The Resilience Form

[Sor-Jan Xantha]

L O T H A L
The Temple of the Jedi

The hidden, subterranean temple was a place used for a variety of purposes, ranging from meditation to lightsaber training.

Today, it sounded as though it was being used to host a war.

Four training remotes simultaneously worked, firing in tandem as the aerial droids hammered at a single youth. Though not dressed as a Jedi, his movements with the dark blue lightsaber belied the training and experience befitting a Jedi Knight. Few would bear witness and not have heard enough to know that this was the youngling knight of the Old Republic. A one hundred year old Anzat, born on Corellia, and raised in the Jedi Temple on Coruscant during the last days of the Old Republic.

A handful of younglings, the odd padawan, and even a knight straggler had stumbled from out of the Academy halls in order to lay witness to the teenage Jedi executing one of the oldest art forms known to the Jedi.

It was hailed as the Way of the Mynock. The resilience form, stressing survival over victory.

That singular description had always been lauded as the boy's best and worst trait, as it aptly depicted his own approach to conflict. Which was not to say that the Third Form required no skill. Quite the opposite, as the blade in the child's hand never stopped moving. Unlike Shii-cho, the blade work departed from horizontal or lateral movements. Instead, it was more akin to Makashi in the fluid gestures. The subtle flicks of the wrist that kept the confined plasma close to the body as the lightsaber formed a kind of blade shield. Rotated in a series of orbits, which interchanged the alignment or position of the blade, the boy neatly absorbed each of the shots fired by the four droids.

The match continued until, simultaneously, the remotes each gave a warbling chirp as their power cells were depleted. No longer able to continue their bombardment.

As the match ended, with Sor-Jan emerging as less the victor and more the one who had out-lasted or survived his opponents, the boy brought the lightsaber to a halt. Holding the blade close to him, he shut down the weapon and then bowed to some light applause from the impromptu audience.

Returning the lightsaber to his belt, the youth paused to reach down and pick up a canteen of water that he'd set aside. Taking a drink, and then catching his breath, the boy waited to see if anyone would come seeking knowledge of Soresu this day.

[member="Togo"]​

 

[Togo]

Togo had only been to the Jedi temple at Lothal a few times in his past, mainly for training once he first joined the Order. It seems this time is the same--as he was here to train in the third lightsaber form, Soresu. The temple was a much different environment than he was used to, as for a good 270 years he lived in lush forests and swamps, away from much civilization--which was probably why he is startled by technology, especially the kind he hasn't seen.

He had been witnessing a Jedi practice the form against some training droids, to which he respected the skill, and quick, short movements of the form to conserve energy, and maintain a maximum defense.

Once the Jedi had finished, Togo would seek to learn the form. He had learned the basics of it in one of his first trainings upon becoming an Initiate of the Order, but now he sought to learn more advanced maneuvers and techniques, as he wished to master the form. It would serve him well against his opponents, especially when outnumbered.

The small green Initiate walked over to the Jedi. He held his gaze at him, and gave a humble bow, to show his respect. "Greetings, Togo, my name is. Here to learn Soresu, I am." Togo said in a respectful tone.

He hadn't trained much in the form, or had been trained individually before, as he normally trained in groups with other Initiates at the temples. He still had much to learn, but that was his goal for now, to learn as much as he could about the Force, and the ways of the Jedi--including combat.

[member="Sor-Jan Xantha"]

 

[Sor-Jan Xantha]

The water was cold.

It burned against his throat for a moment, quenching his thirst as it cooled the body. Picking up a small towel, the teenage Jedi mopped the sweat that continued to run down his face from the exercise in movement. The rush of endorphins supplying a kind of 'workout high' that left him both tired and elated. Tilting back the canteen, the boy quickly drained the remainder of its liquid contents.

A shadow on the peripheral of his vision. A presence in the Force. The boy knew that there was someone there, even before he'd turned his head or rotated his body so to face this approaching individual.

What he hadn't been prepared for, what he could not have anticipated, was the appearance of this particular individual.

His eyes were staring forward, but his mind was looking back. The canteen dropped from his hand, echoing as it hit the floor. And the young Anzat was miles away from here...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~​

C O R U S C A N T
60 years before the Battle of Yavin IV

“Don’t be upset, master.”

Turning his head downward, the serpent Jedi was surprised by the young voice. Not so much for having been so addressed as what had been said. Pensively, the green-skinned snake brought a hand up to his beard and slowly brushed it with his talons; all the while regarding the small boy standing beside him, arms full of odd bits of toys. The child had piercing eyes that were as blue as the waters of Dac, the quality that most stood out to the Thisspiasian as he loomed over the green tunic-clad youth. Sizing him up to be about eight standard years of age, the bearded figure coiled himself tightly so to reduce to degree to which he towered over the child.

