Bela Khess

Bela Khess was the renowned Grand Master of the New Jedi Order, her words of logic and wisdom being the only entity that stood between a broken Order. strongly believes in order and peace through overwhelming military force and police protection. Lucius holds a great deal of power through the Imperial Military and has been rumored to use intimidation and bully tactics to get what he wanted in the Moff Council done.

Birth
Unlike many others, Bela was born into a tribe that was not so dense, but was rather small and to top things off, the tribe was predominantly female and there was great wish that when Bela was born, perhaps she could have been a male child; and though there was some disappointment when her femininity was confirmed, her family and the tribe still blessed the birth of the darling girl and welcomed them into their fold. Her tribe was situated just within the border of a forest so that they could have shelter from the elements and so they could not be left out in the open for predators to slaughter them. But despite, they still maintained a bit of farmland on the opposite side of the border which was watched over by the farmers, a few of the few men in the village and even by some able-bodied women who could sufficiently handle themselves against some of the better males. The rest of them watched over the tribe’s settlement like a local law enforcement to make sure that all were safe within its thin, weak borders and defence. From a youth, Bela aspired to be one of those few, able women who did her absolute best and more to protect the tribe even if it meant her life. It was what her father did and she wanted to prove that she could do it just as good…she knew that they had desired to have a male child who would, inevitably, follow in her father’s footsteps. Well, she was no male, but she was still his child and she would do what she needed to.

After approaching her father, she was not so much shocked to know that he was against it, as was her mother when she found out moments after. Her father would prefer to have her home or working to tend the crops than to place her life on the line when she was trained and older…and she felt that was outrageously unfair. She loved her parents. Her father was a strong, proud and smart man and the same went for her mother but her mother had a gentler more understanding side which seemed to disappear whenever Bela’s father put his foot down firmly on a matter; even if he was putting his own foot in his mouth. They were devoted to each other, she more so to him, but devoted nonetheless. This meant that there would be no way for the young girl to even raise a weapon and train to become a “warrior” to help protect what she was born to, her home. But she was a feisty and determined one. Given her stature and presence, no one would expect someone so young to steal a weapon, namely a simple staff, and run off with it. Nor would they expect her to sneak off well beyond the tribe borders to give herself some self-taught training. No, she was that little girl they expected to remain attached to her mother’s sash but they were wrong. She took that weapon, she sneaked off and for a of couple years, she did her best to become competent in combat. Honestly, she barely scratched the surface of being able to fight and hold her own but being oblivious to this, her determination held and she kept going…up until she chose the worst possible time to practice session.

It was well after dark. Most were sleeping. The guards were out and about patrolling in the silence and she took that opportunity. She was a small one, she was quick and she had a gift for being stealthy but she was not interested in being stealthy. That night, she reached the tree she had been battering for the last few years, gazed at the many deep wounds in its bark and went at it again. Such focus, such drive and confidence filled her so completely that it blinded her from the two Togruta males sneaking up behind her. One grabbed her and muzzled her with one hand while his other hand kept her bound to him and the other took her staff and snapped it to his amusement. That same one took a few moments to look her over…and then they headed off into the night with her as their captive; her muffled screams unheard. She must have been knocked out or something because the next thing she knew, she was inside of a rather small cage listening to men speak in an unfamiliar and rather harsh tongue with each other. Terror struck her and paralyzed her when they realized that she was awake. One loomed close to her cage, looking into her eyes with his cold, unfeeling orbs and then he said something and laughed out in the scariest of manners. This is what she got for defying her father and being reckless. She would never see home again. The despair, the anguish…it all ensnared her and constricted.

