A Silver Lining

[Chastity Lunelle]

Connor barely seemed to notice that she was there, and it perturbed her. Chastity shuffled her feet, eager to get the training over with so that she could go meditate in the gardens, and by “meditate,” she meant nap. Her Master looked a bit upset with her, but she had no idea why. Her grey-blue eyes regarded him suspiciously. What was his problem?

“Toola was amaaaazing,” Chastity gushed, flashing him a sweet smile for a moment. “I’ve never seen so many pretty things in all my life. Thank you for arranging the trip for me.” She might have been bratty, but she still had her manners.

When Connor held out his hand she looked at it as if it were a foreign object.

“Do I have somethin...Oh Blast! The cred stick.” the moody Padawan patted her tunic as if it had pockets. Sithspit. In her groggy morning haze, she had completely forgotten to bring Connor back his cred stick.

“I left it back at my quarters, I’m afraid. “I can run back and get it?” she offered helpfully.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor could feel her irritation already at his stern attitude. Maybe she'd forgotten his promise to the Grandmaster to train her. She was his responsibility; his alone, and it was him who she would answer to. Nobody else. If she failed out on the field or in the trails of Knighthood and, maybe, Master status, he would feel inept at his duty.

Besides, he did find it amusing seeing her get all riled up. He pulled back his hand and clasped it behind his back.

"You can give it to me later. I'm glad you had a good afternoon," he turned and started walking to the start of the course,"but playtime is over. Time to earn those credits you spent."

Connor span, the gravel ground crunching under his boot. He let her survery the course behind him. Going in a large arc, it featured climbing walls and ropes, nets to climb under and over, pools of water to wade through, stepping stones for balance, wires to slide down and tracks to run over. It would make use of all muscles in the human body and strengthen the mind to push harder and faster. It would also require the Force to be used to jump larger stones, climb higher walls and maintain energy levels.

It would be tough, but it was a walk in the park compared to being out on a planet with your armour battling the elements, fighting Sith or rescuing hostages. Connor finished giving her a heads up, and smiled smugly as he turned to see how her tired little face now looked with the morning mapped out for her.

"So. You ready? And don't worry, the second or third time I may join you. Have to earn your playtime after all Miss Lunelle."

[member="Chastity Lunelle"]

 

[Chastity Lunelle]

Ugh. Somehow Connor had managed to pick the kind of words that got right under her skin. She couldn't help but glare at him. Why did he insist on treating her like a child?

“I’m ready, Master Harrison.” said the Padawan with a nod, although her words sounded hollow. If she had her druthers, she would be lounging back in bed with the covers pulled over her head. She had to admit, the elaborate obstacle course, with its slides and ropes, looked extremely intimidating. Going soft, Chast? A day ago you would have given anything to be able to leave your room. Now you can’t wait to go back? Get it together, girl.

Chasity crouched in a lunge, pulling the Force into her body as she studied the course. Once she felt her muscles filled to the brim with Light Sided energy, she shot off like a blaster beam and flung herself at the first station, which was a series of hanging ropes. She had little trouble with the task, using the momentum of each swing to glide her though to the next rope, alternating hands as she grabbed. Next up was an apex ladder which was a bit tricker. The ladder almost threw her off balance, but she discovered that using the Force helped calibrate her as she scrambled over it.

Next, were the stepping stones that were positioned just the right distance apart that a normal jump would be impossible. Panting, Chastity focused on pushing the Force into her quadriceps, and began to leap gracefully from stone to stone, until -

Splash!

The Padawan missed a stone by just a few inches and splashed headfirst into the pool of water that waited below. Feth! That had to have been the most graceless fall ever. An irritated growl escape her lips as she dragged her wet body up out of the pool.

It was going to be a terribly long morning.

[member="Connor Harrison"]

 

[Connor Harrison]

Connor stood on the large mountain of sand and rock that Chastity had sprang from in her attempt to impress both herself and her Master. He watched her spend most of her energy early on, and watched as she took the stepping stones too fast to end up crashing down into the water below.

He turned around feigning his interest in a passing speeder when he actually had to chew back the smile and laugh that wanted to come out. It was a brilliant fall, misjudged by inches unfortunately, but nothing she wouldn’t improve on in time.

She wasn’t going anywhere fast, as he took a slow walk over the side towards the thrashing Padawan breaking the water and wading out cursing herself.

”And again. You’ll dry off quickly the more you move.”

Teacher was back, and the student nodded, that attractive determination in her eyes as the water dropped from her hair, running down her body that was heaving with her breaths as she took a moment to compose herself. His blue eyes watched her, and he had real hope for them both. She had a strong future ahead.

He watched Chastity tackle the stepping stones and move to the net climbing wall. Wet boots and hands didn’t help, as she lost her footing a few times and clearly hadn’t worked out how the Force could be used to effectively carry the body onwards and upwards and build resistance to feeling tired and spent of energy. She never gave up, and neither would he. She was going to experience far greater trails than wet nets and exhaustion, and Connor would build her up to prepare for anything.

Connor laughed to himself as she fell down again on the other side, rolling onto the net and into the gravel floor. He would praise her, encourage her, reprimand her and make her find her faults. It was going to be a long morning for them both and the pain would soon feel it would be leading nowhere.

But, still. Every cloud…

[member="Chastity Lunelle"]

The end of 'A Silver Lining'.
To Be Continued...

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