A Draining Experience

[Darth Timoris]

Melori had felt it was a decent opening move. She had few tools at her disposal and she would no doubt have to try them all. Success was not necessarily hitting her Master with the Lightning, but in doing the best she could and pushing herself to her natural limits.

As she maintained the stream of Lightning and pondered her next move, her Master sent chunks of ice at her, flinching as they hit her, she committed a cardinal sin and lost control of the Lightning arcs and both drifted too close to a coil and her efforts were returned with interest as she saw and felt an electric shock hit her and literally rattle her teeth.

She dropped one of the Lightning arcs but maintained the other one, using the pain she’d endured to fuel it to be more powerful. Maintaining eye contact with her Master, she used her peripheral vision to identify a tool to use and saw one – well three actually.

With her right hand she summoned the Force and lifted one of the dead bodies and flung it at her sister, as soon as it was travelling towards her, she picked up the second and repeated the effort with the third. But the lesson from before was not forgotten, she gave her single arc of Lightning the utmost concentration whilst she did this.

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Melori Raaf"]

Taeli saw the bodies flying towards out of the corner of her eye, and decided enough was enough. Twisting the handle of her lightsaber hilt, the hand guard formed a perfect ring and the blades started spinning, the red energy giving off a whirring sound as they went. Moving in a Force speed induced circle, she cut through each body effortless before blocking the lightning stream again with her spinning blade, but instead of allowing the lightning to dissipate, she channeled her own into the lightsaber itself, charging the blades with electricity.

"Oh excellent strategy, and keeping track of your environment, all very good, Melori," Taeli said, smiling at her sister. She was quickly learning to be smart in a fight, not just try and charge in with blade swinging and lightning flowing. It actually took thought, even if some Sith didn't believe so and went pure on juggernaut or marauder. The answer to actually striking her with the lightning was still there, Melori just needed to think a little more and she might just have it.

 

[Darth Timoris]

Melori knew there had to be an answer, her Master was unlikely to set her an impossible task. But she had few weapons at her disposal, she’d tried Telekinesis and Push or Pull would be of little benefit.

So she cycled through her options a couple of times and hit upon an idea. The aim was to hit her Master with Electricity right? And she seemed able to block her efforts – in fact she’d even charged her own weapon with that energy. So that was it.

Her Master had already told her that the coils, if hit by electricity would send the energy back and with interest. Timing was key here. She held a stream still aimed at her Master, but kept the power low to maximise the control. With her free hand she manipulated the Force. Of course her Master would see this – but as with Darth Veles yesterday, knowing he was doing something was not the same as knowing what.

Gently she expanded the area the coils were guarding. Her Master had already narrowed the gap. The moment she felt her own thin arc sucked in by the coils, she shut off her own Lighting and accepted the jolt she would receive and simultaneously increased the size of the radius of the coil's influence quickly. They’d no doubt encroach on where her Master was twirling her blade - charged with electricity. Let’s see how she deflects all of the coils simultaneously.

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Melori Raaf"]

Taeli was curious what her sister was trying, it wasn't the solution she had been expecting. The solution she would have gone with was shrink the coil's influence, but instead, Melori was growing it. Curiouser and . . . she never finished that thought. Another interrupted her as she realized what her sister was doing . . . right when she did it. She had just gotten this dress too.

Taeli cried out as the coils shocked her and she was forced to cut off the lightning flowing through her lightsaber, singing the edges of her dress. As she stopped it, her eyes flared and she sent a push at her sister to stop her own flow of lightning.

"Good job, not what I expected," she laughed, deactivating her lightsaber and smiling proudly at her sister.

 

[Darth Timoris]

For a split second she was concerned for her sister, but her basic understanding of the Sith ways steadied her. If her Master died, she wasn't worthy - it was as simple as that.

"I had considered another option but felt this was more likely of success, Master." But she didn't return the smile, this was a lesson and she was addressing her Master. Once dismissed she could show concern for her sister's pretty dress but for now she was an Acolyte and hopefully one that was performing well. "Will there be further tests Master? I ask as I have to buy some ballet slippers and was hoping to get them today." Her face was straight, she clearly meant it.

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Melori Raaf"]

"No, no, we're done for today," Taeli sighed, looking down at her dress. Getting shocked didn't really faze her, she was just a touch saddened by probably having to throw this dress away. Oh well, there were more important things than dresses, and one of those was standing in front of her. Switching easily from master to older sister, she smiled and stepped out from the coils.

"I didn't know you danced," she said, coming over to her sister and hugging her. "You did really well today, I'm proud of you."

 

[Darth Timoris]

Melori smiled and returned the embrace. "I used to a lot and when I was practicing with the saber, I realised that I needed more power in my legs, better balance and improved footwork. Mom used to make me go to ballet lessons and I noticed the boys that went were mocked by other kids but soon they were stronger and tougher than the bullies and it made me realise just how good the training must be. So I figured it could only help me with Makashi."

"So...what's next? And how long before I get the ship?" Her eyes danced as she thought of that wondrous vessel she'd seen before - she just had to have it.

[member="Darth Arcanix"]

 

[Taeli Raaf]

[member="Melori Raaf"]

"I've got one more lesson in mind before you get that ship, but it's not for today," Taeli laughed, smiling at her sister. "It requires a little preparation because we will be going offworld, but I promise it will be an . . . enlightening experience." Reaching into her satchel, she pulled out some credits for her sister to use.

"Here, don't just buy some ballet slippers, buy whatever suits your fancy," she said. "Maybe I'll join you for that at sometime, Makashi is my preferred style after all . . . next to using the double blades and their spinning function. Although . . . I'm rather rubbish at dancing, but great at fencing. Led my university team to two championships when I was on Lorrd."

 

[Darth Timoris]

Melori took the credits and hugged her sister again, "Perhaps I can teach you something then? But not today, when I'm back to full fitness."

She stared down at the credits she'd been given. There were a lot there. But what to buy? In truth, other than ballet slippers she could think of nothing - but then shops had a way of enticing you to spend even if you had no intention of parting with your credits.

"See you later." She smiled and left the room, the credits already burning a hole in her pocket.

[member="Darth Arcanix"]