SW: LoD

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Chapter I - Arrival

-Location: Dantooine, Jedi Academy campus-

By the sunset a small person, wrapped in dark-hooded robe approached to place, which was known as Jedi Academy. Her eyes narrowed, as she had to be impressed of its magnificance.
As young girl entered silently the Academy (her steps are small and carefull, still nervously looking around herself.), she was surprised of the atmosphere, which was inside the building. She didn't understand her feelings, which she had, but this feeling was comfortable to her. She could feel peace around her, feeling she haven't felt for ages.
Her steps became more reluctant, as she was walking in the Acadmy. Many questions she asked herself in her mind.

Perhaps I will find here what I seek, she thought.

" Hello there... My name is Kiel."

Kiel's attention moved away from the monitor, as he took notice of a new visitor that had just entered. She had immediately spotted the registration desk, and made her way toward him.
He greeted her with a smile, as she approached.
He spoke, as she stopped at the desk.
"Welcome to the Jedi Academy. Are you here to visit anyone, or are you here to apply for admission?" young man kindly asked.

Girl looked up, at the direction of that voice. She saw quite handsome man, but she was unable to guess how old he was.
"Err... Hello to you, Kiel", she replied reluctantly. Her voice was somewhat silent, only a little more than a whispering.
"I'm Jana...", she added after few moments, as she was looking at Kiel. Jana was silent for few next moments. It was so hard for her to speak with complete stranger! Her reluctant nature was always her enemy... but also her friend, in some cases.

"I'm.. I'm here for applying admission", she added to her reply.

Young girl looked at Kiel. She tried to guess his reactions, but she wasn't able to. Her eyes seemed like eyes of an scared child, which was brought to an completely strange world.

" Well, it is a pleasure to meet you Jana...I'm a student myself and am helping out with registering and welcoming new people. I am a padawan under the guidance of Master Atonai. He is the one who established this place of learning. I'm certain you will meet him. He is a very kind and open-minded wise Jedi..." spoke Kiel.
Then he seemed to punch up some keys and then returned his eyes to the new arrival. Kiel made certain that he talked in a calm and even tone. It appeared Jana was comprehensive about meeting new people... Strangers. That was quite understandable, as this Galaxy was in disarray after the Fall of the Empire, and many Rouge planets took advantage of a pretty much lawless Universe.
But that was why the Jedi were rising in numbers. To once again take hold and control of this Galaxy and provide protection to those that could not protect themselves. Although an order of Siths were thinking on the same line...

"I can register you and provide a room in the student Center. It will be your own room until such a time as you decide to leave the Academy. It will be quite secure... I assure you."
He gave her a kind smile.
" I just need some information to enter into the database. This is to set up your initial profile....
What world did you originate from? That is, where did your bloodline start from?"

This was a basic question, as many who lived on a particular world, were not originally from there, as their ancestors were from somewhere else.
Many people had been displaced in the Imperial Wars and the Academy was just trying to establish which part of the Galaxy now had more Force apt individuals...

"... Your ancestral world?"

Jana sighed. She never liked, when strange people were questioning her. Too much of bad memories came from strangers I met in the past, she thought.

Jana looked at Kiel's eyes. Can he be trust? Young girl was reluctant to talk with Kiel a bit. It was hard for her to believe other people, although she tried to hide her emotions away from them.
"I.. I remember only few things, which happened after I left my foster parents. I remember I was on planet, which is one big city... Coruscant is it called, right? Too many people here.. too many."
Jana's voice become a whispering. Her face has changed. It expressed saddnes, as memories were flowing through Jana's mind. She hoped that Kiel won't ask her more questions about her past... at least for this time. It made Jana felt uncomfortable.
Trust yourself, Jana said for herself, as she tried to speak more.

"I left Coruscant... I felt some void in my life. I need to find myself. And my place.
That's... that's why I came here."

Jana sighed again.

"I also ran away from anger of my foster father..." Jana shook her head and shivered. She felt very uncomfortable. She thought she has already said too many things.
Perhaps it was fault...
She tried to hide her emotions again and her face wasn't expressing any of her doubts, she had in others and in herself.

"Kiel, please... Do not take it offensive.. but I don't want to talk about my past... At least for now..." She looked at Kiel's eyes.
"...please", she silently added. She didn't want to say she remembers only a very little from her past life. It was her weakness and she considered it as unwise to tell it to a complete stranger.
"Will you.. will you help me to join Jedi Academy?", she asked Kiel, still looking deeply to his eyes, as she was trying to guess his answers again. But Kiel was somewhat strange in Jana's eyes. Yet, she didn't understand why.

