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Post by johma on Jun 14, 2011 0:35:50 GMT -5
"Johma, come on, I can tell you're coming out of it. Let's see those eyes open" Said a soft voice. And Johma's eyes did indeed open. The first thing he noticed was that he was numb all over and couldn't move, the second thing was the he realized that he knew the voice that greeted him. "Master Larani?" He asked weakly as he turned his head to see the female Duros sitting next to his bed. The Jedi master smiled at seeing her one-time pupil awaken.
"Hello Johma, it's good to see that you are still with us. I was concerned when I found you." She said as she smiled and an her fingers through the knight's hair in a rather paternal fashion. Johma couldn't help but smile, he hadn't seen his Master since he had been knighted. "You are going to be like this for a while Johma, you are lucky to be alive. If I hadn't arrived when I did... well you don't concern yourself with that now. You're alive and that's what matters." Larani said with a sigh. Her disciple hadn't ever ended up like this before, wrapped in bandages after the surgery and a dip in a bacta tank.
"We lost the world didn't we?" Johma asked, wondering how many lives had been ended and if Master Min had been able to make it to safety. Larani gave a nod. "Yes, but don't blame yourself. That is how war is. I'm going to leave for a little bit, I can sense Master Min on his way and I'm sure he would like to speak with you. I'll be back later." She said as she stood up before brushing Johma's hair from his face. "You be careful in the future young one. A master should never outlive their student." She said before leaving the room.
Johma was now left alone, unable to really do much but turn his head. Though despite the numbness, he was feeling fairly well, glad to be alive to recover and help the Republic once more. Though now he could sense Master Min approaching, and was glad to know the Jedi Master was alive.
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Post by Sal-Kari-Min on Jun 14, 2011 0:54:58 GMT -5
As Min moved down the hall, he saw the Duros Jedi exit Johma's room. She stopped as she met Min in the hall, the blind Master spoke first: "I assume he is alright?"
The woman nodded. "Yes, he is expecting you."
The blind Jedi smirked. "You always ruin the surprises, the boy is like a son to you."
The Duros smiled. "Only you would make that assessment, Min."
"Love is a Jedi weapon we use to defend your family within the Order. Do not try and deny the feelings of paternal guardianship...denial is blindness in the name of the Force." He chuckled. "...and I know about blindness."
The Duros nodded and chuckled quickly. "Good day, Master Min. Don't be too hard on him now."
The blind Jedi returned the good wishes and continued down the hall. He entered the room and sat down where the previous Jedi had at Johma's bedside. His real hand was atop of a stump, well it was a wrist reconstruction covered in syntheskin for now, as the Jedi felt he would not deserve a new hand until he understood the mistakes he made to lose his old one.
"You shouldn't have come and helped me, Johma. Especially not after dueling the Dark Lord himself...but, as much as a believe you were reckless - brave, honorable yet reckless; I am glad to see the assassin didn't leave you in a condition where you were under these sheets."
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Post by johma on Jun 14, 2011 1:09:00 GMT -5
Johma gave a weak smile at seeing Master Min enter the room. The missing hand didn't escape his notice, and even in his weakened state, he could tell that Min had personal reasons for not having an artificial hand already there, but that was likely a private matter, and he wouldn't pry.
He really couldn't give much of a physical reaction to what Min said, but it did get another smile from him. "Thank you for your concerns on the matter Master Min, but I don't think I could ever really call myself a Jedi if I had left you to those two Sith. If I could have done any good elsewhere, well things may have been different." He said before giving a cough.
"Besides, you said that I should make sure that those two didn't take another life, and-" Another couch escaped. "Your life is included in that list." He said as he took a deep breath, his eyes closing for a few minutes. Without opening them he gave a sigh. "Spellca left me alive on purpose you know."
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Post by Sal-Kari-Min on Jun 14, 2011 1:20:25 GMT -5
"Rest, Johma. I don't want to fill your mind with thoughts on how things could have turned out. You and I are both alive...and one Sith suffered a horrific wound at my hand - the day was lost, not the war."
The Master looked at the recovering Jedi, "The Sith play mind games...he may have let you live but you had to have some skill to survive regardless."
Min decided to change the subject, "Master Larani was deeply worried about you before you regained consciousness. She would sit in this chair for hours on end, even asked me to fill in for some of her youngling instruction appointments. She is a true Jedi who loves and cares deeply for those in her extended Jedi family."
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Post by johma on Jun 14, 2011 1:33:26 GMT -5
Johma grinned slightly. " I know that all to well, I just wish we could have done more for them." Johma knew he had done all he could, and had no regrets, but that didn't mean that he didn't want to do better than he had. All that meant was that when he was recovered, he would have to up his training.
As for Spellca. "That may be true, but it took everything I had and it seemed as if he were toying with me..." He said, far more to himself than to Min. He was silent as he thought about the battle.
He was snapped out of it at the mention of his Master. "Yes, I was fortunate that she is my master." He replied. Johma never thought of the Master Student relationship between he and Larani in the past tense, and he felt that he would never want to.
