Ask A Solid Foundation

[Mako Krim]

Starlight Station​

Mako was tired. Still tired even after a good solid sleep and a long centering meditation session. There was no rest for those who fought the wicked however. After weeks on Coruscant, a long flight out, and the a debriefing session, one might want to take it easy for just a little bit before hopping right back into the responsibilities of a Jedi Knight. Not Mako however, couldn't be him. Though he supposed what he has planned for the day could be considered taking it easy by some.

He had spotted a familiar face among the throngs of serious Jedi amidst the meet and debrief the day before. A young girl just beginning her journey walking the way of a Jedi. Mako supposed he had taken an interest in her training after their first meeting back on Takadona after noting the peculiar talent she seemed to have with the Force. So, he had decided to follow up on that.

Mako had sent the young initiate a message, to meet him in Starlight Station's training hall, and that was where he waited. He wore a simple beige tunic, the standard Jedi attire that could be easily obtained from the stations quartermaster, free for any Jedi. Which was a good thing considering after his reprimand he was pretty much broke, and all of his nicer clothes were collecting dust on shelves and hangars back on Takadona.

Mako was not idle while he waited. Instead he stood blindfolded, his purple lightsaber humming in his hands. He listened and heard the gentle hum of the trio of training remotes that buzzed around him, seeking an opening. His mind was clouded, but he pushed through as he felt the remotes, rather than seeing them. Soon. They would strike soon. He could feel it as they ducked and weaved around him and he stepped and changed his guard to match.

@Remileah

 

[Kane Seros]

Kane had been wandering the hall of the Starlight for some time now. There wasn't much to do but train in the station. His crimson Jedi tunic, black under shirt, and black trousers weren't a usual sight among the halls, but they were a contrast to the scarlet robes he wore on Coruscant.

Coruscant. That was a thought. A memory. Every night he'd wake up screaming from what he saw. At the debriefing, he saw Mako speak. He was here. Myrell'anay was too. They'd taught him more on Coruscant about being a Jedi than his former master had taught him in a decade. He owed them nothing short of his life, and he had no idea how to repay it.

He hadn't planned on stumbling upon a training Mako, but he found himself in the doorway watching Mako train against mindless droids. A smirk spread across Kane's face as he watched the Jedi Knight do his work to match the droid. It was child's play to most that had studied the saber extensively. The Nar Shaddaa kid in him wanted to make fun, but the new found Jedi in him knew this to be a false sense of pride. Mako was much more powerful in the Force than Kane was, and training against mere blaster droids had allowed them to survive Coruscant. It was Kane that was lacking in training.

"Hey," he said softly. "Could always spar. I can't spawn man sized claws and screech, but I think I could put up a decent lightsaber fight." Mako would get the reference to the exalted they fought together on Coruscant. Kane had so many questions for him. Did he have the same nightmares? Was he as tired as Kane because of it? What did he think was the best option for them? They were some of the only Jedi to meet one these infiltrators and live.

 

[T'vani]

Location: Starlight Beacon, Training Hall

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The Starlight Beacon was such a vastly different place from either Fiana or Takodana. This place was made almost entirely of steel and other metals, unlike the stone that made up the temple of Takodana and the wood that made her home on Fiana. Everything was artificial, and T'vani had never felt more estranged from nature than right now. Her instincts told her to leave quickly to return to Takodana, but this was where she needed to be. She had been relocated here because of the growing threat of the abominations and Dark Nexuses, and leaving wasn't presently an option.

The one good thing about the Starlight Beacon was how many people she recognised. Even if the reasons for their gathering were unpleasant, they were still together, providing a much-needed measure of comfort for the otherwise uncomfortable girl. T'vani had seen Mako, R'ashtaro, Agialia, and many others. Mako had even contacted her to meet him in the training hall for proper training. The young Fiani accepted immediately and hastily departed after changing into a bodysuit better suited for training than her robes.

It took her only a short time to arrive. There were many people and droids ready to provide directions, and there were so many signs posted around that it was nearly impossible to get lost. As T'vani stepped into the training hall, Mako quickly came into sight. Her pace slowed, and her footsteps quietened as she watched the peculiar display, though her gaze transfixed on the lightsaber in his hands. It was her first time seeing one, and she couldn't help but be mesmerised by the eccentric blade and the way it hummed with quiet power.

