Last Stand

Master Mobok had asked Zephrin to come alone to the ruins of the Light of Distant Suns the smaller ship had been badly damaged by the crash landing and made for a somewhat sombre sight. Water dripped in through holes in the roof and snow had almost completely covered the windward side of the hull.

The meditation room had been removed and in its place was a empty scar in the middle of the ship. Which was precisely where the Jedi master stood.

The acoustics were interesting. He could hear the breeze whistle through the Hull. Felt the cold air as it deflected off sharp metal. Perceived the thrum of the force still, despite its ruination the ship still had a faint echo of all the light from so many Jedi.

"Good evening Master Mobok. You sent for me." So here he was. Still contemplating the events of the last few days. It felt like they were turning the tide, but there was still much to be done, and danger to be faced. "I hope all is as well as it can be?"

"Zephrin, thank you for joining me." She nods her head in greeting. "Yes, things are more settled now. I'm sure you can feel it too, a turning of the tide amongst all the pain and suffering."

She runs a hand over a ruined sculpture, lost in thought for a moment.

"Although it is still difficulty, for all of us. I hope you have been taking care of yourself too. It seems every day I am regaled with another tale of your exploits." There's the slightest smile. "You have inspired many. But I invited you here today to talk about one in particular."

She gestures down a destroyed hallway where the carefully arranged trees and shrubs have grown wild and unkept through the ship.

"I am doing what I can, where I can. Then meditating and training when a moment presents itself." The Force had been with him this far, hopefully that would continue.

Zephrin walked with the Master down the rewilding corridor. "I expect the shipwrights would be surprised to see their space gardens looking quite like this." It was oddly peaceful. A reminder that even the violence of a crash landing would be replaced by life in time.

"One in particular? Ah yes, of course."

"Yes, Torvin has been recovering well, although his injuries were severe. Traumatic for anyone, but for a padawan..." She makes a small gestures with her hand. "I shudder to think what would have happened had he not made his way back to us."

The moss is soft underfoot as they proceed and the air is earthy with a tinge of oil and rust.
"He needs more time to become who he once was, who he is supposed to be. But he also needs a mentor. His training is not yet finished. There are many Jedi with us who could act as such."

She pauses by a shattered pot, the flower within is struggling for life in the soil left behind, just the faintest hint of yellow petals showing.

"But he has requested you. You were the one who brought him back, and I felt your connect with him during meditation. Those were impressive feats for any Jedi. But they are not enough on its own. Tell me why you are ready to take a padawan, and why it should be Torvin."

There was a long moment of quiet contemplation. He felt the soft moss beneath his boots, perceived the flower as it held onto life tenaciously. Was he ready? A faint smile crossed his face.

"Yes, he requires a mentor to see him through his training. Why me though? Hmm. A good question. I am not certain that I am ready Master." He crouched down to sense the flower more closely. "Then again. Do we choose the right moment, or does the moment choose us? Perhaps we only truly know with hindsight."

The plant had been happily growing in the pot. It knew its boundaries, the limits of its world. Then everything had changed in an instant. Now it began anew.

"I trust Torvin. I trust that the Force has brought us together for a reason." He stood again slowly. "We both have much to learn, but I will guide him to the best of my ability. As my Padawan or simply as a fellow Jedi, I leave to your judgement."

Mobok considers that for a long moment, seeming to stare into Zephrin's very soul, her form blindingly bright in the force until there's the tiniest nod.

"Perhaps. Let us say that he is entrusted to your care. He will need some more months of recuperation before he is ready to travel. Where would you go? To the war? Or to the Temple?"

The Master left an after image in his Force sight. It remained for a time as they spoke.

"The Temple. Torvin needs to spend time in the company of other Jedi. It will be good for him to re-learn what the Order stands for, and to make some new friends."

He paused, hand resting briefly on the hilt of his lightsaber. "Besides, we should all be mindful of the toll that war takes. We fight when we must, to protect others, but it is important to step away when we can. I think my time would be well-spent teaching the others what we have learned about these Neo Crusaders."

"Good."

She focuses for a moment and then a few seconds later there's the sound of hesitant footsteps as Tovin enters down the same passageway you had both come. Clearly nervous he keeps his gaze downcast once he reaches you both.

Mobok's voice is gentle. "Padawan Torvin. Your preference is to remain with the Order?"
He swallows and nods. "It is, um, Master."
"Then we shall assign you a Jedi who will walk with you on the path of light. A mentor and a guide to show you the way, and to catch you should you stumble."

Then she turns to Zephrin, her gaze solemn. "Knight Zephrin. As a Jedi in good standing of this Order, who has walked our paths, learned our ways and who serves the force in all things. Will you promise to be Torvin's master? To show him compassion, wisdom and understanding at all times? And, when he is ready, recommend him for our trials?"

As Torvin approached Zephrin offered him a supportive Miralukan gesture. He turned to face the Twi'lek as she spoke.

"I do so promise, Master Mobok. With the Force as my guide."

His perception shifted back to Torvin. The lad probably had questions. For a moment he saw himself with Master Sikso back in the Temple, puzzling at the old Vurk's answers.

"Then, as a master of the Order fully satisfied with your commitments. I proclaim you to be master and padawan. May the force be with you both."

She finishes and then lowers her voice to a more conversational tone. "And good luck as well. I am proud of you both. But now I will leave you two to some privacy."

She bows politely to you both and strides out heading straight for the Concord Dawn's medical bay. A Jedi's work was never done.

Torvin does look slightly overawed by this, but he does his best to straighten his shoulders.
"Thank you ze- Master Zephrin. I am honoured to have the opportunity to study the force at your side." Now firmly. "And I will not let you down."

And then, as Zephrin had predicted, the questions. "What umm, what would you have me do?"