"She's the reason that I view things the way I do. If I could ever repay her for what she taught me, that would be by teaching others the same." He said, thinking back to the long hours simply spent talking with the Duros Jedi. She had become a central part of his life when she became his master and was just as much part of his family as those he shared blood with.
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Post by Sal-Kari-Min on Jun 15, 2011 19:17:49 GMT -5
The Jedi nodded. "If I may ask, what was the exact nature of your injuries? You seem in pretty good spirits and obviously not dead."
The blind Master wanted to know the younger Jedi's injuries so he can judge how long it would take for him to heal. Min believed few Jedi could truly face the Sith and get away without being diseased by their evil.
He lowered his head at the thought of more light-hearted Jedi warriors turning to the evil creeds of the Sith.
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Post by johma on Jun 15, 2011 20:30:27 GMT -5
"Of course." Johma said. He could recall each cut and scrape that was dealt to him during the battle. "My primary injuries were to my shoulder and my lower leg. My right shoulder was stabbed by that Sith's stolen Darksaber. The wound was rather dire as my arm was rendered useless and without the cauterization, I would have bled to death rather quickly." He said, thinking to the moment he felt that wound being made.
"My tendons in my lower leg were also cut, making it so I would have been unable to stand had I not passed out from exhaustion. Other wounds were superficial and easily able to heal on their own with no problem." Johma gave a small sigh. "I doubt that I will be capable of being put into any type of real action against the Sith and their Empire for some time." He said before going silent for a moment.
"Spellca also tried to use the force to cripple my will. For a moment the thought of striking him down to take the Empire from him actually crossed my mind. I was able to reassert who I was, but that's always going to be there.." He mentioned before giving a weak smile. "But it is only another challenge to face, and it won't overcome me. I know who and what I am. And I am a Jedi. Spellca and his minions will have no hold on me, and if I face him once more. I will be ready." He said as a measure of confidence entered his strained voice.
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Post by Sal-Kari-Min on Jun 15, 2011 21:08:51 GMT -5
"Hmmm..." The Jedi lowered his head and moved it to and fro in brief despair. "You faltered, young Jedi..." The voice of the Duros master telling Min not to be hard on Johma echoed in his head and the Jedi sighed through it. "The Dark Lord got you in his trap. He has planted the seed in your mind and it will grow. Those thoughts of power will return to you head and you will feel the need to answer it with blood."
The Master ensured the younger Jedi would have no way to interrupt him by speaking quickly between breaths. "The Dark Lord is unique. He taught himself to see what I have dubbed 'emotional shatterpoints' within the personalities of many people - that is how he builds his associates in and outside of the Sith Order. He sees a weakness in their belief, exposes it and assaults it."
The Master felt bad about saying this but it was the truth. Spellca needed an apprentice, that one thing Min noticed about how the Dark Lord fought - it was the fact that he fought at all. He had to right-hand to send on his personal agenda. "The Dark Lord needs an apprentice. From what we witnessed, he hasn't chosen one yet - strange, but like his Master before him, he seems to care less of training apprentices and more for dominating his foes. But an apprentice will come in time - I believe he wants you to be his right-hand. He wants to bring you to the Sith and make you his right-hand soldier in this war of galactic conquest."
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Post by johma on Jun 15, 2011 21:21:08 GMT -5
Johma gave a small smile. "Those thoughts lay in everyone's head Master Min. All that happened was that mine were brought to the surface. He may had found a crack in my mental fortitude, but he didn't win and I won't become his apprentice." Johma said before a fit of coughing wracked his body. He wasn't going to let the Sith have his way.
"I won't be his apprentice, he's failed in that. The man has a presence, and an influence, but I listened to his words and was able to pick up on his intent He only accomplished weakening me and causing me to look within myself. There is darkness there, but it will not rule me. If he has chosen me, it's to harm the order by taking one of ours." He said before weakly turning his head to face Min.
"I am a Jedi Knight Master Sal-Kari-Min. My duty will always take place before anything else when facing Spellca and his Sith. That is who I am, and I am proud as well as happy to be who I am. He cannot and will not corrupt that." Johma said. For a moment the weariness and weakness were gone from his voice and eyes, he had never been more serious and dedicated than he was at that moment.
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Post by Sal-Kari-Min on Jun 15, 2011 21:40:15 GMT -5
The old Jedi smiled at Johma's words but his face grew serious once more.
"Many Jedi Knights made the same pledge and have turned into the darkness, Johma. This recovery will be harder on you than your duel with Spellca - you will be restless and meditating not only on getting well, but on past statements and past events. You will be in pain for a great period of time - pain will lead to fear, young Jedi. Fear of being weaker or perhaps even dying - fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate and hate leads to suffering."
Min coughed for a moment before going on. "I wish not to patronize you, Johma with Jedi philosophy that you have heard since you were a Youngling but the words of the Force do not lie. Many before you have fallen, many after you will fall - many Jedi do not wish to say this but the Sith will never be extinct as long as their are Jedi to breed them. Jedi become Sith, Sith kill people, people become Jedi...and so forth."
