A More Elegant Touch

[Deloi]

Teline Deloi was continuing his practice of the Force in the temple on Tython. To test out one of the more advanced courses he was designing, Deloi was preparing to go through the course himself. It was not like the basic training course he created on the planet Tython. This one was much quicker in pace and was not created for anyone who did not have incredible competence with the lightside of the Force. The course required full situational awareness as every obstacle was attacking simultaneously. It was designed to be completely impossible to complete without use of the Force. The course tested one's ability to fully utilize the three aspects of the Force all in unison. Deloi was at a computer panel ready to set it up.

"Setting diagnostic run... Preparing blaster droids and... The obstacles are ready. Setting the obstacle course to begin in ten seconds."

After inputting several settings, Deloi moved away from the panel which was lowering out of harms way, and moved to the beginning of the course a few steps away. The young Jedi took out his curved lightsaber and ignited it to his right side, down and away from his body. The time then went off and Deloi's obstacle course was beginning. The floor beneath him was opening to reveal a trap hole. Deloi jumped forward to safety right before the heavy blaster droid began to fire. Deloi darted behind cover constantly while advancing forward. The last few meters to the droid were out in the open and close range to the droid. Deloi sped from the last covering wall and out into the open. The Jedi lifted his left hand into the air before the blaster shots reached him. As he ran forward at the droid, the rapid firing of the droid was being deflected by Deloi's right hand as he raced forward at it. The intense firing was ended by the swift cut of Deloi's curved lightsaber to the droid's blaster. The droid deactivated and Deloi preceded to the opening on the droid's right.

As soon as Deloi entered, he heard something firing. Realizing what it was, Deloi jumped to a beam right before the grenade from the grenade launcher landed. Deloi had to continue moving as the grenade launcher was continuously firing at Deloi's location. He jumped from platforms and swung from poles to continue to the location of the Droid with the grenade launcher. However, he eventually ran out of things to move to. Deloi jumped in the air to avoid the last grenade, but was now unable to dodge the next one. A fire engulfed Deloi when the grenade hit. When the smoke cleared, Deloi floated safely within his protection bubble, completely unscathed. Deloi located the droid from the air and darted at it from within his bubble. The last grenade hit the protection bubble as Deloi just closed in on the droid. The explosion destroyed the droid, but left Deloi unharmed as he continued to the exit of the obstacle course.

"I will have to increase the speed of the traps and droids."

 

[Fusion]

Lamia entered one of the rooms on board the Jedi's combat ship. An elegant vessel from a far more civilized age... One could only marvel about its survival to the modern day. She saw a male Jedi engaging himself on an obstacle course. He was impressive, both Force- and combat-wise. However, she decided to simply wait for him to notice her before saying anything.

 

[Deloi]

Deloi turned around intending to head back to the computer panel when he accidentally ran into Lamia Kressh. He was going to apologize when he realized that the girl was a Sith Pureblood. It was surprising to Deloi to find a Sith Pureblood, but it was obvious she was a Jedi or she would not have made it an inch close to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant.

"My apologies, I... Are you a Padawan here?"

 

[Fusion]

But of course. No Sith would've been able to get aboard this vessel unless they were a fallen Jedi.

Lamia was of course referring to the Sith that had taken the Empire over, though it could be taken as her species itself.

 

[Deloi]

"I was not aware that the Sith had come out of secrecy let alone in the Jedi. Don't Sith Purebloods feed off the darkside?"

It was curious as Deloi had heard that all Sith actually need to feed of the darkside to live. How did a Sith Pureblood enter the Jedi with that need to feed off the darkside to subsist. Something was odd about this Sith Pureblood however; something was different about her.

 

[Fusion]

Master Ike took me as her Padawan, and as you know, her methods are quite... unpredictable. Recently, however, my taint was removed, thanks to her and the Valley of the Jedi.

Lamia of course did not mention all that had happened. She only would if Deloi asked.

 

[Deloi]

Deloi raised a brow at how a Sith's "taint" could be removed without killing the individual. After all, the Sith were pure darkside creatures by nature; they do not call them "purebloods" for nothing. However, Deloi was not surprised that Kressh was Lady Snowblood's apprentice. Matsu Ike had taken more apprentices than Deloi cared to take count of. Teline Deloi did introduce himself, but in a more cautious manner considering the woman's race.

"I am Jedi Knight Teline Deloi, 'the Elegant Jedi' and master of telekinesis. What about yourself?"

 

[Fusion]

I am Lamia Kressh, last known Sith Pureblood and Padawan of Jedi Master Matsu Ike.

She tried to be formal, but wasn't sure if she was pulling it off correctly.

 

[Deloi]

Deloi was slightly intrigued at how a Sith Pureblood was accepted into the Jedi Order with only the idea of a removed taint. There was probably more to the story then what Deloi knew. Deloi proceeded to ask questions in the hopes of learning more about Lamia Kressh and why she became a Jedi.

"So the Council did not find anything wrong with your joining? Perhaps it is just me, but I did not think the Jedi would accept a Sith Pureblood into the order. If this ritual at the Valley of the Jedi done recently, how did you come to be a Jedi beforehand?"

