Training Wing

Dalo took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, allowing his mind to ease and the body to become tranquil in his mediative state. The Force washed over him with a complete sense of peace affecting his soul to reflect the change. The Force is with me, and I am with the Force...

Flashes of the past appeared in front of Dalo's mind's eye, undirected and unfocused. First was a memory from not so long ago, walking through the crystal caves and the feelings associated when he found his focus crystal. Then when he attacked Jair and all the fury that was associated with that. But after was a man, strolling through a market. He was oblivious to a shadowed assassin waiting for his moment to strike. Then the man's face flash close up in his memory's view, eyes wide and void of life. A stream of blood pooling out from a body laying on a darkened floor. Dalo was torn from that and into another memory of pain, strong and deep within his stomach. He was younger, and starving, looking for food in a crowded market littered with merchant food vendors. And now, the last memory. Wrought with fear as a little Dalo ran frantically around in a scene that can only be described as chaos. People running everywhere, some falling and being trampled. Dalo's little hand trying to reach for then to help pull them up, only to be knocked out of the way and stumbling to keep his feet steadied on the ground. Then, a Felucian stood before him with a crooked and bent blade. Dalo Froze, locking his terrified eyes with the darkened and crazed set of the Felucian. Dalo thought to run but his feet refused to cooperate, and suddenly the Felucian sprinted toward him with frightening speed.

Dalo jolted, opening his eyes to the real world around him. His forehead was covered in sweat, his heart could almost be heard thrashing against his chest and his breath was panting heavily. Struggling to find air, he rose and immediately started to pace; mind racing and emotions unchecked. He wanted to leave again, and the conviction was strong. He targeted the door to the halls that would lead him to the comfort of his ship that could lead him back to the safety he was accustomed to instead of rebuilding his sense of comfort here and within the Force.

Dalo stopped pacing and stood, tense, hard as rock. His voice cracked with emotion, fear, sadness, doubt. "What is this? Why has the Force shown me this?" He felt under attack by this own mind, as if it was combating the will of the Force. Or if this was the will of the Force, he thought why guide him to everything it has so far just to bring him back to a place he wished not to be in. Was it for strength? Resolution? Or cruelty. Torment?

Maybe this was a mistake...Maybe I'm not the person the Force either thinks I am or wants me to be.

Dalo sighed as he closed his eyes, trying to suppress these thoughts and feelings. Deep inside, he knew this had to be done but at the present he didn't feel ready. His fear for lashing out or doing something he would most likely regret later. The understanding of the Force didn't come without it's trifles, without it's burdens. Something made him regret his decision to return, or at the very least over stay his welcome. He was best working, keeping his mind busy and the memories at bay. Dalo projected these ideals and emotions freely through the Force, as was his inexperienced way. In time he would wish to control this but as of now it remained unbeknownst to him.

Dalo felt Jair's calmness and a sense of gentle care beginning to counteract his distress. He looked at Jair, quizzically before speaking more rationally than before. "I realize that, Master Jair. Just wish it was the easy stuff first instead of feeling like a cinderblock is tied to my ankle before throwing me into the depths like on Manaan while the Force is saying 'Swim Dalo, swim.' It's hard to take in and understand properly."

Dalo's words were sincere and truthful. He couldn't imagine anyone else guiding him through this than his Master. Anyone else might have been faced with a more deadly response, as was his old ways. Relearning not needing to fight and manipulate, steal and deceit to get by will be another challenge he faces. But for now, he focused on the warmer side of the Force's embrace. Dalo wiped his forehead and tried some slow and steady breathing exercises, collecting his thoughts and dealing with them one at a time. "Firstly, my time in the cave was the most relevant and meaningful thing I have done in a very long time. But when I attacked you, that wasn't exactly my darkest moment but maybe one of my most intense. I wish I could direct my emotions better, using them to better myself in some way."

"Well that saves a lot of explaining then.." Dalo laughed with a hint of embarrassment. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to share all that and have no intentions of making my problems anyone else's. However, there's no one better in my mind that I could have done so unintentionally with than you. I feel like I can trust you.." Which says a lot coming from him. Dalo was hardwired long ago that you can't trust anyone in the galaxy, or at least it would be foolish to.

