In the Palm of my Hands (Nickolas Imura)

[Calo Xenrus]

The Jedi Temple on Courascant, or what was left of it, had stood as a testiment to the victory of the Sith for taking the Republic's home planet and claming it for thier own. Snacthing it right out from under the noses of all the sneators and poloticians, and mst expecially the Jedi themselves. Of course they'd escaped and set up a new base of operations where their power is still stable, but that day had been a great and memorable victory for the Sith as they'd shown their true colors and beared thier teeth before the galaxy.

Standing admist the remains of what was now the new Sith Academy, Calo Xenrus had positoned himself in the middle of an old training area while awaiting his new master's arrival. Standing in the spot had brought back memories of when this place had belonged to the Jedi and how he was almost rbough under thier tenets of so-called justice and peace and order. But their methods were far too weak for Calo to agree with, and when the Sith had invaded he saw true power first hand.

Among the rements of his past life were the two sabers he still carried, both blue in color while being strapped to the harness he had that kept the hilts ready as his back instead of around his wasit. It was a deisgn of his that he felt more efficiate with, in that he prefered his first attack when wielding his sabers in combat would be overhead as opposed to a sweep or draw.

As time passed Calo remained silent and patient. If for nothing else the one thing he'd taken away from the Jedi's training was how to be patient. His eyes were closed as he focused his emotions and honing them with the force.

The true power behind the dark side, as his Jedi teachers had always warned, was letting emotion get the better of you. If that were the case then Calo was far more accepting of the idea than simply ignoring his emotions. They'd been his source of strength all his life, even before the order, and because of that he wasn't ready to let them go now or anytime soon.

[member="Nickolas Imura"]

(Sorry it took so long)

 

[Garza]

Courscant had been fixed up. The temple was refurbished only flying the Sith banners instead of the lousy Republic Banners. The place had been fixed up as it was the only place in the entirety of Courscant that was attacked by the Sith. The old Empire was ran by Lords who wanted all of the power and wealth. Not caring for others. Now it was a different story. Sith were seen to some as Freedom Fighters. A group of Dark Sided people who now were seen on the battle field as often as they were on cereal boxes. And that was not something I was all too fond of. Yes, we needed a face for the Sith, one that could be recognized. But not one that would bring a new age of well established Orphanages.

We needed more Sith who were willing to bring out the side that no body wanted. The side that everybody hates, or loves to hate. And I hoped that this new student of mine would be up to the task to be one of these Sith. One that didn't care about his image, more than his work and tasks at hand. I had hopes, and should he disappoint, then he would be left in the dust and ashes. Watching from a distance, I adjusted my Lotek'k Jacket. Surrounding me was an Aura of uneasiness. Adjusting my Leviathan Bracers upon my arms, the only visible sign of my deformity that was my left arm, were the taloned fingers that were black and red through the fingerless gloves.

Reaching onto my belt, I pulled out a double bladed lightsaber. With an eighth of a turn, they separated into two lightsabers. Walking forwards from the other side of the pillar, The twin crimson blades activated with a snap. The hum that followed felt comfortable to my ears. And with a flash I crossed the distance between myself and the apprentice. Intending to cut him at the neck line, as well as the hips with the two blades from the right side.

I would know if he was ready.

[member="Calo Xenrus"].

 

[Calo Xenrus]

Calo had sensed the arrival before actually hearing anything. His senses had been streacthed out with the force, feeling a good majority of the area around him. It was thanks to the greater power of the dark side that he'd felt apporoching that he knew this person, whoever it was, would likey have been the new master to train him.

Calo didn't move, waiting to hear the words of his master instead, but hadn't realized what was going on behind him. He only knew that the Sith knight was there, not what he was doing. When he'd heard the sudden hum of two lightsabers igniting that he opened his eyes.

Reaching back for the two hilts of his own lightsabers Calo turned and ignitied them in as quick of a flash as the knight. He extended them out in time to create a small wall between himself as the sudden apperance of the two crimson blades that were nealry driving into him. He braced his arms as fast as he could for the impact that was to come, keeping his grip tight when the knight's blades clashed against his.

He'd managed to at least hold his defense before seeing [member="Nickolas Imura"] standing there, having nealry killed him. While he would've been more suprised Calo knew that some methods of the Sith were more brutal than others. He'd mentall prepared himself for whichever he was destine to have for his own.

"Master?" he asked, more questioning if he was in fact that as opposed to questioning why he attacked as his tone indicated.

 

[Garza]

Good, he was fast, and was able to tell the difference between an action that was meant for death, and one that would be of life. My face broke into a smug smile as he questioned me being his Master. His blue sabers still the way they were because of his recent joining of the Sith. While really my sabers were not lethal at the moment, they were toned down to be much like training sabers. They would leave bruises and burns, but not cut a limb off.

