The Guardian And The Ghost

[Thurion Heavenshield]

After a session of rigorous training with Asha, mostly practising the stances of Form V: Djem So, Thurion felt the desire to explore the vicinities of the ancient yet still beautiful temple on Teth. It somehow beat the Jedi Temple on Tython, with its lush vegetation and sparkling water running down the mountainsides, creating huge, lengthy waterfalls roaring in the distance. Few outsiders would happen upon this place, that much was clear. It breathed an air of safety and refuge for those who needed it, seeking its comfort. He was glad to be here, along with his Master Asha and his dearest friend Daux, as well as a clearly thightly-knitted group of individuals, whom all wanted the same thing, ultimately. It felt good knowing all residents by name, and their intentions.

Wandering the large, empty halls of the no doubt once busy temple, he came upon a padeo overlooking the splendid scenery. On the padeo stood a lone young man, silent and subtle as a light breeze in the wind. The sight of the one called 'Ghost' among the other padawans back in the Order caught him by surprise at first, but he was never one to judge a book by its cover and so never picked up on the nickname. @[member="Jericho"] was his name, so why would one not use it instead of making up nicknames without permission? It only seemed rude, Thurion thought. A few moments of overlooking his fellow padawan, trying to discern what he was doing out here all alone, he took the liberty of stepping towards him. As he walked to stand beside the towering young man, he looked up at him before asking with a soft tone:

"Hello. What are you doing here, alone?"

 

[Jericho]

Jericho woke very early in the morning, unable to sleep and found out that the day was his own, he had no training session with Master Seren and having no friends, he had no one to socialize with. So he went to the archives and read for a moment learning more tactics and things he need to know when on the field of battle. For some time he read quietly taking in all the knowledge he wanted then went out to a training area to go apply what he had learned. Walking down the temple halls he would act like an infiltrator and sneak around people using his surrounding area as cover until he training area.

One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two, three.

Jab, cross, reverse side kick, Jab, cross, hook kick, Jab, cross, front kick, reverse leg sweep.

Today, it was going to be Jericho's fighting and shadowboxing training in the unarmed combat of the Echani, what Master @[member="Qae Shena"] taught on stances, movement, and strikes, with his own appication of the force use. This meant precision shots to vital nerves, force generation made, control levels of speed and reflexes. This was the thing he did best, fight, through gentle and calm grace like water. Aggressive and strong like a warrior from the days of the old warriors. Or silent and fast like as a shadow or an assassin, it was an art to master each and balance it all out through his own body. And a day like this was perfect for this type of training, it was warm and the air thin and easier to breathe in. What also makes a great fighter is muscle memory, forcing the body to react at times whenever one felt threatened. Sadly, needs a partner to attack him and keep up with him in order to do that training.

Another sad thing is because his training is so intense no one ever wants to train with him. Besides the masters that had to train him, but even then Master Seren and the others were busy. It was understandable, with the recent huge change, having to move to Teth away far from the order. He was merely content that the teachers took most of the grief on themselves rather than put it on the students it took strong hearts to do something like that to allow the students to have the luxury to have a peace of mind. Even if it is short lived, they were doing their best and that's all that mattered.

He stopped for a moment and went to turn on several training droids and set them to the highest level and had them follow him out to the patio of the temple. Where it was more open and had more of a natural scene, it was a place easier to adapt when being out in the field on a mission or opening training. The temple was surrounded by lush plant life and being more outside he felt the surround energies of the life around him and the energies of the force of light.



Bam, Bam, Thud!

Sounds of the punching and kicking echoed through the empty area of the temple. Where Jericho, nicknamed The Ghost, was training by himself. Bam, Bam, Thud! went the droids when Jericho did his combo strikes, his hands and feet shrouded in the force to keep himself from hurting himself. He ran towards the left, Bam, Bam, he did an angled strike to the neck of the droid followed by a reverse punch to the ribs. He jumped, faded back and using the momentum he charge foreword bashing a droid's ribs with his knee. Slam! Finally after numerous amount of attacking he knock over the heavy droid. He looked at the time, it has been four hours and half since he started training. Yet, he still had a lot of energy and so after a moment he let the droid get up only to bash it continually moving to quickly for it to block, knocking it over once again. He put his feet on the top on base of the droid and did his sets of push-ups and sit-ups.