The drones were next to catch T'vani's attention, along with the blindfold obstructing Mako's sight. Was this something all Jedi could do? Would she eventually be able to do this if she got her own lightsaber? Her thoughts strayed to the kyber crystal she still kept with her. Even now, it was in her pocket. She couldn't bring herself to part with it for any reason, especially after witnessing the change it had undergone before her eyes on Takodana. It was something special she would always keep on her person.

As Kane spoke to Mako, she pulled herself from her thoughts. T'vani stopped walking and watched the two with interest. She had a feeling she needed to observe. She might stand to learn something from what she was about to witness.

@Arcangel
@TheDudeMike
@Volene

 

[Mako Krim]

Mako was aware of the others that entered the room, but he remained vigilant and focused on the training drones. Such was the reality of combat that though many distractions may exist, focus must always be maintained. And this was as good of practice as any he might get on Starlight.

Mako was no master swordsman, but ever since his experience on Lorrd where he and his fellow Jedi Zathria had faced down a powerful Sith, he had renewed and doubled his training and practice with the lightsaber. Officially he practiced Niman, though he would hardly call himself proficient in the long form of the art which blended all the previous forms together. It was the first three forms where his expertise lay currently, though he practiced daily to advance those and increase his grasp of the others.

So it was in the familiar step of Shii-cho that his guard stance took to those observers, standing on solid footing and holding his blade perpendicular to the ground. What skill Mako did hold however, he always sought to blend and flow. He would move as the current in the ocean, the winds among the cliffs and peaks of Oba Diah. He would surge as the wave and crash against the cliffsides as the surf. He would flow like the wind through winding spires and strike like the raging storm.

The droids made their move and Mako with them. He sensed their opening volley and his blade moved to meet it. A simple block, the adjusting of his guard that caught the first blast near the hilt. Flowing into an orbital spin behind his back that deflected the flanking droids bolt into the ground. His feet stepped with his rotation as he continued the Soresu orbit into a second, tighter, motion to catch a third bolt.

A short horizontal block as he moved back into Shii-cho, aimed this time as he sent the first droids blast into the third, it's low power bolt sending the remote spinning to the ground, out of action.

Block, parry, block. Mako was put on the full defensive as the remaining remotes upped their tempo in retribution for their fallen. Mako was forced into short, harried blocks as the droids drove him back. He needed an opening.

And then he found one as one of the droids wandered a little too close in it's offensive push. Spinning his blade out of a parry, he snapped the weapon forwards in a Makashi snap thrust. The blade was in training mode, so it didn't cut the remote in half but rather sent it spinning to the ground, powered down.

The remaining remote punished him for his actions however as a swift burning bolt drove into his thigh and he grunted, stepping back and bringing his blade to bear again in a hasty block before lashing out with a diagonal upwards slash that sent the remote flying and skittering to T'vani's feet.

Mako exhaled in frustration before ripping the blindfold off his eyes as he cut power to his lightsaber. He rubbed his leg where a stinging welt was no doubt forming under the trousers. It was then that he finally acknowledged the others who had arrived.

"Greetings Initiate T'vani, Knight Seros." He said with a formal head bow before breaking into a slight grin. "How goes your training young one?" He asked T'vani before turning his head towards Kane. "And thank the Force you can't," he chuckled lightly, "but unfortunately there are many foes we might face wielding lightsabers as well, so it would be good training all the same." His lighthearted tone dropped a little as he recalled the duel on Lorrd where he could have easily lost his life if not for being with a fellow Jedi. "I wouldn't mind a quick spar, so long as young T'vani here doesn't mind, after all I did invite her here to catch up and give her some training in the saber arts."

@Remileah @TheDudeMike @Volene

 

[Kane Seros]

Kane gave a small smile, turning to the young girl. "I don't want to intrude. Would you mind if I borrow Mako?" His voice was soft and warm, a stark contrast to how he started Coruscant. Even the small pang of disappointment that they wouldn't be alone had turned into a light of hope that the girl may learn something from their spar. "I think one bout would do." Kane glanced at Mako quizzically as if making sure that a one round spar would be okay with him.

@Remileah @Arcangel @Volene

 

[T'vani]

T'vani watched Mako as he combatted the drones milling through the air. The spectacle was a wonder to behold, watching the man deflect bolts and dispense of the remotes one by one. His motions were fluid and controlled, and although she was inexperienced in sabre combat, she could vaguely discern the stances he was shifting through. T'vani immediately recognised the initial Shii-cho posture, the Way of the Sarlacc.

