Stepping Stones

[Eugen Aker]

Lakefront, Silver Rest, Kashyyyk

Jyoti sat on a small boulder at the eastern shore of the lake, enjoying a thermos full of hot cereal as she studied her surroundings in silence. The idyllic scenery of the lakefront reminded her a lot of Silver Jedi's previous residence on Voss, though the shores were devoid of any development as their new campus had been set deeper inland.

This was the Echani's usual morning routine, going off alone to meditate or train without being subject to the distraction from the hustle and bustle of the nearby campus.

Though today, things would be a little different, as she had invited Jerit to join her later in the day. An apprentice in need of a new Master.

She was open to taking on new students, hence the invitation, but no commitments had yet been made on her part. First, she wanted to test Jerit and see what he was all about.

 

[St0rmSlaSh]

Running through the forest, Jerit was very excited about the invitation he had gotten from Master Jyoti. When he received the invitation to train this morning, the young padawan learner was very anxious, but more of the nervous part than the excited part of the word. Yesterday, we was sitting out by himself in the forest drinking and contemplating about numerous topics.

Since the temple location was more new, there was a lot of places to be by yourself where nobody could find you. As sad as it sounded, Jerit had found a drinking spot by a waterfall where he would take bottles of whiskey, beer, and brandy and would engorge everything. He was lucky that he got back to his room without getting caught by any masters. Now he regrets what he had done. He head was booming from all the booze he had the night before. After running some more, he sensed Master Jyoti's Presence.

He bolted until he reached a lakefront where he saw the Jedi Master. He let his presence be known before he greeted with a garbling,

"Greetings Master Jyoti!" His head was still hurting, but that wouldn't let the boy keep him down. Now that he is now possibly under new instruction of a new master, Jerit thinks that now he needs to take the drinking down a notch. He would not help in at all if he was drunk while possibly becoming an apprentice to his new Jedi master.

[member="Jyoti"]

 

[St0rmSlaSh]

Running through the forest, Jerit was very excited about the invitation he had gotten from Master Jyoti. When he received the invitation to train this morning, the young padawan learner was very anxious, but more of the nervous part than the excited part of the word. Yesterday, we was sitting out by himself in the forest drinking and contemplating about numerous topics.

Since the temple location was more new, there was a lot of places to be by yourself where nobody could find you. As sad as it sounded, Jerit had found a drinking spot by a waterfall where he would take bottles of whiskey, beer, and brandy and would engorge everything. He was lucky that he got back to his room without getting caught by any masters. Now he regrets what he had done. He head was booming from all the booze he had the night before. After running some more, he sensed Master Jyoti's Presence.

He bolted until he reached a lakefront where he saw the Jedi Master. He let his presence be known before he greeted with a garbling,

"Greetings Master Jyoti!" His head was still hurting, but that wouldn't let the boy keep him down. Now that he is now possibly under new instruction of a new master, Jerit thinks that now he needs to take the drinking down a notch. He would not help in at all if he was drunk while possibly becoming an apprentice to his new Jedi master.

[member="Jyoti"]

 

[Eugen Aker]

Indeed, she felt the familiar presence of Jerit approaching through the brush before she saw him, giving her enough time to put away her breakfast and hop off the boulder to greet him.

There was initially a smile on her face as he broke into the clearing around the shore, but faded as he gave her a greeting with slurred speech. Closer, and she could smell the alcohol on his breath.

Dammit, Jerit...

Her expression became impassive, but internally she was fuming. She couldn't believe he had the audacity to meet her in such a state. He shouldn't have even been drinking in the first place as a minor.

As Arisa, she had been nice and tried to steer him away from ruinous excesses through gentle counseling, but in her new form as Jyoti, she wouldn't be nearly as forgiving.

"En garde."

She detached her sheathed sword from her side, then pointed it forward at Jerit's chest as she assumed a ready position. The sword and scabbard began to radiate with the Force as she channeled energy through them to enhance their durability.

"In Echani culture, we believe that fighting is the purest form of expression. We reveal our true selves not through words, but through our actions. So then, show me who you are, and be quick about it."

She offered no specifics but had allowed him about five seconds to draw his lightsaber before she would strike.

[member="Jerit Kolomor"]

 

[St0rmSlaSh]

When Jerit greeted her, he sensed anger in her. He thought of the alcohol smell that was on him. He cursed under his breath and was about to say something when Master Jyoti said En Garde.

Jerit didn't know what she meant due to being slightly drunk, but then realized she wanted to fight when she pulled her sword from her sheath. She pointed it at Jerit's chest and the padawan was slightly angered by this.

Why does she wanna fight? I only had a little bit to drink, it's not like I was vomiting all over the place. Maybe if she had let me apologize... Jerit frowned and was taught a very small lesson of the Echani culture.

If she wants to express through actions, then bring it. He thought.

He withdrew his father's lightsaber and ignited the blue blade. He got into his stance with the blade of his saber pointing at Master Jyoti. He gave a slight burp but even if drunk, Jerit still had fight in him.

[member="Jyoti"]

 

[Eugen Aker]

In the moments between drawing her own sheathed sword, and Jerit finally pulling out his lightsaber, Jyoti considered how harsh she wanted to be in this encounter. She had no intention of actually hurting the drunkard, but he needed to learn a lesson in respect and self-discipline.

