Day One (Viper)

[Saki]

(Viper)

PROLOGUE

In the pilots seat of Quasar's Light and all alone for the first time, sat Viper. Full of hate and anger he was as he ran the events of his parents death at the hands of pirates over and over again in his mind. And his failing to save them. At first he had no idea what he was doing. Acting on pure instinct to evade his would be murderers and survive. Eventually, his parents own solution came back to him. His brow creased into a frown as he plotted new coordinates into the navi computer. "Coordinates to Ossus loaded." Malcom said to himself still following procedure as if there was someone else there to still hear him. "Hyperdrive, engage." He finished through slightly gritted teeth. A fraction of a second later, the ship disappeared en route to his new destination...and hopefully new way of life.

Upon entering the Ossus system, Malcom was met by the planetary defense group who naturally questioned his destination and purpose. He was having trouble at first getting authorization, when suddenly full access was granted. "Hmph...guess I should had mentioned the name of the ship first. I wonder what that's all about. Whatever." He said dismissively, as he brushed the thought aside. "Let's just go and see if this was as smart of an idea as they thought."

The time seemed to pass slowly for Malcom as he spoke with the Jedi, whom he refused to tell his actual name, and would only reveal his code name. Old habits die hard he supposed. But after what he had been through, he would no longer be so open. In truth, he wasn't fooling the Jedi. They could feel more in this boy than he could have ever imagined at the time. They could feel his anger, his hatred....but also a goodness that still lurked within. They could also feel quite easily the forced that flowed through him. The same strength and power his ancestors held and passed on through each generation.

After much debate, Viper was admitted into the Jedi Academy on Ossus.


---------------------------------------

DAY 1. The ways of the Jedi

No longer in his pilot uniform from which he was accustomed. Viper stood up straight in his new Jedi robes as he awaited one of what he assumed would be several masters he would train under. He was curious if this was to be his primary master, or just one of the extras teaching him specific specialty skills. After all, with much deliberation, he had finally given the upper echelon his decision on desired path and rather varied desired skill set.

His facial expression was hard. There was a sternness there that almost bordered on an angry look. Viper did his best to be patient, but inevitably began to fidget as he waited. "Any day now...", he grumbled to himself under his breath. The moment he'd notice a Master walking his way, his expression would soften only slightly. And his stance would stiffen once more.

(Saki)

Saki didn't looked like a master, the others around her usually did. He looked like a teenager and a padawan who was covered in tattoo's with a shaved head and she was holding two rods. Her saber and a staff that were both made of beskar while she perked her head up to see the padawan there. Her case was in her room on the ship and she had a few ideas for what she could teach someone who wasn't Niamh.

She stopped short and stood there for a moment and just looked at the man while taking her robes off. A vest the only thing with her pants she needed to wear while she walked around and spoke. "So you're the newest padawan huh? Welcome to the order and we'll see about getting you trained up." She stopped for a moment and popped her neck while knuckles and body cracked. "I am Saki."

(Viper)

The woman who appeared before Viper, took him by surprise. She was a tall one! Especially considering her seemingly youthful appearance. Barely an inch shorter than he at best. Then again, he only would appear to be a couple years older than her himself in his current form. She also had a strikingly pretty face, but a shaved head. Most unusual, he thought to himself. Then again, the air of confidence she seemed to walk with somehow made it work for her.

The surprises didn't stop there though. An eyebrow raised as she suddenly began removing her robes till she was down to her pants and a simple vest. The loads of tattoos that covered her now very visible body were impressive to say the least. It took all he had to not start staring awkwardly.

His eyes drifted down to the items she held in her hands. He wondered if those were the fabled weapons of the Jedi he had always heard of but never had a chance to see. His curiosity was cut short when she began to speak. He gave a quick nod in response and a smirk. Looks like he wasn't the only one who cracked just about every portion of his body when he was about to start something.

"Viper. A pleasure I'm sure." His tone wasn't snobbish as much as it was bored. A look of confusion began to cross his face. "I'm sorry....I don't mean to be rude. But I thought a master was supposed to be working with me today. I wasn't aware they were just going to send some girl to try and beat me in a fight with a stick..."

(Saki)

Some girl? Some GIRL? Between that and how he had been looking at her brought her arms up and over her chest as she raised an eyebrow. She walked over to stand and barely acknowledged her had an extra inch on him while her hand came out to grab his belt and lift him up for a moment of surprise before dropping him down and she spoke backing away a little. "There are not many masters left and so they called me back in from the war to teach."

