(Please start with character(s) and what they are doing)
I am a freshly minted Jedi Padawan on my first real mission away from the Jedi temple on Coruscant with my new Master. Aboard a ship that has just jumped into hyperspace, I await an explanation from my master as to where we are going and to what end.
"We're off to Kashyyyk, my young apprentice," Master Jedi Knight Sora says with a warm smile as she sits down beside you on one of the benches in the ship's lounge. "Our mission is to aid the Wookiees against an increasingly aggressive band of Trandoshans who have been raiding their settlements and stealing their precious resources." She pauses, her expression serious.
"This is no simple task," Sora continues, "as the Trandoshans have been known to be fierce warriors and cunning strategists. We'll need all of our skills and training as Jedi to negotiate peacefully if possible, but also to defend the Wookiees if it comes down to a fight."
"I understand, Master," I nod solemnly, attempting to release the surge of anticipation I feel into the force and remain calm and collected, "though is there really much use in trying to negotiate with raiders? I can't imagine they'd stop without good reason, and I doubt the Wookiees they've been attacking and stealing from would be amenable to giving the Trandoshans any concessions."
Sora smiled gently at her apprentice's enthusiasm and determination, but also his naivete. "You're right, Drake," she said patiently, "negotiations might not be the first choice for some, but it is our duty as Jedi to try. The Wookiees are a proud and honorable people; if we can show them that there's another way, perhaps they'll listen." She paused, her expression growing more serious. "As for the Trandoshans..."
"The Trandoshans are indeed formidable warriors," Sora continued, "but they also have their share of weaknesses and superstitions. We must use our knowledge of the Force to exploit these vulnerabilities while remaining mindful of their strengths." She took a deep breath before continuing, her tone more confident now. "Our mission is not just about defending the Wookiees from immediate harm; it's also about preserving peace and stability in the region."
"I see... in that case, I shall follow your lead, Master Sora."
Truthfully, I was almost certain our 'negotiations' would end in ignited light sabers and 'aggressive self defense', but I supposed that as far as the principle of the matter was concearned, Master Sora was correct; we had to at least try the peaceful method.
Changing the topic somewhat, I ask, "How long will be be spending in Hyperspace on route to Kashyyyk, and what would you suggest we do in the meantime?"
Sora considered the question as she looked out at the stars streaking past the viewport. "The journey should take about six days in hyperspace," she replied. "As for what we can do to pass the time... I suggest meditation, physical training, and studying up on anything you might know about Trandoshans and their culture."
Though a part of me wanted to grab my lightsaber and jump straight into practicing forms, my excitement at the prospect only enhanced by the fact that as a new padawan having a custom saber of my own was a relatively recent development for me, I forced myself to actually pause and consider my schedule first. I has six days to train and study, which at 24 galactic standard hours a day, minus 8 hours a 'night' for sleep, and two hours a day for meal prep and to eat, meant I had 84 hours to allocate.
I knew little about Trandoshans besides dubiously accurate 'common knowledge'. It would probably be the work of many hours to gain a rudimentary understanding of their culture, with a few more to search for any cultural levers or pressure points that could be used to divert them from their course of raiding; if any existed at all. For the sake of rough planning, I'd call that a 16 hour task, with the caveat that my master would be taking the lead in negotiations anyway and so gaining a deeper understanding could wait for a later time.
That left me with 78 hours to work on my physical conditioning, drill saber forms, meditate on my connection to the force, practice force techniques, or do whatever else in preparation for the mission.
I probably wanted to give myself a a few days of rest from anything too strenuous before the mission itself, in case things devolved into combat, so frontloading my more strenuous training in my first two days made the most sense, with the following two days dedicated to less strenuous physical activities and the last being days of rest and recovery. So unfortunately that meant that instead of jumping straight into practicing saber forms I should probably start with physical conditioning. Once I was physically exhausted, I could take some time to read about Trandoshans, then I could meditate on what I'd learned to cement it in my mind before focusing on deepening my connection with the force and using it to recover from my work outs. I'd do that for two days, then swap my conditioning with saber forms for two days, and then on my final two days I should have finished my studies into Trandosians and could dedicate the rest of my time to resting, practicing force techniques, and discussing what I'd learned with my master to confirm my understanding and probe her thoughts on how she planned for us to proceed.
Thus, with a sigh, I rose and moved to an open space in our ship where I could begin to run through the calisthenic exercises I'd learned as a youngling; applying resistance to my own movements through the force to make each stretch, pose, and explosive movement more difficult to perform.
As you begin your physical training, Sora watches on with approval. "Good work, Drake," she offers encouragement between breaths as she herself goes through a set of her own exercises nearby. "Keep up the discipline; it will serve us well when we face our enemies." She pauses, seeming to sense your internal debate about how best to prepare for their mission. "You've given this much thought already, haven't you?" she asks with a knowing smile.