The equivalent of a wrist-slap would suffice, she concluded. Already, she could sense she had left an impression on the Padawan coming out so aggressively from the start. She doubted he would ever show up drunk again after the introduction.

She would barely give Jerit a chance to settle into a stance before she struck. Wet sand and gravel were kicked up behind her as she skipped to the right side of Jerit with startling speed, while swinging her sword at the flank with a sweeping horizontal slash at the same time.

[member="Jerit Kolomor"]

 

[St0rmSlaSh]

When Jerit pointed his lightsaber at Master Jyoti, he recoiled his arms back to his chest and out. His vision was a bit blurry but to counter that disadvantage, he used the force for some of his vision to help his body get rid of the headache. He was now getting into his battle stance. But before he could finish, he saw Master Jyoti rush to him like lightning.

The hungover padawan barely reacted in time and stretched his blade to his back. He misdirected the blade and missed the block. He felt a surely stinging pain. He groaned and tried to deliver a counter swing towards the master. Inside, Jerit knew he would never make contact, but wanted to show that he did not give up easily... Even while under the influence.

[member="Jyoti Nooran"]

 

[Eugen Aker]

Her sheathed sword found its mark, knocking hard against his flank with a thud against the ribs. As he shifted to make a counter attack, she immediately darted a half a step back to immediately evade the reach of his blade, and then across to his opposite side to target his exposed flank. She wouldn't make things easy for him, the Echani opting to stay in constant motion to make a harder target and force Kolomor to constantly turn to face her.

As she moved toward his opposite flank, she lifted two fingers from the hilt of her sword, aimed right at his chest. A weak blast of Force energy shot out from those fingertips, not enough to cause any harm, but it was definitely liable to send Kolomor stumbling if the hit connected. Then he would be all the more vulnerable for a followup.

[member="Jerit Kolomor"]

 

[St0rmSlaSh]

As Jerit tried his counter attack, he saw Master Jyoti evade it. She was quick. Too quick. The only thing he could do was to turn and block and counter again. He saw she was targeting his flank again. He tried to block but misdirected the blade once again. As he misdirected his lightsaber, he felt something push him at the chest. Master Jyoti sent Jerit staggering. He was trying to keep balance and to not let his lightsaber cut him.

Damn! He thought. If Jyoti chose to hit him again, Jerit would be persistent and would try to not show the pain. He wanted to let her know that he had tenacity and grit. He would not let her overpower him.

[member="Jyoti Nooran"]

 

[Eugen Aker]

She didn't offer him a single moment to regain his balance as she pressed on, exploiting the opening she had made for herself. What came next was a flurry of slashes aimed at different parts of his body. The side of his neck, arms, flanks, and thighs.

As irritated as she was with the drunkard, she held back a great deal of strength behind her blows of her sheathed sword, so they would only feel like the equivalent of a hard hand smack if any of them connected. Just enough to keep him off balance as she worked to dominate early on.

[member="Jerit Kolomor"]

 

[St0rmSlaSh]

As Jerit was trying to get up and regain his balance after that assault, he felt his master's presence steer towards him at lightning speed. He tried blocking the hits but they were too fast. Soon, Jerit was subdued by many slashes, all connecting to his chest, arms, thighs, you name them. They felt like little slaps. The boy didn't want mercy. The alcohol that was still in his system began to influence his emotions. It made him more angry.

Now Jerit was on the ground, kneeling. He looked to Master Jyoti. His rage was building, but not to an extreme level. He was frustrated. Was he weak? He wanted her to show him no mercy! His breath was shaking. He was a little disoriented by the time his master let a split second to let him recover.

"I can feel you holding back! Come on! Show me your way! I don't wanna give up! Go harder!"

He didn't care if this was for drinking. In his mindset he was being perceived as weak, but what he could not truly see were the intentions of his punishment. To give him discipline. To say, "Don't this again" type stuff. But Jerit was over that. He wanted to be worthy of another teacher.

[member="Jyoti Nooran"]

 

[Eugen Aker]

Jyoti paused, then sighed in the face of Jerit's outburst.

"No I think we're done here." She fastened her sheathed sword back on her hip. "The point of this exercise wasn't to defeat each other, but to show you something. Even from here, I can smell the reek of alcohol from you. Look at how it impairs your movements, how it clouds your judgment. I can only imagine what made you think it was wise to approach me in such a sorry state. You will never progress as Jedi if you don't learn self control. We are nothing without discipline."

"Get it together, Mr. Kolomor. Sober up and return to me this time tomorrow."

She stepped away to gather her things and return to the campus, not caring much to hear a response from the Padawan. She only that he would come at her better next time. While possessing great potential, he was wasting it away with excess.

[member="Jerit Kolomor"]

 

[St0rmSlaSh]

Jerit did not know what to say. Had the alcohol cloud his judgement? He still had the headache from the hangover. The boy placed his left hand on one of his temples to maybe help soothe the pain. As he saw Master Jyoti leave, Jerit felt disappointed with himself. He felt like a skinny dog begging for food. He felt like dirt. He had a drinking addiction. He needed to fix it. Now. But how? A tear flowed down his right cheek. He said something to Master Jyoti. He didn't care whether she listened to the padawan or not. He just needed to say it.

"I need help"

He was on the ground. He looked to the dirt. The tear dropped and soaked a blade of grass. He closed his eyes and would stay where he was until he knew he needed to be back at the temple.

[member="Jyoti Nooran"]