Four's the Charm?

[Torchgram]

Lois sat almost in tears as Olive gazed at her pityingly. They would now be meeting their fourth master since they had come to the temples. If they did not become Knights soon, the council would likely cast them out. Olive shoveled another piece of nerf steak into her mouth as Lois carefully cut her own plate.

"Don't worry." Olive tried to smile. "I'm sure it will work out this time. We can't be unlucky forever?" Olive failed to keep her comment from becoming a question.

Lois smiled back at her, but the smiled was as strained as Olive's own.

#

Lois tried her hardest to hold back the tears. Her sister was surely in so much pain at the loss of their master, but all she did was comfort Lois. Lois's mind went back, to the day their last master had taught her to see with the force, how she had felt everything in the room, including the massive crush her sister had had for the young master, and her heart ached at the memory.

"You don't have to worry about me Olive." Lois smiled. "I'll be fine. We are lucky to get a new master so quickly this time at least. I wonder what he'll be like."

"Bet he's as tall as a mountain, and as wise as they say yoda was!" Olive said, excitement filling her voice.

"I bet he's kind." Lois wondered. "A friend to all lesser beings. A proper Jedi."

 

[Orphen]

Orphen had walked into the place testing out her new arm-piece, it was a gilded vambrace, made of ultrachrome, it was to be used as a saber shield, as well as its in built function. The stygium cloaking device. Taken from a criminal, she was testing out the personal cloaking technology which had been developed by the small group of killers Orphen had found, converted, apprehended, and on one occasion, killed. It was sad to think of it that way, but her study was only becoming more and more included when it came to the ways of the world. But it seemed the machine burnt out after thirty seconds, it had horrendous overheating issues. Which caused it to have an additional two minutes of inactivity.

Useful in a tight spot though, and the power of the Stygium crystal was astounding.

She'd been to the market. earlier that day, moving from planet to planet, and having placed out orders for various Force stones was excellent. Because most people found different ones. One of the merchants ran up to her, calling her now slightly well known name out. Holding out what seemed to be a Bondar crystal. Orphen smiled, almost giddily, handing over the 250 credits almost instantly for the precious stone. Adding yet another, to her collection. But this was not the time to dilly, dally. She had two more padawans to meet.

Entering the Cantina, she pressed the button on her cloaking device. Disappearing and seeing the two who had been described. Moving to their table and sitting down in the first ten seconds, and listening to their conversation. As the cloaking device faded, and the full thirty seconds were up. She appeared suddenly.

OR I could be a girl. She said with a smile. Clad in her pure white armourweave robes, lightsaber at her side, as well as the very real sword on her back I'm Orphen, it's a pleasure to meet with the two of you.

 

[Torchgram]

((Heh, I had hoped to get that response. Also not in the temple cafeteria? Why the sudden scenery change? Does Teta not have a temple?))

Olive lept gracefully too her feet, bowing, Lois follwed right behind her, but much more clumsily, her plate went flying, the gravy from her nerf steak staining her blouse underneath her training robes.

"We're sorry." They both apologized. "We, uh, weren't told what to expect." Olive continued.

 

[Orphen]

(cafeterias and cantinas are essentially the same thing =_= Lol... I hope you know, i broke a vow for you...)

Orphen smiled, before commenting, eying the two of them up, taking in their physical appearance and realizing that one of them was in fact blind. Blindness was apparent in simply the way her eyes never seemed to focus on anything. they stared straight. with a slight haziness about them, clouded, but Orphen thought that with training, she would have so much more than simple sight. In many ways she was advantaged. If she had been blinded from birth, she had not experienced the material world through sight. Therefore that part of her mind would not hold her back, like many many others.

Orphen watched them bow, standing, and bowed in return. Walking to another table, and handing the girl which had splashed the gravy over herself a couple of napkins to try her best to clean herself up.

