Live by the Sword

[Ben Corscifine]

Ben had heard through contacts with the Silver Jedi Order that an Echani woman had recently joined their ranks on Voss. Ben was still leery about spending too much time at any Jedi Temple, holding a grudge against the Order that had dissolved and left him abandoned all that time ago. Still, Ben had become close with Master Ryn'Dhal, and there seemed to be worse things than having friendly Force users to spar with. Ben learned later that the padawan in question was none other than the sister of Celiana, the Force User with whom he had become friendly on the information heist that led him to his parents on Bakura. While that matter was as yet unresolved, he was indebted to that woman for bringing him one step closer to reuniting with his family for good.

Ben traveled to Voss in hopes of meeting with the young padawan, called [member="Selena Drayven"]. It had been a long time since he had had companions--the days when he and Dune had sparred on Lothal were distant memories. His gears were rusty. Ben hoped that Selena would, being Echani, have some fighting experience and therefore the two could work together on saber training. He had arranged with Ryn'Dhal to secure a sparring room to meet with the new padawan. Once she arrived, the pair could determine what they wanted to do together.

Honestly, Ben was just hopeful for the companionship of another Force User. On Lothal, he had dreamed of becoming a powerful Master Jedi. Those dreams had been on hold for long enough as Ben bounced around the galaxy taking up mercenary work. Now was the time to be a Jedi again.

 

[Selena Drayven]

I'd been at the Temple nearly all morning and I'd seen there'd been a sparring room scheduled for a Ben Corscifine. I knew that name...he'd likely worked a job with Celiana. I needed someone to cross blades with but as I hadn't yet constructed my own set of sabers I was limited to traditional blades. Walking into the training room I saw a young man sitting as though waiting for someone... "Ben Corscifine? Waiting for anyone in particular?" Or were you just waiting for someone to cross blades with?" I hoped he'd be alright with simple honor blades instead of the traditional Jedi weapons...

[member="Ben Corscifine"]

 

[Ben Corscifine]

The room was quiet. The peace of it was strange to Ben, who always preferred action to silence--especially in a place designed for combat. In the emptiness, he focused his energy on scanning his body. He searched for tension and gently released it as he sat in the vacant sparring room. It was useless to practice from a place of tightness, and Ben was a particularly slow fighter. If he was ever going to be the kind of duelist he admired, he would have to work on his agility.

Ben smiled as someone entered the training room and addressed him. This must be [member="Selena Drayven"]. He remembered Celiana fairly well for their short encounter, and the woman standing before him bore a clear relation. He had hoped to meet with her on this trip, but it seemed from her question that she had not been specifically informed of his desire to train with her. Still, she had come just as he planned--maybe it was the Force. Maybe they just both couldn't pass up an opportunity to swing a weapon. Ben decided not to betray his specific intentions and answered with a half-truth, "Just waiting for someone who's thirsty for a little combat. I figured get the sparring room and someone will come.

"What's your name?"

 

[Selena Drayven]

"Selena Drayven. I take it you're Ben Corscifine, and from that look in your eye I see you've recognized the resemblance to my sister. Though I'm not particularly fond of indoor training so perhaps we should move this outside?" He was dancing around the fact that he wanted to see how I moved and fought. Though if we sparred outside it'd be a more interesting test of our skills for sure, more variables we could each use... I hoped he'd be in favor of moving this outdoors...

[member="Ben Corscifine"]

 

[Ben Corscifine]

Ben had rented out the training room, but he didn't mind a little fresh air if it would make things interesting for his sparring partner. He bowed his head slightly, "Whatever you'd prefer."

His opponent was a striking physical specimen--near his height and in as good shape. She was right: the resemblance to Celiana was clear. Undoubtedly, her fighting ability would prove similarly tremendous. This duel would be much better matched than the first spar he remembered in his career, against the Force-adept Dune Rhur, whose skills with a saber were much less than the clarity of his mind and connection to the Force. The Bith was a dear friend whom Ben missed dearly. Perhaps his new sparring partner would also prove a new friend.

"How about you take me where you'd ​like to fight. You'll need the advantage, anyway!" He grinned tauntingly, hoping she didn't take his jibe as genuine arrogance.

[member="Selena Drayven"]

 

[Selena Drayven]

Smiling at his remarks on my needing the advantage I walked with him towards the lift. As we entered the lift and headed down towards main hall I checked my back making sure the combat trident was still there. Celiana had crafted the weapon and left it to me, I'd been looking forward to trying it out and now I had the chance. Where I was taking him was right on the edge of temple grounds there'd be bits of rubble, a small cove, and in general it was one of my favorite spots on Voss. We'd see how he felt boasting about my needing the advantage shortly...

Looking over my shoulder as we neared our destination I asked, "So Ben, what was it like working with my sister? I'm curious as to how you two met as well. She had many....associates after all."

[member="Ben Corscifine"]