“And what makes you think that I’m upset, youngling?” the snake asked, gesturing with the talons of a free hand even as he continued to brush his beard.

The child adopted a sheepish expression, the corners of his mouth sliding to one side and then the other as the boy shifted his weight from side-to-side. “Uh... I dunno, master...” the youngling offered reluctantly, clearly not having expected the question. Then, raising his blue eyes to look up into the Thisspiasian’s shrouded face, shrugged as he said, “You... looked upset?”

The Jedi merely ran his hand through his beard again. “I find that unlikely,” the Thisspiasian commented, his own gaze narrowing as something about the child began to stand out. It wasn’t his eyes, or the odd color of his dress. It was... something about how he carried himself.

Lowering his own face down closer to the child, Azul confirmed the impression that the youngling was not breathing. In fact, having now noticed that fact, the Sentinel was presented by the mystery of the boy appearing to be quite dead... even though he was standing there talking to the Jedi. “You’re not quite human, are you?” the snake murmured quietly, now taking a second look at the youngling he’d so summarily sized up before.

If the child was bothered by the close inspection, it didn’t show. Most likely then not the first time he’d come under scrutiny. “Oh, did I forget to breathe again?” the boy merely asked, turning his head down as he sheepishly averted his eyes. “I mean, I breathe but, like, not, like, big breaths like other people. I try and, like, pretend to be breathing like most but sometimes I forget. It makes people kinda funny around me,” the child explained, looking back up at the Jedi with a nervous smile.

“I’d imagine so,” the Thisspiasian remarked, pulling back from the boy so to allow him some space after the impromptu inspection. With one of his lower arms, the snake did however reach out to gently touch the youngling’s face, turning it to either side. Had he not given the child a second look, Azul Gol would have believed the boy to be human. Even on inspection, the Thisspiasian’s eyes were still fooled in believing such. “What are you, child?”

“Anzati,” the boy answered obediently, two small bumps rising on either side of his nose – out of which two thin, tendril-like appendages slowly emerged. “We’re, like, super rare an’ so, like, it took my parents awhile to figure it out. They adopted me on Corellia,” the boy added in rapid, rambling sentences that fired one after the other.

Corellia. “That explains the green tunic,” the serpent offered, withdrawing his hand from the boy’s face.

“Uh-huh. I’m gonna be a Green Jedi one day!” the youngling boasted, as the tendrils withdrew back into the pouches on his cheeks.

“Hey, SJ, hurry up!”

Glancing up, the Thisspiasian saw an assortment of tan and gray-clad younglings of roughly the same age as the Anzat, peering out from the entryway into one of the temple refectories.

“Bye, master!” the green-clad youngling chirped, waving excitedly with his hand full of brightly colored plastics as he dashed away to join his friends.

Continuing to brush his talons through the graying beard, the Thisspiasian glided silently over to the corner pillar, peering in on where the group of younglings had settled down on the floor with their play.

“Astral! You got the Mandalorian,” a Rodian hopeful declared, looking down at the assortment of toys the Anzat had returned with.

“Oh! I call Mando!” a young Zabrak declared, swiftly force grabbing the coveted toy from out of the pile.

“I’ve got the Blue Guard. And now your reign of terror has ended... uh...” a Nautolan exclaimed, before trailing off as he looked around the circle of friends. “Uh, did we decide who we’re fighting?”

Bounding over the pile of younglings, the Anzat tackled the aquatic youngster and held aloft a rather distinctive shaped article as he declared, “Poopa the Hutt!”

The mass of boys then erupted into a fit of immature giggling, only increasing as the Rodian chirped, “Jaowey... no... poopa!”

The highlight of the play seemed to be when one of them added a fart as a punchline, sending the boys from juvenile giggles into full volume laughter. The rambunctiousness continued until the Zabrak noted the Thisspiasian observer, the horned boy quickly snapping to his feet and motioning for the others to follow suit. It seemed this was the leader of their little ‘gang.’

Removing his talons from his beard, the Thisspiasian Jedi made an open gesture with his hand as he asked, “None of you are not participating in the lightsaber tournament?”

“SJ got our whole clan disqualified,” the Zabrak boy answered, gesturing toward the Anzati who was now sticking his tongue out at the horned youngling.

“He Force grabbed Gorti Yolan by the pods!” the Nautolan chirped from where he was wedged underneath the other boy.

