Private Vocational Training

[Klar]

​

TYTHON​

Jedi Temple​

Tag: Xuko Pagoi ​

Not all Padawans were treated the same. In older times, the term might've meant a younger person preparing to become a Knight, or simply one initiated into the order, but as the times wore on so to did the term expand to include nearly the full band of adolescence. Anyone between childhood and Knighthood was a Padawan, and there could be no program to treat college-aged persons the same as tweens. They simply had different needs, logistically and in regards to their education.

For older students like Klar and Xuko, their time at the temple was more akin to College or vocational prep with a decidedly martial and theocratic bent - lecturers, physical training, spiritual guidance, and an expectation of contributing to the overall condition of the Temple. There were always more students than there were Masters, always more eager young kids with staffs than there were Knights with nothing better to do than lead lessons, and youths almost always flourished from smaller class sizes with more focused instructors. As a result, it was not uncommon to employ older, higher-level students as assistants and aides In Klar's case, that meant wrangling younglings too and fro and providing additional hands on deck during lessons.

Today, though, was not a day where she got to play with kids. Klar's cohort had been paired off and given a simple, loose instruction - to identify one way that they could use their collective knowledge, skills, and resources to improve the Jedi Temple, concoct a full plan of action to do so, and have that plan approved by a Knight before putting it into action.

On paper, Klar understood the purpose of the lesson. Working with another person she wasn't used to working with, frankly understanding each other's abilities and weaknesses. Doing paperwork. Getting things done with minimal oversight or guidance. High level vocational training for young adults expected to enter the professional body of the NJO soon. Klar didn't have to like it, though. She had dozens of ideas, and she had to narrow it down to ONE?! AND get somebody else to agree to do it with her?! AND THEY MIGHT HAVE THEIR OWN IDEAS?!?! How would they ever get a single thing done when there was so much to do!?

At least Xuko, as far as she knew, was a generally agreeable guy. That was something.

After the proctor had explained the content of the task, Klar made her way over to Xuko's seat with a smile that bordered on apologetic. "Hey, Xuko - we get paired up again." She chuckled, offering a wave as she fixed her hair. The Codru-Ji folded her arms and leaned against his desk, gesturing with a datapad. "You wanna brainstorm now, or...?"

 

[Xuko Pagoi]

Tag: Klar
Mentions: Aris Noble

The Jedi did things differently than he was used to, Xuko reflected, as he listened to the project parameters. The Iridonian would've much preferred for this to be an individual project, where his success or failure hinged on his own abilities, but the Order was much more intentional about fostering cooperation and teamwork than traditional Zabrak culture. At least he only had one partner for this project; the thought of a group project sent a slight shudder down his spine.

As it was, the Zabrak was fortunate with his pairing- Klar, a fellow Padawan whom he'd first met on a jungle hike, would be working with him. Being partnered with someone he already knew was better than being paired with a stranger, or worse- Aris. And while Xuko didn't quite understand the gusto with which Klar approached seemingly everything, at least her enthusiasm didn't rub him the wrong way. In fact, despite his inclination towards individuality- or, perhaps due to the Jedi's focus on group exercises within their Padawan cohort- Xuko realized that Klar was dangerously close to being considered an acquaintance.

Xuko looked up as the Codru-Ji approached, inclining his head in greeting as she waved. His brow was furrowed as he glanced over the notes he had taken about the project, meeting Klar's gaze after a few moments of thought. "Brainstorming seems prudent" he agreed, "but I admit that I do not know much about the temple. I have only been here for a couple weeks and there is much that I do not know." The parts that he had seen seemed to work well enough, but the temple radiated history. "I also I do not know where to begin" he finally admitted.

 

[Klar]

Honestly, there could be no more perfect answer.

Klar wasn't terribly familiar with Xuko Pagoi , admittedly. He seemed thoughtful and cool-headed, which she thought was a fine trait for a guy to have, and he'd showed good judgement in the field. He'd been fun to work alongside. Her opinion of this assignment was rapidly rising.

