Intuition

[Thresh Sken]

The Knights of Ren. The fearsome warriors that protected and served the Supreme Leader of the First Order. Those were just rumors I had heard before but... This guy in front of me was talking as if it was real... And the Dark Side. He mentioned the Dark Side. Sounds kind of ominous. I had heard of the Light Side practitioners who called themselves Jedi, devoted to bringing order and peace to the galaxy, protectors of everyone.

"Uhh...." I had to choose my question carefully if I wanted it to be answered. Truly answered. "Why am I..." I paused. "Why choose me to become, or at least attempt to become, this... Knight of Ren thing? If the rumors are true, it's quite an elite group of dangerous people." That last sentence was a statement on purpose. I was [member="Caid Centurion"] would clarify or refute it, without me having been scolded for asking too many questions.

 

[Caid Centurion]

Ciardha snorted from behind his mask. "This thing is routinely in the habit of identifying and acquiring personnel that possess certain traits and skills that might be of use." The Templar paused for a brief moment. "What do you know of the Force?" [member="Thresh Sken"] might have noticed that the Ren had yet to inquire as to the identity of the Defel. Even during his incarceration, Imperial forces had never once asked the man to identify himself.

It was almost as if who he used to be didn't matter in the slightest.

 

[Thresh Sken]

I was worried that I had sparked [member="Caid Centurion"] 's anger, but I honestly didn't know what to call his position. Messenger? Gatherer? Luckily for me, he moved on. I assumed when he said special skills and traits he meant my natural ability to turn invisible. No one had ever tried capturing me to put it to use, though.

Then he asked me what I knew of the Force. He still hadn't used my name yet, it was funny. It was always just telling me what to do, or in the rare instances, 'you'. I half-thought to tell him my name, but I was worried it would elicit another sarcastic comment, like where I asked three questions instead of just one.

When I had escaped my home planet, I was stranded on a world with a tribe of rogue Sith. They told me I had power, and sought to use me for it, but I escaped on board a vessel leaving the planet. "Well... I know you can move objects just by looking at them." That was the extent that I had seen the rogue Sith use.

 

[Caid Centurion]

"Your thoughts betray you." It was the only immediate response that Ciardha offered the Defel. The creature's description of the Force was crude and signified a severe lack of general awareness. Perhaps there was a time...when the subject had been taboo, its meaning and existence more a figment of imagination than reality. Those days, however, had faded into obscurity long ago.

Then again...perhaps [member="Thresh Sken"] was just playing at ignorance. "It is an energy field, a life force that binds all living things in this galaxy and has the ability to effect everything. There are some that would say it is life itself. In the galaxy there are a select few with the ability to manipulate and control this energy. With time and training, it can be used to accomplish fantastic feats."

Pausing, Ciardha stepped around Thresh, making his way towards the opposite wall. "You will hear mention of the light side and the dark side. These terms are just the result of attempts to simplify something as complex as the Force." Stopping, he turned to glance at Thresh over his shoulder. "The reality is that the Force responds to that which it touches. If you are a being that desires and respects strength above all else, be it strength of passion or physical strength, it will respond in kind. This is not something you can change on a whim, mind you. You must dedicate yourself to using this awesome power to accomplish your objectives by any means. If you falter or lose your nerve, your efforts will fail. This is the only true difference between light and dark, Jedi and Dark Jedi."

For the moment, Ciardha left out mention of the exact reality of Sith. It was a concept that far too many muddled and degraded by over-simplifying the true nature of those with power, those dedicated to spreading the sovereignty of the dark side to strengthen the galaxy. There were rumors that the Supreme Leader was turned away from the Sith, cast out. A fool was the only person that might believe such a man could fail in the eyes of the Sith only to go on to create something such as the First Order. To be a Sith was to hold to a religion, a devotion to the power of the dark side of the Force and the mysteries of the ancient species for which they are named.

Ciardha himself was a Sith, but it was not something that he would lay claim to, give voice on open air. The simple truth was, the vast majority of the galaxy was unworthy of such knowledge. He knew that his master, the Supreme Leader, thought precisely the same.

Raising his hand, Ciardha called a training saber to it before tossing the weapon to the Defel. "Do you know what that is?"

 

[Thresh Sken]

My thoughts betray me? How would he know if they did or they didn't? It wasn't like he could read them. Especially if it's an energy field like [member="Caid Centurion"] is describing now. I listened to the description of the difference between the sides of the Force. It seemed a minor difference for such drastically different ideologies.

Ciardha Ren tossed me a short metal cylinder. I caught it and looked it over before responding. I had seen them before.

"It's a lightsaber." I said. Holding it in what might amount to awe. The abilities with how such a weapon could be wielded were... stunning to say the least. I also noticed it had only one switch, making it only a single blade. I was rather disappointed with this, yet still intrigued. Because, hey, it's a lightsaber. Who would say no to one?

 

[Caid Centurion]

"Yes. The historical weapon of most force users. There are variations, of course. You may yet find yourself in the presence of one that prefers more exotic devices such as a lightwhip." Casually, Ciardha moved back towards the center of the room where [member="Thresh Sken"] stood. "Have you any experience in fighting with swords?"

Though his face was covered, the Ren's gaze held Thresh's features with a reserved intensity. His knowledge seemed disjointed, readily recognizing a lightsaber but showing no apparent substantive knowledge of the Force. It was a possible reality for sure, but in Ciardha's experience it was rather unlikely.

 

[Thresh Sken]

Fighting with swords? Oh, yeah. I hung with mandalorians for the first four years I escaped off my planet, learning about all different kinds of weapons and styles. In return, using my... special ability to help them out.

"I prefer double-bladed swords, I have an echani ritual brand I like to carry around in difficult places. I can kind of dual wield swords, and am decent with a single sword. That's where everyone has to start off." I told [member="Ciardha Ren"]

 

[Caid Centurion]

A distorted laugh rolled forth from the Ren at the Defel's response. The use of double-bladed weapons was not unfamiliar to the Ren. It wasn't his preference, but he could respect those with a talent for such. A lightsaber was different, of course, the balance of the weapon made it both easier and more dangerous to use. There were precious few in the galaxy that managed to utilize the weapon effectively without having the benefit of sensitivity to the Force.

"Well then." As Ciardha spoke, a training saber flew into his right. Holding the hilt innocently by his side, the Ren motioned with his left hand to the Defel. "Let's see how you adapt to a lightsaber." For the time being, Ciardha would permit the Defel to make the first move.

[member="Thresh Sken"]

 

[Thresh Sken]

I watched [member="Ciardha Ren"] use the Force to call a lightsaber to his hand. I had lapsed in practice recently, and now it was going to show. But no matter. I aimed to do my worst to this strange being.

I looked down at the hilt I held in my hand. I pressed what looked like the ignition button, and sure enough a blade of light shot out. It was tinged slightly with red, and cast a light glow across the floor where it was closest. I brought it up into a perpendicular angle to the ground, holding it slightly away from my body and in a two-handed grip. More power for the first swing. I inched closer and closer to the masked man. With my shorter reach it took me a little while to get into range, but once I was I lunged with a thrust, aimed at the man's upper chest area. I imagined where the blade would end up, with the tip on the other side of the man's body, which would help with my follow through. I would end ip in an outstretched position, holding the blade at a slightly inclined angle in order to reach the vital area.