It's fine you two, I was given your profile by the Temple, and well, it's unfortunate what the other masters have put you through. I'm going to be honest with you, i've not been a Jedi knight for long. I already have 2 other padawans. Which you will meet in time. So, this could be very hard for me, but I don't know for sure yet. I have not been a teacher for long, so, if you two try hard for me, I'll do my best to teach you everything you know to become a great Jedi, even if it takes a little longer than most other masters.

She smiled, beckoning the other two of them to sit at the table, ordering herself a cold drink and waving it over. Served quickly, she awaited the two of thems' reply, following with.

So, tell me a little about yourselves.

 

[Torchgram]

(They are entirely different. A cafeteria is bustling with young padawans. A mess up in a cafeteria is a shaming. A cantina is just a bar. Its small, cramped, and usually dirty.)

Lois and olive sat down opposite their new master. Lois began to idly rub the napkins on her blouse, her eyes staring blankly forward, though her hands found the stain easily enough as she reached out, touching the force for sight. Olive transported what remained of her plate to the new seat and sat down, continuing to eat. Lois took it as a sign she would be telling their tale.

"We're from Bakura, originally." Lois sighed. "We never knew our parents, they disappeared when we were babies. Our grandfather raised us for as long as he could, but he passed away last year. After that we were sent to a government boarding school. There they took samples of both our blood and shipped us off to Tython. Three masters latter they shipped us here."

Olive pushed away the finished plate with a huff of pleasure. "We've already had some basic training in the first form." She smiled. Lois could remember that too, Olive had been a natural at combat, almost scarily so. She however had struggled for hours to get a single blow toward her master's blade. "Lois has also recieved some force training."

#

Olive thought back to that day they had spent training. She had loved grabing a light saber and running around, but even now the force eluded her. She could feel it, all around her, but always at the edge of her grasp, just out of her reach. She envied her sister. Remembering the concentration her sister had showed, and how she had learned the force techniques so quickly. "Lois has also recieved some force training."

Olive threw out the info like it didn't matter to her. But there was a pang in her heart as she said it, unable to include herself in that pronouncement.

"My sister is being too generous in her estimation of my abilities." Lois said, her voice small. "She is the one who has the form one training. I can only access the force." She gave a motion to her blouse, as if its current state was indication enough of her lack of skill.

Olive couldn't help but smile. Lois had always been clumsy, and her newfound sight had not changed that. If anything it seemed to make it worse, as she would try to do something, thinking she could, and screw up more than she ever did back when she was more cautious.

"Is there anything else you wish to know?" Olive asked.

 

[Orphen]

Orphen listened intently as they both regaled their stories as well as the history of their former training. She found it kind of aggrivating that other Jedi masters had skipped out on their responsibility to train them as Padawans. It was the Duty of a master to do so, it was not the duty of a Jedi Knight to pick up the irresponsibility of a Jedi Master. But, now that Orphen was here, and she had heard their stories, she felt obliged to help them as if they were her own family.

Not far off from myself, but probably because of other reasons, I was born on Shili, my village had sent many of its fighters and hunters off to war for the GA. But this left us undefended, when two of the behemoths from the forest struck like a whirlwind through our town, everyone but me was devoured. A jedi master fought them off, arriving just in time to save me. He realized I was force sensitive, and took me in, Since that moment, i was raised by the Jedi order, i was no older than 2, and i was never taken in by a master. Never. People trained me on a case by case basis, I learned a little from everyone and made my way to this point. Becoming a Jedi Knight was something I never dreamed I can do.

She smiled.

I've made a lot of friends, and you'll meet a lot of them. Oddly enough, many of them are technically enemies of the Jedi, Ann, a captain of the Chiss. Mira Albion, a Master Level force user of the Sith. Junn Fett, Prior leader of an entire Mandalorian clan. Just, dont be too scared of them, okay? She giggled.

So, that's it for introductions. Well, Answe me this then, would you two prefer to work on your strengths, or your weaknesses? And what, would you like to learn? Caris, is VERY good at blade combat, being a blade. I'm a gifted force user. So, I could try and teach you to use the force more aptly, and Caris can teach you how to wield, well, himself.