“It was an accident!” the boy they called ‘SJ’ remarked, throwing his hands up in the air dramatically. “I was trying to grab his leg...”

“A good tactic. When it works,” the Thisspiasian commented honestly. Pausing a moment, the serpent looked over the four younglings a moment before he asked, “What lightsaber forms do you use?”

“Djem so!” the Zabrak boy answered brightly, crossing his arms over his small chest as he looked back at the other boys, obviously proud of himself for his use of the form.

“Shii-Cho!” the Rodian answered, being more the answer that Gol had expected from a group this age.

The Anzati boy and the Nautolan each looked at each other as they answered together, “Soresu!”

Gesturing toward the grinning pair that had identified with the third form, the Zabrak said,“Meet the Soresu sword brothers of Clan Womprat.”

“Otherwise known as the Happy Morons,” the Rodian added quickly, with the Anzat pouncing atop him virtually the same moment he’d spoken and the Nautolan following quickly behind.

His three companions now play-wrestling, the Zabrak looked over at them as though questioning whether to stop them or join their play, before looking back up at the Thisspiasian and asking, “Master, what form do you use?”

Brushing his talons through his beard once again, the snake looked down at the horned boy as he answered, “Oh, Djem so, some Shii-Cho, Soresu now and again... maybe a little Ataru.”

“You’re a Niman practitioner, aren’t you?” the Zabrak boy chirped, though it was clearly more of a statement than a question. Narrowing his eyes up at the bearded snake for a moment, the horned youngling finally remarked, “You must be Azul Gol.”

Beneath the mass of hair shrouding his face, the Jedi had raised both of his eyebrows. To be so recognized was something of an honor. By a youngling doubly so.

“I’ve never heard of a Master Gol,” the Nautolan squeaked, managing to get a word in from where the small amphibian lay at the bottom of the dogpile.

Turning to face his friends, the Zabrak pointed at the Jedi and said, “He’s not a master, he’s just a knight!”

Whatever honor in being recognized that the Thisspiasian may have felt before was suddenly stellar winds out the proverbial airlock. Clearing his throat, and feeling a vein throbbing against his skull, the snake noted, “Yes, my name is Azul Gol. I am a Jedi Sentinel. Normally, I am the watchman for the Auril Sector.”

From the pile of wrestling boys, the Rodian perked up to ask, “The Auril Sector?”

The Anzat’s head shot up, “Oh, Ossus is out there!”

From both above and below him, the Rodian and the Nautolan shared a look between them before grabbing hold of the Anzat’s head and exclaiming,“Droid-brain!” as they drove him under the dogpile once again.

“Yes, Ossus is in the Auril Sector. Very good, SJ,” the Thisspiasian commented sincerely, holding out a hand as he used the Force to separate the three boys and lift them apart. “Ossus is a very important part of our history, younglings,” the Jedi noted in the same somber tone.

“Discovered my Womprats you have, Knight Gol.”

Looking past the Thisspiasian Jedi, the four younglings suddenly straightened up with a kind of ‘caught’ expression on their faces. Recognizing the voice from his own days as a youngling, the bearded snake pivoted around on his coils to bow his respects down to the small, green-skinned ancient of the Jedi that had strode in behind him.

“Among the youngest of the Academy graduates these are, hmmm?" the enigmatic, wisened master remarked, leveling his walking stick to point at each boy in turn as he added, "Attracting attention of potential masters they should be.”

“Yes, master,” the four boys intoned in unison.

Planting his walking stick down in front of the dark-haired Anzati boy, the wizened master scowled as he peered up at the Corellian hopeful. “A rematch young Yolan requests, Sor-Jan,” the grand master of the Order stated, reaching down to his belt to unclip a youngling’s training lightsaber. Holding the low-power saber out toward green-clad boy, the mysterious teacher added, “To the lightsaber tournament your return the Council permits.”

Shifting from side to side in the same manner as he had when the Thisspiasian had questioned his breathing, the young Corellian nervously accepted the device from his instructor even as his eyes were anywhere except on Yoda. “Uh... Thank you, master,” the boy stammered quietly.

Returning his now free hand to his walking stick, the diminutive Jedi Master said, “Apologize to him before the match you will.”

The boy’s head came up instantly. “But I already said it wa...” the youngling began, only to be stopped by Yoda’s expression. Eyes again darting about the room, the boy shuffled his feet as he said, “Yes, master.”

“Defiant you are,” Yoda noted with another scowl. “This attitude a Jedi need not.”

“Yes, master,” the Anzat intoned a second time.