Dalo spent a good deal of thought on Jair's words, both verbally and spiritually. He did in fact sense that no judgement came from Jair and that was a comforting feeling. Though the entirety of Dalo's history might eventually prove to be a different outcome but he kept that well guarded for the time being. The Force grew calm enough in him to sit again with Jair, and meditate something that could give him the will of acceptance for what the Force has shoved him into in hopes self-forgiveness might follow suit. His heart was steady, his mind calm as he breathed patiently and fully. There is passion, yet peace; serenity, yet emotion; chaos, yet order...

Dalo started to fall into the balance of the Force, using his last words as an anchor and bring order to the chaos that lived inside him. He also sensed Jair's desires and thought there could be no better place to find true self and tranquility then in nature, which he usually used for his meditations. He felt foolish trying to do so in the Training Wing however he had not been back to Felucia in years and was unaware if the old Gardens still existed or if they rebuilt them. This gave Dalo a great sense of peace and also the desire to head there. "Let's go, and I'll have more questions for you there if you'll permit them?"

The unrelenting assault against Endor had left her winded and sluggish. While the Force was granting her the speed needed to keep the oppressive wind at bay, she was wearing out. And somehow the massive tree of a man, kept evading her and keeping pace. Then the red headed... wait, no, it must have been a trick of the light... the brown haired Jedi Master dashed off to the side and before she could close the distance and continue her unarmed assault, in fact all she had time to do was turn, and then she saw the bottom of Endor's foot, moments from impacting with her chest. There was no time, no way she could twist herself out of path of the incoming kick. She felt it connect and then, like a shock wave, the rest of her body felt it too. Xabi flew up off the her feet and landed several feet from the point of impact. Winded and possibly bruised in the chest, but what was defiantly bruised was her ego and pride. She lay flat on her back, arms, legs, and lekku all spread at various angles as she tried to get her breath back. Oh- coughing and wheezing. Okay, Master, so maybe you are more coughing. Maybe you are good... She pushes herself up onto her elbows, looking up at the brown haired master Or maybe I just got a little unlucky. She smiled and winked as she, finally with full lungs again, got back up onto her feet. The twi'lek was trying to put on a strong face, but that last kick really took the wind out of her in the metaphorical sense too. After a day of training hard against droids, and then these two bouts, it was starting to wear on her. She stole a nervous glance toward Tamiyo, looking for any sign of encouragement.

Tamiyo gave a small nod and smile of approval. The same look and action she had always done when Xabi faced a challenge that seemed insurmountable at the time, but the youngling always got back up, and Tamiyo was there to encourage her perseverance and tenacity. The Jedi Master, while still not directly assisting Xabi any longer, let her Force presence wrap around the Knight, like a gentle hug. This seemed to be what Xabi needed as she turned to face Endor once more.

Xabi, filled with reassurance and confidence from her former trainer, put out a hand in the direction of her lightsaber. The silver plated hilt flew into her waiting palm and with a flick and flourish of her wrist, the green blade sprang to life. No need for her to fiddle with the power as it was already low from her earlier training. She smirked at Endor. Oooo I've been waiting for this!

When the twi'lek's humming green lightsaber came up and across, Endor's crackling white blade came down, the two plasma swords meeting at the middle and briefly locking in place. Gravity had largely helped, but still it had taken every last ounce of speed in the weather worn druid's old bones to match it, and only just. Endor grit his teeth at the jarring impact, struggling to display his signature grin as his focus eroded his usual boisterous attitude, causing the loud mouthed Rebel ace to become unusually quiet. Briefly he pushed back against her blade, then pulled his own back and away, unlocking the two lightsabers and giving himself enough clearance space to perform a horizontal slash from right to left aimed at waist level. These weren't sparring lightsabers they were using either, but real blades with real consequences if either of them got sloppy. Accidents, while uncommon, were not unheard of. All it took was one careless sparring partner to permanently disfigure or even potential turn a friendly competition like the one they were having into a tragedy. It was for this reason his counter attack was half hearted at best, telegraphed and predictable as a padawan.