Refuge Interrupted

[Tugoro Taidarious]

Karkko smirked, his face paler than ever as he descended upon [member='Ar'ekk']. Once their blades clashed, the apprentice would be able to tell how exhausted the Anzat looked, for sweat covered the entirety of his face. Running his saber through the ground, the man could not help but growl in primal anger, his ferocious bloodshot eyes following the Jedi's swift movements as he rolled out of harm's way. Pushing himself to full height, Karkko began to advance on Ar'ekk, still dead-set on ending the apprentice's life.

He began twirled his saber before breaking into a sprint, building up moment for his next attack that would be slowed by the incoming force push. It slammed against the Anzat, his basic knowledge of force barriers allowing him to slightly negate the impact it had. "How can I let go of who I am? This is all his fault!" Though he came to a brief stop, Karkko did not let up, lunging forward with a swing that widely arced from left to right.

 

[Arekk]

Ar'ekk didn't react quick enough against the swing coming from the Anzat and his opponent's lightsaber superficially wounded the apprentice's non-robotic arm. As he grimaced in slight pain and took a few steps back as precaution, he took a moment to embrace the Force and let it flow through his body. Not only this would give him focus but would offer to have the upperhand in the battle.

It was time to put an end to this game. He was no longer playing and no more tricks would come from the Anzat's sleeves. The previous attack had drawn the line between himself and his opponent. The Padawan lounged quick and powerful swings at Karkko, trying to quickly drain his energy in the battle and cripple him good enough to put him down once and for all. He allowed the rage to be fueled to give him the stronger hand of the deck in this deadly duel.

"This is the end for you." he finally said before deploying his last swing in the hope of finally succeeding in the task of killing his opponent for good.

[member="Tugoro Taidarious"]

 

[Tugoro Taidarious]

Karkko laughed from his gut genuinely, relishing the sensation of cleanly shaving the metal off of [member='Ar'ekk']'s metal arm. Pressing his assault, the Anzat was surprised by the Jedi's sudden retaliation, the blue meeting his green mid-swing. A beam lock had engaged, and Karkko leaned in close to talk down to what he saw as a mere boy. "You're nothing, do you hear me?" He questioned rhetorically, the disgusting proboscises unfurling from the skin of his cheek, their sharp ends extending towards Ar'ekk's face. Luckily they were not able to get close enough to the Jedi, only whipping through the air in a menacing manner. However, movement was seen from the corner of Karkko's eye, causing him to lose focus for a mere second.

The strength and agility that Ar'ekk now possessed was great enough to overcome the Anzat, for he broke the lock and continued with fast-paced slices, causing Karkko to seize up and backpedal in panic. The last thing he heard was the apprentice's words, as he stared up at him from the ground as a decapitated head. The Anzat's body collapsed within moments, smoke that carried the scent of charred flesh drifting up into the air. From elevated terrain upon the island and above the clearing, stood a man shrouded in brown and green robes, gazing down at the scene with a look of sadness. It was Tugoro Taidarious.

 

[Arekk]

The eyes of Ar'ekk were yellow and completely consumed by the darkness that empowered him in battle. He embraced both the light and the dark side to become a much more powerful opponent. This was not what his master would've taught him at all, breaking the code he once swore to abide for in its entirety.

He laid his gaze upon the man in robes who oversaw the entirety of the scene from afar. His figure resembled of someone he had lost contact years ago. So many things had happened since: War, life, death, the light and the dark. The apprentice he once took under his wing in Yutan ceased to exist and became a cunning warrior whose wounds became his living proof. A face half-covered by a mask due to an occurence during one of his many battles where he defended a family from being exterminated. A bomb went off as he protected a mother and her daughter from inminent death. Sacrifice for the well being of the innocent and a high price he paid for that.

It was his old master. His glowing eyes fueled with vicious anger switched to his hazel clear ones, a clear sign of struggle between both sides. The Padawan seeked the balance during that moment and he managed to obtain it. No words were spoken as of yet.

[member="Tugoro Taidarious"]

 

[Tugoro Taidarious]

"You killed him," Tugoro spoke aloud, an obvious observation from where he stood. Looking down at his old apprentice, the Jedi Master could hardly see the youth he had trained all those years ago. While he did not often speak of his opinions of other organizations, Tugoro had assumed this would ultimately be [member='Ar'ekk']'s fate, thrown into a Jedi Order that was largely militaristic. The Republic may have had its political corruption, but their trained Jedi were almost always keepers of the peace first and foremost.

