[Open] Repulsing and Grippig was the Scene.

[Flamjetxx]

Spoiler: OPEN THREAD: PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING!

In this thread, Ark is attempting to learn Crusader Level skills: Force Grip, Force Choke, and Force Repulse. Any other Crusader Ranked Sith are more than welcome to join in the thread and learn these skills with Ark. This is NOT a class, but rather an effort for Crusaders to learn these skills. I will also be willing to learn more skills per suggestion either ICly or OOCly, so don't be shy in asking!

In the event a Master wants to join in and show up us Crusader(s), please do so. Learning from a Master gives more cresit towards the skill than a solo thread or group thread between Crusaders ;) Thank you all in advanced for your participation!

With all the writing on Force abilities, no matter what it is, there is only so much that just words can tell you. Experience is the real teacher. The act of doing something truly builds the memories and the ability to recall something. To feel something done is much better than to imagine it occurring via the description of another. So it is Ark's endeavor to accomplish the task of actually performing the certain abilities.

Unfortunately, what the text doesn't tell him of the ability is largely unknown to him without someone else present to actually tell him what's missing. All he knew of using these abilities was the bare minimum. The physical functions of them is all he knows from his readings.

What about the Force? How is it drawn upon? What emotions fuel such abilities? Exactly how is this ability executed? What sciences are applied with this ability? Ark didn't need a description of the ability, but rather to have it done.

Thankfully, Ark's pre-existing wealth of knowledge of Force abilities could only assist him in deciphering the mysteries of these abilities.

Ark waves his hand, and the doors to the room open, allowing a figure to stumble into it. Trapped in the room with Ark, he realized that his time stuck in here wouldn't likely be pleasant. Shackles still bound his arms behind his back, though largely unnecessary with the Kushari outmatching the man in nearly every way. Fear permeated from the man, and Ark could nearly smell it on him. This wasn't exactly something Ark craved though, because his Fear had nothing to do with what Ark desired from him. He'd simply be the test dummy.

Standing out of his kneeling meditative position, Ark faced the shackled man. Ark could feel that he was Force Sensitive. Not too sensitive, but enough for Ark to know he's had some degree of training. He may even be able to resist Ark in some way. It made sense considering he was found aiding Jedi. He'd probably gone through some training with them. It only made him that much more of a threat. As far as Ark knows, he could be executed tomorrow. At least he was serving a purpose before anything of the likeness happens.

Ark's paw raises, and like using the force to lift an object and control it, Ark attempts to take hold of the man and lift him into the air. The hold grasps the man and begins to lift him, but the prisoner fights Ark. Despite his concentration and view of his target, Ark's efforts were with little success.

What am I doing wrong? What am I missing? Ark asks himself.

He fights back... That fact is important, and Ark wants to figure out just why it's important, but his mind is clouded by the words the man now speaks. Babbling, the man makes no success in speaking to Ark. For all Ark knew, he was trying to convince him of his guilt. In any other situation, Ark would be patient and simply focus his concentrations on cracking the issue, but this feral force within him ate at him, and instinct took the reigns, even if only for a moment, and in an effort to silence the man, Ark flicks his wrist and the man flies into the wall. A grunt and a bend over body reveals the true power of the push. He'd taken the hint at least, and Ark was able to concentrate.

Finally, it hits Ark. Ark was trying to control the man as if he were an object; but objects cannot resist the Force. Only a living creature can resist the will of the Force, and so perhaps Ark should treat him as a living creature. Ark must get inside the man.

In his second attempt, Ark sends the energy of the Force to enter the man, not taking a hold of him as if a log or a light saber hilt, but rather as if a puppet that Ark's mind controlled. In a sense, Ark was the puppet master, and if he so chose, he would make the man dance.

The resistance came, and Ark's concentration was breaking, but it finally became easier when Ark had a firm hold on the prisoner. Ark was too deep this time, and Ark was able to lift the man from the ground. Ark could tell that it hurt the man too, because as he did so, he began to groan. Teeth clenched, Ark could tell that it hurt him, perhaps from a recent injury, or simply the fact that someone else controlled his limbs. Granted, Ark hadn't yet much of a clue what he was doing as he'd only just now discovered the ability's initial secrets. Finally, Ark's concentration broke, and the prisoner's efforts to resist push Ark away once more.

Ark may have returned to his efforts if that of which distracted him wasn't the door. Someone wanted in, and if Ark didn't let them in, he wouldn't likely be able to concentrate on the task at hand again. It is amazing to think of how extraordinarily similar the task of controlling an object with the Force compared to exerting your will upon simply gripping another Force sensitive (not to mention a non forceful). The line of sight with your physical target was highly important, and the concentration was much more than he'd expected. It was quickly draining Ark to constantly fight this man's will. Ark needed a short break if he were to attempt this again.

 

[Flamjetxx]

A second prisoner was forced into the room by the imperial guard that was keeping an eye on him outside the training room. He must've heard struggling, and assumed that Ark had finished with the first; His assumption was wrong, and it was actually quite embarrassing for Ark. Although, the Imperial wouldn't have a clue just how difficult it is for a Force sensitive such as Ark to simply create the ability from mere literature he'd read previously. It was Ark's fist attempt to Grip someone with the Force, and despite knowing that, it still didn't comfort Ark to know that the Guard had mistaken Ark's failure for success.

