The Force is Inside You[Hecate&Siobhan]

[Soell Alberio]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

The scene faded to black, and it was entirely possible that Hecate and Siobhan did many girly things. Especially braiding each other's hair. Because if at any point Hecate undid her hair it would certainly require a bit of work to get it back into her usual style. And if they did each others' nails then it is highly likely Hecate put no fuss at all, and even maybe was excited to get to play the little role of handmaiden for her employer, teacher, and mistress.

It certainly was safe to assume much fun was had, and that no kiddies were hurt as everything jumped ahead in time. In this time any number of things could have transpired, but they were most definitely for grown-ups only one way or another. Needless to say though both women enjoyed each other's company and had a grand old time together.

Now though it was time to begin the training anew from where things had left off the day before. Although Hecate was actually quite looking forward to a frilly Echani handmaiden outfit to wear. Perhaps she'll petition her mistress Siobhan to make her wear one outside of training, or even in future training as well. Regardless for now she had on her cleaned and quite comfortable militia uniform she usually wore as her preferred clothing of choice. She was perfectly ready to continue their training, however her force mistress saw fit that is.

"Mistress, where should we begin now then?"

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Hecate"]

"We'll soon get back to the physical again...not that way though, I'm afraid," Siobhan joked. For her part she wore a pair of pants and a tight tank top. "But first...what is it you know about the Jedi and the Sith? And the way they view the Force," she asked.

Apparently there were some theoretical matters to approach first. This was admittedly an area where Siobhan was a good deal less skilled as a teacher than when it came to actually...doing things and getting physical. Truth be told she seldom gave philosophy and the Force much thought, treating it as a glorified can opener. Nonetheless some theory was important and it would probably give her the chance to bash Jedi, something she liked to do, and express her loathing of the Sith.

 

[Soell Alberio]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

Darn! And here the young Echani had been rather looking forward to more of those activities. Oh well, she had gotten plenty of her fill during the curtain drawing scene. The white haired woman was refreshed and ready to go for some actual and more serious training. Which was why she found herself rather surprised when she was asked about her knowledge of the Jedi and Sith philosophies.

"Well I don't know much admittedly. The Jedi believe the force is in all living things to some degree if I recall. They both have their own code, but the Jedi's seems to sound more oriented towards scholars and monks desiring a peaceful venture. . . . .which is a load of lies considering how they appear to act in this day and age. The Sith likely view it as a weapon or tool, though I might just be biased from having seen their handiwork rather than actually ever speaking to one."

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Hecate"]

"Jedi think the Force has a will and they must serve it, seeking peace and harmony and they divide the Force in Light and Dark. They like to say they're 'peacekeepers'...but, well, you know you cannot have peace unless you're ready for war. Most of the time they vacillate between being crusaders and blind pacifists. The old Jedi code preaches passion is the path to the 'dark side', which will twist you into a tool of evil. As if it were some sort of daemon that pounces upon naughty force-sensitives. They say they serve the Force...but what does that mean in practical terms? Practicality dictates they bind themselves to the Republic," Siobhan said with a cynical undertone.

"Sith are barbarian savages. The Force is a tool to acquire power over all life for them...or just to indulge their cruelty. Their 'Code' prattles a great deal about using the Force to free yourself from your chains...and put everyone else in them when they use it to sate their sadistic desires. Me, I was trained as a Jedi but Adril was no conventional one. She taught me to use my mind and while I think there's something like the dark side, I don't it's some supernatural power that magically twists your mind. Just sounds like an abdication of personal responsibility if you blame your misdeeds on some external force. I can work with Jedi - long as they don't meddle. Some are good people. Owe my life to a Jedi healer actually...though she's not part of the Order."

 

[Soell Alberio]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

In all honesty Hecate wasn't certain what the lesson was behind all of this and wasn't even really getting what she needed to learn from this. She already got the feeling that Siobhan was neither Jedi or Sith and the young Echani wasn't looking to join up with either group without sufficient reason. Least of all for either doctrine. The Jedi's was too hypocritical, broken, and out of practice. While the Sith were hardly people to look up too at all, some freedom they preached. "So Mistress Siobhan what is it I need to learn from trying to understand the doctrines of force groups of which I don't belong to?"

