A New Task

A New Task
Date of Scene:	30 July 2024
Location:	Jedi Temple - Coruscant
Synopsis:	Ann gives Cayde a new project, and some decidedly onerous possibilities for the future. Dealing with teenagers, am I right?
Cast of Characters:	Annelia Belask, Cayde Alexis

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Annelia Belask has posed:
#-1 ARGUMENT OUT OF RANGE's perhaps a day after the doctor confessed to attempted murder and other crimes. Ann told Cayde to get some rest and meet her the next evening.

    Now, today, with some prep done, Ann is waiting outside the archives, spinning a small data pad in her hand idly.

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    As per his master's instructions, Cayde makes his way to the specified meeting place to see what Ann has dreamt up for him. 'A project', she'd said.

    He looks...like he hasn't slept very well at all.

Annelia Belask has posed:
    "You know what I realized yesterday, Cayde?" Ann questions as she tosses the datapad to him. He'll quickly find it's locked, password protected, and probably encrypted. Heavily.

    "I think having your powers loom so large in your life for so long left you seeing them as the stopping point, rather than a tool and stepping stone. I want to see you looking past them for more than just physical tasks."

    She steps closer, nodding down to the pad. "So, you say you like spycraft. There's a specially signed file on that datapad, and you don't have the passwords or encryption keys. I'd like it to be a project of yours to get this file off it. And for reference- I don't have the details on the file. I had it made, encryption done, and securing of the datapad done by a series of droids with specific instructions to not engage on this subject until I give the word."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde takes the datapad, arching a brow at it when he sees that it's heavily encrypted.

    <But...I have never learned to slice> he protests. Where would he even start?

Annelia Belask has posed:
    "And you never learned to sign galactic basic until you did," answers Ann as casually as though it were the most obvious comparison in the world.

    She reaches behind her, pulling another datapad- unlocked, this time- and offering it forward. "This is pre-loaded with texts on the subject. Accessing things you're not meant to is part of the tradecraft- and I want to see how you approach a problem where the answer isn't in the other person's head."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Oops, Cayde was already thinking about finding an expert slicer and then just hanging out nearby and learning that way.

    He takes the second datapad, nodding. Was it even possible to teach oneself to slice just by reading books?

    <Well someone taught me>

Annelia Belask has posed:
    "And there are people who could help teach this. But one thing I'll note- a lot of the best slicers in the galaxy didn't get taught, they fell in love with the puzzle of it and learned by doing, because it's more about personal process than proscribed steps. Give it a read, give some things a try, see how you feel. Similar to the hobby talk, right? There are other things we'll have to set you up with educationally if you do want to pursue spycraft, but this I think will be an interesting place to start."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde nods. <I will...thank you master>

    Although, she can definitely tell he's still quite down about yesterday's events.

Annelia Belask has posed:
    She pats his shoulder, shaking her head a little.

    "I know things eat at you Cayde, and they need to run their course. But Cassias' story isn't over, yet. I may not be all that fond of the man, but we're going to keep on this one. We still have all sorts of leads to run down, and I think you'll find that if we get Vlaven, and show that the doctor was under duress, things will change -pretty- quickly."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde nods again, although he still doesn't feel any better.

    <But aren't they supposed to trust us?>

Annelia Belask has posed:
    "I think you're too used to being a Jedi, in some ways. A regular, non-jedi person? Wouldn't have even been there that day," says Ann, shaking her head a little.

    She places hands on her hips, more thoughtfully than anything as she considers. "Legal proceedings are also... suspect of witnesses at the best of times. So a nearby person saying they read the doctor's mind, jedi or no... it's not quite enough to overturn the whole investigation. They still have procedures they have to follow. Part of what I'm getting at with doing something that's less focused on mental reads- telepathy is one element of the toolkit to -get- you to what you need. It's not the endpoint of the process."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    <But what else would I be used to...> Cayde wonders. Really, this was his life. He'd never known anything else. In fact, he hadn't even been allowed to leave the Temple until a couple of years ago.

