The Training of Var Saretti

[Jerek Odres]

It was only Jerek's second week as a Jedi Knight and he had already taken on two apprentices. This would be his fifth apprentice he would take on until in his past four years as a Jedi Knight. From what Jerek was told, his Padawan was to be a fellow human; like his last apprentice. His apprentice's name was Var Saretti, and he was nine years younger than Jerek himself. It was very interesting that he was the second apprenticed to be named Var that Jerek knew. Var was fifty pounds heavier and three inches taller than Jerek.

As it was a beautiful day out unlike Jerek's last training day. It was a cloudless, and sunny-sky of a day outside. It was best that Jerek and his apprentice, Saretti, were outside of the temple for the day. While it was quite forest-heavy and green, it held many training aspects that the young Jedi master had brought with him. All of which the Padawan was going to use in his training. Once the Jedi Knight started out into the garden-like area, he looked around at all of the beautiful things within it. This made him plan out his young Padawan's day before they even met. Depending on what would be more suitable, Jerek would teach the way of the lightsaber or Force powers first. While lightsaber combat would be dependent upon Saretti's preferred style, Force training would not. It would go in the same order regardless; control, sense, and alter. The Jedi Knight sat in the middle on the grass and began to contemplate what his apprentice would look like while he did his floating meditation. He was told to think of a blond haired teen in traditional Jedi clothing; very expected.

 

[Darth Darth Binks]

It was a beautiful day, birds were chirping and singing, and squirrels were playing in the grass.

It made Var sick.

It also made him nervous.

So, this was it. This was where his training would be. It was a sight for sore eyes, mostly, but Var could do without the birds chirping.

He walked into the beautiful tranquility of the outside of the Great Temple. He pondered on what his master would look like. He chuckled softly as he imagined a wise but weak old man with white hair.

What he got, however, was almost completely the opposite of what he thought he would get.

He came upon someone in robes, floating.
This guy had astounding white hair, with a deep tan. He was a couple inches shorter than Var and it looked like he weighed less.

Great, a white-haired, fairly young master with a midget complex. Just his luck.

Var approached the Jedi and, wanting to make a good first impression, forced a respectful bow.

"Master Odres?" he asked, a little nervously. "I'm Var, the new Padawan." Var unwrapped his black hood and held his breath, waiting.

 

[Jerek Odres]

There was little time to waste so Jerek firmly said, "I have a few questions for you to give you a suggestion on how your training shall conspire. It will be your choice among the three different types, but it is recommended you take what I suggest to you after these questions."

Jerek paused for dramatic effect, "Question one: A woman and her small child are beset by a desperate-looking group of thugs. They are menacing her with weapons and she screams for you to help. Do you: Attack the thugs; help them flee; or stop the thugs and find out why they are attacking her?" Jerek completed his first question and left no time for his apprentice to respond, he would respond after all of the questions were asked.

"Question two: You are in combat with a Dark Jedi allied with the Bogan. There is a pause in combat. Do you: Attack him again; try to trick him; or Find out why he turned to the dark side and try to turn him?"

"Question three: There is a locked door and your goal lies on the other side. Do you: Smash the door down; try to pick the lock; or knock?"

"Question Four: You are the head of an Enclave on a contested world. The Dark Jedi infiltrated, and are causing unrest across the planet. Do you: Hunt them down; try to lure them out into a trap; or coordinate the planetary government to identify them. There are no wrong answers."

 

[Darth Darth Binks]

Var considered each question carefully.

"Question 1 . . . I would say attack the thugs. Question 2, easy. Attack him again. Question 3 . . . smash it down." Var stopped for a moment, and pondered on the last question. "Question 4 . . . hunt them down." Var said as he finished.
"So, did I pass or what?"

 

[Jerek Odres]

Eventually Jerek Odres finished his questions and got the answer to them quickly and clearly. This was good that Jerek's apprentice, Var, was punctual in his responses. It would be invaluable to a Jedi's learning and subsequent quests. As all of the questions were answered, the Jedi Knight began to realize a pattern in all of his answers. The responses confirmed what Jerek had thought of Var's best approach towards training. The white haired man announced to Terek his results as he pulled down his own hood to reveal he had white hair and blue eyes which contradicted his tanned skin.

In a firm tone he spoke to his apprentice, "Saretti, you are most suitable for the route of the Jedi Guardian," stated the knight. "A Jedi whose skills and talents lay in battle. They concentrate on martial training and combat. Guardians engage in combat more than either of the other two classes of Jedi; the Consulars or the Sentinels. If this is not suiting to you, you may pick another training course. The other classes are the Consulars and the Sentinels. They focus on the Force and balance between the Force and combat respectively."

 

[Darth Darth Binks]

Var smiled at his new masters approval. Jedi Guardian. Combat and martial arts galore. None of the meditation crap. The real thing. Which idiot wouldn't take such an opportunity?
Besides, killing people is really fu-

No, Var thought to himself, shaking his head. Stay off of the path of the Dark Side, it's what your Uncle would want . . .

Var sighed and turned to his new master.


"Jedi Guardian," he said as he allowed himself to let a small smile play across his lips.

