Faction Draw the heat! (Ballistakinesis Lesson | NJO)

[Tyrus Vastor]

Not even a meter away from Diogo Talon and Aadihr Lidos and already he could hear it continue on. Kahlil Noble being persistent to dismiss Vulpesen for...This dont make any sense. What the kark is goin on. What is the reason? The real reason?!

He scratched his chin and glanced back at the duo now. Arguing for no apparent reason. Already the koruns deductive mind was working this like a case. He had tried to be reasonable with Master Kahlil and respectful for the sake of the class but whatever boundary he placed wasn't enough and to ignore the tension building now would mean to eat the disrespect that was already dissed out. This was his class and his idea. His turf.

" Fine. Scorched earth. Kark it all." He said lowly and turned back to the two once more. Though his words were clearly for the Shield of the Jedi himself. Master Vulp was a mere guest and one that was invited and picked by Tyrus himself. He had no reason to lay any blame.

" Kahlil!! Are you tell'in me that you are more than willing to call the Grandmaster, your swollen foot, pregnant wife down here?! What?!" Tyrus remarked sarcastically. Restraint still lingering in his voice. Never in his mind would he, as a korun, even dare to attempt something like that. Grandmaster Valery Noble didn't need to be involved nor did anyone else on the council for this chit.

None of it was adding up.

" Im gonna ask you again. And Imma make it as clear as day for you too. First you claim its the harsh methods and lessons. That these kids are not soldiers, then you claim its the descriptive language used in the session and it should be toned down. Then you hide behind the Jedi code. You claim its not our way. The Jedi way?! To hell with the code and your hypocritical holier than thou chit. I tried to be decent with you and your disrespect. I did. But how much more poodoo you gonna spew out? You and your karking pride right now, I swear! A side from the fact that Master Vulpesen is not a Jedi and that he was once a darksider, by his own omission, What makes him and what he has done in the past any different than you!!! Huh?!? Zambrano. The son of Darth Carnifex . You were a darksider too. Or did you forget?! And lastly, since you wanna go there, What makes me any better than him or you?! I was a darksider before all this. A sith assassin! I have just enough blood on my hands as you both! So any issue you have with alignment you can squash now. A known user of the darkside. My arse."

" You aint standing on chit right now, Kahlil. So what else you got to say? And what is your karking issue. Just say it already." There was no mistaking or excusing the tension in the class now. His deep voice shouting across the class. Tyrus was ready to end the lesson right there in that moment, though he felt like it may of ended only moments before.

 

[Aadihr Lidos]

Outfit: Casual Attire
Weapons: Walking stick / Lightsaber Pike

There's no pretending not to hear this.
Aadihr leaned down in a hushed tone and spoke to Diogo directly. "Listen, just keep the proboscis hidden and you might be able to get out of here without getting wrapped up in this."

Aadihr stood up once more. He was unaware of the histories of the instructors and even the Grandmaster's husband until this point. The Cathar Master was injured, and many of the other attendees were Padawan.

Darksiders? All of them?

Redeemed or not the tension in the force was palpable, the sharp auras of those around began to churn with anger and indignation, muddied, dark and volatile hues.

Aadihr began quietly rounding up the younger Padawans nearby at the firing range, keeping himself as a barrier between the young apprentices and the brewing auras on display.

The knight didn't care for repercussions, this was not something the youths needed to witness and Aadihr wouldn't stand idle and leave the force sensitive adolescents to gawk at the relapsing Darksiders.

That was unfair, Aadihr thought, chastising himself for judging others when he did not truly know them. The bitterness brewing was affecting him too.

A cynical thought sprouted in the back of Aadihr's mind, reminiscent of Naboo a decade past.
Maybe things haven't changed that much after all.

Diogo Talon | Tyrus Vastor | Kahlil Noble​

 

[Diogo Talon]

Interacting: Aadihr Lidos
Nearby: Tyrus Vastor + Kahlil Noble + Vulpesen

"Listen, just keep the proboscis hidden and you might be able to get out of here without getting wrapped up in this."

What the feth? Did my proboscis pop out? Diogo reached his hands up to the sides of nose, but felt nothing. Oh, it all that makes sense now. "So that's what you were talking 'bout earlier. And here I thought you were hitting on me, talking about seeing through my clothes," Diogo remarked, a little louder than he intended.

Diogo felt Aadhir's uneasiness as the arguing grew more intense. In Diogo's world, cool = right. So clearly, Tyrus was winning this argument BIG time.

"Damn, he's so awesome," Diogo muttered.