"When I was a youngling, I'd gotten in trouble for acting without thinking things through one too many times and while I was on penance duty running errands for some Masters, Grand Master Yoda called me to serve him tea," I responded as I shifted into a particularly difficult to hold stance, "I'd expected him to chastise and lecture me, like some other masters did when I was doing tasks for them, but he just asked me to talk about what I did and why... afterwards, he didn't make any comments on my misdeeds, he just ended up telling me some funny stories about when he was a youngling, like, forever ago." I couldn't help the fond grin that formed on my face as I shift smoothly to the next stance in my sequence, "I suppose there was some kind of lesson hidden in all his chatter, because ever since I've tried to reign in my impulse to just do things and consider the best path forward before I jump into action. I don't always have the presence of mind to hold off my first impulse, especially not in a duel or a training exercise when things are happening quickly, but when I have the time and can hold back that initial impulse I try to take advantage of it."
Shifting from static stances to a more dynamic sequence of lunges, rolls, and kip ups, I exert myself for a minute with a series of explosive movements before smoothly transitioning to another set of strength and flexibility testing static stances; still pressing down on myself with the force all the while.
"Indeed there is wisdom in such thinking," Sora says as she watches you move through your exercises with ease and grace. "The Force guides those who are mindful of their surroundings, as well as their own actions." She pauses for a moment before continuing, her tone turning more serious. "And when the time comes to act, it is important that we do so swiftly and decisively. There will be opportunities for thoughtfulness and consideration later; in battle, there can be no room for hesitation or doubt."
"Oh, that's where I excel," I note my feeling of pride and try to let go of it and release it into the force, though I'm aware traces of it linger, "my hesitation is... artificial, cultivated with effort, doubts for me come after action, otherwise I wouldn't have gotten in trouble so much."
Sora chuckled softly at your words as she finished her own set of exercises and sat down on the bench next to you, wiping sweat from her brow with the back of her hand. "It's good that you recognize that," she said reassuringly. "Many Jedi struggle with self-doubt, especially during times of crisis or when faced with particularly formidable adversaries." She paused, studying your face thoughtfully. "But it is also important to remember that doubt can be a valuable tool, if used correctly."
"How so?"
Sora smiled gently at your curiosity. "Doubt can help us question our assumptions and motivations," she explained. "It encourages us to look deeper, to consider possibilities that we might otherwise overlook. In this way, doubt can be a guide of sorts, leading us toward greater self-awareness and wisdom." She leaned back on the bench, regarding you intently. "But one must learn to master their doubts, rather than letting them control or paralyze them."
I consider that nugget of wisdom as I continue my exercises under my masters watchful eye; flowing through static stances and dynamic sequences one after another until I've worked up a mighty sweat and every muscle in my body ached. Only after my conditioning for the day was completed do I bow my head to my master and say, "I'll meditate on you're wisdom tonight, Master Sora... probably after I study and meditate on Trandoshan culture, but before I enter force meditation. First, I'm gonna hit the refresher and use the sonic shower though."
"Very well, Drake," Sora nods in approval as you bow your head. "I'll leave you to it; I have some preparations of my own to attend to." With a final smile, she rises and heads off toward her quarters, leaving you alone to clean up and reflect on the day's events. As you step into the sonic shower, the soothing sound of its sonic waves cleansing your body almost instantly replaces the hum of the ship's engines.
Stepping out the the shower, I spend the rest of the day lounging around my quarters; studying up on Trandoshan culture as I'd planned and meditating deeply; first on what I'd learned today, and then on drawing the force into myself to sooth my aches, promote faster healing, and deepen my connection with The Living Force.
In the days of travel that follow I stick to my training plan, working out more the next day, focusing on saber stances and kata the next two, and then spending my final days immersed in the force. On the sixth day, I cut my force training short, letting the stones I'd been floating through increasingly complex patterns lower down to my bed before entering into meditation for what I'm sure will be the last time on this trip.
Unlike before, when I meditated to recover and better understand the force, today I turn my focus toward what I consider to be my one true talent in the force and try to get a sense of what the near future holds through the force with my budding skill in precognition.
As you meditate on your connection to the Force and hone your precognitive abilities, images begin to form in your mind's eye. You see Sora negotiating with a group of Trandoshans, their savage features etched with suspicion and disdain. The tension between them grows palpable, but somehow your master manages to maintain her composure, her words carrying the weight of centuries of Jedi wisdom.
You also catch glimpses of combat;
As you focus on the Force, another image comes to mind. It's not of this specific mission; it's of something else entirely. You see a dark figure, shrouded in shadow, standing atop a towering peak overlooking a vast desert landscape. The figure seems to be calling out to you, beckoning you closer...