“I certainly hope so. Everyone needs some peace on this planet. There’s just so much going on.”
Hawkin matched Calista’s pace and thought for a moment.
“Do you think we’ll meet any important people anytime soon?”
“On Coruscant? It's possible especially since I get occasional jobs from the Senate building.” Calista nodded a little. “In the mid-levels… less likely. I just prefer the calmer environment compared to everything up here and in the lower levels.” she admitted.
"On Coruscant or some other world planet. Ya know? I'm glad you live on the mid levels. From the top with the skylanes, it can get noisy, and in the underbelly, it gets violent. So I'm really excited. Maybe I can get a completely peaceful night's sleep. Without having the worry of some tasteless marauder trying to come in and take my place. I'm excited."
“Exactly why I made that choice too.” Calista nodded. “You know, if you'd like, you could stay with me. I only have one bedroom but the couch is pretty comfortable. There’s a kitchen and… well it's simple but it's nice and comfortable.” she admitted, slowing down a little to gauge his reaction to the offer. It wasn't uncommon for Padawans and Masters to live together before the war. In fact, it was pretty normal especially when the Padawans were younglings.
Hawkin cracked his knuckles and stretched.
"A couch is perfectly fine. It's certainly more comfortable than the brick of a bed that I was sleeping on in the underground. I'm glad that you're taking my comfortability into account. I'm completely okay with whatever you decided. I just go with the flow. And a kitchen is a new commodity. Never had one. I have no clue to how it works. But I can definitely take it apart and find out. However, I won't do that to your kitchen. Can't take apart something you use, ya know?"
“Of course. After all the years of being on the run, I'm not going to make someone sleep on the floor.” Calista pointed out. “Maybe we can upgrade to a two-bedroom place at some point but I would very much appreciate it if you didn't take my kitchen apart. I’m sure we can get parts or whatever if you need to work on something.” she suggested assuringly. It wouldn't be hard to do with either of their connections. Though she knew she would most likely have to inform her friends at the Senate building and the members of the New Republic that she worked with that she now had a Padawan.
“I appreciate that. And I do love tinkering. Anything broken I can definitely fix. Or at least give a good effort to try and fix it.”
He scratched his head.
“How are we going to explain this to the people you work with? And how am I going to tell my boss that I’m being taken onto bigger and better things? I’m sure it’s going to be a shock for some of your coworkers.”
Calista sighed at the thought of telling the necessary people but knew it was inevitable. “Telling who I work with shouldn't be a problem. Lorain will never let me live it down and will probably broadcast the news through the Senate building one way or another. It’ll only be a problem if they’ve invented some paperwork to fill out about it.” she admitted, shaking her head. “As for as your boss, I’ll go with you and explain the situation.” she assured.
"Ya know you should just make it look like I was gathered up by the new republic. Just grabbed out of existence. It would be terribly funny. The old man would be quaking. As for your people, I think they'd be excited for you. It's not everyday a Jedi gets a padawan in this day and age. However you might get swamped with questions and ideas. But it might pull other Jedi out of hiding. Who knows?"
He looked back at the droid.
"What do you think of all of this Dex?"
The droid beeped happily.
"I think of it very well actually. Considering that I'm up to date on everything now. The galaxy is really starting to look up."
Hawkin laughed at Dex.
"Ya know, I think you might be right."
Calista couldn't resist laughing a little at the mischievous idea as they approached the transport station. “That's tempting but I don't want to cause trouble for the New Republic by starting a rumor like that.” she smirked. “It would be… safer to talk to your boss in person.”
Though she shook her head at Hawkin mentioning how “her people” would try to help. “Ok. First of all, not really my people. I don't really have any. But it would be nice if the news of a Jedi taking a new Padawan reached other Jedi in the galaxy.” she agreed, hoping for that possibility, before smiling a little at Dex.
Hawkin sighed and rubbed his neck.
"I suppose you're correct. Wouldn't want to cause trouble. But it would be funny though. And I didn't mean any offense by saying your people. I guess what I mean was people you know and that know you back. I really don't have anyone like that. Well, now I have Dex and you. So I have someone now. It's more than I had before. And I hope that Jedi come out of hiding. I want to know their methods, their teachings, and whatever else. I have a whole new world to explore. I have something new to see."
Calista winced a little at his reaction. “I’m sorry. I didn't mean for that to come out as harshly as it did. I wasn't offended. I knew what you meant and you're right about how they’ll react to hearing about us.” she nodded. “It's been a while since I had… well anyone. I do know people in the Senate and all that but I still consider myself to be an outsider among them… doesn't help that I'm not a fan of politics.” she admitted with a slight shrug. “But I would like to meet and learn from other Jedi too.” she smiled softly, sharing in Hawkin’s sentiment.
Hawkin rubbed his neck and let out a nervous chuckle.
"No need to apologize. I've worked with bounty hunters. I'm used to little mistakes costing a whole lot. So that's why I reacted the way I did. I just didn't want to mess something up. And I've never been into politics. I don't think I even know what politics truly are. I know it involves a lot of people, and arguing back and forth."
Dex chimed in.
"Arguing is common, solutions are too. Whether they work is up to who it's supposed to help. But not much has changed in the senate in two hundred years. Calista, who is in charge of the Senate now?"
“I understand that.” Calista said, gently putting her hand on his shoulder. Last she heard the Bounty Hunter’s Guild had a reputation for pointing a blaster at anyone who either annoyed them or asked a question the wrong way. “I don't want to mess up either. I’ve never taught anything before so this will be as new to me as it is for you.”
