Shel Hu
The First Order
Posts: 78
Affiliation: The First Order
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Post by Shel Hu on Sept 4, 2019 8:08:10 GMT -8
Shel sat in thought for a moment, so, they had been beyond the edge of the galaxy too long, and gotten used to much lower amounts of gravity. Something none of them had thought to account for. It would take time, possibly years for them to adjust back to a tolerance for gravity that would allow them to serve off ship in the core worlds. But maybe that's what it would take? Her people had lived for (depending who's clock you look at) more than a decade on board their ships, what was a few more years of seeming quarantine?
=Shel= It will be a difficult adjustment. The Void has left its marks on us, that's for sure. Though if you are willing to suffer through it in the deep core, we can begin changing our artificial gravity to best match what we are used to and take it a step at a time till my crew and I are reintegrated with the galaxy's pull.
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Harnan Ren
Knights of Ren
Posts: 594
Affiliation: Knights of Ren
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Post by Harnan Ren on Sept 4, 2019 21:51:26 GMT -8
Harnan could quickly tell that the gears were already churning within Shel's mind. The woman already piecing together the theory he had just proven with the information she had already known. He rose to his full height, offering his hand out to help Shel rise from her seat. A smirk forming as she asked if he was willing to suffer through their adjustment process. It certainly sounded like it would take some time, but given how the crew had all been when they were over Corulag, it would be necessary. Besides, something as simple as a gravity adjustment was not bound to be worse than some of the torture he had suffered If you think the artificial gravity system will be enough to counteract what ever is going on close to the core... Then by all means. I've spent more than my fair share of years within the Void. Though... not quite like you all did. A few thousand years on Ice certainly doesn't do wonders though... Besides, I'm here to train you, and if that means having to be out here near Adumar, or messing with artificial gravity systems when near Corulag so that you can concentrate. Then so be it. What ever helps you perform at your best, means you'll learn what I have to teach...
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Shel Hu
The First Order
Posts: 78
Affiliation: The First Order
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Post by Shel Hu on Sept 6, 2019 10:22:16 GMT -8
Shel considered for a moment. It was not just she and Harnan that this would effect, but her whole crew, which after so long together was practically family. It was not the usual way of Empire captains, especially not the ones from her era, but she would have to consult the crew.
=Shel= I will put it to a vote. My crew is going to be affected by this as much as I, and well, given all they've seen me through, deserve a say in this. She took Harnan's hand and stood. Then looking to her wrist communication devise, sent a message for her whole fleet. Until we here though, we should begin training.
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Harnan Ren
Knights of Ren
Posts: 594
Affiliation: Knights of Ren
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Post by Harnan Ren on Sept 7, 2019 9:35:56 GMT -8
Harnan gave a nod as Shel stated that she would have to put the matter to a vote with her crew. Perhaps it may have seemed odd, and perhaps she expected some reaction from him. But he really did not hold any real strong feelings toward the matter By all means, you are the Admiral after all... Once she was up on her feet, Harnan reached over to the desk and picked up his helmet. Sliding it back on over his head as Shel suggested they could get in some training until the rest of the fleet arrived By all means... This way then Lady Hu... He offered out his arm for her to take again should she wish to make use of it again, but regardless of her choice, lead the way out of the conference room. Leading the way down through the rest of the ship. Finally arriving to the training room Harnan had been granted use of while aboard Shel's ship. The door opened to reveal a fairly plain looking training area, with a few storage containers placed around the edges. All of which were filled with an assortment of weapons and items for training. Harnan ignored them for now as he lead Shel into the middle of the marked out match area. Moving to stand opposite her Let's start off with some basics... What do you know of the Force? What is it that you believe it to be?
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Shel Hu
The First Order
Posts: 78
Affiliation: The First Order
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Post by Shel Hu on Sept 11, 2019 6:28:50 GMT -8
With the message sent it would likely be another couple hours before the votes results came in from the captains. And so she would follow Harnan. She did not take the man's arm this time, wishing to once more prove herself capable, despite her diminutive size. Though now that they were out of the oppressive Core, she was moving much like her normal self. Shel followed the Knight to one of the training rooms for the officers. She stood opposite Harnan Ren on the training mat. When he questioned how much the Fleet Admiral knew of the Force she thought for a moment before answering.
=Shel= What I know of the Force? It is a power that binds all things and thus all things may be manipulated through it. Or so the readings that 'Father' left me claimed. As far as what I believe it to be: It is a tool to be used in service to my Emperor and his Empire. It allows me to see, as is with all my people, and allows me to better coordinate my forces in battle.