"Did they take you around for orientation when you arrived?" Klar asked curiously, sitting on the desk beside Xuko. "Wait - don't bother answering that - their tours suck. All of the function, none of the actual interesting bits." She huffed. "Well, we'll have to set that straight. I've been here a couple of months, I essentially know every place I'm allowed to be in by heart by now. I'll give you a good, proper tour and then we can brainstorm what we want to work on."

The blonde girl turned her datapad over in her hands, stroking her chin as she scrolled through her notes. Some of it was this class. Most of it was personal reminders or observations.

She hopped off of the desk and began leaving the lecture hall, beckoning for her companion to follow. "Are you doing anything? We can start now, if you want - this was my last class for the day." She explained cheerfully. "If you're not busy. The education sector is actually a great place to start because of how the building is laid out."

 

[Xuko Pagoi]

"Ye-" Xuko started to reply to Klar's first question, then cut himself off as she forged ahead with her thoughts on the matter; not at all offended. Xuko didn't admit that part of his issue was that he hadn't paid attention to some areas of the tour he had been given, finding places like the sparring area, gym, and cafeteria of more use than places like the walkable meditation gardens out back.

Or the education sector, for that matter.

Xuko sighed internally; finding that he had no good excuse and also not wanting to disappoint the ever-optimistic Klar, the Zabrak resigned himself to a temple tour with more details that he could ever want, or need. It was also his last class for the day, and while he normally went through his Form III cadences after class he also knew that putting off this project would be unfair to someone as enthusiastic as Klar. For all he knew, she'd work on the project without him, leaving him the humiliation of not having contributed.

"I am not busy, no" he replied, gesturing towards the doorway. "Lead on, Klar."

Klar

 

[Klar]

With one (1) boy in tow, Klar set out of the lecture halls with a decidedly festive spring in her step.

"This is the education wing, as I'm sure you noticed." Klar explained, gesturing grandly to the hallways around them. "Some of the older-fashioned folks call them the Training Rooms, and that's a holdover from when they were intended less a series of lecture halls and smaller classrooms and more as a series of multipurpose rooms available for martial training. The Service corps use them for staff meetings and such, too. It isn't just us."

The Codru-Ji girl grinned, folding her upper arms below her back as she pointed downwards. "We're actually directly opposite the grand entrance, if you'd like help orienting yourself." She added. "Though most of the temple is between us and there, horizontally speaking speaking. The technical term for it is 'The Formal Entrance', but nobody calls it that. There are more classrooms further back, near the back entrance, but they're mostly used by guests and younglings."

"Basically, if you ever need to orient yourself? You'll want to do so in relation to the Eye." She explained cheerfully, ambling down the quiet, scholastic hallways. "You probably see it all the time, in the grand entrance way - the big floating shape between the big stairs? It's called the Eye of Zallow." Klar spoke this name with mild reverence, forming her hands into a shape vaguely reminiscent of a dodecahedron. "Are you at all familiar with its history?"

 

[Xuko Pagoi]

Xuko trailed a few steps behind Klar, marveling over the Codru-Ji's enthusiasm over something as simple as an education wing. Her bubbly mood was genuine, he realized, and he wasn't sure if he should be impressed at her spirit or concerned that she was so easily entertained. She sure knew a lot about the history of the place, and as he listened Xuko began to realize that perhaps he'd judged Klar too harshly. Sha'arrek.

The most helpful bit of information, for Xuko at least, came when she mentioned directions within the temple. Used to using the sun to navigate on Iridonia, he'd struggled to orient himself in a temple that utilized light as a design feature. The Zabrak made a note on his pad of paper- unlike many humanoids, Xuko preferred to handwrite his notes rather than try his chances with a datapad. Navigation is difficult; signange?

