Testing Grounds [Cassa]

[Catharsis]

The little girl pattered across the main floor of the Light of the Force, seeking out the scheduled training complex. It was oddly silent for once aboard the ship, which Asha found rather comforting. It allowed her to collect her thoughts and focus. It had been a few days since she'd broken out from her mental restraints and begun to speak, yet it was still a change she was getting used to - or at least, trying to. She had been requested for training with one of the Jedi Masters, and thus was heading over to the correct room. When she finally stopped outside the door she hesitated. Asha hadn't asked questions, she didn't know which Master it would be; she had simply been told of where to be and at what time. Taking in a small breath she calmed herself and stepped over the threshold as the motion-activated door slid open.

Inside the room was empty. It was a standard training complex, which at present was bare and unadorned. There were a handful of training weapons to one side, but otherwise nothing. There was, however, a control panel on the side that was used to form simulations. The Master, however it was, would not be here for some time yet, so Asha wandered over to the controls. She allowed the generic setting to start up, which proved to encompass training concerning blaster deflection. A Shien simulation the young girl thought, yet she removed one of the two training hilts from her belt all the same to test herself. Jar'Kai can wait she told herself, deciding she'd perform better with a task that required more skill with just one lightsaber as opposed to two. She waited until she thought nothing was going to happen, and then the droids began to fire, dropping from the ceiling into the room.

Instead of deflecting each bolt, which would have been nigh on impossible for a girl her age, Asha allowed her nimble frame to dart away from the bolts and deflected only if they got too close for her to do so. Several times this failed, and she was rewarded with a slight burn to her body, usually her unguarded right arm, yet at the same time she managed to deflect enough bolts to "stay alive" as it were, at least in terms of the simulation. She continues to practise both deflecting and avoiding the blaster bolts whilst she waits for the Master to arrive.

 

[Cassanova]

Considering the door was left open, when Juno finally arrived to the training room, a few moments later than originally planned, to find the young Asha Seren mid-way through a training program. At first glance, Juno thought Asha was just dodging the blaster bolts, but after a few moments of close realisation, the Weapon Master noticed something that startled her. This young Padawan was doing what had taken Juno five years of hard training to do, in what would have probably been less than half that at an age half of which Juno was when she first became adept in this skill. Watching closely, the Corellian's mind raced at the possibilities for the young Jedi being so competent in such a skill at such a young age.

While her mind raced half-committedly to the notion of what this young girl would one day be capable of, Juno's mind calculated anything and everything that she could about the young girl. Dominant food, weight distribution - everything that would help Juno formulate what ever needed to be taught as far as combat was concerned. The rest of a Jedi's education would have to be determined on the fly. All the Juno knew at this stage was that the young girl was quiet, and appeared to struggle expressing herself. Juno would have to see if this was still the case, of course.

Not interested in wasting anyone's time, Juno stepped in quietly, tapping the controls of the program at the door, pausing it momentarily, "Sorry to interrupt, Padawan Seren," she smiled, hoping that the familiar (yet much more healed) face of Juno would help Asha to open up a little, "I believe you've a lesson with me..."

 

[Catharsis]

Unaware of the presence in the room, Asha continued to deflect blaster bolts, leap aside from others and get slight burnt by those which bypassed both aspects of the training. All of a sudden, however, the training simulation stopped and Asha became acutely aware of a secondary presence in the room as she began to readjust into her surroundings. Turning on her heels she thumbed the ignition to disignite the lightsaber in her hand and replaced it to her belt, after which she proceeded to bow towards the Jedi Master - a sign of greeting and respect. She recognised the Master from the medical bay, and recalled the name Juno Armstrong.

She rose back up from the bow and stepped over to Juno, raising a hand to rub the back of her neck in thought. "Y-Yes, Master" she manages, and while less vocal than most would be it's still a significant improvement to the last time they spoke. She tilted her head one way, regarding the Weapons Master solemnly, looking slightly windswept and visibly worse for wear, yet the little girl doesn't seem to notice the burns. Asha then straightens out her tunic and reties her hair as she waits to be told what the lesson would be about.

 

[Cassanova]

Juno smiled and moved forwards into the room and nodded towards the frozen holographic training simulation, "That is very impressive, Asha. Very impressive." Remembering the point of Juno's presence in the room, she smiled apologetically and nodded to the sabers hanging from the young girl's belt, "Considering this seems to be a point of interest for you, perhaps that should be the center of our lesson?"

Considering how young Asha was, Juno had no doubt that regardless of the topic, she had something to offer the young girl, and had no qualms, leaving the choice of topic up to the student in this manner. Often, the choice of learning was a key part of a student's success. The boring lessons were the stick, and the choice was the carrot. Juno, of course, first wanted to see Asha open up a little more before involving the 'stick', or the less-appealing lessons.

"Of course, unless there is something else you'd rather learn today? The choice is entirely up to you."

 

[Catharsis]

The little girl frowns to the apparent compliments, being more used to encouragement due to her usual reluctance to fight more so than anything else with regards to combat. Her eyes flicked from the Masters down to her belt, as though she forgot she had the two training hilts there, and her hands rested over the top of them with a slight nod, more to herself than to Juno.