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Harnan Ren
Knights of Ren
Posts: 594
Affiliation: Knights of Ren
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Post by Harnan Ren on Sept 23, 2019 18:58:31 GMT -8
Harnan was glad to see that Shel was back to her more normal self and strength as she had strode confidently through the hallways to the training room. Her posture much improved as she stood opposite him now. Her answer did not catch him off guard all that much. At the very least, it meant that whoever trained her before had not been a total fool. She seemed to have a decent understanding and basis from which Harnan could guide her training forward It is more than a claim... The Force exists in all things, in some more powerfully than others... He reached out toward one of the crates then, the Force flowing through him and out toward the object. Gripping it, he raised it off the floor a few inches to float in the air With training, we can indeed manipulate almost anything with it... He lowered the crate back to the ground, releasing his hold upon it as he let his arm come to rest as his side again Sight and co-ordination such as what you have merely scratch the surface upon what you are capable of achieving. You can enhance your reflexes. Strengthen your strikes. Pull and push objects and your opponent around. You can even sense approaching danger. And some, whom are skilled enough, can even see through time... How you choose to use it, and the intent behind it, are as equally important as the skill. People talk of the light side and the dark side of the Force as if everything falls into one or the other... A foolish view enforced by decades of blind teachings. The Force is a source of energy, of power. It enhances that which we feed it... Irrespective of who and what you are... Do you follow so far?
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Shel Hu
The First Order
Posts: 78
Affiliation: The First Order
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Post by Shel Hu on Sept 24, 2019 18:02:57 GMT -8
Shel could see the manipulation of the Force energy from Harnan to the box, something her heritage allowed for. Yet as she watched she could not fathom how he did it. She had only ever practiced bending minds to a unified purpose, not even her own will. But she listened as Harnan reviled the philosophy that seemed to separate the Ren from other Force traditions. A sense that the Force is energy, neither good or evil, just to be bent toward those ends. Which is itself subjective.
=Shel= I suppose I do.
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Harnan Ren
Knights of Ren
Posts: 594
Affiliation: Knights of Ren
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Post by Harnan Ren on Oct 22, 2019 18:10:42 GMT -8
It was a good sign that Shel at least understood the concept of what he was trying to get across to her. She did not argue the matter, nor espouse any particularly strong disagreement. All signs that going forward, there would be little in the way of conflict between what she knew and what he would be trying to teach her Given your already advanced skills, I think we can mostly skip the more basic steps here... Harnan walked over to one of the crates, and pulled out a small cube from within it. An empty datacron that could be filled with a great deal of information, but which was devoid of anything right now. He moved back over and placed it on the ground a couple feet in front of Shel, before taking a couple steps back Take a moment, focus upon the Force and how you call upon it to bend the minds and will of others. But instead of trying to make anyone nearby pick something up. Imagine the Force taking the shape of a hand... A hand which can reach anything you want. And think about reaching out with it and grasping the datacron... Your task is to lift it up...
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Shel Hu
The First Order
Posts: 78
Affiliation: The First Order
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Post by Shel Hu on Oct 23, 2019 19:58:23 GMT -8
Tilting her head to one side, Shel looked at the cube. She could already 'see' it through the Force, it's shape, size, make up, and approximate weight. But she reached out a hand and she tried to turn the Force from simply seeing, into doing. Trying to visualize what she wanted to happen with the cube and then make it a reality. A bead of sweat formed at her brow as she continued to struggle. The box didn't have a mind, a will to tap into and bend how she wished. It was something, in her mind, impossible for her to accomplish. With out realizing it she started to grunt and snarl at the box as she grew more frustrated. Finally, she let out a yell of frustration and pain, that with it shot a small, but palpable wave of energy at the small cube. Now properly sweating from the effort that had just been put forth, she dropped to a knee to catch her breath.
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Harnan Ren
Knights of Ren
Posts: 594
Affiliation: Knights of Ren
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Post by Harnan Ren on Nov 14, 2019 20:32:04 GMT -8
Harnan watched as Shel tried to set about the task he had set for her. His arms crossing over his chest as he made no move to assist her. It would be a good first test, and the more frustrated she got, the better the results yielded may be. A small smile appearing on his lips a few moments later when, out of frustration, Shel managed to unleash a small wave of energy across the room at the box. The item shifting a couple inches before Shel fell to one knee, trying to catch her breath.
He grabbed a towel from one of the containers and walked over to Shel. Squatting down slightly to offer it to her You might not have picked it up... but you did move it... Frustrating, isn't it? Being set a task that you cannot achieve... He raised an eyebrow behind his mask then. A thought crossing his mind as he handed her the towel and stood up. Looking down at her as she knelt on the ground. Perhaps it might help to proverbially poke the bear Kind of like the frustration you felt when you were trying to get your people back home... or the frustration you felt when you suddenly had command of all these people thrust upon you... You, a young woman that was held back from her true potential... And now you can't even lift a datacron... You've been enslaved for so long, but now you have to break free. Just let it out Shel... Let out your frustration. Latch onto it, and use it!
