Walking into the docking area of the spaceport Nira Murray, the infamous wanted thief, wanted across the galaxy for several accounts of theft, was simply tossing a pouch full of credits up and down. She was just like any other person on the planet of Nar Shaddaa. No one noticed who anyone was on Nar Shaddaa, and on top of that, one could always gamble no matter who they were. Since at least half the planet was made up of criminals, it wasn’t a true question of why at that point. The big thing was that Nira didn’t go to gamble. She would do a little bit to fit in, but the trick was to swipe everyone else of their credits while they were drunk, high, or just flat out not paying attention. It was a small time game, but a fun one that Nira always enjoyed doing, even if she already had a good amount of credits from the jobs she had already done.
Unfortunately she was waiting to hear from a client soon and she knew she’d be leaving the scum filled planet shortly after. Thus she was at a spaceport, at the docks, and waiting. So it was here that a sigh escaped the young lady who was leaning on a railing. Her shuttle due to arrive in half an hour. Normally she would pass the time by swiping stuff off of people, but no one looked promising enough to bother with, that is until one man stood out. His posture, his walk, even his appearance screamed significant. That was rare on this planet, and it definitely piqued Nira’s interest.
At that moment she finally had her mark. Nira slipped the pouch of credits into her pocket before casually walking on an intercept path for the man. It was a classic play, but Nira always loved the simple classics, and largely because they still worked. As she passed the man she would briefly bump into him as she passed him just long enough to snatch whatever she could find, and this time she had found something more valuable than ever before. As per the usual she continued to act casual and walked off like nothing had happened though until she found a nice and quiet location to study her newest reward.
As Nira entered an empty cargo hanger she finally looked down at her reward. She had never imagined she’d find such an object, at least never so soon. The last time she’d seen anything like it had been on a display case in an old museum of artifacts. The slim frame, the curve of the handle, the gray plating and silver and gold rings, nothing could create doubt in her mind of what she held, a lightsaber. She could fence it for a fortune! Well maybe not a fortune, but a very nice amount.
Nira couldn’t help but to laugh softly at this ever so small victory. How many people could say they swiped a lightsaber off of a person? As she enjoyed the moment Nira tossed the lightsaber into the air and as she caught it she gave it a fancy little twirl and it was then that the blade ignited to Nira’s surprise. She had no idea how she had done it, there had been no switch, no button. It made no sense at all to the young woman. Being the curious individual that Nira was though she couldn’t help but to test the new prize. She slowly danced a bit practicing with the blade. It was so much lighter than any vibro blade she’d ever held, and the hum of the energy that it created sounded, well it sounded right to her, and it was then that she also realized she wasn’t alone anymore and she spun on her heels.
“I'll need that back,” David told her calmly. He was dressed as any other spacer, but the lightsaber he held in his own hand, unignited, belied his true nature. “Unless, you like the feel of it in your hand?”
Staring at the man for a moment and then back to the ignited lighsaber in her own hand, Nira finally spoke with a small smile on her face as she continued to look at the ignited blade. “It feels perfect, almost like it belongs in my hand, but of course wouldn’t anyone say that?” Nira’s eyes glanced back up towards the man in front of her. The blades energy glowing off of Nira’s pale skin as she spun the blade once more. Trying to get used to the light weight of the weapon was a bit odd, but in the end everything still seemed right about it. More importantly though was who this man before her was. How was he able to find her so easily? Not to mention the fact that he sounded as if he might be offering to just let her keep it? What was with this guy?
“Many would. I might let you keep that,” he said, as if reading her mind, “Only it doesn’t belong to me. Traditionally, in fact, one builds their own. You could, if you were a part of that tradition…”
Nira spun the blade a few more times smiling thoughtfully as she tilted her head. “Tempting...But why shouldn’t I just keep this one and walk away?” She looked back down at the blade for a moment before looking back at the man from the corner of her eyes.
“Because I can take it back,” he answered simply. His grip adjusted on his own saber, slightly but pointedly.
Giggling slightly Nira changed her posture a bit with the blade out to her side. “Such confidence...Alright then, let’s see what ya got.” She teased.
She was playing, he thought. Holding a weapon and confronted with a master and this was a game. Fine.
His own saber ignited with no visible movement from him. Its blade was green. He stepped forward and swung with it, aiming at her stolen saber, meaning to disarm.