With a wave of his hand, the small instructor of many generations of Jedi dismissed the boys. As they quickly filed out into the corridor, the grand master turned his head up toward the massive serpent. “Knight Gol, something to say have you?”

Brushing his talons through his beard, the Thisspiasian’s eyes stayed at the spot where the Corellian child had vanished into the sea of people mulling through the halls. The distinctive green tunic could still be seen through the sea of brown and gray.

Removing his hand from his beard, the knight at last turned his attention down toward Yoda. “Perhaps, my master,” the Thisspiasian remarked cryptically, bowing his respects before he turned to slide out into the hallway.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~​

L O T H A L
Present Day

He was staring.

He was being rude. "I..." the boy started, trying to apologize, but finding his tongue frozen. Trapped between the memory and the man before him. He'd never thought to meet another of Master Yoda's species, and had only recently accepted the inconvenient truth that he would never again speak with the great master again.

And here came another.

Swallowing, the young Jedi tried again. "I'm sorry. You remind me of..." the boy began, trailing off slightly as he looked more closely. The face. The ears. Similar, but clearly different. Clearly a different individual. He could see that now, but the likeness was still starkly apparent. "...of a Jedi I once knew," the youth recalled, fondly.

How long since he'd faced Gorti Yolan in the lightsaber tournament? And what had ever happened to him?

Gorti, like Sor-Jan's Zabrak friend, had not been selected as apprentices by the Jedi Knights. Only Sor-Jan, the Nautolan, and the Rodian had continued in the Jedi Order. Gorti had gone into the Jedi Service Corps, and then Sor-Jan had never heard of him again. The Rodian, too, had not become a Jedi Knight, but gone instead to serve in the AgriCorps. And the Zabrak, disillusioned and full of egotistical hurt at failing the selection, betrayed and murdered many members of their former youngling clan before he was stopped -- by the combination of a Padawan Sor-Jan Xantha and the Nautolan who had grown into a Jedi Knight.

They served together in the Hyperspace War, the Nautolan and the Anzat. He died in the Yinchorri Uprising, about the same time as Sor-Jan's own master. The Thisspiasian Watchman who had first met the boys when they were being lectured by Yoda.

Whose doppelganger spoke to him now.

Bowing, deeply, toward the small alien, the youth hoped to convey his apologies through the gesture."My name is Sor-Jan," the boy supplied, straightening up for a moment before giving a second, slightly shallower bow. "I am honored to meet you, Padawan Togo."

How remarkable, to have lived so long as to be able to be the teacher to another of Yoda's people, and return to them the lessons he had received from the greatest Jedi who had ever lived. "Have you a lightsaber?" the adolescent Anzat inquired, gesturing with one hand toward the small creature. "Or shall we need draw a training saber for you?"

And so it begins...

[member="Togo"]​

 

[Togo]

Seeing the Jedi turn around, surprised at the small green Padawan before him, Togo gave a blank expression. He wasn't new to people judging him on his size and appearance, he had grown quite used to it. Infact, he became so used to it he normally judged them right back on their appearance, if it was unusual. Though this was a time he would not, as this was a Jedi. One that would teach him as well, so he couldn't afford to do it this time.

The Jedi began to speak, saying he reminded him of a Jedi he once knew. Togo was bewildered at first, but then remembered hearing of the Great Grandmaster Yoda, who was also the same species as he. Although he knew he had been dead and one with the Force for centuries. Even for his species, it would be too long a time to live up to recently.

"My name is Sor-Jan," The Jedi began to say. Togo kept his attention on the Jedi. "I am honored to meet you, Padawan Togo." he finished.

Togo's ears moved in a respectful manner, as he nodded to the Jedi.

Then upon being asked about him having a lightsaber, he nodded again and took off his small cloak that covered his robes, and pulled out a Lightsaber that fit his size. "Ready to begin, I am." Togo said, and got into the basic Soresu stance he had learned in his trainings.

"Learned the basics of this form, from the academy I have. Lucky I am, to have individual training. Thank you." The padawan said, as he ignited his Lightsaber, showing a Green blade appear from the hilt, lighting up the small area around him.

The biggest challenge Togo would face in combat, was his size compared to the opponents. Though he wondered if he could use it to his advantage--as being small would mean he was a smaller target, and have greater mobility against a larger opponent. He hoped his training would help shed some light on this aspect, as he would like to learn as much as he can.

[member="Sor-Jan Xantha"]

 

[Sor-Jan Xantha]

With a jerk of his head, the boy knocked an errant lock of hair from out of his face.