Then again, no order was perfect, one of the reasons he had been on Sanctuary for many years. "Felerin Jelkko was his real name. An old war hero of the Republic, before I was even brought in by the Jedi," Tugoro explained, before leaping down from his elevated position to the clearing below. Walking slowly towards the corpse, the brown haired man could not help but frown in regret.

"Some Anzat are capable of controlling their urges. He wanted me to teach him the Jedi ways, to further stave off his hunger. Now I see my foolish error, but everyone deserves redemption," the man paused, turning to look at his old apprentice. Tugoro did not know what had happened to the young man, but it had obviously changed him for the worse. Just like when he was an apprentice, the dark side offered its strength to Ar'ekk, a lure that he knew was too powerful to resist at times. "Why did you kill him, Ar'ekk?" He questioned simply.

 

[Arekk]

He could not believe what was in front of him. A familiar figure who he thought disappeared in the echoes of deep space and life. It was Tugoro, the apprentice's master who he lost contact with years ago before war errupted.

No longer consumed by the dark side, Ar'ekk unignited his lightsaber and began to walk around Tugoro. The anger was still in him and began to question his presence as if the darkest of Sith took over him.

"Why did you leave, master? Why you left me alone?" he asked with certainity. The Padawan thought he'd lose it right there but managed to keep control of his ever flowing emotions. His fingers pointed at the decapitated Anzat and gestured: "He was pure evil. Made hundreds of innocents disappear to never be seen again by their loved ones. I killed him for the good being of the galaxy."

His words ached and voice broke as he spewed out the truth behind his actions.

[member="Tugoro Taidarious"]

 

[Tugoro Taidarious]

The galaxy had always been at war, whether the battles were noticeable or not. The conflict within [member='Ar'ekk'] was more than apparent, as the apprentice circled Tugoro with anger in his heart. "I had hoped you would give up. Jedi training is difficult for those at a certain age, especially without proper guidance," the master replied, not bothering to turn and face Ar'ekk as he walked.

"Look at what it has done to you. You would have been better off staying with your family," Tugoro muttered quietly, ashamed in what he had inadvertently done to the young man. "Jedi are keepers of the peace. Not judge, jury and executioner. Jedi kill as a last resort, not for what they believe is right," he continued, bending down to scoop up the body and head of Felerin, walking passed Ar'ekk to set the corpse beneath a tree at the edge of the clearing. "He did horrible things, that is true. However, you have no idea what pure evil truly is."

His mind wandered to Yutan, and the news he had heard of the Jedi temple's raid. The Sith had killed so many. Moving away from the tree, Tugoro pivoted once more to face his old apprentice. "You cannot honestly say there was no other way. There always is, yet you jumped head first in to the action." Tugoro stated, his expression much more stern than sad now.

 

[Arekk]

"My family is dead."

That was the only thing he spewed out in that moment. Plain and simple, without hesitation. He had gone through the whole stages of grief... Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance. All sorts of places he'd gone through and being able to pull from the dark was worthy of admiration. He had not become part of darkness but it became part of him for the greater good. A balance, you could say.

"I did not want to kill this young man but he left me no choice. It was either him or myself."

His eyes were fixated on Tugoro, amazed that he had remained in the shadows for so long and could not reach out to his old apprentice. He still cared for him, considering their tight relationship since he was only a scared child with a gift many would kill to have or learn.

"I can say I am also happy to see you. It's just... it's been a long time, master."

The last words said by Ar'ekk resembled of those of a kid who Tugoro one day trained to become a Jedi. The same one who swore his allegiance to the Jedi Order and become a keeper of the peace. That little kid who had potential and wanted to become the greatest of warriors. A promising Padawan as well, that all remained within his body and mind after all the things he's gone through.

[member="Tugoro Taidarious"]

 

[Tugoro Taidarious]

"You left Sodden, and your mother behind to pursue this curse," Tugoro explained, not knowing what had happened later on. He knew that at the time of their meeting though, Ar'ekk had had an alternative path to choose from. "If I had stayed with you on Yutan, we both would be dead along with the others," he spoke, not sure if [member='Ar'ekk'] knew what had happened. The Galactic Republic had fallen not long after their meeting, and with it the defenses of their planets.