The Zabrak finished jotting down his thought just in time to catch Klar's question about the massive dodecahedron suspended near the temple's entrance. So that's what it's called... When he had first seen it, Xuko had questioned the piece's function and purpose within the temple, and now a few weeks later, he still wondered by so many resources had been devoted to what amounted to a giant lump of metal and gemstone being repulsorlifted into the air. It seemed a massive liability; suppose the temple lose power, or the repulsorlift need maintenance? Beyond that, Xuko was certain that it was a symbol of sorts- probably named after some doddering old Jedi named Zallow- but beyond that he hadn't a clue.

Xuko was surprised to find that admitting his lack of knowledge to Klar felt oddly deflating, as if he was somehow being judged for not knowing things. Belatedly, he realized that perhaps he should've paid better attention in his initial tour; not only was he unlikely to be able to answer many of Klar's questions, it also meant that he would have precious little to contribute to the conversation.

"I..." he began, then decided that he'd only make a fool of himself by pretending to know things that he didn't. "I am unfamiliar with it's history. What can you teach me about it?"

Klar

 

[Klar]

"You don't know about the Eye of Zallow?!" Klar exclaimed in shock and delight. "Shut the front door! I absolutely LOVE telling people about the Eye of Zallow!"

The Codru-Ji girl minimized her notes on her datapad, showing off her wallpaper - the selfsame eye, framed by the two grand stairs just inside the Formal Entrance for the Jedi Temple. "The Eye of Zallow is one of the oldest artifacts in the temple!" She explained cheerfully, framing the datapad with all four hands. "Over four thousand years old, it bears its name from Master Ven Zallow - who valiantly fell in conflict with a Sith lord. The Eye itself is a marvel of engineering, the artistic design, intricate engravings, and peerless geometric formation call to mind the design of a holocron. Some! Myself included! Think that this is deliberate, and that the Eeye of Zallow was designed to serve as the casing of a massive Holocron before it became an art installation due to... constraints."

Klar took a breath, still grinning ear-to-ear. "This theory is supported by the fact that it's framed by two smaller holocron-like sculptures. But!"

The blonde drew closer, zooming her picture in to the very bottom. "The repulsorlift is also worth consideration!" She chirped. "The current is a recreation of the second replacement, as it's been sabotaged or destroyed repeatedly over the years. But the FIRST repulsorlift, built specifically to cradle the Eye of Zallow, was actually the largest known display repulsorlift in the Galaxy at the time of its construction in 3646! A title it held for over two thousand years!" Klar exclaimed, bursting with excitement.

"Keeping the Eye and the Lift on display is the work of a dedicated team of artisans who also see to several sculptures around the Temple Grounds. They're part of the Service Corps." Klar continued. "Maintaining the Eye of Zallow is one of handful of jobs which is always overseen by either a Jedi Master or a Temple Guard."

 

[Xuko Pagoi]

Xuko didn't have to understand the significance of one's datapad wallpaper to be somewhere between bemused and curious about Klar's seemingly encyclopedic knowledge about an object which seemed more like a waste of time and resources the more he learned about it. The Zabrak would never tell that to Klar, of course- not after seeing the way her face lit up when given the opportunity to talk about it- but everything about the Eye seemed inefficient to him, at best. It had never achieved its primary function (whatever that was), the repulsorlift had proved a security risk as it had been sabotaged in the past, and the entire structure had been named for a Jedi who was best known for losing their fight with a Sith. It was an albatross of centuries past.

If it was supposed to be representative of the Order, Xuko wasn't sure it was succeeding... but at least it had the "wow" factor when one entered the temple for the first time. "It is... most impressive" he conceded when there was space to get a word in edgewise, hoping that was enough to satisfy one of Klar's enthusiasm.

Sha shen'ven ak. The Zabrak felt a strong desire to steer the conversation elsewhere, if only to ensure that the tour proceeded so that they could get to the brainstorming phase before midnight. "I am curious about this area" he said, pointing down the hallway towards where the starship bay and launchpad were located. "What is it, and do you see opportunities for improvement?"