She let that sink in before crossing her arms again. "I am Master Saki and I assure you, as much as canonizing you into the jedi might be implied I don't fight jedi. At least not to hurt them now come." Saki began to move and started walking while she went towards the other training rooms. She stopped long enough to grab the large case in a room and heft it onto her shoulder as they entered the room and turned around sitting on it.

"Alright lets see where to begin, how much do you know about being a jedi? What do you know about the order."


(Viper)

Seeing her arms cross over her chest and raise an eyebrow, he scoffed. "Oh don't flatter yourself. You're not my type." Viper said unimpressed until the moment he felt her hand take hold if his belt and hoist him into the air, before plopping him back down. "Geez! Easy on the goods love." At that point though, his eyes went wide with surprise as he listened to what she had to say next. "This gir---woman...was in the war? Wait...she's a master!?" When she turned and walked away, he let out a sigh of relief he didn't even realize he was holding. "Well this is just....grand. What a way to start..." Viper grumbled as he followed her to the training areas.

His stance had notably changed. Viper no longer stood at attention. A look of confusion seemed to overtake his countenance as he tried to process all that had just happened. Snapping out of his thoughts, he replied. "Honestly...not much at all. My family never had anything to do with Jedi, and only barely with the Republic. I'm from Naboo, in the Omega Protectorate territory. All I know about Jedi are probably nothing more than fanciful tales."

 

[Saki]

[member="viper"]

"Well tales are a wonderful thing in truth they allow for any number of things to happen. Heroes always win and everyone in the end survives, damsels are rescued, happily ever after. This is the real world though.. compared to other jedi you might meet I at least have some tale attributes or try to. With me you will learn how to be strong and fast, able to deliver blows that can shatter a wardroid, but might doesn't make right. We are not the sith we use our might for right. Do the right thing with this power we have been given and in doing the right thing.... You do it for the right reason not for a reward." She continued to look at him and remained on the case before rising up. "If at any point you want the lesson to end just lift the case."

 

[VlPER]

[member="Saki"]

He cocked an eyebrow again at the mention of hitting something hard enough to shatter a wardroid. "Truly? Now that could be fun." He mused to himself. If anything he could use a good punching bag right about now. As she went on, he found himself surprised to like what she was saying. He actually had always try to be that way anyway. To help someone in need when he could, just for the sake of helping. "Huh, perhaps this is something I can do after all." A slight look of suspicion dashed these thoughts though at the mention of lifting the bag if he wanted the lesson to end. "Now that's an odd way to end a lesson." Still, he didn't really want it to end right now. Especially since so far, he hadn't really felt like he learned much other than what should be basic principle for everyone in the galaxy.

"No I'm fine. Please continue. A little droid shattering sounds like fun. And I've been curious to see what you got. Uh, master."

 

[Saki]

[member="VlPER"]

"Oh you want to see what I got huh?" Saki was grinning now to that and moved getting off the case while she spoke. "Remember the case is uncle all 700 pounds of it." She focused planting her feet and her body crackled as the skin pulsed with the force energies to create an armor with her skin. She cracked her neck again and stomped her foot bringing an impact into the floor with a small crater. Saki pulled a training train saber to her hand and presented it to the padawan. "When you get strong enough you can create armor on your skin and be a living weapons able to break what you need to."

 

[VlPER]

[member="Saki"]

His mouth dropped some when she mentioned how much the case weighed. And even more so when she put a crater into the floor. His eyes moved to the case. "Surely not 700 pounds. That's impossible....isn't it?" His attention was forced onto something else just then. A training saber. At least this was something he had an idea about. Closing his mouth, he listened to what she had to say next.

"And does this ability that let's you destroy thing stronger and tougher than you also allow you to defend yourself if you find yourself without cover, armor, or shields?" As he awaited her answer, he too cracked his neck, then fingers, then stretched his arms some to loosen up. Once he felt more comfortable, he took a stance almost matching identically to the Jedi Niman form with the low guard, as he waited for her to make the first move.

 

[Saki]

[member="VlPER"]

Saki looked at him and grinned now as she thought about it and yes she could defend herself with her armor while standing there and she had already picked up the case so she had shown she was strong. She had the look on her face of it now while allowing him to holding the blade while she brought her own saber up. The beskar rod solid and distinctive since it doubled as a bes'bev leading to the snap hiss as the blade activated with a very thin and sharper looking pale purple blade. She brought it towards her hand and focused on the hand while she slashed and her finger stopped it. "You have no idea what can be done with the force padawan. Many things are possible and still many mysteries are out there."

 

[VlPER]

His mouth opened again, ever so slightly as he watched the blade glide harmless across her fair hand. "Ok, maybe I didn't give you enough credit on first glance. So your strong....so a lightsaber blade can't harm you.... Really your cheating, using the force and all to accomplish everything you never could." Although genuinely impressed for a moment, his mouth closed, and his jaws clenched as his obstinate attitude began to reassert itself.