Pushing with my blades to end the saber lock, continued to move forwards to him. Pressuring him. "If I find you acceptable, Then yes." Lashing out again, my right hand sending the saber for his left in a cross, followed by my left mirroring the same action, only on his right. My right came in for an overhead swing as well as the left right after one another. And not even a blink later were both used at the same time in and upper cut aimed towards his chin.

I mostly used the form Shi-Cho as my lightsaber skills. There was not a lot extra that I needed. No extra moves or ideas for a fight. Just the simplicity of using the lightsaber in it's purest form of instinct. I wanted to see how well he was at this moment, then I would begin teaching him. I trusted no one, until proven.

[member="Calo Xenrus"]

 

[Calo Xenrus]

Calo was a little more enthusaitc now in knowing this man was possibly his master depending on his own performance. It had been a greater change than the master that was assigned to him when he was a Jedi, how he approched him at his room and walked and talked with him to the meditation area before forcing him to sit down and try to clear his mind of emotions that hindered his understanding of the force. Looking back he realized how much weaker the Jedi truly were in the eyes of the Sith.

As Imura put preassure on his sabers with his own Calo gritted his teeth a little as he tried to hold his own. His arms were strong, due to his own physical training, but holding against a knight's skills with dual sabers while handeling his own was a little different for him. He felt so much more force being used in his attacks that, once they broke off, he had to flex his wrists a bit before defending himself.

When Imura made his first attack Calo held his sabers up and at both sides to block the incoming attacks. He held for a moment before Imura had attempted to underhand attack for his chin. He was just quick enough to cross his blades and point them down to catch his sabers before trying to use his strength to push them to the ground. Provided that worked he realse while jumping back and putting ditance between them.

[member="Nickolas Imura"]

 

[Garza]

Impressive. Using the momentum of the blades to push himself back away from me was a smart idea at first. However, if one knew a few things with the force, then it would surely be his downfall. While he was up in the air, my left hand raised, almost pointing at him with my two taloned fingers aimed for his feet, and yanked up. Trying to unbalance the young man. Messing up his footing would mess up his form, thereby screwing with his next, block.

I say next block because I used force speed to launch myself at him while he was headed to the ground. Coming with the devastating use of the Twin strike, or two blades aimed at the same spot on the man's body. I used my anger and fury to increase my strength. Having a closer connection to the dark side of the force, via the Sith poison that was incorporated into my blood stream. While the strikes normally would be powerful anyways, I decided to use more. Pushing the man towards his limits. Testing to see if he would break.

Training for me was not about making the man learn powers, but to break him down to his core. Making him lose everything that he holds dear, and then building him back up to a point to be a lethal weapon. Turning a broken child, into a built man. I will not be easy, I will not be relentless. But harsh enough to push him, and break him slowly. Tearing away at him like the layers of an onion. This man will be tested, and it will not be easy.

[member="Calo Xenrus"]

 

[Calo Xenrus]

The sudden pull of the force at his footing had caused Calo to trip the ground. In the brief moment of falling he'd seen as Imura had, after using his trick with the force, comming at him like a rocket. He thudded to the ground before raising his sabers up to defend from the attack.

Being in his awkward position Calo could feel Imura's strength bearing down against his own as their sabers pushed together. Calo was starting to crack beads of sweat around his forehead, idndicating his retaliating strength he was trying to fight with. He tensed his lips and gritted his teeth more as he felt his elbows pushed back against the ground from Imura's added strength with the dark side.

Needing to get a better position to fight Calo used all his might to shove the Imura's blade up before rolling onto his feet and taking a few steps back. He took a second to catch his breath before triwling his sabers in both hands. Once he had a better grip on them he began to swing them together in swooping motions as he approched Imura. With all of his strength into his swings he tried to kock Imura's sabers from his hand, or at least constanlty batter him with the attacks, before trying to find an opening to strike.

[member="Nickolas Imura"]

 

[Garza]

I was enjoying this. The apprentice earned some respect from me for being quick and able to react to situations faster than I could throw at him. Good, he was learning fast. As I came down on him, his sabers clashed with mind, sending the bright lights of blades of energy touching one another. I smiled brightly as I could already see the beads of sweat on the dark skin of the man's forehead. Glistening from the light radiating from the blades.

He pushed me up off of him, while my attack had strength, I could not keep it up for long. Holding too much strength in your arms for too long can actually break your bones as the muscles were contracted and pulled on the bone to harshly. While it was not likely to happen, I also was not trying to kill my potential apprentice.