Jana seemed to have opened up to Kiel. Perhaps more than she had intended or felt comfortable about.
Kiel slid the keypad away from him and gave her his undivided attention.
He knew these questions were somewhat intrusive at times, but essential in mapping out where most Force users were from. This would in turn aid the Jedi to find more Force apt individuals that were aimlessly wandering throughout the galaxy. Yes, the Jedi did want to find these Force apt individuals. If they didn't find them... Most likely they would be found by Sith.
Then these untrained individuals would easily fall to the Dark Side. They would be harvested by these vile Sith, to do their bidding. This, Kiel believed as the Jedi did.... Get to the gifted people first, before they were tainted by the dark ones.
But, Kiel could see that this young woman was not yet ready to open up to him. Not ready to divulge her past. Perhaps it was a hard past filled with too much turmoil and pain.
Kiel understood.
It wasn't necessary for new registered students to pour their hearts out and spill out their past. There was no standard time frame that required them to do so in a timely manner. All in good time.
Yes... All in good time. People opened up when they were comfortable, not when they were forced. The Academy allowed individuals to come to terms with themselves first and allow them to heal a bit, before they would be taken on as Padawans.
Perhaps Jana needed some time. Time to get used to this Academy and meet people of her kind. People that were Force apt...
As she struggled to tell Kiel all she could allow herself to do, she asked for his help.

This touched him. On his world, he was - Well, on his world, he would pretty much help those that asked for help.
Jana could use a friend right now and he was willing to help her. It was his duty. His code.
"Certainly, Jana." Kiel replied.

" I'll help you in any way possible. I guess we can finish your profile some other time.
When you are ready, that is..." His voice was casual, but with a somewhat compassionate tone.

It wasn't necessary for him at this moment to get her personal information down into the data base. Perhaps after a night's rest she would be more comfortable. it would just be a matter of her trusting this place. Kiel was certain she would see soon enough that this was a safe and secure place. She would soon find this place comfortable and would even see it as a second home. After all, she was among her kind now.
"I could still set up a room for you. Do you have any other baggages that you brought with you?"
Jana could sense Kiel's concern. She felt better, after she was sure there won't be any questions about her past. At least for this moment. There were too many things she wanted to forget. And also many things she would like to know...

Kiel's voice disturbed her thoughts.

Jana looked at the small luggagge in which she had few common things. Like clothes, some food and other things she needed to travel to this planet and to find this place. Jana was wearing black clothes, as reflection of her saddness she felt. And also, black color made her felt comfortable and calm.

"I...I have only this with me", she said silently, but this time she tried hard to speak more loudly. Perhaps I'm just too much worried.. too much afraid appeared suddenly in her mind.
No, .. I'm not. I can't trust anybody. And I can't trust even myself, because...

Jana felt distracted. Her thoughts were overwhelming her every next minute. She was unable to quiet herself, to quiet her mind. Too many things she was worrinng about. I will never become a Jedi with this... I was silly to go there and think they will accept me in the Order!
Another doubts... Enough of them, Jana said for herself. At least for now...!

She turned back to Kiel.

"I'd like to stay here and yes.. to become a Jedi. I need to find my place and also who I am..."

Kiel gave her an understanding smile, and nodded.

"Yes... You are very welcome to stay here for as long as it pleases you.
Let me check a moment for an available room..." He trailed off as he reached for the keypad once more.
Kiel punched up a special code that bypassed the profile that was required to assign a room.
He would have to enter the required data in 30 days, or the room would require another authorization code. Kiel saw no problem with granting Jana a room this way. When she was able to give out that information, the room would be her sole property for as long as she desired it. He prepared the electric eye to scan her.

"Ok..., this little scanner..." As he pointed to the little electric eye on the desk. "... Will take a snapshot of your aura... Your persona. This will activate the security feature of your room...."
He noticed she was a bit comprehensive when she realized she was going to get scanned. But Kiel quickly assured her that it was perfectly harmless and it was needed to have a safe room.
He explained that the room would only open on her presence and command and that no other person would be able to access her room without her authorization.
As he was done explaining, the little electric eye blinked.
" Ok... It looks like your room number is 117..." Kiel stated, as he looked up at her again. Her attention was still on the tiny scanner and wasn't too comfortable with it.
"Jana.." he spoke her name, but she didn't respond.
"..Jana?... Would you like me to take you to your room now? Settle your things in there... Then, maybe talk for a while?" He spoke when she looked back up at him.
Kiel realized that perhaps she couldn't bring herself to fully trust her surroundings yet. This was understandable, as there were many different people of all races and species that were moving about through out the Student Center.
She would need a little time to acclimate to all this. Kiel was certain that she would quickly find her place here and feel more at ease. Probably sooner than she herself realized.

