The Hacker and the Cyborg

[Kat Decoria]

Kat had heard that Allyson Locke could teach her a skill called Mechu Deru, it was a powerful Force Power that was related to the Dark Side, however it allowed the person control over tech. This was something Kat wanted to desperately learn. Save so much time to build and control tech around her and figure out why it doesn't function properly, possibilities were endless.

There was an issue, locating Allyson Locke. The fellow Padawan, though over a decade older than Kat herself, was mysteriously vanished from the temple. She was with Master Nooran, whom she seemed inseparable from normally like another Padawan Kat knew, Allyson wasn't in the Padawan Quarters and not in the hangar either. Kat heard she was a pilot, something for them to discuss if they were to ever meet.

Eventually, after hours of reading Temple blueprints for clues on hidden locations. Kat spotted an anomaly, there was a small section of the temple unused by everyone, false walls had been implaced. Kat rushed to the location and knocked firmly on the door, hoping to find Allyson Locke.

"Urm. Ms Locke. I'm Kat Decoria and was hoping you would teach me the power, mechu deru?" Kat asked in whispered tone.

[member="Allyson Locke"]

 

[Allyson Locke]

Allyson had sectioned of a little place for her to hide. When she didn’t want to be bothered or found by anyone. Of course, this was only a makeshift area that she had until the construction of her real little hiding spot was finished. She had closed herself off to the world for the time being, things seemed a bit weird, but she tried not to think about it too much. Exhaling softly, she looked at the screen and noticed that she had died, such an odd thing – possibly there was more on her mind than she’d like to admit.

There was a voice calling out for her and she blinked. It wasn’t a voice she recognized nor was it a presence she recognized. The only person who know about this little hideout was the Grandmaster, but that woman could find her if she was needle in a haystack of needles. Standing, she dusted off sugar crystals from the snickerdoodles she was eating, and fixed her hair into a ponytail.

Moving towards the door she opened it, which was just sliding one of the make shift walls aside. She was greeted by an Echani girl, looking around she wondered how many of them where here, maybe there was more because Jyoti was now the Grandmaster. Hazel eyes settled back on the girl and Allyson digested the question.

“Mechu Deru?” Allyson pondered for a second, “No.” She then started to move the make shift door back into its place.

[member="Kat Decoria"]

 

[Kat Decoria]

Kat's foot was ready to stop the door well before Allyson tried to close it. This reclusive hiding was a stunt Kat was all to familiar with doing. Usually to get away from others and work. Mostly to get away from the number of male humans hitting on her because she was Echani. Nowadays she had broken enough body parts for them to back off without her barely veiled threats stated through gritted teeth.

Kat narrowed an eye as the makeshift door then Allyson. The woman seemed to try to deny Kat the chance to learn something new which was not something Kat was going to allow. "No? I think you mean 'of course Kat, come on in.'" Kat's foot kicked the door open with significant force. Her cybernetic legs were a blessing in these moments as Kat positioned herself to enter the building. "I want to learn this and you WILL teach me." Kat stated sternly.

[member="Allyson Locke"]

 

[Allyson Locke]

The door fell from Allyson’s hands and she blinked. Why were all the Echani that she knew some sort of machine? Groaning, remaking that door was going to be a weeks’ worth of work and all she wanted to was grind her hunter level on Kashyyyk hunter. It was her time off and the person she would have enjoyed spending time with is up to her chin in work. Allyson listened to the spoiled teen as she demanded teaching. Funny thing was, Kat was dealing with a Corellian.

Folding her arms in front of her, Allyson watched the tantrum and shook her head. “Pretty sure I meant no. I mean I know sometimes my words jumble up, but Basic was my first language so I can pretty much annunciate what I mean.” Leaning over, Allyson picked up the remains of the door and examined them, seeing if she could refit it and reuse. A few nods of her head indicated that she was pleased, and it would be fixed within the next few days.

Looking back at Kat, she shook her head, “I’m not going to teach you Mechu Deru. It’s a power rooted in the Dark Side, kid.” Shrugging, Allyson leaned against one of the small tables and folded her arms, “I’m really not in the mood to get in trouble with Jyoti or any of the other Masters for teaching shenanigans like that. If you don’t stop stomping around with those legs – You’ll get to experience first hand what Mechu Deru is and why I can’t teach you.”

