Hawkin rubbed his head.
"Yeah. I know we'll still be here, but I think that maybe I need to move on from that part of my life now. A new door opened, and an old needs to close. I'll still go visit every once in a while, but that's something I need to move past now. I'll still work on my mechanics, and fix things when it needs to be fixed or when I want to tinker on things, but it's not going to be my lifestyle and the way I live now."
He pointed to his tattoo.
"And now, I've got a reason to try and make myself better. I've got a name to create for myself, and for my future clan line, if I choose to have one."
Calista nodded, respecting his decision… and perhaps a little proud of his maturity for it. "And I'll help you move past that and do the best I can to teach you.” she promised. “Plus, there’s more than one way to make a clan. If you ever take a Padawan, they could be part of your clan too.”
"I'm glad, and grateful for the opportunity. It's not everyday someone comes along and turns your life around and starts to make it for the better, you know?"
He laughed at the idea of taking a padawan, in a joking way.
"Ah yes, I'll do what death watch does. I find an abandoned child, and adopt it."
Dex jumped in.
"Until then, I'll gladly fill that place and annoy you every single day until you die."
Hawkin looked at the droid.
"Then I shall die young, because you will annoy me to death."
Calista shook her head. “Don't… Death Watch was an group of violent extremists. Mandalorians, from what I heard, did adopt orphans but Death Watch kidnapped children from their families and brainwashed them to be their version of fighters.” she explained seriously. “That's not something we should compare to.”
But she smiled a little at Dex’s more endearing comment, preferring that to Hawkin’s misguided understanding but adding that to his future curriculum.
Hawkin frowned.
“Sorry… When they stopped by the shop, they were at least nicer to me because I fixed their ships and stuff. I knew they were a little on the violent side and permanently borrowed kids, but as for brainwashing kids and turning them into soldiers, I didn’t know that.”
Dex stopped and looked at Hawkin.
“Did you say permanently borrowed?”
Hawkin looked back at the droid.
“Yes. I said permanently borrowed because I didn’t think the words forcibly and kidnapping weren’t the best to use in the current situation.”
Dex shook his head.
“I have never in my 200 plus years of existence hear someone say permanently borrowed. That’s a completely new one Hawk. You got me.”
Calista nearly laughed at the… unusual phrasing but nodded. “I guess you wouldn't want to use those words in front of them. But that’s a first for me too.” she admitted. “I’m glad they treated you that way and I won't deny that things may have changed for them from when I last heard about them. I haven’t run into many Mandalorians of any kind recently.” she explained, taking the necklace out from under her robes to show him the Mythosaur skull pendant at the end.
Hawkin scratched his head.
“What in stars name is that? That doesn’t look like anything I’ve ever seen before. Is it a creature or something?”
Dex hummed in excitement when he saw the pendant.
“That is a mythosaur pendant. Very nice. Very important in Mandalorian culture.”
Hawkin look down at Dex.
“A mytho what now? Listen you gotta remember I come from a sand planet where all we had to watch for were spark dragons and static trees.”
He held his arms up and explained.
“In which, let me make this clear, static trees weren’t actual trees, they were an avian type of creature and they got their name because during the lighting storms on Kiffu. They would absorb the energy from the air and the lightning that would crackle off the crystals on their backs would arc and look like a very dangerous tree. They were snacks for the spark dragons. Now, I’ve never heard of a mytho saurus, dragon, thing. What even is that.”
“Well, those static trees sound very interesting,” Calista smiled, “but, like Dex said, a Mythosuar is an extinct predator from Mandalore. It's considered… well, I want to say it's considered sacred to Mandalorians and may have even been the clan sigil of a Mand’alor at one point.” she shrugged, a little unsure on that part. “But this necklace was a gift to my Master from Syla Varr, the Mandalorian bounty hunter we met… but my Master gave it to me before she… she told me to run and not come back for her. I felt her die that day… not too long after.”
Hawkin didn’t know what to do. He had really never dealt with anyone who had lost someone, so he was unsure how to comfort her.
“Calista, I am sorry for your loss. I really don’t know what it feels like to really lose someone close to me, because I never had anyone close enough to lose. I can give you like a hand shake or a hug? I don’t know. A fist bump? I’m just lost when it comes to comforting someone. But do know that I am here and trying my best and trying to understand. Loss is painful, and I am hoping you are slowly getting through it. If it’s any help, you can think about what your master would say to you if she learned about you having a padawan. I think she’d be very proud of you. Or at least I hope she would be.”
Hawkin stood there kind of awkwardly, waiting to see what Calista would do. He knew that whatever she chose he would try to respond in the best way that he could.
Calista smiled softly, still holding the pendant, and placed her hand on his shoulder. “Thank you, Hawkin. It's kind of you to say that… but I’m ok. I do miss her but loss and death are a natural part of life. Most Jedi believe that when someone dies, they become one with the Force… and their presence may even still be felt.” she explained. “Now, I haven’t felt my Master recently but I think you’re right. She would be proud that I can finally teach someone. Maybe she even guided us so that we would meet.”
