Obstacles to Overcome: Axos Pequentis' Training

[FallenKeeper]

Axos Pequentis hurriedly marched his way through the Ossus temple's halls, making his way to the outdoor sparring ring. On this day he felt quite anxious to begin training under his new master. The padawan wanted to work on his skills with a lightsaber more than anything to make up for his diminutive size, as well as use of the Force to augment his physical abilities.

The sun warmed his scaley skin as Axos stepped outside. His short legs carried him surprisingly quickly towards his destination.

 

[Will]

At the centre of the central, and largest, sparring ring, stood Huang Karasu. He towered over the scene. His distinctive force katana rested point down, both his hands clasped atop the pommel. His yellow eyes stared straight forward. The sunlight illuminated his white skin, increasing the contrast between his outlandish piercings and his almost marble-like complexion.

His head tilted down as the huge Sephi regarded the small Aleena as he scuttled over.

''Padawan Pequentis?''

An Aleena. Huang did not see many of their kind in the order. It did not help that they rarely grew above a metre, while Huang stood just over two metres tall, almost tripling the padawan in height. Training would be...interesting.

''Before we leave on missions, there are some basics, I want to cover with you. You are prepared for training, I hope?'' Huang's cold voice, untethered by emotion seemed to intone words rather than speak them.

 

[FallenKeeper]

Huang seemed like a giant to Axos as the Aleena stepped into his shadow. Already he felt intimidated by the towering Sephi. Still Axos smiled his sharp-toothed smile as he looked up at his Master who addressed him by verifying who he was. "Yes, Axos Pequentis," he stated in a high-gravely voice.

Axos brought up a clawed hand and held it up to Huang.

"I am indeed prepared for training," Axos was often prepared for training. And since he would be going on missions soon he made certain he was doubly ready. He had no doubt that the missions would work out for the best, but still snags could happen. "What shall we be going over, Master Huang?"

 

[Will]

Huang croushed to a squat, taking the claw in the handshake, Huang's own hand totally enveloping the tiny claw. He then sheathed his blade, resting it against a piller. He took off his robe, so that he only wore his vest and grey trousers. Black tattoos twisted over the bare flesh on his arms and the small bit of visible torso.

''Attack me.''

His left hand rose to the level of his shoulder, palm raised, fingers extended, arm outstretched. There were many ways to work out what sabre form to teach padawans, but Huang always found this method most conducive to find their 'true' forms.

 

[FallenKeeper]

Axos Pequentis finally got a clear view of Huang's face when the master crouched to shake his hand. His yellow eyes seemed to glow like the planet's sun. The Aleena had not met many Sephi and noted their differences from other humanoids, physically. His own species was reptilian with elongated heads, bodies and short limbs.

The moment Huang removed his robe Axos pulled off his. He wore a white-yukata which hugged his frame snuggly. His small feet poked out from the bottom of his clothes, tiny claws dug into the ground. Axos took a stance with his feet apart, left side to Huang and both arm up in front. "Yes, Master."

The Aleena moved in on the Sephi, the Force aiding him in closing the distance quickly. Axos struck out with a small closed fist.

 

[Will]

Huang's leg swung back, before striking forward, catching the diminutive padawan square in the chest. He threw him across the ring.

''Try again. You'll need to get up to my torso to do real damage.'' Huang said, not unkindly. Simply stating the facts.

His boot swept in a small semicircle in front of him before his stance was resumed.

 

[FallenKeeper]

Axos flew across the ring like a sports ball then landed on the ground with a roll. He grunted as he shifted his weight against the direction of his rotation and pushed off the ground with his hands. He propelled himself high enough to plant his bare feet on the ground with a skriiitch as he slid back an extra meter from sheer momentum. Quickly he brought his head up to attend to Master Huang's words.

Taking them to heart Axos utilized both Force Speed and Jump to attack once more. He quickly closed the distance with a swift leap, bringing him up at the Master Jedi's torso where he made three swift strikes at the chest, two with his hands and one with his right leg. Whether the punches or kick connected he would use the rebound to push him back and to the side.