As for all the philosophical and morality musings, Diogo couldn't care less. In his last encounter with a dark sider, he had shown mercy on a rogue Devaronian Sith Lord. Thinking back on it, it felt kinda wrong. But in the moment, he felt influenced by Roman Vossari and Caelan Valoren and their steadfast commitment to the higher values of the Jedi Code. So, Diogo concluded, all this talk was for naught. Decisions were made in the heat of the moment, while bathed in the blood of the battlefield, with nothing but your comrades at your side.

Aadhir seemed more concerned. "What do you make of all this?" Diogo asked Aadhir, peering over his shoulder.

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

OBJECTIVE THREE - Testing out new bling and practicing skills
Location: Set far away from other targets out in the field to ensure no one gets accidently stunned.
Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Eloise Dinn

The words hung in the air as Eloise glanced away, her attention flickering toward Vulpesen and Kahlil in the distance, but Zaiya didn't follow her gaze. Instead her eyes didn't waver from Eloise, even as her words struck harder than they should have. For all her seemingly measured calm, Zaiya wasn't made of durasteel, and her own thoughts churned as she sifted through what Eloise had said, her mottled spots swirling with muted ambers and dusky citrines.

"Maybe you're right about one thing," Zaiya said softly, her voice steady but firm. "This isn't a game. But it's not just war, either. Not for the Jedi. We're protectors, not soldiers. We're supposed to rise above hate, not sink into it."

Her gaze stayed locked on Eloise's, unwavering. "You say there's no time to wait for someone to change, but what if it only takes a moment? What if that moment saves lives -- not just theirs, but everyone they could've hurt? Isn't that worth the risk?"

Zaiya's colors shifted faintly as she gently curled her fingers around the pellets in her palm, her tone quiet but resolute. "And yeah, some won't take my hand. Some will try to cut it off. But I'd rather reach out anyway, knowing I tried to break the cycle, than give in to the same darkness that took everything from me."

Her words lingered in the space between them. Zaiya didn't expect Eloise to agree, not now, maybe not ever -- but it was food for thought that the Lovalla hoped Eloise would consider further. Nonetheless, Zaiya would respect what Eloise had mentioned regarding discussing this out in the open.

"If you like, we can continue this discussion later and return to training Ballistakinesis?"

 

[Eloise Dinn]

"Maybe you're right about one thing. This isn't a game. But it's not just war, either. Not for the Jedi. We're protectors, not soldiers. We're supposed to rise above hate, not sink into it."

"Who says I hate the people I kill?" Eloise couldn't help but fire back, even as the hairs on the back of her neck stood up at the sound of Tyrus' shouting. "Most of the time I don't know anything about my opponents. All I know is that they're attacking me and others. You spout platitudes about peace and understanding, obsessing over redeeming evildoers, but you forget their victims. Are they only a statistic to you?" Ah, but Zaiya was one of their victims, wasn't she? "Not everyone is going to feel the same as you. Most people want justice more than they want redemption."

"You say there's no time to wait for someone to change, but what if it only takes a moment? What if that moment saves lives—not just theirs, but everyone they could've hurt? Isn't that worth the risk?"

Eloise said nothing at first, merely shaking her head at this idealistic little girl. She had to know how she sounded, willing to put lives on the line for the sake of one unlikely soul. "I know a Sith who tried to be good, once," she murmured. "He teamed up with a Jedi and rescued younglings from an invasion, like something out of your wildest fantasies. But eventually he came crawling back to the Dark—and he ended up taking far more innocent lives than he saved."

She was talking about her father, Arcturus Dinn . Hell, even her mother Ishani Dinn tried to go straight at one point, albeit her attempt was far less sincere. But she didn't mention the familial connection. Sure, the others were shouting about their Sith pasts in the background, but she tended to keep her history close to her chest.

"If you like, we can continue this discussion later and return to training Ballistakinesis?"

"There's not much left to be said, is there?" Eloise replied. She was a bit surprised by Zaiya's dogged arguing, even though the conversation seemed to be causing her distress. "We've each made up our minds. Neither of us is going to change."

Zaiya Ceti​

 

[Zaiya Ceti]

OBJECTIVE THREE - Testing out new bling and practicing skills
Location: Set far away from other targets out in the field to ensure no one gets accidently stunned.
Outfit: x x x x x | Equipment: x x x x x x | Weapons: x x x | Companion: Domxite
Interacting with: Eloise Dinn

You spout platitudes about peace and understanding, obsessing over redeeming evildoers, but you forget their victims. Are they only a statistic to you?" Ah, but Zaiya was one of their victims, wasn't she? "Not everyone is going to feel the same as you. Most people want justice more than they want redemption."

