Under a Violet Moon

[Aster Rose Baelor]

With her eyes closed, Aster inhaled and exhaled deeply as she sat, her legs neatly folded under her, on the cold floor of the crystal cave. Having grown somewhat accustomed to Ilum's climate, the cold she had so used to hate was now refreshing to her.

Breathing in another deep breath of cold air, Aster opened her eyes and turned to the Wolfsglaive closest to her. "Wait outside for my guest and bring her here when she arrives," she ordered then turned to another of her guards. "And prepare some tea, thank you."

Having issued the orders, Aster closed her eyes again and resumed her breathing exercises as she concentrated on the Force within her. Like a stream, it flowed gently within her, its current weak. Concentrating on it she attempted to see the contents of the crystal cave with the assistance of the Force.

Maintaining her steady breathing, she was slowly able to see her bodyguards through the threads of the Force that bound them. Challenging herself, Aster followed the threads and searched for her guest unsuccessfully. She was still weak in the Force.

Not wanting to overexert herself before her guest had even arrived, she stopped her search and instead concentrated on meditating to prepare herself.

​

[member="Jairdain"]​

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

Three times now Jairdain had visited Ilum. Two times for herself and another with the Silver Jedi when a bunch of the padawans were getting their first crystals for their lightsabers. She remembered each visit clearly in her memory and was slightly apprehensive of coming again. However, this visit was going to be different. She was invited by the Crown Princess who she had met two previous times.

Both meetings had been done more than two years previously and before she had been taken captive and corrupted by the Sith. Having turned herself away from that dark path, she had returned to the Silvers and they had helped her regain her mind and find her path once again. No longer a follower of the true Jedi Code, she still leaned more to a light path than a dark one.

Transportation between the two factions was open and she took one of the transports that went into the sphere of influence controlled by the Iron Empire. She held no fear or real concern for this little exchange and actually looked forward to meeting Aster again. Not counting the Force, the only weapon she carried was her lightsaber which was clipped to her belt and allowed to keep it as she climbed off the transport.

When she was on the ground, the bitter cold no longer shocked her as much as it had the other times she had been here. Maybe she had grown used to the shock or was better prepared, she didn't know. Clutching at her cloak nonetheless, she noticed the guard through the Force that approached her. Moving away from the ship, she waited until he approached her. Giving him a nod when he said to follow her, Jairdain fell into step when he moved to guide her into the cave where Aster waited for her.

Jairdain was stronger in the Force now and felt the young princess before she could 'see' her. When she came within sight, Jairdain gave her a small smile and attempted to bury that apprehension. There was one thing she picked up right away from Aster, she was lonely. That one thing was so very strong within her, but kept buried very deep.

The guard announced her and took up the same position he had been in before being sent out to greet Jairdain.

[member="Aster Rose Baelor"]

 

[Aster Rose Baelor]

Sensing [member="Jairdain"]'s arrival, Aster opened her eyes and returned the woman's smile.

"Hello," Aster stood up and gently brushed the creases out of her dress. "Welcome, and thank you for coming," she said, her face flushed from the cold temperature, and gestured for one of her Wolfsglaive to bring the tea she had one of them prepare earlier.

"Would you like some tea to warm you up? Ilum's climate is rather unkind - even to those who call this planet home," she gestured at the thermos. "I have Darjeeling and Sencha - both first flush, Earl Grey, Jasmine, and a rather peculiar one called butterfly pea tea that is a lovely blue in colour." Taught to be a good hostess by her mother, Aster was more concerned about Jairdain's comfort than the reason she had called the woman to Ilum. Well, that and because Aster was always grateful to have guests who were not visiting her for official reasons. Politics could be rather tiresome.

"If you're cold, I can have a couple of the Wolfsglaive bring a few heaters to warm up this cave."

Aster paused and awaited Jairdain's response, careful to contain her excitement. She had a image to maintain as a member of the imperial family and had to act accordingly.

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

"Thank you for inviting me, your majesty. Sadly, I'm not very familiar with tea to know which I would like best."

The only tea she had actually had before was with Lady Kay on Commenor. However, whichever tea Aster choose, Jairdain would drink and appreciate its flavor. Being blind some of her senses were greater than others. While it was all she had ever known, she didn't think they were any different than other people.