 

[Torchgram]

"I want to become undefeatable with a blade." Olive declared, placing her hand on the table with enough force to show she was serious but not so much as to attract attention from other patrons. "I may not be too good with the force, but I know I'm good with a blade. But I want to be the best." She gave a small glance at her sister. It had always been her job to protect her, and she intended to continue that tradition, even now that her sister was coming into her own.

"Then I would like to learn the force!" Lois declared. Olive looked at her in surprise, Lois was rarely so forceful.

#

Lois listened to her sisters pronouncement and felt her twins gaze upon herself. She would never be a great combatant, but maybe she could find some way to support her sister. "Then I would like to learn the force!" She surprised herself with how confident that pronouncement was. Her voice lowered in intensity as she said. "I've heard there are jedi who can use the force to heal, or increase the strengths of others. Do you know these techniques? Can you teach them to me?" The excitement returned to her voice for the final question.

 

[Orphen]

Orphen laughed at the twos' enthusiasm. It was refreshing to such a point to see that the two of them were ready for this, ready for this journey, and ready to learn. The path was going to be hard, she'd never trained someone from almost no experience before. But it seemed that this duo would make up for one an-others weaknesses.

Very well, You, Olive, I'll teach blade work with the help of Caris, as all of my knowledge with a lightsaber is defensive, not offensive in nature. I'll also teach you Trakata, an art which will quite easily once mastered allow you to fight, and defeat two opponents against yourself. While, you Lois, I'll teach my art of healing, as well as battle meditation and the surgical use of telekinesis. She said with a smile. Standing from the table after finishing her drink.

Come, I've set up a training ground not too far from here, but away from prying eyes.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When they got there, the place was near forest. Shin high grass and several targets were set up, as well as training lightsabers and a couple of useful crystals, in case they were needed to boost performance, focus, or recovery. most notably healing crystals and focus crystals.

 

[Torchgram]

"Master, that's the second time you've mentioned Caris." Olive puzzled. "Who is he?" Were they to have two masters? Olive wondered to herself.

#

Lois wandered the field. The grass parting as she walked over it. It was calm here, quiet. Yet still full of energy. So different from the sterilized halls of the temple. The life around her was blinding and it took a great deal of concentration to remain focused and able to see. Every now and then her 'gaze' would fall upon an item that nearly blinded her in its force intensity. Little pockets of power, so fierce as to be painful when she looked at them with her young 'eyes'. She wished to know their purpose and origin, but she did not wish to interrupt her sisters conversation with their master.

 

[Orphen]

Orphen took the focus gem, walking over to Lois and slipping the crystal into her hand, she would no doubt figure out quickly how the crystal would seemingly sharpen her mind, such an effect would make focusing on the use of and learning new force powers faster, and easier. Added to her already prominent aptitude, this would make life, a LOT easier.

But the question was finally asked... Who is Caris...

Orphen reached behind her, grabbing the hilt of a force blade. Unsheathing it. The glimmering song-steel, enhanced and soaked with the power of Orphens' first use of force light. The blade was a glorious thing. She threw it cinematically up into the air, silhouetted by the sun. With telekinesis, she pulled it back down to the earth to literally stab into a rock. A gold stone on the hilt began to glow. And they would all hear in their minds.

I am Caris, a blade, a sword, wielded by a Jedi master, and once wielder of a hollow armour of which I cut down foolish Jedi, believing myself a long lost Mandalore in my madness. Your master saved me, and severed me from my corruption. Who better to teach you the art of swordsmanship... than a sword...

Caris is a shard, a race of living force sensitive rock. He was quite a powerful force user too, but his power came from the dark side, so telepathy is about all he has left now. Since he has been severed from the dark side. His teaching is harsh, and critical. But if you can see through it, and learn through it. He's a great teacher, just don't take his critique personally. So, after I finish getting Lois on the right track, you and I olive, are going to spar. So get acquainted with Caris, feel free to ask questions She smiled. Moving over to Lois.