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Hecate"]

"Know thine enemy...in case of the Sith at least. Chances are you'll be facing them at some point. They'll play on your feelings, make all sorts of fake promises - freedom, strength, whatever. Never forget what they really are, no matter what masks they wear. As for the Jedi, they can be friends, I have some among them, but darkness doesn't just come in dark robes, veiny skin and red lightsabres. Self-righteous crusaders full of 'light' eager to chase down anyone who's colour scheme they don't like count as well," Siobhan responded.

"Now, back to physical. I want you to run. Very fast. Echani training gives you natural...agility. The Force can amplify it. Feel it. Let it flow through your muscles." Once this had begun, a moment would pass and then Siobhan would unleash...a few remote droids armed with stun blasters, which Hecate would be expected to dodge.

 

[Soell Alberio]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

Ah well, she supposed that did make sense. Of course that sort of problem really hadn't stopped the white haired woman from fighting an enemy before. However, considering how none had ever actively tried to recruit her before and that might be an issue in the future the Echani supposed it was wise to take the meaning of Siobhan's little lesson to heart. "I guess I see your point Mistress. I'll make sure to be wary regardless. Though I don't think I'm going to be planning to join any other group for the forseeable future. I have quite enjoyed my time in your employment so far.

Hecate meant it too, especially when Siobhan told her to run and use the force to amplify her physical strength. She wasn't much for flinging things around, but if she could just make her body stronger so she could become a better fighter that would be enough. Recalling all her training from the other day, the Echani gathered the strength she had just gotten hold of and tried to imagine infusing it within herself. Her legs specifically. Filling them with strength they didn't normally have, lightning herself as well by just a bit, and then she took off. It wasn't a super huge room, so rather than be concerned with how many times she made it around the place the white haired woman instead just concentrated on maintaining the effort as long as possible. . . . . until the remote droids appeared that is.

The Echani woman couldn't help but grin at their arrival. Even without force powers she and others in their youth and in military training had worked to be able to avoid many of their shots. She was fit, lithe, lean, trained, and from an elite race of warrior whose culture revolved around combat through movements, and now she had the force even albeit only weakly. She hoped Siobhan had bumped them up above the normal level a bit.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Hecate"]

When it came to the droids Siobhan had taken into account that though Hecate's force connection was still rather weak, she came from a proud warrior race and was in...good shape. With all the agility, fitness and speed that came with it. Hence why the remotes had been significantly bumped up from the normal level that one would normally employ for a Padawan or the equivalent. But then Siobhan's method tended to be to always go a couple levels above and see what happened. Any knocks and bruises sustained in training might mean losing one limb less in actual combat.

This meant that the speed, tracking and targeting capabilities of the remotes would be enhanced as they would come upon Hecate like a swarm, seeking to give her no escape as they unleashed bursts of blaster fire upon her. As has been said, these would only be stun bolts and thus not set to cause actual damage, but they would be firing quite rapidly and the remotes would move with great speed, almost blinding speed. Likewise they were equipped with dart launchers that could fire electrodarts, which would unleash electrical shocks - low-powered of course, since Hecate was not Eyrecae and so Siobhan would not want to seriously electrocute her.

 

[Soell Alberio]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

Yes, her good shape was something that Hecate was quite proud of. Well, that and her fitness level.

It became quite clear after just a few moments that Siobhan had indeed turned the remote droids settings much higher than one would most likely come to expect from a padawan. Especially one just introduced to the force only a scant day before! The young Echani actually found herself hard pressed despite her limber limbs and lithe frame. The remotes were firing quite rapidly in various arcs from various angles and using their numbers effectively to take shots at her from behind while others distracted her from her front.

Hecate grinned despite these setbacks though. Of all the things she was or wasn't, what she most definitely was was an Echani warrior woman. A Mandolorian would just stand around in armor being shot by what they couldn't evade, relying on their pesky armor to solve their problems. And Echani learned to control their movements, their culture derived from a form of communication where how one moved in battle was a way of speaking. It worked so much better on live opponents though, who had tells or muscle reactions to watch for. The bland and expressionless remotes were rather difficult in that regard like all droids, forcing the white haired woman to rely more on her honed reaction times than her ability to read an enemy. With her body in the great shape it was though as soldier, more so as one from a people as hers, she could move with a grace and speed to match those reactions.

