An Apprentice's First Lightsaber

[Evan Kenner]

Evan groaned, the pieces of his lightsaber falling to the ground once again.

Argh! Dammit! I can't focus!

Sitting cross-legged in the cargo hold of the freighter belonging to [member="Vassara Raxis"], Evan found himself struggling to construct a lightsaber from the pieces he gathered on their quest across the galaxy. The diatium power cell taken from the skeletal corpse of a jedi on an abandoned space station in the outer rim. The emitter matrix looted from a pile of scrap on Raxus Prime. The lens fixture dug up out of a block of ice on Ilum. Every small piece in between taken from his old training lightsaber, with the exception of the crystal.

​

Synthetic, obviously. Lightsaber crystals do not naturally grow in a yellow color. At least, not as far as Evan knew. This crystal was a gift from a wookie on Kashyyk whom wanted to reward him for his help without owing the young chiss a life-debt. Evan was ecstatic upon recieving it.

Only now he cannot find the focus to concentrate on forging it. All of the holocrons watched, the datacrons listened to, the guides read, was it all for naught?

Evan closed his eyes once more, taking deep breaths as he lifted each piece of the lightsaber, one by one, and attempted to piece them together with the Force...

 

[RC 212]

[member="Evan Kenner"]

"Hmmmm."

She was standing on the opposite end of the cargo bay, arms crossed and watching from a distance. Vassara's coat was not on, but neatly folded on the ground. She was clad only a dirty white tanktop, and black trousers with her boots. Of course and her black gloves.

Each time the student of hers had tried to construct he had failed. Vassara had watched, up until this point , allowing him to do as he wished. He was far from the center of focus. Far from grasping his true potential too. Something about him seemed a little...Conflicted.

Why Vasssara had chosen Evan as student? She couldn't say, only that she had a feeling in the force that he would be great one day. Either for better or for worse, the galaxy would definitely know who he was. She was not overly picky about students, taking on anyone as spacer should. Vagabonds a plenty had crossed her path and received her hospitality. The same went for Rogue Jedi.

Normally she would not choose to train the darker ones, but Evan had shown dedication to his craft. That was something she looked for in a student. Dedication, the will to improve.

"Put the lightsaber out of your mind for a moment." She said, stalking across the deck and coming to sit cross legged on a cargo crate in front of Evan.

"You're not focused because you are not centered. Which are you trying to use? The lightside, the darkside? Each has it's own source of power Evan. You can't walk the line here, here you have to actually focus on one end of the spectrum for your power."

Vassara paused and then continued.

"What's troubling you? You seem....off."

 

[Evan Kenner]

Evan had a feeling she was watching. Be it with her eyes or her mind. She seemed to always watch him while he was aboard her ship. He knew it was not out of untrustworthiness. Truth be told, Evan didn't understand why she seemed so fascinated by him.

Evan opened his eyes and stared forward at the lightsaber parts before him as he absorbed her words. "I...cannot walk the line?", he said, "I was never trying to...I was...trying to put it together..."

"What's troubling you? You seem....off"

What isn't, really?

Evan sighed heavily, "Every night, I have time to reflect. Call it meditation, if you want. I just...think deeply before I sleep. I think about how much my life has changed over the past few years. As much as i've moved around, I really feel like...like I don't belong anywhere."

Evan started to mess around with the lightsaber parts with his hands. "Travelling around the galaxy with you and the rest of those people...well...it was eye-opening for me. I loved moving around. I felt like I actually had a purpose...and that purpose was...not having one. What did I get out of being away from my...real master? I got one hell of an adventure and the knowledge needed to contruct a lightsaber. Yet staying with her...I just felt like I was...a prisoner."

He set the pieces down again, "What's troubling me? I feel like I have lost myself. I have no center. I'm like a sphere. There is no center of balance. I thought I found it in the dark side after it saved my life against the Republic, but then I only discover that I hurt those I left behind...and now I-"

Evan simply stopped, feeling he had spoken far too much.

[member="Vassara Raxis"]

 

[RC 212]

[member="Evan Kenner"]

Vassara nodded. That was one reason she'd never thrown in fully with just one group. Being a wandering rogue gave you much more opportunity.

"Sometimes you just have to break away Evan. I've never fully committed to anything. I like to travel, I like to do what I want. If this is troubling you, then do what you must. Break free, find a ship, go about the galaxy."

