SithLore

The YT 2000 Talon exited hyperspace over the massive space station owned and operated by the Jedi Coaltion. Koda Station. Being granted access to land in the main bay the little freighter wove its way through the orbiting formation of Jedi starships, only a menagerie of light starships, old Consular Cruisers and a few of the old and venerable Hammerhead Corvettes. She came down and into the hangar swiftly yet smartly and touched down with an expert hand.

Ben led both Aliclair and Ranah down the ramp mere minutes later after they had finished up with the post-flight run down of the Talon's drives. Aliclair had been keeping the drives of the lower engine together as the sixth cylinder was offset and routing its housing out. It would take an extensive rebuild but they had not had the time to set down even for a minute and make the repairs... and so Aliclair had been doing a marvelous job at keeping the drive as maintenanced as she could.

On the route here Ben had sent a call in to the Council and so they would be permitted to come right in and that was exactly what they did. When they arrived at the double doors Ben looked to Ranah and while he knew she'd be honest he felt he should mention as much and give her one last voice of confidence. "You're going to do fine. I have faith in you. But if I could give you some advice; be honest. They already know more about you than most." The massive spectacularly hand carved doors were parted by the twin Jedi Honor Guards that stood sentinel before them and the trio was given way to enter the great semi-circle of the Council. Twelve large seats facing inwards yet for the sudden call of the meeting and the late hour in which this would take place only a single member of the Jedi Council was actually present while another three were present as holoprojections, blue specters of Masters away on mission or visiting another Enclave across the Galaxy.

Ben quickly introduced them all and he and Aliclair stood aside to give Ranah the spotlight where the current Jedi Grandmaster addressed her. Naomi Kilsar. A kind hearted Master, though she was crippled and away from field service due to an attack from the Sith several years back. She greeted them all with a broad smile and after a rather cordial if not casual minute or two to talk about the weather, Master Kilsar proceeded.

"Tell me, Ranah Jansen. Who are you?" Her question was as simple and basic as a cup of warm temperature water, still and undisturbed. What Kilsar was asking was for Ranah to look into herself and for Naomi to truly hear the answers given through the Force as well as by the natural ear.

"To you, what is a Jedi Knight? How should they act and be perceived?"

"What would it mean to you to become a Jedi?"

She waited a long moment for her to answer these questions truthfully and clearly. But now it was time for her to move on and see if Ranah was capable of undertaking the training of the Jedi. "You are quite old. Typically Padawans begin their training at a young age.""

Ben interjected, "Was I not also of advanced age when I was taken by Jedi Master Storm?"

Naomi was almost taken aside from the words, Ben was the longest living Jedi Knight in the Galaxy. He had been a Jedi longer than anyone else in every regard. Though that he would subject himself willingly to the Council was something Naomi Kilsar knew well and respected even more. His word, as far as she was concerned, carried incredible weight. Though she retained her pleasant calm, "Indeed," she said with a smile, "in that case." She closed her eyes and as a heater giving out heat she spoke unto the Lightside of the Force and the presence of the Light began to grow within the room exponentially. All the Jedi in the room would feel the vivid colors of the Force.

"Tell me, Ranah Jansen. What do you feel?"

OOC: Begin Force Sensitivity - 100 Word Requirement.

Ranah walked with Ben but at the same time taking in the new surroundings, she had never been on this station before she was fascinated with all the features the station had to offer, from the daily bustle to the fine architecture. She also knew this was a reverent place as this was the meeting place of the/ Jedi Council. She had never met a Jedi till recently now she met two and was about to meet with members of the High Council itself. When they got to the doors leading inside, Ranah listened to the advice of Ben, She nodded in understanding. In the end they were like her the difference is their training and experience but one of the commonalities was they were sensitive to the Force. A new truth Ranah still was trying to wrap her head around.

She stepped through the doors and was introduced, she did not know if she was to bow or wave, she was not sure on the protocols but they would sense in her the desire to show them the respect that was due them. If for anything for their hospitality and for meeting her. She was very grateful. So what she did was she greeted those she was introduced to.

Ranah found herself standing in what looked like the center, when the Jedi GrandMaster herself asked her who she was. At first Ranah wondered if it was her name, or who she percieved herself to be. She would doubt that they would purposefully decieve her so she would answer as best and as honest as she could.

“I am Ranah Jansen, that was the name I was given, Through my life I have been many things, A Caregiver to those who could not fend for themselves” In this she was referring to her siblings after their parents died “I was a soldier in the Galactic Alliance, I fought so others would not have to, but what it all boils down to Master, is Ranah Jansen is a servant to the galaxy Her tone was respectful even reverent towards the highest ranked Jedi in the galaxy , her words honest. She would do nobody any good by lying it was not her way of doing things, she would be transparent as possible here even if it hurt her in the end by being rejected.