It was the most rudimentary form of lightsaber combat and still saw use even to this day. After R'ashtaro had advised her to start from the beginning and work her way into more advanced forms, she had spent some time focusing specifically on that form. As the fight progressed, T'vani vaguely recognised the variation into Soresu, the stance that proved particularly effective against opponents with blasters. With everything happening so quickly and so many forms happening in succession, she lost her concentration by the time Mako had switched to Makashi.

Her focus returned as Mako was struck with the bolt, her arms snapping up and her hands covering her mouth. As he dispatched the final remote, sending it skidding to her feet, T'vani took a step back and looked down at it. Her gaze remained fixed on it momentarily before she looked back up as Mako addressed her.

"Hello, Master," she responded. Gone were the days of Mister Krim, it seemed. "Are you okay?" the Fiani inquired, her tail jittering erratically behind her in shallow, frantic motions as he ears folded back against her head. "My training has been good. I've gone to a few different mentors, but the thing I struggle with the most is still physical combat," the girl confessed. It was something she didn't want to admit, but her penchant certainly laid in the realm of the Force so far.

"I wouldn't mind, no," T'vani added as Mako asked if she'd mind watching a sparring match.

@TheDudeMike
@Arcangel

 

[Mako Krim]

Mako smiled at the young girls concern for him but brushed it off. "I am fine, it was just a low powered bolt to encourage good form." And punish bad form. "It just stings a little bit. You will become quite familiar with the training drones in time." He said with a small chuckle. Perhaps it was a little bit mean, joking at T'vani's expense and putting the worry in her, but it was also true.

"Well it is a good thing I summoned you here then, to work on what you are lacking." He nodded. The girl had a rare talent with the force, so it was of little surprise to Mako that she was not so talented in other areas. That was what training and discipline existed for.

"A short bout should be fine." Mako said as he nodded to Kane. "I'm sure T'vani can learn much through observation." He turned his head slightly to nod to the girl. "Watch closely." He said to her before turning and returning to the middle of the training floor.

"Whenever you are ready." Mako said to Kane as he ignited his lightsaber with a snap-hiss as he settled into a basic Shii-cho starting stance. Left foot forwards, hilt held around hip height with the blade angled forward towards his opponent.

@TheDudeMike @Remileah

 

[Kane Seros]

Kane gave an appreciative nod to the girl. He sauntered into the room and settled on the opposite side of the floor from Mako. He unclipped his lightsaber from his belt just as he stopped. With a nod of respect to Mako, grabbing the hilt of his lightsaber with both hands and igniting it. The viridian blade added to the hues of purple dancing along the walls. He had a mirrored stance to Mako. It was his default.

Bursting forward with quick steps, Kane closed the distance with Mako. Just at the edge of lightsaber range, Kane thrust with both hands in a quick, probing jab. While it was aimed at Mako's chest, it wasn't meant to actually hit Mako, or even come close to hitting him; Kane was testing his opponent and their reactions.

@Arcangel @Remileah

 

[Mako Krim]

Mako watched with dark eyes as Kane sauntered into the center of the floor to meet him. His stance mirrored Mako's as he ignited his saber, it's viridian hum contrasting the vibrant purple of his own blade.

There was a quiet moment filled only with the hum of sabers and the rhythm of their breath.

And then the beating of feet against the training room floor.

Mako moved forwards to meet Kane, bringing his thrust closer in than the man might have intended.

Right foot forward, left foot half stepping to the side as Mako met Kane's blade with the lower third of his own to shunt it off to his right. He wouldn't waste time nor opportunity however and would follow the parry up with a short snap of his blade downwards at Kane's wrists.

@TheDudeMike @Remileah

 

[Kane Seros]

Mako's forward movement surprised Kane. He shouldn't have been surprised. Here was one the Jedi that carried him through Coruscant. There was no way he was going to sit back and let Kane have the advantage of the offense.

There was no hesitation from Kane when his blade was parried to Mako's right. He pulled his arm back, but in an arc, batting the snapping blade to Kane's own right. It was an aggressive parry, but it was meant to create room. Kane stepped to his left as he did so, creating even more room and possibly giving him Mako's flank.

He twisted his wrist, angling his blade for a vertical slash and brought it down toward Mako's right arm.

@Arcangel @Remileah

 

[Mako Krim]

Mako's blade was smacked away to the his left, and he let it happen as Kane sought room to flank him. His own stance allowed him to respond in kind, his leading right foot stepping back behind his left as he pivoted on that center to keep his facing towards Kane.