"Oh I wouldn't want to take the chance of melting any of the ice that might used as support of the cave. Thank you though."

Even though Aster was ​royalty, Jairdain got the feeling she would rather be treated more as an equal than somebody of nobility. At least when the situation did not require it. Following her intuition here, she treated Aster with the same respect she showed everybody. Of course if her intuition proved her wrong, Jairdain had no issue calling the princess by her title.

Since she saw through the emotions others felt and she was empathic, she felt the contained excitement of Aster and looked forward to getting to know the girl and teach her what she could.

[member="Aster Rose Baelor"]

 

[Aster Rose Baelor]

A brief look of sadness appeared in Aster's eyes, leaving almost as quickly as it had come. While she appreciated her position and all the privileges it had offered her, it was also a great source of her loneliness.

"There's no need to address me like that in private, please call me Aster," the teenager smiled. "In that case, let's drink some Earl Grey," she said then gestured to the Wolfsglaive to come to her with the thermos containing the tea, and two cups to serve it in.

Heeding her call, the man approached the young women and poured the tea, handing the first cup to [member="Jairdain"] and the second to Aster.

"Thank you," the teenager said as she took the cup from the man then turned to her guest. "How was your journey to Ilum? Nothing troublesome happened on the way here I hope?" she asked then took a sip of the warm tea. A fragrant marriage of bergamot orange and black tea danced in her mouth as she savoured the tea's flavour.

"Is the tea to your liking?"

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

Hearing the smile in the voice of Aster, she returned that smile and actually took a seat on the ground with her. In a way it was very refreshing to not have to be formal with her. On her own home, her people would have insisted on the formality all the time from her. They were gone though and she had learned new things about the galaxy since she was banished.

It had brought a time to her life where she was truly alone. She didn't know the language of Basic, planet names, history or anything else. For three years, she had wondered around lost and confused until some sense of clarity and she went in search of the Jedi. Less than a year after joining them, she had been kidnapped and held to be a sacrifice to some cultists gods. Rescue had happened and in time, she returned to the Silvers.

That hadn't lasted long and she was taken captive again. This time rescue had not come and she had been alone again for a very long time. Her only company was an occasional visit from a sith lord. At least until she corrupted. Once that happened, she gained her freedom. In the end her love helped bring her back to the light, but inside Jairdain felt she could never be a Jedi again.

She accepted the cup from the guard and allowed the tea to cool down before taking her first sip. In the cold air, it didn't take long and it was now the perfect temperature to drink. Aster asked how her journey was and to make sure there had been no mishaps along the way.

"The journey went well and no issues at all. This is the first time I've had this tea and it is wonderful, thank you."

Her tone was respectful,​ but totally open and friendly.

"Did you know this is my fourth time here?"

[member="Aster Rose Baelor"]

 

[Aster Rose Baelor]

"I'm pleased to hear that," Aster replied and took a few more sips, finishing her cup of tea.

"And no, I didn't," the teenager said and set her empty cup on the floor. "I assume you visited the planet to gather Ilum crystals or perhaps you even participated in the gathering on one of those trips?"

Having once embarked on the path of a Jedi, Aster had a little insight into their ways, however, her desire to perform her duties as the Iron Imperial Crown Princess had challenged her desire to follow the Jedi code and won, thus, the girl abandoned that path for another. Additionally, as far as she was concerned, there was nothing more important than becoming a good leader capable of protecting her people. Good, evil, light, dark - she cared about none of that. To her, the best interests of citizens of the Iron Empire were most important.

Though she had enjoyed the small talk with [member="Jairdain"], Aster was also eager for the lesson to begin. Before she could take on the responsibility of protecting the people of the Empire, she needed to first learn to protect herself when a situation demanded it.

"I'm ready to begin when you are."

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

A few more simple courtesies were exchanged and Aster asked if she had been involved in the gathering event. That brought a smile to Jairdain's face and a slight blush to her cheeks. While the blush could be seen as coming from the chill, it was from the memory of what happened after her love had found his crystal here. Thankfully nobody had discovered them.

"Yes, when I was at the cusp of being knighted, a dear friend brought be here to get my own crystal. My next time was with the Silver Jedi where several padawans needed their crystals. A bounty hunter stole my saber and I needed to come back for another crystal. Though I have since gotten that old saber back."

