Wrong Address

[Ferre]

Wrong Address
@Xersos @Ferre ​

One of the most valuable tools for a force wielder is experience. Often the Jedi and Sith alike take time to practice the swing of a lightsaber or cultivate their relationship with the force. Sometimes this occurs within a temple, other times at training areas across the galaxy where the force is particularly strong. The long existence of force users have caused overlap in training areas, with some being abandoned entirely while new locations are discovered.

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"Where the Kriff is Master Roth." Bast muttered under his breath with exasperation.

Sure he could feel the strength of the force around him. Perhaps it spoke to some astronomical phenomenon, but the floating islands that hung in the air were almost the strongest example of such. One of which Bast had parked his small ship under the shade of a local tree at the island's edge. It seemed his ship, nor any ship could make it much farther inland due to the nature of the forest.

However, as he walked forward, he wondered if he had seen things from the sky correctly. Rather then the tress getting denser, they became more sparse, less lush, and largely dying. The grass as well gave into dirt and rock. The most peculiar part being the center of the island, which was marked solely by caves that had clearly been once inhabited, perhaps by someone by a genius architect who had something to hide, as Bast for the life of him, could not remember seeing such a landscape from the view of his ship during his descent.

Yet he stood in the middle of these ancient structures, the caves clearly worn out and unused for some time. It seemed like a reasonable place to meditate or train, and after his time with the Jedi, Bast had learned not to question much.

What he would question however, was a Jedi being late. He sent Bast the coordinates to meet and the young arkanian had shown up punctual almost by accident.

Yet Bast gave in, collapsing to the ground in a meditative state. Crossing one leg over the other, Bast let the world slip away and drew in energy from the world around him.

 

[Xersos]

The planet was strong in the force, the floating islands were good example of it but the force was neither Light or Dark but a neutral one. For such a planet to be it was rare.

He took the shuttle from Korriban Academy, not bothering to ask it was only one available. Equipped with the hype-drive it was all he needed. Mission was clear, found more of the planet origin. If it has any strategic position it my be viable as forward base into the outer rim.

He landed on the edge of the planet that he deemed was a nexus of force. It was like it called to him. Sudden beep and red light swayed his look to the console. Scan indicate another ship laded on the other site of the island. He pushed some button indicating scan for life-force. After some time the scan reported error. The force was disturbing it.

" If somebody is down there i must see who is it." - He said to himself.

He found small place on the other site of the island. The landing was rough since he wasn't a good pilot but no damage to the ship. As he exited the ship he notice how forest seams to be ticker towards the center of the planet. After few minutes of walking he found the so called center of the island. Not lush with forest but almost barren. The force was strongest in this place. His attention stopped at cave entrance. Sending his thoughts all around himself in search for anything living other then small bugs. His search was successfully as he sensed a force in the caves. The force was not like that of the planet but the light side.

" Figure the Jedi would be here"

He slowly walked towards the cave and used the anger to fuel his power. Emanating with dark side so that it can be sensed.

 

[Ferre]

As soon as another presence made itself known in the caves, Bast became fully aware, yet remained in his seated position. He could sense it was a fellow force user and that is all he cared to know. The light side was what the Jedi were trained in. It suited Bast well. His lack of empathy might have been strange for a Jedi, but Bast could never care enough about anything to so much as gain a job interview with the Sith.

Likewise though, he held no grudge towards the other side of the force. Even after multiple run ins. The sith were no monster under his bed, and more to the point, it was the light side that took away his arm. So when the cold feeling of a dark presence swept over him, Bast did not think 'enemy', but rather think of the presence of a really cranky Jedi.

Well, Bast was here on time. So if they were gonna try to chew him out, he didn't want to hear it.

However, digging further, Bast realized the force presence was not the person he was looking for. Perhaps someone else had come to train with him. No matter, all that was asked of Bast was that he work on his sparring, they never specified who.

Satisfied with this assessment of the situation, Bast returned to meditation. In particular, he focused on his arm. Confused and frustrated that the force seemed to flow through all his veins but stopped at the cybernetic circuitry that made up his right limb. Like physical therapy in water, Bast hoped that being on a planet so strong in the force might be a good way to regain a connection to his cybernetic enhancement.