His blade leveled out nearly horizontal as he withdrew and pivoted. His arms drew back as he twisted his wrists and raised the blade diagonally into a hard parry of the downward slash, catching the fore of the green blade high at the strong lower third of his blade.

He twisted his torso to the right to add power as rotated his wrists clockwise, bringing his blade nearly vertical to shunt the green blade off to his right, taking advantage of its downwards momentum to carry it away. If all went well this would leave Kane's guard open for a moment, a moment that Mako would take full advantage of.

Mako would swing his blade down vertically out of the high parry as he aimed a swift shallow strike at the other Jedi's wrist. If it hit, the tip would just graze Kane's right wrist.

@TheDudeMike @Remileah

 

[T'vani]

As the two began their duel, T'vani scooped up the remote still at her feet and cradled it in her arms. The girl shuffled over to a nearby bench and lowered herself onto it, sitting to spectate the practice session between the two as she held onto the remote.

The fluidity was intense. The most T'vani could do was watch and try to learn something, and although a part of her wanted to cheer for Mako, she simultaneously felt as if it would be in poor taste. They were both knights and although she had a clear favourite, it didn't mean she needed to sell short the other person. Her duty as an initiate was to show respect to her superiors, regardless of how well or how little she knew one.

...still, deep in her heart, she was cheering for Mako.

 

[Kane Seros]

Kane felt himself open as Mako made an expert block and redirect. It was perfect. Text book even. Kane was open to an attack, his lightsaber in his offhand, and Mako was fully aware of all of this. The soft expression on Kane's face turned hard, like apathetic met a workaholic. With the help of the Force, Kane flicked his lightsaber into a reverse grip in his left hand, then brought it horizontally across Mako's blade, smacking it to Mako's left.

Form V was interesting lightsaber form. It involved parries and counter-attacks. Unlike Soresu that it was based on, it was far more aggressive. It also had the help of utilizing the reverse grip. Kane's swing stopped as the tip of his lightsaber pointed toward Mako's chest, and placing his right hand on the pommel of his hilt, Kane pressed the blade forward in a quick thrust.

@Arcangel @Remileah

 

[Mako Krim]

Mako's block and shunt went through flawlessly, pushing his opponents blade off to the side and opening him to attack. The follow up strike less so however as Mako's blade was sent off to his left as Kane reversed his grip and parried it off.

Mako's two handed grip allowed him to retain control of his blade, preventing it from flying too far out of line. He allowed it to go left however and let go of it with his right hand as he found himself at the skewering end of the viridian saber.

His right wrist twisted so that his open palm faced Kane and he utilized telekinesis to push against the viridian stake aimed for his chest, aiming to hold it in place or to drive it backwards.

He continued to twist to the right to put himself parallel to the thrusting blade, leaning back a bit so that even if the other Jedi was able to muscle through the telekinetic hold, it would instead graze along his chest or stab at his shoulder instead, if it didn't glide past him entirely. He stepped back with his left foot slightly from his new facing to maintain his center of gravity As he leaned back.

Mako's left hand that held the saber did not remain idle as he did this. As it went to the left, he angled his wrist and snapped his blade forwards to bring it down diagonally from Kane's right. He aimed at Kane's right hand, the one applying pressure to the lightsaber pommel to drive his blade into Mako.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Kane Seros]

Kane struggled against the telekinetic hold, trying to push through it. It would be of no use, for Kane. Mako was stronger in the Force than Kane was physically. Truth be told Mako was probably stronger physically too. There wasn't much time to dwell on that though. Mako's blade was coming for his right hand and fast, making Kane's heart beat just a bit faster.

He moved his right hand away from his lightsaber, and let Mako's own telekinetic push drive his left arm to the right. Once again he batted the purple lightsaber away and to Kane's right, but this time his own lightsaber changed hands to his right hand in a traditional grip. With both hands on the hilt, Kane rotated his wrists to create a quick downward swing at Mako's sword arm.

@Arcangel @Remileah

 

[Mako Krim]

Mako's blade was once again bashed to the left as Kane used the momentum of his own telekinesis to block the Pyke's strike. He let it go left, stepping back away from Kane with the forward left foot to make space and quickly withdrawing his left arm back towards his hip, voiding Kane's strike as it vwooshed through thin air where Mako's left arm had been.

