A Silver Lining

[Connor Harrison]

His eyes followed her into the refresher, her pained face making him feel bad for over-reacting, and the door closed as she made it clear she was acting like a petulant brat. An attractive one at that. Turning to the table again, he pushed his hands down onto the marble top and tensed his biceps and hung his head.

A frustrated breath followed as his eyes burnt into nothingness. Only when Chastity made noises in coming out did he casually turn his head, letting the air between them simmer and not making the situation any more uncomfortable for her.

And then, just like that, she was gone. The door hissed open, and she bolted out. Connor turned and sat back, a long breath coming out as if he had been holding it in for minutes. A warm sensation waved over his body and he felt a bead of sweat on his brow. Dry swallowing followed, signalling he needed some water. He would get some, in a moment.

His blue eyes closed, and all was quiet again in his quarters. It felt empty again.

[member="Chastity Lunelle"]

 

[Chastity Lunelle]

Despite her tumultuous evening in Connor’s quarters where she bared her soul, among other things, Chastity slept better than she had in her entire life. The exhausting mix of raw, girlish emotions, Force training, and physical activity melted every muscle, and once she undressed and crawled into bed, she slept the sleep of the dead.

As a sliver of dawn came sneaking into her room, a call came on her commlink. Her Master’s words, telling her to meet him outside the Academy for combat training. She quickly scrambled for her clothing. With her misbehaving the night before, she had way too much to atone for to be late for her lesson.

The events of the previous night were still fresh upon her mind as she came upon the training grounds. Chastity could still feel that mutual charge of the Force buzzing in her system, flooding her body with confusing sensations. The worst thing of it all was, that she enjoyed pushing him and getting a rise out of him. She wanted to break his mask of composure, and she had no idea why. What was wrong with her? This was no way for a Jedi to behave.

Focus, Lunelle, focus. Chastity sprawled on the dewy grass, and began to stretch. She touched her toes, and prayed for her stomach to stop twisting in time for her Master's arrival.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

A restless night followed by a few hours sleep and an early rise was typical for Connor, and only made worse from the previous evening. He had a handful of fruit and a protein pill for a rather awful breakfast, and made his way out early again to the Academy training ground. He had obtained two training sabers on his way down, sharing a little conversation with the Gran on duty in the armoury. One blue and one purple - he would have the blue, Padawan would take purple.

Connor was standing on the stone stairs leading up to one of the circular training grounds. He had chosen a gravel ground as the ground was damp from a light rain overnight, but Connor could see his Padawan wasn't affected as she stretched out below.

With a hilt in each hand, he looked like a guardian watching over his protégée from afar. Giving a moment to calm his emotion and benefit of a long, stressful earlier day, the Master shouted down to the student.

”Chastity. When you're ready, girl."

His voice was commanding, but soft and when she turned, he gave her a gentle smile from above and gestured to him with his hand. Time to move forward.

[member="Chastity Lunelle"]

 

[Chastity Lunelle]

At Connor’s booming voice, Chastity raised her head, and then trotted up the stairs to meet him, her boots crunching on the gravel path. If he was holding a grudge against her for her prior petulance, it certainly didn’t show. There was no hint of anger or disappointment in his sharp blue eyes. All seemed to be forgiven, the awkwardness scattered into the far reaches of the galaxy, like stardust. The Padawan gave her Master a big, genuine smile, and a topped it off with a polite bow.

“Good morning, Master,” she said as she shielded her eyes from the sun. “I hope you slept well?”

Chastity was in super serious student mode now. That Lunelle girl, misbehave? Never. That one was a perfect angel. She couldn’t help but notice the extra saber hilt in Connor’s hand. This was certainly more exciting than picking apples with the Force. She gestured to the lightsabers.

“Am I to fight you today?” she asked with a playful grin.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

A gentle tilt of the head acknowledged his Janus – a name dating back to the time before time in the galaxy; a God with two faces. It appeared Chastity now had her accommodating, eager Padawan face. The goading, daring and mouthy face was hidden for now. Certainly an enigma, and a challenge.