There was a seriousness in Allyson’s tone at the end of it as she knew she could disable the girl’s legs with just a thought. The Corellian was a savant with the skill – it came naturally and at times the rooting of it being with the dark side sickened her. “Why do you want to learn it anyways?”

[member="Kat Decoria"]

 

[Kat Decoria]

Kat eyed the fellow Padawan, the woman seemed colder than Kat expected however and this was disappointing. Kat had pictured a fun lesson with excitment, with a mutual respect for tech. Moving into the hidden room, Kat inspected it and noticed that the woman was playing a videogame and shook her head. The woman was a gamer, Kat feared that Allyson likely wouldn't have left the room to shower or eat something bar the rubbish junkfood littered around.

"Uh huh. You seem supppppeeeerr busy Locke." Kat stated in a pure sarcastic tone. "I want to learn it. Once I learn I can stop others using it on me, once I understand it I can figure out how to use it without being tainted by the Dark Side." Kat said, she refused to let some Sith scum take control of her carefully made legs.

[member="Allyson Locke"]

 

[Allyson Locke]

Seems Kat wasn’t going to be backing down. Allyson watched the girl look around the somewhat clean room, of course there was some energy drinks and Tupperware of cookies, but for the most part Allyson was clean. Along with showering, the Corellian had showered earlier that day when she left to come down to her little hiding spot. Arms still crossed she listened to the Echani’s reason, but it wasn’t convincing enough.

“You don’t need mechu deru to defend against it. The limbs are apart of you, you can use your own force energy and presence to counter the mechu deru.” Allyson handwaved the girl’s reason and sighed. “You’re still a padawan and you’re still learning. It’s a higher advanced skill that despite your desire to keep it from being something dark – that’s what it is and what it always will be.”

Allyson shrugged and kept her arms crossed. “You know mind control, dominate mind stuff like that? That’s what Mechu Deru is, its forcing your will upon something. I’m not allowed to teach you and I’m not going to teach you. If you’re determined to learn either convince me later once you’ve become a knight or something or talk to Jyoti about it. While I’m with the Silver Order – I’m not teaching anyone Mechu Deru.”

A smile and Allyson looked towards the girl. “Anything else Padawan Kat.”

[member="Kat Decoria"]

 

[Kat Decoria]

Allyson was dragging her heels on this matter. Snatching a cookie, she gave it a bite and tasted the cookie. It wasn't as good as her grandmother's version but they were tasty enough. Kat listened to Allyson's reasoning behind not teaching her, it was weak in the Echani's mind. Things created in the Dark Side of the Force, especially force powers were not inheritantly evil, it was possible to change the way to use the power, if previous research was to believed.

"Force Lightning is a Dark Side power, yet Jedi can safely use Electric Judgement. Force Choke is a Dark Side version of Force Grip, abeit more concentrated on the throat." Kat stated, idly looking around the room still, it was fairly bland in look, feel and purpose. "Teach me, forget everyone else, they won't know. I will find someone to teach me or use holocrons on the power, which a much more dangerous method of learning." Kat explained her thinking.

Sighing, "yes, I know that I don't need to but if I can use it I can better understand how it will affect me. I want to be fully prepared and I want to use it, it can help. I understand your concern but I want to learn it, I will learn it on my own or with your experienced help." Kat said in a flat tone as she gave Allyson one last look then turned to leave.

[member="Allyson Locke"]

 

[Allyson Locke]

Allyson was growing irritated with the Echani girl. First, she barges into where the Corellian was hiding demanding that she be taught. Then instead of accepting the answer and the reason behind it, she over stays her welcome and even grabs a cookie without asking. She would have to speak to Jyoti about the manners of the Padawans disrespecting Officers on the grounds. If Kat was trying to win the Corellian over, she wasn’t doing a very good job.

Frustration was written all over Allyson’s face. She would have been open to teach, if she could, even so if Kat had been gracious and taken the woman’s advice and getting more training under her belt before attempting a higher skilled Force power. “Holocrons? You realize that every single holocron that has data on this Force power is a Sith Holocron.” Standing from where she was leaning, she eyed Kat’s prosthetics, they were crafted with expertise, but it wasn’t going to stop her.