Klar

 

[Klar]

Klar tilted the datapad to have a look, then craned her head to follow Xuko's finger. "The starport?" She questioned, hands on her hips as she scratched her head.

The port was, of course, fairly modern for a facility in an ancient building. It was also almost entirely utilitarian, and that made it kind of boring. Even so.

Klar set off down the hallway, her arms swinging briskly. "There are two main starports that serve the NJO in this area." She explained brightly. "The first is the big civilian one a few clicks away - you probably came to Tython through there. It's where civilians and visitors come in from off-planet, and it's also where off-planet supplies come in. Or leave! Tython DOES have some exports, after all." She elaborated brightly.

"The hanger and pad here in the temple is, of course, for Jedi use." Klar continued as they stepped through a pair of secure doors designed to seal shut in a crisis. "Should the temple come under attack, the ships in this hangar are the first ones scrambled - that means put into the air!" She chirped. "In order to maintain active readiness at all times, the Knights who pilot these ships stay in special dormitories near the hangar, to minimize response time. There's actually a whole little complex for them, with a dedicated cafeteria, meditation room, and so on. I think that's neat!"

She leaned over slightly, stage-whispering. "The Younglings get kind of the same treatment, by the way." She snickered.

The two stepped out onto an overlook from which they could survey the starship bay. Several fighters and interceptors were being maintained, moved about, or otherwise tended to. "Do you like this sort of thing, Xuko?" The blonde asked curiously, raising her eyebrows. "Starships, I mean. I've always been curious. Someone once told me that most boys dream about being a fighter pilot at some point in their childhood - is that true?"

 

[Xuko Pagoi]

Xuko resumed listening as Klar taught him about the launchpad and hangar, as well as the adjacent facilities designed to house the Knights and Padawans who made up the Starfighter Corps here at the Tython temple. "That makes sense" he said, stroking his chin as he tried to envision the temple under attack. "Starfighters are most vulnerable on the ground" he continued, likening them in his head to birds- large, metal birds that exploded when fired upon, but could be incredibly maneuverable in the sky. He could also see how stationary starfighters would be a tempting target for an attacker, both to cripple the temple's defenses as well as their ability to strike back. Once the starfighters were out of the way, an enemy could make attack runs at their leisure.

The hangar had a crisp, almost sterile smell to it, while an array of ventilation provided natural white noise that helped mitigate other sounds bouncing off all the hard surfaces. Xuko glanced upwards at the surprisingly-busy ceiling, noting an series of smaller pipes that he eventually understood to be a fire-suppressant system. Given the amount of fuel and ordinance located here, such precautions were necessitated.

Xuko must've been staring around the hangar for a bit too long because Klar asked him a question. The Zabrak's eyebrows knitted together as he collected his thoughts on the matter. "I had no such dreams as a child" he said, thinking back to his years on Iridonia. He had been focused on the world around him, not the world above him. "Although I knew some Zabraks who did. It must be thrilling to have your own life in your hands like that." Hazel eyes regarded Klar, with some curiosity. "What about you, Klar? Do you dream of being a fighter pilot?"

Klar

 

[Klar]

Klar laughed and shrugged a little, looking out over the busy hangar with all the ships. She knew the names for some of them, could guess at the purposes for most of them. Lean, predatory ships were hunters. Chonky, sturdy looking transports. All the usual suspects. Engineering was more often informed by nature than people thought. "All the time." She confessed warmly. "Though I think it had less to do with the thrill-a-minute elite lifestyle of a combat pilot or mastering a powerful machine and more a wish to... fly." The Codru-Ji confessed. "Though the rest was certainly a part of it."

She offered Xuko a crooked smile. "When I was a kid, I didn't think I'd ever really grow up. So I didn't think much about how life would be when I did." Klar explained. "Ah - my species spends their childhood as canids, for reference. Six legs, no thumbs. Before we hit puberty and pupate." Klar hugged the datapad to her chest, looking thoughtful. "I was a late bloomer. I didn't cocoon until I was almost fourteen. Almost thought I never would."