So, how about we learn Telekinesis first okay?

 

[Torchgram]

Lois shyed away as Orphen approached with the crystal, its brightness growing closer and more powerful. As her master dropped it into her hands she caught it, though it seemed to burn in her palms. Not physically, but still powerfully. It hurt to touch it, but she could feel a power there, an order. She reached out again and again, tapping the crystal with her mind. Finally she connected to it, for just a second, and her mind exploded with light. It took everything in her to remain standing, but she accomplished it, the only physical reaction she showed being a shiver and a brief buckling of her knees. She slowly sat down in her meditative pose, legs crossed in front of her, her mind still reeling from the sheer power of the crystals connection to the force.

# MEANWHILE BACK AT THE PLOT

Olvie looked at the sword, dumbfounded. A talking sword... A... Talking... Sword... She didn't even notice her master walk over to her sister, she just stood there, looking at, the talking... sword.

"So, how about we learn Telekinesis first okay?"

A slow smile spread across Olives face, which developed into a small chuckle, then a stronger giggle, then full throated laughter. "A talking sword! Emporer's black bones! A talking sword! Who tells puns! I love it!" Olive fell to the ground, barely able to breath she was laughing so hard. "A talking sword..."

#

Lois looked up at her master. "Telekinesis?" And she held out her hand, the crystal hovering a good 4 inches above it. Lois instantly regretted using the force on the crystal as its power pierced into her brain again. The crystal dropped back into her hand. "Our last master did teach us some minor telekinesis techniques before he left." Her strained voice came out. Suddenly she heard her sister burst out laughing.

"A talking sword! Emporer's black bones! A talking sword! Who tells puns! I love it! A talking sword..."

And now her sister was on the ground laughing. Lois held the palm of her hand to her face and sighed. Today was going wonderfully. First they assume their master to be male, now Olive was laughing at one of her masters belongings.

 

[Orphen]

Orphen always considered the power of such crystals no more than a minor boost, but perhaps at her level, the boost was a little more. At such small development levels, they would learn that the gems she were using were more or less meant to augment a Jedis' abilities, make things just a little easier, enough to make a difference. But not enough to make a Knight a Master.

Well, not these gems at any rate... Orphens' Anterres crystal, was a whole other story...

Stop using force sight, you're splitting your focus, and it's foreshadowing the gem. Telekinesis is not an easy skill to master, I don't know if your other master told you this, but through the power of telekinesis, entire ships have been crashed, or slowed to a stop as they plummeted to the earth. It is a strong power. Capable of huge feats. But it's the minor feats which i think are more impressive.

Orphen focused, levitating a small rock up, wrapping it in telekinesis, accumulating force in her hand, and pushing forward. Such a tiny bolt a hole appeared in the rick, no larger than if a marble was shot through it. Letting the random rock fall into her hand, and looking through it. smiling.

What i want you to do, is try levitating only tiny things. like small rocks, stones, pebbles, and even grains of sand. Single grains. I want you to focus on them, every little detail on a microscopic level. Try it. Levitate something small, you will be surprised how difficult it is to have them not slip through your fingers.

-------------------------------------------​

SILENCE! Caris mentally demanded, so loudly that Olive would clap her ears only to realize that, that did nothing to help with a telepathic scream. You'd do best to hold your tongue before I cut it out... The dry voice of Caris continued to speak.

Until you have become a Blades-master worthy of legend, you do not have the right to bear such mirth before me... I begin to doubt in this one Orphen, can she really be something worth teaching, so insolent, so... naive.

Orphen ignored him for the most part, still trying to coach Lois into learning her designation of telekinesis.

Ugh... Fine, draw your lightsaber Padawan Olive, I will teach you how to fight, you are small, lithe, and flexable in your youth, I will ensure this dexterity never leaves you, and I will ensure that as you grow you become strong, strong enough to protect anyone, and everyone around you. Strong enough so that a dozen men, are nothing to you. I will teach you armed combat, unarmed combat, and the principles of combat. Though, while i have no body, we should start at the latter most point.

