Private Finding a Padawan

[Nathan Bloodscrawl]

Nathan folded his arms, pacing in front of his bed a bit.

"So you're essentially a free agent. Here is my suggestion. I was impressed by your willingness to keep going even as depleted as you were. That's rare. But saving your fellow Padawans was more important than your own life, so you pushed yourself. The act of a real Jedi..."

Nathan turned to him.

"I offer to take you as my Padawan learner. I will teach you and train you up to full Knighthood here, in the High Republic... provided you accept. I warn you, though, my training is geared to be as difficult and demanding as possible. I will push you in ways you will not be very comfortable in, most times, but I do so only to make you as capable in the field as possible...and the most effective training is on the job, in the field, not in some temple..." Nathan said.

"Would you be interested in such a thing?" he asked of Ben Khal .

 

[Ben Khal]

Ben's gaze followed Nathan as he paced by the foot of his bed. The older Knight praised his bravery and self-sacrifice on Vaklin, calling it the act of a true Jedi. Despite that, Ben didn't really consider himself a "true Jedi". He had just come back from the Barash, after all, and after two years with nothing to do but think about what he had done during the Crisis, he wasn't sure if he could call himself a hero.

What Nathan said next, however, made the boy's eyes widen. He was offering him apprenticeship.

"... I will teach you and train you up to full Knighthood here, in the High Republic... provided you accept. I warn you, though, my training is geared to be as difficult and demanding as possible. I will push you in ways you will not be very comfortable in, most times, but I do so only to make you as capable in the field as possible...and the most effective training is on the job, in the field, not in some temple..."

Ben's brow furrowed. He'd had a Master, once. Not Lorn Vanda, but another great Jedi Master. One whom he had refused to listen to. Was he ready to listen now, to someone else's teachings?

"I suppose there's nothing preventing me from being your apprentice," Ben replied carefully. "I don't care about being comfortable. I only want to be useful." After a few more moments, he nodded his head. "I accept your offer, Master."

Nathan Bloodscrawl​

 

[Nathan Bloodscrawl]

Nathan nodded.

"Very well then Padawan. The doctors have been making sure you get nutrients intravenously so you're good to leave in a little bit. I'll get you something solid to eat if you want once we're outside. Found this shop on Theed that makes absolutely wonderful cheeseburgers." Nathan said, reaching into his pocket.

"I was planning on giving you this whether you said no or yes. I hope it will be of aid to you..." Nathan said, placing a dark blue crystal with an Asterism on the table next to him...

"When you're ready, we can leave...I'll leave you alone to gather your wits...and... welcome to the team..." Nathan said, departing the room so Ben Khal could prepare himself.


Meanwhile...


Darth Themis walked the plains of Naboo back to her Lambda Class Shuttle where Darth Yobitsune waited, wearing a blindfold that matched her red robes.

"So? Will he show?" Yobitsune asked.

"Of course he will..." Themis replied calmly as she boarded her ship with Yobitsune.

"We're old friends. Besides, he knows deep down that Moya Virtu is dead...he's grieving unconsciously..." Themis explained, signaling the pilot from Ankhanos that it was time to leave.

"And soon, he'll be up to his neck in chit..." she added as she took a seat.

"You really believe he won't turn us in?" Yobitsune asked, sitting across from her.

"Nathan cannot bear the idea of watching a galaxy dominated by the Galactic Empire and the Dark Side. He does not abide chaos. He abides tyranny even less. He'll take anyone who wants to fight them...us included..."

"Will we try to induct him into our order?" Yobitsune inquired as the shuttle lifted off.

Themis looked at her.

"Remember the most important maxim of Darth Dynamis, Lady Yobitsune: Sometimes, the most effective Light Side Sith is the one who isn't aware that they are one."

Yobitsune nodded. "Ohhhhhh...I see..."

The shuttle rocketed into the sky, and away from Naboo...


(Exit Post)