbelly of Coruscant, mostly those who thought they could slip under the nose of the Order.

"Alright," Jasper continued, "It's gonna get bright in here for a minute."

With that warning out of the way, he let the radiant aura emanate from his body, filling the space with a faint glow. Maran would find herself within that warm energy, and Jasper would let his mind connect with the kyber.

 

[Maran]

She followed in and sort of just looked around. Hands in her pockets kind of attitude. Guy was weird, for sure. Like, lived in his freighter tinkering with machinery weird. And crystal weird. Maran squinted at the gem. It was alive? Mm. Didn't seem like it was alive. How could a rock be alive? It's not like she felt some.. Thing.. She did. Panic. Pain. But not hers for once.

Her eyes squinted. Because of the bright light. .. Weird. It felt.. Comfortable? Not entirely sure what to do or say though she stayed quiet and just.. Watched. Curious on what exactly he was doing. It stopped the crystals pain. Or lessened it?

".. Weird."

Jasper Kai'el

 

[Jasper Kai'el]

Coruscant, Jedi Temple Hangar
Tags: Maran

It wasn't long before Jasper's light had purified the stone. As his aura fell away, he let out an exhausted sigh. Using Force Light for a prolonged period of time in such a manner was taxing. He needed more practice with it. The knight turned to the padawan, opening his palm to reveal a now white crystal.

"There we go," he finally said. "Bet you don't get to see that everyday. Not many go out of their way to purify blead kyber when they take out a Sith. It's a sad fate, being left behind, especially in a tortured state."

Jasper placed the kyber back on his workbench. He'd find it a new place in time. For now, he had this padawan to figure out.

"So what's your deal?" Jasper asked. "Running around having panic attacks instead of being in classes? Just wasting time?"

 

[Maran]

Huh.

Maran stared at the crystal. It was.. At peace? It felt like it was at peace. Weird. That's all the could think. About all of this. Bled kyber, healed by a flashlight and good feelings. It was the Force, sure. And she could do some weird stuff with the Force. Then he addressed her. Bluntly, at that. The teen couldn't hide the blatant confirmation on her face that she was indeed having panic attacks rather than be in class.

Not that she wouldn't try to deny it.

"I'm just-! Yeah! The second thing you said. That. Absolutely."

Jasper Kai'el

 

[Jasper Kai'el]

Coruscant, Jedi Temple Hangar
Tags: Maran

"You don't have to lie, you know," Jasper told her. "It would be pretty hypocritical to judge you for being organic, right?"

He didn't need to talk down to her or beat around the bush. She would understand. Jasper wasn't one to underestimate just how much these kids really knew. They were smarter than others gave them credit for.

"Let's ignore what's bothering you for now," he decided. "We'll start with just relaxing."

Jasper made his way a little deeper into the vessel, procuring a hallikset. It was unpolished at the moment, but fully functional. As much as he enjoyed playing, it was really a gift for Jalen, one to replace his lost instrument. He took a moment to run his organic hand along the base before turning back.

"You play at all?"

 

[Maran]

"I'm not lying I'm just not.. Telling."

She muttered defiantly, her frown only getting worse now. She didn't want to hear that from him. Some stranger with a glowy trick and Jalen's face. Then, she blinked. Glancing to the instrument. .. Wait he wasn't Jalen but he had that? Confusion had her tilt her head a bit before she nodded.

"A little, yeah. I guess. Why? Do you?"

Jasper Kai'el

 

[Jasper Kai'el]

Coruscant, Jedi Temple Hangar
Tags: Maran

"I used to, yeah," Jasper told her. "A lot when I got stressed. Not much anymore. I never feel like I have the time."

He really didn't have time for stuff like that these days. Still, it had helped him before, so maybe it could help her. At least clear her mind, that is. Get her in a head space to better process. Jasper offered the young Mirialan the instrument with a smile.

"Go ahead," he continued. "Might help you relax."

 

[Maran]

A chance to play?

She wasn't going to say no. Not at this point. She reached out to take the instrument, nodding her head a little as she just.. Started to play. Slowly. It was a simple melody, one for beginners at that, but Maran focused on it. Relaxed, smiled. She did actually like playing. Even if she wasn't the best. Minutes went by as she just played, until she finally did stop. When she did, she blinked. Glanced up to him.

Then shrugged.

".. Guess it helps relax, yeah."

Jasper Kai'el

 

[Jasper Kai'el]

Coruscant, Jedi Temple Hangar
Tags: Maran

"Good."

If it truly had helped, that would mean she should be able to understand what it was that he was about to say. It was like talking to himself. Someone full of fear. Jasper had been left behind when he was her age. He wasn't going to leave her.

"You don't have a master you should be studying with right now, do you?"

 

[Maran]

"No. No master for me. Everyone's too busy fighting wars and being heroes to train someone like me." No, she wasn't bitter at all. She frowned, stared at the instrument in her hands. Then just set it down to get up and start heading out.

".. Thanks, for letting me play. Imma go."

Jasper Kai'el

 

[Jasper Kai'el]

Coruscant, Jedi Temple Hangar
Tags: Maran

"No. No master for me. Everyone's too busy fighting wars and being heroes to train someone like me."

"Funny," Jasper remarked as he took the instrument. "I used to feel the same way."

What was he doing? This was stupid. He wasn't ready. There was nobody he had, so what would make him any better? But Jasper couldn't keep the thought of another padawan ending up like him out of his mind. Left to figure everything out alone, dictated by fear and confusion. He didn't leave people behind.

"Let's change that then," he concluded. "You can go now. I'm sure you had plans today, but I want to see you back here first thing in the morning. I'll inform the council that you'll be training under me from this point onward."

This was a good decision. A smile spread across his face. And there was one more thing. He had finally figured out who she probably thought he was.

"Tell Jalen I said hi if you see him, yeah?"

 

[Maran]

Huh?

No, wait, what?

She stared in disbelief for a moment. He.. Master? Huh? The disbelief in what he said had her even more off guard when he mentioned Jalen. She full on stuttered before clearing her throat and briskly walking down the ramp.

"I.. I will. .. Okay. Yeah."

Jasper Kai'el