[David, lightsaber 6: 24
Nira, swordplay 4: 14
Damage of 10, but David refrains from striking her.]
Nira had begun to swing the lightsaber up only to stop with the man’s lightsaber about to strike her hand. Which caused her to smile in admitted defeat. “Okay fair enough...So about that tradition you mentioned?” She offered innocently as the lightsaber finally unignited.
David extinguished his saber in kind, and held a hand forward. The stolen lightsaber jumped from her hand to his. He waved it in front of her with a sly smile.
“I suppose in your work you may have heard of the Jedi Order?”
Nira chuckled sheepishly at that. “The name might have crossed my plate when I stole an artifact from a museum once.” She closed her empty hand and left one finger up in a ‘now that you mention it’ sort of way. “I take it you’ve heard of my art then?” Nira inquired while spreading her arms a bit in question.
“Why else would I be giving you this opportunity?” He asked, spreading his hands in a magnanimous gesture. He meant to imply that she had only stolen from him because he allowed it. “I am a Master of the Jedi Order. I see potential in you, but it would mean ending your life of crime. Well,” he smiled, “Unless we need something stolen.”
Nira couldn’t help it. After raising an eyebrow for a moment she burst into laughter for a few moments before calming down. “So let me get this straight. You’re offering to teach me some ancient mystical stuff, and all you want from me is to, oh yeah, abandon my art, my work, and my life? Oh and let’s not forget, I’m allowed to use my talents, but only if it suddenly because helpful to you?” Nira then put her hand up to her mouth while putting the other other arm under her elbow to support her pose. “So tell me again, what exactly is in it for me besides a handy lightsaber, which if we’re honest with ourselves, I could steal one from some spoiled rich guy who wanted one to decorate his office?” She stared at the proclaimed jedi master questioningly.
He raised an eyebrow, “What is your art? The crime, or the means by which you accomplish it? I only ask you to abandon the former. I mean to teach you more about the latter than you ever knew existed. Do you think it’s your pure wit that’s allowed you to thrive as you have? It’s not. Whether you like it or not, my ‘ancient mystical stuff’ is already a part of you.
“You could get by with what you have. But why? When I can show you so much more?”
A grin crept up on Nira face as she chuckled. “You know, you might have a point about my art. Not many would recognize the difference between it and my job. So, when do we get started?” Nira spread her arms out invitingly still smiling eagerly.
He pulled yet another lightsaber from a pocket of his jacket and tossed it underhand to her. It wasn’t the elegant electrum plated one she had picked from his pocket. It was old, pockmarked and gouged. But when she touched it, she could feel it vibrate with hidden Force potential.
“I thought you were waiting for something? But I suppose maybe you don’t think a new job matters? Come with me,” he swept back toward the door, knowing she would follow. “I know you. It is time you know me. I am Master David Starsea of the Jedi Order. We are not the myths most believe us to be. We are real, and we were once trusted to keep peace in the galaxy. We were almost completely destroyed by the Dark Side, betrayed by our own.
“The Dark Side will try to tell you that you can achieve peace through destruction. Order through domination. And justice through vengeance. The worst thing you can say for these beliefs is that they are not lies,” he looked at her as they walked. He was making his way toward his own hangar now. “An important thing to realize is the difference between what is true and what is right. But I can see some of what you are, I know you don’t want the morality lessons.” He slowed down as he approached the bay he was renting. He waved a hand at a guard who stepped forward to check identification, and the guard stepped back without getting what he wanted.
“Something’s wrong,” he murmured as they passed through the door. The old Corellian YT was docked here, fitting snugly in the space allotted to it. He spoke again, louder and to the whole room.
“Who’s there? You can’t hide, I think you’ll prefer it if you don’t make me look for you.”
Earlier, this single girl had been walking through the crowd of Nar Shaddaa, her neck raised looking up as she was seeking towards a single target. This was all so new to her. She had previously just killed the object of her hatred, and since doing so her spirit has been as if it was floating! And everything was so vibrant! She was so happy! She was even able to use her Force power to feel things far, far away... and she felt it. A strong presence near her. It was most likely a coincidence that this individual appeared here on Nar Shaddaa with this timing. However, Emilliana only found the ship he had come in at the location. But, the man would return eventually. Hm, wonder if... Thinking this, Emilliana had used her knowledge from mechanics to sneak onto the ship and hide.