Nearly losing control of his temper, Ark snapped at the guard, "Bring me the holocron."

Ark's intention was to immediately usher the man out of the room while actually allowing him to serve a purpose beyond the prevention of observing and analyzing Ark's lack of success. He, feeling Ark's temper on edge, quickly attempted to force the prisoner out of the room with him as he did what he was told. The prisoner was reluctant despite being as clumsy in his shackles to make it any easier for himself to be removed by the Imperial. Ark immediately, sensing the reluctance in the man and wanting the Imperial out faster, waves his hand at the Imperial guard, "Leave him. I won't be much longer with this one."

It may have been an attempt to save himself the examination of his failure, but it also helped, inadvertently, to almost redeem himself. That, and it was motivation to get it right the next0 time. Ark could sense a spike of fear in the room as both men heard his comment. The panic struck the first prisoner as he leapt to his feet in a last ditch effort to escape this moment; And in a snap of reluctant anger, Ark catches the man in the same grip of the Force as before, but this time there was something different, better. Ark's anger funneled outward at the man. It was something small in anger, simply the result of his embarrassment and the anger spawned from the man's cowardice in trying to run.

Ark was surprised by the control and strength the emotional tie to the dark side gave him. Then, it dawned on Ark. Force Grip is a power that is unique to the dark side. Of 'course, few Jedi are capable of the technique, but only by drawing on the same emotional energies that are so closely linked with the dark side. It was Ark's connection to the dark side that he was missing only moments before.

Realizing the error of his ways, Ark's grip easily shatters the guard of the weakened force sensitive. Ark could feel what little light was within him blow out like the flame of a candle. And finally, Ark was able to lift him into the air with ease as he struggled under the pressure of the grip. His breaths were short and very labored and his struggle was distressed. He was far from calm, and it was only the end of his consciousness that was Ark flicking the body against the wall behind him with the full force gifted to Ark through the dark side.

Ark was amazed at how much he could actually feel within the man s Ark had gripped him previously. It was almost akin to invading someone's mind, except that instead of emotions, memories, and thoughts that Ark would pick up, he could feel his breathing, his blood flow, and the tensions of his muscles fighting back against Ark's control over him. Although Ark had yet to discover just how to manipulate such things with as much precision, Ark was determined to figure it out, and the best way he'd soon find is via choking the men.

The remaining prisoner was left scrambling on the ground in his feeble attempt to get to the locked, training room, door. Ark had nearly forgotten about him in his concentration on the other man. It really took a lot of concentration to maintain the ability, and the necessity for a constant line of sight made it easy to completely forget about the whereabouts and actions of the other.

At least, now Ark's full attention is on his next target. This time, Ark had something better in mind. Precision. Ark was the type to prefer quality over quantity. At this moment, it really couldn't have been more true, and his first attempt was rough. The man, having his back turned to Ark was violently flipped by the cause of the Force acting by Ark's will. On his back, he tried to scramble away as Ark envisioned his neck gripped by Ark's hold on the Force. Like the grip, successfully performed moments earlier, Ark reached out with the Force with his eyes directly on his reddened neck.

The soft flesh of the neck gave into the unseen Force, but only for a moment, when Ark's accuracy was found to be sub par. His grip essentially slipped. Ark dug into himself to find the anger he desired to fuel himself. Like drawing upon the energy t build up lightning, Ark focused on his past failures and his father's death. It was his only source for anger to know that he could have potentially failed his dead father with his every inadequacy. It was infuriating, and though it wouldn't make him tremble, he could feel the Anger boil over him. Thankfully, Ark prided himself in his control over his own emotions, and so utilizing the anger he'd generated in fueling his more precise attempt to grip his victim was a surprisingly easier task than previously imagined.

Ark could imagine the force, like a collar, latching onto the neck of the man on the ground. His eyes widen in the inability to defend himself. His body and mind fighting back physically and with minimal amounts of Force sensitivity, but it was far too little and far too late to stop Ark now. Ark's grip, focused purely on the neck in general lifted the man off the ground slowly, and it was only after his feet left the ground did Ark focus more precisely on his range of targeted area.

Ark could feel the throat closed ad he could feel the anguish of the man struggling for air, but Ark needed something better. Ark's grip locates the carotid artery and closed the vessels with his grip. It was rough and lacking perfect precision, but Ark knew that it would come with experience and practice. And almost immediately, the man passed out; The lack of oxygen taking its toll on his consciousness did the intent Ark had for him, but Ark refused to let go until he sensed his presence in the force snuffed out completely. The death only fueled his connection to the Dark Side, and Ark let the body collapse on the ground at his feet. There was only one other life in the room now, and he was unconscious.

 

[Flamjetxx]

By the time Ark could sense the holocron, he was only just choking the life out of the now conscious initial prisoner. Nameless and weak, they were a great testing dummy for Ark to try the new abilities on, but they were merely barely passable as being able to be tested on. The slight orange tint in his, ordinarily blue, eyes caught the imperial as before he even opened the training room door with the holocron in possession. He was obviously quite trusted to be recommended for the job of bringing the holocron to Ark, but that wasn't the first thing on Ark's mind at the moment. It was the alluring, dark, presence of the holocron.

