The Bogan Training of Gaven Varss

[Malon]

The freezing world of Ando Prime. It was quite the sight to Gaven's young eyes. Gaven Varss was a former Jedi Padawan from Corellia, however, he was expelled from the Order during an incident where he tapped into the dark side of the Force to obliterate his targets. He had then attempted to get even with the Jedi by stealing one of their precious holocrons on Ossus, but a female Padawan his age had thwarted that plan too.

Now he was in the Dark Jedi Temple of the Bogan. He had come here for one reason and one reason alone; to learn the true nature of the dark side and to harness it's power. The dark side was strong here, a feeling that greatly pleased him. He awaited in the main hall of the Temple for the man that would be his Master. The man who would truly teach him about the Force and the dark side. The prospect excited him.

 

[D.C.]

The main hall was empty that day. The other Dark Jedi were training elsewhere, but Gaven was not alone. A shade was watching him from a distance and when this particular figure had made sure it was indeed Gaven the new acolyte, he emerged from the shadows and approached the young man. The figure was Human, slender and of average height. His face was hidden under a hood and clipped to his belt was a lightsaber. It was one of the many Dark Crusaders of the Bogan, one who was sent by Koran Mak.

"Gaven Varss?" He asked. The pitch of his voice was surprisingly high, especially when one would have expected a deep, dark voice. The Crusader didn't wait for Gaven to confirm the question and went on: "If you came here to die, you have come to the right place. There aren't many acolytes who survived Koran Mak's trainings." The crusader chuckled and turned around. He gestured for Gaven to follow and, assuming Gaven would indeed follow, showed the way to the training room.

It took a while before they finally arrived. They went up a few stairs, down a few corridors and turned left or right here and there. Finally the Crusader stopped in front of a closed door and told Gaven to "wait right here". He knocked on the door and there was no response. The Crusader raised both his eyebrows and knocked again, wondering why Koran Mak didn't answer the door.

Then suddenly the door slid open and the Crusader was lifted off the ground by a mysterious force. He gasped for air and reached for his throat with both hands. A dark voice echoed: "I told you I did not want to be disturbed, my fellow Crusader." Then the Crusader dropped to the ground. He got onto his feet and there was fire in his eyes. He felt the urge to pull out his lightsaber and attack Koran, but he was able to control his emotions and decided to just turn around and walk away, leaving Gaven alone at the doorstep.

The training room was dark, only faintly lit by a few torches along the walls. There was a table, two chairs nearby the table, a few chests and a weaponsrack containing several lightsaber hilts and a few vibroswords. In the middle of the room sat a big Kiffar man, cross-legged and with his back to the entrance of the room. It was Koran Mak, the Crusader and new master of Gaven.

"Enter, acolyte..." Koran's voice echoed. As soon as Gaven would have stepped into the dark training room, the door would shut behind him. "...Welcome to the Dark Side."

 

[Malon]

Gaven could barely contain himself. This man was full of the dark side. He entered as was instructed and stood respectfully just inside the room he had entered. He studied the man that was to become his dark Master. He was human, with a tattoo on his nose and with a fierce look in his eyes. Something about him seemed familiar. Had Gaven seen or heard of him somewhere during his time as a Jedi? He couldn't know for sure so he shook the thought from his mind. The dark side was thick around this man, and he could barely breathe in his presence. If what the other Crusader had said about Koran's training was true, than he had finally found the master he desired. One that not only knew the true nature of the dark side, but one who wasn't afraid to use it.

For the first time in weeks, any doubt he had about leaving the Jedi was erased. He somehow knew that it was here that he would gain power. It would be here that he would gain the power and control of himself to be able to exact his revenge on the Jedi scourge.

 

[D.C.]

The Kiffar rose to his full height. He turned around to face Gaven and, as he towered over the young man, he took a good look at him. According to him, looks didn't count for much and even a boy could become a powerful Dark Jedi. He reached out in the Force and sensed the Force coursing through Gaven's veins. He could sense the inner darkness within Gaven, and finally he nodded. His face was stern, not particularly friendly, but since he was a Dark Jedi he did not have to be friendly.

"Gaven Varss," Koran finally said, "My name is Koran Mak and I am a Crusader of the Bogan. I am your new master and I will teach you our ways of the Force. The true ways of the Force. You will address me as 'master' and I expect you to listen whenever I am speaking. I won't accept disobedience and until you have gained the rank of Crusader, I am responsible for your actions and thus I have the right to punish you. Now take a seat, acolyte."

