What Happened Next

[Kit]

Augustus was at peace once more, aboard The Will. He had spent far too long away, having been called to Coruscant for a meeting of some grave importance. Something he was unwilling to dwell upon.

The Jedi Master had returned here, immediately, determined to throw himself into what he did best. And, given the sensitive mood of the day, he couldn't afford to disappear off into space to hunt down Dark siders.

So he had come here, and summoned a Padawan. He would take this one under his wing, Traven Oli, and forge him into a Jedi of some repute. He would not make the same mistakes he had before, this one he would not allow to fall prey to the Sith. He would not fail another Padawan.

Unusually, he become lost in his thoughts, so desperate was he to avoid them, and was simply stood motionless in the spacious training area he had requisitioned, staring into space.

 

[HunterOrdo]

Traven felt a strange mix of emotions fill his chest. He was excited and happy beyond imagine to have been chosen by a Master! He was going to be a true Padawan.. although those feelings were accompanied by panic and anxiety that caused him to sweat and his hands to tremble. What if he failed his new Master? What if the Master decided he was worthy? What if.. Millions of thoughts passed through the small boys mind.

His robes swished and whirled around his legs as he walked, his hand gently stroking his ponytail that hung from the side of his face like most padawans had. It was a reflex he did when his mind was barraged like now. It helped calm him, and most of the time he was unaware he did it.

His eyes stared intensely at the floor between him and the door separating him from his new master. Every step seemed slow and harder then the last, but at the same time they did not seem fast enough!

What seemed like an eternity Traven arrived at the door and laid his hand upon it trembling. This was it. Taking a breath.. then faltering to push the door open, he took another deep breath and counted slowly.

1.. breath in.. 2.. breath out.. 3.. without taking a breath he pushed the door opened and braced himself.

In the center of the room stood his new master. The man was.. was.. scary. For some reason his new Master seemed like someone who was on a different realm of existence to Traven. He seemed strong.. as if he was the personification of strength, which only made Traven feel more pathetic.

"H-Hello. I am Traven Oli" He began struggling to get the words out as if felt as if a great presence was crushing his chest. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Master." He finished relieved to have gotten the introduction out of the way as he slowly bowed.

 

[Kit]

The Jedi Master snapped his head around, dragged out of his thoughts by the voice, timid as it was, of the Padawan introducing himself. For a moment, his cold grey eyes flashed, a combination of anger and sadness, before they grew much warmer. He had allowed his thoughts to get the better of him, and his pain had surfaced for a moment.

A failing he would not allow himself to repeat.

"Greetings, Traven Oli. I am Augustus."

He took a few paces forwards, and smiled at the boy, before bowing deeply to the boy.

"I think we'll start with a bit of philosophy. I so rarely fully train a Padawan that I'm a little rusty, but I'm sure we'll be able to struggle through together."

He spoke cheerfully enough, but internally, was glad that they boy was relatively inexperienced. He felt anything but cheerful on the inside, and feared broadcasting that to any force sensitives nearby.

"So, first things first, the Jedi code, I trust you know it?"

 

[HunterOrdo]

A bolt of lightning went through Travens spin when his eyes met that of his new Master. His eyes were filled with.. he was not sure, but it was not something he wanted to see again. The pressure on his chest had increased to the levels that it felt someone had docked a speeder on him, but as quickly as the look appeared, so did they disappear.

He listened with the utmost attention as his Master induced himself. Augustus. That cant be.. that was the name of the Battlemaster of the Order! There was no other Augustus that he could think of.. it was him! He felt that his heart was going to give away. Not only had he been selected but by none other then a Council Member! A true Jedi Master! A master of the lightsaber who knew no equal!

He was snapped out of his fantasy when Master Augustus approached him.. and Traven learned another thing about his new Master. He was Big. Traven was very young, so many were big to him, but Master was huge. He extended a huge hand that looked like it could grab Travens entire head.

Slowly Traven took the much larger hand feeling tiny in comparison feeling the Master could easily crush his hand if he desired. Normally, Traven managed to retain some sort of self-control and discipline with himself and the area around him, but everything was shut down, and he felt like he was running more on auto-pilot then anything.

