The Theory Of The Small

[Xevek Nekonis]

Xavka stood leaning against the wall of one of the training rooms within the Sith Temple, located on Coruscant. He had come here in order to pursue a meeting with Darth Ferus. Soon after joining the Sith Assassins, Xavka had looked through the records of members. The higher ranking the member the less information he had access to, however despite this Xavka could access enough information so as to learn that Darth Ferus, one of the highest ranked Assassin due to his seat on the Council of Four, was knowledgeable in the Force Technique know to most as Art of the Small. A technique Xavka was interested in. He had arranged a meeting with the man and now stood waiting for him to appear.

The room he was waiting in was comprised of four metallic walls, a metallic floor and metallic ceiling which contained rows of artificial lighting. The walls, floor and ceiling were dull and reflected the light badly, which was good as far as Xavka was concerned. The room itself contained little. A mat lay in the middle of the floor, obviously the location where one would spar, while the walls held nothing but a few weapon racks. In all the room was surgical, spartan and cold.

Sighing at the wait Xavka tugged at the collar of his usual black jacket and shifted, cane dragging along the floor slightly as he did so. Xavka was dressed as he usually was but had forgone his most obvious weapon. He was wearing his jacket along with the matching trousers for them. His feat were mainly bare apart from the small amount of cloth wrapped around feet, baring the heel, ball and toes. Around his waist was a chain while tied to his right thigh was a small pouch containing his assassination weapons. Hidden inside his jacket's pockets were his Deer Horn Knives.

Deciding to meditate so as to pass the time, Xavka walked towards the centre of the of the room where he then lowered himself into a sieza, before cupping his hands on top of his legs and bowing his head.


[member="Darth Ferus"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

[member="Xavka Duquo"] wouldn't have to wait long for the once Iridonian now human to enter the room. His signature in the force was all but gone, shrunk down to the size of an atom. Such was the way of the Small after all, and if he was going to talk about it he may as well demonstrate it. Dressed in the simplest clothing he could find (That being some blue jeans and a white shirt) he stepped in barefoot himself. It was a habit from long ago, one that showed his relaxed and uncaring attitude when there was no fight to be had. Or at least nothing too serious for him.

Slowly and quietly he would move to sit across from the pale Zabrak, sitting cross legged with both of his hands set atop his knees. For once the Darth was weaponless, a rare fact due to his new uncyborg body. However, if one counted the Force he was perhaps one of the most well armed. Golden eyes fixated on the rogue padawan sitting across from him as he went over a couple mental notes. This boy was new to the Assassins, and a true Iridonian to the core. An Iridonian that Ferus could consider a brother, should the blood prove correct. For minutes he sat quiet, staring directly into the others eyes, as if trying to read his mind.

Not that he could.

Finally, the Red Assassin clapped his hands together and spoke up, his voice crisp and clear.

"So, you wish to learn the way of the Small, or at least the theory. Where would you like to begin?"

 

[Xevek Nekonis]

Xavka opened his eyes when he heard the man in front of him address him. He had heard and smelt him enter but no matter how much he tried he had not been able to sense his presence through the Force. "Darth Ferus I assume?" Xavka's yellow eyes, one sharp and one dull, observed the man before him even as he bowed his head and shoulders into a short bow. "I hope you don't mind me calling you Be-Av'vyshtal - Great Warrior?"

The dark skinned Iridonian reached into the pouch on his leg to withdraw one of his senbon needles, which he began to spin around his fingers. "As to where to begin on the theory, how about the beginning? What is it exactly that Art of the Small allows a practitioner to do, to act, to feel? I understand the very basic description, of course. How else would I know what skill to ask about? But ... beyond that ... I know nothing."


[member="Darth Ferus"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

"Ah, so you are of true Iridonian." A smile formed over the humans face. He would say nothing of his own connection to the Iridonian heritage, but rather focus on the question at hand. A sigh would escape his lips as he began, for he knew how long and boring normal talking could be.

