The Youth of the Jedi [Nala Tu]

[Akodya Mune]

Akodya stormed down the temple halls with her lips pulled into a tight serious line, her footsteps echoing a bit more then usual. Other padawans and young jedi had to jump out of the way to avoid being run over by the young woman. Her eyes were locked on the massive library doors in the distance, her gaze never wavering from that room. Today she meant business. She had done her mourning exercises and meditation, gotten herself dressed and tied her long hair back neatly and properly. With robes flickering behind her, she threw the library doors open and stepped inside. The corners of her mouth quirked up a tiny bit, revealing a rare excited smile.

"Now, where is that new medical book?!" She said to herself.

 

[Nala Tu]

Nala was inside the library reading. She'd been inside for most of the morning, having not eaten much for breakfast, because she was doing something important. Not studying any important old texts or the like, but reading about the exploits of older Jedi masters and knights who fought in the wars and became heroes to the order and the galaxy. These were the things Nala aspired to be, someone to be remembered. One of her greatest dreams was to sit among the council itself, even if that day may or may not ever come. Among her idles was an great Jedi Master named Larina Feden. Her stories involved the rescue of innocence, defeats over old Sith leaders and more. Nala sighed at the idea of being as great as her one day. Her daydreaming was interrupted when the doors to the library flew open and startled her greatly. She took deep breath and looked to see @Akodya Mune was responsible.

 

[Akodya Mune]

Before she moved on with her hunt, Ayodya noticed a stunned looking @[member="Nala Tu"] sitting alone near the door. Akodya blushed in embarrassment, her enthusiasm when swinging open the door might have startled the fellow padawan and disturbed her from her reading. the human offered a sheepish smile as she moved quietly out of the doorway, now far more conscious of herself.

"Sorry Nala, I was a bit...excited." She admitted a little awkwardly, having not seen the other padawan since an dueling incident a few weeks back. After that Akodya had curled back even more into her shell, avoiding basically everyone in the temple except her master. Secretly she was craving a conversation with someone other then Master Dragonsflame, but she didn't want to risk another mishap.

"What are you reading there?" She asked.

 

[Nala Tu]

Nala, after taking a few breaths to relax, said "It's fine, Akodya."

When she was asked what she was reading Nala was afraid to answer. A part of her felt embarrassed if people knew she had a hero worship for a former Jedi, even more so that she thought of her like a hero among heroes; a "super hero". She was also afraid how Akodya would react to it. Would she be freaked? Would she make fun of her for it? She didn't want that to happen since she was the closest thing to a friend she'd had so far.

Reluctantly Nala closed the book and said "Oh...nothing."

@Akodya Mune

 

[Akodya Mune]

Settling down in the seat across from the tall padawan, Akodya cocked her head to the side. She sensed Nala was a little bit uncomfortable with explaining what she was reading, so she didn't pressure her. At the sight of Nala ripping herself from the pages in order to ingage in conversation made Akodya feel a bit guilty. She didn't want to be a bother. Resting her hands neatly on the table Akodya returned to her usual expressionless self, her tone turning stiff and formal once again. "If you want to continue what it is you are reading, I can leave. I wanted to hunt down the updated medical journals anyway." She said simply. Akodya did feel a little reluctant to say that, since Nala was one of the few padawans that she felt actually tolerated her presence, plus, Akodya liked the company.

@[member="Nala Tu"]

 

[Nala Tu]

Nala waved it off and said "No, no. It's fine. It wasn't anything important, really." She thought for a second before saying "I think I might know where the updated medical journals are if you're looking for them. I know this place pretty well...mainly because in in her so often." her words trailed off at the last part but she perked herself up again and said "I mean, if you want my help, sure I'll give it. Or if you just want me to point it out I can. I can understand if you don't want me following. Not that I think you're mean like it's just...." she stopped herself and shook her head. "Sorry. I rambled, didn't I?"

@Akodya Mune

 

[Akodya Mune]

Akodya nodded, not really minding Nala's babbling. She however felt a little stung at the word 'mean'. Did the other padawans think that of her? that she was mean? She tried her best to be polite and friendly...she just didn't want to make friends, that is all. "Sure, lead the way. I don't mind." She said with a faint smile. Even though she did ramble, it was a sign she was honest and cared what others thought of her. It was a quality Akodya actually really appreciated in a person.