Ark shook his head slightly as if it would literally shake off the dark presence, but of 'course, it was the power of clarity his mind would try to produce that brings his mind into a clearer state of thought. If he was going to learn something, especially a neutral power, he best didn't need the dark side influencing his thoughts. Ark was they type to avoid the heavy toll of emotions on his mind, and it was unfortunate that Ark was slowly succumbing to these thoughts upon the occasion, but it was currently the only way he really knew how to utilize such abilities as Choke and Lightning.

Ark was just as much a student as he was a Sith, and the balance needed to be found.

Ark waves the man away as he retrieves the holocron via the grasp of the Force. Hovering in the middle of the room, Ark waits a patient second to clear his mind before attempting to open it. Closing his eyes, Ark reaches out with the Force to attempt to open the holocron with the Force. The intricacy of the holocron was almost deterring, and it was far more difficult to open than the rest of the holocrons he'd attempted to open. There was certainly a good secret to be found in this one.

Finally. It opens.

Whoosh! An air seems to blow out, but it stung. It boiled the skin, and stabbed the eyes and nostrils with an unknown effect. It was horrible. A stench filled the room that was so grotesque that no creature in the Galaxy would be curious about, but rather run from in an attempt to never have to smell it again. A screech joins in that causes Ark's ears to fold down, and it sends stabbing chills down his spine as it make him want to contort himself into an incapable quadriplegic. A light forms as thousands of images flash before his eyes. Images of horror, disgust, horror. It was meant to be truly disgusting and repelling. And the finally level. His mind was invaded with thoughts unique to Ark's own disgusts. Dishonor. Lack of Loyalty. The coddled and incapably weak. It truly repulsed Ark in every way.

Ark wouldn't have even been aware of anyone entering the room to such an experience, if it were to happen.

 

[Bantha]

A missing holocron. ’Who would have the audacity to do such a thing!’ Tsukihana muttered rather loudly as another hopeful bowed and quickly scuttled past. She padded down the hallway in her soft boots, spine military-straight and shoulders back, moving with frightful purpose that was mirrored in her aura and sent acolytes cowering. It was only an outward performance, however, as she’d learnt quickly that getting others to do what you wanted sometimes meant ‘fudging’ how you looked and felt to them. It was certainly useful in her tasks as a new librarian, which mostly consisted of doing menial tasks and errands, and watching to make sure people didn’t walk off with valuable tomes and other artifacts.

Glancing at her datapad, she confirmed she was the door to the training room where some thief had taken the priceless holocron. It had a small tracking device embedded in an inconspicuous hinge, the device itself smaller than the nail on a human’s little finger. Most who checked them out didn’t realize the librarians could tell where they went up to a certain range. Maybe it was a breach of privacy, which was why the Masters and above had theirs disabled, but the general consensus was that a stolen artifact was much, much worse than enduring a few complaints.

Summoning the Force around her fingertips, she raised her right hand and blasted the door open on its old metal hinges, meaning the guards had to quickly move so they were not hit. The wind generated from the door’s motion sent her heavy, skirted junior librarian robes and headscarf swirling. Stepping inside, she placed one hand on the pommel of her shamshir; as librarians they were discouraged from carrying lightsabers or blasters, lest an accident set fire to an ancient scroll or book.

’Please! Be careful with that. It’s very old, and the head librarian would have both our bloody hearts on a silver platter before her if it somehow was damaged. For some reason, it was taken from the library’s artifact chamber without following proper check-out procedures—she glared at the guards--so it’s absence was not recorded in the ledger. I was sent to track it down.

“In the meantime, if you ever need to know anything about certain holocrons, that one in particular, I’m willing to help. In return, I may partake of its contents alongside you.”

 

[Flamjetxx]

A brief reprieve from the grotesque. The metal door flew open with the presence of a relieving push that disrupted the holocron, even if only for a moment. Ark sighed the breath he'd unintentionally caught in his lungs. As he exhaled, it was fresh, and it reminded him that he could indeed breath, unlike the disgusting air he'd been forced to choke down only a second earlier.

Ark's ears rung in echo of the screeching that once filled them, and yet, he could hear the Sith speak clearly. Ark's head cocked in a jerking motion at the intruder in the training session. Tsukihana. Ark was familiar with her, having trained alongside her on his way to Crusadership, but he an't remember any particular moments in which he'd actually introduced himself to her. And Ark may have given her a bow and an introduction if it weren't for the fast pace things had seemed to have taken. Realizing that the guards didn't follow proper protocol, they being consequently knocked unconscious, and the return of the dreadful effects of the holocron.

Ark's foremost concern was whatever the heck the holocron was trying to do to him, and somehow he'd become unwilling to even learn the holocron. Hell of a way to teach someone. The effects would return to effect both Ark and Tsukihana this time. Whatever she'd come to experience, Ark assumed it wouldn't actually be the same thing. Ark was always one to pride himself in quelling his own emotions for clarity of thought, and yet this holocron got inside of him and tugged at what made him cringe. It was odd too, because Ark was a Master of mental protection, thanks to his intensive training in Teras Kasi. The mere notion alone that the holocron could pick out those things and contort them so that he felt disgust in such a manner had worlds of meaning. Whoever recorded this holocron was sick and powerful.

The truth of the matter is that the holocron would make anyone, no matter how vetted to such things they are, become literally repulsed by the holocron. It was the singular purpose of introducing the students of the holocron. Maybe it was simple a security measure to ensure that only those of Crusader and higher Rank were capable of sitting through the intro. Regardless, it felt like half a eternity, and Ark was actually beginning to believe the holocron had become corrupted like the Force Stealth holocron he'd used with Truitt.