She nodded a little at Dex’s explanation of politics, having seen that firsthand recently. “Mon Mothma is currently the leader of the Senate. I believe she was one of the founders of the Rebellion and was its civilian leader during the war. So she knows the people and they respect her.”
He waved his hand dismissively.
“Pffftttt even if you mess up, if you don’t tell me, I won’t know any different. Dex might know, but I wouldn’t. Just play it off. And what does this Mon Mothma woman really do? Is she catergorized as an emperor, or like the speaker of the senate? Is she in charge of like everything?”
Calista chuckled at the assurance and smiled. “Well, I'm going to try to teach you the best I can.” she promised as the transport pulled up. “Mon Mothma is not categorized as an emperor or anything. The New Republic threw that title out faster than you could fire a blaster. She is the one everyone looks to for leadership and approval on things but she never just took the authority. She earned it so everyone else in the Senate nominated her to be their leader.”
Hawkin scratched his head.
"So she's in charge, and she approves things, but she's not an emperor? I really am clueless to politics."
Dex whirred.
"Just wait until you hear about some of the Jedi traditions. You're going to have to grow out a braid and not cut it until you become a teacher. From Padawan to Jedi. It's pretty cool."
Hawkin laughed.
"That doesn't sound so bad Dex. Have you seen my face? A gold tattoo across the bridge of my nose and across the tops of my cheeks? Now that hurt. However, I plan to add to it when I make a name for myself. Maybe Some metallic blue, or who knows I might go crazy and go for a neon. However I do plan to break tradition and curve the tattoo. Not the sharp boxy shapes. Some gentle curves that really make you stop and look."
Dex pondered for a moment.
"Would it mean that I got a new paint job? To match your face tattoos?"
Hawkin looked at the droid.
"Now I don't know who gave you knowledge, but that's a fantastic idea. The paint job will come later though. I have to make a name for myself and then design it. Maybe you'll have some ideas."
Dex beeped excitedly.
"I have plenty of ideas. I was made during the height of Jedi creativity for crying out loud."
Hawkin couldn't help but laugh again at the droid.
"I suppose that is very true. Hey! The curved lines could be a reference to you and the high republic! Something gentle and elegant."
Dex jumped off of Hawkin's back and spun around on the ground in front of him.
"That's a wonderful idea! I can find some memories in my databanks and project it for you, so you can get some really good ideas!"
The droid jumped back on to Hawkin's back and turned towards Calista.
"This one may have a bright future ahead of him. The creative ones always do."
Calista nodded at Hawkin’s confusion, about to try to explain better when Dex spoke up on Jedi traditions. She smiled a little at the thought of Hawkin growing a Padawan braid and earning the beads she remembered senior Padawans’ wearing for their specialized skills… but she was struggling to remember the colors that corresponded to those skills. Of course, she decided not to tell him how the Padawan braid was cut right now. That could wait.
She continued to listen to Dex and Hawkin discuss ideas for his tattoo and a matching paint job with a smile. It certainly sounded interesting, despite her not knowing the traditions of the two Kiff worlds. But she understood the significance of them since her Master had traditional Mirialan tattoos on her face as well.
“He certainly has creative ideas.” she nodded at Dex. “And his Force signature is bright, so I am hopeful for his future.” she admitted with a smile as she climbed on the transport that would take them to the mid-levels.
Hawkin laughed.
"Does this mean I'm glowing? I'm glad someone is excited for my future."
He turned his head towards Calista.
"Did you say something about the traditions of the Kiff worlds, or did I imagine it?"
He stepped with her onto the transport that was headed to the mid-levels.
“You’ll learn about Force signatures and how to see them.” she assured before raising a brow at the second question. “Uhh… no I didn't say anything. But it is possible to hear another’s thoughts with the Force. I just thought that I had my shields up… then again, it has been a while since I was around anyone who had the potential to hear my thoughts.” she admitted. “Maybe I’m a little out of practice.”
(Homie, I’m so sorry! It’s been a chaotic past week, it was midterms and the week before spring break and everyone was losing their minds or lost it. I’m hoping I’m less infrequent and more frequent now 😭😂)
He scratched his head.
“I don’t think you’re out of practice. It might just be me being hyperaware now. I’m overthinking everything. What do I even do? Can I turn it off? My head is spinning because I want to know everything, but now opening up myself to all these new ideas and things, and it’s all so much. Anyway, changing this topic, would you like to know about Kiffu? Or why I have this weird tattoo on my face?”
(It's ok. I admit I was a little worried but that's totally understandable, especially with midterms. Hope things went well for you.)
Calista furrowed her brow in concern and gently placed her hand on Hawkin’s shoulder. “Breathe. Just breathe. It's alright.” she encouraged. “I know it's a lot to take in but it's not really something you can “turn off” like flipping a switch. I can teach you something that will help… how to shield your mind so that you won't be so overwhelmed.” she explained “I was more curious about Kiffu traditions because I know so little about the planet in general. So, if you would rather talk about that for now, that’s fine with me.” she smiled softly.
(I’m hoping they did go well. Haven’t got the big one back yet. And I’m quaking in my boots waiting for that one to hit the grade book…)
He breathed deeply.
“My mind is already loud, but the added abilities just make it louder. It’s like there was a canister of hyperfuel under my skin, and it’s been ignited and everything seems so different and not at the same time. Call it an awakening or a trembling, but I do know that I’m not the same person I was two hours ago. I would greatly appreciate the mind shield tactic thing, and sure we can talk about Kiffu. Just after the mind shield thing.”
He laughed, but looked distant.
“Yeah. Kiffu. Mind shield thing.”