Ilum - The End of Isolation

((Character in Play: Kenzer Tyrcen))

How long had it been since his training began? Days? Weeks? No, that was far to short compared o the time he spent here on Ilum. It felt more like months. Years would probably be better. But how many years has it been. Kenzer hadn't bothered keeping track of how long him and his master had been in isolation. All he had focused on was his training. Practicing with his lightsabers, meditation, and practicing his core powers under stressful situations was all he had done during these long years.

The Shistavanen stood within the cave with his arms held upward. Suspended in the air above him were four large stalactites. His mind was calm and focused as his hands moved around in graceful patterns. The stalactites swirled around one another in a zig zag motion to avoid collision. After some time of doing this, the large icicles lined up and began to spin on their points. The first and third spun in one direction as the second and forth went in the opposite spin. This was part of his meditation training.

The Jedi Padawan had grown quite a bit during his isolated traing. His white and grey robes had been changed for a red vest with a tan tunic and pants. By human standards he had grown into a young man around 21 years of age. His werewolf like build stood at a height of 6' 5". Because of the claws on his large feet, Kenzer walked barefoot. Although his sharp teeth and claws added to a menacing look, Kenzer was actually quite peaceful in nature.

Lowering his hands, the stalactites lowered to the ground and landed gently on their sides. There was no loud noise from the landing, in fact there was no noise. Kenzer had complete control as though they were in his very hands. It was a matter of unlearning all he had known about the size and weight of objects when moving them with the Force. While he waited for Torin, Kenzer decided to practice with his lightsabers. Removing the two hilts from his belt he ignited them. A long blue blade formed in his right hand while a short green blade formed in the left. There he practiced his blocks and attacks while he waited.

As Kenzer patiently practiced, his mind concentrated and attuned to the world around him, Torrin moved in within the shadows, carefully moving so as not to alert his padawan. It had taken him time to learn just how acute the shistavanen’s senses were. But Torrin had adapted, and with complete stealth, brought himself within range. It would be impossible to get any closer, but he didn’t need to be.

A flash illuminated the cave, casting away the shadows before all went white. In a fraction of a second, Kenzer’s vision would turn to a blinding white. The surprise would undoubtedly make his other senses numb for a brief moment, allowing Torrin to dliver a soft force push to knock Kenzer to the ground. If all went according to plan, Kenzer would lay flat upon his back, with his senses in chaos due to his sudden loss in position. In a moment, his senses would return, his hearing the first to decipher the world around him.

”That was force blind, a useful tool to use against unsuspecting foes.”

The voice was deep and strong, distorted behind Torrin’s mask. A Kel Dor, Torrin was unable to breath the typical atmosphere that seemed so common in the galaxy. A gas mask was required, along with proper goggles. However these goggles had made themselves quite useful.

Although Kenzer's senses hadn't given away Torrin's position, the Force did. He could feel Torrin prowling the shadows. Watching his training. The shistavanen didn't allow his master to know he felt him though. He didn't react, at least not until the flash of light shined into his eyes. Kenzer dropped his lightsabers and instinctively grabbed at his eyes to rub them. He had been caught off guard and the force push just added to the problem as his back hit the ground.

Remembering his training, Kenzer calmed down. His senses straightened as his mind went back to focus. The Force would aid in the place of his eyes as he used force sight to see Torrin. Kenzer got to his feet and faced his Master. His sight slowly began to return, but he didn't give any hint of this fact. Secretly he concentrated on the force as he stood there. Bringing up his hand, a flash of bright light would appear in Torrin's eyes just as Torrin had done to Kenzer. By this time Kenzer's sight had returned enough for him to use a force pull on the blinded Torrin's feet causing him to fall onto his back. It was a playful gesture of an eye for an eye.

Torrin walked calmly toward Kenzer, unsuspecting of the imminent retaliation. Torrin felt in control, and wise, only to be surprised once again by Kenzer’s ability to learn at unheard of speeds. A flash of light shot out again, casting a white blanket over the cave. But Torrin’s inherent need for goggles would be his saving grace. The reflective coating would mean that while the cave would be white for a second, he would be no more blind then Kenzer.

