Competency Surveys and Resource Allocation

[Velok the Younger]

[member="Hakan Venttuss"]

So far as Venttuss could be aware, he'd been pegged as a potential recruit by an elite private security force, and lured with a signing bonus that included access to unspecified 'non-traditional skills development.'

Venttuss not being possessed of idiocy, Rave figured he could tell a euphemism when he saw one.

But everything had a corporate veneer. The secretary greeted him and gave him a form on a datapad, to complete while waiting for the interviewer. It was not your normal interview form. It asked for no personal or family or judicial information. It asked for no prior work experience. Instead, it was nothing more or less than a list, in two parts. The first was a list of the broadest families of Force powers and associated skills, such as Lightsaber forms; the list had perhaps fifteen items. The second was a much larger list, enumerating many, many, many specific Force powers, including names that the very most powerful likely wouldn't recognize. The list itself would be worth serious money to the right people.

Beside each item on the short general list and the long specific list was pair of empty fields:

How well trained/experienced? 0-10
Priority for further training? Y/N

In other words, the very nonstandard form was asking Venttuss exactly what he could do and exactly what he wanted to be able to do.

 

[Hakan Venttuss]

He had no real clue what was going on, ever since he had been relieved of his status as apprentice, he felt as if no one was around to help him develop. But maybe this strange thing he was being taken to would resolve any issues, he wasn't informed of much, if anything at all. But he was determined enough to commit to it.

Well in truth this survey proved to be rather embarassing as for a Sith Knight, he didn't feel any different to any sort of mundane Acolyte, he really needed someone to see him through his growth as a Force User. In anyc ase, Hakan knuckled down and wrote his abilities.
Djem So - 6/10 / Y
Shien - 3/10/ Y
Telekinesis - 7/10 Y
Force Speed - 8/10, N
Force Jump - 8/10, N
Mind Tricks - 7/10 N
Force Lightning: 7/10 Y
Force Deflection: 6/10 Y
Force Destruction: 0/10 Y
Alter Damage: 0/10 Y
Kinetite: 3/10 Y
Darkshear : 0/10 Y


Notes:
Would like to learn Combustion and Alter Damage, along with any other powerful force abilities. Very interested in mastering Force Lightning abilities along with some of the more devastating Sith Arts.
Hakan hadn't even seen most of these force powers in action, so was sure as hell incapable of understanding how they worked off the bat. He filled most of them in with a simple 0. But he figured he had listed what he was most capable of, it looked rather shoddy, honestly. But the results should show nothing out of the ordinary for a Sith Knight who had just passed the rank of Acolyte only a few weeks back. Besides, it showed that Hakan was very interested in learning the ways of the Force, and provided there's a medical examination waiting for him, should justify the goals of a young man with a very high Midichlorian count.

There wasn't really an option which meant "I'd like to learn it but not immediately". He'd have to answer that once asked.

[member="Rave Merrill"]

 

[Velok the Younger]

[member="Hakan Venttuss"]

She'd been watching the datapad's screen through another pad on her desk, watching how long it took him to make each choice. Now, as he entered the office, she looked away from the pad and rose to shake his hand.

"Hakan Venttuss? I'm Sira Ves." As her clone donor's name -- the name of the woman whose life had been shoved into her head at age six -- it was natural enough. "I've been looking over your paperwork, and it's impressive. Tell me about your experience with kinette."

She was blasé, matter-of-fact, a woman in a dark skirtsuit, young and sharp-edged middle management. Straight to the bone.

 

[Hakan Venttuss]

He was escorted to what seemed to be an office, here we go. He had completed his "CV" he assumed so here he was entering the office, he knew nothing of this group and nothing of the woman currently in front of him, but that was most likely sure to change as the two were introduced with a handshake, his black gloved hand greeting the bare flesh of the businesswoman before him.

"A pleasure." The young man responded, dressed in black robes with a sash covering his right shoulder he was equipped with clothing that most Sith would wear, something dark, but the man's young features didn't give him the appearance of a man who wanted to use the force to gain power.

"Kinetite? I'm unsure of my prowess with that but I did manage to execute it once, it was not very impressive however. Or rather not at the level it should be." He replied to her question, and truthfully, no ego trips here.

[member="Rave Merrill"]

 

[Velok the Younger]

[member="Hakan Venttuss"]

"It's a rare and poorly understood technique, so it caught my eye. I'm told that Darth Vader himself used the technique on occasion, though his version moved slowly and could dent the most powerful armor. You'll find that most modern Master-level practitioners prefer a handful of smaller, faster, weaker kinetite spheres. One of my business associates is more than capable of showing you the kinetite ropes once you've advanced somewhat." [member="Jared Ovmar"] came to mind; she would have to give him a call.

"Like Darkshear and Combustion, though, it's something best reserved for later stages in your skill development." She sat back, pondering. "As for the lightning, we have several highly certified instructors, including one who has won two kaggaths against Dark Masters. We can definitely accommodate you there, if you're accepted for the position. Tell me about your desire to learn Alter Damage. What do you understand that power to be, and why do you want to know it?"

 

[Hakan Venttuss]

[member="Rave Merrill"]

"Yes. I know of the technique from Lord Vader's infamous use of it. I was very interested in it as I practiced my Lightning abilities." He spoke, aware of the technique's existance previously, so there was a reason for his interest and desire to learn such a handy yet powerful ability. Everything would arrive in due time however, and he still had much to learn, especially on the defensive end of the force.

"Very well, it's what I assumed in any case." He agreed, seeing her suggestions as valid and reasonable. When she asked why he wanted to learn Alter Damage, he finally remembered the technique being a lot less extravagant than it seemed. "It seemed like some form of basic skill I should probably acquire, as I have yet to master a Lightsaber form, it could save my life were I to slip up in a duel and risk injuring myself with my own weapon." He reasoned. "It's not a priority however, error on my part."