Even with those though, the remotes had been set even more beyond a Padawan who could wield the force. Normally she would be able to evade them effectively only for a brief bit under these conditions, taking a few hits still, before growing weary as she slowed and took more hits and then succumbing to even more blows. Yet she had the force now, making her even faster even if she was still just learning, and with it within her she felt more energized too though she hadn't considered that effect when she drew it into herself. Plus there was more she could apply the force to than just her body in such a situation. While she had no idea whether one could detect droids' actions effectively, she figured she could feel the ripples in the force if she focused a little just before the remote's stun weapons fired.

And she was right, fortunately enough for her she supposed. Even with the force making her less tired and slightly faster the remotes would have gotten her at their level. However, if she could also get the slight forewarning, even if it wasn't as good as her Echani training for reading a living opponent's actions, she could keep ahead of being hit. This empowering feeling of overcoming an obstacle beyond her normally made Hecate feel amazing! If she could keep learning this she could get even faster, stronger, and read enemies even better! She wanted to punch back at the remotes now and break them with the force behind her fist! However, she had a good bet she might break her hand if she did. "Mistress! If I want to break these remotes do I need to wrap a protective barrier around my fist before I punch them so I don't hurt myself?"

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Hecate"]

It went without saying that Siobhan appreciated the view of Hecate being in good shape. She was...quite demanding of her employees after all. Yes, demanding was absolutely the right word to be used under these circumstances.

Thing about droids was that they could not be sensed in the Force, which actually made assassin droids so effective, though there was still the precog a forcer might receive from a blaster bolt shooting towards them. Standard Jedi training was for a student to learn how to deflect laser rounds with a lightsabre by practicing against training droids, which usually ended with said student getting zapped and with the teacher then deciding to blindfold them so that they would 'use the Force'.

In all likelihood the teacher also welcomed the opportunity to have a good laugh about the pupil's problems!

Regardless Siobhan watched her pupil's efforts at dodging the incoming hail of blaster bolts. She was thinking on her feet and not getting up in the salvoes. Of course, it was still just a training situation and under rather controlled circumstances, but still. To hesitate even for one moment in actual combat could be fatal. As for punching the remotes, she could understand the urge. Of course, the little droids also had those nice taser-like weapons integrated, but hitting things was good.

"I imagine it would be a good idea. Even if you punch through them...getting your fingers burnt isn't pleasant. Let the Force flow through you, feel it empower your muscles and attacks. It can be a shield and a bludgeon, animate your strength beyond human levels."

Force-enhanced strength was an ability Siobhan had some familiarity with, though she mostly used for feats such as effectively dual wielding bolters without being weighed down by their heavy weight or losing accuracy. But then she was not a melee combatant, and had a feeling Hecate might be more inclined for close range, especially given Echani martial arts and blade training.

 

[Soell Alberio]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

Oh yes was Hecate ever a fan of close quartered combat and a well trained user of the Echani martial arts to boot. Her mother had made sure her education was very thorough in both blades and unarmed combat, the dual wielding pistol style Hecate favored for mid-range was actually easily incorporated into close range tactics, hence her propensity for them over more powerful blaster rifles.

Regardless of that, the words from her Mistress got the white haired woman to smirk excitedly. Hung up on a high of confidence because of her success blending her physical abilities with those of the force, even if it was only to a minor extent, Hecate felt her control was easier to achieve. Perhaps because the mere belief she could succeed increasing the chances of doing so as she imagined wrapping the force around her hands like a gauntlet and infused it within her arms as well.

"Then I'm going to break them all! Making her claim with a merciless grin, Hecate ceased her ducking and weaving to begin attempting the hardest part of her new choice of action. That being actually landing the attack on the machines while also trying to avoid being shot as the remotes would attempt to stay away from her. The advantage was theirs due to their range, but they were not as fast as her she knew. It just depended really on if she were faster than the stun rounds they were firing at her while her attention would falter for a moment of attack.