The Master returned to his original point. "You noticed the darkness within you, good. That was his intent - he wants you to be aware of what you can harness in battle. He wants you to use your anger, fear and inner darkness against his Sith so that you will fall and join his ranks. Overconfidence will not save you...nor will objecting out-right the idea that you may be drawn closer to the evil Spellca projects."
Min decided to choose his next words carefully. "You know two Masters who have gone through these thoughts before - both Master Larani and I have dealt with the matters of inner darkness; all masters have. I feel that soon you may be able to join us on the Council but only once you have looked so deep with you that you see your inner Sith, you bring it to the surface for you to clearly see and then you destroy it with the power of the Light Side of the Force."
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Post by johma on Jun 15, 2011 22:02:43 GMT -5
Johma listed attentively, though mostly it was out of respect. He had already been going through all of this in his head. "Fear of death and becoming weaker is foolish. It happens to all of us. I don't wish for it, but such a thing has no hold on me. If I do gro weaker than I will adjust to it the best I can." He replied. Johma was not even close to being appealed to the thought of serving Spellca.
He gave a small chuckle before a weak cough at the last bit of what Min said about the Jedi and the Sith, Johma was in the mindset that both sides needed each other and that anyone who thought eliminating the other side would fix anything was delusional. Balance was an even amount of both sides.
He almost laughed about the mention of being on the council. "If you want me to vanquish the dark inside of me, then I wouldn't hold my breath on me joining the council, with all due respect of course." He replied and gave a smile. "The balance between the Jedi and the Sith are reflected in the people that make up both sides Master. To destroy my darkness is to destroy a part of what makes me who I am." He said. Johma had meditated over this many times. "True self-control isn't to destroy a part of one's self, as far as I've seen, that's running away. Mastery over one's self is to keep in check and choose the path that is desired. I desire to be a Jedi and serve the people of the galaxy, that is enough for me." He said.
Giving a smile Johma inclined his head slight,y the best he could manage for a bow. "Please do not confuse this for disrespect of the order or the way you may see things Master Min, but Master Larani has taught me to think for myself and find my own path, and this is the path I have chosen. I am content with my choice and I refuse to be taken off of it." He said.
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Post by Sal-Kari-Min on Jun 15, 2011 23:13:55 GMT -5
Min nodded, "My apologies, that was my Master slipping through. What I meant really was, not destroying your darkness...destroying the Sith - destroy what Spellca wants you to become."
The Jedi nodded. "That is the exact kind of attitude the Council needs." The master stood up, "I should leave you too your rest, then."
The master walked towards the door and smiled, "Try to heal up soon..." His smile grew larger. ...we have a war to fight, you know.
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Post by johma on Jun 16, 2011 0:29:32 GMT -5
"No apology needed Master Min, we all have our way of saying things, I guess that's half the problem in this galaxy." Johma replied. He was uneasy about the mention of the council. That wasn't his goal, and he had little interest in it. He was happy with the way things had already been going.
He gave a soft smile and a nod at the mention of getting rest. "Hopefully I'll be up and ready before another major event happens, no promises though. I would be less than useless if I rushed this and crippled myself." He said before Min Left.
Once the Jedi Master was gone, Johma closed his eyes, took a deep breath and went into a meditative trance. He wasn't proficient in the Jedi healing trance, but he could induce relaxation and allow himself to root through his subconscious while he recovered.
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Post by Emperor Spellca on Jun 16, 2011 2:10:00 GMT -5
The Dark Lord materialized before the wounded Jedi. He lifted his hood and extended his hand towards the downed Johma. "Rise, my apprentice..."
The voice was chilling and everything in the infirmary seemed to grind to a halt - the only things that seemed to exist was the Sith and the wounded Jedi. "Rise and take your weapon...Master Min is drawing too close to our plans. I feel it is time to end that Jedi's miserable life. It is your calling, your fate and your destiny to end the Jedi Order and usher in an age of the Sith Lords."
A lightsaber made from a bone of a Krayt Dragon dropped at Johma's ankles. "The master is on a diplomatic mission to stop pirates stationed on Rhen Var from engaging Republic trade vessels. Use the snow as your cover before you cut him down."
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Post by johma on Jun 16, 2011 15:47:56 GMT -5
Johma had reached a sense of peace once more, He was relaxed and could almost feel his body being rejuvenated. He was alive and could resume his duty as a Jedi when he was better. All that was required was for him to get back into top shape. Then he felt it, the darkness that could only stemp from one man. Opening his eyes they widened in surprise as Spellca was standing there before him.
"I am not your apprentice." Johma replied. He narrowed his eyes at hearing about Master Min. He shook his head, ignoring the pain as he tried to clear it. "No, he is my ally. I won't." He replied with strain returning to his voice. His eyebrow arched as the lightsaber was dropped at his ankles. It was beautiful in a way, but it felt wrong.
"Get out of my head Spellca!" He shouted as he thrashed about, falling from his bed and crashing to the floor while clutching his head. "Get out. I'm a Jedi, I shall not fall to you... Never!" He shouted, not sure if it was only in his mind or in reality that this struggle was taking place.
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