"Felerin was older than both of us. I don't blame you for killing him, but taking a life should not be so easy for a Jedi," Tugoro continued, clearly trying to make a point. There had been many chances for Ar'ekk to take a different approach, but he had not been open minded enough to see them. "It is a nice change to see you again too, Ar'ekk, but I fear I was right all along," the robed man spoke, his tattered clothes swaying in the morning breeze as he walked closer to the apprentice.

"Your judgement has been clouded, my old friend. I know the power the dark side can offer, but it will eventually be your destruction if you cannot control it." Tugoro did not beat around the bush, though he was unsure of how to continue from here. He himself was conflicted, doubtful of his own teachings and beliefs he had grown up on.

 

[Arekk]

"They killed them shortly after I arrived on Yutan to commence my training. Murdered in cold blood as I predicted." The Padawan replied. The worst of his fears had become true but this did not stop him from becoming a greater Jedi. He was way beyond that and he knew it wouldn't mean he'd turn to worse. His family didn't want him to become what he swore one day to never be.

"But you're wrong about one thing, master. I do not embrace the darkness because I walk between both paths. The balance I empowered, embraced, sheltered within me. I do not want to be the thing I swore to destroy and because of that, I offer you this."

The apprentice uncliped his lightsaber and in an open palm, surrendered the weapon iconic of a Jedi to his old master. He was giving up all the bad things to start over. Fresh start, you could say.

"I am not going to destroy myself. Weak-minded I'll not become nor I will betray the very same principals I once pledged to defend. I am a peacekeeper."

There was still good in him despite embracing both the light and the dark. A constant struggle beneath all this tough facade. Which one would decide his fate? Only time could tell.

[member="Tugoro Taidarious"]

 

[Tugoro Taidarious]

"I've been watching this whole time, [member='Ar'ekk']," Tugoro revealed, shaking his head from side to side as he listened to the young man's explanation. Reaching out, he accepted the metallic hilt he was handed, glancing down to examine it. He wasn't sure if it was the same one he had given Ar'ekk on Yutan, but it hardly mattered.

"Actions speak louder than words, and despite what you think giving me this means nothing," Tugoro snapped, obviously having grown a bit more harsh and straightforward in his exile. "While the dark side can dwell within the most powerful Jedi, that does not mean it should be used so frivolously," he turned away, clipping the old saber to his belt. The darkness that Ar'ekk had tapped into several times during the investigation was more hazardous than he realized. He hadn't used it out of desperation, nor had he attempted to seek alternative routes to solve his problems.

The dark side was an easy path to power, one Tugoro understood but did not approve of. "Your eyes just moments ago were not those of one in control, Ar'ekk. However, with time and patience... You may truly obtain the balance you seek." A thinly veiled offer, that depended on whether or not the apprentice was willing to accept it.

 

[Arekk]

"I do, my master. Help me reach the balance I'm looking for and by the grace of your training, I can walk the right path this time."

The Padawan had pledged to retake the training he once had with Tugoro back in the early days when he was only a child with a close to none knowledge of the Force. Learn to control his emotions was his first task coming to mind and was willing to let go of the dark.

Looking around him, he felt the sudden charge of leaving Sanctuary at once. There was a strange feeling sorrounding this island despite being next to a headless body but guess that's an added extra.

"What do we do next?" he inquired. The eagerness to commence his training was highly energetic and his impatience showed, a common flaw in learners of his type despite being gifted in the Force.

[member="Tugoro Taidarious"]

 

[Tugoro Taidarious]

"I will finally teach you patience, Padawan," Tugoro replied quickly, smirking slightly as he began to walk forwards. Lifting an arm he beckoned for the apprentice, expecting him to follow as they left the dirt clearing behind them. Felerin's corpse remained, motionlessly laying at the base of the large tree. Walking further along, the two would come upon another stone pathway, that led upwards to the highest level of the island.

"I'm glad you're still alive, [member='Ar'ekk']. My departure never sat right with me, something I've been meditating on for a long time now. I hope what I can impart will be of use to you in the future," he continued, though he somewhat doubted himself given his current track record. The two reached the top of the island, which was just a thinner clearing with more trees. Taking lead through the brush, Tugoro would emerge at the edge of the island, where it dropped into a cliff all the way down into the water. The winds were harsher too, even as the sun continued to rise high above the horizon to paint a beautiful scene. They would not be focusing on this however, for the Jedi moved to sit cross legged at the very edge.