Lunging forward suddenly, hoping the unexpected change in her movements threw off the machines for just a second, the young Echani focused her gaze on the nearest remote as she threw a fist at it. The machines didn't hesitate as much as the white haired woman wished, but hesitate they did. Long enough for her fist to slam into the remote, denting it where she struck as the force gauntlet around her fist created the indent from the strength behind her strike while also protecting her hand and fingers from any damage. Sadly though she found herself clipped in the back of her leg by one of the other remotes, even despite having sensed the shot targeting her. Her movement had been too slow and too focused on a single target.

Nonetheless, aside from a grunt she continued. The shot slowed her slightly, but now there were fewer shots coming at her, and from fewer angles. Continuing her evasions for a while she would strike back at each of the remaining remotes in turn, only suffering two more shots to her shoulder and along her side before she managed to put the last of the devices out of commission. By then she finally was breathing heavy slightly, the force not taking away all her exhaustion after all the effort and time. Still, she personally didn't think that was too bad for a first time. She had already been confidant in her ability to combat the average soldier one on one. Now she felt she could handle a group. Another force user or someone of a race with vastly superior physical prowess might be beyond her still, but maybe with time. "So they weren't expensive models were they Mistress?"

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Hecate"]
"I got them at discount from IKEA. Buy two, get one for free," Siobhan said very, very dryly, leaving it unclear whether she was serious or not.

In a flash a door behind where Hecate was standing had opened and a fearsome looking battle droid had suddenly manifested in the room. The droid was skeletal and bore a distinct resemblance to a Krath war droid, though nonetheless it was strong and fast...very much so. It was armed with a rapid-firing blaster weapon that would unleash a spray of stun bolts at the Echani. Likewise it wielded a wrist-mounted net thrower weapon, which could be used to capture and ensnare targets, along with an electro-staff. Naturally the staff was not full powered, so Hecate would experience quite a shock if she got struck, but her limbs would not get fried.


It would...commence rapid firing in bursts and then move in to attack, with great speed and agility. With the Force Hecate would have a short window of opportunity to act. Across the room there was a table with a variety of bladed weapons that she could either run towards to grab or she could try and pull one towards her with telekinesis. Either way the droid was strong and had good targeting capabilities, though as an obstacle it could be overcome.


Was having a big bad droid manifest behind her student without warning playing dirty? Perhaps, but as has been said, Siobhan was of the sink or swim school of training. Any bruises, eletrical shocks and scars sustained in training might mean one lost limb less in actual combat.

 

[Soell Alberio]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

Does IKEA even exist within this universe? Can one even buy remote droids from IKEA even if it were to actually exist? Were they really two for one? Was that deal still valid? All these questions and more filled the white haired woman, and her writer's, mind as she debated whether or not her Mistress were actually serious about the situation.

Although at the same time apparently a menacingly armed battle droid had been released behind her. Its appearance was actually quite terrifying as well, reminding Hecate of a magnaguard styled to look like a human skeleton. Though from the writer's perspective it would remind her of a terminator's frame beneath the fake skin. Nonetheless, the Echani wasn't exactly thrilled in the least with the unveiling of the next challenger. Especially when it started firing that incredibly painful looking blaster of its.

Lady Siobhan just wasn't playing fair it seemed. The only thing Hecate could think to do was draw the force up, feeling a bit tired as she was, and begin running to try and evade the shots. She wasn't even going to get a water break it looked like. Hopefully the force could help her keep going just long enough then, she just had to watch its patterns and then disarm it. . . .but with that staff it looked competent in close quarters as well. So of course as she thought this the droid had to dash forward, firing still and forcing her to focus on dodging around the stun bolts, while it swung around the deactivated staff at her.

Slamming into her side, The young Echani woman winced and ground her teeth as the staff possibly bruised or even broke a rib or two perhaps and sent her sprawling onto the floor of the training room. It was merciless and relentless though, firing as the blow put distance between them again. Treating it as a real battle, Hecate rolled as she hit the ground, bringing herself back up as she tried to grasp the force again. The blow had shocked her out of it and she was attempting to maintain herself on training, combat experience, and instinct. Only luck had it that she rolled in the right direction away from the droid's stun bolt fire.