She gave him a warm smile and help up one hand, palm slightly open, fingers spread. From the far end of the room, near the cabin a steel canteen floated through the air, into her outstretched palm. Stim caf, ah the juice of all spacers. It allowed one to get twice the work done in a day.

"Who was your master anyways?" It was a question she had never asked.

 

[Evan Kenner]

"Her name is Anja Aj'Rou. She is one of the rulers of the Primeval. Host Lord, I believe is what they call her. I do not want to leave her so soon, I have not yet learned anything from her yet. She has just been busy with...other matters regarding the Primeval."

Evan clearly did not hate or dislike his master, he just wished she were around the train him more.

[member="Vassara Raxis"]

 

[RC 212]

[member="Evan Kenner"]

Upon hearing her name Vassara choked for a second on her caf, before spitting great amount of it out, onto the decks. Anja? Yes she knew that name. And likely the woman did not remember her, but she just might.

An eyebrow raised in his direction and she gave him a quizzical look. So this was her apprentice eh? Interesting. she found it most interesting that a known Witch was going to try and teach Evan anything. the paths were similar but the execution of the force techniques woefully different. Especially when you threw primeval gods in the mix.

"Kark. She's your master? I fought her once you know, in a bar."

 

[Evan Kenner]

Evan seemee surprised by Vassara's dramatic reaction.

"Did you? Huh. She doesn't seem the type to do...well, bar brawls. How did that go? What's her fighting style like?"

[member="Vassara Raxis"]

 

[RC 212]

[member="Evan Kenner"]

"Gosh it was so long ago."

Vassara cocked her head, trying to dig past a myriad of past memories. Yes it was before she had even found the folks of the expeditionary fleet. It a past full of drinking, running and gunning and exploration of strange places. God she was getting slower in her old age, throwing in with almost everybody these days.

"I remember a lot of telekinesis being involved honestly. Think I drew my saber but that's all I remember. She was powerful though, just had different skill set than my own."

Vassaras eyes ran the length of the saber components, looking at each one, inspecting them. Everything seemed very sound. Evan had gone to great length to gather these parts. The question would be how well he could use them after he put them together. It would certainly take a bit of pratice for him. A little patience on her part and she might be able to teach him some things.

"Well, now that you got that off your chest, wanna keep talking, or are we making a lightsaber?"

The canteen rose back to her lips,and she drank another sip of stimcaf.

 

[Evan Kenner]

He nodded quickly, "Oh, y-yes!"

He closed his eyes once more. Now that he had gotten that load off of his mind, he felt more focused than before. The lightsaber parts all floated before him like synchronized dancers.

A few of the parts began to piece together. The golden crystal set itself inside of it's matrix, glowing faintly as it slid into the shell.

Then the emitter matrix tried to slide into the shell the wrong way, causing Evan to groan with frustration as he tried to fix the problem, but alas, his focus broke and the remaining pieces fell to the deck once more with a deep, frustrated exhale from the young chiss.

[member="Vassara Raxis"]

 

[RC 212]

[member="Evan Kenner"]

"You are such a rookie kid." Vassara joked, nudging him with her elbow. He knew exactly how this thing worked, how it went together. Vassara had shown him on their expedition together. she could not understand what was the hold-up. He had the parts, the know how. Ah but the frustration. That's what was killing him.

Perhaps the Dark Side wasn't so powerful after all?

"You got frustrated, you lost focus. Why? In fact lets take this back two steps. Are you using the Darkside to try and put this together, or the lightside?"

 

[Evan Kenner]

Evan's frustration almost seemed to grow. "I...i'm just...trying to put it together. What do you mean: 'Am I using the dark or light side'? It's a....a machine. It is put together piece by piece..."

It was at this moment Evan remembered some vague discussion on the datacrons he had studied. Jedi talked of using their knowledge of the light or dark side to assist in assembling their lightsabers...

I really am a lousy rookie

"Oh...I remember now...how silly of me" Evan said, his tone not very humored.

Evan tried again, but not before disassembling the lightsaber to start over. He focused. Focus...Focus...not channeling...not...emotion...focus...

For the first time in years, Evan murmured a code he once called flawed.

There...is no...emotion...