He kept his guard up this time, readying himself to block or parry another attack as he moved around Huang before attempting to attack again.

 

[Will]

Huang simply deflected, rather than outright stop the padawan. His large hands simply pushed, moving the kicks and punches away. With an open-handed strike, Huang pushed the Padawan away again, before this time moving to attack. He aimed a swift kick to bring the small padawan into the air, before striking forward with the heel of his palm.

 

[FallenKeeper]

When Huang kicked out Axos was ready. He hopped up onto the Jedi's rising leg and used it to springboard himself up again at the chest level of his opponent. The aid of battle precognition allowed him to predict the palm strike coming at his own chest. Clearly he could not overpower such a larger opponent, not with his size.

Axos reached forward his hands and gripped Huang's tightly. He hung off the sephi's arm for as split second before swinging his legs back and then forward to launch his body at Huang, turning himself into a counterattacking missile.

 

[Will]

The little one had speed. Huang would give him that. And it seems he had burgeoning battle precognition, a skill rare in the order. He would need to work with him to hone that skill, into the art Huang used. It was almost as if an after-image, similar to what you saw after staring into the sun, moved ahead of the Aleena. With another open handed strike, Huang pushed down, knocking the little Aleena to the floor.

He held up a hand, indicating the fight was over. He had gauged the boy before he even stepped in the ring. Shien. The sparring had been for another reason, that his padawan would find out tomorrow.

''Meet me here tomorrow. We shall be constructing your lightsabre. It may seem early, but we will need it on missions. I will be constructing your training blade tonight.''

 

[FallenKeeper]

Axos hit the ground with a not-so subtle plop. He sat up with a shake of his head and then stood up. His eyes shifted around, Huang had moved so quickly. For one moment he seemed to be right in front of the padawan before he had been struck down from another side. Settling his view on Huang he noted the hand sign and bowed in response.

When it had been revealed that tomorrow he would be making his lightsaber Axos smiled. He'd been eager in doing so and even made a couple attempts at his own practice saber but with less than productive results. When patience had been counseled to him he decided he would wait. Now he was going to have a master instruct him. This was great.

"Yes, Master," he replied happily. After concluding things with Huang he would then head to his quarters and meditate on his spar with Huang.

 

[Will]

Huang sat at the desk in his small room. There was a small cylinder in his hand. Components were arranged in an orderly fashion.

He closed his eyes.

The components floated around the tube, before they arranged themselves. Huang let go of the tube, and it floated there.

The training sabre would be too small for Huang to build with his hands. He had to use his incredible fine control of the force, which he had developed for Tràkata. The pieces fell into place.

He took out an arc welder, forming it into a solid lightsabre. Then, he weighted it correctly, disguising it as an ornamented handle. He tapped the activation stud, and the blade was ignited, hissing.

* * *

This time, Huang had told his padawan to meet him indoors, in a room that many saw as Huang's personal training arena. On the walls were leaderboards. Axos would not know what they were for, until he needed to. He sat, meditating, eyes closed, his sword sheathed, resting across his lap, the training sabre hovering in front of him, rotating slightly.
​

 

[FallenKeeper]

Axos spent his night locked in meditation while sitting on the floor of his room. His mind continued to replay the training session he had with Huang. The Jedi Master had quite literally overpowered the padawan because of skill more than just height and reach. Through his mind's eye he imagined himself wielding a lightsaber. Even then he would have difficulty because of narrow swings. He had to find a way to extend the width of his swings so he could throw an oppenent off.

The next day he reported to where Huang had instructed him too. This time he walked(or waddled) with confidence as he entered the training room. He had come to a solution and was eager to test it out. If his plan worked he would be quite happy with himself, and then subsequently need to reflect on his pride. Huang was easy to spot, meditating and with a lightsaber hilt floating gingeryly in front of him. From where he stood the Aleena could see that it was well designed and rather extravagant with its ornamental design. Axos could not help but point at it and then himself, posing a estatic "Me?"

 

[Will]

Huang's eye opened, regarding the padawan, who barely reached Huang's height sitting as he did. He nodded, rising. He motioned to a workbench, where an adjustable stool had been set.