 

[Xersos]

Walls of the cave were inscribe with some sort of language Azûzdus didn't known. He has never seen anything like that. But as he would like to inspect it closer the source of light side was in sight.
Young man sitting in the middle of the cave. Confusion clearly inside of him.

The archenemy of his order. The Jedi who almost wipe his people. He could fell the dark side of the planet growing to his hatred. Feeding on it and whispering for more, the sensation was almost overwhelming. Such power untapped in this place and the jedi among it.

" You are far away from home young one. Where is your master?". - He asked the young man who was still in meditation stance of his order.

 

[Ferre]

"Do we really have a 'home' in the galaxy?" Bast replied with indifference. However, having a feeling from experience that his smart remark probably wasn't going to be well received from the supposed Jedi, Bast continued. "Somewhere." Bast paused "I'm supposed to meet here for training".

Sincerely. No knight the padawan had ever worked with had been late. Yet, Bast would give the knight a few more minutes, it wasn't often he got to be the higher standard of work ethic.

Flicking open his eyes, the padawan's gaze darted to the man who entered the room, giving him attention now that Bast was no longer alone.

 

[Xersos]

"Do we really have a 'home' in the galaxy?"
"Somewhere."
"I'm supposed to meet here for training"

" Ah the fabled Jedi way of thinking" - He said in a mocking way. He slowly steeped towards the boy who still sat down. Clinking to the shadows so that his face under the hood is not noticeable.

As he got near the boy a strange sensation in the force connected to him. The dark side of the planet spoke to him, it was not the words he heard but rather feelings and vibes of some kind. His eyes glowing red from power that flow through his body. He took a moment to analyze what has happened to him and the boy surly notice that something is off. Then with the aid of the force he finally spoke with new vigor - " A training, perhaps i can help you with that."

Shadows still wrapping to his body making him look like a unnatural demon with glowing red eyes. Yet appearances can be deceiving. The force working in ways strange to them have put them together. Eager to learn from this place Azûzdus steeped to the small illuminated center of the cave where the boy was sitting finally revealing his appearance and his robes. His right hand clinging to the lightsaber he spoke in voice imbued with the dark side of the force - " Perhaps they abandoned you here. " - making it sound like a statement.

 

[Ferre]

" Ah the fabled Jedi way of thinking"

Having expected to get reprimanded for his sass, Bast raised a brow of questioning, but would not argue the matter.
The glowing eyes of the man were lost on Bast, who simply would have thought it was just a trait of his species. Yet even the padawan could feel the force growing stronger in the room, more condensed upon the area in which they resided. His eyes darted to his arm. Perhaps, now he could channel energy through the non-organic tissue that at least held some blood.

" A training, perhaps i can help you with that."

"I think you're right." Bast responded thoughtfully without looking up. He was about to stand up from his meditation when the man stepped from the shadows and spoke once more.

"Perhaps they abandoned you here." Bast turned to him looking utterly perplexed and then stood, brushing the dirt off his robes. "Sore idea of abandonment when I flew here myself" Bast chuckled with pure amusement. Unclipping his saber, Bast readied it in his hand. "What first?"

 

[Xersos]

"What first?"

Azûzdus unclip his lightsaber and ignited it in his right hand. The crimson blade illuminated the center of the cave with red color. Small glowing runes appeared on the floor of the cave. Seams that only some were on.

Allowing to dark side to enter his body and fills him with power he gained much better perception and agility. His eyes now attuned to the force seen different and better then normal ones can. The Jedi glowed silver aura and cave was different. Many of runes and glyph were better seen. On the wall behind the boy was a mural describing a battle of some sort. On closer look it seams as a duel between good and evil. The next picture was interesting a gate with two keys on light and one dark.

Shifting his attention to the boy he readied himself. Azûzdus held the blade back in a one-handed grip, angled forwards with the left arm held parallel.

 

[Ferre]

Bast pursed his lips slightly speechless at the sight of the crimson blade. However, it read more akin to a realization that he had been mis-gendering someone for an embarrassingly long amount of time rather than fear of a long ago enemy.

Luckily, before having to say something, his comlink buzzed.

"Bast." -buzz- "Where are you." The voice sounded agitated.