She wondered if the Master would teach her Jar'Kai, or perhaps Niman, but if she had learnt one thing thus far it was that most of the time the Jedi preferred to start at the beginning, and form six was not such. Instead of drawing attention to this the little girl simply spoke thusly; "I'm happy to learn what you have in mind, Master", her Cadinthian accent flaring significantly due to the fact she's spoken properly for the first time around the Jedi Master.

In truth, Asha didn't really enjoy fighting; for training purposes or otherwise. Levi had managed to encourage her with use of the Force along side it, but even so she was usually quite hesitant. Today, however, something in Asha felt different - and she seemed more than willing to train.

 

[Cassanova]

Juno nodded to the two lightsabers hanging from her belt and grinned. "I can't say I'm surprised that you've got two sabers after your little skillful display of movement before."

To teach a Jedi was a remarkably hard thing to do. Often you had to take away any misconceptions or preconceptions about a particular topic and then build up the new one. It was a long, grueling process. Every now and then, however, the opportunity arose for a student to be trained freshly, direct into the mindset of a Jedi. This, traditionally, only was possible when the student was young, impressionable, and relatively deficient in the stubbornness that came with most young children. Juno had a feeling about Asha, however. For some reason, Juno expected big things from the young girl, and quickly began to formulate a lesson plan in her mind. The downside of having the Order's Weapon Master expect big things from you, was that, typically, that meant the minimum acceptable standard of performance was raised much higher. Juno would expect faster reactions, more appropriate answers and a deeper grasp on a wide range of topics.

"How do you feel about Shii-Cho, Padawan Seren?"

 

[Catharsis]

Almost relieved at the fact the Weapons Master wasn't going to remove the lightsabers from her she releases her hands from over the top of the hilts and let them hang back at her side instead, watching Juno curiously. She couldn't quite tell what was running through the Master's head, often Asha could find tell tale signs in their facial expression but not from Juno, instead Asha simply stopped searching and focused in on the question. Shii-Cho... She tried to determine what was meant by the question; Did she want to train in Shii-Cho, perhaps? Or was it more a matter of how she felt about it as a Form... Instead, she tried to encompass both responses.

"I find it useful for training purposes, Master, if it is what you have in mind; but it's impractical. There are many flaws which only a Master of the Form will be able to iron out and use to their advantage. I have... Other preferences." For now, Asha decided it best to keep such preferences to herself, incase the Weapons Master did not approve; after all, most students were completely restricted access to the latter two forms of Niman and Juyo/Vaapad, and while Juno had not yet pulled her up about the dual wielding she decided that throwing such a Form into the mix may cause her to rethink.

 

[Cassanova]

Juno chuckled, nodding to the two lightsabers on her belt, "I'm going to guess you want to learn Jar'kai, and considering the foundation for it... probably Niman too."

The Weapon Master smiled at the young girls honesty, and reveled in that such a young girl shared such similarities to herself. Normally Juno offered a much more structured lesson, but Asha had proven to be particularly skilled so far in other areas, far beyond her years and thus, the Corellian Master would not make the generalization of the young girl's skill based on her age - it was a mistake that was both insulting, and often wrong. Juno merely smiled as she unhooked her chrome-hilted lightsaber, letting it fall, in her hand, to her side. "How about you show me how you fare in your understanding of Niman so far? Do whatever works."

 

[Catharsis]

Colour rose briefly in the little girls cheeks before she simply nodded in confirmation. "Yes, Master; I seek to learn both" She watched the older Jedi for a moment, before hearing the next question. She gathered, from the way Juno armed herself, that this time it would not be a verbal explanation but a physical demonstration. Instinctively both of her hands reached down for the lightsabers on her belt, and she ignited them both to the side in a double flash of deep emerald which glistened in the darkened room. She stepped aside to put some distance between herself and the Weapons Master, before lowering herself down into a gentle bow of respect. Upon arising again she spins the two hilts in her grasp, contemplating for just a second, before leaping.

Directing the Force through her body to assist in her manuevers the little girl directed the first of her hilts, the left and dominant, up and across towards where Juno's would be, provided that at this stage she has a lightsaber ignited too, in an attempt to hold it off in order to give Asha's right lightsaber chance to sweep around towards the left of Juno's body, specifically aimed down at the knee in an attempt to incapacitate her as opposed to deal any form of attack which would theoretically be deadly. Knowing that Juno would effortlessly overpower her with regards to the attempted lightsaber lock Asha has to work quickly if she has any hopes of this being pulled off, yet at the same time she backs away the moment the strike is done, whether it lands or otherwise - unless of course something is done to make this impossible - following the concept that one should never give ones opponent much of an opening; in and out as swiftly as possible. Whether this works or not will remain to be seen.