Right foot forward, Mako's left wrist would twist to level the blade perpendicular to the ground, his right hand returning to join it as he made a swift stabbing thrust at Kane's leading thigh. This stance left him in a strong position to react quickly to what Kane might do in response to the missed swing.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Kane Seros]

In combat, you will get hit, and you will get hurt.

The very first lesson Kane's former master had taught him popped into his head. It had been right after his master had beaten the snot out of him barehanded. Kane deserved it though; nicking 500 credits from a Jedi Master could have handed him far worse fates.

He could have parried upward, or to the side, but there was an initiate watching, learning, and the lessons Kane had to learn early on were important for a Jedi to know. Kane flipped his lightsaber back into a reverse grip in his left hand. Mako's stab would hit it's intended target, Kane's left thigh, just as Kane brought his own lightsaber to the left, in an attempt to rake it across Mako's arms.

In a real fight, Kane would most likely lose his leg in the process, but if successful Mako would lose his hands. They'd both be incapacitated. Regardless, Kane had sacrificed the spar for a moment of teaching, and take a limping hop backwards and disengage his lightsaber, rubbing the stinging in his thigh. The smile returned to his face, warmer and brighter, and he gave Mako a nod. That was a lot more fun than Kane had originally thought.

"Thank you," Kane said. "I wish we could do that more often." Kane turned to the initiate, wondering how much she picked up from the spar. "And thank you for letting me borrow Mako." He'd let Mako do the teaching, and discuss what the initiate had just seen.

@Arcangel @Remileah

 

[Mako Krim]

Kane surprised Mako yet again, twice actually. First in not defending himself from the stab to the thigh, and second by flipping his blade into a reverse grip yet again.

Mako's stab struck true, and if it had been real combat the blade would have sunk through the flesh and bone, sizzling away as it nearly took the man's leg off at the thigh. Of course if it had been real combat then Mako would also be short a pair of hands as the reverse gripped blade raked against his left forearm painfully.

Mako nearly dropped his saber from the burning pain but held onto it as Kane hopped back. Mako disengaged his own lightsaber and clipped it to his belt before rubbing his forearm with a large three fingered hand.

"Well fought Kane." He said, returning the man's grin with his own sharp toothed smile. There was a bit of a grimace there too however as his arm stung awfully.

"You nearly got me with that stab earlier, you've got some tricks." He said, complimenting the man's fighting as they walked over to where T'vani was sitting. "We will most certainly do that more often." He said in answer to the man's comment. Mako had a feeling they both had plenty to learn from eachother.

"Now, T'vani, tell me." he started as he turned his attention to the younger Jedi, "What did you learn through observing our spar?" He asked. He wanted to see what she might have observed and taken from the quick duel before launching into anything he might want to add.

@TheDudeMike @Remileah

 

[T'vani]

T'vani watched the duel unfold with wide eyes. It was her first time witnessing lightsaber-to-lightsaber combat, and it was a spectacle to behold. The way the blades hummed as they cut through the air, the way the duelists twisted and turned in their dance that, in any other scenario, would have been deadly. There was a graceful flow to everything happening, and it was as spectacular as it was concerning.

Then, the duel was over, but it was closer to a draw than a definitive victory for either party. Kane had his leg impaled, he struck Mako's wrists, and they ended the fight amicably. T'vani hadn't realised she clutched the remote to her chest during the battle. She lowered it down to her lap as Kane thanked her for granting her consent to allow the duel to happen.

"Of course," T'vani responded with a nod, her voice trailing off. She looked over at Mako. "You have to watch everywhere and expect anything," she elaborated. There were several distinct times when Kane had altered his tactics, changing to the reverse grip, and from her observations, it caught Mako off-guard every time. "You need to change what you're doing in response quickly. If you don't, things can go bad, or your opponent can get the upper hand and change things in their favour."

That was everything she had. If Mako sought a more technical observation, T'vani didn't have one. Everything happened so rapidly, and her understanding of the fundamentals of combat was so scant that she could never have hoped to glean technical or mechanical insight.

@Arcangel @TheDudeMike

 

[Kane Seros]

"Impressive," Kane said, nodding. "And correct." He almost wish he'd been able to watch a duel like she just had when he was just starting. "I'll give some parting advice that was one of the first things I learned as a Jedi, and leave you two to your training. You're not made of glass. Pain is a temporary thing, and every zap and sting you suffer now will make you a most powerful Jedi later. You have to learn from each one though." With that he gave Mako a respectful bow of the head, and headed for the door.

@Arcangel @Remileah