“Hey Xena, what’s that?”

You look up at Doran — a habit, almost an instinct to do so, though you need not even move your head with your use of Force Sight. You look back down, hefting the metal raptor in your hand. The double-headed bird, one eye open, one eye blind, looks off in two different directions. It’s a dense metal object, roughly the size of five of your fists. Master Masbau left this for you along with the red-gold robe, but you have no idea what it’s for.

“I guess it’s a bird. Master Masbau left it with a note, saying that it belongs to me. Maybe it’s a paperweight or something?”

“Weird. Can I take a look?”

You glance back at the bird, warp-eye open. It shimmers with warp-energy, the stuff suffusing the metal thoroughly. You feel drawn to it in a way, and what Master Masbau wrote — that it belongs to you — rings true. The warp-taint within it, however, makes you hesitant to let others touch it, and so you apologize to Doran and shake your head.

“I think it might be dangerous. I probably shouldn’t have it out like this.”

“Dangerous?”

“Yeah. I can’t really explain it, though.”

“If you don’t want to—”

“No! It’s not that. I’m serious.”

He looks at you askance, but makes no moves to snatch it away. You sigh and hold it up, but away from him, letting him get a good look without bringing him into danger.

“Here, you can look, but don’t touch.”

You turn the bird to and fro at Doran’s urging, letting him get a good look at the thing while you keep examining it yourself. The bird is a stylized two-dimensional shape, the thick metal shaped to match its exterior silhouette. The wings are spread wide, blocky feathers menacing the air, while its two clawed feet dangle downwards over a lengthy extrusion of esoteric purpose. This part looks to do something, but what, you do not know. It looks mechanical, with interlocking parts, but no obvious gears. It might move; it might not. However, when you look at the underside, there appears to be a circular hole, roughly five centimeters in diameter, depth unknown. A shard of broken metal, torqued until broken, lies within, filling up the space.

As he stares, Doran absently reaches out to touch it. You slap his hand away just before he makes contact, returning him to the present.

“Ow! Why?”

“I told you not to touch it!”

“I didn’t!”

“You were going to, though.” You say, pulling the bird away and hugging it to your chest. It feels warm to the touch, somehow radiating heat despite being almost inert. While warp-stuff lies within, it seems dormant — unable or unwilling to move.

Doran shuffles his feet guiltily, mind whirring with excuses, but all he says is, “Sorry, Xena. I’ll pay more attention next time.”

“Why’d you come in here anyway?” you ask. You share a room with Tera, Nyine, and Cho’an, while the other four share another. It’s rare for either party to intrude on the others’ space.

“Oh, Cho’an asked me to come get you. She wanted to do more training with you.”

Ah, right. It’s about that time. You and Cho’an have continued training together. Most of the time, you’re simply working to build up your strength and endurance. Even with all the physical therapy Master Corr had you do, you still have a ways to go to regain your stamina from before. A whole two weeks have passed since she’s given you the clean bill of health and you’re steadily improving with the work you put in every day.

Other times, you attempt Battle Meditation. You still work at it with Master Lasah every week, building a foundation for application. Cho’an has volunteered to help you with your training, both during your lessons with Lasah, and outside of lessons during times like this. Cho’an has also expressed interest in learning Battle Meditation, and has been accepted since she has made a rather good impression on Master Lasah.

You’re still coming to grips with the technique, though. It works intermittently. Sometimes, you’re able to direct Cho’an with great detail, like you did in deflection training. Other times, you have no grasp at all, your attempts falling flat and useless on the floor.

Despite its name, you’re unsure if Battle Meditation really requires meditation. You’ve been trying your best to actually meditate during each of your sessions over the past weeks, having decided that it would be helpful to get back into the habit. At first, every time you sat there, struggling to make peace within yourself and the world around you, you had issues. The mental noise of all the Jedi around you, not just within the rooms next door, but throughout the Temple, intrudes on your thoughts. It is simply constant, and the more you clear your own mind, the more the thoughts of others try to crowd in. When you’re up and about, working on something and exercising your mind, the noise is kept at bay. It is the emptiness that meditation demands of you that makes it a problem.