''Come, you must craft your own blade. You will use that training sabre until I say so, however. I presume you have read up on the art of constructing the lightsabre?''

He rose, walking over to the bench. It was at perfect height. For Huang. Axos would have to use the stool. Tools, the perfect size for the little padawan's hands, were arrayed neatly and in order. Boxes of components rested against the wall.

''This is an important process for the Jedi, it must not be taken lightly. You will develop your connection with the blade here, one that can never be broken. One you will feel for all eternity.''

Huang's hand rested on the handle of his original lightsabre, the utilitarian stylings familiar to his fingers. It was strapped to the scabbard of his force katana in its own holster, ready to be drawn for war.

 

[FallenKeeper]

Axos scuttled over to the workbench at Huang's beckoning. He spotted the stool and pushed it closer to the bench before climbing up and standing on the soft padded seat. The top of the workbench was now up to his midsection but still Huang's height made it seem as if her were looming over the Padawan. He scanned the tools strewn about in front of him with boxes of compenents placed within reach.

"I understand," he said with a nod, the white striping along his head seeming to glow in the light as he did. Axos reached into his light-brown robe and produced a viridian crystal from one of the pockets hidden by the folds. "This has been in my family for generations." he stated as he held the shiny rock up. He then set it aside and began selecting components from the boxes, allowing the Force to guide him as he made his choices. "Where do I start?" he asked as he remembered his failures before.

 

[Will]

Huang was pleased the padawan was not arrogant enough to set off alone.

''First, you need to select the components. You need a power source to start, I have always found it the best place to begin with the fabrication. From there, you need all the components listed in the treatises on fabrication of lightsabres.''

Huang could tell his padawan what he needed, but not guide him. This had to be a unique piece built by Axos, to suit him in every way, down to even the internal wiring.

''Once you have them, arrange them on the bench in the way you will assemble them to fit in the casing.''

 

[FallenKeeper]

Axos relayed his understanding with a nod and he carefully reconsidered each of his selections before taking the components from the boxes. The casing would consist of three parts with the base being solid black and grooved for better grip. He chose a heavy pommel cap, a diatium power cell, blade emitter, emitter matrix, inert power insulator, focusing lens and finally the crystal he had set aside.

Carefully he assembled the case, forming it to be heavier at the pommel as situating the power switch and adjuster right at the base. He tailored it to suit the way he wanted to grip the weapon. Reversed. Overall the hilt would be shoto-styled. He then set the parts on the workbench to suit the way he wished to assemble them.

Axos studied the table for a moment, searching his feelings to ensure he was certain. He looked to Huang, hoping for some advice.

 

[Will]

Huang looked down at the components. He nodded. Unmoving, he floated a block of metal into the clamps of a lathe.

''I want you to craft the casing yourself, rather than build it from stock parts. Then it shall truly be your weapon, padawan Pequentis.'' A rare inflection of emotion entered Huang's voice. Naturally, the Sword Master would be passionate about lightsabres. He indicated the training weapon as an example. ''I constructed that training sabre for you entirely by hand. It will serve you better than any weapon made from alien components.''

 

[FallenKeeper]

Craft the casing himself? Axos had no clue where to begin. But it would not keep him from trying. The Aleena clambered up onto the workbench and stepped over the components and tools cautiously as he made his way over to the lathe. He examined the metallic block, his white-striped clawed digits sliding across the surface to note how smooth it was. He turned his head towards Huang, careful not to hit the Jedi with the back end of his elongated skull.

"I've never used this tool," he stated honestly, a bit embarassed to say so.

 

[Will]

''It is a lathe. You clamp the metal into it...''

The block was placed into the clamps of the lathe. Huang was glad his padawan was honest. Better honest than wasting a good piece of metal.

''...thusly. Now take that tool, and spin the lathe. Eventually, you will make a cylinder. You can also carve indents and such on the outer casing. Then, we'll need to hollow it.''

Huang also placed a small book on the table, a simple guide to the lathe. He had full faith in his padawan, however.