"Take a seat. I hope you are not hungry," the man spoke, somewhat serious despite the seemingly random statement. "We will be meditating, for what you need to master the most is yourself. Fully controlling the force is impossible if you cannot control yourself," Tugoro spoke, motioning to where Ar'ekk would be sitting. It wasn't entirely clear if the ground beneath them was stable or not, but the slightly threatening area was not the focus of their training session.

"Just as you did on Yutan, concentrate on the energy within yourself, attune your senses to the force and become one with it. Only then, can you truly understand." Not another word came from the Jedi's mouth, as he closed his eyes, yet opened his mind to the force. It was absolutely everywhere, connecting them with the very environment they were surrounded by. In his years of seclusion, Tugoro had achieved an advanced state of meditation, where he was able to remain fully aware, but in a most peculiar way.

In a sense, Tugoro was not aware of anything, for he was everything. The force energy within him flowed outward, connecting with the force power that was naturally present throughout the majority of the galaxy. Here, he could truly let go of his past mistakes, realizing how small he was compared to the rest of the universe. For Tugoro now was the grass he sat upon, and he was the trees that lined the surface of the island. He was the bird that had just landed nearby, and he was the rock it had landed upon.

Nothing else mattered, not the Republic, or even the Jedi or Sith. Through Tugoro's mere presence alone, he hoped to aid Ar'ekk in achieving a similar state, so he could clear his mind, and open it to the many perceptions that he had, and would experience. If all was successful, the two would sit for days on end, unaffected by hunger or dehydration. The force sustained them, and would continue to do so.

 

[Arekk]

Ar'ekk adopted the same stance he was taught at a young age by Master Tugoro years ago in Yutan during the early days of his training to become a full-fledged Jedi. To reach such level of attuning and focus, he would have to connect with his most inner thoughts to achieve a complete connection with the Force. Flows of energy empowered him, allowing to reach a complete attunement with the Force itself, pure and inspiring.

All the bad memories and dark feelings seemed to slip away as he connected with the lightest of sides and being able to do what his master requested. Not another word came from the Padawan's mouth, as he closed his eyes, yet opened his mind to the force. Meditation was Ar'ekk's way of letting himself go and reaching places he would never thought he could reach in his life. It was during this moment he felt really connected to every living thing sorround him and including with those who had already left this world to join the next one. His family was there too, taking care of every step he took unbeknownst to the Padawan. This gave him peace and serenity.

His eyes suddenly opened in self-realization, feeling fresh and brand new. Could it be that the dark side left his body and mind completely or was it only a placebo effect?

[member="Tugoro Taidarious"]

 

[Tugoro Taidarious]

Tugoro clapped a hand onto [member='Ar'ekk']'s shoulder, standing behind the lad as the sun began to emerge again from beneath the horizon. It had been several days since Ar'ekk fell into his meditative state, the Jedi Master having gone about his own business all the while. "All my life, I have only known the path of light, seeking to understand and study the dark side and its nature," the man spoke, his green cloak billowing in the intense wind of the peak.

"There are some things we can never truly understand, but understanding yourself is the first step. The true danger of the dark side is losing one's self, and thus you will need to maintain focus and peace of mind when drawing on it, as to not slip away. There are many techniques I can pass on that will help you do so, that will serve as a counter balance," Tugoro then turned away, stepping down from the peak and heading back towards the treeline.

"Shall we start with a saber technique? It has been very long," he spoke, sounding like an old man as he tried to remember the last time he had truly been one with his lightsaber. "Have you ever heard of the Center of Being stance?" Tugoro questioned Ar'ekk.

 

[Arekk]

"I have not heard of such technique, master. I'll be pleased to be enlightened by the gracefulness of your training." the Padawan replied firmly. It's been a long time since such words came out from his mouth. A time that went by in the blink of an eye and like an angry hurricane that devoured everything on it's way.

The way Ar'ekk carried himself was different and his lightsaber training had gone a complete revamp. A much more aggressive and lethal stance, resembling the fine arts of Sith training. However, this was a mere coincidence and purely experience gained during the extensive war period.

His lightsaber was reconstructed entirely and a brand new kyber crystal was acquired, giving it a more aesthetic imagery to the beam itself. The color remained cyanish, just as the first day he built his first lightsaber ever.