The following day she realized that she really gotten herself into something unthinkable and it would be unforgettable. It was late that day, she was starved for food but that didn’t seem to bother them. Her captors took her from her cage and into another room where she stood before a man, but this man was different. His skin was of a rich blue and he had only two, odd looking head trails…and he was not the most handsome of men but he was dressed in shiny new clothes and he appeared very well fed given that his stomach pushed his clothing forward some inches…and then there were the rolls of flesh under his skin, his fat cheeks and his thick, stubby fingers. This man looked down at her, smiled and spoke to the other two in that unfamiliar, harsh tongue her kidnappers used the night before and earlier too. There was an unseen exchange between them and the next thing she new, she was in the rough, hard grasp of the fat, well-dressed, foreign man being lead from the room; but their path was blocked by a figure. He was like her and her two captors, a Togruta, but he was dressed different to most, with his most distinguishable article of clothing being his long, brown robe and his thick, tall boots. There was more talk in that foreign language and then the room tensed. She could feel it. She glanced at the grip that had loosened about her small wrist, back to the two kidnappers who were backing away…and then they darted. The man who held her released her grip and left with a last, apprehensive look at the tall male before her. He advanced, she retreated. They did that song and dance before she just stopped and allowed him to approach her. He knelt, placed his hand on her shoulders and spoke to her in that harsh language. The best she could do was to stare dumfounded at him.

Then he smiled, looked at her and spoke in her tongue. He reassured her that she was fine and that he was going to take her back home now. After inquiring where she lived, they set off; leaving the small, near-abandoned town behind and sped off for home on a land speeder. She was surprised by the comfort she felt with being around her saviour. She sat as close to him as possible regardless of the way he looked down at her and smiled and she was deep in conversation with him from the moment they departed to the moment they arrived. He told her stories, many, many stories that made her gaze up at him in awe; meeting his gaze which was one of curiosity and interest. When they came to a stop, they got out and approached the forest border. They did not have to go far though. Almost the entire tribe had come out to see who this new arrival was…and then she saw her parents. Quickly, she hid behind this stranger who had saved her, looking around his leg to see what reaction her parents had. But they weren’t mad…they were in tears, but they weren’t sad. They were happy. She felt it. She could always feel when they were sad or happy or angry and knowing how they felt, she darted from behind this stranger and into her father’s arms right before her mother sandwiched her in. For that moment, she forgot about the man to whom she owed her life until he approached the three and said that Bela was gifted, more gifted than their people naturally were.

As it turns out, the Togruta who saved her was a Jedi, a fact that he chose to ignore in his stories. More specifically, he was a watchman or something, a Jedi who looked after a whole planet. He heard about the kidnapping and illegal sales of young women and he investigated it. The whereabouts of the girls sold before are unknown unfortunately, but those involved in it were rounded up and incarcerated so that was good then. It would not happen again and that was good. She really did not want to blame her father, but if he had conceded she would not have had the rebellious need to take matters into her own hand…but she did not blame it on him, she could not. It was her fault for not listening, so the blame truly fell to her but she really wanted to be one to make a difference and protect her people and family, not sitting around waiting for whatever to come her way. Well, she may not get to be a local protector…but she was on her way to becoming a Jedi just like her saviour. Her parents and the Jedi watchman, after some discussion, with Bela being the sole topic, emerged from their home. Her mother knelt before her and gave her the wondrously sad news. She would miss her family and her tribe dearly, but this was an opportunity she did not want to give up. Those stories the watchman told…she wanted some of her own to tell and with the promise of keeping in contact; she left the only home she had ever known. Bela now faced two tedious tasks. Becoming a Jedi like her saviour…and learning that unfamiliar language…Basic.