“You want to know exactly why I don’t want to teach you? Why this isn’t something you should be taking so lightly, demanding things from people without even bothering to learn what the power is beyond ‘oh cool I can make machines do what I want’!” As quickly as Allyson finished speaking, the savant focused on the gears that powered Kat’s prosthetic legs, the power to them was quickly snuffed out and rerouted to start to heat the metal. Allyson controlled it, not wanting to burn the girl’s skin, but she should start to feel uncomfortable.

“This Force power isn’t just forcing your will upon machines, its turning your mind to understand it, it’s not without a cost. Your prosthetics or the machines you’re trying to control can just as quickly turn against you. What would you do if you were trying to protect yourself, but it backfired and your legs just decided to not work – or worst your body started to reject the foreign attachment. You’d be just as screwed probably worse.”

Allyson stopped and finished the small lecture. “The Force power was created to create technological sith spawn. The Sith Lord who created it made something called a Technovirus. Which basically turned living things into machines.” Shaking her head, the Corellian sighed. “You have no idea what you’re wanting to learn. You need to learn how to ask and how to research before you come barging in demanding something you feel you’re entitled to. Also, you need permission from Jyoti – Grandmaster Nooran. Till you have that permission the answer is no, I also suggest not trying to find it outside of the Order, you’ll just be asking for trouble. Every square inch of this power is littered with the Dark side. It’s my own personal struggle, but you didn’t care to even ask about that. I’m not allowed to teach this power – get your permission and I’ll reconsider.”

[member="Kat Decoria"]

 

[Kat Decoria]

Kat could tell she was getting undee the skin of her fellow Padawan. While Allyson was a high ranking member of the Fleet, she was still a Padawan with the Temple grounds, same as Kat. Hence why Kat treated her like she would another Padawan, though most others were much younger than Allyson. Were they on a ship or in combat then Kat's approach and interaction with Allyson would have been extremely different, almost polar opposite in her current interaction. There would high levels of respect and accepting of Allyson's orders without question.

However, as equals in the Temple, she felt she could be less stiff and act as she would naturally. Hence the stubbornness in the face of Allyson's dismissal of Kat from the start. Allyson never informed Kat of the dangers, just she wasn't teaching it, needed permission, blah blah blah, dangerous, Dark Side. Stuff Kat was used to hearing mostly. She had been rejected, told she couldn't do and learn things since an infant. Never stopped her doing it.

"The Order has Sith holocrons. They aren't advertised but they are there, the Order respects that Padawans should not be restricted in their learning. I came here because I heard you were the best in this particular power, even though you are Padawan, I wanted to learn from the best." Kat stated with honesty, she was not trying to soothe Allyson's ego. If she didn't believe Allyson was the best then she wouldn't put up with this nonsense.

There was a slight burning to her flesh, Kat looked down then at Allyson's hands. "Hey! That's karking unfair! You can't tell me I can't learn this then use it against me! I don't know how to stop this! You don't get it. Without my legs, I can't walk, I can't be the Jedi I need to be to protect people!" Kat cried out.

"I was born without legs, or at least without functional legs. I've been told all kinds of things I couldn't do since I couldn't walk and fight like other Echani. My family weren't rich, they couldn't afford the best cybernetics for me. I need to know how to use this power, how to stop others doing things like you are doing so that I never have to feel helpless again!" Kat gritted her teeth, swearing not to let the tears welling in her eyes spill out.

Taking a deep breath, she glared at Allyson. "I came here because I wanted to learn, I asked you to teach me because I know the Grand Master won't let me learn but I need to learn it. I will find and use holocrons to learn this if I have to, I won't let some Sith scum with half a brain use my tech against me to distract me or kill me. My legs are everything to me but they are crucial to my survival in combat." Kat sighed, it was her last plea as she turned to leave the hacker alone.

[member="Allyson Locke"]

 

[Allyson Locke]

Ever since she was labeled a padawan, Allyson had felt the rest of the order begin to talk down to her. When she wasn’t labeled any sort of Force user, she just had her military rank. It bruised her ego severely, but she was starting to get over it especially when she proved herself. Yet, having to prove yourself repeatedly was getting annoying. She didn’t function like a typical padawan, she worked to improve some things.

