Del lay in a cot in the dorm that he and his Commandos had claimed. He had removed his armor and wore only the black body glove that normally lay beneath the armor. Both Commandos where eating in the mess hall, so Del was alone. Del didn't like siting around. When ever he had free time, he felt that he should be using it for something more constructive than just sitting around, but their was nothing for him to do at the moment. To entertain himself, Del decided to reflect on what had brought him to this point...
Jedi Temple, Yavin 4, 3 years ago.
Del Karcot sat cross legged, meditating, on his room's balcony. Before him stretched the jungle of Yavin 4. Through the force, Del could sense every life form in the jungle, from the massive trees and complex animals to the trillions of simple microorganisms living in the dirt. The abundant life was calming and comforting the Del.
The door to his room hissed open and Del sensed two new life forms enter. A Zabrak and Human. Del already knew who they were. Turning and standing, Del bowed for the two newcomers. "Master Thar'tul. Master Katarn." he said.
"Stand, Jedi." Master Thar'tul, the Zabrak, said. "You're a Knight now. There is no need to be so formal." He said it in a kind and friendly tone, a tone that Del had grown used to over the last few years.
"My apologies, Masters." Del said, slightly embarrassed. "Old habits die hard." He stood back up. "What brings you to my room?"
"We just wanted to congratulate you." Katarn said. "It's not every day that you become a Jedi Knight."
"Thank you very much, Master." Del said. "It really is an honor."
Katarn walked past Del and looked out from the balcony, resting his hands on it's edge. "I remember when Jead first brought you here." the man said, referring to the Jedi who had discovered his force sensitivity. "You were so wild, so rebellious, but even Luke saw your potential." He turned back to Del. "Now look at you. You're a grown and responsible Jedi Knight. You make us all very proud. Especially your old master here." he said, indicating Thar'tul.
"Well I wouldn't be and Jedi without you two." Del said. "You ought to be just as proud of yourselves as you are of me."
Katarn chuckled at that. "Non-sense. Your success is your own doing. We just helped to push you in the right direction."
"Well I'm grateful all the same, weather you like it or not." Del said, smiling. He had always enjoyed Master Katarn's company. During his training, Katarn had taught Del much, and he had been present during the Knighthood Ceremony last night. "So what else is there. Surely you didn't just come by to say 'good job'."
"No I didn't." Katarn said, straitening up a bit. "I'm also here to deliver your first solo assignment. You're to oversee peace talks between a group of Imperial loyalist rebels and the New Republic government on Arkanis. Think you can handle it?"
"Of course" said Del. He had hoped that the assignment would put him on a battle field, but this would be fine, if a little boring. "When do I leave?"
"Tomorrow afternoon." Katarn said. "Once your mission is complete, report to the council on Coruscant."
"Coruscant?" Del asked in confusion. "Why not here?"
"Because we're building a new temple there." Katarn said with a smile.
"A new temple?" Del said. Now that he thought of it, it made sense. The Jedi needed to be in touch with the going-ons of the galaxy, and what better place to do so then the center of government.
"Yep. And we're all going to help make it." Katarn said. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have other duties to attend to." With that, he walked out of the room before Del had a chance to thank him for his visit. Clearly he had somewhere to be.
As Katarn left, Del turned and embraced Thar'tul. The Zabrak had been his mentor and role model since he was 18. Del loved him like the closest of friends, and respected him like the wisest of elders. "I'm so proud of you." he said as he pulled away. "You've come so far and learned so much. You will make an excellent addition to this new order." Looking into his eyes, Del could tell that his words were sincere.
"That's right, Master. I will." Del said, smiling. "Because I've learned from the greatest of Jedi how to do just that."
"As Master Katarn said, your success was not my doing. You've always been able to do what you've done, I just made you realize it. But your journey is far from over, young man. I sense many trials in your future. We all must climb many mountains in our life times, Del, and you have yet to face your largest one."
"Well, Master, between the Force and your teaching, I'd say I have a pretty good harness."
Thar'tul laughed. "I swear, Del. If you where as skilled with the Force as you are with flattery, you may be able to give Master Skywalker a run for his money." Ceasing his laughter, Thar'tul looked as if he remembered something, then opened a pocket on his belt. "I nearly forgot, I have something for you."
"What is it?" Del said. He expected something else from the counsil, though he didn't know what.
"A gift, from me to you." Thar'tul said, and drew out a small, red crystal. He handed it to Del with great care. "It's called a Dragon's Eye. It's a very rare crystal, and when used in your lightsaber it will enhance the blade's electromagnetic field, resulting in a stronger blade that is better at deflecting blaster bolts and other lightsabers."
Del was beyond words. The stone he now held in his hand must have cost a small fortune, and Thar'tul was simply giving it to him. Besides that, the practical use of the crystal sounded outstanding. Del tried to articulate his feelings, but all he wound up doing was moving his jaw up and down. Thar'tul chucked. "Your welcome." he said jokingly.
"I'm sorry." Del said, finding his tongue. "This is just so awesome."