Being a youngling was a blast. She learned so much and she enjoyed it all, especially her new friends and companions from so many different races. Soon came time for her to be taken by a Master or a Knight to be trained into Knighthood and as fate would have it, she was taken on by a Jedi who aimed to mold Bela into a Historian, like herself. Their lessons were focused mainly on learning many things within the galaxy. Occasionally they would dabble with the applications of the Force but her lessons were mostly study-based lessons and though she had acquired a great breadth of knowledge…she aspired to know more and do more as an active Jedi, not a Historian. So, with the permission of the Reassignment Council, she and her Master parted ways. That day, she met with her new Master, the one who would take her throughout the journey toward becoming a Knight and this new Master of hers, incidentally, was the same Togruta male who was her saviour when she was a much younger child and his name was Ahket Va and he was most eager to train her, but his eagerness, well disguised as it was, could not compare with the familiarity of having one of her own race and one who saved her life to train her in this new life of hers. That first day was spent on mere introductions and some testing on his part to see where she was currently. The days following were spent with nothing but Force training that could have near ground her bones to none but dust. The physically state she was in was beyond harsh after each session, but the emotionally fatigue she felt took the prize. This type of training went on for days which transformed into long weeks…but in months, and with the proper training, she was able to prepare herself for each task and end the day off doing and feeling better and better with each following session. Eventually, there came a point where she was persistent on asking for more in one typical training session but her master knew well enough and quickly taught her patience and humility.

For three years, Bela and her Jedi Master, Ahket focused solely on training her ability to use the Force in various ways as well as to use her mind and her skills in saber-less combat. With that, three years morphed into five years. At the end of that fifth year, Master Ahket approached her and declared that they were going on a trip. The nature of the trip was kept a complete secret from her until they arrived on Ilum and it was pretty much obvious what this was all about. Alone she ventured into the caves, leaving her Master to the confines of the shuttle they came with, carrying a bag of lightsaber parts her Master had gathered for her days previous and in two days time, she emerged, carrying her very own lightsaber. Proud as she was that she had completed the arduous task with no instruction at all much to her Master’s praise, and as excited as she was to use it, she had to set it aside and take up the training saber her Master got her and together, they began her initially teachings in the way of Form V, her Master’s Form which she, graciously, took on as her own. It started with some basics in Form III, but eventually, they were non-stop training in Form V and this persisted for a solid year before Master Ahket started to incorporate the use of the Force in their lessons. For three more years, her training was this grueling and taxing and the hours stretched…but the best part was the traveling. Her Master felt it best to take her to various locations the Order called home and were allied to, to get her acquainted with different worlds, different peoples and their cultures, languages and such and besides, a change of scenery while training did her much good. Ten years of training produced a formidable Padawan who had a flare for using her blade and a talent for using the Force, a strong one at that. Ten years of training produced a Padawan Sentinel, one who was ready for Knighthood…but her Master held off on that.

Bela needed more experience than her Master could offer and the best way to do that was a series of missions. Master Ahket chose a mission for them both that involved the apprehension of a rogue Force User who just happened to have gotten his hands on a lightsaber. The mission went off nicely because it allowed Bela to engage the rogue on her own. Her superior skills threw him off and he was swiftly apprehended, and then her Master finally caught up, much to her teased delight. The second mission was a diplomatic one that was to occur on Chandrila. The thought of a diplomatic mission bored her to tears, but once on the planet and hearing the views…and after being left to mediate on her own, she quickly took interest and was able to handle the situation as best she could while her master did his sightseeing. Two more, much successful diplomatic mission followed and then came the crowning mission, one her Master told her to take on her own. She was to pilot to the Lower City of Taris and bring an end to a problematic criminal organization. The man-power behind the emerging Crime Lord was more than she had initially anticipated, but eventually, she was able to dismantle the criminal organization with some help, of course, from the local law enforcement. When she returned, she was asked to see the Council and on arrival, she was surprised to see her Master in there already. To him, she bowed first and then secondly to the Council at large before approaching to stand in the centre beside Master Ahket. What followed at the moment was what she had been waiting most eagerly for – her Knighting Ceremony.