However, your training with Master Nu seems to be paying off. Force Cleanse works to clear the mind, instantly accomplishing the goal of meditation — focusing on a single string of thought, and emptying the mind of all else. This is the foundation of Force Cleanse, with the purifying aspect as the secondary result. Master Nu’s training, therefore, is mostly just more meditation as she dictates what you should focus on.

It’s frustrating, really. Why does everything need meditation?

However, it does pay off. Your own meditation sessions have been getting better — easier! You’re able to hold away the noise at the edge of your mind, turning it into white noise, almost soothing after a long day. Sleep comes easier too. You’ve long thought of sleeping as just another session of meditation. A childish thought, meant to let you justify your slacking off. Now that you’re learning Force Cleanse, however, you realize you may have been onto something!

Where were you? Ah, yes. Battle Meditation. When it does work, you are indeed focusing on the movements of your friend. And yet, there’s still so much more to it. Experts, according to Master Lasah, are still able to move about and fight, leading their forces in both mind and body. You’re nowhere close. So, why does it have “meditation” in its name? You don’t know. Maybe it’s because it is like meditation in a way, but there’s more to it — you just feel it. You’re missing something, but you just can’t put your finger on it.

Cho’an stands before you, eyes blinded by the training helmet, moving and dodging with your direction. Three training droids revolve around her, showering her with bolts, but never landing a hit. You watch and nudge her when the lines of unseen light, illuminated only in the gaze of your warp-eye, draw your attention. The Force hums along, matching the lines in intensity and screaming for attention when you don’t notice concentrations of the warning striations.

The triple-assurance of Force Sight, Force Sense, and warp-sight mean you never miss a thing. Even after a straight twenty minutes of this, Cho’an has not yet been hit, and she doesn’t flag while under the effect of Battle Meditation.

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It is amazing to watch — to feel.

But, you’re still aware of the time. Cho’an needs a break. Even with the Force bolstering her body, Cho’an cannot keep this up forever, and you would be a cruel friend to demand it of her. You push out with the Force, shutting down the droids before dropping the Battle Meditation.

Cho’an visibly sags where she stands, but doesn’t collapse, now used to coming down from that high. She turns to you, pumping her fist while still shaking with exhaustion.

“Whoo! That was awesome!”

“Yes. Yes it was.” You smile and hop up to your feet. You stride forward and help her walk over to the wall where she leans back as you reach up to towel off her face and hair.

“My turn next?”

You look at the clock on the opposite wall, then nod your head. You’ve got another half-hour to go before curfew begins. You’ll have just enough time to shower before bed if she’s fast.

Cho’an slides to the floor and gratefully accepts the water you pass to her before you walk to the center of the room. You have no need for one of the blinding helmets, so you simply draw your saber and prepare your stance.

Two droids rise up and you begin.

≡][≡ ⬦⬦⬦ ≡][≡

Ow. You rub at your bruises on your arms. The one on your back really aches though since it’s exactly in the place you can’t reach very well. You can just barely get your fingers there, but have no leverage to properly massage it.

You were able to get through the exercise yesterday relatively well, but Cho’an was unable to hold the Battle Meditation for more than a couple minutes, and most of that time what she wanted from you was unclear, which left you having to dodge stunning bolts by yourself for most of the training. You don’t blame her. After all, she just started training in it herself.

“Xena, Cho’an. What do you think is the key to Battle Meditation?”

Master Lasah’s own mask stares back at you, then pivots to Cho’an. You wonder why she does that too. Like you she has no need to move her head to look at others. Perhaps it’s just a habit from working with sighted people for so long?

Cho’an glances at you, but you’re still thinking — thinking of useless things, but it’s not like she can read your mind. After a few more seconds of silence, she speaks up.

“Practice?”

“That is how you improve, but what is the key to applying the technique?”

What is it? When you’re able to actually make it work, what do you look for? You don’t just watch Cho’an. You don’t just watch the droids. Is it the interplay between them?

No, you’re not on the right track there. That’s the interaction between Cho’an and the droids, not between Cho’an and you. The both of you are connected through the Force, but that’s too obvious an answer. What transfers between the bond you create with Battle Meditation?

“Intent.”

Master Lasah smiles and nods.

“Correct. Elaborate, please.”

“I need to know what Cho’an wants to do — what she feels in the Force — and she needs to know what I want her to do. That’s just our intentions.”

