The Cold Exterior of Ziost

[TheAccidentof1994]

The shuttle touched down onto the outer landing platform; the platform was high off of the ground and from it stemmed a narrow path that led into the Temple; there was no barriers and it was a long descent down into the snowy abyss should one fall. There were many dunes of snow scattered across the ground and even from this height there was some small mountains and hills covered with snow and ice, the flora that once bloomed was now hardened, fossilized and frozen survival would surely be a struggle down there, there was scarcely any food to collect and one would soon find themselves eating the snow for a source of water. However they were destined for the warmth of the Temple that lie ahead of them just a few short minutes walk.

Walter walked out of the shuttle along the gang-way and awaited the emergence of his Student, they hadn't spoken during the trip, Walter had left the piloting up to the Acolyte whilst he meditated away from the cockpit; he had to devise a strategy for the boy, he was too ignorant, he had to harden him in a cold warrior. And what better place to chill ones heart then Ziost, but how?

The raging winds blew against the Feeorin, he wore very little clothing, often shirtless with a small vest to cover his shoulders and trousers that went down to his boots. He certainly felt the chill however he was somewhat used to the climate, many years ago he had lived on the ice planet of Odryn with his kin, but it was far less harsh than Ziost, the cold was not tainted by the dark-side and Odryn didn't stink of murder... Well not always.

"Come, Koh; I would rather not wait out here in the cold for too long"

From the unseen inner shuttle, out of the shadows came his Acolye, the cold climates of Ziost would either make or break this boy; which was the perfect resolution to Walter's dilema.

 

[Nos Da]

Koh stood just inside the shuttle doorway for a brief second. He was awed by this planet. He had never seen snow and cold like this, he had never felt power like this. He knew this was the plane the needed to be on. He was relishing the fact that he was on the Sith homeworld. The true sith, the race from whom the lords of the darkside take their name.

He heard his master speak and he stepped forward. He wasn't used to this cold and he wasn't wearing much. Simple, basic robes; similar to those worn by his jedi counterparts but his were black.. That was all he wore, he hadn't even grabbed his light cloak when they left. He paused for a brief second as the icy wind hit him when he stepped out of the shuttle doorway but then he steeled himself and kept on. Of course he felt it and it chilled him quickly but he needed to embrace the cold, to relish it's icy sting, to desire it's cold embrace.

The young Twi'lek walked down the gang way to stand in front of his master. He was sure they were going inside with the words his master had spoken just a moment ago. He stopped himself from letting a shiver go through his body. He would not show weakness to his master. He had to prove himself.

"After you Master."

 

[TheAccidentof1994]

Finally his learner had emerged from the dark shuttle, heading his call and his warning; just as Walter had expected him to. He was an obedient learner, and that would make his next task a lot easier.

The student came closer to him, pausing next to him awaiting for Walter to lead, for that was his job as the Master - to be in control.

"After you Master."

He had obliged Walter to go early, but it would be Walter who would follow Koh. He placed a hand on his shoulder nearest to him, and looked at him with a soft face, his eyes that were always empty had now been filled with a kindness that would make Koh feel at ease... Exactly what Walter would have wanted.

Walter felt the force move through his body, the energy formulated it self into the palm of his hand awaiting further instruction. The kindness drained from the Feeorin's eyes, and the force blasted from his hand directly affecting Koh, sending him flying off of the platform and destined for the freezing cold landscape below.

The apprentice would have been falling towards the grounds, his thoughts disrupted by the raging winds. He would plummet to the ground alongside the slippery and frozen structure that they stood on, it would be hos only means of survival, at least the only one Walter was able to identify.

Walter himself jumped off the platform soon after, but he kept his feet against the outer structure, using the force to bind himself to the metal landing and walkway; he slid towards the ground with his own speed whilst he watched Koh fall through the air, if he did not act soon, he would surely slam into the ground that was once a forest, but now frozen by blizzard.

"Fly or die, Koh! You cannot expect me to spoon feed you, fly or die!"

 

[Nos Da]

Koh panicked for a brief second. He started screaming curses at his master in his head as he regained some resemblance of composure. He knew he needed to think. He wasn't sure what to do, the only powers he knew in the force was some basic telekinesis and he could augment some physical abilities. Suddenly it hit him.

Fly or die, Koh! You cannot expect me to spoon feed you, fly or die!

The thought rang through his head. Fly? And why not?. The plan formulated quickly, it wouldn't exactly be flying but theoretically it would work. He didn't have time for it to fail, it had to work.

The lethan twi'lek flung one arm in front of him pushing with everything he had. He started to work, he slowed his descent a little bit. The force of Koh pushing against an unmovable object caused his slowed descent. He flung his other hand foward pushing even harder. This would slow him enough to make sure he didn't end up as liquid on the ground.

His arms kept pushing. He would sometimes pull them back and push them forward again giving himself renewed resistance. The idea worked well enough to slow him down so he could land on his feet. He had to bend his knees a bit to absorb some shock but other than that it was a fine landing. A small smile crossed his face.

