Training Wing

*Roma stood with her left foot forward, knees bent slightly, left arm held up in front of her defensively as her right hand clutched the bone hilt of her skullblade. Her gray eyes stared down her grandfather, his white blade active at his side as he paced back and forth. Suddenly, he moved, darting toward her with a stab aimed towards her shoulder. With a gasp, she leaned backwards out of the way, pivoting on her left foot then her right. She took up a new stance, weapon held horizontally in front of her, teeth facing out.

It was immediately knocked aside by an upward strike of the lightsaber. Her eyes widened and she leaned to the side to dodge another stab, then brought the skullblade back around to bat away the weapon. She then swung in the opposite direction at him, but he quickly hopped backwards to avoid it, his blade held before him.

Roma's heart raced, looking for a way to overcome her opponent; fleeing wasn't an option. All she could do was continue to dodge and parry and counterattack where she could find the opportunity. But she never once landed a blow. Indeed, before too long, she found herself at saberpoint, the white beam pointed directly at her heart.*

"We'll keep working on it," *he said, extinguishing the blade and clipping it to his belt.* "Your agility's very good, at the least."

*Roma panted heavily before finally plopping on the floor in a sitting position, the skullblade clattering beside her. Grandfather extended his hand and a canteen met it, before he opened it and handed it to her. She took it and threw her head back, gulping down the precious water.*

"Slow down, Roma," *said Mama, approaching her.

She scowled a little but did as told, looking over to see her approaching with Mina, the latter's staff drawn.*

"Who won?" *Grandfather asked.*

"Draw," *said Mama.*

"Almost wasn't," *said Mina, smirking.

Mama sighed, taking a drink from her own canteen before nodding.* "Yeah. She's good. Or I'm rusty."

"No reason it can't be both," *said Grandfather.* "Mina trains about as hard as Michelle does."

"Ugh, another sister to compete with," *Mama said, rolling her eyes and giggling.

Looking at Roma, Grandfather asked,* "Have you given her much combat training? She knows how to handle her weapon but not necessarily for fighting..."

*Mama shook her head.* "Who were we going to be fighting? I showed her how to hold it, how to defend herself with it, never to fight with."

*Roma nodded, still panting a little, and took another drink.

Grandfather crouched down, meeting her gaze and asking,* "Would you like to try a lightsaber?"

*Her eyes widened, looking down at his and up at her mother's before nodding at him... and then pausing.* "Mama told me they're dangerous..."

"They are. But so's your skullblade. And your arrows. Just like them, you have to learn how to use them properly, and I think you understand that just well. Besides, you know about the low-power mode."

*She nodded.* "Yes..."

*Mama squatted down, kissing her daughter's temple.* "You'll be fine. Dad— Er, Grandpa will show you how to use one." *Standing, she added,* "I'd better go freshen up before I meet Laney."

"Ah yes, so you can just need to 'freshen up' again later," *said Grandfather as he stood.

Mama rolled her eyes.* "Ah yes, I bet you went on plenty of dates with Mom smelly and covered in sweat."

"Ah yes, all the time actually, she loved it," *he replied in a tone Roma had quickly come to learn as "sarcastic."

Mama grinned and shook her head as she started to turn away.* "Thanks for taking care of her Dad. I'll see you both in a bit."

"Bye Mama! Bye Aunt Mina!" *Roma waved to them as they waved back and departed. She then watched as her grandfather gestured towards a cabinet, which opened to reveal several different lightsaber hilts inside. He called one to his hand then offered it to her. She looked upon it with awe, setting down her canteen and taking it carefully in both hands, nodding as he warned her about the activation trigger. She carefully turned it over, in awe of its design and shape.*

"Now turn it on."

*She looked up with a soft gasp at the directive, then down at the trigger. She mimicked how she had seen both he and her mother held the weapon, pressing the switch with her thumb. She nearly jolted as a blue blade screeched to life... then she stared at it in awe once more.

