Finally, a topic that he could talk about at length. He would begin cutting up his food as he would take a moment to consider the words to say on the subject. There was just so much to go through, so much he could say, but he didn't want to bore her. He needed to choose his words carefully and just let it flow from there.
"Better. I've changed up my training program, for starters. I've stopped following the rules that the factions I was in would set. They were far too easy, and the Jedi they were churning out were far from ready for Knighthood, much less Masterhood, which they gave out like candy soon after. My goal is to make sure that by the time they finish up under my mentorship, and become actual Jedi Knights... They're -ready- to become Jedi Knights. Not students with fancy titles. Actual Jedi Knights. I'm done with busting my arse to train a student who just wants the world handed to them on a silver platter, only to have someone go over my head, and give them Knighthood long before they're ready. And what happens when they do? Usually, that Padawan goes and does two things. Either they jump to the dark side, go rogue or just leave the Order... Or I have to get the news that my former Padawan's been killed because they were sent on a Jedi Knight mission that they were far from ready for. Every Padawan who they've gone over my head on, has since disappeared. None. There's none of them left in the known galaxy. They're either AWOL, or dead. And that frustrates me more then you know."
Josh would excuse himself for a moment to take a few bites before it got cold, and once he swallowed some pieces down, he would continue. "The one Padawan at the time that I was able to keep from them going over my head, was named Gherron Vael. I experimented on a lighter version of this new training program with him, and managed to keep him onboard without my faction at the time going over my head. He was impatient, he was immature and headstrong. He would partake in illegal gambling and races for thrills. I once had to bust an illegal race gamble along with another member of the Jedi Council, and imagine my embarrassment when I had to drag back my own Padawan to the Temple, because he'd been involved in that race and had been gambling illegally. He didn't do it for any Jedi-related reason, he was just a rebellious teenager thinking he could get away with it. While I was off on a mission, he faked to the council that I'd been neglecting him in training, and he was re-assigned to a new Master. Thing is, this new Master wasn't near as gentle and patient as I was. He was an Ewok, short, stubby and had an even shorter temper. I'm pretty sure Gherron still has bruises where that Ewok whacked him with a stick for his shenanigans. It was out of my hands at that point, so I just... Let it go. He wasn't near finished, but he wanted to be fast tracked to Knighthood, and figured that Ewok would be willing to give him it for the sake of getting rid of him."
Josh would take another sip of his drink.
"Unfortunately, his Master was killed in a Republic battle. A shame, really, I kind of liked the little munchkin. Some Sith named Kara, I believe, did him in. So Gherron was left without a Master. After talking to him, I decided to take him on one more time. At the time, I'd been on a hiatus from teaching, because of them constantly going over my head, but when I took Gherron in again, I decided to try the training style, or an in-progress version anyway, that I mentioned, with him. It's more hands on, and they're to know ahead of time that it's the long way around, that I won't allow them to pass go until they're truly ready. Surprisingly... It worked. The kid managed to turn himself around. He was Knighted long after others who got it easy peasey in the faction, but it allowed him to grow up quite a bit. I subjected him to his Jedi Trials personally, and oversaw it entirely on my own. When he passed them, he was ready. I cut his Padawan braid, and christianed him a Knight."
And then he smiled brightly, beaming with pride.
"And he's done me proud since."
After a few more mouthfuls were swallowed, he would continue.
"Since then, the training program has been finished, and I've been taking in new Padawans as of late. My style is hands on, sometimes one on one, sometimes working with my other Padawans. I'm trying to teach them everything they need to become a Jedi Knight, as well as encouraging them to work with one another, and become a family of sorts. I know how important it is to work well with your fellow Jedi, and having your fellow Jedi at your back is essential. My current class is composed of a moisture farmer from Tatooine named Doug. Interesting kid, I met him when I was on a slave liberation run. His parents were kidnapped and sent to the camp, and he stowed away with nothing but a womp rat hunting blaster. He intended to storm the blasted place on his own and get his folks back. I decided to take him with me, making sure he stayed in the back and shot. Sensing potential in him, I took a staff from one of the slavers we'd taken down, and started to instruct him on the fly while we went through. But it was when I was knocked down and dropped my lightsaber that things became interesting. He actually managed to pick it up and take a slaver or two down with it. While it was clumsily, the fact he didn't cut his own head off tipped me off to the idea that he could be Force Sensitive. I tested him and confirmed it after we were finished, and once we got his folks and the other slaves out. Kid is rough around the edges, but he's a dedicated Jedi. He'll do well one day."
His eyes continued to beam with pride. "Then there's Dusaro. He's my age, had been wandering the galaxy as a mercenary for Force knows how long. But the kid had a heart of gold. I met him on another slave liberation run and he gave me a hand. He showed affinity to the Force and I had him tested as well. The guy was just kind of wandering, going from job to job, with no real direction. I'm thrilled that I was able to give him something to fight for."
He would chow down a bit more before speaking again. "My third Padawan is Anora, she was assigned to me by the Silvers Sanctum. She's... Still learning, to say the least. She seems unmotivated, and gets frustrated easily. But I'll get through to her eventually. She just needs to learn patience. It's one of the things I stress the most during my training sessions" Josh would explain, letting it all sink in as he would continue to chow down.
It was clear that his teachings and his Padawans were incredibly important to him. Just like the rest of his work.
[member="Karen Roberts"]