Rising from her seat Akodya brushed herself off before turning her gaze toward the kamionan jedi, waiting patiently for her to lead the way.

"Why are you in the library so much, Nala? if you don't mind me asking." She said simply.

@[member="Nala Tu"]

 

[Nala Tu]

As she walked her towards where the Medical Journals were Nala looked back when @Akodya Mune had asked her question and said "Oh, well, I just enjoy a good read now and then. Besides my master is away on a mission with the council and wanted me to stay. I feel a bit left out, but not too much. I understand. I'm just a padawan and all. And, well....didn't really have anything else to do."

By the time she finished they'd reached the section with medical journals, Nala indicating to Akodya they'd reached where they needed to.

 

[Akodya Mune]

"One of the many disadvantages of being a padawan. You could be an adult and still be treated like a child." she said with a huff, referring to the situation Nala's master had put her in. Akodya scanned the selves, hoping to spot the journal she had been waiting to get her hands on for days. Medicine had always fascinated her for some reason, and even though you wouldn't expect it of her. Gently pulling the book she wanted off the shelf by the spine, Akodya grinned happily. Finally.

"I love these things, studying them kept me busy while I didn't have a master." She said absent mindedly.

@[member="Nala Tu"]

 

[Nala Tu]

"That must've been had. Being without a master for a while." she leaned against the bookshelf and said "I remember when I met my master." she sighed and said "It was such an amazing experience. He showed me so much. It almost felt like having a real teacher who happened to be your parent or something like that."

As she thought about it, Nala couldn't help but think back to her father, whom she assumed was likely on another drop-off or transport mission for either the Republic or someone in the Mandalorian sector of the galaxy. She made mental note to herself to check in on him being that last they talked was at least a week ago. She brought her focus back to Akodya to see if she was enjoying the book she's found.

"So are you planning to be a healer?" she asked. "Because that would be very useful, I'm sure."

@Akodya Mune

 

[Akodya Mune]

Akodya cocked her head to the side and studied the Kamionan reminisced about meeting her master. It must be nice, having such a strong bond with your master that you'd think of them as a parent. Having only recently been assigned a permanent master, she hadn't had a chance to develop such a relationship.

Akodya couldn't help but let a bright smile break out on her face at the mention of being a healer. "Yea, It what I aspire to be." she said happily, holding the book carefully. "It's a bit silly, but I have wanted to be one ever since I was a youngling here at the temple." she admitted.

@[member="Nala Tu"]

 

[Nala Tu]

Nala smiled as well. She then began to think on Akodya's words, about how she thought it was silly that she aspired to be that since she was young. How familiar to something Nala herself was thinking.

"It's not that silly." Nala said. "I mean we all have dreams as kids. Even more when you're a Jedi kid I think. Or youngling. Whichever you want to call it." She sighed a little and said "I know I had mine. Well, I still kind of do actually." She blushed a little and knew Akodya would ask about it, making her say "Okay, but you promise not to laugh, or tell anyone. Or say you won't but then walk off and actually do it?"

@Akodya Mune

 

[Akodya Mune]

Akodya's lips slowly curled into soft smile as Nala spoke. She was positive the kamionan would make a amazing jedi one day. Akodya noted the the girl's change of color, hinting at her embarresment at her own dream. "I wouldn't laugh! you didn't do that to me, did you? I promise not to speak of it to anyone." She said, placing her hand over her heart to empathize her honesty.

"Anyway, I am pretty sure you're goals aren't laughable." She added quickly, pressing her book to her chest.

@[member="Nala Tu"]

 

[Nala Tu]

She took a deep breath and said "Okay, okay." She opened the book she had with her and found the section she'd been reading when Akodya had found her. She found the passage about Larina Feden and one of her missions were she battled an entire horde of raging wompas.

"Well.....there she is." Nala sheepishly said. "I sort of want to be like her when I'm a full Jedi. I want to be a Master. Join the council. Go on epic journeys and fight for the good of the people and all that." She leaned back and said "Maybe even find that special someone along the way." She looked back to Akodya, seeing whatever expression she had, and said "Now you think it's silly, don't you?"