Smiling, grandfather said,* "That's just for training. One day, you'll get to build one of your own. Now." *He stood up, looking past her.* "Kasyr, come out here, please."

*The name sounded vaguely familiar to Roma. She turned to look at the Bothan boy from her first day here, meekly appearing from around a corner.* "Sorry, Grand Master," *he said.

Grandfather chuckled.* "Your being here is perfect, actually. Take a training saber and join Roma."

"Yes, Grand Master." *The boy extended his hand towards the same cabinet, calling forth one of the blades, albeit with far less speed and stability compared to Grandfather. He ignited a green blade and came to stand beside Roma, who had gotten to her feet by now.*

"Kasyr, I would like you to demonstrate to Roma the proper form of handling a lightsaber."

*His eyes widened.* "M-me, sir?"

*He smiled and nodded.* "Yep. You have them down. Shouldn't be too difficult."

"Okay, sir. Uh..."

*Kasyr, with occasional correction from Grandfather, demonstrated the various stances and movements known as "the basics." Roma mimicked them, receiving feedback from an increasingly-confident Kasyr. It was a lot of repetition, which was nothing new to Roma, and she was quite eager to learn as much as she could about the new weapon. After getting a decent grip of these movements, Grandfather suggested the Bothan show her "the drills," and Kasyr demonstrated a series of more-complex movements with the blade. There were a handful of these, all of which he walked Roma through repeatedly. Roma got the grasp of these rather well, though she continued to repeat them to the point she no longer needed guidance.

After a while, Grandfather suggested a practice duel, a suggestion that made Roma a bit hesitant until he assured her that Kasyr would go easy on her. The Bothan agreed, not wanting to hurt her and just wanting to teach her. The first few minutes were very overwhelming; despite the drills, Roma still didn't have as good a handle on the weapon. Kasyr wasn't even moving that quickly and Roma found herself flailing in response, the Bothan having to defend himself now and then. Grandfather had to calm her down and remind her to focus, just like in meditation. Though she managed to calm down a little, her form remained clumsy... but she refused to stop just yet. Kasyr was willing to continue as long as she did, and after a while she found herself getting a decent grasp of the weapon at last.

The practice duel continued for a little while after this point, until at last Grandfather said,* "I think that will do for now. You did well, Roma."

*She stood there, panting, suddenly aware of how much she pushed herself. Kasyr seemed only slightly less-winded, deactivating his training saber and holding it at his side. Roma fumbled slightly before extinguishing her own and holding it down.*

"How do you feel?" *Grandfather asked.*

"Sweaty," *she replied, looking at her arms.

He laughed.* "I mean with the lightsaber."

"Oh." *She held up the hilt and examined it, not entirely sure how to answer, then looked up at him.* "I don't know..."

*He smiled and nodded.* "That's fair, it might be some time before you know."

"But I still want to practice it!"

"I can tell. But not right now. You've done a lot already. We'll pick this up tomorrow if we get a chance. Kasyr, thank you."

*The boy bowed.* "You're welcome, Grand Master."

*Roma smiled and threw her arms around Kasyr.* "Yeah, thank you!"

*The boy's fur rippled at the sudden hug, but he returned it regardless.* "Y-you're welcome!"

"Kasyr, show her how to return the saber properly, then the two of you hit the showers and meet me at the entrance," *said Grandfather, turning to head out.* "It's basically dinner time."

"Yes, Grand Master!" *Kasyr replied, before he and Roma carried out the instruction, the latter's mind suddenly deeply occupied by the weapon she had held.*

*Aerandir looked down at the boy, more amused than anything, especially when he seemed even more apologetic upon realizing who he'd just run into. Laughing softly and shaking his head, Aerandir replied,* "Don't worry about it, Mark. Off to train?"

"I feel like that one was more my sister's fault," *he quipped, before nodding.* "But they're both right. Centering yourself in the Force and allowing it to guide you during combat will likely save your life more than several times."