But for once his training wasn't actually on his mind. What was really on his mind was tactics. Despite his phenomenal skills in the martial artist, as a fighter, but as a member of something bigger he has to be only support thanks to his abilities. What he learned about his force powers he can literally "turn on" and become force to be reckon'd with. So it can be be applied to having super strength, invulnerability from other force users, healing, elemental abilities, speed, stealth and one who had been training these skills for so long now would be facing off with him wold a lot of trouble going one on one with him. But there lies the issue if he's going on a mission with the other padawans or masters, would he balanced enough to keep up with the masters? Or would he be to fast or too conditioned for the other padawans to keep up with him?

But also on top of his own force powers; he was quite the tech savvy he could shut off electrical tech, such as cameras, alarms, high tech doors, and combined with his agility and skills he learn from Sokan. It would make him great as a scout or rescue party member to have on the team. Coming from a martial background and having more experience on the field he felt he could do more if he was allowed to. Rather than sit back and enjoy the show while his team takes the blows, he would rather be out in the fray or doing things on his own but in cases where he had to work on a team he would have to follow orders.

"997, 998, 999, 1000..."

He counted out loud doing his push-ups while he was thinking. Being so young many underestimated what he could really do. The majority only saw him for his silence and nothing more, or rather that's how he felt inside after being nicknamed the Ghost. In the eyes of the criminal underground, however, where the gangs were, many of the gang lords and other gangsters saw his skill first hand. Due from the missions with of Asha of course. He didn't want the other kids to know he what he did in those missions, his emotionless take on those matters but he wanted them to know what he could do. His silent-guy attitude probably wasn't helping with that. Still, he was determined to find that balance, he wanted to be a great leader but as well be respected and loved not feared or hated. All he needed was a good guide, right? He sigh and panted harsh his mind realizing just how much he was actually doing. His arm cramped up and he flopped over on his face.

He laid there, after pepping himself up to be a great leader he flops over like a moron on the ground cause he didn't realized he was reaching his physical limit. While he laid there, he turned his face showing only blankness, but on the inside he was fill with many different emotions, he was sad because he wanted to do more with himself. He was happy because he was here with many kind and welcoming people. But most of all angry with himself because he wanted to do more with himself, knowing it was a selfish idea and had to stay in his place to keep this faction strong. Despite this he wouldn't allow these emotions to cloud his judgement or cause he to go down a different path rather, he used them to drive him to becoming stronger a way to keep himself keen and steadfast. He let out a soft grumble allowing himself to rest up and cool down before getting up and stretching his arms out. "Ten sets of a hundred for two different exercises. Only the last set of push ups I do an additional eight fourty five. All together over a thousand push-ups and sit-ups in one setting. I will be be sore for a while." He said talking to himself while stretching and looking at the time another many hours had passed.


Jericho let out a sigh of breathe removing his upper robes and breathing mask. Revealing his body was covered in scars from blasters, swords, and other sabers. His face has a single mark, a cut on his cheek from a duel with a Atrisian force user. He tried to stand up only to fall back down, this spot is where he was going to be staying for sometime, so he let it happen. He took a moment to breathe in slowly the exhaled slowly and forced himself to stand, crossing his arms and closing his eyes. He meditated quietly on his own training himself more becoming more in tuned with the force, where his body was at it's limit for the day, his mind was always ready to continue. He used telekinesis, to raised the bashed up droid and set them orderly on the side of the wall of the patio. After doing so, he continued to bask in the energies around him.

"Hello. What are you doing here, alone?"

A soft and tender voice called out to him, Jericho slowly opened his eyes to see it was now late day revealing more hours had passed. He remained there just standing in the same positions, slightly turning his head back to where the voice had come from. It was his fellow padawan, the young @[member="Thurion Heavenshield"], it seemed his training for the day was already finished. Jericho turned back foreword watching the view quietly from where he stood not saying a word not wanting the company of his fellow padawan he continue to keep silent for a moment but the other remained at his side. Jericho took time to think about what he was thinking about earlier, being a good leader and being part of a faction.He let out a slight grunt before responding.