She listened to the next question posed to her about her perceptions of the Jedi She thought of the things her father told her about the Jedi. “The Jedi represent the purest and noblest beings in the galaxy, not beings of nobility but beings who are noble in heart and deed who put the needs of others before their own even at great personal cost, they are beings who devote their lives to service, Jedi are many things, Diplomats, Healers, Mediators, Harbingers of Hope, and when the need arises they are warriors and generals too. A Jedi should act in a selfless manner that upholds the ideals of the order. I don’t claim to know what those are but by reputation the Jedi represent the brightest the galaxy has to offer”

She stole a glance at both Ben and Aliclair and then the next question came, what would it mean to her to be a Jedi. She was silent at first trying to collect “ I have never considered it, not until yesterday. I can’t imagine being a Jedi is an easy life, but a life of service never is easy if it were easy everybody would be doing it, to be a Jedi is another level of service, to the Force to the galaxy to the people, to be a caregiver of the galaxy as it were”

She listened about her age and how typically they start at a much younger age, she could feel her heart sink into the pit of her stomach. She was not discouraged but the reality of her situation began setting in, she also took in the fact that Ben himself started later in life and from the exchange was a Jedi of great respect. She took comfort in that small little tid-bit. Then it was back to her, What did she feel? It was an easy, straightforward but yet deep question. She could say how she felt but this was the Jedi station, and she had gotten the impression that the Master wanted her to go deeper than the usual kind of answer given. She considered the question.

***Start Force Sensitive App 100 words***

Ranah’s slowly closed her eyes, as she stretched out with her feelings nobody instructed her on this it felt perfectly natural, as if it was something she had been doing all along when in fact she had never done this before. At first there was nothing but the sounds and smells, that her biological senses told her, but she was patient. She would not give up, she did not know how much time had passed when it finally happened. She had tried to slow her breathing into calming controlling breaths and still her mind, even though her mind was racing with thoughts that would not help her here, she pulled her thoughts together and pushed all those distracting thoughts aside, once her mind was still something started to happen. it was like a slight breeze at first then it was as if it was a gale. She suddenly felt small her perceptions stretched out further than she dreamed possible. The energy around her was vibrant and strong. even those words would not do it justice. It was also overwhelming, she could hear countless whispers in her mind, it was white noise to her she could not discern any of it. It was chaos for Ranah. She wanted to come back to herself to make it end, but those were the actions of a coward, Ranah was no coward.

She focused not on the whispers now when she changed her focus the whispers dulled in her mind.The energy itself it was everywhere, it was inside her, around her, it was omnipresent. In that moment the saying that "The Force binds us all together" took a new level of meaning, it was truth for Ranah as she was experiencing what that statement meant.In this moment her perception of the galaxy forever changed. It was all connected, it marveled her. She was not aware that her breathing started to get heavy. She could not harness, or control or manipulate the energy but in her heart of hearts she knew it could be done, she could feel it but it was in the broadest sense. it was like a child in a large sandbox all to herself. She could use this energy if she only knew how. She was not aware of the sweat forming on her brow as her eyes remained closed, tightly now as she was trying to maintain this connection, but it had left her as sudden as it came upon her. She was trembling it had only lasted a moment or two, she tried to reach out again but she was exhausted this what was to be a simple exercise took a toll on her.

After several minutes she opened her eyes slowly not really aware all eyes were on her. After a few moments she more and more came back to herself, and then looked at the Jedi GrandMaster. " I feel like I have been blind all my life and someone just removed the cover from my eyes"

***End Force Sensitive App 500/100***

She looked around her now, at Ben at Aliclair and then back to the Jedi GrandMaster and the present members of the council. As she processed what she had just done, touch the Force for the first time, she thought of what that experience would have been like had it been in the Oasis at the hospital. She was in awe and wonder at what just happened. She could never go back to her old life after this. Accepted or Rejected Ranah would embark on a new path

"We have to fix that 6th cylinder, Master Kenobi. Allow me to at least give it a coat of temporary maintenance. It should last us, and while you take Ranah to do her evaluation, perhaps I find somewhere to get another cylinder." Aliclair had objected as they walked out the ship. However, her Master insisted on tagging along. It was an experience, one she had experienced already. Although a spectator, Ali felt she would speak out of terms... She wished Ranah not suffer a similar almost-fate she went through. She'd almost been surrendered to the Antarian Ranger. While a very honorable and respectable group of the Coalition, she wished to follow her mother's footsteps. And now, that's what she was doing, thanks to Him. The Padawan hesitated but through it all, she gave into Ben's words. "I'm taking the tablet. For the cylinder; I'll keep it muted." She said, sheathing her tablet. no bigger than a phone.

She walked alongside Ben's right side, and it was this side where she felt most solemn and needed. But, she couldn't help but to feel as though the walls were coming in on her, a dumb but overwhelming feeling that her Master would leave her here... Her hand moved on its own as she held, lightly, onto Ben's sleeve. But, she let go when it was time and took a seat in the shaded areas of the Enclave as she began to research buyable YT 2000 Talon cylinders, but also lent her ear to listen to Ranah as she spoke.

Aliclair couldn't help but to tear up. She felt... overwhelmed. To be back here, for a fourth time. But, her feelings went away. Ah, yes... the Force. This wasn't about her. This was Ranah's day. Her moment, and she'd take it head-on. She raised an eyebrow, finding a cylinder. "hm... alright." she thought, shutting off her tablet to sit up straight.