With a shrug, Klar began leading Xuko on a meandering walk around the hangar, being mindful to stay out of the way of Service corps members hard at work or Knights going too and fro. They were also limited in how close they could get to the action, given that they were Padawans. She flashed her partner a grin, canting her head to one side. "So, if you don't mind my asking - what DID you dream of becoming as a child?"

 

[Xuko Pagoi]

Tags: Klar
Mentions: Azurine Varek

Ah, so this was to be a deep conversation. Xuko chastised himself; he should've seen this coming. After all, given what Klar had managed to share about mundane things like the Education sector and the Eye of Zallow, he should've predicted that a more personal topic such as hopes and dreams would lead to an in-depth discussion on the matter.

Still, he thought he'd managed to avoid having to talk about himself until a few minutes into their circle of the hangar when Klar gently nudged the ball into his court. Still grappling with the thought of the cheerful girl next to him as having entered a cocoon as a canine and emerging a humanoid, Xuko took a few moments to consider his words while he pivoted his mind from Klar's childhood to his own.

"I did not have specific dreams as a child" he finally admitted, having lost the mental struggle between sharing more or remaining quiet on the matter. Something about Klar's presence made it difficult for him to brush off her questions like he might've in most company, and while a part of him in the moment grieved what felt like a step away from his Iridonian heritage, he also found that it was oddly helpful to discuss this.

"Iridonia has a very arid climate" he explained, "Nor'Shak shen." Xuko thought back to his first few days at the Temple, and how difficult it had been to turn off the part of his brain that was used to constantly scraping along in survival mode. He'd been caught by the temple guards out of bed one night during a thunderstorm, putting as many bowls and cups outside as he could, in order to capture the rainwater that was so scarce on Iridonia. "My community was better off than some, but the environment was always our greatest challenge. We have a saying in Iridonian, 'Vorr'kath Zhen'- which means, strength from pain. It's the idea that the challenges we overcome today give us the strength to face tomorrow's." He was sharing more with her than he had with any in the Order, including his fellow Iridonian Azurine Varek .

"I admit that I didn't spend much time thinking about how things could be different" he said, eyes fixed on an astromech wheeling across the hangar several dozen feet away, "and now that things are different I'm not sure what to make of the possibilities."

Xuko shook his head, trying to focus on the present objective. "But enough about me. We still have this project to brainstorm for. Where should we go next?"

 

[Klar]

"Vorr'kath Zhen." Klar murmured, turning the words over in her head. She didn't know any Iridodian, obviously. She hadn't learned to speak a language until she'd come out of her coccoon, and it'd been Huttese. Basic had followed. Klar was fascinated with languages in an abstract sort of way, the barrier they presented towards studying the things that made her brain light up and fire with excitement. She didn't have the focus to sit down and learn another language in full just for the sake of doing so, but eagerly collected words and phrases the same way she did bits of trivia - like a demented magpie.

Vorr'kath Zhen - strength from pain. "I like that." The Codru-Ji decided thoughtfully, rubbing her chin. "Thanks, Xuko." Their round circuit brought them around to a repulsorlift at the opposite side of the hangar bay. Klar stepped into the lift without really thinking about it. It'd take them somewhere else, and that's what mattered. Clasping her datapad behind her back, the blonde gave her thoughtful friend a warm smile. "I think it's a fine thing to live in the moment and accept life as it develops around you." Klar complimented. "It's very Jedi of you, I feel. I admire that trait."

Klar stepped out at the first stop, wading through a dozen younglings under the age of ten being herded about by a pair of Twi'lek. "Klar, perfect timing! Do you think you could-" One of them began eagerly, her eyes lighting up. Some of the younglings recognized Klar and greeted her politely. A couple hung off of her arms. Kar was happy to lift them as best she could.