Finally, the break. It broke into an eerie silence. Nothing, but a very disturbing ringing of the ears was left for the pair of Sith, and Ark was about to speak up when he was interrupted by the holocron. It seemed that introductions and explanations would have to come after the holocron had run its course.

Force Repulse, a booming voice thundered throughout the training room. There was no face, but merely an image, as if recorded, showing a Forceful utilizing the skill to knock back several enemy combatants in a variety of ways. It was a collection of short clips showing the skill performed.

The voice only allowed enough time of pause for the observers to soak in the images and for the echo of his voice to dissipate down the exposed hallway.

Force energy being expelled outward in all directions, the thundering voice continued with another obnoxious pause, and more images to fill it.

Ark shook his head, at least that explains the introduction. Repulse, as a Force ability, had nothing to do with aweful smells and obsurd noises. The inroductio was simply to screw with them in the worst kind of way. Why couldn't he have just found a teacher? He had to use a holocron... He should have known that his past experiences with them would lead to this holocron being no less annoying, and difficult to tolerate.

Ark decided that it could take a while, and so, for their own privacy, Ark decided that, if the other Crusader decided to stay, they would require from the prying eyes of passing Acolytes. The holocron, was obviously meant for their own rank, and so Ark lifted the broken chunk of metal, leaning on the wall, and fit it into the hole that was once the doorway. 4 limp bodies, a damaged metal door, and a loud, deep voice... What must they be thinking?

 

[Phoenix]

Javik made his way through the temple. He had come here with Ark in an attempt to gain some additional skills and, though it turned out he was late, which he absolutely hated, he still planned to show up to their little training session. He rolled his eye slightly at himself. He really did detest being late, but sometimes there were simply unforeseeable circumstances that came up.

His pace carried him hurriedly through the halls of the temple. In truth, Javik was surprised by how filled it was, considering it was a desolate planet, the Sith maintained a sizeable presence on the planet. He passed a number of Acolytes in the hallway before finally arriving at the site where they were to train.

He could feel the presence of another Crusader besides Ark, and it felt like a familiar presence. Vaguely at least, he thought perhaps he had taken a class with her before? Perhaps he’d find out soon enough. In the doorway were a pair of Acolytes who had come to investigate the torn away door.

He stood in the doorway for a moment listening to the holocron’s terrible voice as it filled the room and showed the basics of the ability in question. He could sense outstanding disgust within Ark. He had become decently skilled at reading his mentor’s emotions. He supposed it was a side effect of spending time with someone. While normal beings learned to read body movement and whatnot, Force-users had that to lean on as well as the imperceptible that they could feel. The point was that whatever had just happened, Javik was glad that he hadn’t been there for it.

As the two Crusaders inside turned their attention away from the holocron, Javik shooed away the pair of Acolytes standing in the doorway. “Keep a move on, you two,” he gave a wave of his hand and they started to move. Moments later, Ark filled the doorway in to keep others from watching.

“Good to see you again, Ark. Apologies for being late, though I see I’ve been quickly replaced,” he said with a slight chuckle and head nod toward the other woman with them.

“Shall we proceed then? It appears you have not wasted any time though,” he continued, this time motioning to the limp bodies on the floor.

 

[Flamjetxx]

LATE! Very late by Ark's time. Fortunately for Javik, Ark wanted very much to focus on the holocron, and with it's introduction finally under way, there was nothing Ark wanted to do to interrupt it.

Besides that, Ark knows Javik as well as Javik knows Ark. They knew what to expect from each other. Javik knew of Ark's punctual nature, and Ark knew of Javik's utmost respect. Ark could only assume that things were out of Javik's control, leading to his tardiness. It was easily overlooked. After all, it's not like Ark is perfect, and Ark cannot possibly believe that he can control events that are uncontrollable.

"Better late than never," Ark says while nodding to Javik. It was the briefest version of a bow, and Ark motioned to an empty place next to him and Tsukihana where he'd fit in perfectly.

The holocron was merely showing the repulse in action in its variety of ways, and the lucky bastard missed the best part... And the holocron finally began to teach them, as if on cue with Javik's arrival, "Repulse is a raw ability with the outward expression of energy. There is little to control in the power, as it expands outwards in every direction. You must first gather the energy within you, and concentrate it within you as if you're a conduit for the Force itself."

 

[Phoenix]

Javik continued to listen to the holocron as it elaborated on this particular ability. Repulse was a powerful tool, useful as an offensive power for certain, but Javik was actually most interested in its defensive uses. Creating space to avoid being overwhelmed, destroying your enemies, or even breaking an opponent’s use of grip or crush. It wasn’t a miracle cure for an attack but an extremely useful defense nonetheless.

Doubtless there were dozens of other uses as well. That, perhaps, was the greatest beauty of the Force. It had almost limitless applications. Even one specific aspect of it, such as this, was really limited only to the user’s imagination.

For now, though, he needed to keep his mind focused on what the device was saying so that he would be prepared when it was finally time to perform. ”The number of objects that it can move is almost limitless, dependent on size. However, its range is limited. Anything outside of range will remain unaffected,” the holocron went on, though he didn’t know how much longer it would continue.

