Nar Shaddaa

Layne was still meditating on and off. And checking her posessions on and off again. Right now she had all three of her sabers laid on in front of her as she sat in the lotus position. There was the darksaber, of course. The most unique of the two. Then there was the shoto she'd had Baesal craft for her back on Korriban, the one that had the crystal of the Jedi she killed in it. And then there was the hilt she had crafted herself on Nar Shaddaa... the perfectly generic and slightly unbalanced hilt that still lacked a crystal.

If only she was smarter. Better with the engineering side of things. Maybe she could have altered the attachments on the darksaber to help her in combat somehow. Maybe she could have won. Well, that was unlikely. But maybe she could have done *something* more.

And then she closed her eyes again, back to meditating. Back to using that trick of forcing his mind to focus and drown out distractions by using the force to levitate objects in her surroundings. This time the hilts were being lifted up instead of pebbles, but the purpose was the same.

"I was told we had a guest, Layne, and now hear you are," Nomen Karr says standing behind her.

She was not about to let him fuck up her Chi. So she stayed quiet for a few moments longer, slowly dropping the hilts back down the ground and keep her meditative pose even as she spoke.

"I knew you would come," she said.

Even if granma hadn't implied he'd be the one to take her in, she'd experienced enough of the 'coincidences' the force brought about to have been able to guess Karr would take an interest.

"The Force has brought us together," he replies.

"That's a little creepy when it's an old dude saying it as he sneaks up behind a 16 year old girl," she said.

"I have on intentions of that kindnb he says with a shake of his head.

"We are simply linked through the force and a common acquaintance in Darth Baras."

"I would've expected you to be in that meeting between the masters," she said. "But I guess you heard what I said in there?"

"I am aware of the situation and agree with Satele's assessment," Nomen replies.

"You will have a hard road."

"And why is that? Because I was a Sith? I've met Jedi more Sith-like than I am."

"Because the path of a Jedi is never easy, it demands everything of you and we expect much of every Jedi," he replies undeterred.

"Can't be any more difficult than being a Sith," she replied. "They take everything and then some."

"Perhaps, though you will spend many months in meditation and training. Your mind will have to adjust and your Master will have to be mindful of your specific needs," he responds.

"You can do it, but it will be a continuing journey."

"Everyone here seems to underestimate me. I am not some Imperial zombie that needs to be reprogrammed."

"It's not about reprogramming it's about understanding the Jedi way. Everything takes time, and patience is a virtue. That is the end of it, you will be a padawan for a good long while, can you handle that?" Nomen Karr says.

"You will follow another's lead."

"I have an apprentice of my own," she said. "He was brought to my by the force. How will that work?"

Layne Hoshin wrote:"I have an apprentice of my own," she said. "He was brought to my by the force. How will that work?"

"We can offer him training him as well, he will be well cared for on Coruscant," Nomen Karr responds.

Balos Tyl approaches and says, "Master Karr you summoned me?"

"Yes, it has not been made official yet but the Force has brought Layne to us for a reason and I foresee her being a a Jedi of worth and honor. I wish for you to train her, it is time you took on that responsibility and grew as a Jedi," Nomen Karr responds.

She narrowed her eyes slightly as she looked between the two. Already she wasn't liking this.

"The force foretold a different master," she said. "And Daz was brought to me for a reason."

"I already have a student that demands much of my time, I have trust in Balos to do what needs to be done and guide you on the right path and in turn perhaps you will aid him to find his own path. Master and Padawan learn from each other, those are the best unions. Daz will be there, we are not separating you. But this is no time for you to take on an apprentice and try to learn our ways," Nomen Karr responds calmly.

"Your focus should be on becoming a Jedi, nothing else."

Balos squares up and says proudly, "Thank you Master, I will not fail the Order and I will give Padawan Layne my full attention at all times."

She did not like it. She could've been a Sith Lord by now, and instead the Jedi were treating her like some inexperienced child. But again, logic dictated they could not just accept her as one of their own. She had to admit it made sense. Provided she wouldn't be treated like this for too long, she could even live with it.

She finally stood up, and stared at Balos; well-ingrained alpha-dog instincts kicking in outside her control.

"I'll trust you actually have something to teach me beyond the rules."

Balos replies, "It will be my greatest honor to provide you with the tools to be a Jedi. To share knowledge freely and abolish ignorance is a privilege."

Oh boy, she had a real gung-ho one here. Layne was not quite so taken with the blind idealism. Her inclinations were more pragmatic.

"But what sort of experience and knowledge do you have?"

"I have traveled across the Outer Rim and been party to many conflicts, though my goal was always to keep the peace just as it will be yours. I am ready for this task, Layne, just as you are ready to divest yourself of your old ways and dedicate yourself to the Jedi. I will be tough but fair, and never ask anything of you I would not do myself," Balos replies.