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Shel Hu
The First Order
Posts: 78
Affiliation: The First Order
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Post by Shel Hu on Nov 16, 2019 16:41:59 GMT -8
Shel grabbed the towel from him, a little more aggressively than her usually well composed self would have. Dabbing away the sweat, she then heard Harnan talk. Every word he spoke seemed to strike a nerve within her. Her brow twitched, her fists clenched. She had heard enough.
=Shel= You think you know my frustrations? You think you know what it's like to taken away from your family by a mad man and then taken into the Unknown? Or what about when you are brutally taught that you are just a tool, a means to an end? Maybe you also know about the acts of genocide I ordered to be carried out, so that when I returned to known space I would receive a hero's welcome. Only to find that the Empire, in who's name I carried out those orders, is decades gone. Perhaps you also want to lecture me on how 'frustrating' losing most of my command is? How those men and women trusted me and I let them down. And now, I can't even do what a child with half my potential could do. SO YES, PERHAPS I AM A LITTLE FRUSTRATED!
With that last statement she once more turned her focus to the datacron and with an out stretched hand attempted to grab hold of it, only to crush it like an empty aluminum can. Then everything started to go hazy in her vision, and she collapsed from all the effort and stress.
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Harnan Ren
Knights of Ren
Posts: 594
Affiliation: Knights of Ren
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Post by Harnan Ren on Nov 18, 2019 19:37:00 GMT -8
Despite the pain it caused him to have to annoy and anger her like this, his gambit had succeeded. Her anger drew the Force forth and flowed from her hand as she reached toward the Datacron, before the small device was crushed like a can. He was about to congratulate her, but instead dropped to one knee. His hands reaching forth to grab hold of Shel as she started losing consciousness. Pulling her toward him to brace her against his body That's enough for today... He scooped her up in his arms then, before rising up and carrying her out of the training room and made the short trip to the private quarters he had nearby. Although he might have taken her back to her own quarters on the ship, it would have meant passing more crew members. That meant answering questions he did not want to explain and it also meant her crew seeing her in a weakened state. So for now, he activated the controls to his room and entered the room. The door closing behind him as he headed over to thee bed and gently placed Shel down upon it. He covered her with the blanket to let her rest as he removed his helmet and set it down on the desk in the room and took a seat. Waiting and keeping an eye on her, while figuring out the best way to proceed with her training
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Shel Hu
The First Order
Posts: 78
Affiliation: The First Order
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Post by Shel Hu on Nov 26, 2019 14:05:48 GMT -8
A dream... No, a nightmare, seemed to plague Shel's sleep. It was a massacre. The orbital bombardment was raining down from the Imperial armada that was sitting over head. She could hear people screaming, a baby crying in the arms of her dead mother, the shocks as turbolaser fire ruined buildings and collapsed shelter on top of those who hid beneath. And in the middle of it Shel stood, seeing the faces of her crew running to and fro as they tried to survive. Then a voice called to her. It was Orren, the man who had been more a father to her than the man called Father. She rushed to his side to help remove the rubble crushing him. It was too heavy. He pleaded and begged her to help, but she couldn't she was too small and weak. "Use the Force!" he said, and Shel reached out and focused all her might on moving this slab of concrete off her friend and it shifted, but right as it seemed she was doing it, the slab fell back, shaking the building. A rumble came from above and the building came falling down on top of her and Orren, but before she could let out a scream she was bolt up right in a strange bed in a strange room. One that she had explored in younger years, but it was not hers. Her vision was cloudy in the Force and she was having trouble making out what was around her. Panic was starting to set in as she felt another's presence in the Force but couldn't make it out.
=Shel= Wh-Where am I?! She cried out, as if a young child was lost in a deep dark forest.
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Harnan Ren
Knights of Ren
Posts: 594
Affiliation: Knights of Ren
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Post by Harnan Ren on Dec 1, 2019 14:52:22 GMT -8
Harnan had been relaxing back in the seat by the bed, watching Shel as she dreamed. Whatever she was dreaming of, it did not seem particularly enjoyable, especially when she sat bolt upright a few moments later. Half taking Harnan by surprise from the rather sudden movement. He moved from the chair to sit on the edge of the bed, cautiously reaching out to place both of his hands on her shoulders. His gaze fixed upon the blindfold, trying to figure out what exactly was going on You're in my quarters aboard the Pathbreaker. We were training, and you passed out, remember? You're ok Shel... I promise... Just focus on me, you are not in danger... As incapable as she might seem of using her powers actively, there was always an element of danger when someone's emotions were not in check. The darkness had a way of feeding off fear and pain, using it to take control of someone. Powerful as he might be, someone like Shel losing control could prove deadly not only for him but to the entire crew
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Shel Hu
The First Order
Posts: 78
Affiliation: The First Order
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Post by Shel Hu on Dec 2, 2019 13:43:51 GMT -8
She felt the weight on her shoulders, but before she could struggle free, she heard the familiar voice or Harnan unmasked. Her fear started to subside as she checked herself for any injury but found none. She shook her head a little, brushing some of her long hair behind her ear.
