The Beginning of Something New

[Vaulkhar]

​

The Arisen Space Station​

​

As Vaulkhar's ship docked within the Arisen Space Station, the ramp dropped and he strode from it, peering out around him. Motioning towards his protocol droid at the top of the ramp, it clicked the panel and the ramp began to rise and close. Looking around, Vaulkhar couldn't help himself from sighing. This hangar led to a wide assortment of locations aboard the space station and he didn't know where to start. From what his master told him, there was a force sensitive creature aboard the space station he was sent to find and convince to join him. But he was unsure where to start. With another sigh, he simply strode onward in the direction of the Cantina. The creature was apparently a large, bi-pedal wolf, a Gurlanin to be exact, it shouldn't be too difficult to find such a creature.

The blind man moved into the Cantina and sat down at the counter motioning towards the bartender. He ordered a glass of tea and turned to the man next to him. The conversation was short as he asked various questions in relation to a wandering Gurlanin within the Space Station. He was told there was indeed one on board, but he hadn't seen the creature in some time. With yet another sigh, Vaulkhar took his tea and put some credits on the counter before leaving the Cantina and moving to explore the space station further.

"Better than sitting down, I suppose. Or at least I hope it is."

[member="Gray"]

 

[Gray]

Gray was in a human form, with white skin, and dark hair. He sat in the corner of the cantina, sipping from his drink. A young man walked in, with elegance and superiority. He walked to the bartender, and asked the man some questions. The young man was out of range for Gray to hear the entire conversation, but Gray did catch some words. The young man asked about a Gurlanin, and if the bartender had seen one. Gray used his telepathic ability to see if any other Gurlanin were on board the space station. Either he is looking for me, or the person he is looking for has left. Gray left the cantina, trailing the man, yet lingering behind.

He slipped into a hallway, and changed his form back to his natural one. He walked out, and looked for the man. I wonder if he knows that Gurlanin can change shape. Gray walked up to the man, and spoke. "I heard you were looking for a Gurlanin."

 

[Vaulkhar]

As [member="Gray"] began to follow Vaulkhar he took notice, but did not bother to say anything. His extended zone of perception that was aided by the force took notice of the follower pretty quickly, but it always interested him to see who would follow him so brazenly. So when he turned around at the voice behind him, he was surprised to see the man he was looking for. It somewhat worried him, as he should of been easy to pick up on. Unless of course, the man had some innate ability to hide from the force. If that was the case, he needed to learn as quickly as possible.

"Yes, that I am."

Vaulkhar responded to the man, looking him over. The Gurlanin before him fit the description of his Master's target, but it still surprised him how easily he found him. A rather interesting turn of events.

"What is your name, Gurlanin?"

 

[Gray]

Gray was answered with a yes, and asked what the man had just asked him. "What is yours?", he inquired. "Also, I see your lightsaber. Are you jedi, or are you sith?!". Upon saying this, he drew his vibrosword, and extended his arm. "Answer the question, force-user".

 

[Vaulkhar]

"Dark Jedi, would be an appropriate title."

Vaulkhar responded, not backing down from the man's vibrosword. He seemed confident for his current position, something that [member="Gray"] could likely pick up on from his stance and the small smirk on his face. The vibrosword was not surprising, though most usually held a gun when facing a stranger. It was an interesting development, one he had hopes of building upon.

"I am Vaulkhar. Now I ask again, who are you?"

 

[Gray]

Gray answered, after the young man answered him. "My name, is Gray". He kept his vibrosword out of it's sheath, but he lowered it. Most were not as calm as 'Vaulkhar' with a vibrosword at their head. "Why do you seek me,'Dark Jedi'".

 

[Vaulkhar]

"The short answer is I'm looking for a student."

Vaulkhar brought his hands behind his back and grasped them firmly together. Looking into the glowing orange eyes of Gray, he took a moment to study the gaze he peered into. The wolf man would not relatively quickly that his gaze was both empty and gray. That of a blind man. The eyes of a man told the one who looked into them many things. And usually the eyes of Vaulkhar left those in question.

