Teräs Käsi - an unlikely initiation

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus stopped talking. It was one thing to do checks, but to pilot an unfamiliar ship took her total concentration.

Lifting it gently off the ground, she opened up a channel to the spaceport flight control.

"Defender class light corvette requesting clearance to planet's outer atmosphere."

After a few moments of static, the reply came. "Confirmed...Access granted...Continue on your current vector."

Corvus did as she was instructed and - realising she wasn't breathing - exhaled noisily. "Sorry. A little nervous."

"So, Ossus?" She began to call up the coordinates for the hyperspace jump.

[member="Tracyn"]

 

[Alan]

"Ossus indeed, yes. And don't be so nervous. Also, I have the sneaking suspicion you want to ask me something."Tracyn tapped his fingers on his arms as he crossed them, leaning on the ship's walls. He watched her in the cockpit, capable, young, and not at all helpless.


"I suggest you ask it."


[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus punched in the coordinates and as the dots of stars became streaks of light she started to relax. She double-checked everything was in order before she switched her attention.

Why were Jedi so inscrutable? Did he know because he was a Jedi or because she was an open book? Either way, there was no point in delaying.

“Those moves back there. They weren’t Jedi and I’d say not down to Force Speed. So two questions actually. What were they and can you teach me some of it.”

Before [member="Tracyn"] could answer, she added, “Oh, and a third question. Your mind was shielded from me. Was that related or something else?”

She grinned. “Well did encourage me to ask.”

 

[Alan]

"Careful on your eagerness to learn. What you saw was a very disciplined and well-practiced art of Teras Kasi. The fact that you can't read my mind, or try to get into it or influence it, is also a result of the art."He sat in the Co-pilots seat, where his wife once sat. He blinked sadly, before biting his lip and regaining his focus.




"I could teach you. But you also have to do what most people fail to do- you have to apply it before you can effectively use it. I started training when I was 14 on it. I'm 31 now, and I consider myself at just-"He made a line motion with his hands- indicating a level."Just at mastery. And that's nearly two decades of applying it in combat."


[member="Corvus Raaf"]



[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus listened to Tracyn with an open mind. She heeded his warning and held her tongue whilst he explained fully.

She wanted to jump straight in and tell him she was disciplined and would train however many hours it took. She wanted to tell him she was patient and he needn’t worry. But instead she listened – demonstrating that patience.

When he concluded she nodded. “I understand – or at least I believe I do. We have only just met but I think you already have the measure of me.”

“On Corellia, I was known as a good student. Reckless at times, perhaps,” she smiled at this. “But diligent and hard-working. My Master knew I would rather be ‘doing’ than ‘studying,’ so he made me spend hour upon hour in the library – reviewing holocrons and datapads. My theoretical knowledge was…good. When the time was right, he would say, we’ll see how you can apply that learning in the real world.”

She looked down at the floor of the cockpit. “That was the last thing he ever said to me – when he sent me off on my first mission.” Her hand went involuntarily to the outside of her pocket.

Clearing her throat, she looked at Tracyn. “The point I shall make eventually is that I am reminded of two pieces of information from the time I spent in the library. Well three, but more of that later. The first is the work of Master Gladwell. He hypothesised that the difference between being good at something and excellent at something was 10,000 hours. If you practice for long enough, you will become a master. Most people with talent, know they have talent and become lazy. They practice infrequently. The best bladesmasters are also the ones that practice the most – not the least. And he also said that practice becomes in itself the reward. I live for training.”

“To counter that is the view of an ancient philosophy I once read about. The story goes that a new student arrives and wants to become a Master. He is told it will take two years. He explains that he is eager to learn and will do whatever it takes to become a Master. The response it it will take five years. No, the man complains. You don’t understand. I will work all day and every day to become a Master, how long now? And the wise man says that it is he that doesn’t understand and he will never become a Master. It seems the moral is to practice and live for the development. Mastery will present itself in its own time. Chase that mastery and it will prove ever elusive.”

Now she was talking it was going to be difficult to shut her up.

“What I am saying is that I welcome you teaching and I will apply myself rigorously to whatever is required. All I ask is that you teach me and show me how I may practice by myself. If I never reach mastery in twenty years, then the journey will still have been worthwhile. And I will apply it. Unless it is contrary to the Jedi Code, I shall do whatever is necessary.”

“Which leads me to the third thing. I know it is not contrary to the Code as I have read of the exploits of many who were Force sensitive using this as part of their lightsaber duelling. Darth Maul, Master Anoon Bondara, Knight Joclad Danva, Master Plo Koon.” She counted them off on her fingers. “I have some understanding of the theory. Only a little – but then all of those hours in the library were not in vain.”

[member="Tracyn"]

 

[Alan]

[member="Corvus Raaf"] brought a smile, then a chuckle to his face."Truth be told, I care not for who you are, or what you did. And I like the story about the Master. I want to tell you a story, though."He looked over at her."A man, a great warrior, great at his craft of war, goes away to the Jedi. He learns a great deal, but is disillusioned when it all comes crumbling down around him because of things that he could not control. So, he goes. And he leaves. And becomes greater in war, but learns little else besides how to fight better and kill better. It wasn't until an outside force taught him the errors of his way, where they found him, hunched over, waiting to die, that his path in life was wrong."His gray eyes flickered.