"Sorry, Ginjaa!" Klar laughed, holding up her datapad and gesturing to Xuko. "Xuko and I are on assignment! Stagiaire! Next time!" She didn't stop her movement, depositing squirming kids in Ginjaa's arms as she left the lift. "Sorry!" The Twi'lek shared an exasperated look with her colleague, then resumed herding the kids to wherever they were going.

"There's never enough hands for the little ones." Klar pointed out to Xuko as they began strolling through the Archives. "That's maybe something we could address? I'm not sure what we'd do - try and get the Service Corps more involved, or come up with a more efficient schedule plan. But the problem is that there's simply not enough people volunteering their time, and no upper limit to the amount of volunteers the younglings could benefit from." She explained. "Ideally, it'd be one-to-one - one teacher per child. On Coruscant, in Civillian schools, the general ratio is one-to-twenty or thirty, or one to five to ten in more privileged academies. At least for the youngest development bracket."

 

[Xuko Pagoi]

Not for the first time, Xuko felt conflict well up inside him as he remembered that Iridonian ideals such as Vorr'kath Zhen did not always mix well with the concepts taught by the Jedi Order. Although he was cautiously optimistic about his current trajectory after leaving Iridonia, the process of deconstruction wasn't always an easy one; especially for a prideful people. Vorr'kath Zhen equated degrees of success and status using the level of the challenge which was overcome. The Jedi, he was discovering, were more interested in the lessons one learned along the way.

Xuko was learning all sorts of lessons along the way while he and Klar toured the temple. One was that he tolerated the Codru-Ji's presence; where Xuko might've half-listened to other chatty speakers, listening for inflection to tell him when to give a grunt or other signal of acknowledgement, he found himself actually paying attention to what Klar had to say.

Another was that he didn't mind when Klar complimented his Jedi-like philosophy, even as he struggled to reconcile his old and his new life. Perhaps it was a growing sense of acceptance that he had a future with the Jedi Order, or perhaps it was simply that Klar was the one who had complimented him; genuinely, like everything else that she did. Xuko had no time to ponder this development further as the repulsorlift door opened and the two Padawans were greeted by a gaggle of Younglings.

Xuko wasn't surprised that Klar immediately drew the attention and affection of the herd of small humanoids; the Codru-Ji immediately had all four hands full disentangling herself from the group. Klar's ready smile and optimistic attitude clearly resonated with the Younglings, and she had obviously spent time volunteering to support the littlest Jedi at the temple. He also wasn't surprised that the younglings did not flock to him in the same manner- not only was he a stranger to them, Xuko had been told before that he gave off strong 'do not touch' vibes. As a result, Xuko was surprised when he felt a hug on his leg- or more accurately, his knee. Looking down Xuko saw that a tiny Mon Calamari had embraced him and wasn't letting go.

Xuko briefly debated what to do. Swinging his leg and throwing the child off would teach them the perils of blind trust in strangers, but that was most likely inappropriate. Standing there and allowing the hug to continue risked more of the same from other younglings, and unlike Klar he only had two hands with which to fend them off. The Zabrak also got the sense that movement from him would just end up in the child clinging on tighter, forcing Xuko to walk awkwardly while lugging them along with. Glancing over towards Klar to see how she was engaging with the younglings, Xuko reached down and awkwardly disentangled himself from the Mon Calamari's grasp, before nudging the child in the direction of Ginjaa. He then made good his escape by briskly following Klar into the quiet of the Archives.

"The simple solution is to assign more helpers, but the Service Corps seems to do a lot already" he mused, more focused on the problem Klar had pointed out about helper-to-youngling ratio than the Archives. "And by using the Service Corp to fix every problem the Jedi risk losing touch of their roots by forgetting their role as servants to others." He was close to an idea, but it hadn't quite fully formed in his head yet... and Klar had clearly thought about this problem for some time. "Is there a way we could include Temple service in our learning as Padawans? It doesn't even have to be limited to working with the Younglings, but we could start there?"

