The Vertical City

[Corvus Raaf]

The crisis at the bar averted, Corvus gave her Padawan some time off. He knew people that knew people and some of them were here. So she agreed to meet him back at their ship at an agreed time.

But for now she was more interested in the stranger that had stepped into the fray – at personal risk – and who also had the good sense not to let hormones keep him in the conversation longer than he needed to. His aura was definitely Light-sided and he was probably a Padawan – but his affiliation was unknown. Indeed, there was a possibility he hadn’t even been formally trained.

So she quickly picked up his trail and followed him. Not so far away as to be invisible but close enough that if he wanted to, he could acknowledge that he was being followed.

[member="Aitis Powarth"]

 

[Julius Sedaire]

Aitis had left the bar in a bit of a huff. Though he normally kept detached, he had sensed a kinship in those two who were in the bar. Something that made him want to help them, despite not knowing them. The male though, Aitis was pretty sure his ego was going to get him killed. But, if he was a big enough man to start it, he only hoped he was big enough to finish it. He was certainly good with that whip. It had been a while since Aitis had to move that fast.

Stumbling about, clacking with his cane-sword, he eventually realized he was being followed. He stopped at a nearby vendor stall he knew of, and waited to see if the presence he felt kept up and just how close. Keeping his posture open, Aitis idly browsed the various bits of wares set out, knowing full well he barely had enough to eat on after the last job had went south. Let alone afford street food or trinkets here.

He turned his gaze towards where he had last seen the person, making sure to turn slowly and nod as if praising the vendors wares and then head up into a rather ramshackle hab building. He was pretty sure the slumlord of a building manager hadn't kicked him out yet, and if the person followed him in, they'd have a little easier place to talk.

Wonder what this is all about?

He stopped in a mostly abandoned communal area and pretended to check out the flickering, ill used holoscreen, waiting. Let them come and he would deal with it. His confidence was betrayed though by how he gripped the cane in his hand a little tighter, shaking slightly. He'd be radiating unsureness and hesitancy.

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus followed him slowly and carefully. His actions suggested he knew he was being followed. But he didn't try to shake her or bolt for it. She saw that as a huge positive.

Finally he stopped - clearly waiting for her. He radiated a lack of confidence the situation. This was quite understandable and so she stepped carefully. She lowered her hood and smiled as she approached him.

"I am Jedi Master Corvus Raaf. I would like to thank you for your help back there."

[member="Aitis Powarth"]

 

[Julius Sedaire]

As the woman spoke, if he had possessed eyes they would have widened. As it was, he forehead bunched after a moment of radiating even more surprise. He dropped pretense and turned to face her. He was Force sensitive, all his people were, but he was virtually untrained other than how to accurately see using the Force. When he spoke, his voice was quieter than at the bar with Krytu and Diego, and he shook his head as he did.

"Truthfully, I did very little... I was just trying to defuse a rather nasty situation... Unfortunately, your friend didn't play along. I apologize if I created any snares for your plans."

At this he nodded to her, cocking his head to the side in a bird-like manner.

"However, Master Raaf, forgive me if I think you following me this far for a simple thank you is uncommonly grateful even for a Jedi. Is there something else you wish of me?"

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus suppressed a chuckle. In truth she was the sort of Jedi that would follow someone just to say thank-you. Just not this time.

"You stepped up - and for that I thank you. You stepped back at an opportune time. For that I also thank you. And no, you did not make the matter any more challenging than it already was. People underestimate the Jedi - the true Jedi. They misunderstand us too. I carry no more credits in my pocket than is required to pay for my next meal. I am not salaried. I have no sideline business. He wanted cash and I have none to give. It was always going to be messy."

"You are strong with the Force but I sense your power is...wild. Untrained may be a better word." She closed her eyes momentarily and using Force Sight viewed him. "Your aura is Light-sided. Tell me, do you have a Master?" Her voice was calm and collected. Slightly soft, she did not want to appear to be questioning him too intently, for fear of scaring him off.

[member="Aitis Powarth"]

 

[Julius Sedaire]

Again, he shook his head. His posture relaxed, but only by a fraction. Miralukan naturally saw without their eyes. They naturally did what many Jedi could never master, and few to the extent that his people almost all did. It required next to no focus or effort for him, and he nodded, viewing the woman carefully now, weighing her aura and her stance, and decided to answer. And answer truthfully. She seemed to be someone he could be honest with.