"Admiring the view, Thurion. How was your training today with Master Seren?"

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Jericho's face was as if made of stone, allowing no kind of emotion escape his lips as he spoke. To Thurion, it seemed like his presence was unwanted, like he wished for privacy. Then again, he still retains his belief that there is good in all things, and so decides to focus on them, thereby ignoring the young man's insinuation to be left alone. Looking out towards the magnificent view before them, he couldn't help but feel envy towards his fellow padawan. He was strong, fast, and tall enough to not having to resort to standing on his toes to look over the railing made of stone. He was, in Thurion's eyes, an ideal; a lone wolf, willing to aid those in need with little regard for his own life. Almost storybook. It was admirable, at the very least.

Frankly, what little he knew about Jericho was what had been gossiped about him by the other padawans back in the Order; rumours and downright silly tales. He wasn't a ghost, that much was certain, and a good thing, too, as Thurion probably wouldn't want to stand so close to him if he were. "It was great! I'm beginning to get the hang of the stances of Djem So." He glanced to his towering brother-in-arms. "Though I guess you already know all that, being much better at it than I am." A slight frown made its way to his face, but was swiftly erased as a flock of birds made an appearance in the distance, flying in formation to some remote location, no doubt. "I wish I was a bird sometimes." He stretched his arms out to his sides and pretended to soar through the clouds. "Of course, only if Master Asha and Kitty were birds, too." The boy looked up at @[member="Jericho"] with a big smile on his face, before eventually dropping his arms to his sides and resuming to gaze out towards the horizon.

 

[Jericho]

As the younger disciple of Master Asha Seren spoke, Jericho merely stood firm and quietly taking in the surrounding force, splitting his concentration between force meditation and listening intently to young Thurion. Multitasking in a calm environment, an ability many seemed to lack or dislike the idea of. The younger padawan spoke of his training, which Jericho, did not take lightly due to his understanding of the mastery needed over the forms. It took many hours during the day to devote to reading and applying the skill sets needed. Seeing as he had no friends and the time spend socially with masters was generally training, all Jericho really did was train and study all the time. There were times Jericho had many difficulties to learn a specific art, he merely did not show his frustrations and worked through them.

Master Seren, being their master, was able to tell the rare occasions when he became frustrated with some, such as form Zero, he found it to be a difficult art due to the fact he did not like to speak, therefore fairly difficult to make negotiations and diplomacy were far from his forte. But he been able to work through that, as he wished to be a well-rounded Jedi and person, still the fact that he rarely spoke remained. "Good," He said calmly, his voice not meaningfully sounding exceptionally stern. The next part of the young padawan had to say caught him off guard, not once has Jericho had thought himself better than anyone.

Birds flew in front of the two padawans flying into the gorgeous sky and horizon. Jericho continued to listen to what Thurion had to say before saying that he had to say. "Know this. You must find your own self worth. After all, we will not be padawans under Master Seren forever." Jericho started off talking the statement Thurion made about the birds. "We have our own strengths and weaknesses, this makes us different, this makes unique, this makes us strong in our own way. Like a bird they learn the fly on their own, their parents are just there to nurture them until they are able to." With a light sigh, the older padawan uncrossed his arms and sat down next to Thurion, his focus now completely on the Thurion. "With that said, just because I may learn things bit faster, never think for a moment that I am better than you. We are equals, Thurion." He finished keeping his sights to the Horizon.
@[member="Thurion Heavenshield"]

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Never had he heard @[member="Jericho"] say so much, emotionless though his tone might have been. Neither had he even given thought of a time when he'd no longer have Asha to rely on for support. One day, he would be alone. It gave him chills just thinking about it. Master Asha was his centre, both moral and emotional. She always somehow knew how to react and what to say when he needed it, and her touch alone made him feel safe at all time. Uneased by Jericho's words, he quietly gave a slow nod in response, looking somewhat troubled. "Jericho... What would you do, should you not be here, at this very moment?" The words of his fellow padawan had stirred up feelings and thoughts he'd never considered previously. He found it difficult to think of an answer himself, as this sensation was new to him.