“Exactly. It is as simple as that. However, the application of this knowledge is far more difficult, as the two of you have found.”

Master Lasah tilts her head forward in concentration. Her thoughts narrow to the width of a needle, extraneous detritus discarded to the cosmic wind. And yet, she still is aware of all input. The Force still swirls about her, and you can tell she is aware of it, and the physical world. Even though she has declared you to be competent with Force Sight, you can tell you still have much to learn, especially with managing your attention.

What does she see? How much more can you improve?

The Force blows through the room like a strong gust of wind, almost enough to push you out of your seat. Around Master Lasah, a shell grows like that of a seed, then splits apart to reveal tendrils of Force. You watch as two tendrils reach out to you and Cho’an, beckoning for your acceptance.

You affirm, and then you feel it — Master Lasah’s intent. Her wishes and direction.

This is what you offer to Cho’an and vice-versa during your practice, except much stronger to the point of being nearly tangible. And yet, it feels less like a command and more like a request. Master Lasah offers connection, a trade of will for will. A fair one, one of equal give and take.

Yours and Cho’an’s are more… unconscious. There is no discernable offer, nor chance of refusal. Your technique is weak. Cho’an’s is weak.

You’re unable to use Battle Meditation on more than one person too, whereas Master Lasah has spoken of masters being able to command armies and armadas. You have a long way to go before you’re there.

You look around, suddenly realizing you’ve been running through the forms of Niman for an untold time. Beside you, Cho’an mirrors your actions while Master Lasah remains seated on the floor. The Force relinquishes its tentative hold on you as you halt your movements.

“I believe you get the idea already,” Master Lasah says as she smoothly rises to her feet. “Transmitting your intent is one thing, focusing your own intent such that you can adequately share it between yourself and many others is another. The rest of your training, Xena, will be focused on this. Cho’an, you will have some catching up to do.”

≡][≡ ⬦⬦⬦ ≡][≡

Another two weeks have passed, and your friends continue to practice for the next Lightsaber Tournament. You have no idea when it will actually be, but it is supposed to be yet another pivotal moment in an Initiate’s life, as it is often the event during which an Initiate is selected by a Master. You have no need to actually perform well, having already been gifted an opportunity by Master Corr, but nevertheless, you will still be expected to participate so long as you have passed your Trials.

Speaking of which, you have yet to hear anything from the Council. No answers to your questions. No way to know what exactly will gain their trust.

“Xena, I may have an option for you.”

You turn back to Master Lasah. Cho’an has gone back to training with the rest of your clan while you remain. Master Lasah had asked you to describe the “lines” you have been seeing in more detail, but you were unable to give a good explanation.

The lines are simply there when you look about with your Force Sight, but they’re obviously of the warp. What else could be the source, when they only appear when you use your warp-eye?

After your meager statement, you decided to stay just a bit longer to ask Master Lasah if she knows of anything that may help with your problem — how exactly to gain the Council’s trust. At this rate, you’ll run out of time, becoming too old to even be considered for an apprenticeship!

And so, what she says results in you jumping to your feet and giving her all your attention.

“Really? What?”

“I cannot tell exactly what just yet, but this falls out of something I had in mind when I agreed to come here. As part of the deal I made with Bren, I may ask you to assist me in my work in exchange for the training I have given you. Your… unique skills could greatly serve in investigative work. Knowing what “makes people tick” would be rather helpful. I do not know yet which job or when I will call on you for help, but you may expect it soon. If it goes well, I will ensure that the Council allows you to take the Trials. To be clear, you may refuse this offer.”

You bounce about, excited at the prospect of being able to both do something and prove yourself. You’re about to start bombarding her with more questions, but she continues on.

“Long ago, part of the Trials involved going out and performing a task for the Order. If your help is satisfactory, I would also be willing to push for this to count as one of your tests. However, if you agree to this, I will also lay upon you more responsibility during the work, and I would like for you to seriously consider becoming my Padawan. Is this amenable to you?”

You nod your head up and down, not trusting yourself to speak your mind correctly. You’re just so excited! This is your chance! You’ll not mess this up. You accept both her offers, ready to shoulder the burden of more responsibility for the greater reward. You’ll have to think about whether you want to be Master Corr’s or Master Lasah’s Padawan, but you can deal with that later.