 

[Fusion]

The old Grandmaster allowed me to become Master Ike's padawan so long as Nikola Valtiere watched over me as well, to stop me from showing even the slightest hint of falling. Then he died, and the council basically forgot about me during the power shift. My master suggested me for the trials, but I was denied by the Grandmaster. From what I've heard, it's because he was bigoted against my species, despite me, a Sith with a predesposition for darkness, not falling, while the last grandmaster himself has.

Lamia was just being blatant. And it was true... He had fallen, while she had not.

 

[Deloi]

Deloi nodded and did note the irony of Kressh's current situation. The last grandmaster was only recently given the vote of no confidence. The situation seemed almost inconvenient for Kressh depending on one's view. Deloi had a hard time sympathizing with a Sith, but in the end it was not up to him.

"I have never understood Lady Snowblood's pension for training. It seems as if she wishes to train every Padawan. Perhaps it was simply that he did not feel that you were ready to take the tests. He may have felt you were not right to become a Knight yet. I am sure if you practice more and show discipline, you will be ready. What is it that you practice in your training?"

 

[Fusion]

A bit of everything. Matsu teaches, and I learn. Besides, when I was last with the current Grandmaster, I sensed his contempt for me and my species. He never wanted me here.

She paused, thinking about how hypocritical his views were in comparison to the Jedi's views.

I wouldn't suppose you have anything you could show me?

 

[Deloi]

Deloi was suspicious after hearing of her overall practice. Matsu Ike always taught a magnitude of things all over, but the balance was the weakness of such. However, everyone had a lean to one aspect, and Lamia was no different. It was a easy to see what one's specialization was by looking at their lightsaber form. Deloi wanted to ask about that first.

"Perhaps I do, but first, tell me what lightsaber form do you utilize?"

 

[Fusion]

Lamia thought for a moment, then spoke.

I am a practitioner of the form used by Mace Windu, as in Juyo. It is my nature to be aggressive, and I'm quite good at utilizing my aggression in the form.

 

[Deloi]

Juyo was the form that Teline Deloi's brother, Solfire, practiced and he fell to the darkside. The memory came back to him instantly at the mere mention of Juyo. Deloi saw that as the reason that Lamia Kressh was not allowed to take part in the trials. Deloi felt the ferocity form was far too inappropriate for a Padawan, let alone a Sith turned Padawan. His contempt for Kressh's form surfaced in a moment. Deloi's aggression was instantly provoked at the mention of the form.

"Juyo? Well of course you were passed over for the trials. Juyo is far too inappropriate for a Padawan, let alone you, to practice. Your use of that form is entirely immature. Then again, I guess a form mired in the darkside is only natural for one such as yourself to go to. As long as you use that form you will be demonstrating you are not ready to become a Jedi Knight."

 

[Fusion]

Lamia was a bit upset. This form obviously upsetted Deloi, but he didn't seem to have any legitimate grievances.

What is wrong with Juyo? It has worked for me since I first became proficient with a lightsaber. But if you really believe that's why I was passed over... I was thinking about Shien. Seems to be more effective in lightsaber combat.

 

[Deloi]

Deloi knew a great deal of Juyo, his brother's form. The lightsaber form was to Deloi, a great sorrow and tragedy. The form drew on very volatile emotions and one of the creators of an offshoot actually fell to the darkside. Juyo was a form that Deloi was very cautious about.

"That form requires the usage of volatile emotions. A user floats dangerously close to the darkside when engaged in combat. Shien is hardly a better substitute. That form has its own inappropriate focus such as dominating one's opponent. Perhaps you would be better suited to Soresu. The focus on a calm mind would do wonders for one of your race's chances at becoming a Jedi Knight."

 

[Fusion]

I float dangerously close to the Dark Side every moment of my life. It is a constant struggle to keep myself under control. If I can handle it while the ex-Grandmaster cannot, I should be suited for Juyo. Besides, practicers of Soresu constantly play a defensive game. The goal seems to be delaying the inevitable instead of finishing.

It was true. Users of Soresu were not noted for their victory in melee combat.

 

[Deloi]

Deloi was now full of contempt for Lamia Kressh's justification for her use of Juyo. Just because the Grandmaster fell while she did not, did not make her immune or better than the Grandmaster. Soresu's defensiveness was also not one to be downplayed for it was highly effective. That the Grandmaster fell while Lamia Kressh did not was coincidence to Deloi and not a sign that Kressh was invulnerable to a weakness that claimed many great Jedi.

"Your arrogance is only further reason for you to never become a Jedi Knight. Just because the Grandmaster fell while you did not does not make you immune to the taint of the Darkside. The Grandmaster was a human, a man like any of us. You only make it harder for yourself to be accepted as a Jedi or to resist the taint of the darkside by utilizing the form. And do not downplay Soresu's effectiveness. I knew of one user long ago that defeated one of the most fearsome Jedi hunters ever known by himself. He defeated a Sith Lord, and had a hand bringing about the creation of the New Jedi Order. You forget yourself."

 

[Fusion]

Which one? I know of at least two that affected the Jedi as we know them today. One showed me what would be my fate should I dedicate myself to the Light side, while the other I saw in a vision. The reason they defeated their enemies was because they knew another form as well as Soresu, and were capable enough to shift between them.