”Very well, thank you.” Connor lied blatantly, but she’d never guess. He turned and started to walk down the other side of the stairs, leading to the quiet ground in the Academy.”You are going to show me your ability with a blade today.”

Handing over a silver hilt, Connor looked down at it as she took it in her hands.

”This is a training saber only. You won’t forget in a hurry if it comes into contact with you, but you’ll learn your mistake and not do it again.”

Was he talking about last night, or in future?

”Picking apples is one thing, and you can work on your mind form over time. Now we see how you act, react and control yourself in combat.”

Entering the arena, it was just the two of them on the gravel ground. Small pillars surrounded them and the Temple stood behind them like a giant, watching over its children. The temperature was cool, and Connor stood in his training gear of vest and combats, spinning his hilt in his hand.

”When you’re ready, activate the blade and get a feel for your weapon.”

[member="Chastity Lunelle"]

 

[Chastity Lunelle]

Chastity gave her Master a sly smile when he mentioned that he slept well. She took his lack of acknowledgement of her bad behavior as a tacit hand wave, giving her permission to repeat her performance. She had never met someone who made her want to act out this way. Every now and then on the farm, she pushed her parents or her sister, some backtalk here, a playful punch in the arm there. But it was never like this. A willful, enjoyable disobedience. This was a new feeling she wanted to explore.

Chastity took the lightsaber pommel in her hands. She gripped it, one hand over the other, and carefully held it out in front of her, as if it might turn and bite her like a serpent. Every now and then, she glanced up at Connor to gauge his reaction. Were her hand positions correct? Was her stance adequate? Feet placed where they should be?

The switch was activated and the training saber hummed to life, a beautiful violet beam of light. Her eyes widened as she studied it, and then gave it a tentative swing. She felt her adrenaline pumping. She felt in touch with the Force. She felt ready.

“How is my position, Master?”

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Evaluating her stance, her grip and overall frame with the violet blade now active in her hands, Connor walked around her slow, his deactivated hilt in his right hand. Of course she was eager, that was good. Handling a weapon was always exciting at first, but the first few moments of how you did it would decide if the weapon would protect you or kill you.

”Your stance is good for an inanimate statue, yes, well done.”

Time to act the Master first. See how she took to that again, because last time she didn’t like it, and Connor did.

”When you activate your lightsaber, remember that it has been activated to take a life or defend, not for you to think about what to do with it. Your stance doesn’t help your overall balance and dexterity – I could floor you in an instant.”

He came around the other side to face her, a few feet away.

”When you are free, brush up on the basic forms of combat – one of the easiest is Shii-Cho, which targets the main areas of the body through basic swipes and parries. Use your opponent to get closer for the strike. You master this, the others will follow.”

Connor moved closer, and started to manipulate her limbs gently, using his feet to push hers back on the right leg, using his hands to move her arms back into a more relaxed position to create a better stance, the hum of the blade between them and the soft illumination of violet caressing his face slightly.

”There are seven main forms of practised combat. Seven forms. Research them and understand their advantages and disadvantages.”

Stepping back, he admired his work and nodded.

”So, tell me – what are you going to use to control your blade in combat?”

[member="Chastity Lunelle"]

 

[Chastity Lunelle]

At Connor’s subtle jab in response to her question, Chastity answered it with an equally subtle eye roll, but quickly her expression returned to its angelic mask. She was a picture of the innocent student, a soft smile painted on her face in a pale rose hue. The Padawan listened carefully to his rehearsed introduction to working with the blade. When Connor asked her to brush up on the basic forms, she dutifully nodded her head.

As her Master touched her, the Padawans breaths quickened and her limbs tensed. She let him guide her body where it needed to go, but his touch felt electric, and when he finished, she exhaled sharply, letting all the air out of her lungs in one loud whoosh. To all outside observers the two were firmly ensconced in a mundane master and student ritual, but inside, she had a small war raging. Focus, Chast. Wayward thoughts while fighting the Sith will land you with a blade in your gut. She felt the Force welling up inside her, drawing from her brew of emotions. It felt powerful. Almost too powerful. As if her control over the buzzing energy was a levee about to break.