Why does one fight?

 

[Torchgram]

((I'm playing this as she's so sensitive to the force, even these small crystals seem to hold immense amounts of power cause they act as a channel to the force as a whole. I'm puting this here cause obviously Lois has no idea what that would mean. But you will. XD))

Lois dropped the crystal to the ground, it hurt too much too hold anymore. She instead reached out and found several small pebbles in the force. Using telekinesis to lift them. She had been practicing this technique for weeks, and was getting pretty good with it. She got to 50 pebbles before she started to struggle. She maxed out at 80, a small trickle of sweat running down her cheek from the effort of splitting her power across all the little stones. She held them for as long as she could, but after a minute they fell to the ground.

#

Olive snapped to attention at the tone from the sword. She still found the idea ludicrous, but it seemed this sword was to be her trainer for awhile. She stared at the gem at the end of the blade, and pondered its question. It wasn't hard to think of an answer, she stole a gaze at her sister and muttered, "To protect the one's we love."

 

[Orphen]

Orphen smiled, the small pebbles she lifted was great, she already had one part of this down. Though Orphen wanted to make sure that she was not using a large field of telekinesis to lift them all, as opposed to lifting each of them individually with small fields of telekinesis. Which she would tell her in turn, trying to coach her into doing things the hard way.

She would coach her into levitating smaller and smaller pebbles, seeing how small she could get, using fields of telekinesis small enough to only lift those rocks. Rather than using a rock sized field of telekinesis to lift a pebble. It was important that she scale down. Orphen took the force crystal, pocketing it, and placing it back into the armoured weaved pocket of the inside of her coat.

Remember, to conserve energy, you should only use as much power as you have to, everything has its own magnetic field, sense it. And use your own fields no bigger than it.

---------------------------------------​

Caris accepted her response. Though her conviction seemed a little stronger than he had expected

Fighting for your family, and the ones you love is a strong, So, my next question is Where do you fight. and how? These things that i ask you, are important. When being faced with a battle, it is important to pay attention to your surroundings. battle is not simply a thing you can charge head first into. If you've thought that in the past, you're lucky to be alive.

 

[Torchgram]

"I try to master." Lois turned to face orphen, though her gaze was a bit off. "But its hard the more items I try to lift. Its like each new pebble I lift halves my concentration. Its hard to just keep track of them all. But every day I can lift 5 more pebbles. Sometimes more, sometimes less. So I think I'm improving..."

#

Olive returned her gaze to the sword. "I know. Combat should always be a last resort, and you need to use your surroundings to grab any advantage you can." Olive clenched a fist and stared at it. "We've never been the strongest. And we've recently only had ourselves to rely on." Her eyes raised to the sword again. "But I will defend my sister to the best of my ability for as long as I am able. Please, teach me what you know so I may keep her from harm."

 

[Orphen]

She seemed to be doing really well, without the aid of a focusing crystal, as well as being able to keep intense concentration on each of them, with subtle persuasion she would condense the telekinetic auras around each of the pebbles. When Orphen felt satisfied with the progress, she began to speak once again.

Excellent, Now let's try even smaller, raise a single gain of sand. No more, no less. One grain. You'll need to see through the force, and focus through your sight, magnify it, to your eyes, a grain of sand can be like a boulder if you focus hard enough. Use no more telekinesis than you absolutely have to to lift it into the air.

Orphen closer her eyes and raised her hand first, lifting a single grain to levitate inches under her hand. with nothing but the smallest manipulations of the force calling it up, to orbit her hand, and weave between her fingers. She could see it perfectly.

Now, you try.

------------------------------------------------------​

Caris fell silent for a couple of seconds, no more or less than his equivalent of a grumble. The Shards' focus narrowing on the young girl. She had spoken half right. Seeming to run away with her assumptions of his questioning. Then asking for him to train her in everything he knew...