The big Kiffar gestured towards the table and the two chairs and then walked over there himself. He sat down on one of the chairs and waited for Gaven to sit down as well. If Gaven would have paid close enough attention he would have seen the rather large, impressive hilt that was clipped to Koran's belt. It was a single-bladed lightsaber, designed for two-handed use. However, Koran was able to use the saber in a single-handed style and use his free left hand for additional Force attacks.

"Tell me," Koran would ask once Gaven would have taken a seat, "tell me about your past. Tell me everything."

 

[Malon]

Gaven did as he was instructed. This man was his kind of Dark Jedi. He had a twisted admiration for his new Master already, but he suppressed it. He was here to learn, not make idle friendships. "I began my life as a Jedi." Gaven began. "At three months old, the Jedi took me from my family on Corellia and trained me on Coruscant until I was sixteen. I was apprenticed to a Master of the Order, and a respectable man despite his affiliation as a Jedi. During one of my missions with him and my closest friend, and fellow Padawan, to Byss, we were tasked with hunting down some troublesome criminals and bringing them back to the Republic for justice. Once we found them, they ruthlessly gunned down my friend right in front of me." he paused, clearly taken aback by the memory of this. His anger and sorrow echoed through the dark side.

It took him a moment, but he soon regained his composure. "I gave in to my absolute rage for his murderers and attacked them with all my might, giving into the dark side in the process. Afterwards, I was taken before the Council, stripped of my Jedi lightsaber and exiled....they thought I would go peacefully...I would not. I journeyed to their enclave on Ossus in an attempt to bring the Bogan one of their famous Jedi holocrons, but it was taken from me by a Jedi Padawan my age, who was sent to take it back and arrest me. I escaped and came here, as I originally intended, to learn the true nature of the Force. To learn the power of the dark side and to learn to control my emotions and use them to fuel my power." he finished, awaiting his Master's response.

 

[D.C.]

Koran sat back in the chair as he listened to Gaven's story. It was not that shocking, but it was indeed an interesting story. When Gaven told him he wanted to bring a holocron to the Bogan, Koran gave a nod of approval. Finally, when Gaven finished, Koran would say:

"And here you are. A fresh, young spirit longing for the power to crush the Jedi Order. You do have the right intentions, lad, but you have so much to learn. There are so many secrets that will be revealed to you. So many new powers and tricks...

"I have another question for you," Koran continued. "I heard you possess lightsabers. Place them onto the table and tell me how you aquired them. Once you have told me that, I want you to tell me if you know any lightsaber forms. I assume you do, since you were with the Jedi once. Speak up, acolyte."

 

[Malon]

Gaven telekinetically whipped out his two sabers and placed them on the table before his Master, "I built them out of spare lightsaber equipment I was carrying during my exile. Before my mission to Byss, I was already in the process of building two identical lightsabers for my Padawan training, but after being exiled and stripped of the weapon I was using until thier completion, I made the design more simple in order to minimize the amount of material I consumed. I then spent some time between my exile and my attempted theft of the holocron crafting my synth-crystals with knowledge I had managed to obtain from the Jedi Archives." he explained.

He then took his Master's second question into consideration, "As I have two sabers, I am familiar with Jar'kai, though I'm not yet very skilled with it. I also have knowledge of the lightsaber combat Force power of Dun Möch."

 

[D.C.]

"Dun Möch?" Koran said. "Anyone could do that, and most use it without even knowing they use it. I don't see it as a technique and in my eyes it's nothing special. Might come in handy sometimes, but don't be surprised when it works the other way around. Jar'Kai however, is good. Now rise,"

Koran stood up from his seat and grabbed his lightsaber. He placed it onto the table beside the twin sabers which belonged to Gaven and then used the Force to pull two training sabers from the weaponsrack to his hands. He handed both the sabers to Gaven and then pulled a third training saber from the weaponsrack which he kept himself.

"We shall do a little sparring. Both to warm up for the real training to come and so I can see how good you are at dueling. You may use any tricks, powers and forms at your disposal. Don't hold back, as I won't hold back either."

Koran took off his black robe, for it would only be a hindrance, and tossed it onto the chair he sat on a few moments ago. Under his robe he apparently wore a grey sleeveless shirt, simple black pants and black boots. Because his shirt was sleeveless, his muscular arms could be seen as well as the several scars on his arms. Scars of war.

