Learning To Abuse The Tool (The Training of Konvoy Roc)

[D.C.]

Choray dashed backwards in a little burst of speed, so the blade missed him in an inch. He then slashed his own blade against his student's with great strength and Force Pushed again.

"Stop." He said. "For now. You did well, acolyte. You were in anger, that's a good thing. The anger drives us, empowers us. Now, it is time to get to some Force training. How much do you know about the Force? Can you tell me what you know about the fake Light Side and the almighty Dark Side?"​

 

[Gambler]

Konvoy flopped back like a ragdoll, forcing himself to his feet without complaint. "What do I know about the dark side?" He asked, an echo of a question as he pondered the answer. "The dark side is used for power and strength. It is used to injury others and inflict pain. To kill brutally and efficiently. The light side, on the other hand, is a tool for healing a pacifism. But both have their uses," he answered curtly.

[OOC: Not much to say...]

 

[D.C.]

"I agree that the Light Side is not to be underestimated, but know this, acolyte, the Light Side is weaker than the Dark Side. When you fully understand the Darkness, you will become much better than those Jedi dogs. You just have to learn how to abuse the tool that is the Force."

His words were dark, and even sounded a bit evil. It was what Choray believed, so he spoke them with confidence. It was what he had been taught. The Dark Side was stronger, better and more rewarding. It was what guided the Lost and what empowered the worthy.

"To start with, you need to know how to meditate. Most acolytes find it utterly dull and boring, but it's necessary. In time you will understand why we meditate. I could tell you now, it's to center yourself so you are closer to the Force and it's easier to use it, but I doubt you'll understand it. Throw that blade aside, acolyte, and sit down. I will teach you how to meditate."

He motioned for Konvoy to sit down, and then sat down himself. After Konvoy would have sat down, he said: "Close your eyes and focus on only one thing, or nothing at all. Hear yourself breathing and clear your mind of thoughts, or let only one thought remain. Focus on that single thought or on your breathing, and call upon the Force. Command it to flow through your veins, and feel it flowing through you. Connect yourself, and enslave it. Feel it, and be its master. Meditate, acolyte."​

 

[Gambler]

There was silence. The beautiful sound of silence. Konvoy's eyes were shut as he obeyed his master's words. His breathing was measured and slow, his chest barely moving with the expulsion of breath. He focused his thoughts on a single point, watching his mind revolve around it until there was nothing left. But nothing greeted him.

And then a pulse sounded.

Thump-thump

Thump-thump

The pulse grew until it engulfed him. There seemed to be two forces at work. A blinding light swirling with cyan and silver and a vortex of darkness that contained only power. They appeared to battle as he watched, not willing himself into control yet.

The forces were not evenly matched and within seconds the darkness overtook the light. With it there came another pulse deep within his body. Like a cord was strummed on a guitar inside his body. His eyes remained closed as he fought with the prevailing force in a sea of fire and ice.

It felt like he was freezing yet burning all at once. Then he growled inwardly, surging all of his emotions with a single goal: to take control. The power subsided like a beast shot with a tranquilizer. But unlike such a beast, Konvoy had taken control of it. Forced his will upon it.

He sat, his eyes closed, a foreign sense of absolutism in his body.

 

[D.C.]

Choray was examining his student and finally, he was satisfied. "Very good." The Dark Jedi said with a low but powerful voice. "You have done as I asked. Now that you have taken the tool, you must abuse it."

Choray turned around and walked over to a small box. He opened it and grabbed two metal balls out of the box and placed them both in front of the, apparantly, still meditating Konvoy. He stepped back and said: "In front of you, I have placed two balls. These are made of metal, and heavy as hell. I doubt you are able to lift them with physical strength, but I know you are able to lift them while using the Tool." It was obvious he kept referring to The Force as The Tool, for it seemed a Tool to him. Nothing more than a simple tool.

"You know how to meditate, so you know how to center yourself. You must use this, to focus yourself onto the orb and command it to float. Make it float upwards and feel free to experiment with it. Let it fly a little distance, try to make it float higher, try to throw it through the tool. And if you fail, you will try again. Don't fear, acolyte. Do what you must."​

 

[Gambler]

A bead of sweat dripped down Konvoy's forehead as he allowed his mind to take over where his body could not. The Force flowed through him like water burst from a dam. He needed something to unleash it on. Something to destroy the barrier of power he had built within his being.