Now a Knight, a brand new one at that, she was all about the missions and she completed them most successfully; and doing so like the galaxy was about to end or something… But, on her usual, casual talk with her former Master, she was advised to play to her strengths where missions were concerned and to perhaps consider taking on a Padawan. At her age, taking on a Padawan would be beneficial to her and to the young Padawan she would take under her wing...but she was not ready yet. So, for the next year, she put herself in the services of another Knight on a long term mission and during her free time, she thought on the eleven plus years it took her Master to teach her and the thought of having to give up that much of her time when she could be doing so much more…she decided. On completion of the mission, she took on a Padawan, Vossva, and he was a Togruta too; one with a cunning smile but with quite a head on him. The bond they formed was quick and much like siblings but the Master-student bond was very much there though, and out front. Just as her Master had taught her, she had taught him in terms of methodology but she found herself perhaps stricter in some areas and more relaxed in others and then there were her own preferential variations but in thirteen years, she stood before the Council with her freshly trained Padawan ready to be Knighted. With her former Padawan out in the world, learning as discovering as she did in her youth, Bela turned to herself and continued with her studies in the Force and in the use of her blade. Sharper her skills with a lightsaber grew. She may never best the most skilled of Guardians, but she was quite comfortable and confident in her effective use of her chosen form. If she were so bold, she would consider herself a Master of Shien and Djem So combined. But every Jedi remains a student with much to learn still.

Though heavy focus lay with her combat training, a great deal more was spent honing her ability to use the force. Not necessarily to become a Master of it, because no one could ever reach such a level as to become a Master of the living force, but to become one who understood it more on a deeper level than she already did, and to further her ability to use it in aid of others. The days stretched into months which stretched into years to produce the Jedi she is today. With her vast skills and her impressive breath of knowledge and understanding of the Force, diplomacy, combat and a few other areas, she was granted the title of Jedi Master, an honour which she held and still holds with great esteem. Having become a Master in no way lessened the work she did as a Jedi. Her missions still numbered in the many and in no way conflicted with her personal training which was destined to continue until her dying day. And honestly, she did not know if all her work in the years since was too much or too little, but the Jedi Council felt that it was enough. At the interesting age of thirty-one, they offered her a position on the Council to replace recently decease Master Gornne; taking his place as a life-long member of the Council. Shocking, but humbling and she accepted with great humility. Still, she is a Jedi, and as a Jedi, her main goal is to continue to serve the Order in protecting the innocents within the galaxy, like her family back on Shili and as a member of the Council, she doesn’t hesitate to put forth her ideas and her opinions and to allow her thoughts to help shape the Order for future members and to the benefit of those who look to it for protection. That is her ultimate goal, the underlying cause to all she wished to do and why she has been training so hard. And as an Investigator, she would continue with seeking out injustices and darkness where it broods and infects and also, to continue to share the knowledge of the Force and of the Order with future Padawan.

So much time has passed since she was appointed a member of the Jedi High Council; bestowing the authority to influence change in ways more complex than she could ever before. As an Investigator, she maintained the role of seeking out criminals who threatened the relative stability of the galaxy. Her work took her as far as the Outer Rim and brought her as close to the place she called home, Coruscant. That majestic temple where generations upon generations of Jedi lived and trained and served to maintain civilization and peace alongside the Galactic Federation. But unfortunately, things were not meant to remain as there were. In the end, the Jedi Order and the Federation splintered into the two independent bodies they were so very long ago. Many, like Bela, felt that this course of action was rash and ill-fated, but many more still believed that this was the right thing to do to prevent the Federation from monopolizing and abusing the Order and the service it pledged to offer when needed. The Jedi Order had become one on its own, forced to exist without the Federation and the Coruscant Temple had been sealed, and probably permanently so. Fear that this was the end of the line, yet again, washed over some and they defected, but many held strong and remained. Of those who did remain, plans to construct a new head quarters was put underway and was set to reside within the Corellia Sector; on Corellia herself. In the meantime, the Order was in need of restructuring and that business, in the meantime, was left in the capable hands of the Grandmaster and the others. Bela needed some time away to consult intimately with the Force. She needed to find her path. For so long has she strayed.