 

[Flamjetxx]

It was straight forward, and to the point; Unfortunately, there weren't a surplus of similar holocrons, and for that, Ark was thankful.

"The repulse ability is energy in its purest form. Unlike a Force push or a Force Barrier, this energy has a wider range of effect depending on the potency of the energy. Similarly, it can effect like a push, but it can also effect matter as if dissolving it within the raw energy that consists of the repulse," the holocron explains while showing an image of a (clearly, very powerful) Force sensitive using a repulse to shred the very cells of living flesh as it was utilized. Of 'course, not all of the flesh was eaten away In the display, allowing most of it to fly outwards, but to the untrained eye, it would look as if every part of the flesh was incinerated by the repulse.

Now, Ark was intrigued. It was a tidbit of information that wasn't openly displayed in the books he'd read of the ability, and it was an aspect of the power that he didn't quite realize even existed; However, Ark could assume that the extent of these effects were extremely minimal in most Force sensitives.

As the holocron explained a few more aspects of the ability that were extremely obvious, it was finally leading up to the point they were all looking for, "Now, in order to perform the Repulse, you must first draw energy within you, and concentrate it. Like potential energy in an object on the edge of a fall, or a bomb before detonation, this is all the potential for the repulse. It must be concentrated within you, and you must allow it to stay concentrated without hindering its ability to flow."

Ark took a few paces backwards at the mention of attempting the ability. If there was going to be any attempt to utilize a repulse, fail or succeed, Ark wanted to be out of others' way as much as he wasn't keen on the idea of causing his comrades to fly backwards. Giving each other room to practice would be very wise.

The explanation was almost cryptic as for the meaning of the ability, and Ark was initially perplexed by this. How can you concentrate something while allowing it to freely flow at the same time?! It was contradictory... And oxymoron... Unfortunately, Ark knew the answer to the brain teaser, and it was one that he very much didn't like in the slightest. Ark knew all too well that there were simply some things that couldn't be explained with the same rules that can be applied to other forms of energy and matter. The Force was something all of its own, and it's properties were unique to itself and only itself.

It was the same confusing logic that it followed by transforming raw Force energy into lightning bolts by merely thinking about it, or by drawing on emotions to control it. It was the very same thing that allowed tutaminis to flow through the user's body and absorb another kind of energy into that same flow of Force energy. It didn't follow the normal rules of the Galaxy, and it was the only way to explain the Force's ability to be concentrated and flowing at the same time.

Taking a deep breath and an exhale, Ark did as instructed. He could feel the Force filling him, and as it did, he continually concentrated it deep within him. As his meditations and martial arts dictated, he focused these energies into his core. And as it concentrated, he tried hard to allow it to be freely moving, and as he ceased his control over the very death dot of energy, he could feel it spread like nothing he's ever felt before. It wasn't like a barriers concentrated energies, as it was hardly two dimensional by any means, let alone three dimensional. In fact, it felt like it was present in the biggest possible way, but he couldn't pinpoint the specific location of the energy as it was concentrated, but everywhere at the same time. It was... one dimensional.

 

[Phoenix]

As Javik continued listening to the holocron intently, he watched as it showed pictures of people being, quite literally disintegrated by the detonation of Force energy. It was something he instantly knew he wanted, though it would be some time until he could ever achieve such a feat. Still, his entire ascension through the Sith had been determined by him setting goals that he built off of until finally achieving them and moving onto others.

With the mention of attempting the ability, Javik could see Ark step back and almost had to laugh to himself. Not because it wasn’t wise, but because his mind was filled with the sudden image of Javik attempting this power and unexpectedly throwing Ark halfway across the room. It was slightly humorous, or at least he thought it was.

Javik moved to his own space, as well, as he focused his own energy. The sudden explosion from Ark could be felt, at least through the Force, from across the room, though he was physically out of range.

For now though, he needed to focus on his own attempt. He let the power of the Force flow through him and fill him. Though they came in and out, he let them settle in his chest, keeping as much as he could. It was almost as if holding a ball of sea foam. The tighter you tried to hold on, the more would slip through your fingers. Inevitably, some would fall away, and that was fine, but the harder you tried to hold it in, the more would fall away. It was a matter of finding the proper “grip pressure,” as the analogy might say.

He let the energy flow out as rapidly as he could and though it did explode outward in a more or less spherical shape, the power behind it was minimal at best. It likely would have been capable of moving a few pounds, but hardly strong enough to move a person. He thought he might have known was caused the mistake. He was simply trying too hard. The Force needed to build until it exploded on its own. Naturally. Not as an event forced by Javik himself. He had squeezed the foam too hard.

 

[Flamjetxx]

The holocron, sensing that they had gathered the power within them, continued on with its explanations, "When you finally reach that natural point ,in which the energy gathered within you is at its peak, it will naturally explode outwards. It is such a natural ability, that you will know when to trigger it. Don't trigger it too early, or you will get a fraction of the potential. Be patient," the holocron continued as Javik, as was his nature, pressured himself into triggering it too early. Ark knows that Javik is impatient, and he could hardly blame him for it. Sometimes, if Ark wasn't patient, he may have also jumped the gun on more than a few abilities, purely based on his excitement to learn a new ability. However, Ark has learned too many abilities to simply jump the gun in such a way, and through his many martial training experiences, he's learned a greater sense of control over himself, mentally and physically. His own downfall is his arrogance that would cause him to truly believe that there is no one that could do as well as he, and events such as now only antagonize it.