Finishing her own cup of tea, Jairdain sensed before Aster spoke she was excited to begin her lesson. Not wanting to come across as so much of a teacher, she remained seated as she looked in the direction of the princess.

"In your invitation you indicated an interest in learning more about defensive abilities. What do you already know?"

[member="Aster Rose Baelor"]

 

[Aster Rose Baelor]

"I see," Aster nodded and paused. It had been a while since she was taught a new skill so it took her a moment to recall what she had been taught. "And in regards to what defensive abilities I know, I have been taught the basic of conjuring up a Force barrier and a bit of mental defense."

"I use my healing ability the most out of all the skills I have learned so I would not mind being reminded how to use either of those two abilities," the teenager added. For her own safety and the safety of those who were tasked with the responsibility of protecting her, she needed to be able to protect herself. After watching soldier after soldier die in order to protect her, she was determined to not be a liability anymore - or at least lessen the extent to which she was one.

I must learn so that I can protect those who protect me, she thought. Tired of being a defenseless target for unsavory individuals to try their hand at, Aster's resolve to learn and become stronger was a strong one.

[member="Jairdain"]​

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

Listening to what Aster said about what she already knew or didn't know, Jairdain nodded and smiled slightly. Her already knowing at least a basic of barrier would make things a little easier. She found it interesting she also knew healing. That was one area Jairdain only knew a little of, but had expanded her knowledge since her return to the Jedi.

By helping to heal those in the medical ward when she was recovering mentally and then on Commenor in her free time. She knew more about counseling than healing, but everything helped in its own way.

"That's something worthy of knowing too though. I can heal a little myself."

Setting the empty cup down, she folded her hands in her lap as she thought about the best way to refresh on the barrier.

"The barrier can be used as both defensive as well as something offensive in power. It is also temporary and can only take so much damage or hits before it dissipates and needs to be remade."

[member="Aster Rose Baelor"]

 

[Aster Rose Baelor]

"Yes, definitely," the teenager nodded at [member="Jairdain"]'s words.

"Force barrier can be used in an offensive manner?" Aster asked, surprised. The fact that an ability called Force Barrier could be used in an offensive manner was news to her.

"How would that work in practice?" she asked, wondering aloud. Not the most combat minded of individuals, Aster tried to imagine - with much difficulty - how she might be able turn the defensive ability into an offensive one.

Curious as to how that could be done, excitement filled her as she waited for Jairdain to explain the process behind this usage of the ability.

Does she use the Force Barrier as a melee weapon to bludgeon her enemies with? Aster wondered.

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

Listening to what Aster asked, she could tell the thought had never crossed the mind of her that a barrier could be used as an attack.

"May I borrow the aid of one of your guards? I promise this won't kill him or do any harm."

Permission was given and one of the guards stepped forward. Jairdain stood up and in just a moment a bubble appeared around the head of the guard.

"Now before I perform the next bit, what I'm going to do is use a skill called cryokinesis. It will basically kill off the air he is breathing within that barrier. If you don't know how to use cryokinesis, I could also try to teach that to you. In here though, it might be difficult since it's already so cold."

She hoped her little touch of humor would be appreciated, but not taken in an offensive manner.

After explaining what she was going to do, Jairdain then focused with the Force on the air inside that bubble. As the guard exhaled and the air started dying off, the interior became filled with condensation. Without any new air to be had though, the guard started to fall down. Before any damage could be done, Jairdain made the barrier dissipate and he was able to breathe again on his own.

[member="Aster Rose Baelor"]

 

[Aster Rose Baelor]

Eager to watch [member="Jairdain"]'s demonstration, Aster nodded to indicate her approval.

"True, I don't think there's anything to freeze on Ilum," the teenager chuckled then watched carefully as the woman demonstrated by the ability.

Aster watched as the Wolfsglaive trapped in the bubble struggle to breathe as the interior became cloudy and filled with condensation.

"Wow..." she muttered as the soldier was released from the bubble. She appreciated the non-fatal nature of this technique. Aspiring to become a healer, the teenager felt it counter-productive act in a way that may lead to more fatalities even if it was to protect herself. Even criminals had people awaiting their return.

"Aside from using cyrokinesis, are there any other strategies to use the barrier in an offensive manner?" Aster asked, eager to learn more.