[youtube]https://youtu.be/lupDjeumqvU[/youtube]​

With frustration out of his mind, the pieces began to flawlessly slip into their places. The light side of the Force was guiding him for the first time since his Jedi training two years ago. Yet, even in the light, there was still a darkness in him.

Yet with the absence of emotion, there is no passion, and without passion, there will be no victory..

Evan had discovered a few role models as he studied past jedi. Jedi whom loosely followed the jedi code. The ones that defied it, but made history.

The Jedi Code, teacher of repression, ignorance, and naivity. I do not follow you. The Sith Code, teacher of cruelty, brutality, and deciet. I do not follow you. I walk the silver lining between you. Through this path I follow, forged by jedi like Qui-Gon Jinn, Revan, and Jolee Bindo, I forge a destiny favored by no jedi or sith. It is my path.

Before he knew it, using teachings of the dark and the light side, Evan lowered his lightsaber into the palm of his hand, igniting it. The blade of gold lit the cargo hold like candlelight.

[member="Vassara Raxis"]

 

[RC 212]

[member="Evan Kenner"]

As the blade ignited Vassara clapped, smiling at her would be student. He was quick to learn , quick to grasp things. why he fought with Anja and the Primeval, she hadn't an idea. He could have a much greater destiny. Herself being aligned with the Silver Sanctum, teaching Evan was a bit of betrayal. In fact she had decided to keep it a secret, and hope she didn't have to face him on the battlefield one day.

"Alright then. Now tell me, what do you know about Lightsaber Deuling?"

Vassara's own saber rose from her coat nearby. With a smack the black metallic cylinder entered her hand.

 

[Evan Kenner]

"A bit, actually. I trained within the Jedi Order for about two years using my old training saber. I learned Shii-Cho and Soresu. Nothing more."

Evan held back a prideful grin as he gave the lightsaber a few spins and twirls.

[member="Vassara Raxis"]

 

[RC 212]

[member="Evan Kenner"]

Vassara nodded. It was getting late. Anja might wonder where her student was for all this time, considering most of the time students did not stray far from the watchful eyes of their masters. He seemed confident in his skills too which was something she could appreciate. But confidence could be a killer.

"Just be mindful to never get too arrogant Eavan. Remember, there's always a bigger fish, with a fancier sword, and a fancier technique."

Vassara knew from experience. Being a deadshot killer with a rifle or pistol, but general crap with a saber.

She cocked her head to the side, observing his stance.

"Would you like to test your new saber, or should I be taking you home now?"

 

[Evan Kenner]

Evan chuckled, "Let's do both. I have some friends in the Republic I need to get in contact with..."

[member="Vassara Raxis"]

 

[RC 212]

[member="Evan Kenner"]

"Alright then."

Vassara's saber sprang to life with a snap hiss. An orange blade erupted from the hilt, and slid into her natural guard position. Both boots spread apart, shoulder length. Her blade angled diagonally across her body, from right-hip to left shoulder. Her eyes reflected the orange hue, making them almost eerie as she grinned.

"I'm really only good at Form I, so I cant truly help you refine your skills in the other areas. But I can show you a little something about how fundamentals work well against any style."

Form I was the most basic. Based upon ancient Je'daii sword fighting, back when they used blades and shields in an ancient time. Now adapted, it still proved useful, if only for basic purposes.

 

[Evan Kenner]

Evan spread his feet about shoulder-length apart, holding his lightsaber with both hands, directly in front of him. His eyes locked with Vassara's, though not menacingly. His golden blade lit his side of the cargo hold.

[member="Vassara Raxis"]

 

[RC 212]

[member="Evan Kenner"]

"Oh so you'd like to defend? Very well then."

She surged forwards, dropping the blade’s angle parallel to her waist as she moved. With a backhand sweep she stepped, swung and drove the saber at high velocity from her left hip to her right side. The swing was fast, hard, followed by all her bodyweight, but not quite driven by the force.

As the roaring currents flew through her Vassara held the force in reserve, as her backup tool in her tool kit.

 

[Evan Kenner]

Seeming to utilize Form I, Evan watched her lightsaber and legs move through the space between them. He brought his own saber to his right to deflect her strike and then spun, keeping the momentum, and bringing it back around to strike at her right side.

[member="Vassara Raxis"]