His attention was completely focused on the metal orbs. He commanded his mind to concentrate, to lift the orbs from the ground. At first there was no response except for one of the balls rolling half an inch before coming to a halt. For some reason, that spiked his anger.

His heart pulsed in time with a runner's feet as he forced the black metal balls into the air. Anger held a vice grip on him, that irrational, illogical rage some used as outlets for other emotions.

The iron orbs floated to the sky, shakily at first before steadying.

 

[D.C.]

Choray nodded. "Good, acolyte. You have done well. The next thing will take us outside of the enclave, into the cold. Are you ready for the next test?"

The next tests would be much harder, and maybe even dangerous. Yes, they would be dangerous and if Konvoy didn't watch out, he could die. Outside it was freezing, and a strong wind was blowing. The other Dark Jedi stayed inside and they declared Choray Sefja insane that he still ventured out into the wasteland. However, Choray was a man who was used to such areas, and he figured that his apprentices should get used to those areas as well, so they would become better warriors.

He walked over to the door, and there he awaited Konvoy's answer. Was the acolyte ready? Choray was sure he was, and if he wasn't, then he was weak.​

 

[Gambler]

"I am ready," Konvoy said, following his master out into the chill. Perhaps he would learn that trick of keeping his body temperature constant. Not that he minded the cold. Living in the mountains alone without much protection from the winter elements hardened a person's natural resistance to the cold.

 

[D.C.]

Choray made his way outside, and showed his apprentice to a certain spot. It was where he often came to practice his Force skills, and he would use it to teach. No other Dark Jedi came here, and it was the perfect place to practice skills.

The cold was terrible, but Choray simply used the technique Tapas to keep himself warm. He gestured for Konvoy to follow him and then he stopped moving.

"Here we are, Konvoy. The tool can be used to adjust your body temperature, and you will learn this now. You might think you don't need it, but that thought would be stupid. I want you to stand over there." Choray pointed at a rock. "Then call enslave the tool like you did before, when you used telekinesis and when you meditated. Call upon it and let it flow through you, let it feed you and then use it's energy to drive out the cold. The cold is nothing, you are everything. Use Tapas, acolyte, and stay alive."​

 

[Gambler]

The strength of darkness is hard for some to accept. They are afraid to embrace it and hesitate on that last fatal second. They inevitably die the death of humiliation and weakness. They would die the death of the ephemeral. The untouched. Their lives might be average at best if they survive, but there would always be that taint of doubt. And envy. For they know what they could have been, but they threw it away like a useless toy.

Konvoy was not one of those people.

He embraced the power offered to him. His mind sunk into a meditative trance as he sought his power like a vampire seeking an artery. And once he found it he began drinking the life essence out of it, using its power to his gain. Like a heart beat it pulsed in his ears. The familiar thump beat rhythmically against his skull sending figurative shivers of power coursing along his spine. He gripped it by the throat and took control, a warrior claiming his slave. He established who was the master and who was the servant.

And he was the master.

That single pulse sent a foil of enervated and vigorous energy through his body like a gemstone tossed into a lake. The splash sent ripples to the edges of his being until they dissipated, leaving him all but a lifeless hulk of humanity. Then the pulse beat ever more strongly until he unleashed his power in one burst. Instead of a finger of death it was a shield that monitored his body temperature. The cold was eaten away, leaving warmth and power.

Konvoy looked up without emotion.

 

[D.C.]

"Good." Choray said. "Now at least we can progress our training here without you moaning about the cold."

He looked at his apprentice and then began to speak again: "Have you heard of the other Dark Side powers? The ones called Lightning, Grip, Rage and Drain? Those are powerful tools, weapons, you can use to kill and empower yourself. Lightning and Crush are my favorites, and I will begin teaching you Lightning."