His steps back were this time not met with more attacks from the blades but a lashing out. I let go of my saber with my left hand, and yet it did not drop, while I flung balls of pure flame at him. I wanted to see how he would react to not just blades, but to force powers that were not widely known as well. Throwing a total of three fire balls at him, I then gripped my saber and rushed him once more.

Aiming to bring both sabers in an X fashion across his chest. Bringing my elbows up, and then Pushing out and away from me to have both sabers come from the inside of his chest, out towards his arms and continue on to be out at my sides.

That is if he could not keep my blades in the same place.

[member="Calo Xenrus"]

 

[Calo Xenrus]

What he'd originally planned to be his attack had become Calo's sudden means of defense as the force fireballs were thrown at him. He'd never seen any sort of power like that demonstrated among the Jedi, catching him off gaurd for that moment. Calo hopped if these fireballs were similarly conjured as such techniques as force lightning then he may have a chance to survive.

The first fireball was sweeped away with his sabers, a comforting revealtion for Calo. He'd felt the heat of the ball as is dispersed around him. Thankfully his arms were already swining the other way as the second ball came which helped to knock it away as it whisped into air as the first. As the final one came Calo resorted to crossing his blades into an x shape and holding them out at arm's length to block from the attack. He shyed his face away as he felt the heat of the ball bounce against his sabers before finally dissapearing.

Even as Calo took a breath of relief it was short lived as Imura charged again. While Calo was lucky to alreayd have his blades crossed in defense he had little strength left in his arms as he tried to block the knight's attack. As they made contact Calo had tried to use what strength he could to push back against Imura's sabers. Instead he underestimated the strength in the knight and his sabers were knocked from his hands to the ground.

Realzing he was without weapons Calo took a step back, seeing he was at a great disadvantage. There was only one possible option left. It was a long shot and one he knew may not work, but it was better to try any and all options open instead of giving up.

With both hands together Calo thrusted them foward as he sent the strongest force push he could muster against [member="Nickolas Imura"].

 

[Garza]

He was doing very well. Able to still defend himself from the blasts of fire. using his saber as a form of a shield to bat off the balls of energy. Yet even after I had come to attack him again, HIs sabers left his hands. From the sheer force of my attacks. I smiled as I brought the saber down, intending to not cut him, but to just bring the man pain to learn of not letting your sabers go. But I was stopped.

and thrown. Taken off guard by the sudden force push sent to my chest, I flew back. I tried to right myself and flipped backwards to land on my feet, but dropped one of my own sabers in the process. I was pissed at myself for letting him so easily throw me.

Instead of lashing out, I stood up straight and called my own saber to my hand. The hilt flew from the ground into my hand and ignited once more with its crimson hue. "Gather your sabers, and attack me." THis time it was his turn to try and break my defences. He would to try very hard to break them.

[member="Calo Xenrus"]

 

[Calo Xenrus]

With the satisfaction of a well placed force push in time Calo breathed with relief as Imura was sent flying back. During that moment he garabbed his knees and tried to catch his breath. He rubbed his forehead, feeling the sweat starting to build, before feeling the Sith knight regain himself.

He looked to him, thinking he would attack, but was suprised when he'd told him it was his turn to start taking the offensive. Without another word Calo looked to where his sabers were and called them to his hands with the force. After that he chagred towards Imura, leaning his head down like a battering ram while stretching his arms back with his sabers in hand.

Once he was close enough he jumped into the air and swung both sabers overhead to bring them down on Imura. Priovided the knight managed to defend them Calo would start to attack with a volly of small jabs and sweeps once he'd landed on the ground.

[member="Nickolas Imura"]

 

[Garza]

Very well. Come at me through the air.

One thing that I had learned was to neutralize all aerial combat. Sure it was easier said than done, but for most, they would simply move out of the way or come up with their own attack in the form of a block. No. I was ready for him.

Dropping my sabers, they shut off and almost came together out of the will of the force, while my right hand came up and grabbed the man by his chest via the force. One thing about being in the air, was that you were vulnerable on all sides. He would learn fast, or die. My left hand shot out faster than a blur and sent a blast of fire towards his chest, and almost at the same time, a pillar of stone had erupted from the ground beneath him to act much like a rocket and send the man flying higher into the air.

I smiled as the fire I threw at him was no simple flame. Not to be batted away or blown away. For when it was only inches from his saber's reach, it exploded in a flash of brilliant light that would make even the blind man see again.

There were many ways out of this. Only by thinking outside the box, acting quickly, and with accuracy, would he escape. I pray that he did because I was starting to like this young man.

[member="Calo Xenrus"]