 

[Velok the Younger]

[member="Hakan Venttuss"]

"There's sense in that," she agreed, noting both the mistake and his recognition of said mistake. "There are many ways to defend against a lightsabre, wholly or partially. Some of those ways are available to AEL's employees through my associates. That said, AEL focuses, as a company, on one of those ways."

She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk. "Tell me, Mr. Venttuss, what do you know about alchemy? About what it can create?"

 

[Hakan Venttuss]

[member="Rave Merrill"]

"I see. I'm aware of the effectiveness of your products." He noted, as the conversation deepened, this interview wasn't as stressful as he had previously imagined. "And I'd like to see what those ways are." He smirked, this whole opportunity being very tempting to him, the ability to grow and also associate with a company the size of Akure Executive Leatherworks was very interesting indeed.

"From what I recall is it not the art of enhancing the strength of weapons and armor or to modify and to genetically engineer foreign species?" He responded, wondering if he was correct. "It does seem fascinating."

 

[Velok the Younger]

[member="Hakan Venttuss"]
"Those are the two basic divisions into which all alchemy falls, yes. What binds them together is the ability to impose your will on the fabric of reality in a permanent way. Other Force abilities, other traditions, make for temporary change, no matter how big. But when you use alchemy, what you create sticks around." She smiled faintly, aware that he would be aware that she was speaking of alchemy as an alchemist would. "There are some who spend their whole lives on it. For example...here are some things that AEL does not advertise."

She opened a large drawer in her desk and placed a sword and a DL-44 blaster pistol between them.

"This is the Lonesome Gun. The soul of a Dark Master is trapped in it, and he'll have company in time. The gun traps the spirits of those it kills. And this is the sword I call Entropy. It's designed to resist Force powers -- I've used it to shred kinetite spheres in midflight, for example. This right here is easily a few hundred million credits' worth of weapons, or at least that's what I believe the market would bear.

"Which is why I care a great deal about non-proliferation. Strange, I know, as I'm effectively an arms dealer. Yes, I'm Rave Merrill -- I assume it's obvious at this point. My goal isn't just to make the best or be the best, it's to use these connections and these items as bargaining power to lock up what should be locked up. Sometimes that takes attacking hard targets. So tell me, Venttuss -- how much combat have you seen? And in what capacity?"

 

[Hakan Venttuss]

At this point the boy stood quiet and decided to listen to the woman's explanation of what alchemic arts were, and he wasn't too far off it seemed, but she was obviously the one who was much, much more experienced with such things, considering the fact she brought up some form of alchemically modified gun. Which apparently had the soul of a Dark Master trapped within it.

His eyes widened slightly as he looked at the weapons placed before him, he wasn't going to lie. He was very tempted to land himself a similar kind of weapon, most likely the sword though, he hated blasters.

"I see..." The boy rubbed his chin and lowered his head. "That is the issue though, I haven't faced a proper combat situation outside of simulations, so I'd assume I'm rather inexperienced. Hence the request for further training."

[member="Rave Merrill"]

 

[Velok the Younger]

[member="Hakan Venttuss"]
Rave grinned faintly. "Combat experience is something we can certainly arrange. In lieu of it, though, I've had my people prepare a secondary interview process. Congratulations, Mr. Venttuss, you made it past the first round."

She gestured at a side door that flooded the well-appointed office with the scent of livestock when it opened. It opened onto a balcony over a reinforced permacrete pit.

"There'll be three situations to handle," said Rave. "This first is straightforward, but a serious challenge nonetheless -- three Echani Mimic Battle Units with energy swords."

 

[Hakan Venttuss]

[member="Rave Merrill"]

Hakan followed the Alchemist through her halls, just to hear that he had passed the first step, feeling some relief that he was at least one step closer to further tutelage. Staying silent the white-haired kid merely smiled, but kept a determined gaze as they went through the door leading to the balcony.

He couldn't help but look down, seemed that this was the location where his next challenge would be set. Funnily enough this thing looked more like the kind of pit that you'd host an illegal fight in. And lord knows Hakan had seen many of those.

"I'm prepared for anything at this point, Miss Merrill." He turned to her and smirked, before using the Force Jump technique to spring into the air and over the balcony, commencing the quick descent into the pit, his black cloak flapping upwards as he fell. He quickly unclipped his sabre from his belt and activating it before he landed safely on his feet, showing that he was at least taught how to move quickly using his force abilities.

He kept his guard up, he hadn't seen these droids before and as such he did not know what they were capable of, this was a test of not only how creative he could be to escape problematic scenarios, but also a test of how he'd handle a mismatch in a fight.

 

[Velok the Younger]

[member="Hakan Venttuss"]

The EMBUs fanned out, one approaching slowly, the other two moving quickly to flank him. Their maneuver was a fairly transparent attempt to surround him, at which point they'd close on him as one. He had an opportunity here, maybe, before they got into position, or perhaps he'd prefer to be surrounded.

 

[Hakan Venttuss]

[member="Rave Merrill"]

He got into the Djem So stance, prepared for the attack that these strange machines may launch on him, obviously having no clue of quite what these things were capable of. But he could certainly tell that they were trying to flank him. A pretty basic tactic but one that was incredibly effective if the enemy was not on their toes. But Hakan was.

He quickly jumped over and behind the droid in front of him, jumping high and using all his athleticism to avoid the two flanking droids, tilting his body so he landed facing the Unit's back swiftly extending the palm of his left hand, both sending a large, powerful salvo of Sith Lightning towards the machines, knowing full well that most droids didn't like electricity-based attacks.

His right hand gripping his lightsaber, blade drawn in case of any other attack.