"The long answer is not as simple. My master wishes I take a student for my own growth and to aid in our cause. He told me of your existence, as you are force sensitive and his network found you not too long ago. There were a few others I could of chosen, but you are different. And different mostly means dangerous. And that's what I desire in a pupil."

[member="Gray"]

 

[Gray]

"So you desire an apprentice, young one". "And you chose me. I... I accept your offer". "On one condition. You must defeat me in a duel of lightsabers, to prove your strength". Gray sheathed his vibrosword, and pulled out a hidden weapon. A lightsaber pike. "Should we duel here, or elsewhere?", he questioned the Dark Jedi.

 

[Vaulkhar]

Vaulkhar blinked.

"Here would be too open, we'll go to my ship. It has a training room for various forms of combat, blasters and lightsabers alike. You'll find if you choose to study with me, my ship will offer great accommodations for both training and living."

A grin crossed Vaulkhar's face as he turned and bade him to follow.

"It's in a nearby hangar. If you are hungry, I also have food and drink aboard. Don't have a crew though, aside from two droids. If you opt to follow me, you're free to invite others to train with me. I do not have a limit on students."

As he spoke, he continued to lead [member="Gray"] towards the hangar his ship was stationed in. The two made there way through a large hangar door into the hangar that was for the most part empty; aside from his own ship. A hangar such as this could host dozens of ships and the station had thousands upon it. It was a strange occurrence to see but one ship within. Eventually the ramp of his ship lowered as they approached, and the form of a protocol droid became evident.

"Greetings Lord Vaulkhar, it is a pleasure."

"Hello Kayle, prep for take off, we'll be moving into neutral space while we entertain our guest."

"Yes my lord."

Vaulkhar nodded and led Gray through the halls of his ship until eventually they came to a large room. As promised, there was a large open square for hand-to-hand and lightsaber training and on the other end of the room, a shooting range for blasters.

 

[Gray]

Gray was led onto Vaulkhar's ship, and looked around. It was a luxurious ship, probably very expensive. [member="Vaulkhar"] had two personal droids, and apparently an entire shooting range, and multiple other training rooms as well. Apparently [member="Vaulkhar"] was cocky enough to think that a lightsaber duel would be a pushover. He was lead to a training room, one that was obviously for lightsaber training. Gray ignited his yellow-bladed, two-bladed lightsaber pike. He spun it, than extended his arm, so that one side was on Vaulkhar's head-level.

 

[Vaulkhar]

Vaulkhar reached down to his belt, which was for the most part covered by his robe, and grasped down at a lightsaber. It was single bladed, nothing unique about it. As he ignited it, a powerful vermilion color, similar to that of lava ignited the room. He took a few steps back and raised the blade vertically before flourishing it downward and to the right. Ending the small display, he lowered himself into a bow.

"That is known as a Makashi salute. It is a showing of respect of one's adversary before any duel. I suppose you can consider this duel your first lesson. A lesson of respect."

With a grin, Vaulkhar's body became a blur of motion that no normal eye could follow. He dashed inward, directly at [member="Gray"] and launched a series of attacks. Most of them were just basics slashes and thrusts, aiming to test the wolf man's defensive capabilities, along with his skill with the lightsaber pike. It had been a few years since his last duel against an opponent using one, that being during his time at the Academy on Coruscant; but he remembered the key to taking the weapon out of commission.

If Gray had ever fought a force user before, he recognize the abilities Vaulkhar currently used as the Art of Movement. A force technique to speed up and strengthen every blow beyond that of mundane means. Each movement was a blur and each attack felt arm-numbing to the normal person. Key word being normal.