"What I'm getting at- is that you might learn how to break bones, move like a demon, but what you also have to learn to not limit yourself on such. There is more to a Jedi than being one of the most fierce combatants in the galaxy nowadays. I want you to promise me, right now, young lady- that you will be more than a killing machine like I am."He stared at her for a long while, before speaking again.


"Be a good person. Being a good Jedi, comes second."

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus listened to Tracyn and was immediately silent. Not to demonstrate patience or to prove anything - but because she wanted to reflect on his words.

Master Jareck was full of wisdom. It was wisdom of old. Of Jedi Lore, of ancient teachings and long-forgotten civilisations. His wisdom was from the head. Tracyn's wisdom came from the heart it seemed to Corvus. That was not belittling the value of the his wisdom. But it was personal wisdom as opposed to read wisdom.

And, to Corvus, she wasn't sure how allegorical the stories were versus how much they were from Tracyn himself. It didn't matter either way because Corvus could connect with what Tracyn meant. What he believed.

What neither of them would know is how this would affect her as she developed as a Jedi. How a relatively simple promise made now would cause so much conflict in later life. How her vow not to become a killing machine would impact her lightsaber skills later. How she would be able to defend herself against a Sith Lord but couldn't win a simple spar against a fellow Padawan. How it took a terrible moment where she came so close to the dark side to understand how she had locked herself into a misunderstanding that spiralled from a well-meaning promise.

But on Tracyn's ship she was glad to take that vow. To be the best person she could be - who just happened to be a Jedi. And not to develop into a killing machine but a peace-keeper. And once she'd undertaken the Trial of the Spirit, she would be able to reconcile this conversation today with what she had become and still be able to look Tracyn in the eye and assure him she'd lived up to her side of the deal.

But for now, it was a simple yes that sealed the deal.

[member="Tracyn"]

 

[Alan]

"Good."He had nothing more to say- for now. In fact, he didn't need to say anything. He'd let her think on his words, think on what she was going to be learning. The Silver Jedi's hand let go of the bulkhead, before he sauntered further into the ship."I'm going to sleep. Please wake me up when we're six hours away from Ossus."He paused, turning to [member="Corvus Raaf"]."Expect to break bones in the next two weeks."He said, moving into the ship.


He undressed, a mess of scars and tattoos occupying his chest. He breathed deeply, sitting on the edge of the bed, undoing his robings and the light armor that was woven into it. He set it on a hook near the bunk, before he was down to what was essentially sweatpants. He rolled onto his back, and then propped up a knee. And Tracyn did what he normally didn't do- fell asleep quickly, and quietly. Tracyn was a silent sleeper, not a word and not a sound.


Corvus, for the time being, was free to do what she wished, including look through the small journals Tracyn had lying about. They weren't locked, and he obviously wouldn't mind- after all he never bothered to put them away. They were moreso thoughts on subjects in life woven with personal experiences, rather than a diary of events.

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus half-smiled at Tracyn when he said his good-byes – en-route to going to sleep.

’Whose bones were going to be broken?’ Oddly the concept of her own were less concerning than someone else’s. But she’d made a solemn vow to do what it took to learn the art of Teräs Käsi – and she never went against her word. Over the next few years, her desire to do the greater good was going to be tested against what the Order dictated and her conscience told her was right. Would she always make the right decision? Does anyone? Would she ever compromise? No.

Although Tracyn was ready for sleep – she was not. She was finally going to arrive at Ossus and her training would re-start in earnest. She’d learned a lot about life as she travelled the galaxy but little about Jedi knowledge or skills. But perhaps, she mused, having real-life experiences would allow her to not only be a good Jedi but – more importantly – be the best person she could.

But hyperspace travel was not conducive to occupying the mind. She meditated for a while but her thoughts were too active to be shut down for long. She considered wandering around the ship but was worried about waking Tracyn.

So she picked up a journal and started to read. Les of a diary than a collection of thoughts and experiences, they gave her some insight into the mind of the man that had rescued her and wanted so desperately for her to be a good person before contemplating being a good Jedi.

She was half-way through the last of these when the nav-comp told her they were now six hours from Ossus. No doubt Tracyn had slept well – she’d heard no sounds of disturbed sleep – and so she rose and went to wake him.

“Tracyn,” she stood at the doorway of his cabin and spoke as gently as she could whilst at the same time trying to put sufficient volume in to ensure she actually woke him. As she did, she glanced at the mess of scars on his chest. The former-warrior had certainly been in more action than any man deserved to see. But such was the selfless life of a Jedi.

