Private Lesson of the Day

[Bella]

Wearing: Phase IX Anti-G Suit (No Helmet)
Location: Hangar Bay, Fleet Academy of Scintilla - Scintilla
Valkur

Her favorite instructor at the Fleet Academy of Scintilla had told her that in order to master a skill, one would eventually have to teach it to someone else. That woman, a former Sith-Imperial TIE pilot-turned flight instructor, was considered to be among the most difficult instructors at the academy. However, the difficulty of her class had not stopped the young clone from learning everything that she could gleam from the veteran ace pilot. In fact, Bella had asked the woman to help her get set up as a flight instructor at the academy, so that she could help any prospective Armada pilots or even civilian members of the public learn to fly. In teaching, Bella hoped that she could achieve a fresh understanding of her craft, so that she could become an even better pilot. By separating herself from the relative predictability of trained pilots and exposing herself to the dynamic, often frustrating volatility of novices, Bella’s flight instructor had told her that she would quickly learn how to become more unpredictable herself.

Even without thinking too deeply on what the woman had said, Bella knew that she was right.

Ultimately, the ability to be unpredictable under stress was what defined victory or defeat in a dogfight. There were times when one had to abandon doctrine in favor of instinct, even if the two had fused together.

And so, only a couple days after reaching out to her instructor, Bella found herself in the hangar bay of the fleet academy, ready to take on her very first student. However, there were a few strange factors regarding the student that she had been warned of in advance by a mysterious source. As of yet, she had no inkling that the man was an acolyte of the dark side, but the warning had still made her feel quite uneasy. Nevertheless, Bella had arrived early in order to prepare the materials that she would need for the lesson, as was an instructor’s obligation.

A few minutes after she arrived, the technicians in the hangar finished preparing a two-seat training variant of the Phase I TIE Whisper which was fresh from the factory. It was a fighter that Bella had not had the opportunity to fly until now, but she was familiar with the controls of a TIE, given her experience in a Hunter-class. Regardless, the lesson was certain to be a learning experience for both herself and the student, one which Bella hoped would go as well as it could, given her inexperience with teaching.

 

[Valkur]

LEARNING TO FLY​

Tags: Bella​

Silence.​

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It had become a familiar sound to the experiment over many years, one he had initially grown to hate. The quiet, the nothingness. But soon it had become a comfort. Quiet was a time of peace when the only sound he'd typically hear was the tests on his own body, the training he was forced to endure. As long as he could maintain his headspace and keep his mind away from the past the silence was a beneficial moment. Fortunately for whoever he was training with today, his headspace was clear. There was nothing dark flowing through him. At any moment that could change, he knew it. If Kyrinov had been smart someone would have warned them of exactly that. Darkness, especially in the force, was easily accessible at the best of times. Let alone the worst. ​

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Wearing a flight suit he had been provided and with his lightsaber strapped to his side, Valkur made his way to the hangar bay and watched as people walked into and out of the area. All of them seemed happy enough, smiling and waving at one another, some even nodding to him or wishing him a good morning. With a simple nod back to them Valkur kept walking, his blank expression turning at least a few heads. Nobody really knew him yet, few of them would ever know the truth about who or what he was. That was for the best. Telling people, even allies, that a trained yet unstable weapon was working alongside them wouldn't do anything for morale. ​

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Eventually he made it to the hangar, eyes glancing around for a moment. It didn't take long to see his instructor, he'd been given at least some information, including a name. With his weapon visibly at his side, just in case it came up, Valkur approached Bella with a blank expression. "Bella, I assume?" he asked, his tone gritty and dark. There was nothing dark and malicious behind it, anyone talking with him could see it. There was exactly that - nothing. No emotion behind it. For some, it was a relief. For others, it was worse than anger. It was colder. ​

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Valkur glanced to the vessel he'd be flying, feeling some semblance of nerves. It wasn't typical fear or anxiety, just a lingering dread. Close spaces, flying in the sky with a potentially dangerous aircraft that he would potentially need to control. Valkur didn't much care for anyone, but that had started to change. Kyrinov was interesting and had given him a chance. Shalita was a friend. One he'd remembered and now couldn't forget. Perhaps his flight instructor would become one too. Even if she didn't, she was an ally. If that meant he had to focus harder than ever on keeping himself under control, he would. Just in case. ​

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As he looked back to Bella, Valkur focused on the charm he had been given by his old friend, reminding himself to stay in control. ​