Ark couldn't ignore the less patient Crusader's attempt, but still maintained his focus, using his impatience to fuel his own. If Ark was anything, innately and personally, he was a very fast learner, and such abilities as natural to a powerful Force Sensitive as Force Repulse, Ark would pick it up with relative ease, as opposed to other abilities he's already learned.

Ark could feel the power flow through him, gaining in pressure as he felt like he'd literally explode, and then it hit him... He's been here before. He couldn't quite recall the specific events, but he can remember the feeling. The feeling of the Force building within him was all too familiar, and when the limit was released, Ark may not have even realized he'd done it. Ark was in awe of how the event was almost like penetrating a barrier of amnesia. And all so suddenly, it came back to him.

Out of breath running, the emotional flood within him; Natural instincts driving him through a fog of... a drug. It was his capture. And suddenly, Ark flashed back to the moment where he knelt in the mud, rain falling on his back, and the Force building within him. And finally, the explosion, plants and dirt left in his wake, Ark was already running form that moment, but he could hear the ships in the back ground that chased him down. He was on the run, drugged, and trying to escape imprisonment.

Ark snapped back to reality as he began to look around the room, seeing the small objects within his vicinity have moved back to create a perfect circle around him. The success of the ability seemed to not effect him at all, but instead, Ark dwelled on the vision he'd received. What was its significance?

"Again," the holocron stated. Ark didn't actually know if it was speaking to Javik, for his lack of success of his first attempt, or if it was towards the both of them, but regardless, Ark figured that he'd best do it again anyway. Practice...

And as Ark charged himself up with the quantities of the Force, the holocron created specks around the students. They were almost like embers falling from the sky, but they didn't fall, but rather they hovered in place. It was likely to show their progression in the ability itself.

 

[Phoenix]

Ark’s attempt had been more successful than Javik’s and, well that was why the holocron said what it did. Holocrons were such strange things. Bits of someone’s soul continuing to live on as its own entity with the sole purpose of teaching others; capable of acting and reacting based on the actions of others, it was just strange. But it held valuable information and insight, which was why he should have waited until he’d actually heard the instructions before attempting the power. On the bright side, at least he had figured out how to do it properly.

Personally he had something of an affinity for telekinesis and its derivatives, given the fact that it was such a diverse and useful tool, he thought that he would be able to get the hang of it soon.

Ark’s attempt seemed to have been more successful than Javik’s first attempt, but then that was what happened if you actually waited for instructions. Javik prepared himself to give a second attempt. He let the power gather inside of him in a ball, the energy growing and swirling.

A small boundary allowed the energy to rush in, but not leave. It continued to fill and swell, resisting his boundary until, in an instant the energy built up enough power to burst through his border. Like a balloon filled too full, all in a moment, it exploded outward and, with no more resistance, it continued its outward movement, all on its own, and this time instead of being a slight burst outward, it exploded with a violent force much more comparable to what he would have expected.

“Well, that seemed a smidgeon more successful,” he commented with both of them having finished their first successful attempt. Moments later, he could feel Ark’s energy swell again for another attempt.

After Ark's next trial, the holocron continued. "Repulse is often done from a heightened point to take advantage of its spherical shape. To this end, it is often coupled with a leap to maximize its effectiveness."

 

[Flamjetxx]

Ark's second attempt was much more conscious, and he could feel the peak of the ability, as it exploded outwards. He could feel it ripple through the Force, away from him, into the physical air around him, where in turn a burst of compressed air waved through the room, creating a nice puff of air. Ark could feel how the power effected the air around him, the remaining objects, and as he opened his eyes, he could see the glowing dots, and how they all moved away from Ark during the blast of Force energy. Simple, was all Ark could say about the ability.

"Repulse is often done from a heightened point to take advantage of its spherical shape. To this end, it is often coupled with a leap to maximize its effectiveness; That, or some form of levitation."

Ark was never much of the type to leave the ground, for much of any reason, during combat. It went against his training in D'jem So, Makashi, and Teras Kasi. THe feet were the base of the forms of combat, where them leaving the ground meant that the control you once had, was no longer there. Using levitation, as he'd only once before done, wasn't the first thing that came to mind, even when regarding Force Repulse. However, Ark could see the advantage of it, but physically, there weren't too many situations in which that advantage would be necessary, unless part of what he was targeting was below him. Ark would certainly keep it in mind for the potential future use, but for now, it would be relatively irrelevant... For him at least.

Ark didn't care to even try to leap into the air with the repulse, for fear of what precedent it might set for himself. Don't practice something the wrong way, right? At least, Ark saw it as the wrong way, but the holocron was right. It certainly did maximize the spherical shape of the repulse.

Stretching his neck, Ark coked his head to Javik, "You missed how I figured out just how to use Force Grip."

It was a simple statement that was completely true. He did indeed miss it, and Ark had a few extra prisoners/slaves left over for the ability to be used on, because of it. They were the subjects originally meant for Javik, and the Guard out in the hall still had the, waiting. With a mental call to the guard, it wasn't long before he brought in two of the prisoners for them. Of 'course, Ark didn't intend to use the ability to kill either of them, but instead, he intended that duty to fall upon Javik.

"Don't worry though, because I won't let you struggle with it alone, as I did earlier today," Ark said; And if Ark was ever to wink, that would have been the moment, but Ark was never the type.