He switched his training saber on and utilized the Ataru opening stance: raising his saber in front of him.

"Attack!" He growled.

 

[Malon]

Gaven nodded, "As you wish, my Master." he replied respectfully. He then ignited the two blades he held and charged forward with a growl more animal than human. With his first lightsaber, he slammed the blade into Koran's own lightsaber. Then, with his free hand and saber, he swooped downwards, aiming to hit his Master's leg.

All the while he focused his desire to win, and his desire to learn into the Force and used it to bring himself absolute focus in the duel. With his eyes, he watched his foe and with his senses he watched his surroundings. Hatred burned in his eyes, fueling his strength in the dark side. He intended to win and show his master how powerful he was.

 

[D.C.]

But their lightsabers never met. Only moments before they would clash, Koran had dashed backwards and immediately used the Force to jump over the acolyte. He landed behind the young man and immediately unleashed a powerful flurry. With the Force Speed added, it would be hard to keep up with Koran, even though he was a big man. He had mastered the Force Core abilities and had mastered Ataru, making use of those abilities and turning him into a formidable opponent.

He slashed repeatedly towards Gaven's back and Gaven would have only a few moments time to turn around and block. The entire time he was using Force Speed to make himself very fast.

 

[Malon]

Gaven sensed the flurry but only had a moment to respond. He wheeled around and parried. It was difficult. He could feel the dark side flowing through his master, making him faster and more ferocious. That only served to anger him. He didn't like feeling helpless. He turned his rage into strength; it gave him focus. His speed also became enhanced by the Force, though not to the degree of his Master. The Force guiding him, he parried each blow and fought back, each blow more ferocious than the last.

 

[D.C.]

Koran would continue his flurry, the Force constantly giving him new energy so he wouldn't get tired, until he decided it was enough. Suddenly he dashed backwards, aided by Force Speed, and then Force Jumped over the acolyte again. When he propelled over Gaven's head, he would quickly slash towards the acolyte's shoulder. If Gaven was unable to block this fast attack, then all he would receive was a minor burn. If these were real sabers, though, his arm would be cut off.

With a thud the Kiffar landed behind Gaven and immediately he turned around again. He stabbed his saber forwards, towards Gaven's back. Koran might be a big man, but aided by the Force he moved like lightning. He was a master of Ataru and a master of the Core Force powers, therefore a formidable opponent. But since this was merely a sparring match, he did not seek to destroy his acolyte and he did not fight with all his power. Still, he would give Gaven a hard time standing his ground in this match.

"You aren't fast enough!" Koran's voice echoed. "If this was a real fight, I would have utterly destroyed you by now! No shit you never got to take that holocron to the Bogan, you are way too slow! Where's your anger, lad!? Give it more anger!"

 

[Malon]

An insult

To any Jedi, it would've just rolled off the shoulder

But Gaven was no Jedi.

His anger began to gather in his chest, feeling as if some parasitic creature was about to burst free. His lightsaber arced upwards, blocking the overhead attack at his shoulders, and allowing him to whirl around to meet the jab coming for his back. His anger at the man's taunting of him boiled; the reminder of the woman who had defeated him on Ossus only fueled his rage. With another animalistic scream he charged in, parrying his master's blows with fierce rage. He then ducked under one of his master's swings, and swung for his master's ankles, hoping to hit them.

 

[D.C.]

With a backflip Koran managed to jump over Gaven's slash and thus avoid the acolyte completely. Immediately, he had not even landed yet, he slashed his saber towards Gaven's neck. It would be hard for the acolyte to bring up his saber to block so quickly and Koran would laugh when the boy would scream, that is, if the boy would be unable to block.

Without waiting to see if his attack succeeded he reached out in the Force and let the mysterious power snap around the boy's neck. He tightened his grip and would lift Gaven off the floor, saying: "What maskes you think a mere acolyte such as yourself can defeat a Crusader who almost made it to rank master? And then you even let the anger take control of you and you failed miserably!"

Koran threw his left hand - with which he held the grip around Gaven's neck - forwards as if he was throwing a baseball, causing his acolyte to fly across the room and crash into a wall.

"So much to learn," Koran's voice echoed. A dark voice, powerful and loud voice. "You are like a wild animal without control. You are like those other acolytes who died because they didn't think before acting." He deactivated his saber and glared to Gaven. "But I sense power inside you. Something tells me you do have some potential in that weak body of yours. On your feet, soldier."