”So, tell me – what are you going to use to control your blade in combat?”

“The Force, Master Harrison,” came the answer, along with a confident nod of her head.

Oh, she felt the Force alright, and she was ready to release it.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor rolled his bottom up and gently smacked his lips, nodding in approval.

”Very good, Chast. Let the Force help you see before you strike – it will help enhance your muscles, your movement. Let it flow like a stream in your veins and let it come together inside you to make you swift, efficient and strong.”

It seemed she was sitting on a great deal of willing to begin, and she was certainly headstrong today. So why disappoint. Connor took four steps back and ignited his blade with one hand, a pale beam of blue forming with a sharp snap-hiss. He drew it back and forth on the floor like a pendulum. It had been a long time since he had been in a training session with someone more akin to his way of thinking. This should be interesting to weigh up her inner emotion and control when the pressure was on.

”I won’t attack, just defend for now. Come at me, and this time try and you’re your clothes on and use your skill over your body.”

He didn’t react, but inside he was proud of that, and certainly being a nerf-herder to her right now.

[member="Chastity Lunelle"]

 

[Chastity Lunelle]

As instructed, Chastity closed her eyes began to call the Force into her body, its kinetic energy buzzing through every cell. It coursed down her arms and into her purple blade, then back again, like a conduit. Let it flow like a stream in your veins. Right now her connection to the Force felt more like roaring rapids than a stream. It was obvious she had the power, but did she have the control?

When her Master teased her about her antics from the previous night, both eyebrows shot up in surprise. Her wounds were still fresh, her embarrassment still raw and unresolved. First, Chastity blinked her thick charcoal lashes in consternation. Then, petulance pursed her lips and her blue-grey eyes narrowed at him. She opened her mouth to curse at him, but then snapped it shut, silenced by her own outrage.

Her nose wrinkled, like a kitten turning suddenly feral, and Chastity came running at him like a dervish. With a grunt, raised her arms high above her head and swung her saber in a violent, downward arc. It was a blast of ragged emotions, unfocused, clumsy, and impulsive. But there was no denying that however artless it was, there was power in her strike.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Her flaws were obvious, and she knew it. So did he. But, somehow, this was more than training. This was playing. Connor never had his faults ironed out early on, and pieced together his own right and wrong doings during his training, so now he would try to give Chastity what he never had – guidance. However, as her form came up and violently brought down towards him, which would have done more than just wounded him if connected, Connor sidestepped back to let her strike pass by and down.

It was easy for a Jedi to move from, but he heard the violence as the blade broke the air by his head. He wasn’t a typical teacher, and it was clear she wasn’t the typical farm girl he thought at first.

”Good. Now stop playing around and try to attack me.”

His blade still hummed in his hand, rocking gently on his boots, biceps tightening slightly as his fingers gripped the hilt.

”I’ve got all day for this. Have you? Or will you waste your energy in the first 10 minutes.”

The scenario was now like a hunter toying with prey, waiting for a strike and knowing when to move.

[member="Chastity Lunelle"]

 

[Chastity Lunelle]

As her saber swooshed through the air, connecting with nothing, she gave off a short cry of rage. Grrrrrrr. Why was he frustrating her so? Yesterday she and her Master had such a playful, easy relationship, but today was different. Today he was dragging her heart through the gravel with each taunt. They were adversarial. But why? They were on the same side, after all. Perhaps this was all part of getting her warrior side to come out and play. She didn’t stop to think that she was the problem or the cause. Chastity was a very clever girl, but the short-sightedness of youth simply wouldn’t allow her to fully atone for her own wrong-doings.

The Padawan danced backwards and placed herself in the Jedi Ready position, her dominant foot placed in the back, with her lightsaber in a parry position. She blinked back a few angry tears that threatened to roll down her cheeks.