He had noticed his sleeve being tugged on gently, Ben was not a monster at all and he did not need the Force to sense her insecurities. Without any hesitation at all he shook her hand free of his sleeve and he grabbed her hand firmly as they sat there listening to the Council and Ranah Jansen speak. He would not release her until she let go first. He did not mind at all helping his Padawan feel rooted and grounded and that so long as he breathed he would always be there come what may. Ben Kenobi had been through so much in his life, from a combat pilot in the Rebel Alliance to commanding a battle formation of ships in the New Republic, to becoming a Jedi Knight through more than one purge of the Jedi Order, he was even the last of the first generation of Jedi to be trained after the Battle of Endor by legendary Jedi Master Corran Horn. He had fought Sith Lords, monsters, alien invaders, deadly Force Users, even the Emperor himself… but here and now his focus was for Aliclair Austjor’s safety and growth.

He had lost many Padawans in the past. A mark that lay heavily on his heart and even most recently the disappearance of Evelyn Swann. He still held out hope for them all. But he also knew many he’d never see again. It made him hesitate when he considered vowing his protection over Aliclair since his track record was pretty abysmal. But his heart was in the right place. In reality the horrors of this Galaxy were as Dark as they had ever been and to be a fledgling Jedi Padawan in this age was to stare unreality in the face and defy it.

The real challenge was for Aliclair. Not him. He would gird her with everything she needed to survive. It was up to Aliclair to see them into practice and do the surviving…

The Jedi Council did not barrage Ranah with futher questions. They listened intently to her explanations and once complete they all shared resounding bobs of the head. Agreements and approvals all around. While concerns of her age and whatever mental trauma she had suffered already picked through, they honestly had no further issues. If Ranah was capable she truly showed it right then and there that she was.

The Grandmaster of the Order took to her feet but remained there in place. The other Masters stood as well and Ben squeezed Aliclair’s hand confidently as he knew then that Miss Jansen would move forward within the Coalition. “Ranah Jansen, by the authority given me by this Council, I confer on you the rank of Padawan Novice and welcome you to the Jedi Coalition. Your training as a Jedi Knight, has already begun.” Kilsar smiled to Ranah and altogether the room truly felt uplifted and bright.

Kilsar motioned to Ben. “Master Kenobi currently already has an Apprentice, though he is not forbidden to take another. His experience is as much as any living Jedi.”

“If it pleases the Council,” Ben interjected respectfully. “We will wait a time. Padawan Ranah is welcome to journey with myself and Aliclair, and should we find someone more suitable to train her then we will address that.”

Naomi Kilsar nodded approvingly. “Your caution does you credit to your students, as ever Master Kenobi we will heed your guidance.” She turned her attention back to Ranah, “Now, Padawan, is there anything you need of us?”

Ranah felt only gratitude at their verdict, this was a rebirth for the soon to be former GA soldier, paperwork would need to be filed, but regardless her life was now forever changed. She looked around at the Jedi Council and at the Grandmaster herself.

“Thank you Master” she bowed her head. Anyone who would pick up on her emotions would feel the gratitude rolling off of her. She knew this road would be difficult, and while she came at a time where she would not have a dedicated Master she had a lot of resources available to her and would be in good hands.

She looked over to both Ben and Aliclair then back to the council asking if there was anything she needed.
“If it please the council” she began “ Is there a room available for me? I would like to rest and begin feeling refreshed ” She knew the cost of rushing in when not one hundred percent and she wanted to be her very best when her training began.

Once Master Kilsar answered, she walked over to Ben and Aliclair, exhaustion was deeply set in her features, touching the Force for the first time took a lot out of her. It had drained her. She deduced it would get easier as she grew in the Force. The truth of what just happened had not sank in yet with the young woman. She would be forever changed from what happened in this chamber. She hoped she would do the Collaliton proud

The grasp Ben gave Aliclair's hand sent her into a shock of relief. It secured her that she wouldn't be left here, alone. She fought back against tears. She sure did alot of that; crying... but it would need to be capped. She had to be strong. Throughout Ranah's meeting, while researching, her ears collected and took in what the Enclave had to say. Although she might, she never released her Master's hand. Just, alittle longer. And what took 'alittle longer', winded up being the whole meeting. She still did her research, did her lock to buy the cylinder needed to fix the Talon, but she dipped her head toward Ranah when she glanced back the first time, and offered her a comforting look. Even a small smile; something Aliclair didn't do too often unless happy. Well, at this given moment, she was happy. Ranah wouldn't have to return to a life she had known already; military. But her fights were far from over. Jedi still fought, still stride for galactic peace. She gave Ben's hand a last meaningful squeeze before releasing it to sheath her hand within her sleeves.

"Trust me, I know. It's difficult at first. But it only gets easier. You're a very strong woman, Ranah. You'll pick it up," she snapped her fingers. "Just like that. Usually, I don't share my Master Kenobi, but for you, I'm willing to make an exception." she teased her, raising her eyebrow. "Welcome to the Coalition." Aliclair did say with sincerity, dipping her head once more and even added a small ballerina-like bow.