 

[Gray]

[member="Vaulkhar"] lunged at him, lashing and jabbing, with so much speed he was almost a blur. Gray spun his lightsaber, attempting to block the many attack coming at him. The young dark Jedi continued his attacks, show no sign of stopping. Gray kept spinning his weapon to block Vaulkhar's blade, but the young man was advancing on Gray. Gray turned off the bottom blade, and continued fighting the dark Jedi. He, eventually, rolled to the left, and jumped for a spinning kick to Vaulkhar's head, as well as a jab with the lightsaber pike to Vaulkar's stomach.

 

[Vaulkhar]

Vaulkhar continued, enhancing his speed further as he side stepped the kick and deflected the sudden jab with his own lightsaber. He immediately slowed himself to normal speed as he blocked the incoming stab. A second lightsaber immediately flew upward from his belt and into his hands as it ignited. The second saber followed the first, moving to bat his pike further away from him before he attempted a downward slash with his first. The arcing attack was made purely to cut the lightsaber pike in half, in order to stop Gray's ability to attack altogether. He desired an apprentice, not a dead ally at his feet.

[member="Gray"]

 

[Gray]

Gray dodged the downwards slash to his pike, then set it down. He understood that he would be injured if he continued fighting Vaulkhar. "I surrender. You have bested me in combat, and I accept apprenticeship". He picked up his lightsaber pike from the ground and spoke. "When shall I begin my training... Master Vaulkhar?" He inquired.

 

[Vaulkhar]

Vaulkhar brought one blade upward as [member="Gray"] stepped back, expecting to follow forward with another series of blows, but hearing the deactivation of Gray's lightsaber relaxed him. Lowering both of his blade, he deactivated them as well and slipped them under his robe. With a grin, Vaulkhar simply nodded.

"I'm glad your willing to step back and accept defeat if necessary. We may begin whenever it is you desire, Gray. Though I must tell you, you do not have to call me Master if you do not want to. Formal titles are somewhat bothersome."

 

[Gray]

Gray agreed with Vaulkhar about formal titles. He felt that he would enjoy the presence of the young dark Jedi. "I wish to start now, Vaulkhar. I wish to learn everything you know. But first, I believe that I need proper lightsaber training, and possibly an actual lightsaber.".

 

[Vaulkhar]

"Hmm."

Vaulkhar reached down to his belt where he removed the lightsaber he brought out second, during the duel. It was rather basic in design, nothing crazy. He tossed it to [member="Gray"] before looking around the room. His blind gaze scanned quickly before returning to that of the wolf man before him. In silence, he sized him up momentarily, getting a good idea of his height, weight, and possible strengths and weaknesses of his new apprentice.

"That lightsaber itself is nothing special. The lightsaber is blue in color. That is the only thing about it that is of any importance. It is unable to be used in water, can't change in length or color. But if you are interested, I can instruct you later on in how to make your own lightsaber. As for lightsaber training. How do you want to fight, exactly? What is your preferred approach to combat?"

 

[Gray]

Gray listened to the man's question, and answered. "I prefer to fight with quick strikes, and occasionally using the force for pushes and pulls. I would prefer to have two lightsabers, though. Not just one.". "Shall we begin my training?".

 

[Vaulkhar]

"Understandable. I can teach you the basics of fighting with two blades. I myself am not anywhere good at it, I simply use it for surprise elements in combat."

Vaulkhar turned towards the wall and moved towards a panel. And he clicked a few buttons upon the panel, the lights within the training room dim slightly. Turning back towards [member="Gray"], he moved back towards him until he was about four feet away and lowered himself into a meditative position. With his knees upon the floor and his back straight. Looking up towards the wolf man, Vaulkhar nodded downward.

"For now, we will take a moment to relax and regain our energy. Then when we are finished, we will begin basic introductory lessons into Shii-Cho. It is the most basic of lightsaber forms, but in order to become a skilled lightsaber combatant, you must have a strong foundation to build upon."

 

[Gray]

Gray knelt down, and 'relaxed and regained' his strength. He got off his knees, and stood up. He drew his lightsaber pike, using the force to pull it from under his robes. He turned it on, looking at the rare yellow blades of it. He spun it, then lowered it. "Should I use it, or one of yours", he asked his master.