"No... I have no master... All Miralukan are Force Sensitive to some degree... We all see using the Force, as I'm sure you know. Some of us are able to, as we mature, develop untrained or wild abilities that tend to masquerade as just being extremely perceptive or receptive. Some non-force sensitive would call it being a mentalist or cold reader, I believe are the terms. I tend to be very good at weighing and measuring people so to speak. Not thoughts, but almost as if I can tell what they'll do next just by observing them, how they stand, how they move, speak... My mother said it was a sign I possessed a better connection to the Force than the rest of my people usually do, but i've never met anyone to train me or call my Master, no... Why?"

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus nodded. "When I was a Youngling back on Corellia, my best friend was Mirulakan. She taught me about Force Sight better than anyone else ever did. And so, yes, I am familiar with your natural affinity to the Force."

"And my question was a simple one - but with a real purpose to it. You could drift for the rest of your life, never having a Master and developing skills by chance, or even picking up tips from fellow Force-users. But there are two pitfalls. The first is important. If the Sith come across you they will try to turn you into one of them. If they fail, they will break you - but would not care less about that outcome. They despise the weak and would see your destruction as proof you were unworthy."

"The second reason is, in my opinion, more important. Without a Master you can never become the Jedi you have the potential to become. And that is a waste for you and for the galaxy."

She paused, waiting for him to take all of this in and wondering what he'd do with the information and, if she was honest, opinion.

[member="Aitis Powarth"]

 

[Julius Sedaire]

Aitis sighed. He took a step back and leaned against the wall, scrubbing at his short hair. There was something to the womans words that rang of truth. She had no angle to her conversation. At least, none that he could concern. She genuinely though she acted in his best interest, and that he had potential to do more with himself. But the question was, did Aitis? All his life he had been treated less than others, beaten down in many ways. Was it finally time to reach beyond and become more?

"I don't know that i'm worth all that much, Master Raaf... Nor where or how to even find someone to train me... Or who to trust... If not for my sight, your words would be the perfect ones to seduce me to the Dark Side or begin my breaking, as you said the Sith would. If I decide to walk the same path as you, how would I even begin?"

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus smiled. His challenge was positive in a number of ways. Firstly he didn't dismiss the notion out of hand. Secondly he was wary and that was a good sign. It is one thing to trust in the Force. Quite another to trust in a stranger. And there was an element of self-doubt. Humility was an honourable Jedi trait once tipped away from a lack of confidence.

"Firstly I'd ask you to view me as I know you can. You can see my aura. You know I am truly Light-sided. Secondly I do not ask you to walk the same path as me. Walk your own path. If that takes you to the same place I am going then I will be happy - but I cannot and will not force anyone to follow me. But I would ask you to come with me to the Academy on Ossus. If the life of a Jedi is for you, then I can help you become the best person you can be. If not, you are free to go your own way. And as to the question of your worth, I ask but one favour."

She unclipped the saber from her belt and entering a code deactivated its DNA locking mechanism. "This saber contains a rare Solari crystal. It will only work for those that are truly Light-sided. If it activates for you, then you are worthy to become a Jedi. And believe me, this is no trick. There are many Jedi in the Order for whom this would not operate."

[member="Aitis Powarth"]

 

[Julius Sedaire]

Listening perhaps more intently than usual, again Aitis head cocked as he listened, and he nodded. The woman made a lot of sense. A lot more than he wanted to admit. And he felt like he could almost sense she was satisfied with his answers. It was an odd emotion, but then again he knew women who were even moreso odd, and this one was a Jedi to boot, so who knew what to expect with that thrown in the mix.

As she unclipped the lightsaber and handed it to him, he reached out hesitantly, taking it in his hand almost reverently. This he knew was a very large sign of trust. The words had him wondering, but this proved it. Sabers were an almost sacred thing to a Jedi, in his understanding. To entrust another with it was a special thing.

He grasped the saber much like he would his cane sword, and quietly flicked the activator, watching as the blade sprung hissing from the hilt, his hold wavering only a bit in shock at the thing actually coming alive in his hands. He quickly shut if off and spun it lightly in his hands, offering it back to Corvus.