Hawkin touched Calista's hand on his shoulder.
"I feel certain that she would be. And hopefully she is the one that guided you to me, or me to you, through some sorts of means."
He looked down at Dex.
"More than likely it was through Dex. The way he came to me was odd in itself, but I wouldn't have it any other way. It was just the way it all fell into place. And I'm glad that you found me too. I could still be fighting for my life in the underground. I'm really excited for what is going to happen to me, and what I'm going to get the chance to do. Hopefully you master is watching all of this unfold, knowing that you're going to be responsible for the start of rebuilding the Jedi order."
Calista blushed at the responsibility of restarting the Jedi Order on Coruscant but didn't shy away from it. She didn't know how many people survived with the knowledge she had and felt she had to pass it on. “The three of us will. Together.” she nodded. “I know what the Jedi were like before the Empire and how to survive with the Force, but Dex has knows things that would be considered lost knowledge. And you, you can help us find what will work best for the future.”
Dex piped up.
"You bet. I have so much knowledge clanking around in my memory banks. We can start to build the new order on what I can pull from the High Republic. Bringing the best from the old, to rebuild the new. Hawkin, you get to be the experiment. You're going to restart something great. With the help of Calista, we shall not fail."
Hawkin smiled.
"Well even Dex seems to think that we are destined for something great. I think that's a great start to the day."
He clasped his hands together.
"Now let's go get some new clothes, tell my boss that I'm never coming back to work there, and then onto the senate. Which I do happen to be very nervous about that."
Calista chuckled at Dex’s praise, her face was noticeably red by now, but nodded at her Padawan. “Alright. I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of outfit you come up with.” she smiled, quickly putting away whatever leftovers they had before grabbing her outer robe. “And don't worry about the Senate. They’ll be happy to see that there is someone else who can learn about the Force.” she assured.
Hawkin ran his hands through his hair, and started fidgeting with the braid.
"Still. The people in the senate will quite literally be the most interaction that I've had with people. At the shop I only talked to my boss, and to the customers. I rarely talked to someone else. And now coming into contact with several people at one time, it might be overwhelming. But we'll see. As for the outfit, I'm thinking more earth tones shirts and pants that are either dark gray, black or brown. I'm going to go with a theme. We'll see how I manage though."
“If it would make you feel better, I can do most of the talking.” Calista offered. “I know the people that'll be there. They’re used to me. At most, you’d just have to say hello or something.” she shrugged, not exactly knowing what would happen besides the Senate accepting Hawkin as her Padawan.
“I would greatly appreciate if you could do most of the talking. I can introduce myself and hold small conversations if they ask, but I will definitely let you know if I get overwhelmed. And I have Dex with me. My little support droid. Plus he’s dramatic enough to draw attention and fake a malfunction or something.”
Dex chittered.
“I did serve as a good distraction in the High Republic. I do remember several times where I did that. All you have to do is nudge me with your foot and I’ll do something interesting. Don’t know what, but I’ll get you that distraction.”
Hawkin rolled his eyes at the droid.
“Well I’m glad you can do that. Just don’t make the distraction too big. We’re not on that type of grand distraction scale yet.”
Dex retorted.
“It’s going to be the biggest distraction I’ve ever done.”
Calista nodded with a gentle smile. “Alright. Just give me a signal, though I should be able to tell if you get overwhelmed.” she pointed out easily. Though she liked the idea of Dex helping out with diverting attention from Hawkin. “Please, keep it subtle, Dex. We don't need you to cause a scene. Just be noticeable or mention something from the High Republic that’ll interest the Senate.” she insisted, before moving to head out.
"I will definitely let you know if I get overwhelmed. It'll show on my face more than anything. Dex will just have to bring up something interesting enough so they gravitate towards him."
Dex walked in a circle.
"Oh I can definitely grab their attention. Take your pick. Starlight Beacon, the dark saber, gossip on the green goblin, oops I mean Master Yoda, whatever they wanna know."
Hawkin rolled his eyes.
"I'm not a Jedi, well not yet, but I think it would be wise not to go after Yoda."
Dex kept walking a circle.
"Fine. Just say I'm a crazy old droid with a few screws loose. That'll satiate them."
Hawkin laughed at the droid.
"You're something else. I'm ready to follow you where you go Calista. Let's get this day started."
Calista chuckled at their antics, tucking the beskar pendant seamlessly back under her robes, and headed for the lift. “Personally, I am interested in all those topics, but I have to agree that you shouldn't bring up Master Yoda in front of the Senate. I don't know if they even know who he is but I have a feeling the gossip you’re thinking of… might lower their opinions about Jedi in general.” she pointed out with a slight smirk. “Now, come on you two. It shouldn't take us long to get Hawkin’s new clothes… dealing with his former boss might take longer.”