Back to the now… Oooh, she had been found, Emilliana thought to herself. A little grin appeared on the girl in a fugitive’s robes, as she crawled out of a hatch that really shouldn’t have been opened, using which she could have stowed away on the ship. “Amazing. You sensed me just like that, just like I sensed you.” She’d jump down onto the floor, possibly display her less than competent athletic prowess while doing so, breathing out as she managed to prevent herself stumbling, before smiling at the man.
This man… he had to be a Jedi, right? Either that, or just someone like herself. Excitement filled her veins, happy at finding someone more similar to herself, though she held her hands together in patience. She looked at him, inspecting him a bit. My, isn’t he handsome. And with a young little one on his tail, probably a trainee. Emilliana was a little one as well, but that’s a different matter. “This is a really nice ship. With some modifications, it could be the perfect smuggler’s vessel. Though, you’d need more than one pilot to use it to it’s full potential.” She giggled a bit.
“So, what can you tell me… about myself?” Emilliana was excited about how much this man might be able to tell about herself through the Force, assuming he was a true master.
David walked around her, toward the ship’s docking ramp, but he did not go in.
“You know of the Force already, but you are not trained. That’s obvious, I don’t need to sense anything… You are happy, very happy. I don’t see why.” He closed his eyes and reached a hand, as if to touch her, but he stopped short. “You carry something old, and in tune with the Force. It has a connection to you... familial.” He opened his eyes, “You are a descendant of the Jedi of old. But not an apprentice. You have the Force, but don’t know fully how to use it.”
“Oh, wow. That’s amazing.” Emilliana would state, staring in amazement at David. “You’re perfectly correct. My name is Emilliana Ireni Narive, and I believe that the Force guided me here, I assume for a reason. So, what do you think? Can I be worked with?” She’d give a light giggle and smile happily at him, while turning her head and giving Nira a little wave for a greeting before turning back to David.
David considered her, guarding his feelings against a subject he knew could try to read him. She would have to unlearn her half baked ideas of the Force, and that was already a strike against her. But might she be more dangerous left to her own devices? Very likely it was best to keep an eye on someone like this.
“You have no one to leave behind,” it was only half a question. “You will need to learn to control yourself. You emotions can't be as easy to read as they were. She is no stranger to conflict,” he indicated Nira, “But you must know that this is a life that might bring you into danger. Are you up to this? Are you afraid?”
Emilliana smirked, a little flash of determination going through her as she heard the first requirement. “I can get behind that.” At the second, she giggled a little. “Tihi. I’m an open file, aren’t I?” She’d then nod with a smile. “Sure, I could go for some control.” Then there was the last part. Emilliana closed her eyes for a bit, amused by him warning her of danger in her life. She had already lived as a smuggler, had bounty hunters sent to pick her up and all that… She didn’t feel afraid at all. In fact, the notion of danger… it excited her further.
“I’m aware of the danger. However, I do not intend on leaving behind this opportunity of developing my powers for a cause which has been presented to me, danger or no!” Emilliana said, perhaps more cheerfully than the notion of danger should have, but so she did.
“Hm… not afraid? Well… you will be.”
They flew. Emilliana was correct, the Yit was much easier to handle with a copilot, and she filled the roll quite well. But once they had started their course, David set Arthur to fly it and gave them as much of a lesson as he could in the ship’s small common room. He told them of the Force, the energy field that binds all living things in the galaxy together. Of how great an ally it was, and how the Dark Side perverted it and twisted it against itself for the user’s own gain.
While they flew, he inquired after the Force artifact she held, suspecting it might by a lightsaber. He was right, and he set them to drills, and taught them to block blaster bolts from a remote. First with their eyes open, and then blindfolded.
As they trained, he told them about the enemy of the Jedi, the Sith. He had touched briefly on the Dark Side with Nira, but expounded on it here. He told them that the plane they were going to now was the Sith’s homeworld, and that he suspected there may be new Force users taking up the old traditions.
Soon they were approaching Korriban. Neither was ready for a real trial, but they had little choice. His apprentices’ operation among the suspected den of Sith was too important, and too delicate. Besides, they were strong, and he sensed good in them. They would be alright.