The opening stance, the posture, the small padawan definitely had knowledge of the basics. But could he apply them? "Show me," the boy remarked simply, as he activated the lightsaber in his hands. The Nextor crystal resonated with a rough, unrefined energy. The blade chaotic, unstable, as it glowed with a dark blue that bordered on indigo light.

He sent three quick strikes out at the smaller apprentice. Simplistic, Shii-cho sweeps of the blade, executed with but a snap of the wrist. The first a diagonal cut aimed at the left shoulder. The second a horizontal slice aimed at the right side of the body. The last, a lateral chop directed toward the crown of Togo's head.

All the while, the boy was watching for technique, economy of motion, and whether the padawan was able to sustain momentum as he moved through the three movements.

[member="Togo"]​

 

[Togo]

Togo prepared himself for the attacks, as the Jedi activated his lightsaber to begin. He knew the basics, yes, but he was more accustomed to the Ataru way of fighting, believing it is easier for his small body to fight.

He watched with caution as the Jedi began to strike at him--sending a diagonal cut at his left shoulder. The small green padawan brought his saber left to block, and then leaped over the next strike which was aimed at his side. Immediately after, a strike coming down at the crown of his head, was countered by Togo's blade, and upon making contact, he pushed to down and over to the right side of his body and held the saber lock.

Feeling accomplished, he made a small grin, but then realized if the Jedi were really trying, he would be on the ground with his head rolling away.

He changed it quickly to a nonchalant expression, and continued to hold the saber lock.

[member="Sor-Jan Xantha"]

 

[Sor-Jan Xantha]

The jump surprised him.

"Impressive."

He recognized it, of course. As a Niman practitioner, Sor-Jan had studied Ataru and Shien in addition to furthering the refinement of Soresu. The third form of lightsaber combat had been what had suited him most as a youngling, but his master had other ideas about combat. Of course, as a Jedi Consular, Sor-Jan had never been much of a dedicated student when it came to the lightsaber.

Still, that an apprentice had just seamlessly married Ataru with Soresu was fascinating. "Most impressive, indeed," the boy uttered, as he found the unstable blade in a saber lock with the small padawan. The question was, had that been a fluke? Or was this padawan ready for more of a challenge?

One of Sor-Jan's students, a non-Force user more capable than most Jedi he knew, had been keen on Trakata. He'd actually learned more about Trakata through the training of [member="Triam Akovin"] than he'd probably imparted to her in terms of any practical skill.

De-activating his blade, he broke the connection between them. Pulling his arm back, the boy appeared to be executing a Soresu orbit as he reactivated the blade and held it close to his body -- except he quickly rotated from out of the Soresu manuever into the Falling Avalanche of Form V.

Would the apprentice focus on defense? Or would he show more creativity in combining Form III and IV?

[member="Togo"]​

 

[Togo]

Togo had held the lock--until his opponent deactivated his lightsaber, and formed a Soresu stance. The padawan began to enter a Soresu stance aswell--but suddenly the Jedi shot at him with the Form V Falling Avalanche attack.

Surprised by the attack, he was confused on what to do, and stuck to his instincts of Ataru, and tried to flip, and spin to the right, to evade the attack. It cut into a part of his robes, as he barely evaded the quick attack.

His eyes filled with determination, and he began to flip upwards above the Jedi and slice down at him with his saber. After that he would land and use a horizontal swipe at his legs in quick succession with his last attack, hoping to nick the boy's clothes as he did to Togo.

Togo was still far off to learning Soresu it seemed. It was just against his mindset, as he knew Ataru was about aggressive assaulting from any direction to overwhelm your opponent--which was the exact opposite of Form III.

[member="Sor-Jan Xantha"]

 

[Sor-Jan Xantha]

The last vestiges of the padawan's Form III had been swept away.

The flip and somersault were executed with such grace, Sor-Jan might well have believed he was witnessing Yoda demonstrating the fourth form of lightsaber combat. At the same time, it was fascinating for the vampiric mind-stalker to feel the ebb and flow of emotion in the apprentice. He was determined.

Determined to strike back. Tit for tat. A Soresu orbit swung up to meet the overhead strike, blending down with the motion and energy into the low sword guard stance of Niman as the boy met saber-with-saber just an inch or so away from his knee.

"Your Ataru is excellent," the young Jedi remarked, with genuine sincerity. Part of him was tempted to ask the apprentice for a duel in Form IV. Acrobatics had never been a favorite, and thus Ataru was the one pillar of Niman which the boy more often ignored. To be able to practice it with someone so full of gusto in the art would be a true and rare privilege. "Are you certain that you wish to learn Soresu?"

