M.M.M.M.M.M. Class

[James]

Tyrus continued backing up, circling around the clearing to avoid walking into any trees. He caught the strikes directed at him near the end of her blade, so as to increase the force she had to apply. He focused only on defense, blocking attacks with whichever blade was less awkward, or both if necessary, and trapped Ayva's lightsaber where possible to buy himself extra time.

Nearer to the end, when the strikes were more powerful, Tyrus focused more on evasion, leaping back or to one side to avoid the incoming strikes. He blocked with both blades, but only when he was forced to.

 

[Master Maverick]

As the time drew to a close, she would perform ever faster and powerful slashed, almost blinding in speed. Her strength was diminished a bit, but as it was, he was most evading anyway.

After a final sweeping slash, as the boy landed a number of feet away from her, she raised her blade up to her face. It was a signal that the time was over, and she deactivated her saber.

"You have succeeded in this task. You may pass." Her hand motioned to a narrow path to the southwest that was a bit darker than where they were. He was to go on to the next part of the class. Alone. Such as the one before

2 were now out of the way, and while she would have enjoyed to test Aer'kyl alone, she wanted even more to see what this Sith pureblood was.

"Aer'kyl. You must acquire a leaf from the top of this tree without touching the trunk of it, or touching any other tree or moving outside this glade." It was simple and showed little emotion. Her calm and serenity was still there, but you could almost not tell that they knew each other. It was a bit specific because she knew that young ones sometimes did exactly what they were told, but in a way that was not intended or originally conceived of before. Hence, she specified what she wanted. She didn't think he would do something such as that, but it was just habit and precaution.

She would step back from the tree and Aer'kyl to watch from a better perspective. It was easily over 50 feet tall. Also, she would not give him any advice on this. She had already taught him this and wanted to see if he had been working on it as he should have and improved like she knew he could.

 

[Jax Vos]

Qyv moved ahead when he was told. He took the map out again he knew something would probably happen in the next twenty minutes. He walked through the maze not sure when he would come up to the next trial. I wish I had more to do then just sense and guess from this map, he thought as he headed toward a large tree.

Qyv thought about what he had said and what had happened in his mind: Qyv dove into the memory of Si-vi's death. They had been on a mission on Ambria. They were attacked by mercenaries who hated Jedi. They were shooting at them. Qyv dove to draw their attention to him. He killed some of them by deflecting their Si-vi by his side. Suddenly Si-vi was hit in the belly. Qyv killed the rest of the mercenaries that didn't leave. He ran to Si-vi and held her in his arms. With her dying breath she told him, "I love you Qyv Xinn. Dark times are coming..." With that she handed him her lightsaber.

Qyv sat down against the tree. He had finally let the pain of loosing her go. All he had left of her was the lightsaber currently in his hand. Qyv looked around. He felt it was time to go farther.

 

[Thorn]

One of the easiest challenges, and yet it seemed impossible. Fifty feet was two and a half times the size of the last one he leapt to. Worse was it wasn't only fifty feet, but a little more. On top of that, he would have to go over it. Well, Aer'kyl would try his best, but he might have trouble with this one.

"Yes, Master Ayva" he replied to what she wanted, in as neutral a tone as possible. She seemed not to want to show any connection, so he would do the same. It was probably not to make the other padawans not think she was giving him easy tasks, due to him being her padawan.

Aer'kyl walked over to the tree, and leapt, infusing his legs with the force. He had been training, but only twenty five feet max. He reached twenty five, and fell back to the ground. Halfway on the first attempt wasn't bad, but it wasn't good either. He would have to concentrate more force to his legs.

I think I can add more, but I don't know how much of a difference that will make... Should I ask Master Ayva? No, she seemed like she wants me to handle this on my own...

He continued to try, getting to twenty nine feet. This was going nowhere. It seemed like twenty minutes had passed, and he had gained four feet. Was it even possible for him to do this? Or was the lesson in knowing he couldn't?

I don't know what's a test, and what isn't anymore... The problem is I don't know what to do.

He hit the tree, with the side of his fist. He felt like he was failing his master. Even more, he felt like he was failing himself. But he didn't know how to fix the problem.

Anger doesn't solve my problems, and neither does pity. I need to figure this out. I can't be a Jedi in my mind, if I can't figure out a simple test.

Breathing deep, he allowed his awareness to open up to the force, to a level he wasn't at before. Before, he simply viewed the force within a very small area of himself. This time he could view it in a much broader scale. Infusing his legs again, he leapt, and acting on instinct did a flip. When he reached the top, his head was towards the ground, and he noticed the green leaves beneath him. Reaching down, he grabbed at one, trying to get one before the momentum brought him out of range. When he landed, he noticed his hand was clenched, and opened it, a small leaf in his palm.