"Art of the Small is at it's core the ability for the user to shrink down their presence to minuscule levels. Atomic levels even. This gives the user two distinct advantages. First, the ability to hide their usage of the Force. As such a small presence, not even the strongest masters can find you, but doing so takes years of dedication. The second, the ability to freely manipulate the attomic structures of the world around you. This is not an easy thing however, for you must first keep your signature small, and then know what atoms go where, and what changing one can do. The last thing you'd want is to blow yourself up. But with this structure changing your options are limitless. You can modify your body to produce poisons and healing solvents. Make the ground below you weak and crumbling. Turn armor into bombs. All need time, but as you continue to learn it will become easier."

He paused for a moment, looking [member="Xavka Duquo"] up and down once.

"Why do you want this theory anyway?"

 

[Xevek Nekonis]

Xavka hummed as he absorbed the information, memorising it and storing it away within his mind for later review. At Ferus's question, the needle he continued to spin stilled. "What do I want this for?" He raised a brow as he repeated the question.

He looked, blankly, off to the side as he considered his reply. "You could call quantum physics and atom physics a ... hobby of mine. I possess a deep interest within these fields and conduct independent research into them a lot. Since I have been introduced to the Force, I have had a deep interest in accounts of what can be done by manipulating the mysterious field of energy. I have come across accounts of beings walking through walls, conjuring fire, creating wormholes. Imagine my wonder once I realised how these account could be linked back to the physics I have an interest in. Walking through walls became manipulation the structural density of a wall by increasing movement of the atoms, causing it to enter a more malleable and gaseous state. Conjuring fire became causing combustion by producing friction between two or more atoms. Creating wormholes became ..." He stopped when he realised that part way through his speech he had begun to pace.

Coughing slightly in embarrassment Xavka retook his seat. "Became something that I'm sure you have no interest in hearing. Anyway, I noticed that there was a common link, movement. This caused me to look at telekinesis, an ability to move items with your mind, but I thought of it on a smaller scale, moving atoms with your mind. Here was a chance for me to explore my theories. However there is one flaw: it is impossible to guide the Force in such a manner. You simply can't see, touch or hear something so minuscule, so have no way to guide the Force. Then I came across the Art of the Small, which is said to allow someone to feel the very atomic structure of the universe, something you just confirmed. And it just fell into place. Here was a way that would allow me to actually do my experiments." He stopped again when he noticed that he had begun to gesture in a very large way,

Xavka once again coughed in embarrassment before continuing after composing himself. "In summery, I wish to learn so as to do my tests and explore avenues of the Force and my passions."


[member="Darth Ferus"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

"The ability is beyond your current level child. Even Sith Lords have trouble, for you're not just affecting the world but yourself. As I stated, you must make yourself.. Small so to speak, to mess with the atomic structure of things. Then you must figure out how to affect the world, what can be changed where with ease and whats harder to do. The theory behind it is not an easy thing to explain without you being able to do so yourself."

A deep sigh came from the human as he glanced off, pondering the next action. Asides from a basic explanation, the rest of this theory of the small would be almost impossible to explain. But there was something [member="Xavka Duquo"] said that caught his attention. Fire. Holding out a single hand, the Sith Lord would conjure up a pitch black flame, it's color clearly modified. However, any force sensitive nearby could feel what was going on.

The fire was feeding off of the Force. Eating it to stay alive.

"There are multiple ways to create Fire with the force. If you want to learn, I can show you a far easier path."

 

[Xevek Nekonis]

Xavka sat with his eyes closed, considering all that Ferus had just spoken. He has felt the Force being drawn into the flame, fuelling it and definitely wanted to learn how to do so, but he had come for information on The Art. However, there was not much information to be gained, it seemed, without being able to experience what would be talked about. Eventually he sighed and opened his eyes.