“Do you think I’m playing?” she challenged. A flicker of spite flashed across the twin moons of her irises. Before he could answer her, she lunged and struck forward in a quick slash aimed at his hands, as close to a Disarming Slash as she was going to get at this stage in her training.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Something wasn’t right with her – she was spiking in the Force, and it wasn’t like her to be so frustrated. Connor knew last night must have been a little embarrassing, for them both, but why was she so –

Move! - he stepped back quickly, foot over foot, to move from her strong swipe. Looking down at the gap between them, Connor frowned slightly at her attitude.

”Keep your emotion in check, alright? Focus on what you’re doing and stop reacting to something that’s not important.”

He would give her one last chance to act without being rash, and then he would fight fire with fire and see how she really stood up to him when he fought back. He pointed to her feet.

”Watch your footing! And when you move to attack, or whatever you’re trying to do, don’t be rigid. Follow through. If you stop so soon after a strike, it’ll take a moment for the opponent to turn and take you out. I could have killed you twice now. That’s not good.”

[member="Chastity Lunelle"]

 

[Chastity Lunelle]

Chastity couldn’t help but smile as Connor barely dodged her strike. She finished her rotation and then clumsily brought the blade back up to an imperfect Jedi Ready stance. There was a marked irritation in his expression as he stared her down, at least that’s what she thought it was. She was too cowed by his judgement of her, so she stared at the gravel, moving a few pebbles with the toe of her boot.

“What am I reacting to, Master?” she asked, drawing another line in the sand. What was he not telling her? Was this about her antics in his room last night? She thought it might be, but she wanted to hear him say it.

Chastity had no idea what brought out her hair-trigger temper today, but it didn’t help that now he was tense and barking at her like a drill sergeant. The angrier he got, the more frustrated she became, and that zap of the Force charged between them again. In her mind’s eye, she flung her lightsaber to the ground and stormed off, but she stood firm in the gravel with the violet blade humming in her hands. She was a woman and a warrior and would not resort to childish behavior. Or at least she would try her best not to.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

She would hear his feet on the gravel walking to her, and his blade humming along with hers. Connor stood behind her. Gently inhaling, her could smell the scent on her dark hair, and feel the Force around her. Leaning closer, he let the electricity spark between them in some unspoken tension on both their parts.

"Reacting to you wanting something you're scared to admit,” came his sharp whisper.

He knew he had her. He moved back a few steps, spinning his blade in a circular motion, ready to defend himself.

"Let it out, girl. Show me you're not a child and let that Jedi emerge and fight me!”

This would be fun, and he couldn't help smile with the adrenalin starting to flow through him, ready for her.

[member="Chastity Lunelle"]

 

[Chastity Lunelle]

As Connor came walking towards her, Chastity stood as still as stone. A few deafening heartbeats later, she felt his breath on her nape and the heat of his lips hovering a few centimeters away from her ear. As he hissed his whisper, she felt it go all the way down her spine, giving her a pleasant shiver. She opened her mouth to answer, although she had no idea what words would come. She couldn’t rightly deny it, of course, but she still couldn’t face it either. She had taken vows back at the Arkanian Academy. To keep herself pure of body and of mind. Prurient desire was for others, not a Jedi-to-be.

Before she could spit out the words, he was taunting her again. Oh, if he wanted a fight, she’d give him one.

Where words might have failed her, the Force overcompensated. It coursed through her bloodstream, mingling with the earlier charge of tension, the aftermath of his closeness to her. Her muscles turning and her face determined, Chastity whirled around with a sharp cry, and instead of a wide sweep, she attempted a swift, angry jab. It was nearly a Makashi strike although not as flawless, of course. However, ungainly, the move showed quite a bit of promise for her future as a bladeswoman.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

No reply came, which made him pleased. Instead came a strong turn, a fire in her eye and a quick jab forward which he wasn't expecting. He hopped back and swung down with his blade, cracking against hers for the first time as energy sparked between them - and from their saber blades.