She pinched the bridge of her nose as she listened to Kat’s life story, she felt for the girl and understood the plight, but her stance on teaching the skill remained. It didn’t come from her own personal situation, it came from the higher ups. She owed them her life and she was going to listen, especially to Jyoti without question. The padawan in front of her wasn’t going to get that sort of information, she didn’t need to know the delicate details of Allyson’s reason for being here or her boundaries.

“You do realize, that I am literally the only person in this place that practices or is a known for Mechu Deru. If someone sees you, or senses it they’re going to know either you broke some rules or I taught you.” Why couldn’t this kid just take no for an answer and go and learn other useful skills.

“I’m not teaching you the skill, but I can teach you how to counter it with the skills you have. You know your equipment inside and out, you built it yourself. There are ways to use tech to counter a mechu deru specialist. Some have developed it because of my lovely shenanigans. Anyways, I can teach you how to defend against it till you can get permission from the Grandmaster.” Allyson sighed and shook her head again. “I’m not going to go against the Grandmaster, I’d never do that to Jyoti.”

[member="Kat Decoria"]

 

[Kat Decoria]

"Why not? Why are we told that we can learn what we when we feel ready but you won't teach me. My Master wouldn't stop me learning this. If she wanted to then she would have by now, I have thought about learning this power for a long time, it isn't some impulsive decision. I might be young but I have thought this through. Perhaps this isn't about me needing permission, but you scared of your own skills."

Kat wasn't trying to use reverse psychology to get what she wanted. It was a valid statement. This could all be because Allyson just didn't trust herself with the Dark Side based move. However, Kat did trust her with it. "I could have been stopped by anyone before coming here. My intentions were clear, anyone could have sensed that. If that isn't enough then I'll learn on my own and swear I will tell anyone that asks if you taught me, you refused. This is my decision, my body and my education. I should learn what I want to."

Kat understood the offer of learning other ways of defnding against the power but shook her head. "What if they did what you did? What if they tried burning me by redirecting the energy, which is what I assumed you did. How can I defend against that before they burn my flesh, or without removing the legs. I can't attack them to distract them, by legs would be burning me. I need to be able to counter by using it." Kat sighed as she lowered her head. "I understand your loyalty but I need to learn Mechu Deru to combat Mechu Deru. If I didn't then I wouldn't be here asking for help."

[member="Allyson Locke"]

 

[Allyson Locke]

Allyson pinched the bridge of her nose as she listened to the pleas of the girl. She wasn’t her Master and if she was confident her Master would allow this, then she should have gone to her about it. Shaking her head, Allyson answered again. “No, I’m not teaching you – not until I figure something out. If you Master is letting you then that’s something she and you need to talk about.”

The conversation turned to how she would defend against the burning sensation of someone turning the girl’s legs on her. Allyson nodded and understood her concern. “There are several force powers that could counter someone using mechu deru. Like I said those are your legs, there’s tech you could implement that would hinder someone like me from figuring out how to turn them against you. Tech and the Force – that doesn’t include mechu deru.”

Sighing softly, Allyson left her little make shift hide away and shut the door. She nudged Kat along and shook her head. “I can’t teach you right now. I’m trying to figure things out, to make this better. Just trust me on this. I can teach you later – just not this moment unless you get permission from the higher ups. Don’t forget I’m technically a padawan like you.”

Allyson tried to give the girl a reassuring smile. “Just trust me.”

[member="Kat Decoria"]

 

[Kat Decoria]

Kat wanted to argue more but she held back. Allyson was at least understanding Kat's concerns. It still wasn't as immediate in learning as she would have liked but there was a step in the right direction. She sighed and shook her head. "Building Tech to fight Mechu Deru is useless, if one is skilled in the power then they will be prepared for counter measures. This is just the best and fastest way to combat any threat."

Remaining stern that other options were not as viable as learning the power. However, Kat nodded her head and stepped outside the room. "Find whoever you need to and get back to me. I shall likely be in my room studying if you need to find me." Kat decided she would take an exploration of the archives for anything on the power to study from.

Turning around, Kat made her way to the archives as a detour on her way to her room.

[member="Allyson Locke"]