"Uhm." Bast looked up apologetically holding out a finger for a moment of patience "xx-xx..."

"xX-xx?" The man responded incredulously "You were supposed to be at xY-xx"

"Yeah, well something came up." The padawan replied with enough experience and enough 'things coming up' under his belt for this to be a regular phrase.

"Alright." Came the exasperated reply.

Looking like a teen talking to his parent, Azuzdus probably only heard parts of the rest as Bast turned around and held the comlink closer to his face on a lower volume. "Alright. Okay. Bye. Uh-uh. Okay. Bye."

Turning off the com-link, Bast turned back around and raised his brows before coming back to the moment at hand.

Well this was awkward. Considering they adhered to two different principles of force wielding.

Hopefully, the teacher wouldn't mind. Bast certainly didn't.

If Azuzdus could read it, the feelings of the padawan shifted rather quickly from realization to casual acceptance. This would be interesting, it wasn't often someone got taught by the other side of the fence. For once, the teacher might have something to learn from Bast too. That is, if he cared to learn about the light side.

Having meditated in what seemed an ocean of the force for a while, Bast could feel it's power pulsating through him. The hiss-snap of his blue blade protruded from his left hand. Respectfully, since Bast was still young and thus not fully in control of his blade, the lightened hue of it's color inferred that the blade had been reduced to a high practice mode and would only instigate light burns.

And then he closed his eyes, reading all his senses for any defensive rather than remaining on the offensive for an opponent he knew little about.

 

[Xersos]

Little interruption from the boy was unexpected. It seams some minor communication between other Jedi. Did he summon reinforcements. Question that needs to be asked after our little spar.

Felling the boy gather the force inside of him he lunged with his red lightsaber by using force to boost speed to quickly go near the boy for surprised attack. His red blade aimed at boys torso.

 

[Ferre]

Bast was surprised by the speed and strength within the first blow. He was right, and dare say lucky to have been so focused on defense.

The blades met a strong central lock, the blue of Bast's bade horizontal to Azuzdus' vertical. The strength that Bast had built up in the force was enough to hold his ground momentarily against the clash of a man bigger than himself, though the padawan gritted his teeth with effort. The momentary impressive standoff gave way to Bast being pushed backwards by Azuzdus' forward movement, his feet protesting on the ground as dust shot into the air from the skidding resistance.

While he still had the strength of the lock holding the opponent's lightsaber at bay, Bast swerved to the side, hoping the man's incredibly strong force momentum would carry him involuntarily forward as physics usually entails and deliver him off-balance. If so, it would give Bast a moment to turn on his heel and use the close proximity from the man's side to strike from behind, landing a blow to the his spine.

 

[Xersos]

Red blade hit the blue one and force of impact vibrated through his right hand. But in the moment boy swerved to the side, his action carried by the momentum of the force he used to boost his speed carried him forward. The blue blade slightly burning him on the back. The pain was nothing to compared to what he experienced before when his master unleash the full power of the Dark side onto him.

"Well done boy" - He said with his smile as he turn to face him, he continued - " If the opponent has more strength then you don't block the attack. Redirect it like you did. That way your will save your energy and the opponent will lose his."

Gathering the power of the dark side he propelled himself towards him but coming near him he jump boosted by the force. He slash towards him vertically.

 

[Ferre]

After having completed his strike, Bast held his saber to his side at the ready.

He had to nod rather agreeably. His motto in life was to save as much energy as possible. However, volume of his breath could denote that just his evasive maneuver took a great deal of energy given the power disparity.

Not that he had much time to consider going onto the offensive.

Azuzdus lept into the air coming down crashing from above. He tried to calculate a way for this to work in his favor, perhaps attempt to shish-kabob the man on his descent? No it was too risky. No more time to think of another move. Darting downwards, Bast followed his original notion of dodging and rolling to safety behind Azuzdus in a crouched position.

 

[Xersos]

" So predictable." - he said in amused voice as he landed where to boy should have been. He turned to face the boy.

He pointed the tip of his lightsaber to him and said - " Is the dodge all you know. Use your anger to strike down."

The malevolent smile appeared on the Azûzdus face.