"I would be dead were it not for Asha... alongside my brother and the others at the orphanage back on Pelagon. But she found me, took me to Tython... more than four years ago, now. I could not think of enough words to express my gratitude and respect, love even, for her." He sighed. "I know there will be time when I would have to act on my own, without her to guide me... but should the Galaxy be forced to choose between her and me, I pray it will be me in her stead." There was a sense of finality in his words, the kind which otherwise had never been heard from the boy before. With a pained look on his face, he turned to face Jericho. His eyes pleaded with him to understand, to offer some consolence or some words of wisdom. Already had Thurion been given the impression that despite his age, the Ghost beside him was a man in possession of wisdom far greater than anyone else his age, let alone himself.

 

[Jericho]

"Jericho... What would you do, should you not be here, at this very moment?"

Asked the younger padawan. Jericho sat there silent and still without a moment of pause he spoke to the his younger disciple. "Studying and training at the temple, doing what I believe in leading to my knighthood and fighting in the war." He said ever casually, his voice low and near emotionless. Unlike Thurion he wasn't greatly affected by anyone in his life, he had always been alone. In his mind he always will be so he was going to do what he believed was right not what others do. It was his way of living, his way of coping, with the loneliness, admittingly he some times, somewhat envious of what Master Seren and Thurion shared but he really dwelled on the feeling.

A confession of life was just given to Jericho that of death and attachment. It was not the way of the Jedi or rather the way of the order to allow such attachment since it drove them way from the force or at least closer to the dark side. Yet, he could never see the young caring Thurion to ever become one, but there was always seeds of hate that could be fed if Thurion were to tread down that path. "I am no master, nor have I been through the experience you been through. So, I may never truly understand what you are going through and at such a younger age." Jericho started off.

"But what I have learn from my training, my studies, my missions, my experience. Dwell only on the past to give yourself strength not sadness or attachment." Jericho said the paused for a moment. "Do not pray the for yourself in her stead, for that is not what she wish for. From my understanding, she would want you to grow, to become strong and wise and take on your own challenges as a knight and possibly as a master." Jericho again paused for a moment, having difficulty speaking so much at once. "For now, since she is here you enjoy your time with her but understand that you will have to stand on your two feet."

Jericho stood again next to the younger padawan remembering a gesture master Seren would do to show a type of affection. He open his half and went to pat his head and ruffle his hair but hesitantly stopped, he shook his head. Jericho lowered his hand and crossed his arms once more. Baby steps, like Thurion, he had his own issues to deal with the reason he had spoke to the young padawan, was unclear to himself. But what said had been said nothing can be changed now and had to just continue on.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Those words had been uttered before, the part of having to stand on his own, by non-other than Asha herself. He knew all of this already, but the better part of him wished things would remain as they are at this very moment. A frown made its way to his face and his head slumped to look down at the floor. Then a hand was placed on his head, ruffling his hair just like she would do. It made him happier than words could describe. Again his frown was erased and turned up-side-down into a smile. He looked up at @[member="Jericho"] and said: "Thank you, Jericho, for your words of wisdom. I know you don't enjoy talking so much, so thank you." His head nodded towards his fellow padawan as a sign of respect, before turning to face the unbelievable view once again. "The sun is setting..." the boy said in amazement, for it was the pinkest sky he'd ever seen, and the clouds had turned into a deep purple colour.

Hours went by in utter silence, save for the occasional tune hummed by Thurion, as the two of them gazed out into the distance. A wave of exhaustion washed over him upon realising the time of day, and he felt the need to rub his eyes. What would Kitty be doing at this very moment, he thought. All this talk of the future and what it might bring had made him hungry for the present, and he was determined to get as much out of it as possible. He placed a hand onto Jericho's to show his gratitude, before backing away from the view and turning around to wander back into the temple to find his dear friend. Perhaps she would be dining?

Before leaving, however, he turned around and waved to Jericho, who probably did not take any notice of it as he was still faced towards the view. Having waved his goodbye, the boy turned on his heels and wandered into the seemingly empty hallway. He'd be wrong thinking that it was, as little @[member="Daux"] was already sitting at the end of it, waiting for her Furry to accompany her to the dining room. With a pet of her head the two of them set off, walking side-by-side.

 

[Jericho]

End.