Surfacing from meditation, Alida D'med took a deep breath, releasing it slowly before she blinked open her eyes. Across from her, Kaliandra Daroa did the same. "Padawan," Alida said, climbing to her feet. "Tell me, what was your general impression of the Jedi we met at Port Lansing?" The girl gave her a pained look. "Honestly, Master?" She sighed. "They seem ill-trained." "They've been trained in a way that is quite different from the methods used at the Temple." Alida eyed the girl a moment. "And of the Jedi themselves?" she asked. The girl shrugged. "They seem sincere enough. I got to speak a moment with Octavia Syn Jinn. She seems unsure of her place with the Jedi. I sensed that with some of the others. Master Skywalker troubles me, though." That surprised Alida. "Why does Master Skywalker trouble you, Padawan?" "He seems too complacent with the Dark Siders, Master. And," she paused. "It struck me as odd. He asked me to teach at this Academy of his. He knows nothing of us or what we believe, yet he opens up his students to our teaching." "Perhaps it is enough for him that you were trained in the old ways," Alida mused. The girl did radiate a peace in the Force, her presence was strong. Could Skywalker have sensed that? He was a strong Force-wielder, even if Master Kenobi had left his training somewhat incomplete. "As you say, Master," the girl answered. "I would have liked for you to be able to study the holocrons that were kept in the Temple libraries, Kaliandra." Alida smiled, thinking back to times spent in the libraries; researching, talking, exploring. "The ancient Jedi used methods somewhat similar to Master Skywalker. He is trying to rebuild the Jedi Order. I may not agree with his methods, but I must respect his attempt." "It was nice to find that we are not alone," the girl said wistfully. "Yes, that it was," Alida agreed. For so many years, they'd been by themselves on Almas. And in between her Padawans, Alida herself had been alone for a long time. To know that the Darkness had not consumed every spark of the Light was uplifting. There was yet hope. She looked over at the girl. The look on her face was wistful, full of hope. As long as it had been that Alida had been alone, it had been even longer for the girl. The whole of her life had been spent with Alida as her only companion. Had Kaliandra been born decades earlier, she would have been raised in the Temple, surrounded by other initiates, Padawans, Knights and Masters, and not on the barren world that Almas had become after the Purge. All the girl had ever known had been training and hardship. Too many years of being alone on Almas had probably not been the best thing for Kali, but it had been the only thing Alida could do. She had needed to both train and protect the Force-sensitive child. Once the Academy there had been destroyed, the Empire had neglected the little world with its methane-tinged atmosphere. Alida had made certain that the housing units she set up on the far side of the planet had the proper filters and they were well-supplied with breather masks, but it was a far cry from the Temple Gardens. Togin had thrived there, but Kaliandra wasn't Togin. Alida's current Padawan was strong with the Living Force and growing up on a dead world had been hard for the girl. Alida smiled. It could very well be some time before they heard from Master Rionni, perhaps a diversion from their route would be in order. ***** "Gaisheeda?" Kaliandra leaned over her Master's shoulder. "What's on Gaisheeda?" "Life," Master Alida said, turning to smile at her. "Grass. Trees. Flowers." "Really?" she asked, her eyes widening. "And we're going there?" "Yes, we are." Master Alida moved over to allow Kali to see the screen clearly. "While we wait for further instructions, I would like to do some additional training with you. You are strong in the Living Force, Padawan, but you have had little chance to spend time amongst living things." Kali read the information quickly, a smile crossing her face before she quickly schooled her expression into something more serious. "I think I would enjoy spending time there, Master." "I think you will, too." Master Alida smiled. "I'm certain we can come up with a few things to keep you occupied while on the planet." "Is it safe?" Kali asked. Alida nodded. "As safe as any planet is nowadays. I updated our data banks while at Port Lansing. According to this, there are regular shuttles to and from Yavin from Gaisheeda, which is under the authority of the Alliance." Kali eyed the changing pictures. "Is that what I think it is?" she asked, pointing at the screen. "Yes, it is a park of some sort. I believe we may be able to obtain permission to land there and spend a day or so in the area." Master Alida switched off the viewer. "You've never been camping, this looks like a good place to introduce you to the joys of sleeping outdoors." Sleeping outdoors? Such a thing had not been possible on Almas. Kaliandra couldn't help but grin. "It sounds exciting!" Her smile faded a little at the look on her Master's face. "Yes, I know, Master. We're not supposed to seek excitement." "It sounds enjoyable," Master Alida corrected mildly. "Enough excitement seeks out the Jedi, Kali, that we do not need to seek it on our own." "When do we land?" "Soon, I believe. We are awaiting coordinates from the spaceport authority." Kali's Master looked up at her. "You are impatient." Kali looked down. "I apologize, Master." "Meditate for a short while. I will let you know when we are ready to make planetfall." "Yes, Master." Kali turned to go, a smile spreading across her face once more. ***** The afternoon sun bore down on the two Jedi as they prepared their camp. Alida shook her head at her Padawan. The girl had been going non-stop since they arrived, admiring every blade of grass and every leaf on every tree. The Master turned back toward the job at hand. She would let the girl revel in the Living Force for a while longer. They were in no hurry and it was good for Kaliandra. Watching her current Padawan stop to crouch low to the ground, Alida smiled. Her former Padawan, Togin, would have taken one look around and marched straight back into the ship. Alida finished preparing the camp and knelt in the grass, clearing her mind, calming herself as she reached for the peace that existed inside of her. She had no idea what to expect of this Jedi Council they were going to meet with. These Jedi were not at all like the ones she had been raised with; as she had been raised. When she came out of her meditation, evening shadows were beginning to stretch across the field. Kaliandra knelt in front of her, deep in meditation herself. Alida brushed against the girl's mind, pleased to find that Kali had been meditating for some time. Getting to her feet, Alida brushed the dirt from her knees. She would let the girl continue with her meditation while she prepared evening meal for the two of them. ***** tbc
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