"I am grateful for your offer to teach, Be-Av'vyshtal, thank you. I would very much like to learn how to manipulate fire just as you did. However, may I make a request? I understand that The Art is outside of my reach, but would you be willing to explain the learning process and the history of such a powerful skill, to the best of your ability? To satisfy my curiosity?"


[member="Darth Ferus"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

"History I know nothing of. I was given the ability to forge my first sword, changing it's metallic substance and reversing it's magnetic polarity similar to a Sith Sword, but not naturally dark sided. I learned on my own, manipulating other components to my will and even altering my own body. Tears that provided a healing solution stronger and so much faster to act than Bacta, if in limited quantities. Claws that could exude poison. It changes genetics just as much as it changes atoms. How you learn it however, is by shrinking down your signature. Compressing it upon itself smaller and smaller. One could picture it like pushing down a bubble, or folding a piece of paper. But the signature is a finical thing, often snapping back like a rubber band. You have to work at it, get it loosened and manipulable through constant practice before you'd be able to shrink it down to an atomic level."

Ferus paused for a moment to scratch his chin, looking the Zabrak over rather slowly.

"I can show you how to begin to shrink down your signature. You won't be able to make it small enough to be ignored, but it would get your foot in the door."

 

[Xevek Nekonis]

Xavka nodded periodically through Ferus' explanation on The Art of the Small while committing the information he was receiving to memory as best he could, as he planned to go through the information at a later date so that he could start to investigate into the theory behind the technique. He was snapped out of the slight haze he had entered during that time when he heard Ferus offer to begin teaching him the basics behind the Art. Xavka did not reply immediately to the offer, instead he thought it through carefully.

"I thank you for the offer, Be-Av'vyshtal, I greatly appreciate it. I would very much like to learn this from you."


[member="Darth Ferus"]
OOC Note:

Spoiler

Sorry if this is a bit short, I couldn't think of anything else to add.

 

[Darth Ferus]

"Good good, now. Sit." Ferus began to pace now, his mind sort of beginning to drift off. The way this Sith taught was.. Peculiar, and he would begin the lesson without any delay.

"To shrink your signature, first you must find it. Essentially, everything you are affects the living force around you. Art of the Small teaches one how to shrink their affection on the force down, until it is but an atomic affection. What you must find is where you end in the Force and everything else begins. Close your eyes, feel around you. This is as much knowing yourself as it is knowing what isn't."

[member="Xavka Duquo"]

 

[Xevek Nekonis]

Xavka watched the Sith pace with a slight expression of amusement on his face. He was sitting after all. However, Xavka didn't point this out and instead shook his head so as to focus on what Ferus was saying. Nodding at the end on the mini lecture, Xavka sank into thought before following Ferus's orders. 'I know how to sense the presence of others and have done so regularly but I've never, in all that time, sensed my own presence.' He frowned slightly as he continued to stare at the floor. 'So how can this be done?'

He hummed as an idea appeared in his head. Closing his eyes and sinking into the Force, Xavka focused his attention inwards towards his body. That done he slowly spread his awareness, moving it away from his body slowly, examining the feeling of the Force constantly, looking for any difference. Eventually, when the edge of his awareness was about a meter away from his body, Xavka felt a change in the way the Force felt. After examining this difference he concluded that the area of the Force beyond that change felt of: ConstantEveryoneChaoticFlowingEverywhereCalm and so much more. Where as the area within the boundary felt of what he could only describe as himself.


[member="Darth Ferus"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

The Iridonian human continued to pace back and forth, silent now as he watched [member="Xavka Duquo"] in his meditation. For now, there was little he could do but watch the younger Iridonian patiently. Perhaps begin to plan out the next training lesson, for even though Xavka could possibly get the beginning of the Small down, there was no way for him to learn farther just yet.

Fire is what came to mind, as the Zabrak seemed interested in learning such an ability. So for now, he began to think on how exactly he would teach him such a skill.

