The Jedi Training of Siri Firestorm

[Lavi]

Haar went over to the broken weapon and picked it up. It could still be repaired for later use, given there were parts for it. "That's all right. You can pick up a new one when we return to the enclave."

"Let's go back: you need to clean up," he finished, giving a wry smile. "You are dismissed for the day."

 

[Malon]

Siri felt very pleased with her accomplishment. She had made her master smile at her, something that pleased her greatly. She returned to the Enclave and took a much needed shower and then ate a large meal to compensate for her great hunger. The rest of the day, she worked on the hilt of her soon-to-be lightsaber. It was a relatively new design among Force-users; a double bladed lightsaber.

That night, she slept deeper and more peacefully than she had ever slept in her life; mainly due to the fact that she had been through a lot of exercise the past few days. The next morning, after her shower and meal, she strolled down the hall of the Temple, carrying her new training lightsaber with her and also the completed hilt of her soon-to-be lightsaber, which she had attached to a strap slung over her back, just in case she found some crystals in the jungle during her later free time, though she doubted such an occurrence would happen.

She didn't mind though. She was happy and eager to see Master Haar again this morning.

 

[Lavi]

When she arrived at the typical meeting place, the empty training room, Haar was already waiting. He looked at the lightsaber hilt clipped to her back for a moment, then turned his gaze towards Siri.

"Why did you construct that lightsaber hilt?" he asked.

 

[Malon]

Siri glanced back to view what her master was getting at, "Actually sir, I've been working on it for awhile now. I built it in hopes of making it my Jedi lightsaber some day." she replied.

 

[Lavi]

"Leave it in your quarters from now on, Siri," Haar said. "There is no need for it."

"But for now, take a training lightsaber from the rack. I want you to show me what you are capable of," he instructed.

 

[Malon]

This is what she had been waiting for. She trotted over to the rack and picked up a lightsaber. She then went back to her previous spot and faced Master Haar once more. "By 'see what you are capable of', do you mean you wish to spar with me, Master?" she asked.

 

[Lavi]

"Yes," Haar answered, and with that he began.

Activating his lightsaber, he used his height to quickly close the distance between himself and his student and began with a quick overhead strike. He was using a training lightsaber, so Siri would not be gravely injured if she messed up.

 

[Malon]

Siri had little time to react, but the Force compensated for her. She ignited her own training lightsaber and brought it up in time to catch Haar's blade on it, blocking it from hitting her.

 

[Lavi]

"Good." She had better reaction time than many other students.

Haar gave a shove on his saber blade, to push Siri onto the defensive. He followed it up with several simple strikes, aiming to keep Siri on her guard.

 

[Malon]

Siri followed through with the principles of Soresu that she had studied in her free time. She gave herself to the Force and let it guide her saber. The crackling of her green blade rang out in the training room each time she blocked his simple jabs.

 

[Lavi]

Haar easily recognized Soresu, since that was the form that his master specialized in. Rather than back off, Haar pumped up the intensity of his strikes, to push Siri to her limits. He utilized a flurry of Ataru strikes to gather Siri's attention, and suddenly sweeped low with his foot to unbalance his student.

 

[Malon]

By now, the Force was doing all of the work for Siri, though she had to stay focused. Haar's increased intensity forced her to speed up the timing of her parries. Then came his low sweep with his leg. She jumped over it and regained her defensive pose, keeping her eyes trained on him and her senses on her surroundings.

 

[Lavi]

"Keep your focus steady: too much, and the slightest change will break your concentration. But too little will do the same," Haar advised, changing stance to an overhead posture. It was the Falling Avalanche strike: among the most famous, as well as strongest, of the Djem So strikes.

He brought down the blade, utilizing much of his own strength. Haar did not expect Siri to be able to block it; even he would have some difficulty directly countering it with his own preferred lightsaber form.

 

[Malon]

Siri flicked her blade around to defend herself adjusting her focus accurately and parried the blow, however, the strength behind the attack surprised her and forced her backwards; causing her to fall on her bottom. She rose back to her feet and once more assumed a defensive pose. She would not allow herself to fall like that again.

 

[Lavi]

"Do not think that you can face every attack. If I was more aggressive, and this was with actual lightsabers, you would have been easily killed," Haar commented, adjusting his grip on his lightsaber. The design of the hilt did not suit the Djem So form: it was too smooth for the maximum handling, thus strength.

"I'm done being the attacker: show me what you are capable of," Haar continued, returning to his Ataru stance.

 

[Malon]

Siri nodded her responce and took up a more offensive stance. She whirled her saber around and aimed a sweeping kick for her Master's legs in an attempt to knock him off balance. At the same time, she aimed a medium strength Force push upwards towards her Master's blade, attempting to knock it from his grip.

 

[Lavi]

Haar adjusted his footing as Siri swung her foot at his, causing the padawan's foot to suddenly stop when it made contact with him. He followed it up by holding a hand up to suppress the majority of Siri's Force push, then gave a push of his own to place some distance in between themselves.

"Not bad," Haar commented. "Continue."

He changed forms again, this time in a standard Shii-Cho stance.

 

[Malon]

Siri advanced again, this time, she angled her blade and darted to his left and swung a Force-empowered strike at Haar's left side. She recognized Shii-Cho, as she had been taught it at the Temple on Coruscant as a youngling. She knew she didn't have a chance of actually hurting her Master, but she still put all of her intent to do so behind her attack. She hoped to at least impress him.

 

[Lavi]

Recognizing the move, Haar presented a deft block. He was unfazed by the strength of the strike, and held the deadlock.

"You're putting great mental strain on yourself by relying so deeply on the Force," Haar said. "Act on instinct, not conscious effort."

 

[Malon]

"Yes Master." she said, leaping back and darting to the right. This time she let go, and gracefully swung her saber for his right arm. She had enough focus to sense her Master if he tried anything new, but she wasn't straining herself as much as before. She had to learn to rely on instinct.