[member="Tugoro Taidarious"]

 

[Tugoro Taidarious]

The duo made their way through the thin treeline, descending down the path they had come from and once more into the dirt clearing. "You don't have to call me master, Ar'ekk. That is something I failed as a long time ago," Tugoro replied, not used to hearing the formal title after all of these years. Though he changed much since his Padawan days, he still had lingering thoughts on whether or not he deserved the title.

"We're old friends, practicing some old hobbies," he continued, turning to face the lad while reaching for his saber hilt. The metal still shined radiantly, with only a few scratches and worn patches on the exterior. Extending his arms and lifting his hands level with his upper torso, the Jedi held his weapon horizontally, its bright beam of blue energy igniting into the air.

"Center of being, an old style thought to be practiced by masters of form three. The idea is to achieve a similar mental state as meditation, only triggered in the heat of battle. Clear your mind and focus. Trust the force, and use it as an extension of yourself," the man stood there for sometime, eyes closed as he steadied his breathing, slowly but temporarily wiping the slate that was his mind clean. He expected [member='Ar'ekk'] to attempt the same, before moving any further. "Your offense is seasoned, that is fine. We will focus on your defense for the time being."

 

[Arekk]

As the Padawan unclipped his lightsaber hilt and promptly ignited it, he closed his eyes for a brief second to attune himself with the Force as instructed by [member="Tugoro Taidarious"]. His mind became a clear path, mora than it ever could be before. The focus gained with this stance was a brand new experience and a refreshment of his battle techniques. As the Force flowed through his body and allowed him to take over, he'd be keeping a close ear on his, although unwanted title for now, master's instructions.

The lightsaber's cyan plasma beamed with energy and the sound took over the brief silence that sorrounded them. No bird chirping, the wind stopped its breeze. It was just them there, in that moment and instant.

Ar'ekk moved his lightsaber a couple of times to get used to using the lightsaber again as his own way of adjusting. It was a habit that he acquired during the period of conflict. A tradition or simply acquired technique, you could say.

 

[Tugoro Taidarious]

Through the force, Tugoro heard and felt [member='Ar'ekk']'s movements, immediately understanding that he was adopting his stance. It was not too shabby either, though in reality it hardly mattered at the moment. The stance was only really used in the heat of combat, in order to allow quick transitions to defend any area of the body while focusing. The mental aspects of the meditative stance really did fall in line with Soresu, and so it was natural the physical ones would as well. "The Way of the Mynock, one of the oldest and reliable saber forms used," Tugoro spoke, his eyes still closed as his body remained motionless.

His feet were pressed firmly against the ground, legs so tensed and steady they might as well be tree trunks. "Let the force flow through your entirety, and become one with it. The force flows through your saber, and so you become one with it," With distractions purged from his mind the man began to move, still facing Ar'ekk while stretching his leg forward, keeping his dominant foot positioned back. His blade arm leveled his his head, holding the saber back and aimed directly at the apprentice with his other arm parallel to it.

Closing his fist suddenly, Tugoro hoped to signal to Ar'ekk that the training was about to begin. With wide strides, Tugoro stepped across the dirt clearing and swung, his one handed grip bringing the beam in a horizontal chop across his torso, aiming for Ar'ekk's own. He knew that the lad would be capable of defending himself, but he wanted him to do so to the best of his ability. "Your movements must be minimal but efficient," he spoke mid-combat, hoping to give the apprentice some tips on how to better understand Soresu.

Perhaps he had already in the past, but it never hurt to do so for old times sake. "Your motion must be confined and quick." Holding the weapon close to utilize tight blade-work around the body was important, as important as it was to make sure the speed at which you moved was controlled and precise. Ar'ekk would find that defending himself took less stamina than before if he adapted smoothly, though there were a few more pointers that his old master could provide.

 

[Arekk]

The young Padawan adopted the same stance as [member="Tugoro Taidarious"] instructed him to perform. This defensive art that he was about to learn seemed effective in his eyes although he preferred the more offensive and lethal manner of approaching battle. His eyes closed as his hand moved the lightsaber around, making it buzz loudly as it is typical with them.

After a brief second, his eyes opened and one iris was of a yellowish color as if he was battling an internal struggle. Regardless, the Jedi was prepared to commence the training. The stance was being performed as told beforehand and he was ready to engage Master Tugoro in a friendly skirmish.

"At your go, master." he replied, not being able to let go of old habits.

The duo went back in time, searching the past and reaching old memories as if they were in Yutan.