Klar

 

[Klar]

"I've thought about that." Klar confessed. "And I've even thought about drafting up proposals to bring forward - but I keep coming up short on implementation. On one hand, Padawans and Knights are already expected to give back to the temple regularly and mandating service in the lower age brackets means putting Jedi there who are not suited to the task - who might do more damage than good." She explained, her brow furrowed with concern. "To say nothing of bringing somebody with no training or aptitude into the task of tending children - issues abound, simply in training and preparation."

"On another hand, providing some manner of incentive or privilege for volunteering might work - but subverts everything the Jedi Order stands for." Klar continued, sighing. "On another hand, I DO think that the Jedi Order should incorporate more instructional lessons into the general educational syllabus." She added. "The Master-Padawan relationship is a traditional keystone of a Jedi's growth, and yet I believe that most Knights and Masters receive a minimum of education on what it means to educate a child or young adult."

Eyes lighting up, Klar turned on Xuko with a radiant smile. "Maybe that's it? We propose that mentoring and tutelage be added to the standard education of a Jedi, and to further that end, encourage time spent guiding Younglings as preparation for taking on a Padawan learner in the future?" Klar asked animatedly, clutching her datapad. "This idea might actually have some legs, you know? Yeah?!" The blonde Codru-Ji was all smiles, meandering to a stop in the hallway. She didn't wait for Xuko to answer, instead producing her datapad and tap-tapping away to make notes.

"If we REALLY feel like pushing it, we could suggest a mandate of hours served helping with the Younglings as a way of verifying the patience and temperament of future Masters seeking a Padawan..." Klar mused aloud, stroking her chin. "But I don't know that we'll get our proposal suggested with that. It might be wiser to include it so we have something to let them cut out. Yeah? What'dyou think, Xuko?"

 

[Xuko Pagoi]

Xuko nodded along as he listened to Klar process; she was very much a verbal processor but given their tour thus far that didn't surprise him. She had an excellent point about ensuring that volunteers were equipped to work with children. The Zabrak thought back to just a few minutes ago and how unsure he'd been on how to handle that brief interaction, and conceded that this was more than just a "throw bodies at the problem" kind of solution. They would have to be intentional with how they supported the existing staff. Xuko turned to a new page in his notebook and tapped his pencil thoughtfully against his nose.

"Learning to work with children seems like an important part of a Jedi's training" agreed Xuko. "Since they are found in large numbers throughout the galaxy." He was beginning to see the benefits that Klar was talking about. "I will advocate for the mandate. It will be helpful because then we will know how many volunteer hours we can schedule per week." He was warming to the idea. "And since there may be times during the day where more or less assistance is needed, we can schedule the volunteer's time for when they will have the greatest impact."

Their tour had ground to a halt, and had morphed to an ideation session at one of the tables near the entrance of the Archives. Xuko allowed himself a smile; he and Klar had made good progress towards their primary objective, and the project was taking shape. How strange, the Zabrak thought to himself, that I should find this enjoyable.

Klar

 

[Klar]

Klar replied with an animated nod, grinning ear-to-ear. "A system that runs on honor and obligation is fine, but when the need outstrips generosity - a Jedi steps in." She stated with a grandiose wave of her arm, as though addressing a room with a speech. "...or something like that! For an opening statement or thesis." Klar laughed. "Oh, I love this idea! It's really got some legs!"

Klar paused as she considered the archives - or, at least, the door to them. It'd mean keeping her voice down, but that wasn't so bad. "I'm sure we're not the only people to think of this, of course. but squeaky wheels get greased." The Codru-Ji reasoned quietly as she slipping into the Archives with Xuko behind her. Her volume dropped instantly, her tone reserved and respectful.

"This is the Archive, of course." Klar explained, continuing with the tour. "It's one of my favorite places in the temple. The Masters have their own little section we're not allowed in, but there's plenty here as-is. More than I could read in a lifetime. If you ever need help finding things, you'll want to ask Master Op-Jangu, he's the one over there." She explained, nodding towards a Ceran quietly discussing something with a droid. "He knows the Archives better than anyone, I bet."