Bela hung up her title as Investigator and took up the vacant role as Watchman over the colony world of Kiros. However, it was not her first stop since departing from the gathering of Jedi. Her first trip was to her place of birth, Shili. Sentimental visit. One, she hoped, would help her open up to the Force so that he could hear her and feel her reaching out while it, in turn, would feel the desire to whisper back to her. She returned to her old settlement to see what had become of her family and friends – her parents had passed away by now, no siblings. She and the tribal leader had forged strong ties and she did remember some of the other fighters, but no one really to give her the need to stay a bit long. Her departure was swift. Before long, she had arrived on Kiros and greeted by the planet’s Governor and other political dignitaries. To her surprise, she had been informed of some conflict brewing within Kiros. The people were unhappy with the treatment they were receiving from the Governor ever since the attempt on the Governor’s life. The failed assailant was long gone, but the Governor seem to fear for his life still and felt that having increased law enforcement in the streets, searching homes and scavenging the rest of the planet for this attempted-murdered would put him at ease, but it had backfired. His nerves were shot, he was overly suspicious and increasingly snide. The more time she spent around him, the more she felt he had gone insane and mourned who probably was a good man before doubt and fear wrung him dry of his sense and wit. Feeling it best, she advised the Governor to step down and allow for a new Governor to take his place.

The decision was accepted. Within months, a new Governor was elected into office by the people and his political peers. As the Watchman of Kiros, she worked to help create strong ties between the colony world and the Togruta home world. She was present during Trade meetings, all manner of political meetings and so forth. Her work was never ending as the world’s Watchman, but it did leave her much time to have a place set up for her well away from the cities. Somewhere secluded and ethereal and quiet – there, she spent countless days meditating and searching and training. She had set herself up on a small, abandoned monastery. There, she grew her own food, she communicated with the rest of the Order via hologram, she travelled the planet on foot and she trained. Day after day, she trained herself, conditioned herself and honed her skills. Day after day, she ventured out on that inevitable search of finding the path she was meant to walk upon. She knew that path would lead her to the Order, as it always did, but she had this feeling that, perhaps, there was something more. Something she ought to be looking for. Her seclusion stretched on till there came a period where she had hardly made contact with anyone, in person or via hologram. But she received a welcomed surprise when the monastery was trespassed upon. Well, trespass may be too strong of a word, but it was known now around Kiros that a Master Jedi resided there.

Men and women of all ages, and even some very young progeny came. To this Master Jedi, they expressed their desire to dwell within the monastery; to start over and live in the peaceful seclusion Bela has enjoyed this far. Reluctantly, she accepted. The monastery was, by far, large enough to accommodate them all and she truly had no quarrel. She never thought that the sound of children playing in the morning and the more adult members going about their business would bring a smile to her face. The sound of life existing and the feeling of time moving was quickly dissipating that feeling of complete stillness that, until then, remained indescribable. Within months, they tripled the size of her crop garden, a school for the young ones and the rest busied them with the chore of turning the rest of the monastery into someplace quite habitable and inviting. Without even realizing it, she no longer went on those long, searching walks, but chose to help teach the young ones and convert the monastery into one large home. When harvest came, she was out there helping to reap and store for the harsh changes in the seasons, and when it came time to hunt, she put her skills to work and returned with the hunters along with a bounty to feed all. She knew she had found what she had come here to find. She’d just forgotten. She had forgotten herself. Eventually, the monastery became a place of study and peace and harmony. Many bright minds were going to come forth from it and she was pleased to have witnessed it and be a part of it.

She understood that though there was conflict and confusion around, all you had to do to see the light in the darkness was to look internally and share what you find with those around you. The role of the Jedi Knights were to serve as peace keepers of the Galaxy, to maintain all civilizations, to halt any threat that sought to cause chaos and destruction and to protect those innocent lives to look to the heavens in their times of crisis; hoping that salvation would come and that all was not to be lost. The Jedi were that salvation and always shall be. She knew this but overtime that feeling dulled for whatever reason but now, she felt it truly and deeply. Once life at the monastery had reached a point, she returned to her training. Understanding the deeper aspects of the Force, focusing on using it and letting it use her as a humble vessel and making sure that her blade was sharp and her swing perfect.