[ Serenity Sage a.k.a. Red | Saber Training Chamber | Training Wing | Jedi Temple | Felucia ] Attn: Roma Calmcacil

*Roma had learned by now to stand still and pay attention whenever a lesson was in progress... but she still wasn't used to it. She stood up a bit too straight, hands pressed to her sides, feet and legs stuck together like glue. It was a conscious choice... Mama was never so rigid when she taught her things, at most warning her not to get too close to certain demonstrations.

Kasyr had long since given up on trying to get her to settle down, hoping she'd learn to on her own. When the instructor asked a volunteer to describe the basics, the Bothan boy took it upon himself to speak up, reciting perhaps more details than necessary for Red's sake.* "Master. Shii-Cho, the first form of lightsaber combat, also known as the 'Determination Form,' or the 'Way of the Sarlacc.' The first form of lightsaber combat ever created. It's much like the way of combat with the swords Jedi used before lightsabers, but it wasn't created with lightsaber-to-lightsaber combat in mind."

*Morgan turned her shoulders, narrowly dodging a staff thrust, leaning back to duck the followup sweep as she handsprung back, managing to kick off her opponent and create some distance. Once on her feet, she twirled her whip, cracking the air twice before lashing out. Mina twirled away from it and hopped over the recoil, immediately making to close the distance again even as Morgan attempted to hold her at bay.

Rust, accumulated from ten long years without a single sentient foe. Morgan had been the opposite of idle during those times, and still quite knew how to handle her weapons, but her skill had depleted through lack of practice; through lack of enemies. Now that Roma and herself had acclimated themselves to their new home, training became one of her top priorities.

While relearning the blade had been little issue, her mist whip posed a greater challenge, a far greater difference in philosophy. Owing to that, the whip primarily served as a secondary weapon, but Morgan wanted more as she danced with her staff-wielding sister.

Contrarily, Mina spent her previous ten years training diligently, improving her skill to impeccable degree. Try as she might, Morgan struggled to keep distance between them and failed to sustain any she attained. While Mina landed multiple glancing blows with relative ease, not a single blow Morgan managed to land came from her whip. She remained calm, a necessary trait for wilderness survival, and never fell into any sort of panic; not that a mere spar should induce such a reaction. After managing to grab Mina's staff and redirect an attack, she Force-shoved her away and followed up with a lash... one Mina quickly caught on the center of her staff. She then yanked the whip right out of Morgan's hands and once more closed the gap, forcing her to dodge and counter with her hands, catching blows on crossed forearms.

Morgan managed to land a fist to Mina's abdomen, the accompanying Force-push sending her sliding backwards on her feet. Morgan lifted her hand, calling her whip to her. The rancor-bone handle flew through Mina's legs, the misty whip obeying her will and coiling around Mina's ankle as it passed by. Morgan caught the handle and jerked it, pulling Mina off her feet. Although momentarily surprised, Mina reacted quickly enough, leaning back and throwing her body wait as she planted one hand on the ground and pushed herself back onto her feet.*

"Oh, c'mon!" *Morgan let slip, only for Mina to quietly snicker in response.

Mere seconds later, Mina had already closed the gap, sweeping Morgan's own feet and standing atop her, end of her staff pointed at her chin. Morgan, resigned, sighed and laid her head back on the ground, eyes focusing on the upside-down image of her father.*

"Valid effort," *he said, approaching.* "Perhaps we should seek a tutor, I'm afraid I'm no good with whips."

*Mina withdrew her staff, which collapsed into itself as she attached it to her belt, and offered Morgan a hand. Morgan took it and stood, saying,* "I can't even beat my little sister."

*Mina, standing almost a head above her, raised an eyebrow.* "Who's little?"

"Oh yeah, so original." *Morgan smiled and looked at her father.*

"Would you believe she's even beaten Michelle in a spar?" *he said.

Morgan blinked, looking at a nodding, smirking Mina.* "No, no I wouldn't."

"Neither would I, if I hadn't seen it myself." *He looked between his two daughters.* "Going for another round?"