Annelia Belask has posed:
    "That's kind of my point? And part of why I've been against any more confinement. I think we, in general, get a little stuck in our own perspective," says Ann, frowning a little. "But it was something my master stressed. Vast majority of the galaxy... aren't jedi. Most of them will never even meet one of us. We can't, by sheer fact of scale, be -that- central to processes."

    She pauses, and it's clear she's about to talk about something she prefers not to. "For all that it was an awful time in my life... the time I spent in the outer rim after Master Gaiss died was... illuminating. Forced me to interact more with other sorts of people. Hear about how they saw things. I think it's something more of us should do- so we can not only understand how genuinely advantaged and privileged we are by happenstance of the Force, but see how people handle life when the Force is rumours and hearsay, not part and parcel of how we operate day to day."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde nods...it was true.

    But, to be honest, he's not sure what to do about it other than, well--more telepathy. It is, after all, the best way he knows how to relate to others. He's lived his entire life this way, since a very young age.

    <How else can I learn...other than with the Force>

Annelia Belask has posed:
    Ann smirks a moment, and takes her hands off her hips to answer; By talking to people.

    She chuckles faintly before continuing; "Once this Vlaven thing is done with I might see if I can work some angles to get us placed on a less stressful assignment out in the Rim or something for a while. Break out of the patterns that are here, see more of the galaxy and see if we can get you some chances to see some non-Jedi life. Or, you know, read those texts I just gave you, that's another good one."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    But...talking to people is hard. Especially when you -can't- talk. At least, out loud.

    Cayde sighs, but nods. <I will read them Master>

Annelia Belask has posed:
    "Yeah, yeah, it's gonna suck, and that's why I'm pushing for it," says Ann with a wry smile, shaking her head a little. "It's a lot harder, especially in your position all things considered. But well, think of it this way- how's shying away from that and doing the same old things going for you lately?"

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde sighs again, a little more heavily. But, she's right. <Yes you are right Master...we must face challenge>

    Well, hey. There was ...somewhat of a more complex sentence. Made of words.

Annelia Belask has posed:
    She puts a hand on Cayde's shoulder again, nodding. "Yeah, I know. Life's challenging enough, sucks to add more. But that's the galaxy for you."

    She begins guiding the boy down the hall, a more mischievous sort of smile crossing her face. "But hey, before I send you off to start studying, I do have some positive news. I may have worked a little trickery to put together a stash of extra snacks- stuff you don't get in the temple- for when you're deep in the books and puzzling through that datapad."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde actually doesn't seem all that excited at the mention of the snacks. In fact, he looks somewhat...skeptical? Nervous? She can feel a general sense of apprehension around him at the notion, even as he follows her down the hall.

Annelia Belask has posed:
    "Relax, it's nothing weird, just something to help keep your energy up when all the reading starts making your eyes cross," says Ann with a shake of the head. "Just hard to find anything around the temple that isn't 'original no flavour' or 'whole-grain no flavour'."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    Cayde nods, although he still looks somewhat skeptical. It may occur to Ann that since he has not lived much outside the Temple, he has not actually really eaten much of anything outside of what is served at the Temple...

Annelia Belask has posed:
    "It's mild stuff, promise. And no pressure to go through it all- if you don't like something, don't eat it."

    Ann sighs a moment, shrugging. "Look, I'm gonna let you go for tonight, but think of this as a gesture. I know I'm pushing you in a few ways lately, and starting to crack down on some things more. But I'm here to support, too, and this is just one thing to touch on that. Oh- and one of them is supposed to help with restful sleep. No idea if it'll work for you, but I tried it myself first and seemed to do alright for me, no dreams or anything. But, might be worth giving a shot."

Cayde Alexis has posed:
    <Thank you Master> Cayde replies, nodding again. <I will try them...> Carefully, though.