Latching onto the force once she regained her connection, Hecate looked over at the weapons off to the side with determination. She knew even with the force she wasn't up to bashing the droid to a pile of broken pieces with just her bare hands. Hecate also knew she wasn't confidant enough in her telekinetic abilities to successfully pull a weapon to her from the table. . . . .at least not without the weapon likely impaling or cutting her. So, force imbuing her body and her resolve set on success, the Echani dashed forward with the speed of someone beyond the norm. yet all the same she hadn't expected the net launcher. Reaching a slim and keen looking Vibroblade after evading the blast shots, Hecate stared wide eyed as she turned around to the sight of the net already falling upon her.

"Dammit!" Hecate was not mad at her Mistress. Rather she was thankful as she struggled desperately to cut the net with the blade to free herself before the droid fell upon her. Without the force she would be at such a disadvantage against opponents of such strength. They would still be beatable, but require more planning, more tools, more favorable conditions, and maybe even an ally or two to defeat. With but a flick of her wrist Siobhan could likely defeat such a foe, very few likely could threaten the force mistress Kerrigan. Hecate now had a platform to aspire for. She would learn to be that strong, and she would do it in her own way too. She was a warrior, telekinesis just didn't suit her. So with the force, weak as it was right now for her, supplementing her own strength, Hecate dragged her sword the net and leaped from it at the droid swinging its staff around.

Her strength still could not match it right now, she felt her arms give into the machine's strength and expected it. Twisting her blade, Hecate ducked beneath the blow as the droid's own strength made it slide against her vibroblade off course. She then continued twisting her blade to break off the contact with the droid's staff and bring it up. Her stance wasn't suited for an uppercut slash, but having had to position to force the droid's attack there was little she could do about that. Still, the force was with her strike as she cut upwards. Her strength even with the force didn't cleave the force in two, she wasn't that strong she yet she knew and she didn't try since it'd likely break her blade. instead she had it create a furrow in the droid's armor along its chassis before backing away quickly preparing to defend and evade again.

Mistress can I even dismantle it without a blaster at my current level?"

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Hecate"]

As had been said while Siobhan tended to be quite easy-going she was hardly a paragon and when it came to training not a particularly nice person. But then she was an experienced soldier and understood that in battle there were no do-overs, no second chances. Trying to play fair was just ridiculous to her. After all, your enemies would not do that in an actual live combat situation. Scars and bruises faded other time, if there were broken ribs then Firemane had good medics and healers on site.

So her standard method these days was to throw a challenge at a pupil and see how they coped with it. If things really got out of hand she would step in. At the same time she did not particularly care about how a student resolved a challenge, just that they fought and got the job done. Honour was just a fancy word to excuse stupidity, you either fought or mucked around.

So she watched as Hecate fought against the menacing battle droid that bore a distinct resemblance to a human skeleton. Or the true form of certain human replica droids beyond their organic skin sheath. Replicants constructed by a certain pair of genocidal droids Siobhan really felt like killing.

"With force-enhanced strength...at your level it will be draining," she replied evenly in response to Hecate's query. This one will leave it to Hecate's writer to determine the droid's actions since she is the one fighting it, though suffice to say the droid was quite mean and also had a net it might use to try and capture her. Of course, its electro-staff was presently powered down a nonlethal level. Presumably if Hecate could seize it and adjust the voltage being struck by it would become quite unpleasant for the droid.

For her part Siobhan stretched out with the Force to grab an ion blaster from the gun rack with her mind and toss it. With tremendous speed ccross the room towards the other side of it. So if Hecate wanted to get the gun she would have some distance to cross and risk getting hit, since while she was fast so was the machine.

 

[Soell Alberio]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

Well that was certainly helpful advice. . . . then again she managed to leave a furrow in the machine soldier's armor? With a lot more focus at the risk of tiring herself out in a single go she might be able to finish off the droid in one stroke. Of course the idea of using the electro-staff didn't really occur to the Echani woman either, nor would it as she had no intention of trying to wrestle it away from the droid when it also had an array of weaponry to hit her with during such an attempt. The net was a sufficient threat, but since she could cut through it as long as she managed to keep her vibroblade at the ready Hecate didn't think much of it so long as she didn't let herself get caught in a surprise attack.