"You deserve it." The Zabrak said, laying a hand on Del's shoulder. "Come on, lets get some breakfast." Stowing the crystal in his pocket, Del followed his old master out the door and to the temple's cafeteria.
Jedi Temple, Yavin 4, 3 years ago.
Del Karcot sat cross legged, meditating, on his room's balcony. Before him stretched the jungle of Yavin 4. Through the force, Del could sense every life form in the jungle, from the massive trees and complex animals to the trillions of simple microorganisms living in the dirt. The abundant life was calming and comforting the Del.
The door to his room hissed open and Del sensed two new life forms enter. A Zabrak and Human. Del already knew who they were. Turning and standing, Del bowed for the two newcomers. "Master Thar'tul. Master Katarn." he said.
"Stand, Jedi." Master Thar'tul, the Zabrak, said. "You're a Knight now. There is no need to be so formal." He said it in a kind and friendly tone, a tone that Del had grown used to over the last few years.
"My apologies, Masters." Del said, slightly embarrassed. "Old habits die hard." He stood back up. "What brings you to my room?"
"We just wanted to congratulate you." Katarn said. "It's not every day that you become a Jedi Knight."
"Thank you very much, Master." Del said. "It really is an honor."
Katarn walked past Del and looked out from the balcony, resting his hands on it's edge. "I remember when Jead first brought you here." the man said, referring to the Jedi who had discovered his force sensitivity. "You were so wild, so rebellious, but even Luke saw your potential." He turned back to Del. "Now look at you. You're a grown and responsible Jedi Knight. You make us all very proud. Especially your old master here." he said, indicating Thar'tul.
"Well I wouldn't be and Jedi without you two." Del said. "You ought to be just as proud of yourselves as you are of me."
Katarn chuckled at that. "Non-sense. Your success is your own doing. We just helped to push you in the right direction."
"Well I'm grateful all the same, weather you like it or not." Del said, smiling. He had always enjoyed Master Katarn's company. During his training, Katarn had taught Del much, and he had been present during the Knighthood Ceremony last night. "So what else is there. Surely you didn't just come by to say 'good job'."
"No I didn't." Katarn said, straitening up a bit. "I'm also here to deliver your first solo assignment. You're to oversee peace talks between a group of Imperial loyalist rebels and the New Republic government on Arkanis. Think you can handle it?"
"Of course" said Del. He had hoped that the assignment would put him on a battle field, but this would be fine, if a little boring. "When do I leave?"
"Tomorrow afternoon." Katarn said. "Once your mission is complete, report to the council on Coruscant."
"Coruscant?" Del asked in confusion. "Why not here?"
"Because we're building a new temple there." Katarn said with a smile.
"A new temple?" Del said. Now that he thought of it, it made sense. The Jedi needed to be in touch with the going-ons of the galaxy, and what better place to do so then the center of government.
"Yep. And we're all going to help make it." Katarn said. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have other duties to attend to." With that, he walked out of the room before Del had a chance to thank him for his visit. Clearly he had somewhere to be.
As Katarn left, Del turned and embraced Thar'tul. The Zabrak had been his mentor and role model since he was 18. Del loved him like the closest of friends, and respected him like the wisest of elders. "I'm so proud of you." he said as he pulled away. "You've come so far and learned so much. You will make an excellent addition to this new order." Looking into his eyes, Del could tell that his words were sincere.
"That's right, Master. I will." Del said, smiling. "Because I've learned from the greatest of Jedi how to do just that."
"As Master Katarn said, your success was not my doing. You've always been able to do what you've done, I just made you realize it. But your journey is far from over, young man. I sense many trials in your future. We all must climb many mountains in our life times, Del, and you have yet to face your largest one."
"Well, Master, between the Force and your teaching, I'd say I have a pretty good harness."
Thar'tul laughed. "I swear, Del. If you where as skilled with the Force as you are with flattery, you may be able to give Master Skywalker a run for his money." Ceasing his laughter, Thar'tul looked as if he remembered something, then opened a pocket on his belt. "I nearly forgot, I have something for you."
"What is it?" Del said. He expected something else from the counsil, though he didn't know what.
"A gift, from me to you." Thar'tul said, and drew out a small, red crystal. He handed it to Del with great care. "It's called a Dragon's Eye. It's a very rare crystal, and when used in your lightsaber it will enhance the blade's electromagnetic field, resulting in a stronger blade that is better at deflecting blaster bolts and other lightsabers."
Del was beyond words. The stone he now held in his hand must have cost a small fortune, and Thar'tul was simply giving it to him. Besides that, the practical use of the crystal sounded outstanding. Del tried to articulate his feelings, but all he wound up doing was moving his jaw up and down. Thar'tul chucked. "Your welcome." he said jokingly.
"I'm sorry." Del said, finding his tongue. "This is just so awesome."
"You deserve it." The Zabrak said, laying a hand on Del's shoulder. "Come on, lets get some breakfast." Stowing the crystal in his pocket, Del followed his old master out the door and to the temple's cafeteria.
Sorry for writing an essay, but I haven't put anything on this thread in about a week. I think this about makes up for it.
)