"I think I just need to practice," *said Morgan.* "Practice and think."

"'Think'?"

"Just about who I can learn more from." *Fleetingly, her mind turned to the Witches of Dathomir. Witnessing their downfall had partially contributed to her panicked retreating into the jungle, causing her to sigh and look away.

Aerandir put a hand on her shoulder gently.* "I'll see what I can do, and as always every resource here is available to you."

"Thanks, Dad."

"Let me know if you need anything, I'd better get back to business."

*As he departed, Morgan exhaled and took a stance, beginning to work through a few drills she knew of. As the whip's cracks punctuated the otherwise-silence of the training area, Mina took to her own drills, the sisters committing to their practice together. Morgan rarely made comment, more than aware of her sister's penchant for not mincing words. Regardless, she smiled a little, enjoying the bonding moment and ultimately being grateful to be home again.*

A broad shouldered figure hovered at the threshold of the sparring chamber, leaning a tight leather flight jacket covered back against the frame of the door, crossing powerful muscular arms over a swelling chest swept by the end of a bushy brown beard flecked with grey. Where moments ago there was no one, now appeared this quiet serene figure as though summoned by the wind, his square jaw set as he watched Master Tamiyo and Xabi train in form one. That was his preferred style as well. Of all the various lightsaber forms, Shii Cho was the most honest. He looked down at the wooden cylindrical hilt hanging off the left side of his belt. Whittled from a broken branch of the Great Spirit Tree near his home village on the Forest Moon, the ornately carved piece reminded the General where he came from and why he was fighting, helping him live with the fact that he'd be forced to use the weapon more than he would have liked of late, a phantom weight he would continue to endure. Scowling, he looked away from the hilt at his side and shook the darkness from his thoughts, locking it away behind a pearlescent white smile as he stepped into the room and made himself visible to the two Jedi.

While Endor might have shared a very special bond with the Living Force, it hadn't summoned him from the air as it otherwise seemed. He had arrived on Felucia a week ago on behalf of the New Rebel Alliance, trying to recruit his fellow freedom fighters to the cause and headhunt prospective Jedi for a secret mission he was rather tight lipped about. Alright, technically he'd been on Felucia for two weeks, but that first week didn't count as he had allowed his childhood bestfriend Tarfang to convince him into sampling some of the planet's psychedelic mushrooms and had ended up lost on a vision quest in the fungal forest. The last thing the General remembered was waking up naked next to a snoozing rancor acting as the big spoon between the two.

Endor shuddered as the memory haunted him, pushing it down and away as he centered himself in the Force, feeling an onrush of calmness that set the fires of his heart at ease. The woodsman-turned-fighter jockey took in a deep breath through his nose, causing his chest to puff out, then slowly shrank as he exhaled away any remaining tension. Calm as a cuke. Hairy ears hidden behind a mangey mane of grease hair perked up, aided by molecules of air manipulated by the nature attuned General that helped redirect and carry sound to his ear canal, a subtle channeling of the Force.



Waiting patiently for an opening, when it seemed the pair were in between practicing sets, he approached the edge of the ring and raised a hand in the air in an obvious attempt to grab their attention. He lowered his beefy arm and cracked his callused knuckles while likewise cracking a bearish grin.

"Never alone." He agreed, taking a step into the sparring ring, then shrugged casually with his hands down at his side. "But it doesn't hurt to have friends, right? The galaxy's a dangerous place for a Jedi these days, Force or not. We all need ours ears to the ground and our eyes on each others backs." Sizing up Master Tamiyo quickly, Endor relaxed his posture, then extended a hand in polite greeting. "Sorry, I didn't mean to intrude on your session..." He then turned and pointed at the ticking chrono on the wall. "...but you've actually gone over your time. I've got the training hall booked for the next hour." Turning one eye to the side, he offered Xabi a roguish wink. "I'm Endor, on leave from the Corellian Jedi Academy." Well, that explained his manners. "Among other things..."