To his question, for once he stopped and thought. He felt he needed to considering his wording well. "I can repeat the code like any other Jedi. I" He paused before closing his eyes and admitting something he prayed would not get him thrown out "I understand the Code, but there are somethings.. I do not agree with."

His eyes opened filled with panic "Is it wrong to doubt?" His voice almost giving away at the end.

 

[Kit]

Augustus watched the boy closely, a very old memory surfacing as he did. He had behaved very similarly when he had met his Master, the man who had been Battlemaster before Augustus. His mind nearly strayed onto the issue of the next Battlemaster, before he caught himself.

"Absolutely not, young one."

Augustus' reply was quick, because the answer was simple.

"It is every Jedi's role to question, to doubt. To accept blindly makes us worse than Sith. This galaxy is complex, more for a Jedi than any other life form."

He himself was having some severe doubts. His faith in the Order had been sorely shaken, and... He caught himself again. This line of thought was no good for anyone, and he quickly quashed it.

"What part of the code do you not agree with, Padawan? It is always best to voice your concerns, rather than letting them fester."

 

[HunterOrdo]

Absolutely not. Traven felt relief wash over him. He had been so worried that his Master would find it bad, or do what the other Jedi did and simply brand it off as something he would accept in time. It was a relief to see that his Master would not be one to get angry with him if he ever questioned, although Traven would do his best to not be a burden..

The galaxy was complex.. and perhaps he was simple naive. He was 15 years old and could not remember what it was like in the real world. The most he had ever seen was the temple of Coruscant and the quick journey that brought him here to the Will.

He began slowly testing the waters almost "Masters have always told me that to be a Jedi is to serve, but I do not think thats right." He said softly "The core of being a Jedi should be Sacrifice. We Sacrifice things that normal people dont have to. We must control our emotions, we must rise above normal, we must be a figurehead for the people, we must always do what is right... we must Sacrifice for the betterment of everyone else, so they do not have to sacrifice." He said.

He closed his eyes, feeling his heart racing as he continued. "I am only 15.. I have never loved, so maybe it is not fair, but I do not think Jedi should be allowed to love.. Its allowed and tolerated now, but" He paused trying to find the right words "To love someone.. is to put them above all others, and I think that is wrong. We are Jedi. We must always do things for the betterment of all. Love clouds that. We must sacrifice love for the sake of others so that they can love freely." He finished.

"I am sorry master." He said softly. "I am not good at putting my words right.. there is more, but I do not know how to voice them." He said looking up at the much larger Jedi. "Maybe I am naive, and will learn whats truly right in time.. like the other Jedi say." He added.

 

[Kit]

Augustus listened to the boy as he voiced concerns that the Jedi Master had shared nearly fifty years ago. They were worthwhile, though easier to reconcile with experience of the outside world, beyond the safety of the Order.

"I am not sure I can agree with you Padawan. Consider the example of Anakin Skywalker. Had the Order allowed Jedi to love, there is a chance he might never have fallen. Sacrifice is a dangerous thing, young one."

He could attest to that, as his words were only just shy of outright hypocrisy.

"Service allows us to be people, as well as Jedi. Our life does not have to be devoid of, well, life. Sacrifice demands we be nothing but Jedi; it shackles us so fiercely that it is impossible not to rail against it. Sacrifice threatens outside peace, by creating disharmony inside."

He paused. His words were not quite perfect, he had been the Battlemaster and not the Prime Envoy for a reason, after all. However, he hoped that he had managed to get his point across.

"Do you understand?"

 

[HunterOrdo]

Traven thought carefully, He knew what his master was trying to say, but.. It still did not seem right. He quietly considered Anakin who had become Darth Vader. "Master. If Anakin had chosen to ignore his love. To control his emotions. He would never have fallen in the first place.. Love is.. dangerous. In that time he was not the first Jedi to fall in love, but unlike the other Jedi who controlled it. Anakin submitted to it." He said. Although his tone was more contemplative on himself then an argumentative point.

Traven was young, so he was not quite as world traveled, or as able to formulate his ideas, but he did voice one of his concerns "Love leads to fear of loss. Loss brings anger at inability to save what was lost. Anger leads to the dark side. At least that is what I was told.. so if love is merely the first step. Wouldnt it be better to not love?" He asked. He wasnt sure of the answer himself.. Masters always said love was the most beautiful thing in the galaxy, but all Traven could see was the carnage left behind.