Choray aimed his hand at a random rock and threw a wave of lightning at the rock. It was crumbled. Choray looked back at Konvoy. "I am sure you have heard of these powers. The weak Jedi are too afraid and weak to learn these. Now, unleash your anger, acolyte! Or are you too weak as well? Huh? Are you as weak as those stupid Jedi dogs, those pacifist monks? Well? Are you a weak fool!?" Choray reached out his hand and threw a powerful Force Push towards Konoy. "Do you seek power? Take the power! Control the power! Enslave it! OR DIE!" He threw another Force Push and said: "Oh come on, call upon your anger! I know you can feel it! Call upon your deepest hate, your biggest fear, your TOOL! Abandon the light and enter the darkness. Feel the anger flowing through you and cast that damn lightning!"​

 

[Gambler]

The invisible energy slammed into Konvoy's chest, throwing him backwards once again. He grunted but shrugged it off, allowing himself to channel the pain into a facet of rage. Not that he felt any true hatred for his master. He understood that the zabrak was a naturally angry person and let that anger consume his entire being. Konvoy on the other hand was far more reserved. While Choray shouted at him about hatred and power he remained calm, giving the visage of anger to sate his master. Power began to gather at his fingertips, energy surging through his body. Then the apex of the storm was released, a cloud of nebulous blue forming at his fingertips. The arc of lightning coursed forward like a ragged line, burning through the air as the thin bolt soared for Choray's chest.

 

[D.C.]

"That's what I wanted to see!" Choray shouted as he reached out both his hands and absorbed the lightning. "If you add more anger, it will be more powerful, but you don't have to do this now for it will also make you more tired. Now you know how to be offensive, but you must also learn how to enhance your body. Just like tapas, but you will need to leap and speed yourself. Before we go on, do you have any questions? Now is the time to ask."​

 

[Gambler]

"No, I do not have any further questions," Konvoy said curtly his words clipped and to the point. He was trying to be affable, but his people skills were lacking after a twenty year hermitage. "What is it we shall do next Master...?" Once more Konvoy left a space open for the man to fill in his name. It was starting to agitate him that he did not know the man's name while he knew his.

 

[D.C.]

Choray was silent for a while. Then he said, completely ignoring that his apprentice wanted to know his name: "You will learn how to enhance your body. You will be taught Force Speed and Jump."

Choray smiled. He was sure his apprentice was capable of using these powers, but he highly doubted he would ever become as adept in Speed as Choray himself was. It was the very first power he had ever learned, and thus one of the powers he had trained the most. Speed was Choray's signature power. His speciality.

"When you meditated, you grabbed the tool. When you casted a wave of lightning, you abuse it with your anger. This time, you will have to focus upon it, and command it to enhance your body. You must ORDER it to make you faster, ORDER it to make you Jump higher! Command it, and scream at it in your thoughts. Then, let it flow through your veins and feel it flowing through your body. Feel it, and enjoy the power. Feel yourself becoming stronger and boost yourself, like you're using a drug that enhances your body, but thousand times better. You know how to meditate, so you know how to make this power flow through you. Do that now, Konvoy, and when you have, wait for my next instructions."​

 

[Gambler]

The pulse of Konvoy's heart beat like a drum. Thump-thump. And then faster. Thump-Thump. Thump. Its increasing rhythm gained tempo as he reached a meditative trance. The world dissipated and all sounds were drowned out in a cacophony of silence leaving a void of death. The only sound was the beating of his heart.

Thump-thump

The pounding reverberated through Konvoy's skull, a dark tendril engulfing his mind. He took control of it, bending the blossoming flower of energy to his control. This time though, he used it to aid his body rather than to cause external damage.

Thump-thump

His feet hit the ground too quickly for the human eye to discern unaided. He sprinted like a professional athlete, his pace quickening with every heartbeat.

Thump-thump

His knees bent and he flew into the air, as weightless as a bird. He felt like he could touch the sky. And then he landed, a ragged breath in his lungs as his legs wobbled from the impact.

Thump... thump

Silently he stood, waiting for the next command.

 

[D.C.]

Choray looked at Konvoy. "Did I tell you to use those powers? No I didn't, I told you to focus and then await my instructions, Acolyte!"

Choray's voice might have sounded angry, but he wasn't angry. Only slightly annoyed that Konvoy didn't do as he said, but it didn't really matter for now. The Zabrak looked at his apprentice and said: "When you're out there on a mission, or maybe adventuring by yourself, then you won't come far with such a pathetic performance. Though you seem to understand the basis, you haven't performed it as I want you to. You see this gap."

Choray gestured at a gap a few passes to the east. "And the cliff on the other side...?"

It was a very long gap, way too long for non-force users. If the Force was used correct then one could jumped across the gap, but if one didn't use enough Force, then he or she would fall to their deaths.

