Droid chatter, loud bangs, tools being used in relentless fashion, the familiar sounds of the Sacred Heap spilled into the dense foliage surrounding Gui's emporium. The shop itself was tucked away, off the beaten trail, not because Gui didn't enjoy the company of others. It was others who didn't appreciate the artistic noise that Gui was known for. Yet, even as the racket intensified, the Odan-Urr Rollmaster wasn't the one making it.
His black dreads flicked in the embrace of Kiast's soothing breeze as it cooled his sweaty skin and while it was pleasant, it wasn't the cause of the smirk creasing his lips. He tapped his cybernetic fingertips against the metal chair he manufactured out of spare parts as contemplation stirred his indecisiveness.
Lingering thoughts washed over his mind ever since Aura announced her retirement. The holo-recording he received wrenched his stomach, still, he knew the time had come. Revak, with Turel at his side, would carry Odan-Urr with more tradition than Gui cared for, but their passion was admirable. Without his voice of reason, he wondered where he fit anymore. Who would he go to with his problems, who could he confide in, or would he be called to lead the Clan someday, an Order with his own set of morals and traditions? 'Now THAT's a thought.' he chuckled as he twisted a rusted hydrospanner in his organic but gloved hand.
"I'll never forget you Aura," he spoke softly, peeling the glove from his hand. Rarely did he allow his skin to investigate objects. Items contained too many memories, some good, others bad. The hydrospanner, a gift from his Consul, was filled with her memory. The memory of when they first met.
"Look how young I was then.." Gui spoke once more, guiding his fingers over the metallic surface as his mind opened up, unlocking the contents inside.
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"Patience, kid!" Aura's brow was furrowed as her eyes assessed a young Kiffar slumped over in deep thought. "What I'm asking of you is to learn patience."
"What would I do with younglings?" the Kiffar grumbled. "I can't teach, if you remember, it wasn't that long ago I was being taught myself!"
"We have lost much Gui, perhaps you, more than others. New Tython was the only home you'd ever known and in the blink of an eye, it was taken from you. But you never gave in. Those younglings you rescued when you fled to Nar Shaddaa are alive today because of you. They continued their training, because of you. They are Padawans now," Aura poked him in the chest, "because of you, Gui."
"I can't fix this.." tears began to fill the newly Knighted Kiffar's eyes. "I can't fix any of this."
Aura reached to her back and pulled a hydrospanner from her belt before sitting down next to him.
"Do you see this?" the boy looked at the tool and nodded. It was a rusted piece of junk that had seen better days. "Could you still use this?"
Gui nod his head.
"But it's older and worn out. It's rusted and battered."
"So?" Gui sniffled, "It still works the same. It's function isn't compromised because of its outward appearance."
The Zeltron's eyes sparkled like blue crystals. "Exactly." she added a soft smile.
"You still have a purpose, Gui. Even though you feel rundown and broken, know that you are more valuable to me, to this Clan, than how you appear on the surface."
Gui wiped the tears from his eyes and latched onto Aurora with a hug.
"You're going to be a better Jedi than any of us someday, kid. Trust in this," she poked him in the head, "this," she touched his heart, "and the Force. It will never forsake you, Gui. Your instincts have carried you through some rough times, it has kept you sharp, kept yourself alive, and has kept them alive." She pointed to the Padawans training in the Praxeum courtyard.
Gui smiled, with a newfound confidence. His eyes shifted to the younglings and he could feel their life-force. Each one was like a conduit attached to an advanced circuit-board. Together they became one.
"But what if I fail?"
"You will," Aura smirked, "But you will also succeed. That I am sure of."
"When do you want me to start?"
"You already have." Aura grinned.
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"Quiet, Barry!" Gui shouted and slammed his metal hand into the wall.
Sharp whistles rattled off from the door as the little PIT droid burst outside with a blowtorch in one hand and a pair of goggles it didn't even need draped crookedly over its head.
"Sorry, bud. I just need time to think," he slipped his glove back onto his hand. "Thank you for everything Aura, I love you." he thought to himself, hoping she knew that.
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The Zeltron stopped in the middle of her training with Revak and looked to the dense foliage below the Council tower. A smile crossed her face and she immediately stopped.
"I know." she whispered to herself.
"What was that?" Revak queried, taking in deep breaths.
"It's nothing, Revs, was just thinking of an old friend."