 

[James]

Tyrus deactivated his guard shotos and bowed to Ayva, then, sabers in hand, followed down the path she pointed to. He glanced at his map, wondering where exactly this would take him, but it was too vague to make a proper guess.

 

[Master Maverick]

Although it was a bit against her better judgement, she couldn't help but smile warmly at his success. He had figured it out on his own, and now his connection to the force was that much stronger than before. He was learning quickly and on his own. 2 qualities that would serve him well in the coming years.

She was quite impressed but allowed the smile to soften as she spoke. "Good Aer'kyl," she bowed her head as she reached for the leaf and proceeded to store it in the sash around her waist. Motioning with her hand in a more southerly direction than she had directed Tyrus, she said, "You may pass." Her head was bowed as she looked at the floor and waited for him to proceed.

There was only one left, and it would prove to be the most interesting. She looked at the red-skinned Sith with curious eyes. Never before had she witnessed such a thing; a Sith trying to be a Jedi when it was in their DNA that they follow the Dark Side. Obviously something, like a mutation, happened and she wasn't so dependent upon it, but for all her life she would always tread on the very edge of the path she wished to travel.

Ayva would test this 'woman' in a very different way, and it would prove to be... fun.

Stepping a bit closer to Lamia, she stopped about 10 feet away, not exactly facing her. "So, you must be the Sith trying to be a Jedi, hm?"

This was far outside her character, but she could hide her true feelings as well as keep a serious straight face. She knew that this particular Padawan had trouble with her pride, aggressive nature and temper. She would test these thoroughly before letting her pass. The most basic things every initiate youngling learns and masters, this woman would have trouble with her whole life.

"How does it feel to be the last of a bloodline all but lost; to be the last of such a weak race as your own? What makes you think you can become a proper Jedi?"

Though her questions were supposed to illicit anger, she was also quite interested in the answer Lamia would give, which helped in making her taunting believable.

 

[Fusion]

Lamia was intrigued. The Kaminoan Jedi was... interested in her. Though she sensed her questions were to elicit a certain response, she instead decided to reply bluntly.

To be a proper Jedi, one must simply follow the code, as was put forth by Grandmaster Luke Skywalker over a thousand years ago. I have followed the code, despite my inner darkness which I know I struggle with, and have not fallen to the Dark Side. My taint of darkness was removed with the help of Master Ike. As for being the last of my bloodline: I must do all I can to keep my family's and species' names alive.

Lamia felt slightly agitated at Avya's questions, she did not show a hint of it as she stood there.

 

[Master Maverick]

"Your ignorance of us is not surprising Sith. That is not all a Jedi must do. The Code is just part of who we are, and following it certain does not make a proper Jedi."

There was almost the slightest bit of emphasis when she said Sith. Her face remained impassive, but her tone deviated only slightly. She meant everything she said. However, under normal circumstances, she would never have said what she did in such a harsh way.

For a moment, she considered her last statement... a sneer almost crossed her face as she commented on that. "What makes you think we need you around anymore? You are weak! And that is why you have withered away into the shadows you so desperately cling to." She paused for a moment, letting that sink in.

She was surprising herself. She wasn't even aware she could be so mean. It was almost... fun. However, she did, by no means, relish it. She would meditate after to observe, objectively, what she was doing now. Her mind was clear and her emotions calm, so she didn't need to meditate for that; just to center herself.

"What makes you think you deserve to be here? What makes you think you belong here?" The sneer was making itself more evident, but she made it seem like she was trying to mask it, obviously failing.

Everything she said, she was actually truthful. She was curious and that's what she thought, so there would be no deceit. The only lie was how she was coming across and how she was speaking.

 

[Fusion]

Weak... Slithered into the shadows... I have done nothing of the sort. I have not fallen, unlike the previous Grandmaster.

As for why I belong here: I need to redeem my species' view in the eyes of the galaxy. For that to happen, the ultimate paradox must occur.

 

[Master Maverick]

((the 'you' was a collective you in my previous post. She was talking about all sith purebloods, not you in particular.))

"Such is the way of you Purebloods, to deflect what you are onto others." She replied, referring to Lamia's jab at the former Grandmaster.

"Your species need not be redeemed, girl. The galaxy has seen what your race is capable of; being so easily defeated by the imposters you despise. It seems that these 'imposters' are stronger than the Purebloods. How ironic, the actual Sith are weaker than those who steal your name from you."

Knowing, now, that she had a strong attachment to her heritage, she attacked that, seeing what it would reveal.

 

[Fusion]

Bah... You never knew the true Sith. You know too little information to have a right to judge me and my race. In the end, I will be judged by the Force, not some Jedi Master who despises Purebloods.

You say that we are weak. Then consider the fact that over a hundred thousand years ago, the Sith'ari Adas helped defend our people from the most powerful empire then existing. Consider the fact that any one of the ancient Sith could kill an imposter "Sith" of today. And consider the fact that I am here, in my Jedi robes, standing before you today. As I said, you have no right to judge me. I will be judged, yes, but not by you.