With a flourish of his blade, he switched his stance to that of a high guard, replacing his earlier low guard. "Well, your the master. What say you give me the mere student the chance at being on defensive first? Time to instruct me....Master!" He said the last word with the slightest amount of disdain, but more so as a simple challenge to goad her on.

He may have been standing defiantly, but a nagging thought began to scratch at the back of his mind. "Perhaps it would be wiser to not act....AS snobbish...? She might just actually have a lot to offer, that you could learn if you just let her." He banished the thought for now. His present course was set. Time to get on with it!

 

[Saki]

[member="VlPER"]

Saki looked at the padawan as he was ready for a fight and she gave a nod of her head. "Alright" Moving into position the blades hilt was held out in front of her with one hand and on an angle so the rod was perfectly level a moment. Saki wasn't going to sharge in with juyo that wasn't a way to teach and using it on a padawan on a student wasn't the way of the jedi. No she was going to simply use Ateru while her feet shifted. Eyes locking on the boy and the ground shifted, the refined earth in the metal forming at her commend into a starters block almost so her dash forward and quick slash were almost fully fluid while her body used all movement and momentum. Spinning with the slash to preform a low spin kick and spinning back up to try and deliver a back hand in a tornado of motion.

 

[VlPER]

[member="Saki"]

The movement of earth beneath her feet had caught his eye. Although he was stunned to see what was happening before him, it also gave a clue to he coming assault. It was going to be aggressive.

He wasn't disappointed. As she made her attempt to slash, he brought his own saber down from his high guard and hit it away. The speed with which her body moved wa incredible. It was as if she moved so fast. She began to simply be a blur. While blocking the slash, he attempted to jump to avoid her leg. His timing we just a little off, and the tip of her foot manage to just snag his leg, throwing him off balance.

Now with his defense weakened, he was unable to avoid he follow up attack. SMACK! Her hand landed squarely into his nose. He stumbled backward a few paces before finally collapsing to the floor. As Viper lay there on the floor, he found himself to be many things. Stunned was probably the best word at the moment. She should not have been able to move that fast. And he thought this was a sword fight. NOT martial arts. Then again...all is fair in love and war.

Quickly rising back to his feet, he brought his hand up to wipe away a small trickle of blood. "Nice!" He said simply with a mischievous smirk. "A bit of a cheat. But nice." As much as he called it cheating. Viper new right then what form he would be specializing in. Shaking his head to clear away distractions, he brought his saber up into a high guard again.

"My turn." He started walking toward her. His footwork betrayed the fact that he actually did have a bit of experience. Once he had gotten close enough. He lowered his blade and made a quick jab. Quickly, (though not as fast as she) he pulled the blade back and made a sweeping arc with it. Bringing it straight up and then down toward her head.

If she were to block it, he would then use the momentum to push her blade to the side. At the same time while her blade was out of the way deflecting his, Viper's hand holding the hilt would close the now very short distance to hopefully connect wit her own nose.

 

[Saki]

[member="VlPER"]

Saki looked at him and stood there while her body visible bulked the muscles getting larger just a bit so her tiny frame was that much larger adding some height but not much. His attack was almost what she was expecting... Almost more because from what she had seen high guard usually went with high strike she had seen before bringing her arms up and switching the blade to a reverse grip. to catch the sweep while solid armored skin met the blade. Again thankful it was a training blade for this session, she gave a grunt while her body was focused on itself to renew her energies and run hotter. Run warmer and have that much more energy then others knew. She pushed back and slammed the saber to block his sweep before striking with her fist and speaking. "Yeah well normally I wouldn't even have a blade just a gauntlet."

 

[VlPER]

[member="Saki"]

Viper backed off just as her fist came back at him. A frown crossed his face as he did so. He was surprised she was able to block that last strike. She was proving to simply be too fast to hit. "Just a gauntlet? You lose all reach that way!" He protested in disbelief. "Even with that pretty armored skin of yours. Anyone carrying two blades could theoretically be nearly impossible to beat unless he did something just retarded. At best, you should only be able to hold you ground, but not really attack...right?"

Trying to run scenarios of attack with how she claims to fight, he caught his breathe and flourished his saber signifying he was ready to continue. After another moment, he held his hand out and beckoned her forward, even as he started to breath more heavily.