Deadpan. "Well if you could fix the ship that would be a big help."

He left it a few seconds before smiling. "Yes, I'm joking. You need a bit more recovery time before anything too strenuous. However, I have been thinking." Zephrin unclipped something from his belt and held it out to Torvin.

"It's about time you forged your new lightsaber." In his hand was the hilt he had recovered from Haneul's Mandalorian Knight. "You have your crystal. This is just a starting point, take it apart, design something new."

"Oh, I don't know much about-" He flushes and then smiles lightly. "Ah. Well I do know a bit more about hilts."

He extends a hand and gingerly takes the offered hilt, turning it slowly so it reflects in the light beaming in through a small hole in the hull.

"When I made my first I felt this incredibly clarity. Like the crystal was speaking directly to me. I just moved my hands and followed its lead. Now...I hope it will forgive me. It will need a housing worthy of it, worthy of both of us."

He glances down at Zephrin's lightsaber.
"Can I ask how you chose your design?"

"Meditate with your crystal Torvin. Perhaps that can be our first lesson."

He smiled at the question and raised his hilt up. "Solid. Dependable. Not too flashy. A fine Soresu hilt. I spent some time in the Jedi archives researching different patterns through the ages. This one works well for me. I do occasionally recraft it. Good practice."

The hilt was returned to his belt. "Oh yes, and we will have to pull a utility belt together for you. There must be a spare multi-tool lying around in here." A gesture to the ship. "Why don't we let the Force show us the way. Come along." Zephrin starting walking down the main corridor of the ship.

Torvin nods, you get the sense that he's now thinking of a similar hilt. Although, you don't know his preferred lightsaber style? Maybe if you think back to your battle.

((Intelligence lightsaber at average difficulty if you would like to try and recall))

The two of you continue walking down the ship, as you approach the mostly decommissioned reactor there's still enough ambient heat to melt the accumulated snow, a small stream now running down the middle of the ship, meandering this way and that around the debris.

The logical place to check for multi-tools is empty. No doubt all the spares were recovered. But many a Jedi keeps a spare on themselves. As you walk pass one of the personal quarters Torvin starts slightly and his gaze whips around to the door.

"Perhaps in there? I feel...something."

((Feel free to elaborate on the quarters/what he feels))

It was hard to forget their battle, the memory was clear enough for Zephrin to pick out the details. He could see Torvin's posture, footwork, strikes.

"Isn't life incredible Torvin? You can feel it everywhere. This ship is a refuge for all the life we brought with us, and more." They kept walking through the partial ruin.

No sign of equipment in the storage area. It would have been thoroughly stripped of useful equipment following the crash. As they walked he started to perceive something...

"Hmm." Yes, he could feel it too. "You are right. I sense...patience." the door was very slightly ajar but needed a bit of elbow grease to open. It revealed a well ordered room. There was no indication that anyone had been in here for a long time. It was designed for an unusually shaped species...

"Oh, this was Knight Sssikaaaar's room." The Thispiassan had died during the ambush at Itamani III. It seemed untouched, there was a feeling of something waiting to be found.

---
D8. Int lightsaber at Average to recall Torvin's lightsaber style Net Successes: 2; Net Advantages: 2

You recall Torvin fought using a relatively unsophisticated Djem So style. It fit his offense well, but a good soresu defence was the natural counter.

Inside the room there is everything a snake sentient could want. A small ramp up to the bed and a variety of large looking combs for the notoriously fluffing Thisspiasian fur.

Torvin enters, his gaze searching this way and that, one hand slightly raised before he looks down under the bed. "Master, I think I've found something!"

He extends an arm and retrieves a small black wooden box with an ornately carved top. It gives off a slight aura of contentment. Carefully the padawan slides the top off. It's a collection of curios and keep sakes. Old photos, Sssikaaaar with those he'd helped, with his previous master. Knick-knacks from dozens of worlds, a small half used tin of hair cream and...a multi-tool.

Zephrin felt a slightly wistful smile come to his lips. They had been friends. The snake had been in possession of a wicked sense of humour. "Sssikaaaar would be pleased to know this was put to good use. It is yours now Padawan."

Once Torvin collected the multi-tool Zephrin picked up the box of memories and placed a hand on top of it. "This belongs in the archives. Well, maybe not the hair cream. He did have a magnificent beard you know. Anyway, we can take it all with us when we return to Coruscant."

His force sight settled on Torvin again. "Now. These tools are very helpful when crafting or recrafting a hilt. I suggest you consider some options that suit your use of Djem So." Perhaps robust was the way to go there too.

"Oh, and there is a suit of training armour if you would like it? Not that I expect to hear about you getting into any trouble of course." The mentor's patented slightly displeased frown came easily.

Torvin takes the multi-tool reverently with a nod. "I will treasure it. Maybe a part of Sssikaaaar remains to provide some wisdom?"

He stands, carefully tucking them into his belt before Zephrin mentions the training armour.
"Of course not, master. Just for training, I promise." It appears the patented frown works on padawan of all generations.

"Master Mobok says I need to regain my strength before I 'sneak off and do something rash'." His Mobok impersonation is quite passable. "But I do want to help, I was going to ask to volunteer at the medbay, with your permission. I don't want to be the only one in the camp not doing their part."

"Yes, I am sure part of him remains with us." He smiled and managed a slight frown at the Mobok impression which was actually rather good.

"Yes well, see you don't get into any more trouble."

At the mention of the medbay he seemed relieved. "Ah yes, an excellent idea. You know it well enough now hmm? Good, I can give you a few pointers if you need them. Of course Jedi Flora will likely be around if you need more advanced help." There was a firm nod.

"Medbay it is then Padawan. You can recuperate and help others at the same time."