@Akodya Mune

 

[Akodya Mune]

"It is not silly at all." Akodya said firmly, her eyes moving across the open pages of Nala's book. An image of a woman with lightsaber raised was depicted in the illustration. Although she would never say it out loud, she thought it was brilliant Nala had someone to look up to, and who better to model yourself on than a council member? looking back up at the other padawan she smiled softly. "Who doesn't want that though? what is life without a little excitement...I am sure there is the perfect 'special someone' out there waiting for you." She said, trying to be reassuring.

Although she didn't want to, Akodya's thoughts drifted off thinking of her own 'special someone'. Even though she had told herself her whole life that relation ships of any kind were nothing more then a distraction, she couldn't help but think what it must be like to have someone care about you as deeply as you did for them. It was a concept she had trouble grasping. After seeing how broken and cold her mother was after loosing her father, a young Akodya had decided that it wasn't worth the heartbreak. Besides, being a jedi came first to her anyway.

"So what would this person be like, Nala?" She smirked, asking the girl jokingly.

@[member="Nala Tu"]

 

[Nala Tu]

Nala smiled when her friend reassured her she didn't think her ambitions were silly in the least. That was a relief for her, especially compared to how things were for her before. An issue she tended not to share with many. Next thing she knew Akodya asked what she wanted out of that 'special someone' she hoped to find and her face went a little red. She gave a sheepish smile again as she thought of an answer.

"Well....I don't know." she began. "Someone nice obviously. And brave. Maybe, you know, into tall girls." she laughed a little at that. "And certainly attractive. I'm really not sure. I could meet them and he...or she...may not be what I expected to fall for." she sighed and said "It's all in the fate of the force I guess."

@Akodya Mune

 

[Akodya Mune]

"I guess you are right. I don't believe at love at first sight, I think it is a slow process. To be honest, I have never really thought about it that much, I always thought being a Jedi would take up most of my life anyway. " She said, resisting the urge to chuckle at her friend's reaction to question. Her face soon returned to her normal serious expression. "But, having someone to model your life on is good. Inspiration is always good." She nodded firmly, her eyes turning to Nala.

Akodya wished she had someone she admired enough to aspire to be like. Unfortunately, her whole life she had been avoiding turning out like other people...her parents to be precise.

@[member="Nala Tu"]

 

[Nala Tu]

Nala nodded while saying "My father always encouraged it. And, too be honest, I needed as much encouragement as I could get."

All at once bad memories began to sweep through Nala's mind. A young girl crying in her father's arms. Scenes of a youngling struggling while others did better than her. Some laughing at her as she failed to assemble a lightsaber until after everyone else. When she came back to the present she had a more saddened look on her face.

"Sorry." she said to Akodya "You probably don't want to hear about any of that."

@Akodya Mune

 

[Akodya Mune]

Akodya looked at Nala and watched as the padawan's expression went from bright to saddened within a few seconds. She wondered what must be going through Nala's mind at that moment to make her so sorrowful. "No No, it looks like it needs a little bit of sharing." She said, moving to sit down at a near by table and gestured for Nala to sit with her. Akodya guessed it must be some childhood memories since she had mentioned her father. Even though she had lost hers before she was born, hearing the words 'father' 'dad' or 'pa' often made her heart sink. Shaking that feeling off, she turned her attention back to her sorrowful fellow padawan.

"So tell me, why wouldn't I want to listen?" She said, with one eyebrow raised.

@[member="Nala Tu"]

 

[Nala Tu]

Nala sat down and sighed. She never really talked about it with anyone other than her master, and even then it was because it was a matter of training to clear the mind. But Akodya had stuck with her this long she figured she'd be willing to listen to her story. Building up as much inside as possible she began to explain.

"My father and grew up the only Kaminoan's in our town." she began. "And being that we were near Republic space, not too many tended to like us. It was all because Kamino belong to the Confederacy so that automatically meant any Kaminoan were bad. At least the Republic supports thought so. The Mandaolrian's of the area were much nicer, not caring. It didn't matter either way. I was always picked on by the other kids. They'd make fun of my height. The way I looked. They'd always throw water at me and call me 'Fish Face'." She tensed a little when she had to repeated that horrible name. "But then everything changed when I was meant to be a Jedi. At least I thought it did. But no. Even when I got here I was falling behind all the others. I always wound up last in everything and that just made me a bigger laughing stock." She looked more and more sad as she spoke, finally saying "Some great Jedi Master I'd ever turn out to be, right?"

@Akodya Mune