 

[Xevek Nekonis]

Xavka continued to feel along the boundary, tracing where his presence physically ended, even as he subconsciously acknowledged Ferus's pacing in front of him. He explored the surface of his aura in all three dimensions, following it into the ground, in front of him, behind him and above as well as every other possible direction. Once he mapped out his presence and committed it to memory, he set to work on what he guessed to do next going from what Ferus had said earlier.

He reached out mentally into his aura and began to focus on pulling it in. He did not wish to use the Force in this endeavour, after all one of the main points of this ability was that it hid you in the Force, it would be counter productive to use the Force to hide in it.

He continued along that vein for a few minuets, encountering no success. Stopping, he delved into his memory to explore everything Ferus had revealed to him. One thing stood out; that you would perceived things on a smaller level. That, to Xavka, meant that the mind and the presence were link. Focusing this time on his own mind as well as his aura, Xavka imagined a flame before him and focussed on it, attempting to minimize it. At the same time he tried to pull his aura in, to use it to perceive the flame better.


[member="Darth Ferus"]

 

[Xevek Nekonis]

As he focussed his attention on the flame before his minds eye, Xavka felt his aura slowly begin to shrink. The process was by no means fast, in fact it was almost impossible to perceive the change as it occurred, but Xavka, who was focussing on feeling any differences within said aura, felt it and was heartened at it. Especially since his flame was slowly becoming smaller at the exact same rate. Bolstered by the success, the Iridonian attempted to pull his aura in even faster, forgetting for a moment that it was his focus on the flame that was actually assisting his subconscious on the event. The result of this lapse of attention resulted in the mental flame being extinguished and his aura snapping across the small distance it had travelled and back into place, causing minor echoing ripples to roll through the Force.

Xavka let out a loud huff in annoyance at himself at this failure, especially since the absence of the flame had made him remember what was helping him succeed in the first place. Sighing slightly he shifted slightly before settling back into his meditative state and trying again.

Once again he conjured his mental flame and focussed on linking his aura and mind to it. That done he let the flame slowly start to decrease in size while attempting to view it clearer at the same time. Wishing to see the individual wisps of fire as the transitioned through heat and changed colour, while small sparks danced inside.

This time though, Xavka noticed a slight difference. During the time in which he was returning his aura to the state it was before he had lost control, he realised that the flame and as such his aura was shrinking fast and that he could perceive everything within his aura as well as the flame in more detail. The change was minute but it was there. Quirking a brow at this an idea formed inside the Iridonian's head. Releasing his flame, Xavka's aura returned to its starting state, this time, however, it was purposeful. Once again compressing his aura he noticed that the short distance was transverses even faster this time, however his perception did not increase.

Holding his aura where it was, Xavka's mind raced. 'It would seem that the more times I compress my aura over a distance, the quicker the distance can be covered. However my perception does not increase but it is easier to explore the new perspective. That means the small the aura the more detail that can be viewed but the more often I view that perception the easier it is to see or explore it.' Nodding at his conclusion, Xavka released his aura before once again beginning to compress it.


[member="Darth Ferus"]

 

[Xevek Nekonis]

Three hours later, Xavka has sweat beading on his brow from the strain of attempting to compact his aura as small as possible. He growled as he once again lost control of his aura and it snapped back into place, sending ripples echoing thought the Force. That had been his best attempt yet, succeeding to control his aura enough so that it was only thirty centimetres from his body. Growling again, he tried to ignore the thunderous headache that was pounding behind his forehead.

Calling the flame to the forefront of his mind he once again attempted to control his aura, to compress it so that it was contained inside of him. Focussing on the blue and yellow flame, Xavka focussed again on makining it shrink while increasing his view of it. During the three hours, Xavka had remembered a study he had read that had proved that blue was a calming colour that influenced intelligence, efficiency and calmness while yellow influenced confidence, creativity and emotional strength. Deciding that it couldn't hurt, he had changed the mental flame into these colours.