She flashed a subdued smile, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Oh - obviously I'd be happy to help, too." Klar added. "I'm more familiar with the historical sections than anywhere else, especially the Mid-Republic transitional eras, but I'd be glad to help you look for things BESIDES that." She promised.

 

[Xuko Pagoi]

Xuko nodded his agreement; squeaky wheels did get the worm. And although the Archives were not where he'd spent the majority of his time since coming to the temple on Tython, he appreciated the structure and calm found here. The rows of texts were straight, consistent, and predictable. The temperature was always just a little too cold to be considered comfortable, and most conversations were held in muted tones. It was as controlled of an environment as any he'd been in over the course of his life, and with that consistency came a sense of calm.

Still, the mention of the restricted section of the Archives piqued his interest. Making sure that his voice was low, and hopefully out of earshot of Master Op-Jangu, Xuko locked eyes with Klar. "A restricted section?" Phrases like 'I'll tell you when you're older' had always rankled him.

"Do you know what kinds of items and texts are found there?"

Klar

 

[Klar]

Klar didn't bother to hide the small grin that snuck onto her face as she tapped the side of her nose. "Oho! Well, Xuko, you happen to have brought your forbidden curiosity to the right place." She replied slyly. "I've been in that secret place no less than twice now, and I've had a glimpse of some of what is sequestered away in there." Klar looked around furtively before pulling Xuko between a couple of tall bookshelves, out of view and earshot of anyone else.

Across the archive, Master Op-Jangu shook his head and chuckled - feeling wistful.

"For one, they have MUCH nicer chairs! AND they can have drinks in there." Klar complained petulantly, hands on her hips. "But! I wasn't permitted to go deeply, since I was just carrying messages. Master Laguna was reading instructional documentation on the foundational principals of Form VII, which struck me as a little odd since I don't exactly know her as somebody especially martial. There were several scrolls with financial data and tax records for planets I've never heard of. Aaaand I saw a spooky-looking mask in a case, along with a lightsaber hilt and what looked like a normal wooden branch?" Klar explained with a small shrug, tilting her head to one side. "That's about all the details I could pick up with just a couple glimpses."

Klar folded her top arms and left her bottom ones behind her back, sighing quietly. "Officially, the Master's Archive is supposed to be a place where they can research without being bothered. It's also supposed to house sensitive materials in a more secure location - information gathered by operatives who might still be in the field, or things like that." She elaborated. "But I just know they've got to have some JUICY things in there!"

Klar grinned ear-to-ear. "Hey, when you become a Master and get to hang out in there - be sure to satisfy my curiosity, yeah?" She laughed, gently bapping Xuko on the shoulder.

 

[Xuko Pagoi]

Xuko gave Klar his full attention as she talked about the Master's Archives, feeling increasingly grateful that he'd agreed to this tour in the first place. The Codru-Ji was an excellent source of information and, as it turned out, intrigue. Although some of what Klar said about the restricted section of the archive was of little import to him, he shared her hunch that there must be more interesting items sequestered there than tax returns and wooden sticks. It called for a proper investigation, and judging by the look in Klar's eyes as she talked about the things she'd seen he wasn't alone in thinking so.

Wincing inwardly as Klar's hand made contact with the still-healing blaster wound on his shoulder, Xuko gave voice to his thoughts. "Why wait until one of us obtains the rank of Master?" he asked, hefting his pencil and paper. "If anyone asks, we can say that we are researching for a project. Which, technically, we are."

The suggestion even surprised Xuko as he said it- while he'd been known to bend a few rules here and there, enough time spent around Klar was making him feel positively mischievous... or at least, as much as one of his demeanor could be considered mischievous. Xuko raised an eyebrow in her direction, curious to see if she agreed with the idea.

Klar