 

[Ferre]

Bast looked perplexed for a moment before remembering once more that he was battling a Sith. "Ah, right, that"

It seemed that Bast was not going to get out of this without learning something. Azuzdus was right. He couldn't dodge forever, not in the close confines of a cave and not if he was to -you know- act as a jedi should.

Getting back up to his feet, Bast kept his gaze leveled with a sizing up concentration. For the first time in quite a while, Bast put himself into a perfect Makashi stance. His Jedi teachers back on tython might have shed a tear of pride, but Bast was banking on his new companion not letting it slip to the order that Bast might have, force forbid, learned something from his time on Tython.

However in his true-to-self fashion Bast used it as a trick, immediately using the force to leap into an Ataru style attack that seemed like he was aiming to clash with the man's blade, but at last second Bast would change his course and aim for the man's leg. It might cost him a bruise or two since he couldn't use his arms to cushion the fall, but it was a sacrifice he was willing to make. If successful, it would only give his leg a light burn if no armor was there to stop it, however, it was the principle of the matter. If it was a real duel, it would have meant the dismemberment of a limb.

Something Bast knew about all too well.

 

[Xersos]

The Makashi stance made for duels with lightsabers but not build for strength. One with more strength can easily overpowered Makashi users.

Seeing the boy make that stance has made him curious. Is he going to attack with that. Then suddenly he charged and leap through to the air in all to familiar Ataru style. Best for quick attack and only work in open areas. This is going to be fun he thought and smiled at the same time.

Still fulled by the power of the dark side he simply raised his left palm of the hand and willed the power to surge through, releasing a blast of force meant to push the opponent from him. Just using enough power to push him and do some minor damage.

" You are to rush. Think about your surroundings. Manipulate it to your advantage. " - His sentenced were short from exhaustion that build up in him for using force.

 

[Ferre]

The energy of the force was just enough to divert the attack and keep him off balance in the other direction rather than sending Bast flying against a wall. With some moderate acrobatics, and by that just a steady ability to land on his feet and keep balance, Bast was able to regain a solid footing on the dirt beneath him.

His surroundings. They were in a cave. Good lot that did besides having just as many rocks as the Jedi had rules-

The padawan gained an idea. Once more he took a defensive stance, his lightsaber ignited with anticipation. With a short nod, he signaled his readiness for an attack.

 

[Xersos]

Seeing that his force push had the desired effect he smiled. It seams that the young boy has started paying attention to the surrounding area.

Aldo he was little fatigued by that usage of push he again started to gather the force. But not inside his body but rather on a rock of medium size nearby him. The effort were hard, his focus was all over the rock. After filling it with force the rock slight rose from its place revealing some sort of pad bellow it.

Using his hand as acting rod for force he directed it towards the boy. It hurled it after him with speed that only force levitated rock can do.

Using it as cower he sprinted behind it preparing himself for sneak attack when the rock hits the boy by slashing his lightsaber towards his head.

 

[Ferre]

Well, it was time for a fun joy ride.

With an idea that seemed particularly teenage in nature, rather than beating the rock, Bast decided to join it. Jumping into the air, Bast balanced on the surface just big enough to place one foot on, thus momentarily putting him out of Azuzdus' desired range. Not wanting to fly with the rock completely as that would entail having an unhappy meeting with the wall, Bast made one more jump.

Expecting Azuzdus to use the force again, Bast made the rather risky move of breaking a piece of the cave above his opponent. It was only by luck and an Arkanian educated guess that only the piece would come crashing down on Azuzdus rather than the entire cave on them both.

The falling chunk would hopefully act as a good distraction. While Azuzdus had to deal with it, Bast would use the opening to come slamming down with his lightsaber from above. Gravity giving Bast the strength he usually lacked.

 

[Xersos]

Seeing that his rock hadn't had desired effect on the boy as he thought he brace himself with the usual counter.

He held the blade back in a one-handed grip, angled forwards with the left arm held parallel. The pieces of above started to rain down but it few elegant moves of his lightsaber and The Soresu form he pulverize them all with the crimson blade.

The quick way give the Azûzdus time to see that boy was hoping to surprised him with falling rock so that he can come slamming down with his lightsaber. Being ready he didn't block but rather redirect the blue blade since blocking that kind of attack will use all of his stamina.