After few moments Jana was able to calm herself down a bit. some thoughts were still hanging in her mind, but she became more quiet.
"I will give you some informations about me... But I will need some time for telling more about me."
Jana's thoughts were on if she is able to become a Jedi. she quickly tried to put these doubts away, as they were coming to her mind.

"Yes, if you can, show me, where I can rest, if I need it. I... I hope that... that I will have chance to be accepted in the Order soon..." Jana looked into Kiel's eyes.
"...perhaps we can talk a little more... But please... I don't know which replies.. I can give you."
Jana shook her head. She knew herself and she knew that it will be hard to force herself to face her struggles with talking with complete strangers.
"Now... now perhaps you can take me to my room? And perhaps ask somebody in charge if I can join the Order?"
Jana become as quiet, as she was, when she entered the Academy. She shivered because of the nervousness she felt, but tried to hide it inside herself.

"Certainly… I can take you there now.." He responded.
"I can get your information later. We have up to 30 days to update the temp profile that was entered." He smiled .
"I'm certain then we will get to know each other more and should be friends by then…"
Kiel then temporarily turned to the keyboard, and logged out of the database.
As he came around the desk he offered to help Jana with her small belongings, but she said she was fine and would be no trouble caring them herself.

" Please… Come this way.." Gestured Kiel.

They both walked down across the open center and into one of the large corridors.
He took the lead, as Jana was slightly off to his side and a bit back. Passing many students they both received warm greetings…

Soon they came upon her room.

Kiel stopped and indicated for her to stay a bit back as he approached the door. It stayed closed and even did so when he touched it. It did not respond to him.
He then stepped back and gestured her to step up to the door.
The proximity sensor picked her up and recognized Jana as the occupant of the room.

Upon Jana approaching her door, it automatically opened, as it sensed her presence.

Kiel smiled and gestured her to enter. With a slight hesitation she did so.
It was a decent sized room, with large picture windows that transversed the entire outside wall of the room. There was a bed, a computer desk, small kitchenette and another smaller room that from their vantage point indicated that it was probably a refresher room.
As Jana entered fully into her room, Kiel stayed by the doorway. He would not fully come in unless she felt comfortable in him doing so.
As Jana turned to him, she could see Kiel was by the door. And the door was still open to the corridor.
He smiled at her.
"Well, how do you like it, Jana?"
Jana looked around, as she entered her room. She felt, after long trip, that she could use this room to get herself some rest, when she will need to. She felt that nobody will disturb her, if she doesn't want to.
She looked at Kiel.

"Thank you... I'm glad I can stay... But still..." Jana stopped talking.

"Well, you needn't to stay in the corridor. Come... come in. It makes me uncomfortable, when you... when you are standing in the corridor, in front of this room."
Jana invited Kiel to her new place, and perhaps new home.
"What about now...? What will happen to me? I really... I really need... to find my answers..."
She looked to Kiel once more. she wished that she could learn to trust others, as well as she wanted to have belief in herself. Perhaps she will finally find them here, at the Academy. Who knows?

Kiel entered and the door sensing that no one was near it any longer, closed behind him.
Jana, was still comprehensive in trusting strangers and Kiel sensed that.
Perhaps if he didn't inquire much of her life, she would feel more at ease with him.
" I'm certain all the answers you seek Jana, you will find here. But most of all answers are usually found in oneself. As you learn to listen to the Force, I'm sure you will eventually find all your answers. There is no need to find them so quickly, you know...." He spoke with a gentle voice.
" ...Sometimes the answers you find are not what you expected and if you are not ready for them... They may cause you more discomfort." he then lowered his gaze from her's.
" Anyway... This is the communication link.. " Kiel changed the subject, as he pointed to the console on the wall next to the door.

"You can call anyone here at the Academy." He then went to demonstrate it's functions.
From there he explained the windows and how they darken and lighten upon command or how to set them on auto. He then went to further explain the other comfort creatures of her room. All along Jana nodded with understanding and also indicated she knew of how things operated.
Kiel was just going through formalities and soon Jana was more at ease.