Of course the ion cannon was a much more obvious solution. One which made the white haired woman berate herself quite vividly in her head for neglecting. She had been so focused on the more obvious weapon she was familiar with she had ignored the tactically more efficient one. Her mistress seemed to have noticed her faltering again and sent the weapon away from her reach too. Now it was behind the droid, and it was doubtful it hadn't missed the blaster sailing through the air. So the question was if she was fast enough to get around the droid and beat it to the weapon if she really wanted it.

[color=#8080]"Sure just hit it harder, great advice.[/color] Chuckling a little at her sarcasm, Hecate made up her mind as she rushed at the droid and swung at it before she would let it prepare its blaster again. Of course the blow was blocked by its staff and it quickly tried to level the blaster at her, however, Hecate was already twirling on the balls of her feet, using the momentum of her quick rush to change direction as her body twisted, pushing away from the droid by shoving her blade against the staff harder and giving herself a boost. Even then it only gave her a brief second or so as she headed for the ion blaster, the training droid hot on her heels aiming to slam the electro staff in the back of her head.

That had been a feint though. In actuality the Echani had wanted it to pursue her thinking her objective was the blaster. For the droid to raise its weapon for attack and leave itself open again for just a moment. Because in that moment Hecate pressed off the ground with her next step and sent herself backwards, calling upon the force more heavily in that moment than she had tried to do before, jamming her blade through the droids torso and then dragging it through its body, her muscles screamining in protest as the force propelled her arms up to carry the blade through, bisecting the machine from its chest through its head causing it to collapse with its brain severed.

Hecate managed to smile for a moment before collapsing exhausted. She didn't even feel like she could move now if she wanted. As if her whole body had been sucked dry and she were just a shell. What happened to the false advertising of unlimited energy? "Can the next droid be like. . . a cute waitress or something in disguise with some drinks?" [color=#4040]Sarcasm really wasn't her forte, but with Siobhan she just wasn't sure how to act celebrated without looking too worse for wear.[/color]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Hecate"]

"You're that eager to face a human replica droid? They'd make that one look like easy pickings," Siobhan said sardonically. Dramatic irony considering what a certain machine cult of murderous HRDs was planning...ah, well, nothing force lightning could not resolve...


"It's not like I locked you in a room with a Reaver armed only with a pocketknife," she joked, pouring herself a glass of water and having a drink before she likewise filled one for Hecate and levitated it over to her. "You've seen combat, in an actual fight there are no do-overs, no second chances if you mess it up the first time around. Any bruises, scars and broken ribs suffered in training might mean one less limb lost in an actual battle. You did well though. Showed good instincts and seized the initiative instead of getting bludgeoned into a corner and beaten down."

 

[Soell Alberio]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

"Face? Who said anything about face? I just want one to pamper me for a bit." Snickering as she sat up, Hecate sighed as she took a look at the defeated combat training droid off to the side. It was probably pitiful to any master like Sio or even a mid level force user who completed their force training as an apprentice, but the Echani felt proud of her start in this rough and tumble sort of training. It suited her more she supposed. After all, as someone well honed to combat due to her culture, the white haired woman likely would understand doing more than theorizing when it came to an abstract concept like the force. Although she wondered in her head down the line if even if she became as experience as Siobhan if the style she was choosing would match it.

After all the stories of Siobhan's powers were quite telling. Her Force Mistress could probably obliterate the entire villa without much effort if so desired. It made her curious if her thinking to supplement her body's abilities could be as powerful in the distant future. It fit her, but she hoped it wasn't a mistake that led to her becoming weaker than she could be.

While she thought about it, Hecate listened to what her Mistress had to say. That and sip the glass of water she was levitated by Siobhan. "Thank you Mistress. . . .Lady Siobhan I do have a few questions though. I tried using the force to supplement my own attacks rather than attack directly with it as you do. Were I to pursue this style further, would it make me weaker than fighters who wield the force like you? I've thought it over since yesterday and wondered what exactly my distinctions ought to be if pursuing this use of the force. Likely my focuses should be on my ability to sense the force to detect movements to an incredible point as well as other force users' use of the force before they actually manifest, force barriers to withstand attacks like your wave the other day and other such abilities, and enhancing my body so that I can become faster, stronger, and more durable than normal so long as the force flows through me. Are such assumptions of the techniques I'd need to learn to match and counter other force users on the right track?