 

[Master Maverick]

I am well aware of your history. You know little and presume much, just as your namesakes. How fitting."

She wasn't sure if she was getting anywhere, but this line of insulting was tiring her. It was not her way and didn't know it would wear on her consciousness as it did.

"Your arguments are irrelevant and therefore have no merit. Precisely, the ancient Sith were once impressive. I do not doubt their power; they were, indeed, powerful in their own right. However, the fact that they could not persist shows just how weak they were.

Know, also, that you wearing those Jedi robes mean little to nothing to who you really are. What you wear and who you pretend to be do not define you. One does not need clothing or any symbol to make them a Jedi. We are defined, and judged, by our actions and the results of those actions."

 

[Fusion]

Who I am matters nothing to you! I have chosen my path, chosen to walk the fine line, chosen to be who I am today. I am Lamia Kressh, Sith. I am Lamia Kressh, Jedi. But most important of all, I am the redeemer of the Sith species.

But of course most Jedi don't want me here. Even the Grandmaster himself would rather wish I was dead then a Jedi. My master had to risk her life to remove my taint of darkness that had been with me since my birth. But of course that means nothing to you. You and the others simply hate me because of who I am.

Lamia was struggling to keep her anger under control, but was still managing it.

 

[Master Maverick]

Finally, a reaction.

"We distrust you for who your people have proven to be over the millenia. You honestly believe that you, the last true Pureblood, can redeem what your species has wrought over that time? Even if you become a Jedi Master and prove yourself worthy of the title, your race will forever be damned to their place in our histories. You are truly disillusioned if you think otherwise."

Her face was hardened, but her heart was growing saddened. All of this, she felt, was true, and she felt for Lamia. She kept these feelings from reaching the woman, but she would stop this charade soon.

 

[Fusion]

If a single Pureblood can become a Jedi Master, take apprentices, become a well-known force for good, then she has changed the entire path of that species as she was the last of that species. I control my species' destiny now, not my ancestors.

I mean, how would you feel if someone claimed the Kaminoans were fools for producing the clone troopers? A mindless army, under the control of 1 man, and that man was a Dark-Sider. Should I call the Kaminoans fools for falling for the trick? Of course not. So why should you claim that my species is weak and cannot survive when a Pureblood is here conversing to you?

I will do whatever I can to change the image of the Sith species. And no one, Jedi nor politician nor Sith nor businessman, can change my goal.

Lamia stood firm. Personally, she hoped this conversation would end, but if she had to keep beating on the door for it to open, she would.

 

[Master Maverick]

"Unfortunately this cannot be true." Her voice went back to its normal tone, cool and calm. However, sadness was now intertwined with it.

"You will be considered an exception by the Jedi and the Alliance, and a pathetic fool by the Sith. As it is, the Empire will see you as not a true Sith and will try to denounce your claim."

She would pause for a moment before addressing what she had said, to correct her. "The entire galaxy fell for Darth Sidious' trick. To blame the Kaminoans alone would be folly and irrational."

Another pause would occur before she finally said, "You have succeeded in your trial and may pass. However, know that everything I have said is the truth, or the truth of the galaxy, but that I don't necessarily believe in them." With that, she pointed her to more Westward than the other three, a small break in the foliage making a path for her.

Her is where she would wait for anyone else, if they were to arrive late.

 

[Fusion]

Lamia bowed to the Kaminoan master before heading through the trail she had motioned to. She began to walk through the dense foliage, pulling out her lightsaber and using it as a tool to hack through the thick amount of plant life. Her ancestors would never have approved of her using a weapon in this way, but if it had multiple uses, she would use it to the fullest extent of its use.

 

[Prosaurus]

After everyone had ran away from the fake Sith, X'jan had gotten a bit confused as to why, so had kind of walked in the general direction they had gone. He managed to catch the end of the conversation between one of the padawans and what sounded like a Jedi master. "Ah... Am I late or something?" he asked.

 

[Master Maverick]

"You would be late only if I were no longer here. X'jan is it? She turned to the Nautolan, trying to remember something about him.

It took only a moment for her to remember, and she had the perfect idea for him. "For you to pass, you much dodge my lightsaber for one minute. You may not use your lightsaber; only the force may aid you in this."

She would enter a ready stance and activate her viridian saber, entering a traditional Makashi stance as she waited for a few moments for the boy before her to ready himself.

 

[Prosaurus]

X'jan grimaced at what his challenge was. Obviously the master had been doing her research, as dodging and not parrying or blocking was not one of his strong points. Leaving his lightsaber where it was, X'jan took up a stance he believed would help him to be lighter on his feet. That's what he told himself, anyway.