Focussing, Xavka quickly shrunk the flame, and as such his aura, until the boundary of his aura was forty centimetres from his body, then it began to slow. Taking a deep breathe Xavka focused his entire attention on the flame and slowly began to condense it. It kept shrinking until his aura was fifteen centimetres from his body. That was when he lost control again. His aura once again snapped back into place but this time the resulting echoes had an effect of the Iridonia that caused them. The echoes added the the mental strain of the last attempt as well as the headache and was too much, causing Xavka to collapse sideways and bring up whatever was in his stomach.


[member="Darth Ferus"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

Ferus was quiet as [member="Xavka Duquo"] went about his trials. Focused on him, the Lord too noticed the changes within the young Zabrak, and he was impressed by it. Not many could do as Xavka was, and fewer still could do so well when just starting. Even as he doubled over to the side and voided his stomach. Ferus would move over to his form, crouching down as he gently patted the acolytes back.

"Careful now. This isn't how I expect any Sith to die."

 

[Xevek Nekonis]

Xavka groaned slightly as he spat of a mix of bile and phlegm. His head was still spinning, ripples of pain echoing up and down his forehead light white hot, arcing electricity. He hated this. Him bent over, spitting up what was left of the former contents of his stomach which had gotten stuck the the sides of his throat on the way up. His anger increased when he felt Ferus's hand on his back. His anger wasn't directed towards Ferus for that though, no, if anything he was grateful for the attempt of help. The anger was directed at himself. He was Iridonian, he was of Ru Uiging. He should not be showing weakness like this.

Lifting himself up from the floor on shaking arms, barely withholding a groan as a new wave of pain rolled through him, Xavka forced himself to sit. He stared at the waste next to him as a new emotion joined the self-anger, shame. This incident had damaged his pride in such a way that it was an almost physical blow to the Zabrak. Looking up at Ferus, Xavka felt an idea grow inside his head and smiled his usuak smile, a slightly dark one.

"You know what would be fun. A duel between me and you. I don't have any illusions about winning, but it'll be fun to see how I measure. What do you say?" There was, of course, more to the request than what was said. In Xavka's mind the only way to regain the pride he had thought to have lost would be to fight and that the tougher the fight the better. He would not have to win, just put up a good show.

[member="Darth Ferus"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

A brow raised as [member="Xavka Duquo"] issued his challenge. Standing up, the Sith crossed both his arms over his chest. A duel? Well, he was always ready for a duel. "The question is, do you want to duel as Sith, or Iridonian?" Perhaps that would send a shock for Xavka. Ferus, while in a human body, was still the boys own kind. And Ferus absolutely loved shocking people, be it literal or just emotional. For now he would wait for the boys response though.

 

[Xevek Nekonis]

When he heard what Ferus had said, a surge of powerful emotion exploded through his body, threading through every muscle and weaving around every bone. Surging to his feet, Xavka snarled in the Sith Lord's direction. "Who are you to even dare to insinuate that an Iridonian would fight a human in the rituals of his elders?" Pure, passionate anger dripped from every syllable as if it was an abundant amount of poison. Despite this though he hardly looked threatening. His legs were shaking, barely managing to hold his weight while his arms hung limp at his sides and his brow was feverish and slick with sweat. The only thing that kept Xavka upright was pure will and anger.

[member="Darth Ferus"]

 

[Darth Ferus]

"Sharee fej jendnouk et tleva I'sharee Eder. Shuree het res'Sharen." A frown formed over the mans face as he watched [member="Xavka Duquo"] move up into his face. If the boy wasn't practically falling apart in front of him from his earlier over excursion, he may have simply punched Xavka in the face to teach a lesson of respect. "My body died, and rather than die with it I got a new one fitting a mission I had to do. Mind your place."

Golden eyes would stare directly into the eyes of the younger one, unflinching as he waited for the Acolyte to step back. If he didn't, he would have his duel. Just not in the way he would like.