As the force tugged upon his feet, he would let himself go, as if caught in the current of the river. As his legs flew up into the air, and his head towards the ground, a well placed hand stabilized his body for his legs to come back down gracefully on the ground.

”Well done Kenzer… I did not expect that. Force blind while useful, is something that can be countered, and easily avoided when your opponent is aware. Do what you can to make them expect something different, and expose themselves, and then use blind.”

"So I see."

Kenzer walked towards the Kel Dor with a smirk. With a slight chuckle, he tapped on the rim of Torrin's goggles with his pointing claw.

"Cheater."

Torrin gave out a chuckle, the only sign of emotion as Kenzer tapped upon his goggles. Torrin knew the value of good equipment, though never compared them to the force. The force was undoubtedly was more powerful than anything else the galaxy. However there were other solutions that did not require the force, and often times were even more efficient. While Kenzer almost certainly was aware of it, Torrin felt no harm in reminding him one more time.

”Remember, the force is only a part of being a jedi. Remember to develop your other talents and abilities, and never to rely solely on the force. To use the Force to accomplish every mundane task is to trivialize it. Using the Force isn’t the only solution to every problem; sometimes it isn’t even the best solution. That’s where a Jedi’s other skills and talents come in. You also must learn to run, jump, climb, fight, swim and above all else… think. These exercises could be made easier by using the Force, but this would be to the detriment of your overall experience. A Jedi needs to learn his capabilities without the Force so that he can truly know himself and also understanding what those without the Force are capable of accomplishing.”

As his words fell silent, he turned back towards the edge of the room.

”You have great potential Kenzer. Your character is perfect for a jedi, but it is important that you understand what it is to be a jedi. That you know that being a jedi is far more then achieving oneness with the force, or the quest for a greater understanding of the force. It is the duty of the jedi to defend and protect, and vow of selflessness that sets the jedi apart from the sith, or any do good organization.”

As Torrin spoke, he shifted through a leather bag resting gently against the cave wall, finally pulling out a holocron.

”Before I was a jedi, I was an archaeologist, and a historian. Perhaps my greatest finding was this holocron. Within this holocron, perhaps the greatest lessons I could ever teach you are held. Within this holocron, is the teachings of jedi master Odan-Urr.”

Kenzer listened closely as he was told about not relying heavily on the force. So far he had been doing as Torrin said. During his isolated training, all Kenzer had done was train his mind and body to it's extent and beyond. As the Shistavanen had learned, his limited could be pushed and exceeded. As for his mind, meditation wasn't the only thing he had been doing. Whenever he could, Kenzer had fiddled around with some of the available electronics at his grasp. Also, he would play out different scenarios of situations in his mind. He would picture the event and the area within his mind as he did so.

Kenzer continued to listen as Torrin spoke on. His years of isolation had already taught him to do away with seeking recognition and clinging on to worldly possessions. It was his goal of helping others in need for their own good and not his that enabled Kenzer to last this long with his training. He wasn't ready to leave Ilum until he felt that he could do good on his goal.

His eyes were drawn to the holocron as it was revealed to him. This was the first time Torrin had showed it to him. His mind wondered what teachings the device had in store for him.

”While these lessons I am about to teach you should not be considered the considered everything a jedi should know, I believe that these lessons should certainly be remembered and considered as you grow. But first, we start with the jedi code.”

Stretching his arm out, Torrin held the holocron out for Kenzer to see. As Torrin let the force flow through his body, moving as a stream through his veins until finally escaping from his hand in a soft, invisible force that surged through the octagonal object. Moments later, a soft green light beam upwards, and an old man clad in brown robes stood, projected in green light.

”I am Maros, the gatekeeper of this holocron. Here I have recorded what teachings I have found left by jedi master Odan Urr. The wisdom held within is the result of intensive research of documents and records regarding Odan Urr and his legacy.”