Kiel then looked once more into her eyes. Yes... She was more comfortable with him a bit. This was good.
"I'll inform the Council of your presence here. But it will be up to you, I think to when you think you are ready to speak with them. They are kind, but serious elders. It is best to go before them with an open mind, Jana...." He sincerely spoke to her.
She didn't move her eyes from his gaze and understood what Kiel was saying.
She would get comfortable here and get some rest. Clear her mind somewhat and then see the Council.
"...So, have you had anything to eat yet?" He asked with a friendly smile.
"Well... I haven't eaten since yesterady. I.. I simply didn't have thoughts for eating. Because.. I'm still... worrying too much."
Jana was thinking about Kiel's words. She knew that she has many things, which she would rather not discuss. Is it really necessary to tell them everything?, she thought. But it's not so easy, not at all! There are so many things I even don't know!
Jana's attention was back in the presence.

She felt tired, but yet it was more important for her to speak with Council as soon as possible. Especially when Kiel mentioned this option. She was somewhat... eager to speak with them. They could give her reply, if she would be accepted into the Order or not. That answer was really important for her.
"Kiel... I know it may sound a bit impatient... but I'd like to see the Council as soon, as it is possible. We can talk more later.. and yes, ... if it is possible,... I'd like to have you with me." Jana was silent for a while.
"Well... I can't explain it to you... well enough. I just... I just didn't meet kind person for too long period of time. And I think... I think you are very kind person, who is trying to help others..."
Jana looked at Kiel's eyes again. She was watching him, and it looked like she was hanging on every word he said.
The young man thought for a moment...

"Certainly then. I will inform the Council today of your intentions. I suggest you get yourself settled in, and rest for this day." Nodded Kiel, in agreement.

"I can point you to the cafeteria if you like, or you can get it's location right from the data processor. That is, if you do not want to go there at this time." He pointed over to the computer desk.
"... But in any case, I will inform the Council staff. I'm certain they will want to see you tomorrow morning, when they adjourn again. I will inform you when they get back to me."Kiel spoke, as he was now making his way to the door.
"I will certainly provide escort. Just rest and recollect your thoughts, till then.." His friendly smile mirrored his words.
Jana watched Kiel's steps. She gave him slight smile.
"You are right... I need some rest..", she replied. "Thank you... thank you for warm welcome."
She smiled again, this time it wasn't so hesitant smile, as it was for last time.
"I really hope we will get known each other more... It.. it was good to meet you, Kiel."
Jana sat down and watched Kiel, near to the enterance of her room.

"Kiel.. we will meet once more again, won't we?"

He stopped in mid-step and smiled at her."It is a pleasure meeting you also, Jana...
I'm certain we will get plenty of chances to mingle and get to know each other better.... I'm certain of that." He confidently spoke.
"Once I hear from the council... I'll give you a call. If there is anything you need to see me about, I'll either be in my room or at the desk. I won't have classes till the following day...
Just relax now, and get some rest. The room is quite secure, and no one can enter without your permission." He assured her.
Jana nodded with a smile, as she understood that he was speaking the truth.
Yes, Kiel surely felt that she would find this place secure and slowly she would trust many more people here.
Jana was among her kind now, and the Force would help her find the many answers that she seeked. He touched the door and it swished open. The corridor was plainly in sight and along with a student or two passing by. Young man gave her a farewell nod and exited.

With the door closing behind him, he headed back to the desk.

He'd have a message to relay to the Council...

****

Kiel has left Jana's room.. It suddenly became a very quiet place. As Jana was able to forget about her thoughts, which were occupying her mind, now these thoughts were back, because there was nobody, who would turn her thoughts to another side.
Well, I should rest..., she thought, ... but I can't...
Jana was thinking about how the Council will decide about her request for Jedi training. Will they accept me...? Will they accept somebody, who is... who is so umbalanced? Damn.. I was silly, I've came here with hope they will accept me!
Another doubts. I've heard that Jedi should have balance within himself... But... But I'm not. I'm not even able to calm my own mind!
Jana was afraid she will fail. Fail herself. That's why I lack self-confidence!
She was watching silently her surroundings. Only silence was reply for her thoughts. As she was unable to rest, she was sitting in her new room, without any thing to do. She doubt that she will be able to sleep...
With these thoughts Jana's dreamless night has begun...

Only time will show what will next days bring to her...