The question wasn't meant at all to discourage the padawan, merely an observation. "Shien might be a better fit for combating blasters," Sor-Jan noted, as he slowly withdrew his lightsaber and shut it down again. "It's more forceful, and Form V was developed alongside Ataru for the same underlying reason." He was, after all, a Jedi Archaeologist. Safe bet a history lesson was going to be fit in there at some point or another. "That is, Soresu is about passive defense."

Just from what he'd observed, Togo wasn't passive by nature. His instincts were more aggressive.

Sor-Jan was analytical by nature. Perhaps it was an Anzat trait. They were known to be highly selective about their prey. Soresu allowed Sor-Jan time in which to size-up an opponent, their strategies, and techniques. Therefore, even while he'd studied a number of lightsaber forms, Soresu was always what he fell back upon. Buying time, looking for an opening or alternatives to fighting.

"That jump you did earlier," the boy noted, again with respect toward the small padawan's abilities. "You would benefit from the study of Niman as well."

That was not for the faint of heart. It was said that any of the forms took a decade to master. Niman? Three decades, denoting the time spent focusing on the disciplines that comprised the hybrid form.

[member="Togo"]​

 

[Togo]

Togo had been slightly disappointed his attack had failed, but he knew it wasn't likely to begin with, as his opponent had practiced many more years than he has. He stepped back a little, and then noted what the boy was saying. He gave a humble nod in regards to his comment on Togo's Ataru skills. He knew it was his strong point, but he couldn't rely solely on it. He would need the Force, and to be skilled in blaster deflection as well.

Upon him asking if Togo wished to learn Soresu, the padawan nodded, as he wished to master every lightsaber form open to him, although it would be better for him to master what his strengths were in dueling first--so upon hearing about Shien, the old padawan agreed, it would be better, especially if it was meant for Ataru.

"Shien? Better that would probably be. Yes. Wish to learn those forms, I would." He also nodded in agreement about Niman. The more the merrier right?

Hopefully this could be a gateway to much knowledge in the Jedi Arts, such that Togo would need to meet his goal at becoming a Jedi Master, and to protect and explore the Galaxy.

[member="Sor-Jan Xantha"]

 

[Sor-Jan Xantha]

Form V it was then.

Second verse, different from the first. With a snap-hiss the unstable blade of the Nextor crystal again bathed the boy in indigo light. "Shien is the classical Form V," the Jedi historian noted, as he assumed the opening stance of the Form.

Strong leg forward. Supporting leg back. Both arms raised overhead. Blade raised, pointing back. That was the same for Shien and its counterpart. "We consider it a variant today, but Djem So was developed later," the boy remarked, as he stepped forward in order to demonstrate a basic Shien sequence. A dulon as it was known. The movements were akin to Form IV, deviating away from the sweeping, continuous motion of Makashi or Soresu, and more akin to the strikes of Form I. Except there was much more power channeled into the strikes. "You use the Force to increase your physical potential," the boy noted, feeling the Force moving through him as he demonstrated a series of strikes and blocks as he shadow-boxed to demonstrate the form.

"But, unlike Ataru, with its focus on agility, Shien is focused on strength."

The basic edict of Form V: Peace, through superior firepower.

For those Jedi whose passions bubbled close to the surface, Form V could provide an outlet into which they could channel their aggressive feelings. It could bring Jedi dangerously close to the Dark Side of the Force. And, yet, it wouldn't surprise the boy at all if Master Windu's fabled Vapaad hadn't been based on some similar premise. "The goal is to immediately counter-attack," he noted, concluding the demonstration and again facing the small apprentice. "Don't wait for an opening, create your own."

Gesturing with one hand, the boy motioned for Togo to follow suit as the boy again assumed the opening stance and proceeded to execute the same basic pattern he'd demonstrated before, in order to allow the padawan to practice the movements before they moved on a more practical exercise.

[member="Togo"]​

 

[Togo]

Togo would listen to the Jedi speak about the new form, Shien. He would then watch as he showed Togo the stance, and a sequence of movements called a Dulon. He would study the sequence, and get into the stance of shien, following the specifics the Jedi told him.

After getting the stance right, he would begin to try the sequence. As he started, it looked clunky and out of balance, as he was completely new to this form. He took the advice of his master, and began to inhale and exhale, and let the force flow through his diminutive body, to increase the balance, power, and speed of his sequence. After each set, he would revert back to the Shien stance, and started again--to get the feel of the movements, though they were somewhat similar to Ataru, it was still different and would take time to master.

After doing this for awhile, Togo began to get the feel of the movements, getting more fluid with every set.