 

[Phoenix]

“Well ya know, that’s really my plan all along. I stay in bed, you do the legwork, I swoop in for a quick lesson. It all works out for me,” he gave a slight wave of his hand as he spoke as if to say “it was all part of my grand plan,” and gave a slight laugh as he said it, the humorous, friendly sarcasm obvious in his voice.

Moments later one of the prisoners came in, and his humor ended. Taking a life was no laughing matter, and personally he didn’t particularly enjoy executions. Give him a combatant to fight and he would kill them where they stood, but execution wasn’t really his style, even if it needed doing, but then, this man really did deserve it. He could feel the man’s fear. A traitor to the Empire who had sold his comrades out to the Rebels. Or at least that was what Javik had been told. The fact was, the traitor deserved to die for what he did. It was low.

He focused his energies within himself, letting the Force fill every cell, but not yet making any attempt at grabbing the man. Moving an inanimate object was something he had done before, but they never really resisted, and even droids had never really been like this.

Despite the man having now entered, Javik looked to Ark for instruction before proceeding. He may have been impatient, but he was also a quick learner, and didn’t like repeating the same mistakes.

 

[Flamjetxx]

Lacking a funny bone, Ark didn't realize that Javik was joking until he laughed, and Ark followed it up with an awkwardly forced chuckle that was obvious it was faked. However, with Javik's display of patience this time around, Ark nodded, choosing one of the two prisoners for him to display, for Javik, the ability. Both prisoners were Forcefuls, and it would ensure that they had fight in them to resist any basic telekinetic attacks. However, they weren't nearly strong enough to combat the highly trained Warriors before them.

"The hardest part was breaking their defenses, weak or not," Ark starts to explain, "This, contrary to how it looks is far from a telekinetic attack. Sure, you could push or pull an enemy with ease," Ark says while doing so against his chosen target, knocking him around like a rag doll, "But gripping them is much different. You can't simply apply pressure to each side of them and expect them not to squirm out of your control or not to resist you teeth and nail."

"You need to have a certain kind of drive behind you, and an immense level of concentration to break through their mere will power. You must maintain eye contact and heavily concentrate on them. If you cannot, then you will likely not succeed," Ark states blatantly as he reaches into the very soul of the man before him, "You must grab the Force within them, and not necessarily them. And to do that, you require a powerful emotion to drive you to it, much light how you'd use Anger to drive your lightning."

However, unlike Force Lightning, they wouldn't be utilizing such emotions to control energy in its most potent form, but rather they'd use it to overwhelm the Force defenses of another. Much like how one could see another's Force signature through the id of the Force, they'd need to similarly grab a hold of that very signature, but instead of it being a signature, it would be the very Force that connects them to the Force as a whole. It was extremely complicated to explain, but easy to feel, and so Ark allows Javik to visualize and feel the ability through Ark's example. And it is when Ark's Forceful paw grips the very soul of the targeted prisoner, lifting him into the air with an almost painful grip that tightens around him, even making it difficult for him to breath.

And Ark would consequently drop the weakened body to the ground, releasing himself form the eye contact and concentration that held the ability in the first place. Ark would allow himself to rest again while he awaited for Javik to perform the grip upon the man in front of him.

 

[Phoenix]

Clearly the joke went over like a ton of bricks in an ocean. Ark’s laugh was clearly forced and Javik though that he didn’t even realize it was a joke, which could have been detrimental if he had thought he was serious. It really wasn’t outstanding at all. Well, he’d keep that in mind next time.

Javik listened closely as Ark explained to him how to grip his opponent. It was about breaking spirit and will, not so much about grabbing the man externally. Javik focused on his own hatreds. He knew that the inability to grasp this particular ability could be detrimental to his survival, and survival was the number one thing that he fought for.

That was the simplicity of combat. Both men fought for survival, and the other man’s survival meant Javik’s termination, and that was unacceptable. Nothing would stand in the way of Javik’s survival. This basic instinct was what would drive him forward.

He penetrated the man’s mind. The man was scrambling for his own survival, pushing back with an externally imperceptible force against Javik’s work, though Javik could feel it all too well. While the Force wrapped externally around the man’s body and began to trap his arms against his body, Javik could feel push back against his grip.

The man’s own Force energies were trying to push out, to free him. It was in danger of breaking free and Javik nearly broke his hold, but he managed to just hold fast. He could see what he meant. He had to control the Force energies inside the man or else it would break free.

He focused on the man’s internal Force and compressed it. He forced it inside the man as much as he could, keeping him from releasing any more energy. Slowly, he raised the man just slightly off of the ground. The man was finally exhausted and gave up the fight, his Force energies bound within him and unable to escape.

"That made sense. It's not just about grabbing, but controlling," he finally said turning to Ark.

 

[Flamjetxx]

Ark nods, but with a slight shrug to his shoulders. In needing to clarify, Ark decides to explain further, "You may be able to quell your opponents attempt o fight your grip off, but you will not be able to squash their attempts to attack you directly, or effect objects around them. It would be their greatest attempts to fight you off, if they can break your concentrations or line of sight," Ark says through the privacy of their thoughts. There was no need for the prisoner to hear how to defend himself.