"Well... That I suppose proves your words more than even my senses. Unless this is a scheme the size of which I couldn't escape no matter how I tried, I will believe you... And... I suppose I will go with you to the Academy... And see what becomes of me from there..."

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus nodded. She had no doubt the saber would activate. Well, perhaps a little. But he was pure of heart and that counted a lot in her book. And he seemed strong, which lessened any chance of falling to the Dark-side.

"It's agreed then. Tell me, are there any belongings you have to pick up? Any rent owed before we can set off?"

[member="Aitis Powarth"]

 

[Julius Sedaire]

Here he almost laughed, the laughter turning to a rueful chuckle. Eventually he shook his head and smiled softly to the woman.

"I was just paid up on rent, until tomorrow anyway, and I don't really have anything.... Ratty old clothes not much worth mentioning and such. Anything important I keep on me usually... Never know where life will take you some days..."

The quick response seemed to serve as a negative, rapping his cane lightly against the table to his side as if to indicate he was ready to go when she was. He still wasn't sure if all this was wise, but to be at the end of your rope and have such a thing fall into your lap was... Fortunate, to say the least. Suppose he should at least check it out.

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus nodded. "Then we're set. I'll send word to Padawan Ticon to meet us at the ship. Meanwhile, we can chat."

She led the way whist keeping at his pace. "Tell me, what do you know - or rather, what do you think you know about the Order?"

[member="Aitis Powarth"]

 

[Julius Sedaire]

He kept his pace, but turned his head side to side in jerking motions, the same way a blind man oft would do when thinking. He had developed the actions as part of his act, and sometimes they were almost subconcious and out of his control.

"Admittedly very little... Vaguely monastic like in nature, many factions or sub groups which all adhere to a greater Code and operate within or enforce it as they see fit, ruled over and controlled by some sort of governing body of Elders. They are all, obviously, force sensitive and wield one of the deadliest weapons in the known galaxy, a lighstaber. Also rather famed as diplomats and generals in particular. There is a ranking system, of at least two ranks, some sort of apprentice and Master, and I assume possibly a middle rank... Other than that.... Not much..."

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus nodded. It was a fair appraisal for someone not associated with the Order. "We can clear up some of the misconceptions later but you're broadly correct. Now, tell me - what do you think are your strengths?"

[member="Aitis Powarth"]

 

[Julius Sedaire]

Here he nodded, his head straightening as if looking to the sky, though one knew direction of gaze didn't always impact force sight.

"My sight can be a strength, and a weakness in some ways.. I can hear very well, but loud sounds hurt.... I am fast, but I wouldn't want to arm wrestle a wookie.... Pretty sneaky...And I have been told i'm pretty smart before."

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

The questions she was asking were ones she tended to ask as a way of getting to know people better. The range of answers never ceased to interest her.

"And what would you say were your weaknesses, other than the ones you've already mentioned?"

[member="Aitis Powarth"]

 

[Julius Sedaire]

Here he paused, and then shrugged. He actually forgot, for a few steps, to rap his cane-sword like a sight cane, avoiding obstacles with his wrapped 'eyes' no one could have seen, causing a few to stop here and there. But he was thinking, truly focusing on the question in earnest.

"I'm more than a bit stubborn... Sometimes I have a hero complex when it comes to the less fortunate.... And I've been told I don't have much confidence by my sister... And I can be a bit single-minded."

[member="Corvus Raaf"]

 

[Corvus Raaf]

Corvus' interest was piqued but now was not the time to talk of his sister. "It is an odd mix, stubbornness and a lack of confidence. But nothing we can't put right. But tell me, what do you expect your duties as a Jedi to be, and what do you know of the Jedi Code and its pillars?"

This was no quiz. Corvus wasn't going to spend too much time on aspects he was already familiar with - but if need be they would focus on the basics when the time was right.

[member="Aitis Powarth"]

 

[Julius Sedaire]

He sighed and shrugged, obviously not happy with the answer he had to give to her question.

"Honestly? I know that duties often depend on the strengths and weakness of the Jedi in question, but that diplomacy and ability to act as an ambassador seems to be a roughly universal trait... So far as the Code, I just know it's relating to emotions, and how to either control them or not let them control you, or something of that sort."

[member="Corvus Raaf"]