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

"Now, if that had been kept up then he could have died. However, that was not my intention and have not actually ever killed anybody."

Having to ponder an answer for a few moments, Jairdain took on a thoughtful look.

"Generally speaking I would only use the barrier in a defensive manner. Keep something in mind, though. While dominantly a defensive device, if you come up against a foe and your side deploys the use of gas or something that would require you to have something to allow you to breathe...you may use the barrier to keep yourself alive. Your foe then falls prey to your gas.
"A barrier can also be placed around a weapon or hand of a foe to prevent them from being used."

It may not be the only way a barrier might be used as something more offensive, but they were other ideas that Aster may not have thought of previously.

"Would you like to practice a little?"

[member="Aster Rose Baelor"]

 

[Aster Rose Baelor]

Aster nodded.

"That makes sense."

The many applications of Force Barrier intrigued her. She had not considered the skill as anything more than a shield.

"Yes," Aster replied eagerly and closed her eyes.

Emptying her mind of all thoughts and emotions, she felt the flow of the Force within her body and...nothing. She had forgotten how to perform the ability.

"Umm..." Aster opened her mouth to speak but was unable to. Forgotten from lack of use, the skill had now become inaccessible to her which she considered to be rather embarrassing.

[member="Jairdain"]​

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

After Jairdain finished speaking and asked if Aster wanted to practice the skill, she nodded at the answer and took her seat back on the ground of the cavern. Patiently waiting for Aster to attempt a barrier, it became clear after a few moments the skill had been forgotten.

There was a good sign though in the fact Aster could still find the calm of the Force and feel it flowing. Jairdain hadn't reached out nor could she tell this from the princess. She picked up on the fact Aster felt some embarrassment at not being able to perform at the moment.

"It's ok. When I look at somebody or something through the Force, I focus on their emotions and that is how I view them. I imagine basically a bubble around them or myself and use the Force to place it there. It might work for you too."

No negativity was in her tone or voice, but simple patience and understanding.

[member="Aster Rose Baelor"]

 

[Aster Rose Baelor]

"Thank you, I'll try that," Aster nodded and closed her eyes again.

Clearing her mind again, and focusing on the Force that pooled in her body, she took [member="Jairdain"]'s advice and imagined a bubble encasing her body. Concentrating on this mental image, she coaxed the Force to materialize into a dome shaped barrier that separated her from both the Master and her security detail.

"How is this?" Aster asked speaking each word slowly, her eyes still closed and her mind still focused on the mental image.

Inexperienced in the use of her other Force abilities aside from healing, she struggled to maintain the barrier for long.

"Ah..." she muttered, panting a little as she opened her eyes and her barrier disappeared.

 

[Jairdain Ismet-Thio]

Almost right away Jairdain noticed something Aster did that was uncommon. She focused too much on keeping the barrier up instead of allowing it be natural. It might be the barrier Aster made could be stronger or take more damage than what Jairdain did.

"Can you observe through the Force? It's something almost natural to me as breathing, but could come in handy in showing you how I work my barrier. You see mine, once I place it, stays until I either whisk it away or it takes enough physical damage to dissipate. Think of it like blinking it there, letting go and allowing the bubble to remain behind. At first it would only last a few seconds on its own. As you become more familiar though, it would last longer."

Like she said, Jairdain went through a motion. Blinking her eyes, a barrier appeared around her hand.

"Poke at it a few times if you want. Once you have done enough damage to it, it'll go away."

If Aster did that, Jairdain had made a weak barrier to do this simple display.

"In time, it can be strong enough to block most attacks. Just remember the barrier does have a lifespan and can't sustain a ton of damage before going away."

[member="Aster Rose Baelor"]

 

[Aster Rose Baelor]

Aster nodded slowly as she thought about [member="Jairdain"]'s words. She had never thought of it like that. She had thought Force abilities all required concentration and a constant stream of Force to maintain.

"I see," she muttered to herself before replying to the woman's question. "Yes, a little."

Once the teenager had given her reply, a bubble suddenly appeared around Jairdain's hand. With her eyes closed, Aster focused on the barrier the woman had constructed.

"I understand a little better now," Aster replied and gave the barrier a cautious poke as if it was a fragile object.

"Thank you for this display, I think I have a slightly better understanding of the skill now," she smiled.