Look, child! you need to understand the philosophy and the art of battle before you lift a blade. I do not doubt your conviction. So let me spell it out to you. Why you fight, is for whatever purpose or cause you believe is the right one. Everyone fights for their own reasons, there is no right, or wrong in this world. No-one fights for good or for evil. There are only reasons. Then there are strong reasons, and weak reasons.

Where you fight, is always up to you, but you NEVER fight where someone else would have you. Create your own battlefield, at all times, one you know is, if not to your advantage then at the very least, even ground. How you fight is using that advantage, as well as every upper hand you have. Right now, it is your size, and dexterity. An opponent aiming down often cannot brace their footing, making them prone to losing their footing, or balance.

When you fight, should always be after all other exits have been exhausted, I believe Orphen taught me, that 'drawing your blade, already proves you have failed to solve things diplomatically.' She's right. Thus, another thing to remember. Then finally. Who you fight, that, is entirely up to you.

Caris spoke rather than asking each question and rectifying an answer. The blade was impatient, and over critical. Focusing on Olive, she would be able to almost feel his gaze.

Thoughts?

 

[Torchgram]

Lois reached out with the force, opening her minds eye. She gazed at the ground, the dirt was slightly damp, and the grains almost bonded together. With careful percision she severed a small grain from its surrounding and held it aloft. It did not require much effort, she had never had trouble with single objects, only struggling once she got to multiples. "Like this?"

#

Olive looked at the sword and nodded. "I understand."

 

[Orphen]

Orphan laughed, it seemed that this girl was gifted with the force, no, using small bouts of the force like so was never terribly hard, but there was a secret to using telekinesis effectively on this small a scale. It became much more useful, being able to be gentle, and precisionate was something that had a million uses and a million more applications.

Keep picking up single grains, I use them because they're so easy to lose your focus on and drop them. If you can pick up one at a time every so often, and have them orbit around you while you meditate. I'll spar your sister, I dont expect you to never drop one, just try your best, and you'll get slowly better.

She at that point drew her lightsaber ejecting the Arkanian dragon gem with a clap at the bottom of the lightsaber, fetching the Bondar stun crystal, and placing it into the lightsabers' stream like loading a bullet into a gun, then clapping the hatch closed again in three swift motions. The systems inside the sabers' hilt aligned the new gem and she set the blade to a low power before ejecting the pristine blue blade.

Now, Olive, i believe you were waiting for me... here,

She threw her a training lightsaber, not knowing whether or not Olive already had one of her own.

So, let's see what you have learned so far, and how about you tell me what you would like to learn... mmkay? Orphan giggled only slightly though, holding her blade up in front of her nose in the fencers' salute before she assumed the defensive stance of Soresu.

 

[Torchgram]

Lois began to sever more specs of dust, and not only lift them, but send them in a stream that would orbit around her head. It wasn't hard at the begining, but like with the pebbles, the more she added, the harder it became. She go to thirty before her first fell. She buckled down and increased her concentration. She would not so easily drop one again.

#

Olive took a very basic stance. Legs shoulder with apart, slightly bent, blade held at a slight angle in front of her. She took a deep breath and suddenly, sprinted toward her master as fast as she could. Pass on her left side, swing for her right shoulder. Pass on her left side, swing for her right shoulder. Olive strategized in her head. At the last second however she dropped and used the wet grass to slide beneath her master, coming up for a swing at the older girls back.

 

[Orphen]

Orphen waited on the charge of Olive, it was a bold move, attacking head on, just as she reached her, orphan raised her guard preemptively, pointing the blade down, holding the hilt at shoulder height. Though as no strike came, she turned in time with her the strike came for her would be back, with the tip of her blade down, Orphen would rotate Olives blade around and up rapidly opening up her chest, stepping in and with an open palm intending to strike Olive in the solar plexus.

A good example of what could have been a force push, wave, blast, or other close combat strike would have been. The reaction from orphen was lightning fast. with her spare hand, she held back Olive's lightsaber from coming back in the same direction. The counter was simple, but not uncounterable in itself.