The pair of Jedi sheathed their sabers after their latest attempt. Tamiyo had been there for support, stepping in when Xabi may be getting overwhelmed or out flanked, letting her former padawan take the lead. Xabi, for her part, had tried to heed her former master and still current teacher. Xabi and Tamiyo's eyes were drawn to the edge of the ring after Xabi, with no small amount of assistance from Tamiyo, had been able to score a winning hit on skill 10 droid. The pair shared an amused look as the burly man approached them. Tamiyo was the first to speak as she reached out a hand to accept the one offered to her. Her pristine robes, reminiscent of the long past days of the High Republic, seemed to be just as clean and maintained as before she had floated down into the ring herself. Xabi's crop-top on, the other hand, seemed far more casual and modern compared to her master. She had worked up quite the sweat while practicing and had jogged over to get a towel and then back, wiping the sweat off her glistening, toned and slightly training-saber-scorched body. The bouts had been taxing to say the least, but every one had improved and she knew it, feeling the rush of a accomplishment. She was just in time to hear what her master replied to the stranger.

Well said. And my former student and I do apologize for any intrusion upon your time, Master Endor. She gave a slight bow as her hand was in his. Xabi and I often get carried away in our drills. I'm sure you can understand, how one can find themselves in a rhythm and lose track of time. Her eyes drifted past the man and to the woman in the doorway. She offered a nod to her and then returned her focus back to Endor. I am Master Tamiyo, do please let me know if there is anything I can assist our... enthusiastic brethren from Corellia with. She stepped away, allowing Xabi to introduce herself.

Xabi stepped up, tossing the sweat covered towel over her shoulder and grabbed and shook Endor's had with far more enthusiasm and less formality. Hey there! Name's Xabi. Knight of the Order. And like Master Tamiyo said, if there's anything you all need while you're here, let us know. Xabi sized Endor up. A big man. He and his companion both had the look of well traveled folks. While she had been taken on missions with Tamiyo, they had never strayed too far from Felucia, as the Galaxy had grown far more inhospitable and dangerous for Jedi to travel openly. That was part of what had brought on this training session, Xabi, now a newly minted Knight, wanted to go further afield and help those in need, something Tamiyo was more than happy to encourage now that her formal training was complete. Speaking of, what brings y'all all the way out here?

Xabi looked over her shoulder to Tamiyo who had taken a step back and watched patiently, allowing her former padawan to take the lead here. An important step to mark the young Knight's new found independence. Tamiyo gave a reassuring smile to her former charge and slight nod. Xabi looked back at Endor. The Twi'lek took a step closer to Endor, their chests nearly touching as she looked up into the taller and older man's eyes, the color of which nearly matched her skin tone. Think what you want old timer, but I ain't afraid of getting up to my lekku in trouble. Her dark eyes burned with a determination only due to the young and restless, those who sought to face the next great challenge. This is why I became a Knight! If the NRA is actually trying to get things rolling, then count me in! Besides, y'all will need a pilot like me!

Master Tamiyo stood silent, thinking about the communication that had come through, and how a smothering darkness had seemed to fall upon them all for a time. After a while it seemed to have dissipated, but perhaps the Jedi had just grown used to it's presence and accepted it, unconsciously, as the new norm. She did not share the same eagerness to rush off to the next mission or battle that Xabi had, not anymore. It was obvious to her that Endor was purposefully winding up her former padawan, nor that the time had elapsed, as her personal chrono devise had not alerted her to the changing of the hour. She had to weigh the risks of this possible venture. On one hand, they could finally get to the bottom of what had happened on Dac, to unravil that dark mystery and banish it back to the void. But on the other, they could be kicking the Scree nest and unleashing it's fury upon the Outer Rim. In the end her own resolve was made up for her. She could no longer order Xabi to stay, as the Grandmaster had given approval for all volunteers to join, so she would make sure her padawan had the best chance of survival possible by joining up as well. Though before declaring such, she wanted to see where the conversation between Endor and Xabi went.