[member="Tracyn"]

 

[Alan]

His eyes drifted open, and he sat up on the bed. His muscular structure was perfected, years of physical exertion had made him one fine specimen of physique. He glanced around the room, before his eyes fell upon [member="Corvus Raaf"], and he stood up slowly. He walked over to the mirror in the corner, grasping a comb. He took pride in his appearance- his wife loved him partly for it. Not because he was handsome, but because how he carried himself.


"Tell me, Corvus, what is the most important Jedi tenet to you?"The lessons would be slow- but important.

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus looked at Tracyn. It wasn't the most challenging of questions but the answer eluded her.

"Forgive me, but to me the question is like asking what is most important to a ship - fuel, an engine, controls..." She let her voice trail off to show that in her mind the list could go on and on.

"To me the Jedi Code and the pillars are like that. It frustrates me than many Jedi tend to pick and choose which parts they like and don't like - as if some aspects are optional. For me is has to be about the Code in its entirety. So one part is not most important."

"But that answer was not intended to be clever or to avoid answering the question. In the spirit of your request, the aspect that always come to my mind first is that Jedi serve."

[member="Tracyn"]

 

[Alan]

He began to wash his face in the sink, listening to the young lady's words and thoughts. Ramblings were a close thing to call what she was doing, but they were precise and well thought. She just liked to talk. He smiled, turning to face her.


"They are called pillars of the Jedi, because even a single pillar being removed or weakening will cause the entire structure to falter. Jedi should be unflappable in their values and tenets."Servitude. She picked servitude over any of the others. He wiped his face with a cloth, cracking his neck and his back, while speaking."Serve whom?"



[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

This time her answer did not appear to be thought through. She simply answered, "Not whom, what. The greater good."

[member="Tracyn"]

 

[Alan]

"And then you should realize that the Jedi, presently, will not always be doing so. I request that you independently and critically think when the Jedi tell you to do something."He said, turning to face the girl again."The Republic has been known to use the Jedi as a sword rather than a shield, rather than a force of good- simply a means to an end."He looked in the mirror, gray eyes staring back at him, the reflection of the girl behind him.



"It is how the Sith came to be as they are now."


[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus was now comfortable having a conversation with the mirror as opposed to Tracyn directly.

She nodded as she mused his words. “I have an allegiance to the Force and to the Code. My weakness…I mean one of my weaknesses,” she corrected, “Is that I have the utmost respect for authority. I hear your words and in my heart I will always follow them, but I fear my sense of duty may be compromised. And that troubles me greatly.”

She stared at the floor of the cabin, a worried look on her face.

[member="Tracyn"]

 

[Alan]

"Authority is good and helps keep order in the galaxy. Questioning it, more so. If you keep that worry about you, knowing it's there, that sense of danger- you can see where it will falter, and then you can correct it."


He turned to face her, inclining his head.



"Go to the cargo bay and clear a space. I'm going to make you fight like a devil."


[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus didn't need to be asked twice. She rushed down to the cargo bay. Learning was what she loved for - but tidying up came a close second. She didn't just clear a space, she stacked and organised, categorised and decluttered until not only was there an appropriate area to train, but the cargo and equipment was neatly stored. Well, to Corvus it was logical - Tracyn may have had a method in his placing of stuff that she had just destroyed.

But she was happy and she was about to learn from a Jedi for the first time in a few years. Things couldn't get an better - could they?

It was only then his words sank in. 'Like a devil?" that didn't sound like her at all...but the day was still young!

[member="Tracyn"]

 

[Alan]

He walked slowly into the cargo bay, and leaned on the pile of boxes that she had so neatly stacked. He removed a small book, and began to read. It had nothing to do with the thing he was teaching her now- though what he said was going to matter immensely to the young girl."There can be no martial art without mastering the art's physical requirements."He said, turning his head towards the girl.



"I want you to place your hands on the ground- and lift your body upwards as high as you can. Don't worry about straightening it out- just see how high you can go, and then hold it."He said calmly, turning a page in his book- the book was on paper. Clearly, it was old. Old enough to possibly be related to Teras Kasi itself. Not that she could see that, being that he covered the spine with his tattooed hand. The tattoos on his knuckles spelled W A T C H O U T in Mando'a- a distinctive font for tattoos.

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus was always athletic. Not muscular, more wiry. Of late she'd been eating the bare minimum and with no formal training for a couple of years, she wasn't in the best of shape. Washing dishes and emptying garbage only worked so many muscles.

She did as asked but soon her arms could take it no longer and she collapsed in a heap. She could have used the Force, but she suspected that wasn't part of the plan - so she glowered at her own lack of conditioning - and tried to see what Tracyn was reading.

To her credit, she tried again, until the oxygen debt built up so much lactic acid that her arms burned, wobbled and finally gave way.

[member="Tracyn"]

 

[Alan]

Tracyn licked a finger, turning a page in the book, the archaic smell filling his nostrils with the aged paper. He smiled, folding his hands together, letting the book close slowly."Try again. Use the wall if you have to."He said, smirking before he slowly rose to a stand.



"Upper body strength and speed and balance are among the most important things of the art."



[member="Corvus Raaf"]