”Explain the jedi code”

Torrin inquired.

“Of course”

Maros responded, glancing to Torrin before turning back to Kenzer.

” There is no emotion, there is peace.
There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.
There is no passion, there is serenity.
(There is no chaos, there is harmony.)(*)
There is no death, there is the Force. “

“This is the code, based on Master Odan-Urr’s mediation. To most, they understand that the code represents the ideals and philosophy of the jedi, but its true meaning eludes them. As Master Odan-Urr put it.”

“Certainly a Jedi should know the Code, by word and by heart. But seemingly every Jedi is in some fashion negligent, from the lowest padawan to the highest Master. Consequently, were someone to demand, ‘What is the true meaning of the Jedi Code?’ the Jedi who promptly answered would be rare indeed.” –Master Odan-Urr”

“At its most basic level, the Jedi Code is a set of guidelines explaining what virtues to prize and what flaws to avoid. Jedi instructors ask their students to always keep these words in mind. The reason is simple: The Code provides instructions on how to become a Jedi Master.”

“Consider the first rule: “There is no emotion; there is peace.” It is plainly a contrast, distinguishing the confusion of emotional considerations from the clear thinking of peaceful meditation; obviously, a valuable quality.”

“But if that peace is rooted in simply being unaware of some factor that would otherwise cause a Jedi to feel an emotional reaction, then it is not so much peace as ignorance. This is why the Code contains the second rule: “There is no ignorance; there is knowledge.”

“This teaches Jedi to strive to understand all situations particularly before acting; to avoid errors in judgment. But knowing a thing well can lead one to become engrossed in it. An obsessive focus leads to clouding of the mind. Thus, the third rule: “There is no passion; there is serenity.” Knowing a thing objectively is knowing it as the Force knows it.”

“Still, students commonly argue that the only true objectivity is non-existence; death. For does one not affect a thing even by merely observing it? This is why there is the fourth rule: “There is no death; there is the Force.” The Force knows all things objectively; it is serene, and it is not swayed by emotion.
Thus, the Jedi Code teaches that before undertaking any action, the Jedi should consider the will of the Force. Master Odan-Urr said: “With these other considerations aside, all that remains is the force,” If a Jedi can act emotionlessly, knowledgably, and serenely, then he or she is acting in accordance with the Force.”

“Therefore, if a Jedi acts in all things without emotion, ignorance, or passion, then that Jedi is truly a master of the force.”

“While the Code is a straightforward map to mastery of the Force, it can sometimes be frustrating when put into practice. The galaxy has changed a great deal since th Jedi Code was first defined, and a great deal more since Master Odan-Urr attempted to clarify it. Although the secret to the Code is considering it thoroughly before acting, the universe often does not afford a Jedi time to do so.”

“Still, a Jedi can think through a great many things in advance, to better maintain the principles of the Code when the rest of the universe is in a hurry. Over the millennia since the founding of the Order, Jedi Masters have recognized that there are nine concepts a Jedi should embrace before situations are thrust upon him. A Jedi who understands these nine concepts will, when called upon to make a quick decision, already know the will of the force.”

Maros' readied himself to begin on the nine concepts, before quickly being cut off by Torrin. While his words were rich in wisdom to the point of saturation, the material was heavy and thought provoking. The topic alone could spark conversation and contemplation for a life time. Asking Kenzer to process and truly understand anymore would have been ludicrous if he was not to give his padawan time to absorb the wisdom.

”Before we look into these nine concepts, I want to discuss the code with you. I want to know before how you feel about Odan-Urr’s interpretation of the code. Are there any areas which you disagree with? Or areas you feel particularly strong about?”

Kenzer listened as the holocron explained the Jedi Code. In a way he could understand it's meaning, but it also confused him some.

"I understand the purpose of the Code and the meaning behind it, but it still confuses me some. If we are to act without some emotion or a sense of passion then wouldn't we be no more than mere droids? Aside from our free will, is it not our emotions that set us apart from machines?"