Dex crawled up Hawkin's leg and situated himself on his back.
"I suppose you're right Calista. I'll just only slightly get their interest."
Hawkin shrugged his shoulders so he and Dex were both comfortable.
"I don't know Calista, clothes might take longer than my boss. He's a fairly easy going man, but I have no clue how he'd react to me leaving. I'm hoping for the best. As for clothes, where do you think I can get some comfortable clothes that are fairly easy to move in, in the earthy tone colors that I'm looking for?"
“Thank you, Dex.” Calista nodded slightly, thinking that he would still cause a big enough distraction either way. “I guess we’ll find out when we tell him. But I’m hoping for the best too.” she admitted when Hawkin gave his opinion on his boss. “As for the clothes… honestly, I have some places in mind even though I don't do a lot of shopping.”
"Sounds like a plan to me. Let's go shopping. Look at me sounding like an excited little girl. I have an idea of what I would like to wear, and I'm so excited. I just hope I can find it."
He opened the door to her apartment.
"After you!"
Calista chuckled at Hawkin’s self-teasing, even though she was also hoping he could find what he was looking for. Though she rolled her eyes, with a smile, at him opening the door for her. “Come on, young Padawan.” she quipped, using the Force to flick his braid into his face as she walked past him.
He laughed as his padawan braid hit him in the face.
"No fair. I haven't learned how to do that yet. When I do though, I'll get you back."
He closed the door behind him, and smiled in the light that trickled down from the upper levels.
"Today's going to be a good day. Which we are we headed first?"
Calista chuckled at his reaction. “You’ll learn. One day, you’ll be able to use the Force so easily, it’ll practically be a reflex… in some situations.” she assured.
She smiled, sharing his good feeling of the day, and continued walking. “This way. The market area is over here. There’s few stores we can look at for your clothes. And don't worry about the price.”
"Using the Force as a reflex sounds amazing. Just thinking that if I ever needed help in a situation, it could just be there."
He rubbed his hands together and started walking after Calista.
"I do have some credits, so before you use yours, I can use mine. So you don't spend so much. And I know you're going to ask me why, and it's because I feel like I haven't done anything to warrant you spending credits on me. And I know that's not a great way to think, but it's something that I learned a long time ago."
“It's there right now.” she assured. “You just have to be open to it. Feel it around you, me, and everyone else. Even if they can't feel the Force like we can, every living being leaves their own imprint on it.” Calista explained before nodding at his second comment. “I'm not worried about spending “too much”. You are my Padawan. That title carries more than just being my student, though it starts there.” she sighed, trying to find the right words. “This is something I learned outside the Temple, and I'm pretty sure the old Jedi Counsel wouldn’t approve or acknowledge this fact, but the bond between a Padawan and their Master is as close to family as any other. My Master Lira Voss… was my buir in every sense of the word. I know that sounds intimidating but hearing Dex say that it was normal for Jedi in the High Republic to have those kinds of connections was reassuring for me. Of course, we didn't start out that way… it wasn't like that until we only had each other to survive.”
"I'll do my best to be open to whatever the Force has in store for me and I'll try my best to be as open as I can to it."
Hawkin listened to Calista explain to him the bond between a Padawan and a Master.
"This is very new to me. In a very short time period, my life has completely turned around. I just can't really explain how it feels. Suddenly everything I have once desired is being realized and I don't know how to react. I've wished for something to give me a chance and to make a name for myself, and Dex comes along, and I was excited for a droid as a companion, but in the end, I gained more than just a droid. I wasn't expecting to find someone or something I could call family, and believe me, I've wished for that for years. I was wishing for a family on Kiffu, and now, in the most unexpected place, I get what I've been searching for, and I don't know how to even really react to it. And it's just a lot. But I am grateful. Technically, we can say we're all survivors, survivors together. Dex survived for 200 years, you survived the Jedi purge, and I survived the Coruscant underground. I guess there's really no other way but up."
Dex shifted on Hawkin's back.
"Indeed you are correct Hawkin. And as for the relationship between Master and Padawan, Calista is completely right. The High Republic may have only had one thing right in its entire existence, but the right thing was the fact that Padawans and Masters were family. Besides the Force, the bonds of family were the strongest things you could ever have. That should have never changed."
Calista smiled warmly at Hawkin, relieved he understood her awkward attempt and glad that the Force had brought them together this way. “I guess we are survivors when you put it like that. And I admit I would like to be able to call someone family again, if you'll have me. I know you already accepted me as your teacher, and I'm grateful for that, but there is no pressure to accept me as more than that.”
She nodded gratefully at Dex’s reinforcement of her opinion. “I agree. That never should have changed. Maybe things would have been better for all the Jedi if it hadn’t.”