Zaiya's skin rippled with shades of deep greys, inky blues, and silvery ambers, her emotions swirling with every word spoken by the older Padawan. Eloise's words cut deep, heavy and sharp, and the Lovalla's gaze softened, though the flicker of silver across her bioluminescent mottled spots betrayed the ache beneath her calm.

"Justice matters. Victims matter. But justice and vengeance aren't the same. Justice is balance. Vengeance is... it's a chain that drags you down, keeps you stuck in the same darkness we're supposed to fight against."

"So be assured that just because I take the non lethal path doesn't mean I won't do everything I can to protect the people who need me. Mercy doesn't mean weakness, it's a choice, one I make because using lethal means is the last escalation, not the first."

Zaiya took a breath, her colors settling into softer, steadier hues. "You might think it's foolish, but I've seen the results of what showing mercy can do, allowing the ability to change... the same as I've seen how it could also backfire and end up harming me and others in the wake of it."

Her experience with the Sith Kasir Dorran had shown her that, but even then, he had chosen to help her, not kill her... even if the end result had been a harrowing experience of the loss of life and an even more of a reality check on what was in her capacity to do and what was not.

"There's not much left to be said, is there?" Eloise replied. She was a bit surprised by Zaiya's dogged arguing, even though the conversation seemed to be causing her distress. "We've each made up our minds. Neither of us is going to change."

The Lovalla took a deep breath and then gave a quiet nod at Eloise. Everyone's experience and world views were different. Zaiya didn't judge or fault the older Padawan for it, but she hoped Eloise could keep an open mind about it.

"You're right," Zaiya said quietly, her voice steady, "We've made up our minds. But being able to talk about it, to really listen to each other, that's important."

She gave a quiet nod, meeting Eloise's gaze with sincerity. "So I get it; your experiences are different. Your choices make sense to you, but if you ever want to broach the subject again, I'm always available."

Zaiya offered a faint, genuine smile, soft and encouraging but not dismissive. This conversation had churned up memories and emotions she'd rather leave buried, but avoiding it wouldn't help. Master Iris Arani and Domxite had taught her that much: avoiding the hard truths only let them fester. With that, she turned her attention back towards the holotarget, leaving the door open for Eloise if she ever wanted to step through it.

 

[Corazona von Ascania]

Cora had her hand up, a pair of rocks levitating as she visualized a cone across the target's midsection. Then, she retracted her grip. The stones fell to the ground with a clatter.

Oh dear.

Things escalated quickly, as they often did when credentials and intent were called into question. She frowned, glancing to the metallic sheen of her prosthetic hand, following it to the fractal lightning scars that branched up her wrist and forearm. They were a testament to what she'd survived as much as they were to her mistakes.

Both Kahlil Noble and Tyrus Vastor - the latter she'd just learned about - were Sith who'd turned on their creed, repented, and held valuable insight into the foes they faced now. The same could be said for Vulpesen . Their experiences were instrumental in training the next generation of Jedi to handle Darker threats.

Her own thoughts aside, this conversation didn't seem particularly productive.

She glanced over her shoulder to see Aadihr Lidos gathering some of the younger students behind him. Aware of the tension in the room, she approached him and Diogo Talon , and placed a gentle hand on the Miraluka's shoulder.

"It is our responsibility to stay centered," she affirmed with a faint smile, nodding to the Padawans. "For them."

It was good that he had gathered the apprentices and sought to place himself as a barrier of sorts. Her gaze shifted to the students, speaking low but clearly enough that the cadence of her voice could be heard to them through the bickering.

"If you take nothing from this lesson regarding ballistakinesis, then take this; Jedi should not deal with their frustration by being vindictive."

 

[Aadihr Lidos]

Outfit: Casual Attire
Weapons: Walking stick / Lightsaber Pike

"So that's what you were talking 'bout earlier. And here I thought you were hitting on me, talking about seeing through my clothes,"

The words shocked Aadihr out of his thoughts. "Uh. . . No, why would I-" Aadihr shook his head, decided to cut off that train of thought before the implications of Diogo's statement led to a whole other debate. Instead of making it weird by providing an earnest explanation of the responsibility one has to maintain decorum and protect those more vulnerable in a hierarchical institutions, he simply dismissed the thought with a more casual but nonhostile tone: Don't flatter yourself kid, too young for me."

Diogo seemed to look up to Tyrus Vastor in some fashion, aura matching the words expressing admiration of the instructor's style and demeanor. Aadihr was still stuck on the knowledge that he was a former Sith Assassin.