=Shel= N-No, I don't remember much... I just remember getting angry, and then I was... Dreaming.
Shel shuttered as she thought about the nightmare and the falling building, crushing her and Orren.
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Harnan Ren
Knights of Ren
Posts: 594
Affiliation: Knights of Ren
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Post by Harnan Ren on Dec 4, 2019 18:55:49 GMT -8
Harnan kept his hands upon her shoulders, a slight look of concern crossing his gaze as he watched her. Although she had calmed down and seemed fine, the fact she could not remember what had happened was worrying. A worry that only seemed to grow stronger as Shel shuddered after she spoke of remembering being angry and then dreaming. He ran his hands down her arms and gently gripped her hands in his own I fear I may have pushed you a little too hard... What was your dream about? If you don't mind me asking...
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Shel Hu
The First Order
Posts: 78
Affiliation: The First Order
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Post by Shel Hu on Dec 5, 2019 8:59:22 GMT -8
She took a deep sigh and scooted back to rest her back on the wall at the head of the bed. It would be unpleasant to relive, but she'd do it. Another sigh and she began describing all that she could remember from the nightmare.
=Shel= I was on a planet. Above me I could see my fleet, bombarding the planet into oblivion, but it wasn't just me down on the ground. It was all my crews, we were running trying to find any shelter. Then, one of my friends was pinned under some rubble. I rushed to help him, but when I couldn't a building fell upon us.
She shivered, and drew her knees up to her and hugged them.
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Harnan Ren
Knights of Ren
Posts: 594
Affiliation: Knights of Ren
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Post by Harnan Ren on Dec 5, 2019 18:34:22 GMT -8
He watched silently as she scooted back against the wall that the bed was set within. Listening as she recounted her nightmare, the details still seemingly vivid within her as she shivered and hugged her legs close. Curling up into something of a protective ball. He removed his gloves then, setting them on the foot of the bed as he moved to sit back against the wall net to Shel. He reached out and gently pulled her across into his lap, and cuddled her Dreams can be dangerous things... They can be filled with promises and hope, or they can drag us down into our deepest, darkest fears... What you did out there... It will haunt you, and I fear these dreams may only get worse as your training continues. You're a brilliant commander Shel, and what happened would have broken much weaker people... I cannot promise they will get better the more you master with the Force... So I leave the decision up to you, if you wish to continue...
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Shel Hu
The First Order
Posts: 78
Affiliation: The First Order
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Post by Shel Hu on Dec 9, 2019 18:17:46 GMT -8
Shel buried her face into her arms and knees. She was exhausted. It seemed to hit her like a wave as her "fight or flight" came down. But she knew she had likely been away from her command for too long. They would be worrying about her. Yet, as much as she wished to perform her duties as Fleet Admiral, she couldn't bring herself to uncurl and stand. So there she sat, quietly, allowing herself to reach back out with the Force to touch the minds of her crew. It seemed that in the time of her fainting, she had of course lost concentration on her nearly constant Battle Meditation, and it hadn't gone unnoticed. She could feel the minds of the Pathbreaker's crew be at ease when her familiar presence once more entered their minds.
=Shel= I should get back... They are worried...
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Harnan Ren
Knights of Ren
Posts: 594
Affiliation: Knights of Ren
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Post by Harnan Ren on Dec 10, 2019 18:43:29 GMT -8
There was something comforting about having Shel so close to him. Her presence sitting there, providing a warmth that he had not felt in years. His arms remained wrapped around her as she buried her face. Feeling the shift in the Force a few moments later as she seemed to reconnect with her crew. He let out a soft sigh, as he bowed his head forward and rested his forehead on her shoulder A moment longer Shel... please... His grip remained the same, strong enough to keep her close, but with enough give that she could stand up and be free of it. He let the Force flow through him then, and into her. Feeding the fire that simmered within her, giving Shel the extra bit of energy she needed to make it through the rest of the day. Although it meant weakening himself, Harnan would could recover quickly enough, and he could more easily hide his exhaustion. Shel, on the other hand, had an entire fleet to worry about
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