He lowed his head. "Perhaps I am wrong, maybe I put too much responsibility on our order.. we are only people.." Still in his heart, his young heart, he always believed Jedi were Heroes. They werent people. They were something more. They had to give up things in order to be more.. simply saying we were people seemed like an excuse.. but it was all.. confusing.

He shook his head trying to disspell his thoughts. Those thoughts should be reflected on one of his masters had once said. "I am sorry Master. I am sure I have made a horrible mess of this introduction." He said apologetically, as he probably had.

 

[Kit]

"Not at all, Padawan."

Augustus smiled. If this was the kind of thing that the Padawan had to worry about, then he would be alright. The Padawan's instructors certainly hadn't been wrong, this was the sort of issue that the Padawan had to reconcile by himself.

"At the absolute worst, you can do as I do, follow your own rules within the Jedi's. Live within theirs, but do not embrace the freedom offered."

He paused.

"Now, are you ready to begin?"

 

[HunterOrdo]

Relief washed over him like a tidal wave to know he had not made a mess of things, but he was also glad he had not annoyed his new master with his constant questioning.. but he was glad he had.

Live as he did.. to live by your own code within the Jedi's. To choose a path without the freedom. It seemed to be the right thing, and he felt so stupid for never seeing it himself. He could choose to walk a different path then his peers a harsher path...

At his Masters question, Traven bowed his head. He wasnt sure if he was truly prepared.. but then again, he was never sure. "I am."

 

[Kit]

"Good," the former Battlemaster began, "we will begin with the basics today, and work our way up."

He held an open palm up towards a seemingly normal wall, and reaching out with the force, it clicked, and swivelled, revealinf row upon row of training weapons. Single bladed, short, curved hilt, double bladed... practically every kind of lightsaber variation was catered for.

He plucked a long handled hilt from the rack, and it floated gently over to his outstretched hand. As his fingers wrapped around it's chrome hilt, he couldn't help but miss his own blade, which, for the first time in years, he had left in his quarters. In fact, today was rare, for he carried not one of his own blades. He felt naked without them.

He shook his head. The day had gotten to him enough already. He spoke whilst he waited for the boy to select his own weapon.

"Now, I don't suppose you have any training in any one of the forms, or an inclination as to which one you hope to learn?"

 

[HunterOrdo]

Travens eyes widened at the impressive amount of blades and their variations. It was more then he had ever seen.. His master had used the force to pull it to himself, but Traven wanted a closer look at them to make his decision.. to feel each and decide which he liked the best.

He let his fingers run across the section of curved hilts lifting one and examining the way it felt in his hand.. and decided he didnt like it. The balance of the blade was to far up causing the handle to rest more on his fingers then his palm. He gently laid the blade back before picking up a curved-hilt blade with a very thin blade.

Lifting it, he turned it around.. the handle rested well on his palm, and the blade was very light allowing easy control over the blade. It would break easier then the larger bladed versions, but it was easier to control.

Stepping back he preformed the Makashi Flourish, A salute followed by cutting an X in front of him and lining the blade parallel with his leg. Yes, it was perfect.

So absorbed into his task of selecting a weapon, he had not heard his masters last comment. Turning his head to his Master, Traven looked around as if searching for some clue. "I am sorry Master. I did not catch what you said last."

 

[Kit]

Augustus watched closely. The boy had something of an eye for a blade, though his choices were telling. Augustus would have guessed that the boy would be a practitioner of Makashi, even before the flourish.

"It doesn't matter, I feel my question has already been answered."

The Jedi Master did not flourish his blade, he was in no mood for theatrics. Rathre, he simply ignited his blade, pleased to see it come out green, like his own weapon.

"Once you are prepared, we can begin your instruction."

 

[HunterOrdo]

Traven took a deep breath to center himself. He was going to be facing the Blademaster, himself!, in a duel. He was not so arrogant that he believed he had a chance of winning. The Blademaster could kill him in moments if that was what he wanted, but still Traven could not pass up the chance to prove himself..