The only person he'd killed since knighthood was a sith assassin on Iridonia. At the time it seemed there was no other option - that others would die if he didn't. It was very likely true, but before him was a living example that one could return to an honest life. Had he taken that chance from the corpse left in the ashes? Would redemption of one Sith be worth the cost of his own life, or another Jedi's?

There was no correct answer. The Miraluka conceded. There never truly was; finding peace within unsolvable contradiction was the best that he could do. As he had learned to do - a lesson that cost him dearly. Something still gnawed within him.

Corazona von Ascania placed a steadying hand on Aadihr's shoulder. She affirmed their duty as knights to be a source of stability for the Padawans. She was correct, of course. She moved on to address the class herself, but Aadihr still found himself stuck on the revelations of the senior Jedi's pasts.

A seed of distrust had been sown long ago, buried deep in his psyche. He thought he had excised it in solitude, searching for answers as a drifter. The doubt that stirred within him watered this seed, and he could feel it sprout.

It may not be reasonable, necessary, or even responsible, but Aadihr felt a tension within him. A need to protect his juniors from his seniors, as he should have been protected in his youth. His recent return to the Jedi Order had lulled him into a sense of security, one he hoped wasn't false.

Aadihr would have some research to do. In a perfect galaxy, this would be a pointless endeavor - he sincerely hoped it was. The realization of just how little he knew these people was a vulnerability he hadn't accounted for, and could no longer rest easily without detail. He would find a way dig into their pasts, of Kahlil Noble , of Tyrus Vastor , of everyone who held power - through records, rumors, and roundabout conversations, Aadihr would determine for himself who he can and cannot trust.

"What do I make of this?" Aadihr finally responded to the question posed by Diogo Talon . "I think perhaps we should trust in ourselves and the Force above all else - and do the best we can with the knowledge we have. There is no universal truth that will hold an answer that satisfies every perspective. At the end of the day, you are the one that has to live with the decisions you make, so make decisions that are right for you and those you care about." He pointed to the center of Diogo's chest for emphasis on the last 'you'. Aadihr found his voice more intense than he intended, as if he was reassuring himself instead of answering what was best for the Padawan to hear.

Diogo Talon Corazona von Ascania​

 

[Jonyna Si]

TAG: Aris Noble

"I'll be fine." Jonyna smiled, her leg slowly, but noticeably, healing. She had learned Curato Salva from her last mate Taam, but she had never the chance to practice it all that much. She wouldn't admit it, but today was more an excuse just to train with Aris. She felt she had been neglecting him recently, but she was going to make up for it. "How 'bout we swap places? I can help you with some deflection training with your saber."

 

[Diogo Talon]

Interacting: Aadihr Lidos + Corazona von Ascania

"Don't flatter yourself kid, too young for me."

"Hey, man, whatever you say," Diogo responded coolly. It was fun seeing the Miraluka squirm a bit, but the tone of the rest of the class was drastically more serious, so it was probably best to drop it for now. Insane implications, though.

"It is our responsibility to stay centered," she affirmed with a faint smile, nodding to the Padawans. "For them."

"If you take nothing from this lesson regarding ballistakinesis, then take this; Jedi should not deal with their frustration by being vindictive."

Diogo's brows furrowed. Who the feth was this chick and where the hell did she just come from? Way to ruin the mood, lady.

"Really? They're just blowin' off a little steam," he replied, almost taking what she said personally. "A little argument never hurt anybody. If it comes to a brawl, though, my creds are on Tyrus."

"I think perhaps we should trust in ourselves and the Force above all else - and do the best we can with the knowledge we have. There is no universal truth that will hold an answer that satisfies every perspective. At the end of the day, you are the one that has to live with the decisions you make, so make decisions that are right for you and those you care about."

"Are you tryna say you care about me? You're kinda sendin' mixed signals, man," he said in jest, tilting his head slightly. Despite Diogo's attempt at humor, Aadhir's words did pierce his jovial exterior. They seemed to burrow inside him. Yeah, it was overly sentimental and lame, but Aahdir was right. Truth cut deep no matter how good the armor. Diogo felt sobered by the earnestness and thought about Iridonia. "Sorry, you're right," he said with a subdued tone. "I made a merciful decision about a Sith on Iridonia and now, I think it was the right decision. At least, it's one I can live with." Diogo nervously scratched the back of his neck as the tender moment made him feel raw and weird. "Anyway, thanks Aahdir. You helped me a lot today."