 

[Cassanova]

Juno stood, watching closely as to Asha's unique collection of both lightsabers, made for a particularly interesting revelation to Juno. When the young girl's attacks came, Juno made no motion to defend herself at first. In fact, when the Weapon Master did move to defend herself it wasn't with the hand that held her lightsaber. Juno's left arm shot out at Asha's own hand, but didn't reach for her wrist, arm, but the lightsaber itself. Possessing notably more physical strength over the young girl, Juno had no issues pulling it from Asha's hand with a forceful, but undamaging twist.

As soon as Asha had been relieved of one lightsaber, Juno quickly sidestepped, lightsaber still disengaged, and proceeded to step towards the edge of the ring, clearing her of any danger. Placing Asha's second lightsaber on the edge of the ring, Juno turned around to face the young girl again, "Niman. Not Jar'kai," Juno didn't seem upset, or angered by the situation. But the clarification said it all.

Confident that no confusion would be made between Niman and the dual saber art of Jar'kai, Juno bowed and ignited her own saber, it's icy-blue core setting a calm cool into the room.

 

[Catharsis]

Asha watched as one of the two lightsabers were torn from her grasp by the Master before her, and taken to the edge of the room. Instead of spending time devising a plan of action, Asha simply switched the remaining lightsaber to her left and dominant hand and span it once to adjust herself to the loss of one. While it felt wrong she knew that there were times where single lightsaber combat would be necessary, so she did not begrudge the Weapons Master.

The moment the Master is finished speaking, as to do so prior would have been rude, Asha raises her empty right hand and draws on the Force in the form of a pull and draws Juno into it almost immediately, however at the same time the young girl swipes the remaining lightsaber across the path Juno would be pulled into so that instead of landing at her palm the Master would be subject to her blade. Wasting little time, however, Asha simply creates a shiim, providing the attack is landed, across the side of Juno's right side, and follows through with an immediate Force push, using the two signature moves of a Niman user in conjunction with one another, as opposed to separately, in order to try and catch the Weapons Master off guard.

 

[Cassanova]

Juno found herself making the mistakes she had sworn not to. She had underestimated Asha again. Scolding herself simultaneously while defending against the young girl, Juno was seemingly baffled that a girl of this age had this level of skill. Particularly in Niman. No current member of the Jedi Order would have dared to teach someone so young a form as advanced or complex as Niman. While this revelation was comforting to Juno, knowing that Asha was indeed quite advanced, it also put her mind to worry. What content was left out was what Juno needed to know.

Passing her internal debate off, Juno flurried her blade into an Ataru, lightweight, but blisteringly fast myriad of attacks, specifically aiming for the right hip, left shoulder, right shoulder, right hip, in that order.

 

[Catharsis]

When Juno defends against her attacks Asha simply detracts herself away from the initial space, so as to be out of the zone of impact, and switches from an offensive stance to one far more susceptible to defense. Immediately noting the use of Ataru Asha bolsters her strength through use of the Force and remains on guard for the entirety of the Weapon Master's attacks, Managing to deflect all of the attacks aimed at her right hand side but taking the brunt of the blade with regards to her left shoulder, having to 'suck it up' so to speak until Juno finishes the flurry of attacks. Again Asha separated herself from Juno, rolled the left shoulder to ease the muscle tension, and span the saber she still retained.

Removing herself from such a heavily-defensive state she directed the Force from the muscles in her arms down to those in her legs and leaps to the right hand side of the Master, however instead of attacking with her blade the little girl emits a further Force push at Juno in hopes of catching her off guard, and follows the body if it moves to strike at her back when she lands, if she's caught off guard by the Force push of course.

 

[Cassanova]

Not averse of taking a hit, Juno used the Force to lighten her own weight against the floor of the training room, using Asha's push to create distance between them. With the additional distance created, the Weapon Master eyed her small opponent. Hoping to challenge, and see precisely how skilled she was, Juno swapped her grip to a left handed reverse handhold on the lightsaber. Her right hand, however, pulled a mildly boring lightsaber from the magnetic clasp on her left leg and engaged its vibrant guardian-blue blade.

Extending her hand gently, Juno telekinetically wielded the weapon over towards Asha. Any Jedi who knew the limitations of biomechanics knew how much of a distinct advantage this was; no arms to get locked in the way, the ability to slash back at yourself without fear of disembowelling yourself - just to name two.

The saber hovered menacingly before Asha, upright like a tree, waiting for her next move.

 

[Catharsis]

Asha watched as the Weapons Master was hit by the Force Push and flung across the room. She remained in her unorthodox stance while Juno readied herself, and noted immediately the removal of a second lightsaber. Expecting Jar'Kai the young girl almost hazarded a glance at her lost saber which lay somewhere on the edge of the room, she had done too much moving around to be certain where, but then she saw it glide from Juno into the air. Levi was the first thought which crossed her mind and, oddly enough, she seemed to grin at the use of the telekinetic lightsaber form. This had been her former mentors prime form, one had had actively encouraged Asha to attempt, and so where it should have caught her off guard and worried her to see such a frightful display of merging discipline and the Force, Asha merely outstretched a hand to draw her secondary hilt into her grasp, preparing for the oncoming storm that usually ensued with such combat.