 

[Jerek Odres]

It was good that Jerek Odres' apprentice trusted in his master's judgment and wisdom. To take the role of a Jedi Guardian would be difficult for Var, but this was the same with all of the other classes. There would be more advanced classes, but Jerek would teach that to him later. Considering that Jedi Guardians were masters of lightsaber combat more than anything, Jerek was going to explain to Var about the lightsaber forms. Obviously it would be very difficult to teach his young Padawan a form that he didn't know, but Jerek knew the basics of each so it wouldn't be too hard. Jerek took out his purple Soresu lightsaber to show it to Var to extenuate that this was going to be about lightsaber combat, "Now I shall explain to you the lightsaber forms as this is an integral part of being a Jedi Guardian. I shall teach you any form up to six. Allow me to explain."

Jerek put his lightsaber back onto his belt, "Form one is the art of Shii-Cho; also known as 'The Way of the Sarlacc'. This form will teach you to make use of the advantages offered by lightsabers and compensate for their weaknesses when needed. This is more suited to multiple person fighting as a single person will be able to see the mistakes or opening easier."

"Form two is the art of Makashi; also known as 'The Way of the Ysalamiri'. This form will teach you to utilize precision and balance against your opponent. It is mostly for lightsaber dueling and you may find trouble facing blaster wielding opponents. This is more suited to single person combat as it is rather susceptible to being overwhelmed by more than one."

"Form three is the art of Soresu; also known as 'The Way of the Mynock'. I utilize this form as my primary lightsaber style. This form will teach you to perfectly defend yourself, and counter your opponent's openings. However you will not be the most offensive person. This is suited to all both multiple and single person combat as it is the most defensive form out of the seven."

"Form four is the art of Ataru; also known as 'The Way of the Hawk-Bat'. This form is a more open and kinetic then all of the other forms. It will require you to master Alter Force powers and Control Force powers as many of the moves require it for the advanced agility. This is more suitable to single combat, preferably lightsaber dueling as this form as difficulty with blaster deflection, but the agility will more than make up for it."

"Form five is the art of Shien and Djem So; also known as 'The Way of the Krayt Dragon'. These are two versions of the form that work with blaster deflection and balanced offense and defense during dueling respectively. This style is more suited to multiple person combat as it was designed to go with a better defense against blaster fire and rapid attack during one's own offense."

"Form six is the art of Niman; also known as 'The Way of the Rancor'. This form is a form meant for balancing forms one, three, four, and five. While it allows you to utilize all of those forms, you will be a master of none, but proficient in all. It is suited to both single and multiple person combat due to its versatility. It will also allow you to utilize Jar'kai or two lightsabers. I shall not be teaching you this today, for this requires study in the forms mentioned, and we will only be focusing on one. If you wish to learn, be patient as it will come in time."

"The most appropriate for one following the route of Jedi Guardian is forms two, or four." Jerek was quite curious to see what choice his apprentice would make in lightsaber combat. Hopefully Var wouldn't know of form seven as Jerek was most likely not going to teach that form to him.

 

[Darth Darth Binks]

Var thought for a moment. Forms One and Two looked okay, but . . . Var struggled for a moment. Wasn't there a seventh form? Yes, Father had used it . . . what was it called?

"Master, isn't there a seventh form? My father used it . . . I think it's call Ferocity Form. It looks really powerful. I'd . . ." Var shifted uncomfortably. "I'd like to . . . learn that one."

 

[Jerek Odres]

Jerek Odres' eyes quickly widened up on Var Saretti as Jerek heard what he was replied with. He took a completely serious glance at his apprentice before speaking, "Do you know of the temptation to fall to the darkside in that form," asked the Jedi Knight, "To use power at the cost of your own spirit? Form seven is too much for a young Padawan such as yourself. I implore you to choose a different style for I fear that it may be too much for you to handle Var."

 

[Darth Darth Binks]

Var sighed and looked at the ground out of embarrassment. Great. He'd somewhat revealed his experience with the Dark Side. But he couldn't dwell on that now. He knew the Jedi had numerous ways of telepathy, and if his master knew . . .

"Then I guess I'll use Form 5 then," Var said, hiding his face.

 

[Jerek Odres]

Jerek Odres commented to his apprentice's switch with approval, "Good, then let us continue your training." Jerek pulled out his lightsaber to show Var the stances of the forms, and the continued on, "First, which half of form five would you like to learn first? As a Guardian, I will be instructing you on both sides, but there are specific variations of form five. Shien is better for blaster fire, and Djem So is for lightsaber combat. Shien is the classical form, however Djem So was created by Soresu practitioners that wanted to be less passive."

 

[Darth Darth Binks]

"I think I'd like to learn Shien first, but before that . . ." Var pulled out his old lightsaber and ignited it, a red beam coming from the hilt.

"What should I do with this?

 

[Jerek Odres]

Jerek looked at the blade's red tint, down at the hilt, and finally back at Var with a serious expression. He blinked once before asking a single, important question, "Where did you get a red crystal Saretti?"

 

[Darth Darth Binks]

Var swallowed, hard. It probably wasnt a good idea to lie. He might as well tell the truth.

"It was my fathers. He was a Dark Jedi." Var paused. How far should he go? He hesitated.
"I used to be a Dark Jedi, too."

 

[Jerek Odres]

Jerek Odres closed his eyes to think about what Var Saretti had just said for a second. Opening his eyes back, he returned his gaze to Var, "So that is why you asked if you could learn the seventh form. Never mind that, keep it for now, and we shall go to Ilum for your lightsaber's construction later. For now we should continue your training."

 

[Darth Darth Binks]

Var nodded. "Anywho, I'd like to learn the Shien form first. It sounds like it might be a better idea to start out with."