He also took note of the mindset about the form, knowing that it was a different mindset than Ataru, but if both mastered, he could maybe make his own blend of the forms and preform at a higher level than if he just used one of them.

[member="Sor-Jan Xantha"]

 

[Sor-Jan Xantha]

It was awkward at first.

Starting a new style always was. That was what had kept the boy from venturing into Makashi or Juyo. He felt challenged enough with the knowledge he already possessed, and was equally guilty of neglecting the same. As in the case of his Ataru practice. He was complacent with his lightsaber skills. That was often thought to be the downfall of a Niman practitioner, but it had more to do with being a Jedi Consular than any particular art. Simply put, Sor-Jan could be lazy. A sin he couldn't get away with as a padawan, but as a Jedi Knight there was no Thisspiasian Sentinel cracking the proverbial whip to make him stay sharp on his skills.

As he watched the small apprentice complete the dulon again, the boy stretched out a hand toward a rack of training remotes. Two spherical droids activated, floating over toward the young Jedi. Lightsaber burning in hand, the boy spun the weapon, rotating his wrist as he limbered himself up in preparation for the next demonstration.

GIving the padawan a book to read on this would really have been much, much simpler.

"Now, let's see how you do with a practical exercise," Sor-Jan remarked, as he brought the lightsaber up into the opening stance as the two remotes took up position around him. He snapped into motion the same instant in which the first droid fired, deflecting its shot harmlessly to the floor. The second, he reflected back to the first. Knocking the droid out of the air, as the boy's lightsaber snapped back to cut the remaining droid in half.

Motioning with his hand, the boy summoned another remote to drift over. Then, walking around so that the droid was between himself and Togo, the boy held the lightsaber up in a neutral, ready stance. "I want you to focus on deflecting the blaster bolts," the Anzat said. "Try and direct their path. Control the battle. See if you can hit me with them."

[member="Togo"]​

 

[Togo]

The padawan had managed to get used to the movements, cleanly performing the strikes, and maneuvers of the dulon. Shien was beginning to pique his interest a bit more, noting that it was similar to some maneuvers in Ataru, which he had practiced a good while on. He was starting to feel more fluid in the moves, getting faster with every go. He thought it was a decent form, one he hoped to become a master of one day.

He began to watch as his master had called over some training droids, and began to get into the opening stance of Shien, and started to deflect the the blasters from the droids away. He made short work of the droids, using the Shien techniques to send the blasters back at the droids, and then quickly cut the other droid with his lightsaber gracefully. The padawan began to understand the fundamentals of the technique, seeing it as an alternative for defense, while not taking away the attacking power such as Soresu does.

The Jedi motioned for Togo to try, bringing more training droids over to practice on. The droid moved between Togo and the Anzat, then they both held up their blades in the opening Shien stance, with the blade held above the head, and angled up and behind the user--with the dominant leg held back. "I want you to focus on deflecting the blaster bolts," the Anzat said. "Try and direct their path. Control the battle. See if you can hit me with them."

A blaster bolt fired at Togo, to which he brought his blade down, focusing on the bolt to send it back towards his master. It hit the blade, but was sent flying 2 meters to the right of the Anzat. Togo remained calm, knowing it was just training. Another blaster-bolt came at him, except this time he made a slight curve as he hit the bolt, sending it above his master this time.

He was confused, but then began to remember some of the teachings about the Force that he had learned in his first classes as an Initiate. He closed his eyes, and exhaled and inhaled, letting the Force flow through his diminutive body, and awaited the blaster-bolt once more.

It came, except this time, it was as if he was on auto-pilot. He had no time to think, he just Did--Letting the Force guide his movements, he smacked his blade against the bolt, sending it back, past the droid to his master. He opened his eyes, seeing he had got it to work. "To you, sent the blaster back I have. Worked It has!" the Padawan remarked feeling excited to continue the training, as he has finally gotten the hang of it.

He returned to the opening stance of Shien to await the blaster back at him, with a new look in his eyes.

[member="Sor-Jan Xantha"]

 

[Sor-Jan Xantha]

Left. Up.

Planing out his blade in a horizontal block, the boy caught the bolt in the center of the confined plasma. Consuming the shot rather than reflecting it off the electromagnetic sheath that contained the crystalline energy of the blade. "Good," the boy remarked. The apprentice's progress was encouraging, almost the the point that the boy wondered why he didn't do this more often.

"Now, do it again," Sor-Jan invited, gesturing with his free hand toward the small remote hovering in the air. "Only this time, hit the droid."