The Zabrak smiled a very dark smile and said: "By using such a jump as you just tried, you will probably not even make it half way. No, to make it across this gap, you must combine Force Speed and Force Jump and launch yourself to the other side. It might seem almost impossible, but it can be done. Your next objective is to combine Speed and Jump to make it to the other side. There you will await more instructions. Do you have questions, acolyte? If not, then jump."​

 

[Gambler]

The healer began to muse about death and how to inflict it on others. Or more to the point, how to stab his master in the back and slaughter him. It was a good thought. Not one that he would put into action any time soon though. He still needed training and the man hadn't done anything to warrant a quick demise yet. But yet was the active verb. Killing him would prove nothing except that he was foolish and filled with juvenile anger. Odium was all well and good, but not when one was being taught. It was like a bird killing its mother because she made him fly for the first time. The only thing it could possibly accomplish would be to stunt the growth of the younger bird and make it impossible to fly.

Konvoy nodded curtly before turning back to his task.

The now familiar sensation of energy gathering within his body came as almost a relief. The power welled up within him, making his skin erupt into goosebumps. The Tapas he held tightly around him pulsed with this new burst of power. His skin was warm yet cold, his blood chilled like wine in a cooler yet boiling like magma in the core of the world. It was the most exquisite high he had ever sampled. But he didn't allow it to cloud his vision. Instead he let it beat in time with his heart, fueling his rage and his power. On the outside it only appeared that he had opened his eyes with an almost demonic light. There was more to it. Much more.

He turned to the cliff.

Such a jump would have at one point seemed impossible to him, but not anymore. With his mind and body both now open to the Force completely the task appeared more like stepping on an ant --something so far beneath him that it wasn't worth his time-- or even swatting a fly. It was miniscule and pointless. Perhaps it would test his power and give him a wider scope of his boundaries, but he doubted it. He felt invincible as if he was the hand of god. The tainted hand of god.

Without another word he ran with the speed of a demon and jumped.

His feet lifted off of the ground and into the air. His eyes were closed as his stomach rose to settle in his chest. He was weightless. Nothing could keep him bound to the ground. Opening his eyes he took in everything around him. The pitch black sky, the trees around him, and the ledge he was about to land upon.

Rock sprayed into the gulch as his feet hit the ground.

 

[D.C.]

Choray smiled when he saw his apprentice sailing through the air. The Zabrak smiled for the first time during this training, and although he didn't show it, he thought his apprentice had potential. Yes, although he seemed like a cold and not caring at all, he was proud of what his apprentice just had accomplished. However, before Konvoy even landed, Choray stopped smiling. He would not show any of his proudness yet.

When Konvoy landed, Choray easily used Force Speed and raced for the edge of the cliff, and then launched himself into the air with Force Jump, combining the two Force Powers. Then, seconds later, he landed on the ground easily, and turned towards Konvoy.

"I want you to move that rock." He said and he pointed at a large boulder lying on the ground. It was big, round and extremely heavy. But size and weight didn't really matter when you were able to abuse the tool. And this was a good test to see if Konvoy was already able to move the bigger objects. He was able to jump across the wide gap, so maybe he was able to move the boulder as well. "Use the tool, use the telekinesis and I want you to move it and throw it down the gap."​

 

[Gambler]

"That's all?" Konvoy asked, slightly skeptical considering his tasks so far. He half expected his master to throw a couple dozen boulders at him while he asked the question. When no barrage came, he decided that the task truly was as simple as it seemed. Moving a boulder. How pathetically simple. A few days ago he would have groaned at the aching pain he believed his back would be in after such an exertion. But now, with the power of the Force flowing through his veins like blood out of an open wound. It was invigorating and empowering, making him feel invincible.

Indestructible to the fullest extent.

The opaque sky was blank, only the occasional cloud drifting overhead. There was no noise besides that of pain, suffering and death. Silence resonated as concentration. Konvoy basked in the silence of meditation, slowly gathering the power he would need to throw the boulder off of the cliff. A bead of sweat rolled from his forehead from the intensity of his concentration. The resounding thump of his heartbeat was once more livid in his ears. And then he released all of the energy in one cyan tinted wave. One technicolor explosion of the basic elements cauterized into one. The force push.

It knocked the boulder off of the cliff. The boulder rolled, smashing against smaller rocks and tufts of grass before shattering across the bottom.