He gently ignited his own blade watching as the blue light erupted. He was hoping for green, so it would be like his own lightsaber.. but he did like the feel of the blade.

"I am ready, Master." He replied preparing himself on what was to come.

 

[Kit]

"Then begin. Makashi is more an art than any other form. It is elegance, efficiency, and precision without equal."

He gestured for the boy to attack. Makashi as a form was beautiful in the hands of a master, and truly dangerous. In the hands of a beginner, it was less so. But there was only one way to learn.

"Attack me, youngling."

 

[HunterOrdo]

Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Traven slowly approached the master, the blade still held next to his leg. As he approached, Traven decided he would attempt to get a measure of what his Master was planning on doing as well as gauge the distance by doing a thrust.

Moving the blade up from its position near his leg, Traven quickly stepped forth staying on his toes as he thrust the blade at the master ensuring that the blade stayed straight along with his arm.

If the master smacked the thrust aside, Traven would follow the momentum and turn it into a quick slice, if the master stepped back, Traven would merely take another step and continue the thrust.

He did not worry about the master merely moving to the left or right as thanks to the curved handle it would be easy to flick his wrist and turn the thrust into a fast cut in the direction he desired.

 

[Kit]

Augustus was back in familiar territory. His concerns from the last day simple melted away, in the face of that which he was best at; the duel. The clash between warriors, where one could not afford distractions.

The Padawan began with a simple thrust, at attack which, thanks to the nature of the lightsaber, could transition perfectly into any number of attacks. Augustus knew this, and his numerous scars were all evidence to the fact.

So when he parried, as always, he was parrying more than just the immediate attack, but also the attacks that were coming afterward. He fought to disrupt, though in this situation, he tried to keep it to a minimum, so as to give his Padawan's chance to grow and develop.

The Jedi Master then, stepped forwards, towards the thrust, even as he swept his blade upwards, parallel to the ground. Makashi was about simple, precise movements, and struggled when forced out of that pattern. Augustus would see how the boy performed when he was forced to improvise.

 

[HunterOrdo]

Travens eyes widened slightly as his Master stepped into the thrust.. something he had not thought he would do.. or anyone would do really. Before he had time to follow through a vertical sweep from his masters blade clashed into his and sent the tip of his up.

Traven used footwork to quickly step back in order to get out of the way of a return swing and to regain some rhythm. He could not afford to get to close to the Master as brute size alone said he could not afford to parry many of his blows as he would be able to overpower him if he was not careful.

With the tiny distance, Traven brought the blade back to the ready position at his leg. Traven slowly circled the master before sending a quick cut at the masters leg with a quick move of his forearm.

He did not stop moving. If the blow was blocked, he would move in the opposite direction and swing higher at the waist. If the master stepped forward again, Traven would step back and then thrust... No matter what, he had to keep moving.

 

[Kit]

Augustus' parry was succesful, and had the effect he had hoped for; it forced the boy to change his plan, to adapt on the fly. Skills which, when mastered, were arguably as useful as any other skill or trick that a Jedi could pick up.

Traven responded by circling, unusual in Makashi, thought not totally unheard of, before striking at Augustus' leg. The Master's response was simple enough, pivoting just enough to bring his blade to bear, he blocked the shallow slash with his blade.

With his green blade now parallel to his body, he quickly flicked it outwards with a simple wrist movement, which would have the blade lightly graze the boy's stomach and chest as it sliced upwards.

 

[HunterOrdo]

His attack was blocked, so he started moving again. The old masters at the Temple always said that few things in Makashi were as important as footwork. Good footwork allowed for graceful strikes as well as a defense in itself.

The Master struck at him this time, instead of merely parrying his blade. It was a quick attack that Traven barely managed to get his blade underneath and push it up. He wasnt trying to block it, merely change its path long enough to move out of the way.

With his blade pushing them masters up, the green blade passed close to his right ear. Traven could hear the ionizing of the energy around the blade, and it sent shivers down his back at the close call.

With the blade close to his head, Traven quickly stepped away so that he would not lose his head if the master quickly slashed. Hoping that the green blade was to far away for another parry, Traven quickly made another thrust at the Master using the same strategy as the first move.