But as Ark could feel Javik's grip on the forceful prisoner tighten, Ark continued to guide him, "Now constrict him. you need to really grab a hold of him, and then lift him off the ground. The power may simply be a grip, but it is painful to have someone gripping your very being. It is nearly physically immobilizing, and you need to have a greater grip on your target to hoist them into the air. You may then freely fling them about, or control their trajectory."

 

[Phoenix]

Javik nodded to both the silent guidance and the spoken words. He continued his hold onto the man. It was critical not to allow his opponent to attack him by other means, but in reality, he knew that there was no way he would be able to completely prevent the man from using environment to his advantage. But then again, what he didn't know, wouldn't hurt him. Or it would.

He let the grip on the man tighten ever so slightly, squeezing him a little bit at a time. He could here the man groan as his feet began to leave the floor. At first it was only a few inches but after a moment, it was more until he ultimately floated several feet off of the ground. His arms were pinned to his side and his legs couldn't anymore as he floated there, suspended in the air. Moments later he increased the man's momentum letting him fly toward the wall across the room. He nearly lost his grip at one point but just managed to hold on. He smacked into the wall with a sickening thud.

He looked to Ark to see if he had more instruction or if he should simply try again. "Is that what you meant? he inquired.

 

[Flamjetxx]

That's exactly what I meant," Ark states as he watched the man collapse onto the ground as Javik's grip fades after the impact with the ground. He was no unconscious, and not much use for the next lesson. The funny thing was that he was the lucky one of the two.

"To grip someone is the easier, and in my own opinion, it's the more useful of the two versions of Force Grip," Ark begins, "It requires less power, precision, and focus. And you were even able to see how I was able to hold the Count-Dowager Andarta and the Count Malvern with the ability while we were on the Fantasia. I held them against the vacuum of space for a short period of time, and I highly doubt I would have been able to hold even one of them with a Force Choke, should the situation have called for it," Ark remembers the situation in which he'd allowed Malvern reveal his true intentions to the Countess, but in reality, she was in little danger with both Ark and Javik present.

Ark grabs the other man, and forces him in front of Javik, "It's very similar Javik, except for one very big difference," Ark begins to explain to him while motioning ot the very nervous man's neck, "You need to feel the want to choke him."

Sure, Javik would need to concentrate far more, never break eye contact, draw upon the Dark Side of the Force, and grip the throat only, but it was deeper than that.

"It's something you need to feel Javik, and it run with your pull of emotions to drive your grip over him. When you draw upon the Dark Side of the Force, you need to feel the emotions of hate, fear, malicious intent, and you need to use those emotions to drive your intent to truly choke him. It has nothing to do with regret, your desire to kill, nor the consequences of your actions, but your want or need to choke him. There is nothing else," Ark explains the best he could, but deep down, he knew it wasn't enough explanation for him to even begin to understand what Ark really meant by it. It would be something he'd have to really experience for himself. And unfortunately, it would be something that Javik, if he knew Ark to the extent, would understand why Ark doesn't like the ability so much.

Really, Ark never likes to preach giving into one's emotions, but for Ark, he could control his emotions to a small extent, which allowed him to utilize abilities such as Force Choke and Lightning for short periods of time, though he never liked it. To give into one's emotions was to give into the Dark Side of the Force, and to allow it to control you rather than you it, and Ark was one to crave complete control over himself at all times, and so it was an extremely rare circumstance to see Ark give into his emotions truly. He would only be able to hope that Javik could handle to pressures of these emotions better than Ark, because his taint within the dark side was relatively shallow, him being a fresher Crusader than Ark.

 

[Phoenix]

Javik listened intently as Ark explained the power. It was something that he had tried before but only to limited effect. Perhaps that would mean he would be able to pick it up more quickly. Javik thought that Ark felt almost uncomfortable talking about the ability, as if it made him unhappy to use it.

He opted not to press the matter, but instead prepared himself to attempt the ability. It was pure hatred was what he needed, an unfettered desire to kill. He had experienced it before and sheer willpower to kill had gotten him out of a number of sticky situations before.

He concentrated his thoughts. This time, not just focusing on the body, but on the throat. He pictured a hand grasping the throat of the man, overpowering the his resistance. The man was pushing back, trying to save his throat. Instead of just focusing his thoughts, he poured his hatred into it. Blaming this man for everything that had ever gone wrong in Javik’s life. All the pain, all the death, all the loss, he transferred it over to this man, putting all of that on him. He was the one preventing Javik’s advancement. These thoughts and more were what fueled Javik as his grip tightened around the man’s throat, beginning to constrict the man’s windpipe.

The man’s hands went to his neck as he clawed at the invisible hand clutching his throat. He tried to move away, putting distance between Javik and himself as if to leave the room, but was stopped short. Javik let the hand of energy raise the man slightly off the floor, pouring his hatred into it as the man’s own Force essence resisted and fought back.

The man’s legs kicked and flailed in one final spasm as Javik put the final bit of hatred into it, fully collapsing the trachea and leaving the man to suffocate on the floor as he collapsed back to the ground, flailing a bit before finally lying still. It was a bit of a horrendous sight really, but that’s what killing was and always would be. It wasn’t pretty, but it was ascension.

He let himself return to normal, his emotions stabilizing within him once more. That kind of hatred was almost tiring. Not physically, but mentally, perhaps that was what Ark didn’t like. ”You don’t like this power much do you?” He didn’t have to answer and Javik wasn't sure he would, but Javik thought he could tell.