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Hecate"]

It might be hard to believe but even Siobhan had started at the bottom of the pecking order at some point. Her skill set was limited and extremely focused, but she was highly specialised in all of her powers, while also having to deal with the disadvantages of facing someone who had a more esoteric set of powers. Or if facing a tank who managed to withstand her battering ramming and get in close enough to engage her in lightsabre combat, something she was lacking in.

Strictly speaking it would be 'Lady Kerrigan', but since they knew each other and this was a private setting Siobhan would not make a fuss about correct style of address. It would be different if they were officially at work and in public.

"Each force-user discovers their own path. Some are generalists but most end up focusing on a certain repertoire of powers. My speciality, as I imagine you know, is telekinesis. The secondary being lightning and that's about it really. I imagine that's not for you. Physical enhancement through the Force is perfectly feasible and you can achieve superhuman strength and durability with it if you put considerable effort into it. I know a woman who's managed to achieve mastery in physical enhancement to such an extent that she's a cross between a juggernaut and a whirling dervish. Same goes for anticipating your enemy's movements and use of the Force. Battle precognition is not something I excel at, but I've heard of Echani forcers who were quite good at it. As for force barriers, I can show you how to ground yourself and manifest a shield to withstand attacks," Siobhan responded. Her own method of manifesting a force barrier was grounded in her mastery of telekinesis, so Hecate might have to modify it for her use, but the basics were the same. Tutaminis would also be a useful power, since it allowed you to dissipate incoming energy attacks such as blaster bolts and lightsabre strikes and even use the energy to fuel yourself, but it was not a power she possessed.

"With your focus on close combat you'd be advised to get a set of armour that offers better protection. Superhuman speed is all well and good, but even it has limits, so do force barriers. Especially if your enemy is shooting area of effect lightning or bone-breaking telekinesis at you. A lightsabre-resistant materiel is preferrable. I'm no duellist, but I can work you through the basics of lightsabre combat." It had been a long time since Siobhan had used her lightsabre in a serious fight. As a matter of fact, all her big duels had been ranged at her end. Hecate would have to find her own path, but Siobhan imagined that with her focus on speed and acrobatic agility, which could enhanced by the Force to the point where it seemed like one was moving in a blur, Ataru would suit her. A younger, more mobile Siobhan had liked the form as a Jedi. These days she would be a Djem So user if she put actual effort into lightsabre duelling.

 

[Soell Alberio]

[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

Hecate already wishes it to be known her breach of manner was not due to her own rudeness or desire to be so but because of a lack of intelligence on her writer's part. The writer wishes to escape scrutiny and blame by pinning her error on the fact she has never had much opportunity to use last names over first names usually.

The Echani would listen intently to her Mistress' explanation of finding one's force path. Battle precognition was certainly an intriguing ability to try discovering and refining. Siobhan was right when bringing up that telekinesis and lightning wouldn't suit her, at least personality wise. Combat methods could be changed. . . . but Hecate was too grounded in being a top tier warrior to consider merely brushing opponents away without actually engaging them in battle. It was too ingrained in her way of life, perhaps due to her Echani culture, to not face an enemy with her own strength.

As such Hecate could only blink a moment, confused when she heard Siobhan mention training her in lightsaber combat. She also heard about the use of armor, but for now the Echani still wasn't really a fan of even considering the restriction of movement such would impose on her. "Lightsaber combat Mistress? Is that something I truly need maam? I mean! I'm incredibly overwhelmed by the offer and wish to say yes, but I've already trained in basic dueling and some Echani techniques from my mother. I don't even have a lightsaber too, would any of those forms work for me without the appropriate weapon?"

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

[member="Hecate"]

In response Siobhan just shrugged. "If you want to engage a force-user in melee combat you'll either need a lightsabre or a lightsabre-resistant blade. Conventional vibroswords won't cut if because chances are your opponent will have a lightsabre or just shoot plenty of lightning. Of course, plenty of people have lightsabre-resistant armour and she said.

She did in fact have a collection of shiny Sith chainswords, which were resistant to lightsabres and could actually absorb and expel lightning. "As for lightsabres, I have a couple. Could call some of them trophies. Don't really use them much."