The big, evil man walked towards the weapons rack and carefully placed the training saber back in its holder. Then he used telekinesis to pull his own lightsaber from the table to his hand and clipped it to his belt.

"Put the sabers back in their holders and show respect to the weapons. They might be just training sabers, but they serve their purpose well. Part of the next lesson is that you must be able to let your anger subside immediately, that means, calm down right now. The fighting part is over for now, the talking part begins."

Koran Mak walked to the center of the room and would wait until Gaven would have returned the training sabers to their holders in the weapons rack. As soon as Gaven would have come over to him, he would explain what was going to happen next.

((OOC: I hope you don't mind the Force Grip thing I did. I won't do such a thing again.))

 

[Malon]

((You're good :D I don't mind))

Gaven snarled and picked himself up, returning the saber to the weapons rack carefully as his Master commanded. He knew he needed control. He was still young and his emotions ruled him like a king. That's why he came to the Bogan; to be trained and to learn control. He used the Force to call his own sabers back to his hands and then clipped them to his belt.

Gaven then returned to his Master and looked the man in his eyes, "I have done as you have instructed, my Master. What do you want me to do next?" he asked respectfully.

 

[D.C.]

((OOC: Awesome =D ))

"I sense the Force has already awakened within you. It's flowing through your body and I believe I've seen you using the Force to make yourself faster. A technique that is usually called Force Speed. But remember this, young acolyte: Force Speed, Push, Pull, Jump etc, aren't 'powers'. They are just names for techniques. In fact the Force is one big power, and you should see it as a power you could do anything with. Run like the wind, pull objects towards you or push them away. Crush your opponents or jump high up in the sky. This can be done with the Force, one enormous power and probably the strongest power in the universe. Remember this."

He paused for a while so that Gaven could think about these words. Then he would continue: "But to make things easier, we shall name the different techniques. I know you can use Speed, but tell me about the other techniques you know."

 

[Malon]

His Master's view of the Force was much like his own. The Force was a giant power that needed to be put to good use; that's how Gaven always saw it. Then he considered his Master's second query. His powers. "I have good knowledge of telekinesis; Pull, Repulse, and although I haven't really put push to good use yet, I feel like I could if I wanted to. I can create a short electrical surge with the Force; it's nothing like Force lightning, but it does it's job well enough. I've also attempted to choke a Jedi with the Force, though I have very little control over it yet."

 

[D.C.]

"Sounds good," Koran responded with a monotone voice. He did not sound impressed, but in fact he really did think it sounded good. The more his student would know about the Force, the easier it would be for him to teach. The big Kiffar figured his primary focus would be Gaven's fall the the Dark Side and his secondary focus would be any additional knowledge about the Force and lightsaber combat.

"I will help you expand your reach in the Force as well as teach you one good, solid lightsaber form. Jar'Kai is useful, but what you did was improvising with two lightsabers." Koran clenched his stubble-bearded jaw and for a few moments he was silent. "I'll get back to that later on. Like I said, the fighting part is over for now. Meditate with me, young Gaven."

Koran sat down cross-legged and motioned for his acolyte to follow his example. Then he said: "You already have awakened to the Force, but do you truly see things as you are meant to see them? Do you truly feel things as you are meant to feel them and do you truly hear the beautiful angelic singing of the Force? Whatever you might think, I know you do not. You are still like a newborn child, an untamed animal. I can tell you were a Jedi once, for the Jedi don't know what it's like to truly see, hear and feel. I know this because I was a Jedi once, you may ask me about that after our meditation. For now you must close your eyes and focus solely on my voice. Don't speak a word, don't listen to anything else. Just focus..."

He continued to whisper, loud enough for Gaven to hear him, but this way he sounded more calming. A calm whisper that would guide Gaven to a true awakening.

"Let my whispers guide you on an incredible journey and once we return to this place, you will understand what I'm talking about. Hear me, Gaven. Only me.

"Think of this room, the stone cold walls surrounding us and the faint torchlight that lits this room with an eerie glow. Think of the Dark Jedi Temple in all its glory here on Ando Prime. But now, strip away its walls and its torches. Remove this building of darkness from your thoughts until you find yourself sitting in the endless snowfields of Ando Prime. Remove the snow, remove the soil from which a few lone trees grow and finally remove this planet from the universe. But there is no universe, for you have removed the universe too. What remains is an empty dark void and you are all alone...