 

[Saki]

[member="VlPER"]

Saki smirked while he was trying to work it out and she was focusing while her feet were on the ground. She could feel the metal, feel the elements around it and she focused on renewing her spirits before kicking the floor and groaning from the floor came as the metal and stone rose up into a wall behind him. "What range?" She knew shaping, knew how to put and make a box to fight in while standing there and then she was moving that small distance putting the speed into the strikes as she jumped with twin bicycle kicks towards the padawans legs and an overhead strike while she spoke more. "Matukai techniques make the body a weapon, shaping skills let me control the field all around me."

 

[VlPER]

[member="Saki"]

"Oh holy hell!" Was all he thought as he watched her make earth walls which sprouted out of the ground behind him blocking his retreat. Suddenly seeing her in the air kicking out at him and preparing to bring her saber down on his head, his mind raced. "Can't retreat, can't hold...." Without another thought, he charged. Holding his saber up to block her downward slash, he kicked off the wall she made for extra force and willingly took the hits from her kicks to plow into her legs with everything he had. At least this way, she had no hope of landing in any way but a splat.

As her body rolled over him, he stopped, turned around, and brought his saber down on her expectedly prone form as if he was chopping wood. "If her body is that tough...she won't feel this anyway. But I'd rather see a medic than surrender this duel without getting a single hit in!" All of these thoughts flashed through his mind as the events unfolded in a blur of motion.

 

[Saki]

[member="VlPER"]

Saki felt it, that impact of the padawan as he kicked off to tackle her and she folded herself reaching for her toes almost while he came down. The energies making this a ground game and she was good at ground fighting as she impacted the floor. Her body snapping back into proper place while she held the saber with a clenched fist and brought it up to block and lock the blades. Her strength makign the muscles showing her veins now with white light in her eyes while she focused internally on keeping every part of her body renewed and strong. Saki pushed up with her strength and rolled giving a slash at the legs while her back foot came up in a scorpion style kick for his groin if he jumped over her blades sweep.

 

[VlPER]

[member="Saki"]

Viper did not try and hold his ground. With what she was throwing at him, he had decided it best to keep falling back and attempt to tire her. As it was he was already starting to breathe harder. "What's the matter master?" He said even threw the slight pain that was now coursing threw his head after the kicks and her first initial strike. "Gettin' tired? I didn't think you guys were supposed to allow yourselves to get knocked down." He taunted unwisely as he held his saber up defensively preparing for her next strike. "And I thought this was a saber lesson. Maybe basic force tricks. I mean don't get me wrong. I'm flattered to see you feel you need to use such fancy techniques to beat me. But come on, what happened to Jedi fairness?"

At this point, Viper's blood was up. He wasn't even upset anymore. He had seen more amazing things in the span of a few minutes, than he had seen in probably all his life. He was simply becoming engrossed in the fight. And the fact he finally managed to get his one hit in....no matter how ineffectual, made him beam. So far, he would refuse to back down to her. He was a proud person after all, and at this point, his stubbornness was merely principle now. He did start to wonder what she must have been like though when she was at his level.

Had she been very different? Or was she always tough as durasteel? He shook his head trying to clear his mind for the fight. "Thoughts for another time perhaps."

 

[Saki]

[member="VlPER"]

Saki smirked while she was there and for a moment spoke moving forward and she held herself there just breathing normally. She could keep this up forever and ones like Fabula who she had seen when she was little could fight entire armies and never tire. That was why Matukai's were dangerous, renewal and the strength of a gorax. "You're using your saber right? And learning? I only use my blade as a last option and fight with hands, a blade is something you should only bring out to attack with when all other options fail." She looked at him and charged now stomping down at the last moment to raise a pillar behind and try to send the padawan into her two fists.

 

[VlPER]

His eyes narrowed at her explanation of this "saber lesson", but at the same point couldn't help but laugh. "I really should have seen that one coming." He held his saber up in a middle guard position as she charged him again. "Fek..this girl can go on forever. Ok! Only uses a saber when all else fails. Only uses a saber when all else fails..." Suddenly feeling a pillar behind him again, he let out an exasperated sigh. "Oh come on!" He grumbled to himself in a tone too low for her to hear.

At the last possible moment, when she was practically on top of him. He spun out of the way allowing her momentum to send her crashing into her pillar, all the while bringing his saber to slash at her back. Just before it would connect with either her back or blocking blade though. He deactivates his saber, takes hold of her, and attempts bring his forehead straight to her nose.

 

[Saki]

[member="VlPER"]

Saki had stood her ground to be the other thing the padawan runs into. Her movements less about just the speed then they were the power. She spun around and brought the blade hilt to block as he deactivated his blade... A curious thing until she saw what was coming. The beskar hilt protecting and her skin shimmering more while she moved her head to meet his. He wanted to headbutt she could do that and went for striking with armored skin. "Alright then."