Personality
Bela's appearance gives many the impression that she has the tendency to be “wild” and unhindered by many things. Not completely true as she is a very collected and at times serious and conservative young woman, but Bela is a young woman who possesses a good deal of confidence in herself, in her choices and in her ability to act. Like most women within the Order, she acts like the lady she is despite her choice of attire which is strictly expressive and not so much for attractive purposes. Her eyes and her mind are set on her Order and her duty as a Jedi and as such, she carries herself properly and in a lady-like manner; doing such with proper grace and erudition. There is even eloquence in the way she speaks which further extends to the type of young woman she is and will continue to be. But not everyone is perfect. Not everyone is so streamlined that they would go through life without getting a hair out of place and a nail chipped. If the need arises, she is all for getting down and active. That is definitely something she has no qualms about because it is all about balance. On a day to day, she would appear as she needs to appear but when things get nitty gritty, she goes all hands in without any desire to get clean until the deed is done. This is simply because of her devotion to the Order and her willingness to do what is necessary in service to it and what harm comes of it if she gets a thrill?

She is all for the fun and the excitement but she values the quiet and peace because it never lasts. There have been and will be many moments where she would just prefer to take some time to herself. This sudden whim can then turn into a periodical habit but nothing to really worry about. Her desire for some space and quiet in no way affects her warm disposition. Through and through, she is and will always be someone you can depend on. Though she has learned to move beyond deep-seeded attachments, she is capable of caring deeply and does such for all close to her; even with the family she is still in close contact with. Evidently, her love and loyalty goes beyond the Order but the Order comes first and foremost. She knows that and she will never let that slip her mind or let it be pushed one or two rungs down by anything else. It is no surprise to know that she is quite an intelligent young woman with many skills up her sleeves. She prefers to diversify herself rather than restrict herself to one profession with one, boring task. She likes to mix it up and have fun with it while keeping it professional, always. She is a very capable Jedi. She has the head and heart and soul for it.

Strengths
Understanding the Force and using it has always been a strength of Bela's. It is something she took to rather well from day one and has been positively progressing ever since. She has a talent for teaching others, she may not be the most experienced but she has some talent with it because she possesses the patience and the spontaneity and the drive to train young Jedi into Knights. The political arena is one place she is unafraid of because she has sufficient experience to combat others with words, logic and the law; being diplomatic is perhaps her most used blade. She is quite talented with her lightsaber and her chosen combat form. If she were so bold, she would consider herself a master of Shien/Djem So.

Her piloting skills may not be exemplary, but she does pretty damn good all on her own, but being one strongly attuned to the Force, not much effort on her part is required but she puts it in anyway. Her greatest weakness among some would be her quick willingness to form attachments with any and everyone she becomes fond of within the Order. It makes dealing with loss of any kind insurmountable and she doesn’t care to prevent it before it happens.

Weaknesses
This brings up her stubborn quality which can, at times, get the better of her and cloud her judgment. But not always, she is disciplined enough not to allow herself to be blinded completely by her own feelings. To those outside the Order, excluding her birth family, she can be very guarded and come across as distant and cold and perhaps unfeeling. This being because she is a calculative, strategic, decisive woman who would prefer silence. Though strategic in her actions, she is not the best of tacticians; yet she is one to work very well with others when the need arises. She is unbiased in her thoughts and direct in her judgments of others. Never would she just judge someone by appearance or their actions; she understands the mere surface is a thick enough façade. She has strong medical skills sans the use of the Force. She is quite the hand-to-hand combatant and she can use a blaster or any other light weapon confidently. She is quite athletic with impressive swimming talent and an overall endurance that could put some of the males to shame. Unfortunately, she can be a tad domineering because she is a female and holds a high position in the Order but it is only because she respects the authoritative position she was given. She is a strong believer in the Force.