"At this point you can't see anymore because there is no light in the void, you can't feel because your limbs go numb and you cannot hear. No, you do not hear me speaking, what you think is my voice is merely a whisper through the Force that enters your mind. All your senses are dead and you drift in the void, all alone...

"But if you were to focus only for the slightest bit, you would feel something. A warmth that gently touches your skin but it is so faint that you can barely feel it. So faint that you did not notice it at first. Focus upon this warmth and embrace it. Feel it. Move your limbs now, for you can feel and move again. But you are still blind and you can't hear. You are all alone in the void...

"Sssh, be silent now. Otherwise you won't be able to hear it. It is as if it comes from the other side of the galaxy, a beautiful singing so soft and so serene it must be an angel. But this is no angel, this is something much more. Listen to it, Gaven, and let the sound fill your ears. Focus upon it and finally... Finally you can hear. But still you're blind and all alone inside the void...

"Or are you really blind? Can you not see that faint glow in the distance? How is this possible, you might ask yourself. Well, it's not possible at all. Light can't exist within a black empty void, but still it is there. So faintly glowing you might have overlooked it. You can move, can you not? Move towards it, slowly but steadily and finally, after what seems like a lifetime, you have reached it. Hold onto this small, faint light and embrace it like a treasure. Then open your eyes to it and let the light blind you. But wait, it doesn't blind you at all while it should be blinding you for it suddenly starts to glow so bright. So bright it lights the entire void and as a shock goes through your body, you can finally see.

"You can see the world as you suddenly find yourself on a huge mountaintop. You can see the deserts, oceans, plains and forests surrounding you. And, you are not alone anymore. Turn around Gaven, and see your new slave standing beside you on the mountain. Watch it as it reaches its hands out to you and let it embrace you. Return that embrace and hold onto it. Now, become one with it and finally...

"Finally you have truly awakened. Finally you see things are you are meant to see them, finally you hear things as you are meant to hear them and finally you can feel the Force. The true Force and not the Jedi imposter you thought was the Force. Open your eyes now Gaven, and tell me how it feels."

 

[Malon]

Gaven focused hard, and let his master's voice take him where it would. Suddenly he could feel the warmth where there should be no warmth. His eyes flew open. "I feel as though I have the power to do everything I will. This sensation is unlike anything I have ever felt before, even with the Jedi. So this is the true nature of the Force, is it?" he questioned, though he already knew the answer. It was incredible. He was awed by the sheer power of the Force that had been awakened inside of him.

 

[D.C.]

"Do not be afraid to embrace the full power of the Force. The Jedi simply held us back, that's what they always did and what they always will do. They don't understand the true power that is inside us. Rise to your feet, acolyte. Our journey ain't over yet."

The strong Kiffar reached his right arm towards the exit of the room to his right. He tilted up his fingers a bit and the door slid open. A young female Human walked in, held by her arms by two Dark Jedi at each side. They threw her into the room and Koran nodded to them. Then he waved with his hand slightly, a sign that said: 'you're dismissed', and the Dark Jedi left.

Koran knelt down before the kneeling woman. She was half-naked and if she wasn't half covered in dirt she would have looked pretty. Koran brushed her golden locks out of her face and then placed his right hand gently under her chin. He tilted her chin upwards so he could look into her deep blue eyes.

"Hush," he whispered, "it will be over soon." He placed his fingertips to her temples and closed his own red eyes. He used the Kiffar ability, psychometry. He read her memories and finally let go. He rose to his feet and took a step back.

"This young girl resembles your hate, Gaven," he said. "She is a Jedi Knight we've taken captive and she has to die. This shall be your assignment and it will also be a trial. But first I want you to look at her. You are not allowed to take action, but I want you to simply tell me if you can kill a pretty, defenceless girl like her or not. Once you have answered me I will tell you what you must do."

The girl bit her lip and looked up to Gaven, begging not to kill her. Begging with her eyes to have mercy. Tears rolled down her cheeks and one look upon her would break one's heart. Anyone who was still human enough would not be able to kill her, but Dark Jedi weren't human. They were Fallen Angels, just like Koran. He was a Fallen Angel.

His red eyes were fixed upon Gaven and he put his hand on Gaven's shoulder. He waited for his acolyte's answer. If Gaven would say that he wasn't able to kill her, Gaven would die along with the Jedi, but Koran didn't say this yet. If Gaven would be able to kill her and immediately took action without awaiting further instructions, he would die along with the Jedi. If Gaven obeyed his master and would say 'yes' and would wait, Koran would reveal a dark secret.