Jedi Academy

Ares waited for his debate partner to come. He wasn't sure what or who to expect, but he hoped it wouldn't be too brutal. Just the right amount of brutal.

Without preamble, Master Orgus walked into the little room.

"Student Ares. Good morning." He said with a nod. "How'd you find this morning's test?"

"Master Orgus. It was enlightening. I know I don't know a lot." He said plainly, though he couldn't shake the nerves in his stomach.

Orgus shrugged. "There are worse places to start from. Even the masters are still learning things. I hope I am, anyway."

"So." He gave Ares a nod. "Why don't we get into it, then? What do you see the as the role of the Jedi in the Republic?"

"That's... actually reassuring." Truthfully, Ares was expecting something worse.

"Jedi in the Republic? Protectors. Though there is the military, there are threats that even the army can't handle. Furthermore, we are role models, not just protecting others, but in a way that we inspire others."

"Protectors and role-models, huh?" Orgus nodded. "A good answer."

"Okay. So tell me about these threats the army can't handle."

"Sith." Stated Ares simply. "And ugh... perhaps wildlife? Special dangerous wildlife?"

"Special dangerous wildlife." Orgus chuckled. "Well, there are some things that probably qualify."

"But Sith. The Jedi came before the Sith. Are we just reacting to them, now? And surely we weren't just fancy monster fighters before the Sith were a threat, were we?"

"Erm...." that sounded like a trick question, like what was before, the egg or the porg?

"I guess... the Jedi trained others how to use their connection to the Force? So no one set anything on fire accidentally?" Or something?"

Orgus' eyebrows went up for a moment. "So, to teach Force-sensitive people to use their powers safely. Okay, that's fair. Although if you do figure out how to set things on fire on purpose, let me know."

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "So what about threats besides the Sith? Say... the Mandalorians?"

"Ugh, I heard fire is bad. If I learn that, I will let you know master." Replied Ares lamely.

"Well... erm." He pondered. "If the Mandalorians attack the Republic, the Jedi help, of course. We help who we can, and the Republic is what we can reach at the moment."

"Thank you." Orgus said dryly.

"The Jedi don't always help when the Republic is attacked. There are some Jedi who are at Bankor, but not many. And how much do you know of Revan?"

"...It's a type of bird?" Ares replied with certainty. Or lack of it. One of those two.

"Not the one I'm talking about." Orgus said.

He sighed. "The story of Revan is an interesting one, and longer than I have to tell right now. I'd recommend reading up on it while we travel. But it was several-hundred years ago, during the Mandalorian Wars. The Mandalorians were attacking the Republic, and the war was going very badly. The Jedi Order, who was back on Dantooine at the time, was not involved in the war."

He took a breath. "Until Revan, that is. He was a charismatic and powerful young Jedi. He broke with the council, and led a group of similarly-minded Jedi to fight the Mandalorians. They turned the tide of the war, but every single Jedi who went with him was lost, either killed, or to the dark side." Well... almost every single Jedi, anyway.

Ares nodded. "I see Master. I will read up on him. Her. Them.* Yes, that was helpful.

"That is not a good sign..but I assume war doesn't always lead to that? Just in some cases? I mean... now there is peace, but I assume not everyone died or turned while we were at war with the Sith?"

"I certainly hope not." Orgus said dryly. "I was in it."

He shrugged. "Still, I'd like to know what lesson you see in that story."

"Well, that is certainly a good sign so far!" Stated Ares happily. And nervously.

"Well..." he fell silent. "Combat has its risks." Well, that was lame. "I meant... more than for others. For us Jedi. I mean. We risk life and limb, same as the soldiers, but we also risk... us. Our... souls? I guess?" He let out a breath. "When we go fight agaisnt atrocities, we must be careful, so that we remember why we fight. If we give in to anger, anger at the unjustness of war, then we risk losing ourselves to the Dark Side. And turning on our peers. And masters. And killing them, and leaving their children behind." His knuckles were white as he held them fiercely, surprised at his own tone and anger.

For a few moments, Orgus was silent. Still. He watched Ares, his face expressionless.

"Is it worth the risk?" He finally asked. "If fighting means that we can cause a greater evil, should we do it? Or if we do, how will we know when it is right? Would you go to war, Ares?" His voice was soft as he spoke.

Ares looked down at his hands, seemingly afraid to look up. "If I could protect my loved ones, I would." He took a breath, but forged on. "We cannot always know the consequences of our actions, but that is why we have our code. If we follow it to the best of our feelings... can we do anything else? If we would know what will happen after we are doing, then it would be easy. Yet, it is not, but that is what makes it challenging. It is not a rote duty, but one where our minds are as required as our bodies."

Slowly, Orgus nodded. "A Jedi must trust his feelings. And to trust them, he must be in control of them. He must act when the time is right, but he must have the wisdom to know when that is. What you say is true. A Jedi needs to be strong in mind, body, and spirit."

"You're doing fine." Orgus said, reaching out to give Ares a fatherly clap on the shoulder. "But we need to do just a little more. Mind, body, and spirit." He said, his voice still gentle. "Which of these gives you the most problems?"