In addition to being a smaller target, the training droid would continue moving through the air as it fired. So the padawan would have to look into the Force. Anticipate the movement. Understand how the timing of his moves coincided and intersected the lines of kinetic and potential energy around him.

[member="Togo"]​

 

[Togo]

Togo saw the Anzat swing his blade in a horizontal block, consuming the blaster-bolt that he had sent back. He stood still, trying to imagine how he should take the next blaster-bolt, and send it back using the movements and deflective strikes of the Shien form. He went through the dulon in his mind again, awaiting for the next bolt to come his way, and began to feel out with the Force to guide him like last time--as it helped build his connection to the mystical energy field, and helped with this training at the same time.

"Now, do it again," Sor-Jan invited, gesturing with his free hand toward the small remote hovering in the air. "Only this time, hit the droid."

He should have assumed it would get harder, as the droid began to move around now, making it more complicated than last time. Not only that, he would have to send it back to the droid, and it was a smaller target. Togo gave a quick sigh, and awaited the blaster to come at him again. It shot through the air, coming at him from a different angle. He felt out with the Force, letting it guide him.

He sent the blaster-bolt back, with a powerful swing of his blade, sending it close, but not to hit the droid. He assumed the opening stance again, knowing he didn't anticipate where to sent it last time. He began to focus again, and as the blaster bolt came towards him, he swiftly hit the bolt, anticipating where it would go with the Force, and send it back at the droid, hitting it. It looked more of a graze than a direct hit, but it was enough to knock the droid down.

Togo assumed the stance again, to await the next task.

[member="Sor-Jan Xantha"]

 

[Sor-Jan Xantha]

"Good."

It wasn't just empty words, he was genuinely impressed by the padawan's demonstrated tenacity and progress. Even still, Shien and Ataru wore down the body. And so, even as Togo seemed eager for more, the young Jedi gave a dismissive wave of his hand.

"Rest easy," the Anzat offered, as he moved over toward a padded area of the floor and took a seat in the lotus position. Motioning for the apprentice to join him, he said, "Take time in which to reflect on what you have learned." With the aggressiveness of Form IV and Form V, learning to find his center would be a necessity for the small apprentice. Straightening his back, the adolescent knight tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and drew in a deep breath. "How the movements felt. How you felt. Was the Force flowing through you? or were you struggling against it?"

[member="Togo"]​

 

[Togo]

Togo did feel somewhat tired, after jumping and moving around so much. Although it was easier for him, as the disruptions of Age were not yet upon him. That would take another 500 years or so at the least. The padawan knew there was still many things to learn until he would become a Knight, and he hoped he would become as strong as even the Grand Master Jedi Yoda one day. He was the same species after all, but Yoda was definitely Wiser, and had many centuries more experience in his prime than he does now.

The small green padawan walked over to his master and sat down, and began to get the breathing methods down for his meditation. He closed his eyes, and began to slow his heart rate, breathing deeply while focusing on the Force. He listened to the Anzat, and began to reflect upon the training.

His movements felt awkward at first, but he began to ease into it. His feeling on the matter were mixed. He felt determined, yet at the same time nervous. It was the first time he had individual training, so he did not wish to come off as strange, although his appearance would already show that.

He was able to flow the Force through him, being focused and mature, as he was 281 years old, he had good ability to focus on different tasks and to learn fast.

Overall he was eager, to prove himself a Jedi, and to learn as much as he could.

[member="Sor-Jan Xantha"]

 

[Sor-Jan Xantha]

Stretch out with your mind.

It was the Anzat's voice, yet it hadn't been said aloud. Be mindful of the living Force, the boy noted, as he allowed his mind to wander freely. Padawans, learning the basics of Shii-cho. Youthful, exuberant energy.

A Miraluka painting. Drawing lines and creating abstract concepts that reflected how the blind perceived the world around them.

Elsewhere, Jedi meditating. Each a thread woven into a tapestry that was the Force. Surrounding them. Penetrating them. Binding them together. Sor-Jan to Togo. Togo to the air he breathed. The air they shared.

[member="Togo"]​

 

[Togo]

The Force flowed through the Padawan, and he let loose his mind to slip into a peaceful calm meditative trance. He could feel the strings of the universe all around them, could hear the most quiet sounds, and saw the events of the now.

His master had spoken through the Force, into his mind. Saying, Stretch out with your mind. and Be mindful of the living Force.

Togo began to stretch out further, focusing on events happening elsewhere, he could see his home planet, the forest where he lived. It was Serene, and soundless. Very peaceful, the Padawan recalled. Stretching out further afterwards.

[member="Sor-Jan Xantha"]