"Technically not flying but damn close." He said to himself as he straightened

 

[TheAccidentof1994]

Walter's slide came to an end, a little more abruptly then his Acolyte's quick thought-out plan. He walked towards Koh from the side of the long structure, now seemingly miles above them towering over them like a great metal giant; the ascent would be another test in itself, but they would get to that in time.

"Damn close.." He said, nodding as he did. "This way, mayhap we'll find somewhere we can begin our training; this will be sure to harden you up. Come, you can learn while we walk"

Walter took them away from the temple, away from the incredible landing structure and out into the shrouded snow, where naught but blizzard could be seen. The moved into the raging winds, leaving behind the warmth of the temple, it grew seemingly colder as the two grew more and more isolated. He turned to his Acolyte, should he have followed, and noted how cold he would have been, especially in his simple tunics.

"No doubt you're freezing, and that comes to our first lesson - Sustenance. The force can be a substitute for almost anything your body needs, and right now it needs warmth. Do not stop, continue walking, but as you do; concentrate the force, let it fight against the hypothermia. You must learn to apply the force while performing physical tasks as well. If you stop walking, I will punish you."

Walter had hoped the student would grasp this concept, the object of his training would be to liberate him, to make his passage from boyhood into manhood. Despite what he believed he was still a naive child, and here on the cold exterior of Ziost, he would learn how to be man, so that he may be a Sith.

 

[Nos Da]

Koh followed his master. It was getting colder now and the twi'lek could feel it. The were walking deeper into the snow, deeper into the cold. The simple tunic did nothing to lesson the cold biting wind that whipped all around them. He was freezing now but doing his best not to show it. Then his master spoke. Koh listened intently to every word.

He gave a brief nod and began to concentrate. He started to pull the darkside into him as he walked. Focusing on bringing his anger to life. He used the biting, cold pain he felt as a catalyst to bring the darkside of the force under his control.

At first nothing happened and Koh started to slow his walk. He almost stopped to concentrate but quickly remember Walter's specific instructions. He picked up his pace again before he came to a complete stop. It was working and anger was rising in the young twi'lek.

The anger gave him more focus. It gave him more drive. At first, again, nothing. Then he felt a little warmth in the center of his being. It faded in level of heat and distance it spread across his body but it was working. He was using the force fight off the freezing cold.

 

[TheAccidentof1994]

As they walked through the blizzard, Walter sensed his Acolyte's successful attempt at battling the cold with his ability in the force; this made him smile, the boy had begun to learn. Walter meant to strip him, every insecurity or misconception he had and eliminate his boyhood, and the cold served as a magnificent tool to do so.

They had been walking now through what was once a forest, clearly, there had been broken trees now frozen over scattered across the area and slowly they grew more and more in number; they were little more than stumps perhaps just a few centimetres above Walter himself, some with branches that had managed to relent against the cold, but there was no sign of life in any of the trees. They pressed on, and the snow seemed to grow less thick around their feet, and the trees did not touch this part of the land; Walter imagined it had once been a clearing, but now it was little more than a patch of snow outlined in a circular shape by a few ancient trees.

The old clearing resembled a duelling ring, it also gave them an area to train in; the cold was no less severe, and eventually in due time the Acolyte would start to become wary, and no longer able to sustain his body; but that would not be for a long time, Walter would have to teach him here, quickly but with no less quality. He and Koh stood, facing each other in the clearing after Walter had turned to meet his gaze..

"As a Warrior, your specialization is in melee attacks and close range fighting; dealings best done with a lightsabre... Or a vibrosword. My duty as your Master is to teach you battle; I will teach you techniques in the force most suited to Jar'Kai and ones that will aid you in melee combat. I know no sorcery, nor do I consider myself a skilled practitioner in the utilization of many force techniques, I am simply advanced in what little I do know"

He turned his head and looked at where the clearing ended and where the trees started once more, the circular clearing could be ran in laps; and Walter made his way to the very edge, Koh could follow or stay, whatever he preferred, t'was only a few metres.

"Speed. A great asset in terms of combat, I have already taught you how to strengthen yourself with the force, but now for an official technique. Force Speed, allow the force to propel your body around the clearing, your legs become a blur and let the force become an endurance far more capable then your own lungs"

Walter applied these very principles, blending the force with his muscles and allowing the force to guide him unharmed with great speed across the snowy terrain.

"Learn quickly, Koh!"

He ignited his lightsabre as he ran around the Acolyte, his eyes were focused on the boy whilst the force guided him around and around the clearing. He threw his lightsabre at his student, aiming to strike him until he learned, with each throw he used to force to retract his lightsabre. He was constantly moving around and around, the lightsabre striking at different angles with each attempt, Koh would have to defend himself until he managed to learn, there would be no babying him; he had to understand the pressure of the battle field.