"There she is!”

And so it began, and Connor circled his prey.

"You won't hurt me, I'll go easy for your first time but don't be afraid. It's just me.”

He brought up the blade and held the hilt with both hands by his side vertically, the blue blade illuminating his face, and he looked at her eyes brimming with a desire to impress and succeed. He just had to refrain from letting her emotions take over - the Dark Side was something he would never forget as a temptation.

Connor turned and brought his blade around in a sweeping motion that was aimed straight for her shoulders.

[member="Chastity Lunelle"]

 

[Chastity Lunelle]

Sparks splashed outward from the crossing of their blades, and it was thrilling. Chastity felt the heaviness of his blade against hers, and her feet kicked up the gravel as she struggled to keep her footing. Even though she knew that she wouldn’t get hurt, she felt her adrenaline spiking all the same. As their lightsabers parted, he circled her like a predatory animal, and she held her blade out diagonally in front of her body as her gaze turned with him.

“...Don’t be afraid. It’s just me.”

Although his comforting words had returned, his taunts were still fresh in her mind. Worse, was the notion that he knew. He knew that she had hidden desires. Well, how couldn’t he Chast. You were all but throwing yourself at him last night. Wasn’t exactly a subtle hint, now was it.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden attack. Sithspit! He was swinging his saber towards her shoulder. Her reflexes woke up and she reacted, bringing her blade towards his in a rudimentary parry. It wasn’t the most graceful defense ever, but it was enough to push off the strike. Moving as one with the Force, she listened to it as it instinctively told her body to counter-strike, and so she did. With a growl, she slashed her training saber through the air and struck out at his midsection.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor embraced their confrontation of mind and strength - granted, he would win on all counts for now, but this wasn't about winning, this was about teaching her how to handle a blade and how to move. The Master once again curved his torso to avoid the blade, letting the momentum of her blow carry her past. It was then he pushed out with the Force to enhance her stumbling steps. He smiled.

"Don't be so obvious, remember? You're making it easy to guess where you're going to strike. It's not one long hit after the other you know - it can be precise, swift movements, like this - left, right, left, right.”

Speaking, he brought his blade and wove it left to right at her, aiming for the arms, which he natural block would defend, but their blades hit once, twice, three times, four - each one a small pattern following the previous until he stopped and moved again.

"A duel isn't just a duel of blades; it's a duel of the mind and ability. Out-think your opponent, see where they are going before they know. See their moves before they make them.”

The image of her naked body out of the damn towel flashed in his mind's eye, and he stopped for a second, gritting his teeth and shaking it off. Damn her!

"Your turn - come at me, fluid hits one after the other, and don't stumble. Make it like a dance, in time and hitting your marks.”

[member="Chastity Lunelle"]

 

[Chastity Lunelle]

Connor dodged her swing, and then used a harmless Force push to make her trip on the gravel. The stumble would have embarrassed her, had it not piqued her interest. A combination attack with lightsaber and telekinesis. Why didn’t she think of that before? Clever Jedi Master. Chastity rose and let out a long exhalation. Tiny beads of sweat dappled her forehead, and her chest rose and fell in double time. Even though her performance wasn’t the best, it felt good, no amazing, to release all that pent up energy in her blade work.

The young Padawan studied him as he gave her a brief demonstration with her lightsaber, showing her how to strike quickly and with more fluidity. It still unnerved her to have him this close to her, and feel the heat of his body, but when he stepped back, she felt a strange desire to feel it again. An almost imperceptible tic danced across his jawline, and for a moment, she thought she saw a crack in the mask.

Connor instructed her to attack him again. Chastity blew an errant strand of long dark hair out of her face. Then, she lunged at him as he instructed, letting her blade dance side to side, just as he showed her. When she finished her rotation, she was winded and more than just a little bit sweaty.

“How was that?” she asked between grateful gulps of air.

[member="Connor Harrison"]